Key Interview: Michael de Albuquerque

Step back in time to 1973 with the reissue of Michael de Albuquerque's timeless album, We May Be Cattle But We've All Got Names. After decades of waiting, this gem is finally making a comeback, thanks to the artist's green light and the relentless efforts of Think Like A Key Music, with a special nod to Michael's brother, George de Albuquerque, for his invaluable assistance. And notable credit to the fine remastering work of Prof. Stoned which helped seal the deal.

We sat down with brother George and got him to ask Michael some burning questions about his musical influences.

Here's our exclusive interview, straight from some conversations between Michael and his brother...

George: Would you set the road to Cattle in context for us with a little parade of some of your favourite musical things up to 1973; the year the album was recorded? You were 26. Tell us what were you enjoying up to and around that time. Let's begin with five of your favourite bass lines:

‣ "What’s Happening Brother" by Marvin Gaye
Bassist James Jamerson... no one else would come up with this
‣ "On the Way Home" by Buffalo Springfield
Bruce Palmer’s masterpiece is even greater than a great song -…totally fluid and virtuosic throughout.
‣ "So You Wanna Be a Rock ‘n’ Roll Star" by The Byrds
Chris Hillman takes a phenomenal song and makes it greater with such an original line.
‣ "Going Places" by Michael Henderson
Stevie Wonder discovered him...and any who heard him also did.
‣ "A Girl Like You" by The Young Rascals
Chuck Rainey took a good song and covered it in gold in every bar.

Now, tell us your top songs...

‣ "Timer" by Laura Nyro
The best song of all.
‣ "Ain’t that Peculiar" by Marvin Gaye
Bass, piano and vocal weaving at it's best!
‣ "Cool, Cool Water" by The Beach Boys
Vocal harmony perfection.
‣ "Like To Get To Know You" by Spanky and our Gang
Beautiful chords, vocals and sentiment.
‣ "I Wasn't Made For These Times" by The Beach Boys
The beautiful Danelectro bass part by Ray Pohlman (one of the first LA session bassists) on one of Brian's most expressive songs.

Top guitar moments...

‣ "The Heavy Scuffle Is On" by Full Moon
Buzz Feiten came out of a clear blue sky and laid down something never to be beaten.
‣ "Right Off" by John McLaughlin/Miles Davis
The Jack Johnson sessions had the superb bridge tone, loads of variation and funk and the greatest rock chord ever. (bending up the C sharp on A string to D) Wow. John's restraint throughout provide a massive tension...and a demonstration of his taste. Thanks to Billy Cobham and Michael Henderson on this session.
‣ "Hound Dog" by Elvis Presley
The second guitat solo starts with two slash chords by Scotty Moore. Never been heard before...or since.
‣ Ollie Halsall...a club in London...1970. He was playing a Telecaster with Timebox. He played whatever he wanted in seemingly any key, whenever he wanted. Everybody fell on the floor in disbelief...told Ollie he was great...and he agreed.
‣ "Willie the Pimp" by Frank Zappa
Live at the Royal Albert Hall...a first for this type of guitar playing.

What about top albums?

‣ "Pet Sounds" by The Beach Boys
‣ "Eli and the 13th Confession" by Laura Nyro
‣ The Shadows self-titled
‣ "Island of Real" by The Rascals (with Buzz Feiten & Robert Popwell)
‣ "Trouble Man" by Marvin Gaye

"Trouble Man" was on my car player every night on the way home after an ELO gig. It is a whole movement. I think I liked the "What's Going On” live version best. (that drummer.. Ed Greene!) Also "What's Happening Brother” live....with Jamerson.

I nearly forgot the most important one... "Duck You Sucker" by Ennio Morricone - the soundtrack that changed everything. On an ELO night out all members of the band chose to watch a Vincent Price movie I chose to watch "Duck You Sucker" and it changed my life…Ennio was the greatest musician of our lifetime and this soundtrack stayed with me since that moment to right now...as strong as ever.

What about vocal performances?

‣ Donny Hathaway "Someday We'll All Be Free” or anything he sang really...
‣ Marvin Gaye
‣ Brian Wilson (single tracked...not double tracked)
‣ The choral piece from "Duck You Sucker" called "Shaun, Shaun” named by Ennio's wife. He always used this piece in his concerts and it appears that any choir can summon the emotion.

One thing we never talked about on this reissue [is that] one of the songs on the album was covered by a many times better composer than me. "My Darling Girl”. Tim Hardin… [recorded] a cover of this song was released in recent times by one of Tim's family, as a tribute…and featured my all time hero, John Sebastian, on harmonica.

Thanks to Michael and George for their time.

"We May Be Cattle, But We've All Got Names” is available now worldwide on CD - remastered with bonus track and housed in digipack packaging with 16-page booklet.