Television Turn Back On

Rhino Records will re-release New York art-punk pioneers Television's first two albums, 1977's Marquee Moon and 1978's Adventure, with bonus tracks on September 23rd.

"It's gratifying to see people still care about the band," says guitarist Richard Lloyd. "When we were trying to get a record deal nobody would sign us. We were clearly outside the usual labels. [Atlantic Records founder] Ahmet Ertegun listened to us and turned to [producer] Jerry Wexler and said, 'Jerry, I can't sign this band. This is not Earth music.' And I thought, 'Well there you go."

Concurrent with the album reissues, Rhino Handmade will release the much-bootlegged Live at the Old Waldorf set. The San Francisco show was recorded on June 29, 1978, and includes a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction." Lloyd's recollections are limited. "We were using big amplifiers at the time -- it was rather loud," he says. "That was the loudest tour that I recall."

Unlike fellow New York peers Blondie and the Talking Heads -- also regulars at the East Village hotspot CBGB -- Television never broke through commercially.

"[The label] would send cassettes of new bands," Lloyd remembers. "They'd marked one, 'You'll like this' -- it was the Cars. We listened to it and thought, 'Oh shit, this is sort of Television-esque, but commercial. All they'll care about is the Cars and they'll stop putting their hopes on us' . . . not that they had much hope to begin with."

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Song Stories

“Youth Knows No Pain”

Lykke Li | 2011

“Like on 'Youth Knows No Pain' — we are the ones that should demonstrate, because we can take it,” Likke Li said. “We can pierce ourselves, take Ecstasy, dance all night and still go to work at our McDonald's jobs.” Despite the hedonistic sentiment in the song, the Swedish singer also admitted in hindsight her youth had repercussions. “I remember when I was 18-19 and feeling that I know it all,” Li said. “I always feel that I know it all. But that song is about realizing you don’t, and reflecting, ‘Boy, if I only knew what would follow.’”

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