Big Mama Thornton: With The Muddy Waters Blues Band 1966

 

Willie Mae Thornton (December 11, 1926 – July 25, 1984), better known as Big Mama Thornton

because of her height (nearly 6 feet), and weight (200 pounds), was an American singer and songwriter of the blues and R&B. She was the first to record Leiber and Stoller's "Hound Dog", in 1952, which was written for her and became her biggest hit, staying seven weeks at number one on the Billboard R&B chart in 1953.
                            

Big Mama Thornton is one of the most influential figures in the whole of rock, even if you’ve never

heard of her. Born Willie Mae Thornton in Ariton, Alabama, in 1926, Thornton would rank amongst the very first women in music to stick it to the men and show them how to do it. In addition to being a woman, she was also African-American, and what she achieved in the time of Jim Crow, even if it was dwarfed by what she could have achieved, was monumental.
                  

Thornton was first introduced to music in the same way that many influential blues icons were; via the

church. Her father was a Baptist minister and her mother a singer, and Thornton and her siblings made their first foray into music as young children. Tragically, Thornton’s mother died young, so she left school early and got a job in a local tavern. Later, Thornton left home aged just 12 in 1940 and, with the help of legendary gospel performer Diamond Teeth Mary, joined one of the hottest bills in the country; Sammy Green’s ‘Hot Harlem Revue’.
                         

In 1951, Thornton signed a recording contract with Peacock Records, and the following year, she recorded her signature track ‘Hound Dog’ with writing partnership du jour Jerry Leiber and Mike

Stoller. The two played to her how they wanted it to be delivered, and deliver it she did. Later, Stoller recalled: “We wanted her to growl it”. Her growl would become one of the most iconic points in all of the blues. It would be Elvis Presley’s recording of ‘Hound Dog’ that truly popularised the track, and made it a ‘real’ hit, crossing the boundaries between black and white America in what is a genuine injustice of the highest order.
                   

Big Mama Thornton subverted the role of African-American women during her career. Even physically,

she defied what was expected, and it was this, the fact that she was natural transgressive, that made her so captivating. She didn’t care what anybody else said or did; she was true to herself and her own senses. Tragically but somewhat predictably of the time, she never gained the plaudits she deserved. Sadly, Big Mama Thornton would die in relative obscurity aged just 57, due to alcoholism.
                      

BIG MAMA THORNTON WITH THE MUDDY WATERS BLUES BAND 1966

                        

In the mid- '60s, Big Mama Thornton was a relatively obscure blues singer known mainly for her

original recording of "Hound Dog" in 1953, three years before Elvis had a monster hit with it. Due to a lack of gigs, Thornton had a tough time keeping a steady band on the road and would scramble to gather consistently decent musicians. Fortunately, Arhoolie Records' founder and president Chris Strachwitz had witnessed an amazing performance of the era which had Thornton backed by a group of Chicago musicians who included Buddy Guy on guitar.
                

With that performance in mind, Strachwitz was determined to capture that excellence in the studio. He

offered the gig to Muddy Waters, whom he met in San Francisco a few days prior to this session. Muddy accepted and brought with him James Cotton (harmonica), Otis Spann (piano), Sammy Lawhorn (guitar), Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson (bass), and Francis Clay (drums). What came out at Coast Recorders on April 25, 1966 is presented on this 17-track disc including seven previously unreleased cuts.
                   

