"Snake Charmer" - Wobble, Jah, The Edge, and Holger Czukay

Promotional Release

U2 Related Content:

Full Track Listing:

  • Snake Charmer (Edit) (3:17)
  • Hold on to Your Dreams (Edit) (3:47)

Background Information

Jah Wobble got his start with Public Image Ltd (PiL) and in 1983 was just getting his own group, Invaders of the Heart started. For a 1983 solo project he approached Holger Czukay of Can, and The Edge of U2 to work on EP titled “Snake Charmer”, as well as famous electronic producer Francois Kervorkian. The EP would be released on Island records as “Snake Charmer” and was released on vinyl and cassette. The EP featured five tracks, and The Edge participated in three of them. The Edge is credited as “Slide guitar and Soloist” on the both versions of “Snake Charmer” on each release, and he is listed as “Lead Guitar and Effects” on “Hold on to Your Dreams”. Wobble has spoken about the recording: “The producer here was top New York DJ/remixer Francois Kervorkian, and the album was “Snake Charmer”, which features The Edge (nice down to earth fella) from U2 and Holger. Check out the latter’s mental French horn solo. This was also the first time I came across the infamous Lin Drum, one of the first programmable drum machines, it is a feature of this track. This era, the early to mid eighties saw the rapid development of midi technology; this session was my introduction to the digital domain. It was quite an eye opener for me. I gave Francois a tough time on occasion, but he did ok. And I learned a lot.”

This promotional single was released to radio to promote the full length EP. The songs here are both edits of the longer versions found on the UK release of the EP, and The Edge from U2 performs on both songs included on the EP. For more information about the full EP, see the entry for “Snake Charmer”. This promotional single was limited in number, and is now long out of print.

Liner Notes

Snake Charmer: Written by Wobble, Marland, Czukay, Kevorkian. Jah Wobble: Bass, Vocals. The Edge: Slide Guitar Solo. Holger Czukay: Dictaphone, French Horn, Lead Guitar, Grand Piano. Francois Kevorkian: Linn Drum Programing. Animal: Rhythm Guitar. Ollie Marland: Keyboards. Neville Murray: Percussion. Produced by Francois Kevorkian for Axis Productions Inc. Engineer and Production assistant Paul “Groucho” Smykle. 2nd Engineer: Steven Street. Recorded and mixed at the Fallout Shelter, London, UK.

Hold on to Your Dreams: Music written by Wobble, Evans, Marland, Kevorkian. Words by Arthur Russell. Jah Wobble: Bass, Vocals. The Edge: Lead guitar plus Atmospherics. Jaki Leibezeit: Drums. Marcella Allen: Lead Vocal. Ollie Marland: Keyboards. Animal: Rhythm Guitar. Neville Murray: Percussion. Produced by Francois Kevorkian for Axis Productions Inc. Engineer and Production assistant Paul “Groucho” Smykle. 2nd Engineer: Steven Street. Recorded and mixed at the Fallout Shelter, London, UK.

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