The Vintage Calvinos are an Aberdeen based amalgam of some of the finest Scottish musicians, summoned by song writer David Baird to participate in the making of the album 'An Invitation to Infamy', from which 'No Room At The Inn' is lifted.
Baird has this to say about the track:
" 'No Room At The Inn' is a curiosity to me as I'm an atheist. However, the tale of Joseph and Mary appealed to me. They seemed like a decent enough couple, doing their best in the face of adversity etc. They got their little place eventually for the virgin to give birth. All went well for thirty odd years. Total fantasy of course but an interesting subject."
From the stirring strings at the start of Prelude through to the mournful church bells at the end of The Beautiful and the Damned, 'An Invitation to Infamy' is replete with intriguing arrangements, top drawer musicianship but above all, brilliant melodies. There is such a diverse range of songs and styles that pigeon-holing is an impossible task.
Essentially, it is classic song-writing given a contemporary twist. No-one else sounds like the Vintage Calvinos. There are songs about war, incest, God, suicide, love, lust, a saint 'who died for me the most', even hanging out with Elvis. You could say all human life is in there. Hyperbole is generally precisely just that but not on this occasion. But let Xavia, one of the backing singers who came on board later in the project, give her account:
“I stepped off the boat on that hot, steamy night in mid July and instantly heard this sound. I didn't know where it was coming from but I knew I had to check it out. The bars down by the harbour were thick with gypsies and thieves and tattooed bikers and prostitutes but I just kept on walking, following that sound. I'd been listening to Miles, Al Green, Roxy Music, the Rolling Stones, on the boat but this was something else. As I got closer to where this intoxicating musical cocktail was coming from, I looked up. There was this red light, the sort you'd get in a whorehouse and the windows were flung open. I approached the building and above the entranceway were the words 'The Anatomy Rooms'. I thought 'well that fits'. I knocked on the door and this spaced out guy with dreadlocks and cut-off jeans emerged, I said 'I just heard this music. Can I come in?' He said 'I'm an artist, not a musician'. He let me in and then promptly disappeared. I crossed the stairwell and began to climb the stairs. The brass was kicking in, there were these haunting strings, a funky rhythm section, a guitar playing this jagged riff which made me think of Steve Cropper but it sounded different and voices whooping out this melody which briefly stopped me in my tracks. I reached the top of the stairs, tried the door handle and walked in. They didn't miss a beat or seemed to notice my presence. When the music stopped, they turned to me and I said 'Hi I'm Xavia' and this guy with a fedora and shades, said 'We're the Vintage Calvinos'. Later that evening, we got talking and I then joined the band as a backing singer. The following morning I tore up my return boat ticket and never went home.” X.
lyrics
No Room At The Inn
No room at the Inn last night
I thought I saw a shining star
A shining star
No room at the Inn last night
I knew my baby was on fire
She was on fire
We won't let up till the sun comes shining through
we won't let up till the sun comes shining down
Headed down the east coast way
Down past the angels and the choir
The heavenly choir
Headed down the east coast way
I saw a farmhouse 'neath the star
The shining star
We won't let up...
We got a room in god's house
We got a room and settled down
We got a room in god's house
The baby made no sound
He made no sound
It ain't over till the sun...
Comes shining down
credits
released October 6, 2017
Written and arranged by David Baird
Produced & engineered by Paul Davidson
Produced, mixed & mastered by Jeremy Thoms
Additional overdubs recorded & engineered by Jeremy Thoms
Photography and artwork by Andy Stephen
David Baird - Bass Guitar & Vocals
Paul Davidson - Guitars & Keyboards
Iona Macdonald - Vocals
Fraser Peterkin - Drums
Xavia - Backing Vocals
Jeremy Thoms - Backing Vocals
We are an Edinburgh based record label run by JEREMY THOMS with press and PR by journalist INNES REEKIE.
Artist roster
includes LOUISE McCORKINDALE, CHRIS REEVE,
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