John Cale – Paris 1919｜Vinyl Monday
The fading bride’s dull beauty glows, just begging to be seen.
Welcome (or welcome back) to Vinyl Monday! This is my series where I give the who/what/when/where/why and how I feel about classic albums in my collection. My thoughts on John Cale’s most accessible masterpiece, Paris 1919 (released 1973) Subscribe for more Vinyl Monday!
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Tonight’s The Night 50th review!: https://trackingangle.com/music/bright-not-brilliant-neil-youngs-tonights-the-night-at-50
Timestamps:
intro – 0:00
art/packaging/personnel – 1:31
Paris 1919 – 5:06
track listing/release – 16:04
my thoughts – 19:45
thanks for watching! – 39:11
Music:
Intro Music: Yeah Yeah Yeah (Long) by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…) Artist: http://audionautix.com/
Outtro Music: Ticket To Nowhere Man by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/…) Artist: http://audionautix.com/
Vinyl Monday logo by Callum: https://www.youtube.com/@clynaack
#vinyl #vinylcommunity #velvetunderground #johncale
@SydBarrettArchives
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
On several videos, this one, Nico's, you keep saying Nico was "ejected" from the VU, she was NEVER a member, just a guest, pushed by Andy, and I know you know this, so she couldn't be ejected. John on the other hand is a different story. Oh, and I do want to say I love and enjoy them both, but I just get weird when people keep inserting Nico as a member.
@sarahwelty9223
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Paris 1919 is a great record but it's not my favourite by John Cale. I prefer Slow Dazzle and Fear. What's Welsh for Zen is a brilliant book full of surprises I couldn't put is down and read it in about 2 days! I have a copy of it somewhere in the archives and it's very hard to get hold of now. Great video thank you for uploading this 👍
@sandyatkins6978
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
As a young, voracious history geek, Paris 1919 blew me away with its scatter shot lyrics. Dozens of early 20th Century artists, musicians, politicians, entertainers all name checked. And I knew immediately his "half past France" reference. The German Army traversed France and Belgium so fast in 1940, that when asked what time it was, soldier's would look at there watches and say "Looks like it's half past France."
@ConnerFields-p7w
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I'd love to see a Sparks review.
@sjbang5764
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I bought this album in February 1973. It was/is paradise
@outtathyme5679
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
You have a phonographic memory
@outtathyme5679
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Lowell George 😮
@satelliteimagerymusic
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
4:07 I will never stop requesting Kimono My House 😊👍
@andrewhoag6167
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Love this album. BTW – my wife agrees with you 100%; he had her at the Welsh-accented "customEHry thing" in "Paris 1919". I introduced her to this album. Can you say "shot myself in the foot" ?? 😄
@surfwriter8461
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
It's a great album. The inspiration from or at least association with Nick Drake's music is unmistakable. Cale played on some of Nick's songs on Drake's second album, "Bryter Layter". The "Paris 1919" album has a lot of common ground with that Nick Drake album, and the entire Cale album is clearly of a piece as well as distinct from most of his other recordings. I consider this some of Cale's best work along with his two albums of collaboration with Lou Reed, especially the "Songs for Drella" album meant as a tribute to Andy Warhol. So John and Lou DID reunite and create great work again after the messy breakup from The Velvet Underground.
If you haven't done so already, I urge you to feature Nick Drake's classic albums issued before his untimely death–all three albums, including "Pink Moon," are absolutely gorgeous with a heavy dose of melancholy. Likewise, that recording by Cale and Reed is something I think you and your audience would benefit from hearing.
@deviantmonkey1
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
It might be sacrilege, but I always liked Cale's Solo stuff more then Lou's, I listened to this and Fear a lot during my early 20s. Plus I'm super weird, I think John has a wonderful voice. … Thanks for the eggs
@rpinverarity
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Speaking as somebody who wrote a whole lot of Cale music criticism for years, I found this video to offer some striking new insights. I had never thought of "between Dunkirk and Paris" in the sense of time!
One addition: I am pretty sure Antarctica Starts Here is closely related to the classic film Sunset Blvd.
@wyldebill4178
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Lettering is in the Korova Milk bar in the movie A Clockwork Orange
@PhinClio
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
What a lovely and interesting review of one of my favorite albums! Don't know how the algorithm got me here (this is the first video of yours I've seen), but I look forward to many more.
@seralouise.
