Other important members included Valerie Etienne, who participated in the recording of all their albums, along with other musicians such as Mick Talbot on keyboards, Crispin Taylor on drums, Ernie McKone on bass guitar, Mark Vandergucht on guitar, and Steve Ameedee, otherwise known as Uncle Big Man (dancer). Ski Oakenfull replaced Mick Talbot on keyboards in 1994. The band split in November 1997 after musical differences over the direction of travel, with Crispin Taylor starting a Cliff Richard cover band. The band announced a return in 2023, including a new album and several live gigs.
Career
The group's first single, a reworking of Curtis Mayfield's Freddie's Dead called Frederick Lies Still, was released in June 1988. It was also the first release on the Acid Jazz label. Their second release was on Let the Good Times Roll by The Quiet Boys in 1989. The Quiet Boys was an alias used by acid jazz pioneer Chris Bangs who then went on to produce Galliano.
Galliano's first album release was In Pursuit of the 13th Note in 1991, which was produced by Bangs. Their second album A Joyful Noise Unto the Creator was released in 1992. Galliano achieved the peak of its success in 1994 with The Plot Thickens, which peaked at number eight in the UK Albums Chart. Two UK top 40 singles were released from the album: Long Time Gone (a cover of a David Crosby song from the self-titled first album by Crosby, Stills & Nash) and Twyford Down. The latter was a comment on the road building protests taking place at the time and the protest at Twyford Down in particular, and they were joined onstage by anti-roads protestors to make appeals to the audience. The album was well-received, making the NME's list of top 50 albums of the year. Following its release, Galliano performed on the Pyramid Stage at the Glastonbury Festival in 1994 and returned to play the NME Stage in 1995. Galliano's fourth and final studio album :4 was released in 1996. This included the track, Slack Hands, which was used in the title sequence of Kevin Reynolds' 1997 film, One Eight Seven, starring Samuel L. Jackson. Galliano broke up in 1997. Gallagher together with Etienne formed Two Banks of Four. Gallagher also performs solo using the names Earl Zinger, William Anderson and together with Alex Patchwork as The Diabolical Liberties.
In the spring of 2023, Galliano announced a return, including a new album and a few live gigs in the summer that year. The band played twice at Gilles Peterson's "We Out Here" festival in August 2023, playing covers of Harvest for the World and Uptown Top Ranking alongside their original material.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galliano_(band)
Discography
In Pursuit of the 13th Note (1991)
A Joyful Noise Unto the Creator (1992)
The Plot Thickens (1994)
:4 (1996)
Totally Together
Galliano Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
50p in the meter, so get it wind
if you is a red eye then you best walk with shade
if you is a high top scissors overcomb to fade
we don't do hip hop as we're not hip hoppers
don't diddle enough for jazz so we can't be jazz boppers
but the funk is the chunk of the music that we're making
dig a little deeper and a rootical stand we're taking
just boldy going where the bass is getting bassy
so come and ride along if the rithm rides your cleet
filas on my toes so I have the atlethe's feet
aint never claimed hard core but here's a little more that i know you can't ignore
when i brush my teet i just use the paste
been known to snort a chilli cause you know i like the taste
when i'm wearing brief i never wear 'em laced
an when i come i'm coming but it's never haste
can i get a bam if you trust Uncle Sam
if there was a bam how you know you can
you're betting on a winner and you got the almost ran
cuthbert Dribble and Grub
You live long and prosper just like Spok
now what's at the door I'm sure i heard a "vulcan"
Sort it out
together we get it all
The opening lines of the song Totally Together by Galliano speak on the importance of ensuring that everything is ready before the start of the music. The snare and click need to be primed and timed respectively. The next line is a reference to the fact that the electricity meter only has 50p left, hence the need to wind it. The following lines use interesting analogies to describe the kind of personas that are present in their musical sphere. They mention the need for those with bloodshot eyes to walk with shades and those with high-top haircuts to have overcooobs. They state that they are not hip-hoppers since they don't "diddle enough" for jazz to be considered jazz-boppers. However, the funk in the music they make is the chunk. They are taking a rootical stand with their music, going boldly where the bass is getting bassy, and all should ride if the rhythm rides their feet.
Further down the song, they mention some random aspects of their lives, brushing their teeth with paste, and a willingness to snort chili. They make a reference to a character named Cuthbert Dribble and Grub, and also a nod to the Spock character in Star Trek. The song concludes with the line "Sort it out, together we get it all." The lyrics of the song have a stream of consciousness vibe, filled with random analogies and observations.
Line by Line Meaning
Is the snare primed? Is the click timed?
Asking if the percussion instruments are ready and in sync
50p in the meter, so get it wind
Asking someone to get money from the meter so the electricity won't cut off
if you is a red eye then you best walk with shade
If you have red eyes, you should wear sunglasses to cover it up
if you is a high top scissors overcomb to fade
If you're a barber with a certain type of scissors, you can give a particular haircut
we don't do hip hop as we're not hip hoppers
We don't make hip hop music since we're not hip hop artists
don't diddle enough for jazz so we can't be jazz boppers
We don't have enough skill for jazz, so we can't play jazz music
but the funk is the chunk of the music that we're making
The type of music we make is funk
dig a little deeper and a rootical stand we're taking
We're trying to make music that has a deeper, more meaningful message
destination hazy aint cause we're lazy
We're not lazy; we're just not sure where we're headed
just boldly going where the bass is getting bassy
We're moving forward to where the music is the loudest and most intense
so come and ride along if the rhythm rides your cleat
Join us if you like the beat of our music
filas on my toes so I have the athlete's feet
I'm wearing Filas on my feet and feel like I have the speed of an athlete
aint never claimed hard core but here's a little more that i know you can't ignore
We never claimed to make hardcore music but here's something you cannot ignore
when i brush my teet i just use the paste
When I brush my teeth, I only use toothpaste
been known to snort a chilli cause you know i like the taste
I've been known to sniff chili powder because I like the taste
when i'm wearing brief i never wear 'em laced
When I wear briefs, I never tie them with a lace
an when i come i'm coming but it's never haste
When I arrive, I do it with calmness and composure
can i get a bam if you trust Uncle Sam
Can I get an applause if you trust the government
if there was a bam how you know you can
If there was applause, how do you know it was for you
you're betting on a winner and you got the almost ran
You're betting for a winner, but you're getting second best
Cuthbert Dribble and Grub
Nonsense words used for rhyming and fun
You live long and prosper just like Spok
May you live a long and successful life like Spock from Star Trek
now what's at the door I'm sure i heard a 'vulcan'
I heard a strange noise; I wonder what it is
Sort it out
Let's get organized and sort things out
together we get it all
Working together, we can achieve great things
Contributed by Victoria B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.