Tot Taylor
STUDIO SOUNDS (Front)
CAMPUS20
TOT TAYLOR - STUDIO SOUNDS
NEW ALBUM (23-10-2023)
Tot Taylor ushers in his upcoming OCTOBER album
‘STUDIO SOUNDS’
DOWNLOAD ALBUM AS…
Press & PR:
Robin Turner
07771 532437
STUDIO SOUNDS (Back)
CAMPUS20
STUDIO SOUNDS (CD gatefold)
CAMPUS20
LISTEN TO STUDIO SOUNDS (Album)
Find each track below
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01 | Take Me With You
01 | This Kid's Hair | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
This kid’s hair…
Well, it keeps goin’ round ’n round
Ain’t nothin’ in the world like This Kid’s Hair
to keep me from goin’ dow-oowwnnnn…
This kid’s … hair …
Well, it’s a stuck up there on top
You can call it what you want –
but in this God-Almighty world
I ain’t gonna stop complainin’
(Stop complainin’ – I tell ya!)
This kid’s hair
Hain’t nobody’s hair, but his
It’ll do its best for goo-oo-oo-ood
In this God-forsaken world
Like I would do if I could…
Cos this kid’s hair…
If it’s a-stuck up there f good
Better get that hair back together again
(I will do, if you … stop com-plai-nin!
Stop com-plai-nin’…
Anymore…
I’m not complainin’ anymore
Like I once was a-time before
I’m not complainin’ anymore
Like I was once upon a time before
I said GET AWAY! GO AWAY!
STAY AWAY! N-O-O-O-W –
Aawww!! When that hair
Gets a-trailin’ on the ground!
Ain’t nothin’ in the world you can do touch this kid’s hair
Don’t let that kid’s hair dow-own…
Cos this kid’s hair
Well, it’s the best accoutrement I’ve ever found
Better get that hair back together again –
I’ll do it myself if you’ll onlystop complainin’
‘Stop complainin’ !
Anymore…
I’m not complainin’ anymore
Like I once was a-time before
I told ya…
I’m not complainin’ anymore
Like I once was a-time before
(What do I say?) I say…
GET AWAY – GO AWAY!!…
STAY AWAY! N-O-O-O-W!!
When that hair
(when that hair…)
Gets a-trailin’ on the ground
(on the ground now…)
Ain’t nothin’ in the world t’ beat this kid’s hair
Better let that kid’s hair dow-own…
And this kid’s hair (this particular kid…)
Ain’t nobody’s hair but his
Gotta get that hair back to-ge-ther again
I would do if you’d only
Stop – complainin’ stop complainin’
Stop Complainin’, stop Complainin’
I’m not complainin’ anymore
(da-ba-ta-da-ba-ta-da-ba-ta etc)
Like I once was a-time before
I’m not complainin’ anymore
Like I once was a-time (da-pa-ta da-pa-ta…)
‘cos I say
I said GET AWAY – GO AWAY!!
STAY AWAY NOW!!
02 | Distort Me, Baby
02 | Distort Me, Baby | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
Travelled many miles to see you
Wonder why I don’t believe you
When you say you’re a-lookin’ for me?
All this time I want you to be mine…
Many years you must have thought I
Lived a double-life or somethin’
How on earth can I explain?
Won’t somebody listen to my song?
To get me up (to put me up)
Just before I look away…
Distort Me, Baby
Don’t let me around again
(I said) Distort Me Babee…
Don’t let me around…
Up a mountain, ‘cross a stream
I work all day to make my dream come true about you (any season)
Gonna find you any-where you are…
To pick me up
To put me out
Just because you want to…
Distort Me, baby
Don’t let me around again (oo.oo.oo)
I said, Distort Me Babeeee…
Don’t let me around (a-gain)… (whistle…)
Distort Me girl… (don’t let me around…)
When you say there’s nothing doin’
Taking me to RAK and ruin
I guess I must be leavin’
Only thing … (I want you – to be mine…)
To get me up – to put me down
Dah-dah, Dah-dah,
Just before you turn away…
Distort me, baby…
Don’t let me around a-gain…
I said – Distort me, babee
Don’t let me around – again…
I get to thinkin’ gurl
And when I think, I don’t think straight
Get to thinkin’ baby
Somehow I think the things I hate…
Distort me, baby…
Don’t let me around again…
Distort me, babee…
Don’t let me around …
(I said), distort me babee…
Don’t let me around (again…)
Distort me, baby…
Don’t let me around again…
03 | Now You're Talkin'
03 | Now You're Talkin' | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
Nebuchadnezzar is that you?
