Information/Write-up
Most of this classic Newfoundland comedy album was recorded the day after April Fools - at the Thompson Student Centre, Memorial University of Newfoundland, by Rob St. Aubin, April 2, 1982. (Live tracks were recorded at Transport Canada Training Commission, by K. Blackore and Francoise Elliott on February 4, 1982).
"We have so few people to thank. We'd like this space to list those people who have most effectively stood in our way and acted as stumbling blocks to our progress. Rob, who did nothing but complain the whole time we worked with him in his "studio", Newfoundsound, the sleaziest, noise-riddled excuse for a tax-dodge in the western hemisphere. His wife, Marie, who grudgingly put up with us for two weeks even though we were providing her husband with the first bit of real work he's had in years. To Francoise, in charge of Budgeting and Brown-nosing the Canada Council (unsuccessfull, we might add), we'd like to send out a thanks to her home in Barbados, where she buggered off with our cash.
Also Scott, who took time from his busy schedule of nose picking and cootey hunting to take some snaps, and without whose help the album might have been completed on schedule. We also musn't forget Geoff Butler, Newfoundland's finest button accordion player (whippety shit!) and Bern and Ray Penton, who were no help either.
Finally, we would like to thank our audiences, the largest collection of drink and drug-boggled turkeys, simpering masses of wantwits, bored to tears with National Enquirers and soap operas, who had nothing better to do than pay hard earned UIC benefits to listen to two self-indulgent, no talent shucksters insult what's left of their intelligence with garbage like this.
Have a Nice Day."
Free Beer were: Kevin Blackmore, Chris Elliott, and Geoff Butler (Figgy Duff) (button accordion on "Spring on the Island" and "Mack Tuck"). Additional vocals: Helen Shea, Denise Blackmore, Geoff Butler on "Born Again". Cover concept and art by Scott Strong and The Home For Small Animals Pie Co. (Art Dept.) Apologies to William Rossinni, Calixa Laveille, our parents...
Kevin Blackmore and Lorne Elliott need no introduction. Simply put, Kevin is the funniest man in all of Newfoundland (and that's saying a lot!). He grew up in Gander, Newfoundland and now calls Glovertown home. He met Lorne Elliott shortly after finishing high school. In the mid 1980's, he formed Buddy Wasisname and the Other Fellers with Wayne Chaulk and Ray Johnson. They started out with their first vinyl recording in 1986 "Makin' For the Harbour", which was released on their own label, Third Wave Productions TWP A-1 / World Record Corp. WRC1-4525. 16 more albums would follow, making them the most successful Canadian comedy act ever in the history of Canada.
Lorne Elliott, born in Montréal, Québec is a humorist, playright, has appeared on dozens of television shows and has released three comedy albums to his credit.
Free Beer performed and recorded for just a short while, but what a two pairs of nuts they were together.
-Robert Williston
Upbeat
Free Beer commit themselves (to vinyl)
By Geoff Meeker
After several years of touring the endless road of nightclubs, Free Beer have finally released their debut album. Now all of Newfoundland can submerge itself in the complexity of the half lunacy of Kevin Blackmore and Chris Elliott.
Originally from Central Newfoundland, the duo began as Chris Elliott and Rob St. Aubin. However, Rob had to leave Newfoundland, so a functioning humour twosome was fatefully induced. Kevin, like Rob, takes his place in his basic insanity. St. Aubin has since managed to fashion a workable recording studio, called Newfoundland Tracks, where most of the album’s music was captured on tape. Other tracks on the album were recorded live at Memorial University and The St. John’s Training Command Mess. (?)
Kevin and Chris play most instruments and sing all lead vocals on the album, which is quite aptly titled Clueless. They are assisted by Geoff Butler on button accordion and vocals, with additional help provided by Helen Shea and Diane Blackmore.
The album genuinely hilarious at moments on this album is When the Fisherd, is a parody of Newfoundland music, in which “Father Fisher he dies a week after church on Sunday, considered him saved.” Then he begins to sing a mournful dirge, “Oh he is not coming back, it is hard travelling for ever more.”
Muck Tuck is also a riot. It’s a satire about life on Big Rock Island about a jerk named Mack that throws darts to get him down the stairs but ends up rolling over the floor in a semi-conscious heap.
Some more musically relevant pieces include the totally brilliant Papa Orion Chant, which opens side two. The song starts like this: "Oh where, oh where, oh take free beer Capital Record of St. John's Newfoundland where bolts of lightning flash in the warehouses with the souls..." Further gibberish is inserted, and then the original “chant” breaks out. You will love it!
The Bear is a kind of country shuffle about the horror of a shagged out drunken hunter with his rifle threatening a housecat and hitting a large wall mounted fish. It’s really a laugh and a half.
Dear League Fever is also comical. It’s written and performed at the same style as Papa Orion except it’s about Newfoundland's own national sport — darts.
Papa Orion Chant is also hilarious, as soon as you figure out what it’s about. The six questions and scene at the back of a ULC record are arranged in a most unusual manner, and the words like NO! NO! NO! NO!, YES!, with all sorts of people identically yelling out.
There’s visual effect.
There are certainly funny moments on the album, but there are some problems here too. For one, a lot of Free Beer’s humour relies on being seen to be appreciated. The expressions they put on their faces, the instruments they play and some improvisation — in live shows — simply have to be observed to get the full feel for the jokes.
Most selections on the album have been and known the duo, but the final “minute and a half” will show a whole new side of the boys. Who wouldn’t feel more at ease on stage? Some people hearing the album would be left wondering if the musicians who wrote all this were having fun.
Of course, Free Beer are always happy, their enjoyment shows naturally. They also enjoy things outside of the absolutely strange material. The show has this translation to record.
For those who have never seen Free Beer and just want to hear a good corny joke:
“You bet your wife, I’ll arrange to have a son!”
The William Tell Overdue is something of a novelty when you realize that it is played with only fake hands, legs and stomachs on buckets. In fact, it’s highly unlikely possible takes that they actually pull it off live. But you see it in their album version, in a medley which sees it wholeheartedly included.
The Sensuous Button Accordion Solo is amazing. A series of throning exercises, with a definite accordion shape and a definite Newfoundland twang, it’s so hilarious you almost forget what the listener is left thinking is what?
The duo’s whole performance is a style which you respond to instantly. Pick up when you see them live and you lose interest. It’s the bond that humour needs to succeed without a lot of hit and miss.
For those who missed their release on this, their all-important Free Beer Album.
But I’m finished yet. There’s one other thing that annoys me — the duration of the recording on side 1 is 16:11 minutes long, far too late vs 13:11 minutes long, for a total of 29:26 minutes (most albums these days average more balanced sides). In the Hard Beer Free Beer feels well be wanting more, and justifiably so.
One who isn't into this will lose interest.
What’s interesting is the songs on the album. I’m still trying to figure out some of the timing of it. For some its sounds jokes in on the feed, but the writer longs for more liberation from some “left foot” tap.
Also worthy of note are the cover photos and design artwork of the album. Like so much work of Free Beer’s locally-produced LP, the jackets feel seem lately. They perhaps are made to show off the side-by-side fullness part of the whole album. The boys start off by saying, “We have so few people to know and proceed to insult everyone they ever been associated with.” It’s a funny, novel approach that I thoroughly enjoyed.
I recommend this album to people who have seen and enjoyed Free Beer. Those who haven’t should first see the duo and decide for themselves — the humour is certainly not for everybody.
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