May: I Come Again - How Many Pygmies? 17 Pygmies in the Tall Grass

On June 18, 2015 I shared Welcome here & on August 8, 2021 I shared Jedda by the Sea here.   (considered by many a "post-punk" masterpiece).

17 Pygmies started as an odd, kind of surf-a-delic, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer inspired band doing cover versions of the theme music to David Lean's Lawrence of Arabia. They quickly evolved into a kind of spooky instrumental / 80s style techno-pop band who perservered in obscurity. There have been many line-up changes (as well as name: Pygs; The 17th Pygmy, etc) with only Phil Drucker as constant member. Their style vacillates between post-punk, new wave, experimental, or alternative at any given moment, thus keeping us listeners guessing (& thoroughly entertained, imo).

For this release, 17 Pygmies are: Dirk Doucette - drums, Jackson Del Rey - guitar, Jeff Brenneman - guitar, Meg Maryatt - guitar & accordian, Philip Drucker (who is also Jackson Del Rey wearing other hats). This one's kinda Prog-ish in a Pyg-ish way.

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Philip Drucker, a.k.a. Jackson Del Rey, (November 17, 1958 – July 16, 2022)  founding member of post-punk, industrial band Savage Republic & founder of 17 Pygmies.

 

17 Pygmies - Isabel, Trakwerx TW1024, 2013.
decryption code in comments

Isabel I
Isabel II
Isabel III
Isabel IV
Isabel V
Isabel VI
Isabel VIII
Isabel VIII
Isabel IX
Isabel X
Isabel XI
Kyrie

 

 

Revisiting,
NØ

How Many Pygmies Does it Take to Screw in a Light Bulb?

Re-uploaded by request 05/08/2025

 

 

 17 Pygmies, because they have to stand on each others shoulders to reach the ceiling.

Back in June 2015 I posted up Welcome by 17 Pygmies for my dear friend, author Ian Begg. Welcome was the last release from 17 Pygmies before a nearly 20 year hiatus (they have been going strong since their 2007 return, I'm glad to announce).

17 Pygmies in the Tall Grass...for Ib

Been reading Ib's book Chimney Poets lately & thought of the above mentioned post, prompted by something I read. 

Revisiting this great band with their first full length release. 17 Pygmies officially began in 1982 when then Savage Republic member Philip Drucker (aka Jackson Del Rey) began jamming in the basement of Royce Hall at UCLA with keyboardist / guitarist Michael Kory of Radwaste & drummer / singer Debbie Spinelli of Food & Shelter / Radwaste. The band's sound quickly devolved into a kind of spooky instrumental 80s style techno-pop style. By 1983, the Pygs, as they were now known, added Robert Loveless also of Savage Republic as bass player / keyboardist.

The Jedda by the Sea outer jacket was hand-letterpress printed by Independent Project Press.
The first edition of 1000 copies features a sans-serif typeface for the band name on the front cover & a two-color (black & gold) illustration on the back cover. A second edition of 1000 copies features different typesetting on the front & a different, 1-color illustration on the back. Tracks A4 - B1, B3 & B6 feature the rest of Savage Republic (Bruce Licher & Mark Erskine).

17 Pygmies - Jedda by the Sea, Resistance Records RR 1948, 1984,

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Side Gold -
Words Never Said
Waiting to Arrive
Still Waters
Moment in Ceylon
Jerusalem
By the Sea

Side Black -
Last Grave at Dimbaza
Lazarus
The Living
Hollow Lands
Tropical Grasslands
Nocturne

 

Enjoy,
NØ

17 Pygmies in the Tall Grass...for Ib

Re-uploaded by request 09/21/2024

 

 

17 Pygmies – Welcome, Great Jones CCD6003, 1988.
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Tracklist –

Welcome

Drunkard

Cyclops

Plethora

Spike’s Finale

Reek of Life

Horsegums

Gorgo & Bolo

Picaroon Circus

Visions Before Slumber

Harlin

Bluestones

From Theo

Chase

Kristalnacht

Sunflowers

Crossing the River

Amentia

Last Year

Enjoy,

NØ