Tutankhamen – you came too!
Mr Speaker got your tongue in a twist today…
Gimme a ring on your mission-bell
Put a toe in the wishin’ well
Now you’re talkin’ at me
Listen what I gotta say…
Now you’re talkin’ (now you’re talkin’, baby… hey…)
Now you’re talkin’ (now you’re talkin’, baby… hey…)
Spiritual Father – what you want?
Mother Nature – what you on?
It ain’t natural to speak as dumb as you
Mahavira – Golden One
Stephen Hawking – Silver Son-on-on…
Now you’re talkin’ for me
Listen what I gotta say
Now you’re talkin’ (now you’re talkin’, at me… hey…ye…)
Now you’re talkin’ (now you’re talkin’, ‘bout me… hey…ye…)
Education? – Man, you’re done!
A sense of the common word has won
Now you’re talkin’ for me
Listen what I gotta say
Like a loud Marcel Marceau
Silence is Golden – don’t you kn-o-o-ow?
Now you’re talkin’ with me
Listen what I gotta say
Now you’re talkin’ (now you’re talkin’ to me … hey…)
Now you’re talkin’ (now you’re talkin’ at me … hey…)
Now you’re talkin’ (now you’re talkin’ ’bout me … hey…)
Now you’re talkin’ (now you’re talkin’ for me … hey…)
04 | Joon Moon
04 | Joon Moon | Lyrics
(get your ego together!)
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
Y got y-self a gun
Gonna have y-self some fun!
Blow us all to pieces now
You’ve only just begun…
JOON MOON – you better back off soon
You’re busy doin’ this…
You’re busy doin’ that…
You’re busy doin’ nothin’ in your… busybody hat
JOON MOON – looks like you came too soon
You meant to – but y haven’t done nothin’…
You call me every day!!
But there’s nothing new to say
There has to be some… mystery
instead of making hay…
JOON MOON – y better change your toon
You were gonna, but y haven’t done nothin…
You know you’re not a Don
You-ou know you‘ll soon be gone…
You got y-self piece of it-
C’mon, and leave us all alone Joon Moon …
Just … back off soon
Get your Ego to-ge-ther
You were gonna but you didn’t do nothin’ ??
C’mon and get your ego to-ge-ther…
JOON MOON…
05 | Monster Ravin' Looney
05 | Monster Ravin' Looney | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
They got the National Curriculums
To help you with your sums
But folk today are broke today
Wearing out their gums
They put the People on the street
So you can help everyone you meet
“In for a pen-nie – out for a pound”
While they farm their country-seat
Monster Raving Looney! (Monster Raving Looney)
Monster Raving Looney! (Monster Raving Looney)
They need to keep the People down
So they follow you around
“Make them poorer, make them poor”
The way they did before…
When a million billionaires
Are taken unawares
You’re all alone, (there’s no one home)
Better say your prayers…
Monster Raving Looney (Monster Raving Looney)
Monster Raving Looney (Monster Raving Looney)
And when they go to sleep
They count the cost – they don’t count sheep…
And when they go to bed
They play the fool, they don’t play dead!
So you’re sleepin’ rough at night
They tell ya “everythin’s alright”
While they keep you in the pink
Tell the people what to think
Monster Raving Looney (Monster Ravin’ Looney)
Monster Raving Looney (Monster Ravin’ Looney)
Monster Raving Looney (Monster Ravin’ Looney)
Monster Raving Looney (Monster Ravin’ Looney)
06 | Hate Mail
06 | Hate Mail | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
I’ve been sittin’ at home
Shining my light on you
(You look good too)
Everywhere that I roam I need an alibi
to cloud my sky
I’ve been hangin’ around
Got my feet on the ground
You’ve been reading my mind
I’ve been reading your Hate Mail…
You been changin’ y’ tune
Usin’ my lullabys on other guys
You’ll be over it soon
Maybe you’ll understand
The things I planned…
I’ve been hangin’ around
Scared of makin’ a sound
You been readin’ my mind
I been readin’ your Hate Mail
You say that I deceived you
So why don’t I believe you?