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
hi abby! i tried writing this as a note on your website but i think it was too long for the text box so i'm doing it here instead
i'm a newer fan and i've completely fallen in love with your channel over the past month, especially your Pink Floyd and King Crimson analysis. i was wondering if you would ever consider covering the Talking Heads on your channel? they are one of my all time favorites bands and, while they aren't the usual genre or era u tend towards on this channel, i would love to hear your thoughts on some of their work. i especially would love to hear what you have to say about their live album/concert film Stop Making Sense, as i think it is their definitive artistic statement as a group.
if you read this i hope you have a pleasant day.
@ImthePaulshouldnotbeallowedtod
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I got to meet him at the Showbox in Seattle after his concert when he was on IRS records and his single Ready for War was getting some rotation and I had him sign my banana cover and the Canadian version that didn't have the banana sticker and the back cover of the US version, was the front cover of the original Canadian that wasn't a fold open double sleeve. In the eighties they reissued a printed banana cover and not as a sticker, after polygram purchased the verve records rights. I also taped the show but lost most of my tapes and films and entire record collection when a family member stole it and sold it for 600 Canadian dollars in order to buy 2 🎱 eight balls of cocaine and it that was in 1992 when my collection was valued at over 80 thousand dollars and it breaks my heart to see so many single items from my collection now getting for 1000 dollars plus and in some cases 3 copies of some of these, my Beatles items can never be replaced
@TheChristafershawn
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Nice, you have Sparks in your collection!!!! Let the nagging begin.
@Kid_Ulysses
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Humble request for a piece about Husker Du's Zen Arcade. Fun fact: the a-side of the only single accompanying Zen Arcade was their rendition of 'Eight Miles High'.
@jpastiche
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Your aesthetic is 10/10. I don't know what else to say.
@KS-yy2fu
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I bought this at the age of 14 decades ago and still love it to date.
@rockodilechannel3509
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
You had me at Little Feat. Now I gotta hear this album.
@JasonTryp
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
This is a great analysis to one of my favorite 70's albums, well done. Mr. Cale really had a great 3 or 4 great album run there from PARIS 1919 arguably onto HELEN OF TROY. Plus, VINTAGE VIOLENCE is not shabby at all in itself and has some magnificent songs.
@Mikeywithak-ts3oy
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
John Cale / Brian Eno's 'Spinning Away' will make the healing tears flow.
@neilavey9240
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Little Feat. What a band they were. I hope you eventually get to Feats Don’t Fail Me Now.
@TheWolfboy512
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
One of my all time favorites, With Paris 1919you feel like you've been let into a secret world. You feel smarter afterward. Abigail, that was an incredible & heartfelt review.
@ekaterinaavetisova4778
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Abby, you are so pretty!
@jahnbon
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
I was a teenage regular at CBGBs from 1977 on, and I saw John perform there many times, but a year before those gigs, I met him under unusual circumstances. I had become friends with Nick Lowe in 1978, when he was amused to have a fifteen-year-old fan gush at him in a Manhattan nightclub. Some time later, Nick had dropped in, and was standing at the bar, standing next to John. I had always been intimidated by Cale's demeanor, and history of antagonism toward fans, but I felt emboldened by Nick's presence, and felt I had to say hello.
Nick introduced me to John. (Imagine that — Nick Lowe introducing me to John Cale. Jeez!) I offer salutations.
At 5'6”, both guys tower over me. After greetings, I say, “Paris 1919 is one of the most brilliant records ever made. I listen to it all the time.”
John's reply: “Yeah… well, what the fuck do you know?”
Nick laughs.
Ever the NYC kid, I replied, “Well, I know this: I'll never buy one of your fuckin' records ever again.”
I lied. Didn't hold to that oath. I eventually bought 'em all. I still respect the man, and his work.
Thanks for another great dive, Abigail. Keep up the great work!
@eclecticselections2222
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Love this Abi and you really hit the nail on head when it comes to John Cale's voice. His range might be limited to the tone of his voice is beautiful and warm! I look forward to the rest of Double Album December! Keep up the good work!
@johnstebbins24
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
4:33 – "I've seen this lettering before; can't put my finger on where I've seen it…"
20:40 – shows photo of subway sign with almost exact version of the lettering
@KevKavanagh
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
There's still nothing that frightens me more than religion at my door (hello USA 2025!) and Hanky Panky Nohow remains one of those songs that will stay with me forever. Thanks Abigail, I've been waiting for this one.
@michaelroberts7959
December 29, 2025 at 6:54 pm
Nice to see one of my all time favourite albums getting some attention. Still one of the most inventive, glorious pieces of pop ever made. As essential an album of fearless exploration of the era as McCartney's RAM. A stunner still.
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