Track Listing

1. Suvasini
2. Contemplation
3. Theology
4. Wildest Dreams
5. Lost In Your Mystery
6. Rise Like A Fountain
7. Age Of Reason
8. Hidden Flame
9. Because Of You
10. Pansophia
11. Heart And Soul
12. Living For The Spangled Moment
13. Feast Of Lanterns
14. Illusions Of You
15. Word For Word
16. Finks And Stooges Of The Spirit
17. Nightbirds
18. Yo Yo Dyne

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #89620 in Music
• Released on: 2006-11-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered

Customer Reviews

The long wait is over!
Oh, how very, very long have I waited for this to get a CD release. With both of my cassette copies from 1986 long having gone the way of the mangled spool, and having no record player on which to spin the mini-LP, I had only my memories - but it has been worth the wait.

A beautiful, unique and evocative blend of styles and influences. Weaving percussion, sweeping string synths, delicately reverberating acoustic guitar, but above all the swoop and swirl of the e-bow guitar make this album Bills best by a country mile. The esoteric visuals merge with pastoralism and romanticism, touching XTCs more experimental phases, looping in some Foxxian electro-psychedalia and typical mid-80s hints at the orient. Wildest Dreams, the single, is a highlight, as are Contemplation, Theology, Lost in Your Mystery and Rise Like a Fountain. Even a little bit too much funk on the last track doesn't dim the shine.

I can guarentee that this will be unlike anything else in your collection - a forgotten landmark piece of musicianship and songwriting.

First time on CD!
It has taken 20 years, but at last Bill Nelson's mighty "Getting the Holy Ghost Across" gets a CD release. This album has been avidly sought by fans over the years, who have had to rely on their old vinyl or cassette copies in which to hear this great recording. Originally released on the CBS label Portrait back in 1986, Sony have agreed now to license the recording to Bill's own label Sonoluxe for this remastered re-issue. Now also sporting upgraded artwork and all the bonus tracks which appeared on the cassette version and the mini LP "Living for the Spangled Moment".

This is Bill Nelson at his 80's best. Influences from his work with Yellow Magic Orchestra impregnate the sinewy sounds as it did on his album "Chimera" where the rhythm track was supplied by YMO's own Yukihiro Takahashi. Using his trademark E-bow guitar, marimbas and synths Bill flavours each track with eastern flourishes to create a sophisticated musical palette. Though Bill himself questions the 80's production values on this record, the sound is gorgeous and there is a rare emotionality present which were absent in the majority of the clinical, glossy produced records of the day. Part of that emotionality stems from the personal upheavals Bill was going through during the recording of the album. The results are some of Bill's most sumptuous songs he had written up to that point. Songs like the single "Wildest Dreams" is thoroughly heartfelt. "Rise Like A Fountain" is simply ecstatic. Obviously this was a very productive period as the sessions threw up so much material which are presented here over 18 tracks, just about filling up the 80 minutes of CD time. Of course Bill has always been highly prolific, but with this album he was definitely at a peak of compositional flare.

For many Nelson acolytes, this album has long been overdue a re-release and on reflection this is truly a lost gem from the art-pop 80's, alongside the best of The Associates, Simple Minds, David Sylvian and others of the era.

Beautiful
When push comes to shove, probably my favourite of all Bill's albums. This CD incorporates three vinyl releases from the mid-80's, the UK version "Getting The Holy Ghost Across", the US version "On A Blue Wing" and the UK mini album "Living For The Spangled Moment."

Like the other reviewer I have been waiting for this CD patiently for many years, though I have been able to burn myself a CD from my original vinyl copies. The album contains many high points, "Contemplation" and "Wildest Dreams", but for me, the inclusion of "Finks & Stooges Of The Spirit" makes a must-buy into an essential purchase.

Essential.