Big Big Train v. "The Likes Of Us" OUT NOW; European Tour Sept/Oct 2024!

[HOF]

That snowflake/sunset shirt design is pretty cool. Would have made a nice album cover.

[HOF]

BTW, for Passenger’s Club members, an old demo of Capitoline Venus is among the tracks available to members to stream/download. Greg sings the demo (and I kind of like his voice on it). Will be interesting to hear how much the song has changed.

[The Letter M]

Tracks times from the Japanese/Belle Antique release:

Part One - 23:48
Made From Sunshine 4:05
The Connection Plan 3:55
Lanterna 6:29
Capitoline Venus 2:25
A Room With No Ceiling 4:54

Part Two - 25:25 (27:54 with bonus track)
Proper Jack Froster 6:38
Bats In The Belfry 4:54
Oak And Stone 7:12
Welcome To The Planet 6:40

Belle Antique Bonus (JP)
Endnotes Overture 2:29

A total of 49:13 (51:42 with the bonus track). Not bad! More new material than I expected from them so soon!

-Marc.

[HOF]

There’s also a full blog entry on Made From Sunshine and some additional info about the album on the band’s website. Of note, A Room With No Ceiling (written by Rikard) and Bats in the Belfry (written by NDV) are both instrumental tracks.

https://www.bigbigtrain.com/?fbclid=IwAR1ecaQVmMeF-q1X8SP9cZ5Td1P8c6Gw62jbnYTIM2R95wFq0FSo8JOBBwc#songstories

[The Letter M]

There’s also a full blog entry on Made From Sunshine and some additional info about the album on the band’s website. Of note, A Room With No Ceiling (written by Rikard) and Bats in the Belfry (written by NDV) are both instrumental tracks.

https://www.bigbigtrain.com/?fbclid=IwAR1ecaQVmMeF-q1X8SP9cZ5Td1P8c6Gw62jbnYTIM2R95wFq0FSo8JOBBwc#songstories

I'm very excited about hearing another NDV-penned instrumental! The last 3 have been some of my favorite BBT songs ("Pantheon", "Don't Forget The Telescope", and "Apollo"). Hopefully it also prominently features the brass band!

-Marc.

[The Letter M]

The story behind "Lanterna" has been posted on the band's website.

If you're a member of the band's Facebook forum, however, you may have already read how Greg came up with the idea for the song but he also mentions how he considered making "Lanterna" and "Atlantic Cable" one long song beforehand but decided against it and split them up.

-Marc.

[The Letter M]

New single "Proper Jack Froster" has been released!

According to a reply on FB, this is a Greg Spawton composition.

-Marc.

[HOF]

New single "Proper Jack Froster" has been released!

According to a reply on FB, this is a Greg Spawton composition.

-Marc.

Nice! Wasn’t expecting much else to be released before the album release, but it makes sense to get this one out there in time for winter.

[Fritzinger]

This video has been online a couple hours and only has 144 views, do I see this correctly? BBT is not a huge act, but shouldn't this number be a at least a little higher?

I won't listen to this song, but how do you guys like it?

[HOF]

This video has been online a couple hours and only has 144 views, do I see this correctly? BBT is not a huge act, but shouldn't this number be a at least a little higher?

I won't listen to this song, but how do you guys like it?

Just gave it my first listen with headphones. Reminds me a bit of some 70s Collins era Genesis, has a really wonderful instrumental passage. The vocal melodies didn’t jump out at me, but maybe with more listens. Has a bit of a “let’s get all the band members in the spotlight for a minute” feel to it. Something that has been a bit of an issue for me since Folklore when the band starting adding more members. That’s a minor quibble at most.

[The Letter M]

I've listened to it a few times now, as I've also slotted it into my "Christmastime" playlist/compilation of wintery BBT songs, and I've got to say I really enjoy it! Probably my favorite of the four songs released so far from the upcoming album!

I wasn't sure if they were going to release anymore songs once the preorders started, and now I'm wondering if any of the remaining five songs will get released (on December 14th and January 11th).

-Marc.

[HOF]

Burning Shed has BBT and related releases on a discount right now if anyone is looking to round out their collection:

https://burningshed.com/store/bigbigtrain/big-big-train_sale?utm_source=Newsletter+18+11+2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter+18+11+2021

[The Letter M]

Burning Shed has BBT and related releases on a discount right now if anyone is looking to round out their collection:

https://burningshed.com/store/bigbigtrain/big-big-train_sale?utm_source=Newsletter+18+11+2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter+18+11+2021

Nothing I don't already have but I will say, if you haven't gotten the Dyble Longdon album yet, you're missing out. It's a great BBT-esque project and even features some members of BBT on the album.  If you get it, you also have to check out the bandcamp page that features two extra non-album tracks recorded at the same time - "The Daguerreotype" and "Crossbones" - both sold at a name-your-price price (so free, if you'd like).

-Marc.

[HOF]

Burning Shed has BBT and related releases on a discount right now if anyone is looking to round out their collection:

https://burningshed.com/store/bigbigtrain/big-big-train_sale?utm_source=Newsletter+18+11+2021&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Newsletter+18+11+2021

Nothing I don't already have but I will say, if you haven't gotten the Dyble Longdon album yet, you're missing out. It's a great BBT-esque project and even features some members of BBT on the album.  If you get it, you also have to check out the bandcamp page that features two extra non-album tracks recorded at the same time - "The Daguerreotype" and =https://dyblelongdon.bandcamp.com/track/crossbones"Crossbones" - both sold at a name-your-price price (so free, if you'd like).