From the low-down gutbucket blues of "Black Rat," and "Big Mama's Shuffle" (featuring both

Thornton and James Cotton engaging in a battle of the harps), to the hazy, late-night atmosphere of "Life Goes On," "Since I Fell for You," and "I Feel the Way I Feel," all of this material is absolutely timeless. One can only imagine what would have happened if Big Mama's hopes of recording a gospel album with this band had been fulfilled. (Al Campbell)
                             

Big Mama Thornton With The Muddy Waters Blues Band – 1966
Label: Arhoolie Records – CD 9043, Arhoolie Records – 9043
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 2004
Genre: Blues
Style: Rhythm & Blues, Chicago Blues

TRACKS

                                

01. I'm Feeling Alright    3:01
02. Sometimes I Have A Heartache    3:49
03. Black Rat (Take 4)    2:52
04. Life Goes On (Written By – Morris, Williams)  3:28
05. Everything Gonna Be Alright (Drums – Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton)  5:05
06. Big Mama's Bumble Bee Blues    4:13
07. Gimme A Penny (Take 6) (Written-By – J. Moore, T. Rhone)  4:38
08. Looking The World Over (Written-By – E. Lawlars)  2:12
09. I Feel The Way I Feel    5:05
10. Guide Me Home    4:23
11. Black Rat (Take 2)    2:51
12. Wrapped Tight    3:19
13. Gimme A Penny (Take 5)    3:59
14. Big Mama's Shuffle (Harmonica – Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton)  3:38
15. Since I Fell For You    4:32
16. I'm Feeling Alright (Fast Version)    2:27
17. Big Mama's Blues (My Love) (Harmonica – Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton)  4:08

LINE - UP
                                

Bass – Luther Johnson
Drums – Francis Clay
Guitar – Muddy Waters, Samuel Lawhorn
Harmonica – James Cotton
Vocals – Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton
Written-By – W. M. Thornton (tracks: 1, 2, 5, 9, 10, 12, 14 to 17)

MP3 @ 320 Size: 150 MB
Flac  Size: 410 MB

Manfred Mann's Earth Band: 3 Albums

 

After a very successful period in the 1960's with the pop group named Manfred Mann after him and a

much less successful intermezzo in Jazz with Manfred Mann Chapter Three, the South-African born keyboardist Manfred Mann (real name Manfred Lubowitz) turned towards rock music.
                   

In 1971 he formed Manfred Mann's Earth Band (MMEB). Mann's use of the Moog synthesizer was key to the sound of this band. MMEB had a very successful area during the mid 1970's and early 1980's but

was disbanded by Mann in 1987 after being fed up with trying to produce hit records. He started a project which was based mostly on the music of Native American Indians named Manfred Mann's Plain Music and which released one album. After this Mann reformed the MMEB in 1991 and was starting again to release records with them occasionally but also to be a regular live band with extensive tours mostly in Europe until today.
                   

Keyboardist Manfred Mann started in the 1960s with the self-titled band that had such hits as "Do Wah

Diddy Diddy" and Bob Dylan's "The Mighty Quinn" and then moved on to jazz fusion-inspired Manfred Mann Chapter Three before forming the Earth Band in 1971. Feeling that Chapter Three had suffered from too many self-imposed rules, being frustrated with mostly only playing Mike Hugg's compositions and not being an economically feasible venture (due to the number of musicians involved) were all reasons for forming the new group,
                     

The original line-up consisted of Mick Rogers (guitar and vocals), Manfred Mann (keyboards, Minimoog synthesizer and vocals), Colin Pattenden (bass guitar) and Chris Slade (drums and vocals).

In its very earliest stages, the band was sometimes billed as "Manfred Mann" and thus a continuation of the 1960s group, sometimes as "Manfred Mann Chapter Three" due to that being the most recent incarnation of Mann's career. On two non-charting single releases in the UK in 1972/73, the group was billed simply as 'Earth Band', but otherwise, from 1972 forward, 'Manfred Mann's Earth Band' was the band name used on all releases.
                

The Earth Band combines the stylistic approach of progressive rock with Mann's jazz-influenced Moog

synthesizer playing and keen ear for melody. Beside producing their own material, a staple of the band's music and live performances from the beginning has been also relying on covers of songs by other modern pop/rock artists, notably Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, in their progressive rock style.
                    

