Awarded the prestigious label of “new Dylan” in 1973, at the release of his first album Aquashow, Elliott Murphy was never the huge star he should have been. Question of bad timing or bad luck.
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But he remains a great writer. Very attached to France, he moved to Paris thirty years ago and intends to stay there.
His autobiography, Just a story from America, which has just been published, gives a lucid and sometimes humorous glimpse of the New York art scene of the 1970s. We return to it in songs …
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Here are ten songs for MO-TI-VER this weekend during confinement!
1. Lou Reed
It is with him that everything begins. The former Velvet Underground singer is a omnipresent figure in this intimate and heartfelt story. Elliott Murphy chronicles his friendship in dotted lines with this brilliantly unpredictable character.
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David Bowie, Dire Straits, Nino Ferrer, Moby … A playlist for escape
2. Patti Smith
The priestess of the New York underground passes suddenly in the autobiography of the singer. The poet does not seem particularly interested in the course of Elliott Murphy. Pity…
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New posthumous album for Jimi Hendrix: “He came from another world”
3. New-York Dolls
This exceptional group, early punk and transgender, shared the bill with Elliott Murphy for a few concerts. Their first two albums are absolutely to be rediscovered.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ctg5FCS1wCM
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Playlist: after the death of Little Richard, return to the scandalous history of rock’n’roll
4. David Bowie
Elliott Murphy candidly recounts how Bowie offered him drugs while mixing David Live (1974). It also reveals that the composer of Space Oddity almost produced one of his albums. But it didn’t work … Another missed date.
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Playlist: the thousand faces of David Bowie
5. Bruce Springsteen
He is one of Elliott Murphy’s most loyal friends. Each time he goes on stage in France, the “Boss” invites him to push the song. They even recorded a duet in 1995.
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Playlist: date with Bruce Springsteen, says the boss
6. Billy Joel
Huge star in the United States, a little less known in France, the New York singer made some moving appearances in this autobiography.
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The day Sting shows off his Chartres Cathedral tattoo on his back …
7. The Rolling Stones
In Just a story from America, Elliott Murphy says he met Mick Jagger at a social event, and no one dared approach him. His conclusion: fame isolates and prevents genuine relationships.
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Playlist: the world is Stones, it’s well known
8. Bob Dylan
The man who started it all. He is everywhere, but crosses the pages like a ghost. The meeting between Elliott Murphy and the New York bard is very brief … and it takes place in Los Angeles! Decidedly, he does nothing like the others …
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With his new album, Rough and rowdy ways, Bob Dylan defies time
Just a story from America, by Elliott Murphy, éditions du Layeur, 304 pages, € 24.
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Remi Bonnet
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