Robert Marlow - The Face of Dorian Gray
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- čas přidán 7. 06. 2006
- This a Robert Marlow music video, that I fixed, so that it would have good sound. Enjoy
A synthpop artist from the 80's who was linked to bands like Depeche Mode, Vince Clarke, Alison Moyet, Fad Gadget, and many other great bands.
However, due to lacking sales of the singles and lack of interest in the project, Marlow did not release his debut album with friend Vince Clarke, until 1999, when a Swedish record company picked it up and released it.
Marlow, now a duo, is currently recording new material and touring. Their website is www.marlow-online.com
Please check out this video and spread the word about this great artist.
Thanks - Hudba
So sad to hear about the passing of Robert Marlow... he was one of the greatest unsung heroes of the eighties electro-pop scene... A Basildon legend, he will be missed. R.I.P.
Just read the news, RIP Robert. Thank you for a very fine Vince Clarke produced album.
An underrated classic of the era...
R. I. P. Rob Marlow...
Robert Marlow was going to belong to Depeche Mode (he was in a band called "The French Look" with Martin Gore and Vince Clarke), but he left the band before they met David Gahan, formed the Depeche Mode and recorded their 1st album: "Speak and Spell". This song sounds exactly like DM songs from Speak and Spell!!!
That is *not* what happened. The short version: Robert (RIP), Vince, and Martin were never in a band together (at the same time), and Depeche Mode did *not* come from French Look (led by Robert), but rather from Composition of Sound (led by Vince).
The long version: In 1978 Robert was in a band called The Vandals, which included Alison Moyet. Around that time, Vince was in a band called No Romance in China, which included Andrew "Fletch" Fletcher (RIP). Later, Robert and Vince formed The Plan, which included Perry Bamonte. But the two clashed creatively, so they decided to split and form rival bands, while remaining best friends (they had known each other since they were 8). Robert formed French Look with Paul Redmond and others, while Vince formed Composition of Sound with Martin, who had previously been a member of Norman & the Worms, and Fletch. However, Robert also got Martin to join French Look, which Vince wasn't happy with, but tolerated (barely). The two bands were rivals but gigged together (which was convenient for Martin, since he was a member of both), taking turns as the feature band and the support band.
Depeche Mode was formed when Vince recruited Dave Gahan as the new lead singer for Composition of Sound (Vince had previously sung lead, much like how Robert sang lead for French Look). Dave was a friend of Paul's who hung out with and assisted French Look. Martin then left French Look, which went nowhere, while Depeche Mode went on to do what we all know they've done. Vince was the main driving force who got the band started on their road to success, and then he left just after their first album _Speak & Spell_ was released, turning over the main songwriting role to Martin. Vince then formed Yazoo with Alison, and during the relatively short time they were together, actually reached greater heights of success than Depeche Mode had at the time. Additionally, Perry Bamonte would eventually become a member of The Cure.
So many people who had crossed paths with Vince became very successful in the music industry, especially those he had worked with directly. The most notable and highly talented exception was his best friend Robert, who would seek help from Vince, which he gave. But sadly it still didn't work out for Robert. At least he's had a music career, even if it wasn't nearly what it could and some would argue should have been. The fact that all of these people happened to be in Basildon around the same time is rather remarkable.
Bull shit, never hapend, Robert (RIP) its another time of Vince history, like asembly ore yazoo... FAKING bull shit, Vince is great brain...
Wow, I have this song on 7". It's to obad it's so short. I could dance to it all day.
RIP Rob ;-(
The synth in 1.31 ohh yeah awesome!!!
The Never-Out-Of-Fashion theme of Dorian Gray in a brillant synth-pop version
That's Patricia Page doing the backing vocals high pitches and all. I know I married her! :)
I hear Vince is a very cool guy to work with.
Released as a single in the UK in July 1983.
YEAH I love this! Also another song he made called 'Claudette' is a fave !
I was at Junktion 7 last night .... really great gig ... I have a copy of the new Marlow album ... it's fantastic !
From the mastermind of Vince Clarke...So very nice...Thx for sharing!!
RIP Robert
Rest in Peace Robert. A great guy and sadly missed. The Devout. (Reza, Keith, Barclay and Nikita)
el sonido de vince clarke es inconfundible en este fantastico disco!!!
See the boy sitting lean & proud, yeah
Smooth white skin just like a shroud
He's a subtle young savage with lips that yearn
And eyes that make the canvas burn
The old man grows older, he curses the day
He's sorry he painted the face of Dorian Gray
They stop and stare to see the boy pass by
They see the blackness in his eyes
The portrait burning as the young man laughs
Sunlight flaming, life is flickering past
The old man grows older, he curses the day
He's sorry he painted the face of Dorian Gray
As flesh decays, then the image grows younger
A sweet sardonic smile like dying thunder
He condescends in mystery
And then dying, shrieks his own agony
The old man grows older, he curses the day
He's sorry he painted the face of Dorian Gray
For those who may not know, the song is based on the Oscar Wilde novel "The Picture of Dorian Gray" - The "hero" of the title has a portrait painted, which ages as he remains young, allowing him to lead an amoral and hedonistic life, while the effects are accumulated in the portrait. In the finale, to absolve himself of the last of his conscience, Gray returns to his home and destroys the portrait with a knife. His servants hear a scream from the room, and enter to find an elderly man dead, stabbed through the heart. He is identified as Gray by his jewellery, while on the wall hangs an undamaged portrait of the young Dorian....