Mann's interest in English 20th century classical music saw him adapt Gustav Holst's Planets Suite and

turn a version of the "Jupiter" movement into a UK hit entitled "Joybringer" (perhaps surprisingly excluded from the 1973 album Solar Fire). Other classical music adaptations include "Questions" from the 1976 album The Roaring Silence (which is based on the main theme of Franz Schubert's Impromptu in G flat Major), "Solar Fire is in Earth, the Circle, Pt. 1" (which uses the melody from Claude Debussy's "Jimbo's Lullaby") and "Starbird" also from 1976's The Roaring Silence (which is based upon Igor Stravinski's ballet The Firebird).
                   

MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND - MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND 1972

                          

Manfred Mann's Earth Band was first released in January 1972 by Polydor Records in the United

States, where it sold modestly and charted for six weeks on the Billboard 200, peaking at number 138 on 18 March. The single "Living Without You" spent seven weeks on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 69 on 8 April. In the United Kingdom, the album was released on 18 February by Philips Records to lesser sales.

 

 

 

Manfred Mann's Earth Band – Manfred Mann's Earth Band
Label: Castle Classics – CLACD151
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: 1988
Genre: Rock
Style: Pop Rock, Prog Rock, Classic Rock

TRACKS

                                

01. California Coastline   2:49
Written By – Meskell/Martin
02. Captain Bobby Stout   6:53
Written-By – Tietgen
03. Sloth   1:28
Written-By – Mann, Rodgers
04. Living Without You   3:38
Written-By – Newman
05. Tribute   5:28
Written-By – Mann
06. Please Mrs. Henry   4:33
Written-By – Dylan
07. Jump Sturdy   4:48
Written-By – Creaux
08. Prayer   5:36
Written-By – Mann
09. Part Time Man   3:00
Written By – Mann/Sadler
10. I'm Up And I'm Leaving   3:11
Written By – Mann/Sadler

LINE - UP

Bass – Colin Pattenden
Drums – Chris Slade
Guitar, Vocals – Mick Rogers
Organ, Synthesizer, Vocals – Manfred Mann

MP3 @ 320 Size: 115 MB
Flac  Size: 273 MB

MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND - MESSIN' 1973

                     

Messin' is a rock album released in 1973 by Manfred Mann's Earth Band.
Messin' followed Glorified Magnified and preceded Solar Fire, and like all Earth Band albums contains

a mixture of originals and covers. "Buddah" also appeared on the Vertigo budget sampler double album Suck It and See, along with tracks by then-labelmates Kraftwerk, Jade Warrior and the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, amongst others. The album was produced by Manfred Mann and engineered by John Edwards at Maximum Sound Studios, London in 1973. For the United States release, the album was re-titled Get Your Rocks Off and the track "Pretty Good" was included in place of "Black and Blue", seemingly because the latter was about slavery and deemed unsuitable for the US market. Both tracks were included on the 1998 re-mastered re-issue.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band – Messin'
Label: Cohesion – MANN 005
Series: Manfred Mann's Earth Band The Re-Masters
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered   Nov 1998
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 1973
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                                 

01. Messin'   9:53
Written-By – Hugg
02. Buddah   7:01
Written-By – Mann, Rogers
03. Cloudy Eyes   5:34
Written-By – Mann
04. Get Your Rocks Off   2:49
Written-By – Dylan
05. Sadjoy   5:15
Written-By – Mann
06. Black And Blue   6:44
Written-By – Chain
07. Mardi Gras Day   3:04
Written-By – Dr. John

BONUS TRACKS       

    
08. Pretty Good   4:11
Written-By – Prine
09. Cloudy Eyes (Single Edit)    3:31

LINE - UP

Synthesizer, Organ, Other [Additional Material Courtesy] – Manfred Mann
Tape Op [Tape Operator] – Laurence Latham
Guitar, Vocals, Other [Additional Material Courtesy] – Mick Rogers
Drums [Fibes] – Chris Slade
Backing Vocals – Judith Powell, Liza Strike, Ruby James, Vicki Brown
Bass Guitar – Colin Pattenden

MP3 @ 320 Size: 120 MB
Flac  Size: 290 MB

MANFRED MANN'S EARTH BAND - THE GOOD EARTH 1974

                        

The Good Earth is the fifth studio album released by Manfred Mann's Earth Band in 1974. Its opening song is a cover of "Give Me the Good Earth", written by Gary Wright and released on his 1971 solo album Footprint, while tracks 2 and 3 were originally by Australian progressive rock band Spectrum.

