In 1978, A&M Records released Tim Curry's debut solo album. Entitled Read My Lips, the album featured an eclectic range of songs (mostly covers) performed in diverse genre. Highlights of the album are a reggae version of the Beatles song "I Will", a rendition of "Wake Nicodemus" with full bagpipe backing, and an original bar-room ballad, "Alan".
The following year, Curry's second and most successful album was released. Titled Fearless, the LP was more rock-oriented than Read My Lips and mostly featured original songs rather than cover versions. The record included Tim Curry's only US charting songs: "I Do the Rock" and "Paradise Garage".
Curry's third and final album, Simplicity, was released in 1981, again by A&M Records. This record did not sell as well as the previous offerings, due in part to a less appealing, more maudlin sound. This record combined both original songs and cover versions, and is commonly held to be the weakest of the three albums.
In 1989, A&M released The Best of Tim Curry on CD and cassette, featuring songs from his albums (including a live version of "Alan") and a previously-unreleased song, a live cover version of "Simple Twist of Fate".
Curry toured America with his band through the late 1970s and the first half of the 1980s.
Curry's first full-time role was as part of the original London cast of the musical Hair in 1968. Here he first met Richard O'Brien, who went on to create his next full-time and perhaps still most famous role, that of Frank N. Furter in the Rocky Horror Show.
Originally Curry rehearsed the character with a German accent and peroxide blonde hair, but the character evolved into the sly, very upper-class English (He says 'dine' instead of down, 'brine' instead of brown etc) drag-wearing mad scientist incarnation that carried over to the movie version and made Curry both a star and a cult figure. He continued to play the character in London, Los Angeles and New York until 1975.
For many years, Curry was reluctant to talk about Rocky Horror, feeling that it was a trend that had gone too far and had distracted attention away from his later roles. However, in recent years he has been much more open about discussing the show and now recognises it as a "rite of passage" for many young people.
Laker Girls Cheer
Tim Curry Lyrics
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(Blows whistle)
I am Arthur, King of the Britons
And we're seeking men who are able.
And so we're recruiting Dennis
To sit at our very, very, very round table.
Ready?
Okay!
K-I-N-G
A-R-T-H-U-R
Arthur!
K-I-N-G
A-R-T-H-U-R
Arthur!
Arthur King!
Arthur King--
The biggest and the coolest thing!
ARTHUR
Who's the King?
GIRLS
U-R!
ARTHUR
Who's the King?
GIRLS:
U-R!
A-R-T-H-U-R Arthur!
Who is next to enlist?
Dennis
Dennis
PATSY
Who is?
GIRLS/PATSY
Dennis
The Lady of the Lake will make him a man.
If she can't do it, nobody can!
ARTHUR/PATSY
Who will he be?
GIRLS
G-A-L-A-H-A-D
G...A...L...A...H...A...
Mother
D
The song "Laker Girls Cheer" by Tim Curry is a comical portrayal of King Arthur and his men seeking out recruits to join them at their round table. The song begins with Arthur introducing himself as the King of the Britons and seeking able men to join his cause. He then recruits Dennis, who is introduced to the audience as someone who they are seeking to sit at their very, very, very round table. The cheerleading squad consisting of girls clad in Lakers outfits responds with enthusiasm as they spell out Arthur's name before introducing themselves as Arthur King- the biggest and coolest thing.
The girls then proceed to spell out Dennis's name as Arthur and Patsy inquire about who they should enlist next. The girls respond with "Dennis" and state that the Lady of the Lake will make him a man and if she cannot do it, then nobody can. They then spell out G-A-L-A-H-A-D, introducing the character who is set to enlist next.
The song is a satirical take on the Arthurian Legend, poking fun at the seriousness of the story and highlighting the triviality of cheerleading. It has a comedic tone, and Tim Curry's delivery of the song adds to the humor of the situation. The song accurately captures the spirit of the 1975's Monty Python and the Holy Grail, with the satirical and absurdist take on the source material.
Line by Line Meaning
I am Arthur, King of the Britons
Introducing himself as the ruler of the British people
And we're seeking men who are able.
Announcing the recruitment for able-bodied men
And so we're recruiting Dennis
Stating the purpose of recruiting Dennis
To sit at our very, very, very round table.
Explaining the role that Dennis will play as a member of the round table
K-I-N-G
Spelling out the first part of King Arthur's title
A-R-T-H-U-R
Spelling out the second part of King Arthur's title
Arthur!
Cheering and confirming the name of King Arthur
The biggest and the coolest thing!
Describing King Arthur as the most significant and impressive thing
Who's the King?
Asking the girls to confirm the identity of the king
U-R!
Girls confirming and spelling out the first part of the response to who is the king
Who's the King?
Asking the girls to confirm the identity of the king again
U-R!
Girls confirming and spelling out the second part of the response to who is the king
A-R-T-H-U-R Arthur!
Announcing King Arthur's full name in a celebratory manner
Who is next to enlist?
Inquiring on who the next person to join will be
Dennis
Stating the name of the next person to enlist
Who is?
Asking a question to prompt a response
Dennis
Repeating the name of the next recruit
The Lady of the Lake will make him a man.
Explaining the important role that the Lady of the Lake will play in making Dennis a man
If she can't do it, nobody can!
Highlighting the faith that they have in the Lady of the Lake's abilities to make Dennis a man
Who will he be?
Asking the girls to predict who Dennis will become under the guidance of the Lady of the Lake
G-A-L-A-H-A-D
Girls spelling out the name of the person they think Dennis will become under the Lady of the Lake's guidance
D
Unknown meaning as the line is incomplete
Contributed by Aaron T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.