Storefront Hitchcock

Storefront Hitchcock is the title of a soundtrack album by Robyn Hitchcock, released in support of a film of the same name, which was directed by Jonathan Demme.

The film is essentially an audience-eye view of its subject matter, singer-songwriter Hitchcock, standing inside a derelict shop window in New York, performing selections from his considerable back catalogue on acoustic guitar. The street scenes and passers by glimpsed through the glass act as a backdrop to the movie, which went on general release in 1998.

The soundtrack CD features twelve songs, interspersed with several Hitchcock monologues, which are ad-libbed in front of the audience in the manner of his concert appearances. At times macabre, they are always witty and imaginative and form a substantial part of the artistic appeal of the set.

The songs themselves include five not previously released in any form by Hitchcock, one of which is an acoustic cover of Jimi Hendrix' "The Wind Cries Mary". Hitchcock would make full studio recordings of a couple of others for subsequent albums, although "Let's Go Thundering" and "Where Do You Go When You Die" remain unavailable elsewhere.

The CD captures Hitchcock in typical live mode, and neatly encapsulates his solo act at that stage. Other titles from the film were omitted, but surfaced on the concurrent vinyl edition.

Film Track listing

All tracks composed by Robyn Hitchcock; except where indicated

1. "Devil's Radio"
2. "1974"
3. "Filthy Bird"
4. "Let's Go Thundering"
5. "I'm Only You"
6. "Glass Hotel"
7. "I Something You"
8. "The Yip! Song"
9. "I Am Not Me"
10. "You and Oblivion"
11. "Airscape"
12. "Freeze"
13. "All Right Yeah"
14. "I Don't Remember Guildford"

CD Track listing

1. "1974"
2. "Let's Go Thundering"
3. "I'm Only You"
4. "Glass Hotel"
5. "I Something You"
6. "The Yip! Song"
7. "Freeze"
8. "All Right Yeah"
9. "Where Do You Go When You Die?"
10. "The Wind Cries Mary" (Jimi Hendrix)
11. "I Don't Remember Guildford"
12. "Beautiful Queen"

Personnel

• Robyn Hitchcock - vocals, narrator, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, harmonica
• Tim Keegan - guitar, vocals
• Deni Bonet - violin

Sources

• "Official Robyn Hitchcock website". Retrieved 2007-05-14.