The La's and the Mystic Genius

[@ianmcilwraith4479]

Saw them several times including a couple of times in 1990 and they were phenomenal. Still have the drummers stick after all these years

[@bp9759]

Unbelievable band. Only a handful of songs but I can’t get bored of them

[@marksimons4108]

He wrote over 40 recorded songs with many brilliant idea demo's go to 'Tone Garvey' channel on youtube!

[@bp9759]

@@marksimons4108 Thank you brother. Just listening to the Kitchen sessions now. Unreal

[@damotheman4196]

​@@bp9759 I was just about to let you in on a little secret! 😊 Our mutual friend of distinguished taste but got there b4 me! The kitchen tapes are superb.

[@bp9759]

@@damotheman4196 I’ve listened to that tape multiple times now and have to agree!! I’m on a real Joy Division / New Order bender at the moment so been a while but might pop back.

[@adamtier3263]

It's a testament to the quality of Lee's songwriting that no matter how the songs were recorded, they shine through!

[@ludrixte1938]

Great vid. There is a lot of Mythos surrounding Mavers as this elusive figure skulking around the dank recesses of Liverpool. Many producers said he was in a heavy drug-induced psychosis for the 90s and 2000s. Others say he retreated out of protest against the music industry. Some also say he just was happy living off the profits of There She Goes with his family. I suspect it’s a little bit of this and a little bit of that.

[@vinnygillies]

The feeling.. one of the shortest songs ever.. because it didn't need 7/8 minutes to be one of the most complete brilliant songs ever... That's the genius..🎵🎤🎶

[@theculturedthug6609]

Fishing net is brilliant and tears in the rain.

[@LAURIE352]

I was dating the sound engineer from the La's in 1991 and spent time with them. They were just brilliant. John was only a teenager back then, Lee's brother was on the drums. It was such a good band

[@bennym5244]

Great band. ' Feelin '.? I play it every day.

[@geoffgriffiths4689]

THE best band

[@Paul_S_EFC]

Great vid thanks , the mighty La’s 💙

[@leewhieldon4299]

Phenomenal voice/wordsmith/melodies..just an ace fckin artist

[@liamdanher1992]

Well done laaa!

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Biblical laa!

[@mjwchapman]

i loved this band. should've been the next beatles.

[@danhart5799]

Wtf one hit wonder the whole album is a Master piece

[@djmips]

Hit is sales, nothing to do with quality.

[@waynesilverman3048]

Q mag said it was the best album of 1990

[@jimbosaul3996]

@@waynesilverman3048 best album of the whole 1990's... more like it. its brilliant. every song is superb and a masterpiece !

[@stefanconradsson]

I'm a metal head at heart but with a soft spot for pop and singer songwriters. I agree that this is a lost unicorn fairy dust collected from wings of angels kind of record that hardly anyone knows about. For me it stands monolithic in my musical taste. There is nothing quite like it, every song on the album should have been a hit single (YES!). Still sounds fresh today. Thanks for the vid! Cheers 🍺

[@sezwho8561]

You have great taste.👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@waynesilverman3048]

That sounds interesting from a metal head like a American doing this video

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

The La's are rock

[@China-zu5dk]

Amazing video, thank you

[@nevermindthebollocks1171]

Classic album

[@matthewjdouglas6471]

Great video. Can never get enough of the mystic genius

[@millennialanimal]

Glad to see more videos about The La’s and Lee on KZbin, I’m from Liverpool, live pretty close to Lee, but he’s rarely seen out and about, and if he is, people don’t seem to ask for photos or even know who he is I think, so In a way I think he got what he wanted. When you listen to the “crescent tape” it’s hard not to think of what might’ve been, but if he wanted to put those tunes out, I think he would have. Also, the Liz Kirshaw version of I Can’t Sleep live at the bbc is insane if you haven’t checked it out. Also if you haven’t, listen to the crescent tape, and the kitchen tape even though Lee said it was shite hahaha.

[@KyTaundry]

Mate have you heard of the other fellow scouse band The Crescent? They came about as a result of being sort've mentored (as I understand it) by Lee himself around the year 2000. They brought out an album that I thought was absolutely brilliant, but got sort've shrugged off. Check them out la if yah ain't heard of em!

[@millennialanimal]

@@KyTaundry Yeah I’ve listened to a few of their tunes, ta for the recommendation!

[@millennialanimal]

@@Johnconno Go back to bed grandad.

