maggie nichols “look beneath the surface”
from: Miniatures: A Sequence Of Fifty-One Tiny Masterpieces Edited By Morgan Fisher, 1980
You have before you in its entirety one of the great music experiments in recorded history that I have come across. A great idea that through persistence of the British producer/enthusiast, Morgan Fisher, came into reality. Each piece had but one requirement: that it be one minute in length. He culled from an amazing array of artists he knew for material. A mind-boggling smorgasbord of sound. You can experience therm all here, but I want you to advance to minute 12:03 to hear the remarkable piece by Scottish vocalist Maggie Nichols. She is a wonder who encourages you to wonder.
“Look beneath the surface
See what you can find
Feel the real world underneath
the image that’s blinding you
Think that the world exists just in your head
You say you don’t care about living or about being dead
Those mystical illusions are going to let you down
When you’re in need watch the gurus all leaving town.
We’re in this world, we’re alive we exist
And whatever we’re seeing there’s more that we missed.
So go beyond appearance, do what must be done
The world is in constant change and it’s changing everyone.”
The imaginarian Morgan Fisher
There’s a 40th Anniversary lp of the recording!
“Track Listing
Side One (26:00)
Ollie Halsall & John Halsey - Bum Love (1:00)
The Residents - We’re A Happy Family / Bali Ha’i (1:00)
Roger McGough - The Wreck Of The Hesp (1:00)
Morgan-Fisher - Green And Pleasant (1;00)
John Otway - Mine Tonight (1:00)
Pete Challis & Phil Diplock - My Way (1:00)
Robert Wyatt - Rangers In The Night (1:00)
Stinky Winkles - Opus (1:00)
Mary Longford - Body Language (1:00)
Andy Newman - Andy The Dentist (1:00)
David Bedford - Wagner’s Ring In One Minute (1:00)
Fred Frith - The Entire Works Of Henry Cow (1:00)
Maggie Nicols - Look Beneath The Surface (1:00)
Joseph Racaille - Week-End (1:00)
The Work - With Wings Pressed Back (1:00)
Neil Innes & Son - Cum On Feel The Noize (1:00)
Herbert Distel - Toscany In Blue (Last Minute) (1:00)
Lol Coxhill - An End To The Matter (1:00)
Ken Ellis - One Minute In The Life Of Ivan Denisovich (1:00)
Steve Miller - Alice (1:00)
Norman Lovett - John Peel Sings The Blues Badly (1:00)
Patrick Portella - Serrons Nous Les Coudes (1:00)
George Melly - Sounds That Saved My Life (Homage To K.S.) (1:00)
Robert Fripp - Miniature (1:00)
Andy Partridge - The History Of Rock ‘N’ Roll (1:00)
Phantom Captain - Breather (1:00)
Side Two (25:00)
Ron Geesin - Enterbrain Exit (1:00)
Alejandro Viñao - An Imaginary Orchestrina (1:00)
Quentin Crisp - Stop The Music For A Minute (1:00)
Simon Desorgher - Tetrad (1:00)
Ralph Steadman - Sweetest Love (Lament After A Broken Sashcord On A Theme Of John Donne) (1:00)
R.D. Laing & Son - Tipperary (1:00)
Trevor Wishart - Beach Double (1:00)
John White - Scene De Ballet (1:00)
Ivor Cutler - Brooch Boat (1:00)
Hector Zazou - Do Tell Us (1:00)
Michael Bass & Ellen Tenenbaum - A Miniaturisation Of Bartok’s Sonata For 2 Pianos & Percussion (3rd Movement) (1:00)
Martin Chambers - A Swift One (1:00)
Bob Cobbing & Henri Chopin - Refreshment Break (1:00)
Dave Vanian - Night Touch (1:00)
Metabolist - Raging Poodles (1:00)
Gavin Bryars - After Mendelssohn (137 Years) (1:00)
1/2 Japanese - Paint It Black (1:00)
Simon Jeffes - Arthur’s Treat (1:00)
Mark Perry - Talking World War III Blues (1:00)
Michael Nyman - 89-90-91-92 (1:00)
David Cunningham - Index Of Ends (1:00)
Kevin Coyne - James, Mark & Me (In The Manner Of Tom Waits) (1:00)
Etron Fou Leloublan - Hep! (1:00)
Neil Oram & Ken Campbell & Science Fiction Theatre Of Liverpool - The Minute Warp (1:00)
Pete Seeger - Chorale From Beethoven’s 9th Symphony (1:00)
”