Lloyd Cole-Felt
Lawrence said in Melody Maker that Horses was his favourite lp of all time.
And there's the gig where Tom Verlaine ran up to Lawrence at the end and
shook his hand.
Sure, he was for novelty records when he was in Denim, but then and then
only, and I still think this was a covert influence for the most part. 8
minutes for a novelty record, anyone? No, it would wear thin. I'm talking
about the 1st album here, the last one can go back to the children's party
I maintain that the early Dylan reference is an in joke on Lawrence's
part.To wit: why would he say early Dylan, rather than just Dylan, when
everyone else has their name/career blanket-covered? I'm sure the sleeve of
Ballad of the Band has its heritage in a Dylan sleeve, tho I wouldn't be the
one to know that for sure...
If Cole had a Verlaine influence, then I think it manifested itself earlier
than it did in Felt. Lawrence is on, um, record as saying that Deebank
showed him what a guitar could do, that he was a novice to start with (for
proof hear Index) and I don't think Lawrence became that sophisticated with
the hard-edged guitar sound till way after Cole was on the scene.
On a personal level, I rate Marquee Moon much higher than Horses.
Ben