I’m never gonna do it again…
HARPSICHORD
I been hangin’ around
Got my feet off the ground
You been readin’ my mind
I been readin’ your hate mail…
You been readin’ my mind
I been readin’ your hate mail…
You been readin’ my mind
I been readin’ your hate mail…
07 | Formula
07 | Formula | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
So you think you can leave me standin’
Hand-in-hand upon the landin’ ?
Add up baby… subtract baby
You’re never alone with a ‘Formula!’
If y wanna be somethin’ special?
Well, stop your cryin’
Keep on tryin’
Maybe you can, but here’s the facts, lady!
You’re never alone with a formula!
FORMULA!
take another trip around One + One
FORMULA!
take my tip ’cos two have more fun than one…
So y think y can get me goin’?
Well, speed up baby, ‘cos I’m not slowin’ down
(not that I know of, anyway…)
Like the moon, I got my formula
If y think y can square up Mama!
Well, maybe you will, but you don’t wanna
spoil the sun that shines in the summer
It’s a ‘bit of a riff’ with a formula
FORMULA!
take another trip around 2+2
FORMULA!
– take my tip,
(I’m) flippin’ it right back to you…
Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-Da-
Di-Di-Di-Di-Di-Di-Di-Di-Di
Di-Di-Di-Di-Di-Di
FORMULA!
take another trip around 3+3
FORMULA!
take my tip
Start flippin’ it right back to me…
So you think you can leave me standin’
Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba …
08 | Kassandra's Kaftan
08 | Kassandra's Kaftan | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
Published by Songmatic Music
Kassandra’s Kaftan
Blowin’ in the midnite air
Kassandra’s Kaftan
Wonder what y gonna wear?
Kassandra’s Kaftan
There’s very little of it … … … there
I took a walk up to Kassandra’s Kaftan
On the corner of the street
Where night-time falls…
I looked around Kassandra’s Kaftan
To put a name to a face
and put an end to-it-all…
Kassandra’s Kaftan
It’s blowin’ in the midnite … air –
Kassandra’s Kaftan
Y’ just don’t have a thing to wear
Kassandra’s Kaftan
There’s very little of it there…
You can stay all nite!!
at Kassandra’s Kaftan
In the middle of the street
Where darkness falls…
You’ll be alrite!
at Kassandra’s Kaftan
If you’re making it down
Y’ couldn’t make it up…
Don’t stay all nite
at Kassandra’s Kaftan
Where you dwell
Upon the coffee-cup
You’ll be alrite – at Kassandra’s Kaftan
But if you’re cryin’ out for help
Well, cryin’ ain’t enough…
Where the people meet
At the end of the street
Got a regular beat
Get a ‘real neat seat’
Where the people meet
At the end of the street
It’s reet petite
Y get a picture seat
Where the people hide
Y wanna sit inside?
Wanna ride??
Somebody cried…
At Kassandra’s Kaftan
At Kassandra’s Kaftan
Where the people meet
At the end of the street
Got a regular beat
And a real neat seat
Where the people meet
At the end of the street
It’s reet petite
Y get a real, neat seat
Where the people hide (high pno)
y wanna sit inside?
Wanna ride??
Somebody cried…
at…
Kassandra’s Kaftan
Blowin’ in the midnite air – (breeze)
Kassandra’s Kaftan
You just don’t have a thing to wear
Kassandra’s Kaftan
There’s very little of it – there…
Kassandra’s Kaftan
Blowin’ in the midnite air – (breeze)
Kassandra’s Kaftan
You just don’t have a thing to wear
Kassandra’s Kafta
There’s very little of it – there…
09 | Vanity Flares
09 | Vanity Flares | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
I’m putting on vanity flares
The ‘best things’ for you
An’ you’re comin’ too …
Hold off your horses – I’ll set the course
‘Cos I’m steppin’ up vanity stairs
Far as it goes …
I knows what I knows
Don’t wanna blind you
(but) I’m here to remind you …
I’m so sure of the life I’m living
I’m even getting ‘forgiving’ …
No one should care but me…
I’m singin’ and swingin’ the words
Way past my time?
Or I should be – but I’m
Not in the mood
(spoken) don’t wanna be rude but …
I’m fitting-and-filling you in…
Head in a spin
… Before I begin
Starting anew
What else can I do?
