Although playing and recording blues for over a quarter of a century, this is the first LP Mister Childish has made in this genre in for several years. As well as featuring great tunes, Heavens Journey also serves as a showcase for many new poems that have been recorded by this legendary painter, writer and musician.
On this outing Billy is accompanied by his wife Julie on backing vocals and bass guitar. Julie is American by birth and her father’s family are free Blacks and Winyah Indians from North Carolina. On drums we have Billy’s friend Wolf, who has collaborated with Billy for the past 15 years, most notably with his ‘dustbin mod’ group The Buff Medways. Sitting in on Harp is ‘Bludy’ Jim, an old friend since the punk days. Heavens Journey’ is a great introduction to The Blues and poetry of Billy Childish and shows his versatility and unique position in writing and music: An anachronism who is forever influencing the world of contemporary art and music.
As ever, these recordings are sophisticated, homemade and primitive, which Billy explains is ‘the only way to connect with the heart. Heaven’s Journey certainly achieves that in spades.
There will also be a special edition of the album, limited to 100 copies in a numbered box set along with Billy’s new book of poetry.
Also more about Billy Childish is at www.billychildish.com
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – The Man with the Gallows Eyes (Childish MCPS)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – I Believe (Childish MCPS)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Heaven‚Äôs Journey (Childish MCPS)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Gods Rain(Childish MCPS)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – I Cheated my own Hart(Childish MCPS)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Burning and Drowning(Childish MCPS)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – The Western Plains (Trad. Arranged Childish)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Ballad of a Lost Man (Childish MCPS)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – A-Z of your Heart (Childish MCPS)
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – The Billy Childish
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Huddie Poem
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – The Man Who Thought He Would Never be a Father
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – It‚Äôs the Poet‚Äôs Job
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Ants, Moth‚Äôs & Picasso
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Tattoo
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – The Last of My Childhood
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – I am an Angry Man
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – The Wounded Poet
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – I am the Uncorrected
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Where Eccentrics Fear to Tread
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – I am Bathed in Forgiveness
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – I am Here to Build Jerrosolm
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – I am the Strange Hero of Hunger
- Billy Childish & the Chatham Singers – Death Letter Blues (Trad. Arranged Childish)