Early owners of each copy of The Good Earth were entitled to rights over 1 square foot of the earth situated at Llanerchyrfa in the County of Brecon, in Wales. The inner sleeve included a coupon that had to be sent for registration. This was part of the promotion activities linked to the album that had ecological inspirations. There was no swindle and thousands of fans were registered. Registration could be done on or before 31 December 1975. The album was on the US Billboard 200 charts for three weeks, peaking at number 157 on 7 December 1974.

Manfred Mann's Earth Band – The Good Earth
Label: Cohesion – MANN 007
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered Mar 18, 2008
Country: UK & Europe
Released: 1973   
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                 

01. Give Me The Good Earth   8:31
Written-By – Gary Wright
02. Launching Place   5:53
Written-By – Mike Rudd
03. I'll Be Gone   3:42
Written-By – Mike Rudd
04. Earth Hymn   6:19
Written-By – Slade, Mann
05. Sky High    5:16
Written-By – Mann, Rogers
06. Be Not Too Hard   4:13
Written-By – Logue, Rogers
07. Earth Hymn Part 2   4:18
Written-By – Slade, Mann

BONUS TRACKS       

    
08. Be Not Too Hard (Single Edit)   3:39
Lyrics By [Uncredited] – Christopher Logue
Music By [Uncredited] – Mick Rogers
09. I'll Be Gone (Single Edit)   3:29
Written-By [Uncredited] – Mike Rudd
10. Earth Hymn Part 2 (Single Edit)   4:13
Written-By [Uncredited] – Chris Slade, Manfred Mann

LINE - UP

Keyboards – Manfred Mann
Drums [Fibes] – Chris Slade
Bass Guitar – Colin Pattenden
Guitar, Vocals – Mick Rogers

MP3 @ 320 Size: 120 MB
Flac  Size: 316 MB 

Manfred Mann's Earth Band on Urban Aspirines HERE

The Incredible String Band: Albums 1966 - 1970

 

The Incredible String Band (sometimes abbreviated as ISB) were a British psychedelic folk band

formed by Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron in Edinburgh in 1966. The band built a considerable following, especially in the British counterculture, notably with their albums The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, and Wee Tam and the Big Huge. They became pioneers in psychedelic folk and, through integrating a wide variety of traditional music forms and instruments, in the development of world music.
                  

Following Palmer's early departure, Williamson and Heron performed as a duo, later augmented by other musicians. The band split up in 1974. They reformed in 1999 and continued to perform with

changing lineups until 2006. The roots of the band are found in acoustic folk/bluegrass duo Robin WILLIAMSON (guitar, vocals) and Clive PALMER (banjo) who began performing together in the Edinburgh, Scotland area in 1963. The duo added multi-instrumental folk musician Mike Heron and took the name INCREDIBLE STRING BAND after being discovered by legendary producer Joe Boyd in 1965. The resulting group was signed by Boyd to Elektra Records in 1966 and released a critically acclaimed studio debut.
                

But when Palmer left the band for an extended journey to Afghanistan and later India, the two

remaining members disbanded. They would reform a year later as a duo with Williamson adding several exotic new sounds such as oud, gimbri and tamboura as a result of his own eastern travels (in Morocco). This became the core of a group that, along with Williamson's girlfriend Licorice McKechnie, guest artists and the occasional short-term member would prove quite prolific and successful.
                     