-Marc.

Definitely agree with this!

[HOF]

This is horrible. David Longdon has died in an accident.

https://www.loudersound.com/news/big-big-train-singer-david-longdon-dead-at-56

[Zydar]

Oh that's absolutely terrible 

[DTA]

Devastating news. Horrible for his family obviously, but also horrible for BBT who have basically just lost all momentum they’ve built up.

[The Letter M]

Just saw the post on FB... I feel speechless and empty inside.

-Marc.

[HOF]

Just an unbelievable loss. Just from the standpoint of the band, they have gone through so much the past two years and now may have to cancel another tour. Not sure how or if they can go forward, but maybe in time. Just a sad sad day. Obviously the loss for his family is unparalleled, but I feel so bad for Greg Spawton. David was a perfect songwriting partner and such a tremendous singer and all around musician. He really allowed Greg to bring his life’s work to a broader audience. Just so saddened by this.

[goo-goo]

Wow. Devastating news that came out of nowhere. Great singer, great songwriter.

[Kram]

OMG terrible news.  I'm just beginning my journey with BBT and I absolutely love his voice.  Just another reminder that life is fragile and enjoy each day.  I feel terrible for his family and the band.  My thoughts and prayers are with them all.

[SoundscapeMN]

I recall he auditioned for Genesis in 1996, just as Ray Wilson did, and Kevin Gilbert was intending to around of the time of his death.
Ironic, this news comes out on Kevin Gilbert's birthday.

Still, very sad to hear, and really out of nowhere.

RIP.

[The Letter M]

Just an unbelievable loss. Just from the standpoint of the band, they have gone through so much the past two years and now may have to cancel another tour. Not sure how or if they can go forward, but maybe in time.

I'm sure this is the last thing anyone in the band wants to think about right now, but honestly, if they called it a day for the band, I would not blame them. If this is it for the band, Common Ground and (from what we've heard of) Welcome To The Planet seem like a good swansong for them. If they plan to continue as a band but cancel their tours next year, I don't blame them either.

-Marc.

[TAC]

Not heard a single note by this band, but I read the article, and that is awful. Wow! Shocking.

[Kram]

Not heard a single note by this band, but I read the article, and that is awful. Wow! Shocking.

You should check them out, you may like them.  I just started getting into them a couple months ago and I think they're absolutely fantastic (especially if you like classic Prog).  Here's a taste that gives you a good representation of their sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3LEHh4QxE

[TAC]

Not heard a single note by this band, but I read the article, and that is awful. Wow! Shocking.

You should check them out, you may like them.  I just started getting into them a couple months ago and I think they're absolutely fantastic (especially if you like classic Prog).  Here's a taste that gives you a good representation of their sound https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX3LEHh4QxE

That's some real nice stuff there, thanks Kram. Not exactly in my wheelhouse, but respect and appreciation to this band.

[KevShmev]

What an awful tragedy.  I don't know much about him, as I am a lukewarm fan of Big Blue Train at best, but I know how many like this band.  Just awful. 

[Elite]

[The Curious Orange]

Shocking. Struggling to process this. RIP, my friend.

[The Letter M]

What an awful tragedy.  I don't know much about him, as I am a lukewarm fan of Big Blue Train at best, but I know how many like this band.  Just awful.

So much so that you didn't even get the band name right.

-Marc.

[HOF]

English Electric has a general sense of sadness and loss running through it, but as I listen to it tonight even more so. So thankful for what the band accomplished with Longdon in just 12 years. We really don’t know how long we have or what tomorrow will bring.

[nobloodyname]

What an awful tragedy.  I don't know much about him, as I am a lukewarm fan of Big Blue Train at best, but I know how many like this band.  Just awful.

So much so that you didn't even get the band name right.

-Marc.

Emotions are raw, I know, but it would certainly have been accidental. Let's breathe a little.

[KevShmev]

Oof, typo or a brain fart there. No offense intended, peeps.  Tough day for fans, I get it. 

[Bolsters]

What the fuck.

[The Letter M]

Oof, typo or a brain fart there. No offense intended, peeps.  Tough day for fans, I get it. 

Sorry if I came off sounding negative, I've just been having a difficult day processing it all, on top of a friend losing her mother to a 5 year cancer battle as well, it's been a tough day for me.

Even after coming home from 8 hours at work I still feel empty inside from all of this and it really sucks. It's really unfair... the band was just building up momentum, they were set to tour the world next year, and I was planning to save up to see them no matter how far in the US I needed to travel but...now it most likely won't happen.

David was just a shining beacon of hope and love and light in my musical sphere and his vocals, music and words filled me with immense joy. Big Big Train have probably been my favorite band over the last 7 or 8 years since I discovered them and that was mostly due to David's performance as lead vocalist, mutli-instrumentalist, and charismatic front man.

You all here know how big of a fan I am of the band, so it comes as no surprise how hard this has hit me today. Only 1 other musical loss has hit me this hard in recent years and that was Neil Peart, but I was at least partly ready for his passing knowing his health issue, and by then Rush has called it a day, so I had made peace with the end of my first favorite band. But this... it really leaves me empty inside, and is another stark reminder of how fleeting life can be.

"Suddenly, you were gone
From all the lives you left your mark upon"

-Marc.