[@waynesilverman3048]

Didn't know Lee was xtra shy of fame

[@waynesilverman3048]

Mind u he said to his author who did that las book "Man I'm only human"!

[@theculturedthug6609]

Lee lives close to me. I use to be his window cleaner years ago. He use to make me and dad cups of tea I didn't know who was back then. I also know some other members of the band good lads.

[@libertybrad]

Cool anecdote!

[@marksimons4108]

Do you know James Joyce aka 'Joycer'?

[@theculturedthug6609]

@@marksimons4108 Yeah.

[@theculturedthug6609]

@@marksimons4108 Do you know him?

[@marksimons4108]

@@theculturedthug6609 used to know James many years ago when he was in band called speedball with his mate Waller!

[@PeasGraveny]

Good stuff.

[@paulpetrie2791]

One great pop band and Lee's sense of melodies are amazing to listen too.

[@Andygb78]

Lee Mavers always reminds somewhat of Ian Curtis and Kurt Cobain, in that he wasn't built for life as a popstar. It's almost as if subconsciously he wanted to sabotage the La's to ensure that he didn't have to fulfil that obligation. But he still managed to leave his impact on the world. That was probably the way he wanted it to be.

[@alemdesign]

U nailed it mate. This video must get more view!

[@rafaelsantosx]

All the songs that didn't make it to the album are worth listen to as well.

[@musicenjoyer1878]

Good video, cheers from Brazil!

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

Jon Power is playing live still. (Curly hair in photos.) Am seeing him play in Kent this Thursday 21 Oct 2021.

[@theculturedthug6609]

How was the gig?

[@Surv1ve_Thrive]

@@theculturedthug6609 It was a great gig, his singing voice, guitar playing and presence all very strong. Much appreciated gig.

[@edwardmulholland7912]

The BBC Session’s album is incredible and along with the box set and the deluxe edition of the album I’ve made alternate versions of the album for my own pleasure. The original album is great but I can understand Lee’s point. I saw the band in 2005 in Belfast and they were amazing.

[@Rewinding45]

Mavers is a genius and a mad man

[@stephenkissane4268]

1 album that's incredible. I always assumed I had somehow not heard all the other stuff

[@jorjicostava6657]

If you like the La's you might like Television Personalities, especially their "Closer to God" era (and the new album Beautiful Despair that features stripped-down demos from Closer to God)

[@SpiritsOfAnotherDay]

Great piece you made here man.

[@iainprendergast8311]

They weren’t a one hit wonder. Wash your mouth out. Their album is a treasure.

[@djmips]

A hit means sales. That has nothing to do with quality.

[@DiNap44]

Another great song (and my favorite) is the the 1991 live version of Alright. Classic!

[@lancashirebomber9744]

top stuff mate

[@waynesilverman3048]

I was gonna thank you for the upload but i will anyway thanks ,i carnt for the life (normally I've a good long term memory) of me remember watching This ,I must of been drunk at the time ,I've noticed my comment.

[@rootsrockrebel2590]

great video man, good research and cool video clips!

[@artisfalkner3998]

Wow, I REALLY enjoyed this video man. I know you haven't gotten a lot of subscribers from this video, but your graphics game is strong and you have your facts straight considering all there is to know about the band. This is a great intro to the band!

[@ogabugabedj1977]

I've been blessed that during this time of pandemic I've discovered many artist, after listening to deep discovery of the britpop era of the 90s i realized that before that there are many artist that influence the bands from the 90s. I had discovered the la's after discovering the stone roses and happy mondays, nice video dude 👍

[@tetsuoshima7385]

John Power’s band ‘Cast’ are fantastic too. Their first album All Change is great.👍🏻🙂

[@modernchampionmusic81]

You actually thought there was fucking pandemic?

[@applescruff1969]

@@modernchampionmusic81 I mean, there was one. There just wasn't a good reason for it.

[@PontiacS.]

GENIUS!!!!!!!! Paul Weller USED to say "Waterloo Sunset" was The Best British Rawk song. Then he changed it to "There She Goes". High Praise from the Man who wrote "Man in the Corner Shop" which is Pretty Spectacular in itself.

[@NiKOliDANBURSKi]

Thanks for this man ;)

[@lennon1482]

the last release was feelin in feb 91

[@premiumsadman226]

how tf does this have only 270 views

[@briancoleman971]

You obviously have great taste

[@barriem5318]

The La's were digesting some Velvet Underground that's for sure. Especially when Mavers wrote his big hit.

