This formidable music retrospective, released in 2022, embraces several genres within the inspired musical life of Martin Raphael. These original pieces, recorded between 1974 and 1995, include variants of rock'n'roll, modern classics, scores for theatre and contemporary dance, jazz and blues. This juxtaposition of styles reflects the passions, dynamism and imagination of a true artist.
Raised in the North of England, from the age of five Raphael studied classical piano, aged ten he was introduced to rudimentary guitar by songwriter, Graham Gouldman, ex - 10cc. Aged 19 and with his own group, Raphael toured the country often working with Liverpool Beat Poets Roger McGough and Adrian Henri together with Mike McCartney and John Gorman of Scaffold. He also worked closely with esteemed poets Pete Morgan and Ted Hughes, whose revered works jumped off the page and sang in vocal delivery. He created soundtracks for live presentations of notable novelists Edna O'Brien, Nell Dunn and Jeremy Sandford. At the same time, he co-composed the score for the Canterbury Tales at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre starring a young Jonathan Pryce.
Aged twenty four, Raphael received a two year commission as Composer-in-Residence in Devon including Dartington Hall. Concurrently, he recorded a suite of original songs with Michael Giles, ex - King Crimson. During those Devon years, he studied the art of music for theatre and dance and in 1976 joined the legendary Lindsay Kemp Company in London as musician.
In this company, he joined forces with the celebrated Australian actor/director, Michael Matou, and they created their own theatre company staging the original burlesque musical 'Cafe Debris' at the Roundhouse Downstairs in 1978, for which Raphael composed the full score, songs and lyrics. This hit production toured to Canada, Edinburgh Festival and Sydney. In Sydney, Raphael decided to remain, creative work was abundant and Australian life was liberating. He also began working with illustrious singer, Marc Hunter from Dragon, author Frank Hardy and the legendary cult queen Doris Fish. These eclectic escapades lay the groundwork for the next fifteen years or so in which Raphael continued composing much extraordinary music.
Enormous thanks go to guests whose skills contributed to this album. They include audio engineers Tim Roebuck, Mick Olesh, Richard Lush, Dave Marrett, David Lord, Kirk Godfrey; producer Andrew Thomas Wilson for 'I Miss You'; Michael Giles drummer & co-producer on 'Lover I Need' & 'Ark'; virtuoso violinist Stuart Gordon ex - Korgis & 3 Caballeros on 'Insect Ballet'; singer Annalisse Morrow ex - Numbers & Maybe Dolls on 'I'm Gonna Find Me A Man'; electric guitarist Chris Morrow ex - Numbers & Maybe Dolls on 'What's His Name?' & 'Rope Around Your Neck'; singer Marc Hunter and drummer Ricki Fataar and bass guitarist Phil Scorgie all on 'Chances'; David McLeod, Karen Schipp, Inez Omea and Shauna Jensen on backing vocals.
'Better Late Than Never' is a delicious taste of a unique collection, and it welcomes you with its inventiveness, honesty and lyricism, raunchiness and humour in music and song.
... this for your pleasure ...
Raised in the North of England, from the age of five Raphael studied classical piano, aged ten he was introduced to rudimentary guitar by songwriter, Graham Gouldman, ex - 10cc. Aged 19 and with his own group, Raphael toured the country often working with Liverpool Beat Poets Roger McGough and Adrian Henri together with Mike McCartney and John Gorman of Scaffold. He also worked closely with esteemed poets Pete Morgan and Ted Hughes, whose revered works jumped off the page and sang in vocal delivery. He created soundtracks for live presentations of notable novelists Edna O'Brien, Nell Dunn and Jeremy Sandford. At the same time, he co-composed the score for the Canterbury Tales at the Liverpool Everyman Theatre starring a young Jonathan Pryce.
Aged twenty four, Raphael received a two year commission as Composer-in-Residence in Devon including Dartington Hall. Concurrently, he recorded a suite of original songs with Michael Giles, ex - King Crimson. During those Devon years, he studied the art of music for theatre and dance and in 1976 joined the legendary Lindsay Kemp Company in London as musician.
In this company, he joined forces with the celebrated Australian actor/director, Michael Matou, and they created their own theatre company staging the original burlesque musical 'Cafe Debris' at the Roundhouse Downstairs in 1978, for which Raphael composed the full score, songs and lyrics. This hit production toured to Canada, Edinburgh Festival and Sydney. In Sydney, Raphael decided to remain, creative work was abundant and Australian life was liberating. He also began working with illustrious singer, Marc Hunter from Dragon, author Frank Hardy and the legendary cult queen Doris Fish. These eclectic escapades lay the groundwork for the next fifteen years or so in which Raphael continued composing much extraordinary music.
Enormous thanks go to guests whose skills contributed to this album. They include audio engineers Tim Roebuck, Mick Olesh, Richard Lush, Dave Marrett, David Lord, Kirk Godfrey; producer Andrew Thomas Wilson for 'I Miss You'; Michael Giles drummer & co-producer on 'Lover I Need' & 'Ark'; virtuoso violinist Stuart Gordon ex - Korgis & 3 Caballeros on 'Insect Ballet'; singer Annalisse Morrow ex - Numbers & Maybe Dolls on 'I'm Gonna Find Me A Man'; electric guitarist Chris Morrow ex - Numbers & Maybe Dolls on 'What's His Name?' & 'Rope Around Your Neck'; singer Marc Hunter and drummer Ricki Fataar and bass guitarist Phil Scorgie all on 'Chances'; David McLeod, Karen Schipp, Inez Omea and Shauna Jensen on backing vocals.
'Better Late Than Never' is a delicious taste of a unique collection, and it welcomes you with its inventiveness, honesty and lyricism, raunchiness and humour in music and song.
... this for your pleasure ...