The missing link between Yazoo and Erasure.
I thought the missing link was The Assembly?
Marlow are to play a gig at Junktion 7 in Nottingham on Friday November 14th .... the headline act ... I'm planning on being there
How were they in concert?
yes, along with 10 other songs.
you can get it on Amazon for about 10 bucks, I think.
Nice catchy tune. Could have been Yazoo :) I can only wonder what miracle Alison would have performed here vocally... Robert's voice is a little deadpan, and the 4/4 arrangement at times stretches it a little, like not knowing what to do with certain parts in the song... Still the catchy effect makes it all work perfectly.
Well done! This is amazing... I have the 12" version of this on vinyl, but I have never seen the video!
So are you saying this is now available on CD!?
Mycket häftig låt!
cool song
Sounds like the second album of Yazoo - Vince Clarke is audible!
it's half and half. Everything was arranged by Marlow. The sounds were by Clarke and Eric Radcliffe.
I'll be there as well Yellowox.....Can't wait for the new stuff !!!!.
True. Both of these are great songs. Also fond of "Torch Team" an ode to Pyromania.
always there in there in the background as the unsung contributor who helped shaped the basildon synth scene and the basildon sound
great to see this vid, and all the info from the
comments earlier...i bought 2 singles by RM when
they came out, 'dorian gray' & 'claudette', purely
on the strength of hearing that VC & ER were at
the controls. i wasnt disappointed, i know he had
average reviews, but his work deserved better success
than he actually got....glad to hear it made it to
CD in the end, i had no idea....i'm gonna get that !
cheers everyone.
I dunno. But either, it's agreed that Vince kicks ass, no matter what he does on a record.
which Marlow songs don't you like? because I think some of the even songs are awesome.
Oh wow, I have this on vinyl but I don't think I ever saw the video before!
The Assembly and all what a talented guy it is funny how much of speak and spell sounds come through on this single
I've always liked Dorian Gray. Did you see the BBC version, the one with Peter Firth?
Oh how I wish I still had my marlow collection, but sadly migration saw the demise of my vinyl collection(all that punk stuff as well grrrrr) damn and Australia would have benefitted from a touch of Essex electro goodness !!
Only just discovered this tonight despite being a child in the 80s. Absolutely fantastic. Does anyone know where Robert’s first album is available to buy?
Only problem with this song is that poor old Basil died young.
He'd seen too much.
haha i just met once one in croatia.
a women was shouting DORIAN, DORIAN and i looked behind and said "yes?", she was just looking at me (like wtf). then her son a little 3 yr old boy came and his name was dorian. that was the first and last time i ment someone. i love this name, im happy that my mother named me so :)
right on
too bad there's no videos for those singles
you should hear "Calling All Destroyers." although, I should actually make a video for that.
Aside from the fact that Blasphemous Rumours wasn't on the Speak & Spell album :-p
mine too!
there are just a few like us :D
Can anyone explain the storyline of this video for me? I know the story of Dorian Gray really well and the video seems to parallel the book but with some major changes (Basil Hallward remaining alive, the girl- presumably Sibyl Vane- becoming old and withered). If anyone knows exactly what they had in mind when making the video that'd be great if you could fill me in. :)
Hi
Is this Klaus Nomi without make-up??
Who's the girl?!
2:03 Shaiff ? Hmm...
Yeah-it reminds me of 'Blasphemous Rumors'.
LOL Yeah
Point
meh. I, too, felt some lack of interest towards those songs. but now "Torch Team" is among my favorite (after Calling All Destroyers and Life in a Film.)
I think the main thing is that most of the songs are based off a lot of old 50's and 60's rock styles. that can get a little annoying sometimes.
Written by Vince Clarke
No, written by Robert Marlow, but produced by Vince Clarke (and Eric Radcliffe).
meh. I think the fact that he was a friend of Vince Clarke was why the critics hated the singles back in the 80's. I mean, yes, they're kinda goofy, but compared to a lot of the bad chessy in those days, they're worth more than they have said to be. I can see what you mean about it being like Yazoo, but it has a faster tempo and less disco in it than Yazoo. If I had to compare, I would say that it sounds like early Erasure. Calling All Destroyers, sounds close to Oh L'amour.
It's very 80s, ironically enough. Lyrics are good though.
Is this about 50 shades of Grey?