The radio sessions recorded by American visionary Daniel Johnston for the BBC over an eight year period, are to be released in double album format, via Trussed Recordings. The album ‘Love Lives Forever (BBC Sessions 2003-11)‘ release date is yet to be confirmed, but a single from the collection ‘Casper The Friendly Ghost’ is available now both digitally and in flexi disc form.
Back in the 1980s Daniel, from Austin Texas, viewed as an artist in possession of the genuine DIY aesthetic, infamously gave tape cassettes of his songs away whilst working at McDonalds. His songs and perfromance were deceptively simple and of course had, and continues to have, a lasting impact on musicians and artists following in his wake.
A project inspired by BBC Radio 6 Music’s Marc Riley, the tracks on Love Lives Forever have been licensed from the BBC and approved by Daniel’s family, management and charity.
This live version of ‘Casper The Friendly Ghost’ was recorded for Rob Da Bank’s show on BBC Radio 1 in July 2008 (TX: 18/08/08) featuring the likes of Mark Linkous, Scout Niblett and Jad Fair. A few bootleg recordings of these sessions have been available across the years but these sessions have been lovingly mastered and cut by Frank Arkwright at Abbey Road Studios in London. Daniel was a lifelong fan of The Beatles and the overall consensus from those who knew him was that he would be so happy to have his music mastered above the legendary Studio 2 at Abbey Road.
Profits from the album will go to Daniel’s Hi, How Are You Project based in Austin.
The Casper The Friendly Ghost flexi disc is available as a picture sleeve of an original Daniel illustration and are numbered to 250 copies. You can buy the flexi, or pre-order the album here
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Daniel Johnston photo credit: Peter Juhl
