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Freddie's first album from 1975, 'All my friends owe me money' was hailed by critics as a masterpiece of bare bones cynicism, just the man and his kazoo, wailing away at the world. Dylan himself called Freddie, 'The best songwriter since Lee Majors.' Charles Bukowski was rumored to have thrown up on a copy. Gage's second album in 1976, 'All my friends are assholes' garnered even more critical acclaim for its attitude, but by now, Gage was using an electric kazoo and a five piece band, and the fans cried 'Sell out!' Disco was also in. By 1978, Freddie conceded to management pressure to sell more albums and hired a string section and horns for the classic disco album: 'All my friends are dead.' The title track was the only throwback to Gage's earlier sublime work, a moody guitar instrumental completely at odds with the forced 'disco' of the rest of the album. It appeared briefly just 24,003 positions behind 'Stayin' alive' on the Billboard singles chart and then disappeared.
Gage was running out of ideas. He released one more album in 1981 called, 'My mother is in a coma', but he was now practically bankrupt and forced to tour with Tom Waits as an opening act, a combination which soon resulted in severe mood swings. Cage recorded his last song, 'Fuck it, I'm out of here' and then slashed his wrists on Waits' beard stubble half way through the tour.
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released 01 May 2011
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