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Book: Ivor Cutler

Chapter: Ivor for Hire

DOI: 10.1558/equinox.42543

Blurb:

This chapter moves away from Ivor Cutler’s own books and albums to concentrate instead on his guest appearances on records, radio, magazines, newspapers and TV shows. Despite his undoubted popularity among musicians and the media, Ivor made few guest appearances on other people’s recordings. It may be that his distinctive voice and performing style did not lend themselves to partnerships with other musicians, it may be that he turned down most invitations to such ventures. When he did appear as a guest his contributions are memorable and artistically wide-ranging: from Robert Wyatt’s Rock Bottom album to Neil Ardley’s Symphony of Amaranths, on which he recited Lewis Carroll’s “The Dong with the Luminous Nose,” and a recording with Swiss studio engineer Robert Vogel titled “Arschloch.” In print, Ivor made notable appearances as a guest columnist as well as in interviews, revealing tales of his day-to-day life including problems with marmalade and less-than-positive opinions about the Rolling Stones.

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