I’m so sure of the life I’m living
I’m even getting ‘forgiving’
No one should follow me…
I’m so sure of the life I’m living
I’m even gettin’ ‘forgiving’
No one to bother me…
Stop acting like nobody cares…
Vanity Flares… for you…
10 | Yesterday's T-Shirt
10 | Yesterday's T-Shirt | Lyrics
Music & lyrics by Tot Taylor
(Published by Songmatic Music)
Lookin’ thru my rainbow-coloured past…
When messages of love were meant to last
Oh, I must reject The Word
Everything I overheard
’Cos that wld be like wearing Yesterday’s T.Shirt
Keeping up appearances, I hate…
Getting down with every fashion-plate…
Oh I know there’s ‘nothin’ doin’
I go from RAK to ruin
Cos that would be like wearing Yesterday’s T.Shirt
Yesterday’s T.Shirt is old and grey
Give it another day, wear it another way
Give it another play…
Yesterday’s T.Shirt hyperbole
Will be the death of me
I am a honeybee, stuck in a money-tree…
(la, la, la, la, la, la)
(la, la, la, la, la, la)
I hear the news is on the street
Wash the brains of everyone you meet!
I’m so elaborate
I should be fab-u-lous!
But that would be like wearing Yesterday’s T.Shirt!
Yesterday’s T.Shirt is old and grey
Give it another day, wear it another way
Give it another play …
Yesterday’s T.Shirt – hyperbole
Is gonna eat me whole, swallow my very soul
No more to rock or to roll
(la, la, la, la, la, la)
(la, la, la, la, la, la, la…)
Watch me as I fade into the night …
Miss me as I tap-dance out of sight
Oh I’m so … elaborate
I should be fabulous!
But that would be like wearing Yesterday’s T.Shirt
I know I’m done explainin’
I know my star is wanin’
That would be like wearin’ …
That would be like wearin’ …
That would be like wearin’…
Yesterday’s T. Shirt!
NOW YOU'RE TALKIN' (Single)
YouTube video...
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NOW YOU'RE TALKING (Press Release)
NEW SINGLE (23 – 10 – 2023)
Tot Taylor ushers in his upcoming OCTOBER album
‘STUDIO SOUNDS’
with a brand new single:
“NOW YOU’RE TALKIN”
a song about ‘everyone doing the right thing’ (for each other)
which will lead to the release of the new CD album (23-10–23).
Exclusive to ROUGH TRADE
Launching with a PLAYBACK with TRAVIS ELBOROUGH
at The Social, London (27-9-23)
with Tot speaking about his “nutty life and nutty times”
both within the worlds of music & also contemporary art.
The new album ‘STUDIO SOUNDS’
Recorded at legendary RAK Studios, in London’s St. John’s Wood, during the weeks immediately following
the end of lockdown,
‘STUDIO SOUNDS’
is… a ‘wild trip through pop music sonics’
as Tot explores not only “every instrument and sound known to Man” but keeps the lyrics “very real” and “very Now!”
as the real world outside of the studio rebalances and adjusts – and the sun
finally reappears!
STUDIO SOUNDS is an incredibly UP! record.
A collection of upbeat, optimistic songs about the future –
tho critical (as ever) about our leaders, our ‘betters’ and their management of our fragile world.
Subjects range from ‘out-there politics’ such as the
MONSTER RAVING LOONY’s
and ‘THE TORIES’! as well as
‘suedehead’ haircuts, out-of-fashion
T.Shirts, ‘old hat’ politicians and Nebuchadnezzar: ‘king-of-Babylon’, all contained within Tot Taylor’s
lush ‘musical bubblewrap’ of warm summery chords and mystical wordplay.
the new single:
NOW YOU’RE TALKIN’ – TOT TAYLOR
Nebuchadnezzar is that you?
Tutankhamen you came too!
‘Mr Speaker’ got your tongue in a twist today
Gimme a ring on your mission-bell
Put a toe in the wishin’-well
Now you’re talkin’ at me
Listen what I gotta say …
NOW YOU’RE TALKIN – (Now you’re Talkin, baby)
Spiritual father – what you want ?
Mother Nature, what you on ?