[@adamusohadamus]

Great video, although Over was released as a b side, keep up the good work!

[@ScottCBMusic]

The Mike Hedges version of Looking Glass is where it's at

[@HeavenlyHouse]

Agree. It's killer.

[@applescruff1969]

I'm not the biggest fan of those mixes, but he did get it right sometimes. IOU's pretty good as well.

[@written12]

In that first sing excerpt, Badger sounds a bit like Mark E Smith

[@Aspen_Chap]

heard that lee mavers got them to tune to feedback

[@leewhieldon4299]

I’d love to hear mavers with new material but Sometimes less is more

[@vaypurroom6974]

What do u say are the best mixes?

[@DerekDerekDerekDerekDerekDerek]

Check out the La's Clean Prophet and Importance of being idle. Noel said it was his try at a song that's a cross between The La's and the Kinks. It's brilliant.

[@edwardsindustries-20yearsa54]

Dude this video is so well informed and edited, The La's are my top band of all time too. Try not to pull a Lee Mavers n disappear off the face of youtube n that, like id love to hear yer takes on other bands(Maybe The Verve or Stone Roses etc)

[@chrisburgess2398]

Great video. Where did you get your Rick and Morty poster from?

[@stevesandford1437]

Great overview of The La's... (I saw them FIRST in the 1980s, then LATER in the '90s and early 2000s when they re-united and played live-sets once again...) Those later gigs, featuring never recorded songs you reference like 'Over' and 'I Am The Key' were as good as the first gigs... (I've NO IDEA why Mavers didn't just go with it...) MAYBE, like a LOT of really unique artists he just couldn't adapt or compromise the GENIUS ideas he heard in his head? (More our loss than his...) I MET HIM more than once! (VERY NICE GUY, very passionate and driven but really friendly and happy to talk...) John Power was also happy to give his time to those who shyly approached him after concerts... (I think the first/only album is one of the best debuts I've ever heard, disagreeing with Lee upon that point...) xx SF

[@barryroot]

Lee Mavers says There She Goes wasn't about heroin, he had not even tried it at the time the song was written.

[@waynesilverman3048]

Dont forget call in all the song that got them signed but never put it on the album as it was credited to badger as well the guy who originally joined them but fell out with Lee at the time

[@inazumaajax9939]

I think the La's songs are so "instrumental" to music. I couldn't think of the right word but the songs are so fundamental that they are good no matter the mix I think. The versions you played do sound better than the album but the album doesn't sound bad in my opinion.

[@jontyarnold8522]

If only they made the second album, some of the demos are just great. Fishin net is so addictive it’s silly, Human Race could have been an epic, rain dance is great, I am the Key is brilliant, what an album it would have been….

[@PontiacS.]

"Fishin Net" in France, Live is Outrageously Fantastic.

[@bigdunc1313]

Mike Badger told me that. , There she goes. Is about Heroin wearing off the buzz leaving your body,

[@guitartopro]

Deffo, it's like a genius can did some magic and then went "nah it's shit" and fucked iff

[@orangeafternoon_exe]

A porra desse vídeo devia ter milhões de visualizações! P.S.: e milhares de inscritos.

[@grazo877]

That first albums near perfect and mavers doesn’t even like it. Check out fishing nets and rain dance if you haven’t. Truly believe album 2 would’ve been even better. Fishing nets is my favourite ever song.

[@guitartopro]

would this album be as good if Lee hadn't been like he was

[@estebancomulet]

Badger sounds a bit like Jonathan Richman

[@TheOriginalZzYT]

YES! how didnt i realise this. my girl sits like a reindeer is definitely something jonathan would make

[@RaphaelZajac]

Just where did you find those versions of timeless melody and feelin’ at the end ?! They are unbelievable ! I need them pls !

[@jaredbigelow8093]

Most of those versions were found on Spotify!

[@fooman65]

Feelin sounded really good ill agree

[@rafaelsantosx]

He put a picture of the album, it's a 4x disc boxset called "Callin' All", . Really worth listen to it.

[@IndieBassJA26]

@@rafaelsantosx ^ going through the box set on Apple Music right now actually

[@loganmadden4818]

I would have to say Fishing net/Something I said is my favourite song by them. The song There She Goes is also not about heroin, Mavers said this himself.

[@staffh3815]

Fishing net is a tune

[@robertculshaw120]

It's the Stone Roses without Reni...