The band released a dozen albums beginning on 1967 and toured extensively to increasingly large

crowds. The band's reputation was enhanced during these years thanks to strong endorsements by musical icons such as BOB DYLAN, PAUL MCCARTNEY and ROBERT PLANT (who once claimed LED ZEPPELIN learnt their craft from listening to an ISB album), as well as by covers of their music by JUDY COLLINS and MANFRED MANN among others.
                 

In the end the changing times as well as the band members' varied spiritual forays led to their demise

following a concert tribute to the late Scientology guru L. Ron Hubbard in 1974. Williamson and Heron would get together again for a show in 1997, which led to a brief reunion of the original band (including original founder Palmer) and joined by some family and friends. This lineup produced several years of small-venue touring as well as a studio and live release, but the reformation would fade away shortly after Williamson left for good in 2004.
              

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND 1966

                 

The Incredible String Band is the debut album by the band of the same name, released in the United Kingdom in September 1966 by record label Elektra. It is the only one of the band's albums to feature

the original trio line-up with Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron. The trio had been signed to Elektra Records by Joe Boyd, who had seen them play in Glasgow. They recorded the album at the Sound Techniques studio in Chelsea, London in one afternoon in May 1966, with Boyd as producer. Boyd insisted on focusing on the group's own self-written material, rather than the traditional songs and tunes which they had also been performing, and with each performer singing his own material.

The Incredible String Band – The Incredible String Band
Label: Fledg'ling Records – FLED 3076, Carthage Records – FLED 3076
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Dgipack
Country: Europe
Released: 2010
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk

TRACKS

                        

01. Maybe Someday   2:18
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Mike Heron
02. October Song   4:08
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Robin Williamson
03. When The Music Starts To Play   2:41
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Mike Heron
04. Schaeffer's Jig   0:56
Arranged By – Clive Palmer, Mike Heron, Robin Williamson
Written-By – Trad.
05. Womankind   3:43
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Robin Williamson
06. The Tree   2:53
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Mike Heron
07. Whistle Tune   1:00
Arranged By – Robin Williamson
Written-By – Trad.
08. Dandelion Blues   2:58
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Robin Williamson
09. How Happy I Am   2:18
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Mike Heron
10. Empty Pocket Blues   4:45
Written-By – Clive Palmer
11. Smoke Shovelling Song   3:45
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Robin Williamson
12. Can't Keep Me Here   2:13
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Mike Heron
13. Good As Gone   3:29
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Robin Williamson
14. Footsteps Of The Heron   3:12
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Mike Heron
15. Niggertown   2:07
Arranged By – Clive Palmer
Written-By – Trad.
16. Everything's Fine Right Now   2:13
Written-By, Lead Vocals – Mike Heron

LINE -UP

Banjo, Guitar, Vocals, Kazoo – Clive Palmer
Fiddle, Guitar, Vocals, Mandolin, Whistle – Robin Williamson
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Mike Heron

Flac Size: 249 MB

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - 5000 SPIRITS OR THE LAYERS OF THE ONION 1967 - THE HANGMAN'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER 1968
                   

The Incredible String Band  5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion/The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter
Label: Collectors' Choice Music – CCM-289-2
Series: Two Classic Albums From
Format: 2 x CD, Album, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 2002
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk, Psychedelic Rock
                      

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - 5000 SPIRITS OR THE LAYERS OF THE ONION 1967

                

The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion is the second album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group

the Incredible String Band (ISB). It was released in July 1967 on Elektra Records. The album was recorded following the reformation of the band as a duo consisting of Robin Williamson and Mike Heron. Notably, the album was a change in musical direction for the two as they transitioned from their more conventional folk music structures into complex psychedelic compositions influenced by British folk and Indian music.   

