Television
Television was one of the most creative bands to emerge from New York's underground scene of the mid-'70s, creating an influential new guitar vocabulary. While guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd liked to jam, they didn't follow the accepted rock structures for improvisation — they removed the blues while retaining the raw energy of garage rock, adding complex, lyrical solo lines that recalled both jazz and rock. With its angular rhythms and fluid leads Read Full BioTelevision was one of the most creative bands to emerge from New York's underground scene of the mid-'70s, creating an influential new guitar vocabulary. While guitarists Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd liked to jam, they didn't follow the accepted rock structures for improvisation — they removed the blues while retaining the raw energy of garage rock, adding complex, lyrical solo lines that recalled both jazz and rock. With its angular rhythms and fluid leads, Television's music always went in unconventional directions, laying the groundwork for many of the guitar-based post-punk pop groups of the late '70s and '80s.
In the early '70s, Television began as the Neon Boys, a group featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist Richard Hell. At the end of 1973 in New York City, New York, the group reunited under the name Television, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, the band made its live debut at New York's Townhouse theater and began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. Television was the first punk/new wave bands to play at CBGB. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith's first single, "Hey Joe"/"Piss Factory," as well as wrote a book of poetry with the singer.
Television recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after the recording of the demo tape, forming the Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by the Voidoids, releasing a debut album, Blank Generation, in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith and Television recorded "Little Johnny Jewel," releasing it on their own Ork record label. "Little Johnny Jewel" became an underground hit, attracting the attention of major record labels. In 1976, the band released a British EP on Stiff Records, which expanded their reputation. They signed with Elektra Records and began recording their debut album.
Marquee Moon, the group's first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the U.K., it reached number 28 on the charts, launching the Top 40 single "Prove It." Television supported Blondie on the group's 1977 tour, but the shows didn't increase the group's following significantly.
Television released their second album, Adventure, in the spring of 1978. While its American sales were better than those of Marquee Moon, the record didn't make the charts; in Britain, it became a Top Ten hit. Months later, the group suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. Smith rejoined Blondie, while Verlaine and Lloyd both pursued solo careers; Lloyd also played on John Doe's first solo album, as well as joined Matthew Sweet's supporting band with the 1991 album Girlfriend.
Nearly 14 years after their breakup, Television re-formed in late 1991, recording a new, self titled album for Capitol Records. The reunited band began its comeback with a performance at England's Glastonbury summer festival in 1992, releasing Television a couple months later. The album received good reviews, as did the tour that followed, yet the reunion was short-lived — the group disbanded again in early 1993. In 2001, Television again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K., as well as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago.
In the early '70s, Television began as the Neon Boys, a group featuring guitarist/vocalist Tom Verlaine, drummer Billy Ficca, and bassist Richard Hell. At the end of 1973 in New York City, New York, the group reunited under the name Television, adding rhythm guitarist Richard Lloyd. The following year, the band made its live debut at New York's Townhouse theater and began to build up an underground following. Soon, their fan base was large enough that Verlaine was able to persuade CBGB to begin featuring live bands on a regular basis; the club would become an important venue for punk and new wave bands. Television was the first punk/new wave bands to play at CBGB. That year, Verlaine played guitar on Patti Smith's first single, "Hey Joe"/"Piss Factory," as well as wrote a book of poetry with the singer.
Television recorded a demo tape for Island Records with Brian Eno in 1975, yet the label decided not to sign the band. Hell left the band after the recording of the demo tape, forming the Heartbreakers with former New York Dolls guitarist Johnny Thunders; the following year, he began a solo career supported by the Voidoids, releasing a debut album, Blank Generation, in 1977. Hell was replaced by ex-Blondie bassist Fred Smith and Television recorded "Little Johnny Jewel," releasing it on their own Ork record label. "Little Johnny Jewel" became an underground hit, attracting the attention of major record labels. In 1976, the band released a British EP on Stiff Records, which expanded their reputation. They signed with Elektra Records and began recording their debut album.
Marquee Moon, the group's first album, was released in early 1977 to great critical acclaim, yet it failed to attract a wide audience in America; in the U.K., it reached number 28 on the charts, launching the Top 40 single "Prove It." Television supported Blondie on the group's 1977 tour, but the shows didn't increase the group's following significantly.
Television released their second album, Adventure, in the spring of 1978. While its American sales were better than those of Marquee Moon, the record didn't make the charts; in Britain, it became a Top Ten hit. Months later, the group suddenly broke up, largely due to tensions between the two guitarists. Smith rejoined Blondie, while Verlaine and Lloyd both pursued solo careers; Lloyd also played on John Doe's first solo album, as well as joined Matthew Sweet's supporting band with the 1991 album Girlfriend.