[@robertculshaw120]

It's the Stone Roses

[@shhtha]

I prefer timeless melody

[@wormsnake1]

The best album of the 1990’s. Maver’s is a genuis on a life long musical sabbatical.x

[@DanielHarold]

mate you should listen to the cresent tape 1998, its lee jamming with this band called the cresent what he saw in liverpool really good, probs what would of been on the second album

[@tonybates7870]

Lee Mavers reckons There She Goes isn't about heroin, but a girl. Is it really 'Mavvers' and not 'May-vers'? You can hear the absolutely enormous influence on Noel Gallagher, can't you?

[@rafaelsantosx]

Well, Noel said in a clip here "Mah vers". 4:20

[@rizzledizzle3443]

I'd pronounce it how Noel did, then I'm Irish. Does it even matter anyway?

[@curly_wyn]

The debut is absolutely unfinished and tragic. Lee is right, nothing was just right. There’s nothing there.

[@Breeze1]

Yet people still think this is the best album of the 90s- I seriously don't know which album you're listening to, I think it sounds great. Which version of the songs do you prefer?

[@curly_wyn]

@@Breeze1 who but a small fringe minority of devotees consider that album to be THE greatest album of the 90s? If you write, put together, and create a piece of music, then it is yours, and it’s only what you, the creator of the music, think that matters.

[@curly_wyn]

@@Breeze1 I would prefer the Mike Hedges sessions if I was forced to choose, since they do sound the closest to what Mavers had in his head, but even then, it’s still not quite right.

[@Breeze1]

@@curly_wyn the thing is i have no clue how you know this is whats in lees head

[@PatrickWallace-mx4kl]

Listen to man I'm only human on a Japanese import

[@versioncity1]

Hmmm. Can't say I ever really rated them, but maybe I'll give them another listen after all these years. "There she goes" was way too close to the VU song to really be considered original. - Also I think songs either work or they don't, obsessing over the final mix and feeling it never captured it.... well whatever, that I guess was his personality and his prerogative as the writer/musician but not a practical approach. Write them, record them, get them out and write some more. Worry about 'the mix' when you're old and retired.

[@lennon1482]

the only similarity with the VU tune is the title, completley different melody and rhythm, and that great riff

[@marksimons4108]

Who do you rate VC1?

[@versioncity1]

@@marksimons4108 numerous bands/artists across the globe and genres. - But narrowing it down to jangly 80's/90's indie pop there were plenty better than The La's.

[@marksimons4108]

@@versioncity1 who name a couple?

[@versioncity1]

@@marksimons4108 Mondays, House of Love, Roses, Charlatans, Smiths....

[@pen2199]

I'm glad he never did more, unlike Noel Gallagher he didn't become a rock god in his own mind and start producing shite for money.

[@lamper2]

crummy band name didn't help them. maybe if ed sullivan show was around and only 3 channels they woulda done better Debut albums ARE usually the best!

[@HamiltonStandard]

and no mention of maver's drug additions??? wtf. what a white wash of this guys (reluctant) professional life...

[@modernchampionmusic81]

The Timless melody version on here is the only mystical thing here that and looking glass.. theres nothing mystical about someone been given a million quid to take 3 years to record an album of skiffle tunes..minus timeless melody and looking glass..

[@jimbosaul3996]

not sure about the skiffle music comment... but i agree with your point. it took yrs and 3 different full recordings. why ??? and TBH.... i cannot see what Lee is going on about. they are all a bit different, diff treatments in the studio but all good. for me the Steve Lillywhite version that was the released album is excellent. no idea what Lee was after. to be fair.. i dont think Lee knew what he wanted. sadly

[@somebloke2238]

Mavers is pronounced Mayvers I think

[@AzimuthTao]

I think Mavers suffered from that affliction that many musicians and artists in general fall victim to. It's when your ego makes you think you are much more special than you really are and you become a pretentious twat.

[@Veaseify]

That happens, but Mavers basically hated the whole music industry and just walked away, he had no need for fame or recognition

[@jimbosaul3996]

nah. i think your read is wrong. he didn't think himself special. but he was a self defeatist when it came to getting the sound he wanted. it was a never ending possibility. 3 takes, 3 different producers.... and still he was not happy. no wonder the label said f*ck you, we're releasing it !@

[@dougreed2257]

Mystic genius my backside, totally overrated, so good he can only write 1 album, his legend is bigger than his talent, I rate John powers better!

[@TheJoseph5117]

It’s not that good though really.