When David Bowie heard the Langley Schools Music Project version of his hit 害羞草研究所淪pace Oddity,害羞草研究所� the rock star was an instant fan.

害羞草研究所淭he backing arrangement is astounding,害羞草研究所� Bowie said.

害羞草研究所淐oupled with the earnest if lugubrious vocal performance, you have a piece of art that I couldn害羞草研究所檛 have conceived of,害羞草研究所� he added.

The 60-voice chorus of Langley students also covered tunes by the Beach Boys, Paul McCartney, Klaatu, The Bay City Rollers, and others.

Music teacher Hans Fenger arranged and conducted the 1976-77 recordings, which were captured on a two-track tape deck, then pressed on two 12害羞草研究所� LPs, exclusively for the students, their classmates, teachers, and parents.

The albums would have remained in obscurity if it wasn害羞草研究所檛 for Brian Linds, a Victoria record collector, who found the first record in a thrift store in 2000.

That brought the albums to the attention of record producer Irwin Chusid, who set up a licensing agreement with the Langley school district administrators and oversaw creation of a CD compilation of the two LPs.

害羞草研究所淚nnocence and Despair害羞草研究所� as it was called, made many end-of-the-year best album lists in 2001.

害羞草研究所淭he echoing, yelping renditions of this feel-good music gives off a powerfully aching melancholy, said music critic Steven Hyden.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 the sound of youth, frozen on tape, as it fades inexorably away.害羞草研究所�

This year, the two albums have been re-released for a second time on vinyl LPs by a U.S. record company that specializes in 害羞草研究所渙utsider music.害羞草研究所� The audio has been cleaned up and two bonus tracks with liner notes added.

害羞草研究所淚t was all kind of an amateurish project,害羞草研究所� said Fenger, who estimates the initial album pressing cost about $40.

害羞草研究所淥nly 200 were pressed. Everything was one take in the gymnasium.害羞草研究所�

He said he was hired as a music teacher even though he knew virtually nothing about conventional music education, because the Langley School district was desperate for teachers.

害羞草研究所淚 was in a rock and roll band,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淚 was kind of a hippy.害羞草研究所�

The Langley story has been cited as the inspiration behind the comedy film School of Rock, starring Jack Black.

Fenger said he hasn害羞草研究所檛 made any money off the film, which he noted has only a loose connection with his story.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e both fish-out-of-water-tales.害羞草研究所�

After his time teaching, Fenger said he went back to music, joined another rock and roll band, then retired.

He was happy to hear that the songs have been re-issued.

害羞草研究所淚t never stops.害羞草研究所�

The songs from the project have been used in various film and TV projects:

害羞草研究所淕ood Vibrations害羞草研究所� was licensed for the soundtrack of the film 害羞草研究所淐atfish.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淐alling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft害羞草研究所� was used to close the film 害羞草研究所淎rabian Nights害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶛, Volume 3.[6]

害羞草研究所淪pace Oddity害羞草研究所� was used in the closing of the film 害羞草研究所樅π卟菅芯克鶛Wonderstruck害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶛.

Their version of 害羞草研究所淩hiannon害羞草研究所� was used in the closing credits of the HBO series 害羞草研究所樅π卟菅芯克鶛Here and Now害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶛.

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dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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