It ain’t natural, to speak as dumb as you …
MAHAVIRA – ‘Golden One’
Stephen Hawking – ‘Silver Sun’
NOW YOU’RE Talking for me -Listen what I gotta say
NOW YOU’RE TALKIN – (Now YOU’RE Talkin at me)
Education! Man, you’re done!
A sense of the ‘common’ word has won
Now you’re talkin’ for me – Listen what I gotta say
Like a loud Marcel Marceau – ‘Silence is Golden’, Don’t y Know?
(Now YOU’RE Talkin With Me) LISTEN WHAT I GOTTA SAY…
Press & PR:
Robin Turner
07771 532 437
MONSTER RAVIN' LOONEY (Single)
YouTube video...
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MONSTER RAVIN' LOONEY (Press Release)
PRESS RELEASE – TOT TAYLOR
The song: ‘MONSTER RAVING LOONEY’ : Tot Taylor / TheCampus label (via Rough Trade)
is an unabated swipe at our political leaders and the mess they have “gotten us into”. A super upbeat-sounding track with socio-political “Us and Them lyrics”. Heavy yet hooky, Tot’s crunchy piano chords vibrate the floorboards in this ‘tale of our times’ announcing a new album due this summer full of lyrics about “the world we live in” (and how to get out of it!).
Recorded at RAK Studios, London with Duncan Fuller, Shawn Lee and Paul Cuddeford, ‘MONSTER RAVING LOONEY’ is from Tot Taylor’s upcoming new album STUDIO SOUNDS.
About TOT TAYLOR: BIO
Tot Taylor is a legendary pop auteur and also contemporary art curator – (founder of The Compact Organization and the influential ‘pre-punk’ group Advert-I-Sing). He was signed to Island Records while still a Cambridge schoolboy and is also author of the 900-page (2019) novel ‘THE STORY OF JOHN NIGHTLY’ (Random House). Having worked with such as PAUL McCARTNEY and MICHAEL STIPE, shared an editing-room with FEDERICO FELLINI and had dinner with ANDY WARHOL Tot has curated exhibitions with YOKO ONO, JUDY CHICAGO & WILLIAM BURROUGHS and happenings at the famous RIFLEMAKER Art Space in London and lectures in Contemporary Art at SOTHEBYS Institute. Riflemaker artists have exhibited at TATE MODERN, MoMA – MUSEUM of MODERN ART NY, the ICA & FRIEZE London. His songs often bash the establishment and the “corrupt characters from the times we live in”.
MONSTER RAVIN’ LOONEY
They got the National Curriculum
To help you with your sums
But folk today are broke today
Wearing out their gums
They put the people on the street
So you can help everyone you meet
In for a penny, out for a pound
While they farm their country-seat
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
They need to keep the people down
So they follow you around
Make them poorer, make them poor
The way they did before
When a million billionaires
Are taken unawares
You’re all alone (there’s no one home)
Better say your prayers
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
And when they go to sleep
They count the cost, they don’t count sheep
So when they go to bed
They play the part, they don’t play dead
So you’re sleepin’ rough at night
They tell ya ‘everythin’s alright’
While they keep you in the pink
Tell the people what to think
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Monster ravin’ looney
Now
Press & PR:
Robin Turner
07771 532 437
TOT TAYLOR - BIO
Tot Taylor is a legendary pop auteur and also contemporary art curator – (founder of The Compact Organization and the influential ‘pre-punk’ group Advert-I-Sing). He was signed to Island Records while still a Cambridge schoolboy and is also author of the 900-page 2019 novel ‘THE STORY OF JOHN NIGHTLY’ (Penguin Random House) see: Amazon UK/US for copies.
Having worked with such as PAUL McCARTNEY and MICHAEL STIPE, shared an editing-room with FEDERICO FELLINI and a dinner table with ANDY WARHOL Tot has curated exhibitions with YOKO ONO, JUDY CHICAGO, PENELOPE SLINGER & WILLIAM BURROUGHS and happenings at the famous RIFLEMAKER Art Space in Beak Street, London and lectures in Contemporary Art at SOTHEBYS Institute. Riflemaker artists have exhibited at TATE MODERN, MoMA – Museum of Modern Art NY, the ICA & FRIEZE London.
His songs often bash the establishment and the “corrupt characters from the times we live in”
CONTACTS:
robinsturner@gmail.com
russell@viaductpromotions.co.uk
Insta: @tottaylor