The Shaggs - Disc of the day

The Shaggs
Philosophy Of The World

(Third World, 1969; reissue RCA)

The original “anti-trio” crash about, seemingly aloof to their own brilliance.

There is a myth that The Shaggs aborted numerous takes during the recording session for this album, claiming they had made mistakes. The sound engineer was totally bemused. Within seconds of listening, you can sympathise with him. Throughout, both guitars are off key and out of sync whilst the drums sound like they are from completely different songs. For such reasons, it can be hard trying to persuade people that this album isn’t just an elaborate joke. The poorly lit cover shot of The Shaggs, with identical haircuts in their homemade paisley clothes, proves repellent enough for many. Especially if they know nothing of the remarkable story of the three Wiggin sisters (Dorothy, Betty and Helen) from a small town in New England and their maniacally supportive father, Austin, who bought them instruments and paid for their studio time. 1000 copies were pressed and only 100 were released in 1969, but Zappa still discovered it and proclaimed the group “better than the Beatles”.

Conventionally talentless and without any kind of musical barometer, The Shaggs played free of the atmospheric pressure created by a decade of groundbreaking music. As Dorothy sings about lost pets (My Pal Foot-Foot), respecting your parents (Who Are Parents) and her transistor radio (My Companion), the guitar parts warp western scales and Helen locates the off beats that exist in a forgotten corner of the subconscious. They all collide in the spirit of adventure and complement each other in blissful ignorance. It’s innocent, unfettered creativity masquerading as an incoherent mess.

Mike Lane

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 9:59 AM GMT 04/06/2008

Further Listening

The Shaggs – Shaggs Own Thing (Rounder, 1982)

The Moldy Peaches – The Moldy Peaches (Sanctuary, 2001)

Sun Ra – The Heliocentric Worlds of Sun Ra Vol. 2 (Calibre, 1965)

SUGGEST YOUR OWN DISC OF THE DAY ON OUR MESSAGE BOARD HERE, OR, MORE PRIVATELY, HERE!

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Lest anyone think the Shaggs were totally devoid of talent (and some do, although not I), find Bruce Lash's cover of "Philosophy of The World," which "translatres" the song into a more conventional setting; it's a perceptive piece of writing helped by an arrangement that honors the song's intent. (I believe the Lash CD is still available at CD Baby; it's ewhere I got mine.)

Posted by Country Paul at 1:17 AM GMT 05/06/2008 Report Abuse

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