Iron Butterfly - Metamorphosis 1970

Iron Butterfly is an American rock band best known for the 1968 hit "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", providing a dramatic sound that led the way towards the development of hard rock and heavy metal music. Formed in San Diego, California, among band members who used to be "arch enemies", their heyday was the late 1960s, but the band has been reincarnated with various members with varying levels of success, with no new recordings since 1975.

The band's seminal 1968 album In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida is among the world's 40 best-selling albums, selling more than 30 million copies. Iron Butterfly is also notable for being the first group to receive an RIAA platinum award.



The band had been booked to play at Woodstock, but got stuck at LaGuardia Airport. When they called the promoters of the concert, they explained the situation and asked for patience. However, their manager sent a telegram demanding that the Butterfly be flown in by helicopter, whereupon they would "immediately" take the stage. After their set, they would be paid and flown back to the airport.

According to drummer Bushy, "We went down to the Port Authority three times and waited for the helicopter, but it never showed up". Woodstock Production Coordinator John Morris claims he sent the manager a telegram reading: "For reasons I can't go into / Until you are here / Clarifying your situation / Knowing you are having problems / You will have to find / Other transportation / Unless you plan not to come." The first letter of each line in the telegram spelled out an acrostic making clear that the band was not welcome.

Metamorphosis is the fourth studio album by Iron Butterfly, released on August 13, 1970. Though not as successful as its predecessor Ball (1969), it reached number 16 on the US charts.[1] Erik Brann, who left because of band disputes, was replaced by four session guitarists. Two of them, Mike Pinera, and Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt (called El Rhino on the sleeve), would become members of Iron Butterfly shortly after the album's release. Officially, the album is credited not to Iron Butterfly, but to "Iron Butterfly with Pinera & Rhino", in reference to the two aforementioned guitarists.

The album spawned the single "Easy Rider (Let the Wind Pay the Way)", which reached number 66 on the Billboard chart,[1] making it the band's biggest hit aside from "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida". The album is noted for having one of the earliest uses of the talk box on a rock album.


Tracks

Free Flight     0:40
New Day     3:08
Shady Lady     3:50
Best Years Of Our Life     3:55
Slower Than Guns     3:37
Stone Believer     5:20
Soldier In Our Town     3:10
Easy Rider (Let The Wind Pay The Way)     3:06
Butterfly Bleu     14:03

FLAC Size ; 245 MB