2023-4: Studio WOrk Completed!
An Open & Shut Cake! (25 New Songs)
The extended period of composing/decomposing and construction/deconstruction is complete and the Project: An Open & Shut Cake is up and running as of February 2024, as will further health recovery and travel, so check Chris’ Bloggage Betwixt The Interim for chuckles and updates Along The Way!
STAY SAFE and wash your collective mouths out with soap and water.
MEANTIME: Tracks by JAMES ‘BIDDIE’ BIDDLECOMBE & CHRIS MARSHALL are STILL AVAILABLE !
Cover Art by Andy Davey (http://www.andydavey.com)
Celebrating the fun, frippery and frolics Biddie and Chris Marshall have had these last years of Cabaret Gigs across London, and to prepare us all for this chilly winter, here’s a guide to finding romance from the comfort of your sofa, it’s the Broadband Bossa Nova!
Click Click Click!
With James “Biddie” Biddlecombe on vocals, Chris Marshall on numerous keyboards and programming, with extra special guests Gail Blowin (trumpets), Manny Ack (sax), Ron Chords (guitar), Charlie Jamieson (kazoo), Cuban Holes (tap dancing), Bossa Nochance (cocktails), Sonnova Beach (Sand Castles) and a host of others we haven’t made up yet.
Click Click Click!
With huge gratitude to Darren Francis at Polymorph for mastering, and Andy Davey for the terrific cover art.
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/broadband-bossa-nova-single/1480117189
https://music.amazon.co.uk/albums/B07XY8B6RJ?ref=dm_sh_dVDbAWn3s2jKjVazSH5RzI2AE
ALSO STILL AVAILABLE:
OUR SPECIAL RELEASE FOR PRIDE
THIS is a VERY SPECIAL SINGLE WRITTEN BY DAVE POP! and CHRIS MARSHALL ENTITLED “EQUAL”. DOWNLOAD LINKS BELOW!
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/equal-single/1471042500 is the iTunes/Apple Music link
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Equal-Dave-Pop/dp/B07TRQ1189/ref=nav_ya_signin?keywords=dave+pop+equal&qid=1562404208&s=gateway&sr=8-1&#
Artwork by Dave Pop!
ALSO AVAILABLE from
BIDDIE and Chris MarshalL
On iTunes and all good Download stores NOW!
MAUREEN
“Maureen” is sung by James “Biddie” Biddlecombe’s Alter Ego “Jolene Foxx” and is composed by James “Biddie” Biddlecombe and (Producer) Chris Marshall for rpl recordings.
DOWNLOAD LINKS include these two!!!!
https://music.apple.com/gb/album/maureen/1464297312?i=1464297313
https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Maureen+James+Biddlecombe&i=digital-music&ref=nb_sb_noss
Our Nashville Correspondent writes:
”Well thank y'all for downloadin’ and listenin’ to this beautiful sad and heartfelt piece of advice sung by James "Biddie" Biddlecombe's alter ego Jolene Foxx about her best friend Maureen, who's in a bit of a state. As for the musical credits, we got: Producer and Backing Vocalist is Chris Marshall, who also plays: Piano, Electric Bass, Drumkit, Lead Banjo, Country Rhythmic Banjo Marlene Strumm: Jazz Banjo Country Fiddle: Myra Catgut Reg Smeaton: Irish Fiddle Segovia Carpet: UK Pedal Steel Guitar Stella Lush: Nashville Pedal Steel Guitar Ron Chords: Steel Acoustic Guitar Roddy Matthews: Fender Strat Guitar Owen Transport: Lowrey Organ Nora Weybridge: Country Louisiana Jaws Harp The Foxx Fiddlers: Nashville Fiddles Kate and Antoinette: Vienna Symphonic Violins
“Maureen” is sung by Biddie’s Alter Ego JOLENE FOXX
Review of JAMES BIDDIE BIDDLECOMBE &
CHRIS MARSHALL’s MOST RECENT LONDON GIG
JAMES BIDDLECOMBE AT THE CRAZY COQS
WITH CHRIS MARSHALL PIANO AND VOCALS
Biddlecombe has done it again. Every time I see Mr Biddlecombe I think that he could never better what he does - and yet he seems to manage it.
He and Chris Marshall receive a rousing reception at the Crazy Coqs - a venue that fits them like a glove.
He begins by mocking his old age. A song to show there is yet hope for the future. Leiber and Stoller wrote 'Ready to Begin Again' and this song gets Bids off to a great start.
He complains bitterly that he's never been cast in 'Cats' a witty number penned by himself and Marshall . This is one of their old favourites. But after this, the jokes are over for a while as he goes into ballad mood with a song from his youth, showing off his exquisite vocal skills in 'My heart tells me'.
This show, like all his others gives us a broad experience of all his incredible talents, vocal and comedy and most of all his love of people and life. Chris Marshall slogging away at the piano and producing harmonies, comes over as a breath of reality, yet we are all aware that he's just as daft as his friend.
But Parody is the soul of wit and one of their other numbers which gets the audiencer falling about with hilarity is 'Maureen' a take on Dolly Parton's Jolene, in which he uses a hilghly exaggerated Southern accent.
After about eighteen numbers and one change of sequins, he arrives at his final item, the one I've been waiting for as he wanders into the audience, inviting individual members to 'Peel me A Grape' . (He actually meets up with a girl that he remarks 'has even more diamante than me')
Of course the audience doesn't let him go so easily and he gives us one more Biddlecombe/Marshall song about our technological life. 'Broadband Bossa Nova'
This is the Monarch of entertainers. A large bejewelled and bearded grown up with the vulnerability and impishness of a wicked child.
You've got to love Biddie. He is a human Valentine that lasts a lifetime.
Aline Waites, London