Dead and Dank and Rotten

Monochrome Set : Eine Symphonie Des Grauens

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In April of 1979,  Monochrome Set released the single "Eine Symphonie Des Grauens", which translates into "The Symphony of Horrors", the subtitle of F.W. Murnau's 1922 vampire film Nosferatu. It is sung from the point of view of a vampire in love or at least blood lust.

I'm dead and dank and rotten 

My arms are wrapped in cotton 

My corpse loves you, let's marry 

As a track on the 1982 Cherry Red compilation Pillows and Prayers, the song got a lot of play on my college radio station. Without a lyric sheet handy, I doubt anyone figured out the subject matter of the song. We just liked the vibe.

The Monochrome Set are still playing. Last month they played several North American dates in support of a new album and box set. They closed their shows with their love song of the living dead.

Secular Joy

The Monochrome Set : He's Frank (Slight Return)

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On January 3, 1979 Rough Trade Records released "He's Frank" b/w "Alphaville", the debut single by London's The Monochrome Set. Bass player Simon Croft gave YouTube viewers a little insight on the original recording: "The vocals were manually double tracked on the day, as you'll hear when Bid ad-libs "there he goes" on one take only. A lot of the 'doubling' effect on Lester's guitar is actually an open D string that rings throughout the solo. Bid also adds a second rhythm guitar part at that point." 

Although John Peel played the single on his show, the band wasn't thrilled with the recording and returned to the studio to cut another version of "He's Frank", the better known "slight return" version, released in December of 1979.

I think the first version I heard of "He's Frank" is this faithful 1989 recording by San Francisco's Sneetches.