Klark Kent (album)

Klark Kent
EP by Klark Kent
Released 1980 (1980)
Studio Surrey Sound Studios
Genre New wave, pop, rock
Length 24:44
Label A&M
Producer Stewart Copeland, Nigel Gray

Klark Kent was Stewart Copeland's first solo album, recorded under the pseudonym Klark Kent. The album was released in 1980 as a 10 inch EP on green vinyl and included the hit song "Don't Care", which reached number 48 in the UK Singles Chart two years before.[1]

"Away from Home" and "Ritch in a Ditch" were also released as singles. The "t" from "Ritch in a Ditch" was omitted from the album version.

Like two of The Police's albums, Klark Kent was recorded on a minimal budget at Surrey Sound Studios with Nigel Gray. Many of the songs are similar to Copeland's songs for The Police. Copeland sang and played all of the instruments.

All eight tracks on the EP were included in the 1995 album Kollected Works, with all of the Klark Kent single-only tracks.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
Allmusic[3]
(Kollected Works)
Smash Hits7/10[4]

Reviewing the album for Smash Hits in 1980, Red Starr described the album as "unpretentious" and "light-hearted". He described the songs as "energetic, utterly straightforward and reasonably tuneful, if a bit lacking in the lyrical department". He went on to say the musicianship was "excellent" and "relaxed and inventive".[4]

Allmusic panned the album in their retrospective review, arguing that Copeland only recorded it for ego-driven reasons, and that his vocals make the songs unbearable. They concluded "the album only really succeeds when Copeland sticks to instrumentals".[2]

Despite this, Allmusic also made Kollected Works an album pick and published a review declaring it to be "inventive new wave pop of the highest order" and "a record that combined the musical sensibilities of the Police and the lyrical concerns of Weird Al Yankovic". The reviewer applauded the album's humor and eccentricity, while contending that the tracks also have plenty of musical depth to make them hold up to repeated listens.[3]

Track listing

All songs written by Klark Kent.

  1. "Don't Care" – 2:08
  2. "Away from Home" – 2:55
  3. "Ritch in a Ditch" – 2:46
  4. "Grandelinquent" – 3:09
  5. "Guerilla" – 3:32
  6. "Old School" – 2:44
  7. "Excess" – 3:12
  8. "Theme for Kinetic Ritual" – 4:18

Kollected Works

Kollected Works
Compilation album by Klark Kent
Released 1995 (1995)
Recorded 1978–1995
Genre New wave, rock music, pop
Length 37:26
Label Capitol
Producer Stewart Copeland, Nigel Gray and Derek Holt

Kollected Works is a compilation of songs that Stewart Copeland wrote under the pseudonym Klark Kent. It includes all the songs from Klark Kent, all four "Klark Kent" non-album single tracks, a track by Colts (Stewart Copeland and Derek Holt), and two previously unreleased tracks of unknown origin. At least one, "Strange Things Happen", seems to have been recorded around the time of Copeland's journey to Africa, leading toward his LP and film The Rhythmatist. An alternative, slightly longer version of "Strange Things Happen" was released on the soundtrack album The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2. The other, "Stay Ready", uses a drum machine instead of drums. Both previously unreleased tracks were recorded at The Worried Rabbit in Assyria.

Track listing

All songs written by Klark Kent

  1. "Too Kool to Kalypso" - 2:28
  2. "Strange Things Happen" - 2:42
  3. "Thrills" - 2:24
  4. "Excess" - 3:02
  5. "Love Lessons" - 3:31
  6. "Office Girls" - 2:19
  7. "Away from Home" - 2:58
  8. "Don't Care" - 2:11
  9. "Grandelinquent" - 3:11
  10. "My Old School" - 2:46
  11. "Ritch in a Ditch" - 2:29
  12. "Theme for Kinetic Ritual" - 4:22
  13. "Stay Ready" - 3:04
  14. "Office Talk" - 7:14
  15. "Guerilla" - 3:30 (hidden track)

Personnel

References

  1. ↑ Klark Kent UK Chart History, The Official Charts.
  2. 1 2 Collins, Paul. Klark Kent at AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-07-19.
  3. 1 2 Foss, Richard. Klark Kent at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-06-19.
  4. 1 2 Starr, Red. "Albums". Smash Hits (June 26 – July 9 1980): 31.
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