Fragments of a Rainy Season is a 1992 live solo album by the Welsh rock musician John Cale, performed at various locations during his 1992 tour. A 16-track DVD, recorded at the Centre for Fine Arts, Brussels (Palais des Beaux-Arts, now BOZAR) in Brussels, Belgium, that features the tracks in the order in which they were performed, was also released. The album cover was designed by noted conceptual artist Joseph Kosuth.
Reception Juke said of Cale, "His playing is uncomplicated. His voice, like so many other great rock voice, appears first as being limited and inadequate, only to blossom with repeated listenings into a fascinating, expressive instrument. Twenty songs in such an unimbellished style seems like hard work. Well, it is, but the rewards are worth the effort."
Track listing All songs composed by John Cale; except where indicated.
Singles "Heartbreak Hotel" / "(I Keep A) Close Watch" / "You Know More Than I Know" / "Heartbreak Hotel" CD-EP France 1992. (2,3,4: previously unreleased performances)
"Where There's a Will" / "(I Keep A) Close Watch" / "You Know More Than I Know" / "Heartbreak Hotel" CD-EP France 1992. (all previously unreleased performances; came with the French music magazine Les Inrockuptiles, titled "More Fragments")
Personnel John Cale - vocals, piano, guitar Soldier String Quartet Dave Soldier - violin and metal violin on "Heartbreak Hotel", string arrangements Todd Reynolds - violin Martha Mooke - viola Dawn Avery - cello with: B.J. Cole - steel guitar
Notes The album features a cover version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah. Cale's abridged version of Cohen's lyrics now form the basis of most other cover versions of the song, with the Cohen version being 15 stanzas long.
Charts Chart (2016–17) Peak position New Zealand Heatseekers Albums (RMNZ) 6
References