Julian Cope: On The Road North

Taken from the album ‘Cope’s Notes #2: Droolian's Mother’ on Head Heritage Press 2021. Written by Julian Cope. Most people are aware of Julian Cope via his time in Teardrop Explodes, or possibly through his first four largely successful solo albums on Island Records, but I personally first came across JC after moving into a flat in Liverpool, where I found myself with a flatmate who owned the rare masterpiece that is ‘Droolian’. Recorded at a time in his career when he was in a disagreement with Island Records, Cope had decided to record some stuff outside of Island's interest, resulting in two of his finest albums, ‘Skellington’ and ‘Droolian’. Both were released on small independent labels, with the second ‘Droolian’ initially being released in Texas only, and as a record intended to raise funds towards legal fees for Roky Erickson of 13th Floor Elevators. The track itself pretty much describes what it was like recording ‘Droolian’, from date and time to people and place, but didn’t appear on ‘Droolian’, instead being held back until Cope’s own label Head Heritage Press re-released ‘Droolian’ with the companion album ‘Droolian’s Mother’ and a 44-page booklet chronicling the whole story. It still stands as my favourite Julian Cope album to this day, and now includes the equally fascinating sequel! After the recordings, Cope got on with his Island Records recording career and slowly became The Arch Drude that is The Modern Antiquarian we all know and love, constantly beguiling with his incessant knowledge and wisdom, and all after forming bands with influential Scouse luminaries, desolving in LSD, appearing on Top Of The Pops, single handedly taking on the world with good reason, fathering children, forming umpteen bands and recording masses of albums and, writing numerous (and sometimes hilarious) books on musicology, archeology and, erm…himself…and generally being an all round good guy! I urge anybody listening to check out 'Droolian' or anything he might've ever done for that matter. Special thanks to the Bestest for this one!!! Any requests for this to be taken down from youtube will result in it’s immediate removal. I do not own or claim to own any copyright with regards to this recording. All rights to the owners.