ANTHONY ON MAKING 'MUSIC FOR ELEVATORS'

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF ANTHONY HEAD

It's strange how things happen in life. This album, for instance is a thing of wonder to me. It began as a suggestion that maybe George and I should think about working together. So we did think about it. We met, swapped musical references and influences, and then agreed to try it out for a session. I don't think either of us had much idea of how each other's style would work together; I'd heard some of George's demos but he just knew I could sing and that was about it. The first session can sometimes be like baby steps, just gently feeling your way - it's usually just a jam out of which little is likely to reach the final recording. Out of our first session we got the basis of two, possibly three songs that would all find their way onto the album - first up was "what can you tell me?" And that, pretty much, was the way it went.

I had thought I might have to draw on some of my old repertoire of songs, unsure that I had an album's worth of subjects to write about. Apart from one cover, which I've always wanted to record ever since I heard a friend of mine perform it a few years back, and the reworking of an old song to encompass new thoughts, they are all new songs - I didn't think I had so much to say. There was so much material, in fact, that we had to short-list what is now on the CD.

I also wanted to bring friends into the process, to involve the extraordinary talents of some of the people I've met and worked with since I've been here. It became a true collaboration, with everyone being extremely generous, taking time out of filming and other work schedules. As one song after another came together the album truly took on its own identity. "Music for Elevators" was meant to be just a working title, but as the record took shape so the name kind of stuck - and to me, it's still a thing of wonder.

I hope you enjoy it - it'll be in the shops early 2002.

Anthony Stewart Head

© 2001 Anthony Head + George Sarah. All rights reserved.

Reproduced here with permission from George Sarah.

To Music for Elevators