Nearly 14 years after their breakup, Television re-formed in late 1991, recording a new, self titled album for Capitol Records. The reunited band began its comeback with a performance at England's Glastonbury summer festival in 1992, releasing Television a couple months later. The album received good reviews, as did the tour that followed, yet the reunion was short-lived — the group disbanded again in early 1993. In 2001, Television again reunited for a handful of shows in the U.K., as well as an appearance at the Noise Pop Festival in Chicago.
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Marquee Moon
Television Lyrics
I remember
Ooh, how the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself
I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else
Life in the hive puckered up my nights
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Ooh, there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Just waiting
I spoke to a man down at the tracks
And I ask him
How he don't go mad
He said, "Look here, junior, don't you be so happy
And for heaven's sake, don't you be so sad"
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
Ooh, there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Hesitating
Well, the Cadillac
It pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me
All they said, "Get in, get in"
Then the Cadillac
It puttered back into the graveyard
Me, I got out again
Life in the hive puckered up my night
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Over there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
But I ain't waiting, uh-uh
I remember
How the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself
I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Tom Verlaine
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on specific lyrics, highlight them
Ali [Syed] Hasany
Couldn't find the guy who posts the lyrics so here they are:
I remember how the darkness doubled
I recall, lightning struck itself
I was listening, listening to the rain
I was hearing, hearing something else
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee moon
Just waiting
I spoke to a man down at the tracks
And I asked him how he don't go mad
He said, "Look here junior, don't you be so happy
And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad"
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee moon
Hesitating
Well a Cadillac, it pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me, all they said, "Get in" (Get in)
Then the Cadillac, it puttered back into the graveyard
Me, I got out again
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee moon
I ain't waiting, a-a
I remember how the darkness doubled
I recall, lightning struck itself
I was listening, listening to the rain
I was hearing, hearing something else
Rick Suegreen
I'm 61 and music has the same meaning for me.
It's a powerful indescribable connection.
There are hundreds more like this but they are hard to find.
Try MAGAZINE- REAL LIFE lp
The BUZZCOCKS ANOTHER MUSIC IN ANOTHER KITCHEN. LP
Talking Heads 77 LP.
Just a few buddy
Take care👍🌹
Wei Wei
I remember how the darkness doubled
I recall, lightning struck itself
I was listening, listening to the rain
I was hearing, hearing something else
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee moon
Just waiting
I spoke to a man down at the tracks
And I asked him how he don't go mad
He said, "Look here junior, don't you be so happy
And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad"
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee moon
Hesitating
Well a Cadillac, it pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me, all they said, "Get in" (Get in)
Then the Cadillac, it puttered back into the graveyard
Me, I got out again
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee moon
I ain't waiting, a-a
I remember how the darkness doubled
I recall, lightning struck itself
I was listening, listening to the rain
I was hearing, hearing something else
MT_VU_RX _jukebox hero
🚦Well the song is a movie … he backs the cat a lac into the graveyard and all that shit that's in a movie but really he was listening to the movie but he was hearing hearing something else …🙉🙈🐻🍕🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🐻🌳 … when … not 🏍️ so 🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️ Suddenly 🏍️🏍️… outside The Marquee Moon 🌜… [ ✓maybe ] …
== [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] [] ==
I'm getting Dave GrohL on another frequency ✌️✌️ One of TheSe ThingS iS Not Like the OtheR ✌️✌️…🚦🙉🍕
🐻🍕👃👂🧠💫🍕🍕🍕🐻🤙🍕🐗🐗Food Phiterrrz🐗 Food fight 🐗 Food Fight!🐻🐗🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🍕💫🙈🐺 WouF it Down …Chowtime Buddy …🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗
🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🐗🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🏍️🤙🐗🤙🐗🤙🐗🤙🐗🤙🐗🤙🐗🤙🐗🤙🐗✌️👃👂✌️🚦
🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️
🌲🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌲
🌳🌲🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌲🌳
🌳🌳🌲🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌲🌳🌲
🌳🌳🌳🌲🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌲🌳🌳🌳
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌲🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌲🌳🌳🌳🌳
🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌪️🌪️🌪️🌪️🌲🌳🌳🌲🌳🌳
🌳🌳🌳🌲🌲🌲🌲🌪️🌪️🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲
🌲🌳🌳🌳🌳🌲🌪️🌪️🌲🌳🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌳
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌲🌪️🌪️🌲🌲🌲🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳
🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌳🌪️🌪️🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳🌲🌳
Gerasimos K
[Verse 1]
I remember
Ooh, how the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself
I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else
[Chorus]
Life in the hive puckered up my night
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Well, there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Just waiting
[Verse 2]
I spoke
To a man down at the tracks
And I ask him
How he don't go mad
He said "Look here, Junior
Don't you be so happy
And for Heaven's sake
Don't you be so sad."
