F.M. Cornog is an American songwriter, singer, self-taught musician, and home-recordist who records under the name East River Pipe. The New York Times describes Cornog as "the Brian Wilson of home recording."
Cornog was born in Norfolk, Virginia, and raised in Summit, New Jersey. After high school, Cornog worked a series of menial jobs before succumbing to alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness, and eventual homelessness, ending up in the Hoboken train station.
During this time he met Astoria, Queens-resident Barbara Powers, and with Powers' support and label (Hell Gate), Cornog released some home-recorded cassettes and 7" singles under the name East River Pipe, which he chose after observing a sewage pipe spewing out raw waste into the East River. These initial 7" singles attracted the attention of UK-based Sarah Records who released his records from 1993 to 1996, making Cornog one of the few American artists ever signed to the label.
Links to Peel[]
Peel discovered East River Pipe in May 1993 when he first played his single via Sarah Records. Further material from the singer were played on his radio programmes until the late 90's. After 2004, it was later found out that Peel had three of East River Pipe's albums in his Record Collection: E.
Shows Played[]
- 15 May 1993: 'Helmet On (7 Inch EP)' (Sarah Records)
- 20 August 1993: 'Silhouette Town (10"-Goodbye California)' (Sarah)
- 27 August 1993 (BFBS): Silhouette Town (album - Goodbye California) Sarah
- 11 September 1993: 'Dogman (10"-Goodbye California)' (Sarah)
- 01 October 1993: ‘Make A Deal With The City (10 inch mini LP – Goodbye California)’ (Sarah)
- 08 October 1993 (BFBS): Make A Deal WIth The City (10" - Goodbye California) Sarah
- 09 October 1993: When Will All Your Friends Disappear? (10" album - Goodbye California) Sarah
- 23 October 1993: Firing Room (7" - Firing Room / Hey, Where's Your Girl) Hell Gate
- 1994
- 04 June 1994 (BFBS): Ah Dictaphone (7" - Ah Dictaphone / Hide My Life Away From You) Hell Gate
- 10 June 1994: Ah Dictaphone (7 inch) Hell Gate Productions
- 16 December 1994: ‘Superstar In France (CD – Poor Fricky )’ Sarah Records
- 1995
- 06 January 1995: 'Walking The Dog (CD-Poor Fricky)' (Sarah)
- 14 January 1995 (BFBS): 'Walking The Dog (CD-Poor Fricky)' (Sarah)
- 28 July 1995: 'Sleeping With Tallboy (CD mini album-Even The Sun Was Afraid)' (Sarah)
- 1996
- 28 September 1996: ‘Miracleland (7 inch )’ Shinkansen Recordings
- 23 November 1996: Miracleland (7") Shinkansen
- 21 December 1996: 'The Club Isn't Open (CD-Mel)' (Shinkansen Recordings)
- 1997
- 05 January 1997: ‘I Am A Small Mistake (CD – Mel)’ Shinkansen
- 01 February 1997: ‘Lonely Line Away (CD – Mel)’ Shinkansen Records
- 1999
- 24 August 1999: 'Cyber Car (split 7" with Babybird)' (Easy! Tiger)
- August 1999 (FSK): 'Cyber Car (split 7" with Babybird)' (Easy! Tiger)