Exclusive: The Forgotten German Recordings 

 

Though released in 1997, “Close To Me” and “Jaco’s Waltz” are among Chris Farlowe’s rarest CD tracks.

“Close To Me” and “Jaco’s Waltz” feature Chris Farlowe on guest vocals with German band “Cloudy Colours” on their 1997 CD “How Red Is Blue”. Both tracks could be labelled as duets between Chris and Cloudy Colours’ female lead singer, Claudia Hess.

“Close To Me” is an up-tempo track built on the rhythm section and some semi-heavy guitar licks. Ms Hess’ powerful delivery nicely matches Chris’ typical vocal output.  His phrasing   reminds me of his work with Atomic Rooster, maybe  because the song has a 70s feel about it.

Jaco’s Waltz” is not a waltz at all, but a ballad with a soft jazz flavour paying tribute to a number of unforgettable voices in popular music. Chris puts the song in his pocket from the onset and excels in the jazzier parts, though I would say that his phrasing is slightly overdone.

So, where, how and when did Chris Farlowe record two songs with German band Cloudy Colours? The story is set in Cologne, Germany. Its German protagonists are composer Ernst Esser, lyricist Rich Schwab, singer Claudia Hess and bar owner SchuPi.

Cloudy Colours

In the early 70s, guitarist, producer and composer Ernst Esser mainly plays acoustic guitar with his jazz outfit the Esser-Steinecke Duo. When not touring with the Schroeder Roadshow or the Bargel Blues Band, bass-player and lyricist Rich Schwab works in what he calls “a funky little bar called ‘Out’, situated on Cologne’s south-side and owned by my friend SchuPi”. That is where Ernst and Rich meet, discuss music over many a beer and become friends.  “Different approaches towards composing and arranging kept us from working in one band”, says Rich, “but when Ernst started to compose more pop-oriented music I contributed my lyrics”. In 1995, Ernst forms Cloudy Colours. He intends to record an entire album, but is in urgent need of a female singer. The voice he is looking for belongs to… SchuPi’s girl-friend Claudia Hess. SchuPi’s next move is a concert agency and in 1994 he organises a tour for the reformed Colosseum featuring Chris Farlowe. After the Cologne show, the band pays a visit to SchluPi’s &  Rich’s new club “nullzwei”(the “Out” closed down in 1988), whereupon Ernst and Claudia take the opportunity to play their demos of “Close to Me” and “Jaco’s Waltz”,  asking Chris Farlowe if he can imagine himself doing these songs.

Studi-eau de Cologne

He can. When Colosseum return to Cologne some time later, Chris records two songs with Cloudy Colours. Says Rich: “On 26 February 1996, Chris Farlowe climbs the stairs to Ernst’s second-floor home studio and does both songs in one afternoon. He even considered ‘Jaco’s Waltz’ for his next solo album, but for reasons unknown to us the idea is turned down by his producer. Chris was very friendly, co-operative and modest. It was a great pleasure to watch – and of course to hear – him sing”. Unfortunately, lead singer Claudia quits the band and singing for personal reasons, making it impossible for the band to secure a record deal. Because the album itself is in the can, Ernst and Rich decided to set up their own record company – Red and Blue Records – and to release the album. Rich again: “Unfortunately, ‘How Red is Blue’ didn’t sell too well, also because our company does not possess a promotion machine and because we were unable to tour without Claudia”.

© Eddy Bonte. This article was finished on 18 April 2001.First published on this site.

THANK YOU…Rich Schwab (thank you so much for this unknown bit of the Chris Farlowe Saga)

THE BAND Ernst A. Esser (guitar, backing vocals, additional keyboards), Claudia Hess (vocals), Claus Quitschau (bass), Andy D. (drums, percussion) and Matthias Klimsch (keyboards)

REFERENCES 
Song Reference: ‘Close to Me’ composed by Ernst A. Esser, ‘Jaco’s Waltz’ by Ernst A. Esser & Rich Schwab; album produced by Ernst Esser.

CD Reference: Cloudy Colours: “How Red Is Blue”, red & blue records, Germany 1997, cat. no. 009601. Available from red & blue records, Kurfürstenstrasse 10,  D 50678 Köln, Germany.

Extra CD Reference: ‘Close to Me’ can also be found on the Various Artists 2CD “3 Königerstrasse”, Westpark Music, Germany, 1997, cat. no. WP 87054. Order directly from Westpark Music by fax + 49 – 221 – 231819, email [email protected], website www.westparkmusic.com

Chris Farlowe Website www.chrisfarlowe.co.uk