[Chorus]
Life in the hive puckered up my night
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Well, there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Hesitating
[Verse 3]
Well, the Cadillac
It pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me
All they said, "Get in"
"Get in."
Then the Cadillac
It puttered back into the graveyard
Me
I got out again
[Chorus]
Life in the hive puckered up my night
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Over there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
I ain't waitin', uh uh
[Instrumental]
[Verse 1]
I remember
How the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself
I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else
Tearaway
I remember how the darkness doubled
I recall, lightning struck itself
I was listening, listening to the rain
I was hearing, hearing something else
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Just waiting
I spoke to a man down at the tracks
And I asked him how he don't go mad
He said "Look here junior, don't you be so happy
And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad"
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Hesitating
Well a Cadillac, it pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me, all they said, "Get in"
Then the Cadillac, it puttered back into the graveyard
Me, I got out again
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
I ain't waiting
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Hesitating
Well a Cadillac, it pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me, all they said, "Get in"
Then the Cadillac, it puttered back into the graveyard
Me, I got out again
Life in the hive puckered up my night
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
There I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
I ain't waiting
GirlsKnowBest
I remember
Ooo how the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself
I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else
Life in the hive puckered up my night,
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Ooo there I stand neath the Marquee Moon,
Just waiting
I spoke to a man
Down at the tracks
And I ask him
How he don't go mad
He said 'Look here junior, don't you be so happy
And for Heaven's sake, don't you be so sad'
Life in the hive puckered up my night,
The kiss of death, the embrace of life
Ooo there I stand neath the Marquee Moon,
Hesitating
Well a Cadillac
It pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me
All they said 'get in', get in
Then the Cadillac
It puttered back into the graveyard
Me, I got out again
Life in the hive puckered up my night,
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Ooo there I stand neath the Marquee Moon,
I ain't waiting nuh ah
I remember
How the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself
I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else
Mir Sadat Hossain
[Verse 1]
I remember
Ooh, how the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself
I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else
[Chorus]
Life in the hive puckered up my night
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Well, there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Just waiting
[Verse 2]
I spoke
To a man down at the tracks
And I ask him
How he don't go mad
He said "Look here, Junior
Don't you be so happy
And for Heaven's sake
Don't you be so sad."
[Chorus]
Life in the hive puckered up my night
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Well, there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
Hesitating
[Verse 3]
Well, the Cadillac
It pulled out of the graveyard
Pulled up to me
All they said, "Get in"
"Get in."
Then the Cadillac
It puttered back into the graveyard
Me
I got out again
[Chorus]
Life in the hive puckered up my night
A kiss of death, the embrace of life
Over there I stand 'neath the Marquee Moon
I ain't waitin', uh uh
[Instrumental]
[Verse 1]
I remember
How the darkness doubled
I recall
Lightning struck itself
I was listening
Listening to the rain
I was hearing
Hearing something else
Zack Zallie
the most influential yet underrated band of the 70s. Television already predated future bands like The Cars, Joy Division, Interpol, The Strokes (sound like em too), The Killers, The White Stripes, Oasis, Blur, Radiohead (early stuff), Talking Heads and U2. Damn this band should be in the Hall of Fame. Can't believe it's a band from an era which disco and soft rock took over radio stations. Way ahead of it's time. Same with Black Sabbath.
Sonial
I rarely concur when they say ''this sounds like it was made yesterday'', but this really, really sounded so 2000s the first time I heard it, I was convinced it was Arctic Monkeys or Vampire Weekend, The Cribs or something like that. I couldn't believe it was a 70s band. The same with ''Venus'' I thought it was some Strokes colaboration.
shyjames83
Bands don't need to be in a Hall Of Fame as some kind of industry stamp of approval
Dave Gibbs
Way ahead of their time.
newremote
In fact they've always been very highly rated. This debut album got 5-star and A+ reviews and ratings when it was released, and today gets the same sort of ratings in all the main on-line guides. The second album's rep is almost as strong.
Darren99X
The gun club too
Kit Harrison
This record is very powerful. Listen closely and attentively throughout and it will reward you with a positive, refreshed and almost cleansed feeling. It's like magic and it works every time. A very, very special record.
65 Pancakes
@petgeek1 ffx
Norm Appleton
Yeah
SavoPaddy
I could not agree with your statement more. Well said. I hold this recording up as one of the greatest (relatively) longform compositions out there. I had the pleasure of seeing Television perform in Dublin sometime in the 2000s when Richard Lloyd was still performing. It really was an incredible gig. They are just the greatest. I wore Marque Moon out and still comes out fresh every time. They could teach a thing or two to modern bands about dynamics, articulation, delivery and emotion.