TRACKS   

    
01. Chinese White    3:55
02. No Sleep Blues    3:50
03. Painting Song    4:00
04. The Mad Hatter's Song    5:35
05. Little Cloud    4:02
06. The Eyes Of Fate    4:57
07. Blues For The Muse    2:43
08. The Hedgehog's Song    3:25
09. First Girl I Loved    4:50
10. You Know What You Could Be    2:45
11. My Name Is Death    2:42
12. Gently Tender    4:42
13. Way Back In The 1960s    3:07

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - THE HANGMAN'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER 1968

                   

                                      
The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter is the third album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, the

Incredible String Band (ISB), and was released in March 1968 on Elektra Records. It saw the band continuing its development of the elements of psychedelic folk and enlarging on past themes, a process they had begun on their previous album, The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion. Instrumentally, it was the ISB's most complex and experimental album to date, featuring a wide array of exotic instruments. In addition, the album captured the band utilising multi-tracks and overdubbing.       
 

 

TRACKS

   
14. Koeeoaddi There    4:41
15. The Minotaur's Song    3:18
16. Witches Hat    2:30
17. A Very Cellular Song    12:55
18. Mercy I Cry City    2:40
19. Waltz Of The New Moon    5:01
20. The Water Song    2:41
21. Three Is A Green Crown    7:40
22. Swift As The Wind    4:50
23. Nightfall    2:29

LINE - UP

Arranged By [Flute Organ] – Dolly Collins (tracks: 2-7)
Arranged By [Harpsichord And Harp] – Dolly Collins (tracks: 2-6)
Bass – Danny Thompson (tracks: 1-2 To 1-4, 1-7, 1-9, 1-10, 1-13)
Harp – David Snell (tracks: 2-1 To 2-10)
Lead Vocals, Guitar – Mike Heron (tracks: 1-1 To 1-3, 1-5 To 1-10, 1-12, 1-13, 2-1 To 2-10)
Lead Vocals, Guitar, Flute, Lute, Guitar [Bowed Gimbri], Drums, Rattle, Oud, Mandolin – Robin Williamson (tracks: 1-1 To 1-8,1-10 To 1-13, 2-1 To 2-10)
Organ [Flute Organ], Piano – Dolly Collins (tracks: 2-1 To 2-10)
Piano – John Hopkins (tracks: 1-4)
Sitar, Organ [Hammond], Dulcimer [Hammer], Harpsichord – Mike Heron  (tracks: 2-1 To 2-10)
Sitar, Tambura – Soma (tracks: 1-4)
Vocals, Finger Cymbals – Licorice (tracks: 1-3, 1-6, 1-12, 2-1 To 2-10)
Whistle, Percussion, Piano, Jew's Harp, Idiophone [Water Harp], Harmonica, Other [Chahanai] – Robin Williamson (tracks: 2-1 To 2-10)
Written-By – M. Heron (tracks: 1-1, 1-3, 1-5, 1-8, 1-10, 1-12, 2-4, 2-5, 2-9), R. Williamson (tracks: 1-2, 1-4, 1-6, 1-7, 1-9, 1-11, 1-13, 2-1 To 2-3, 2-6 To 2-8, 2-10)

Flac (2 Albums) Size: 604  MB

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - WEE TAM 1968 + THE BIG HUGE 1968
                           

The Incredible String Band – Wee Tam / The Big Huge
Label: Collectors' Choice Music – CCM-290-2
Series: Two Classic Albums From
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation, Reissue
Country: UK
Released: 2002
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk Rock, Folk

                   

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - WEE TAM 1968

                      

                  
Wee Tam and the Big Huge is the fourth album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, the Incredible

String Band, released in Europe as both a double LP and separate single LPs in November 1968 by Elektra Records. In the US, however, the two discs were released separately as Wee Tam and The Big Huge.

 

TRACKS

01. Job's Tears   6:40
Guitar, Written-By – Robin Williamson
02. Puppies   5:30
Guitar, Guimbri, Bass, Percussion – Robin Williamson
Written-By, Guitar, Sitar, Bass – Mike Heron
03. Beyond The See   2:16
Guimbri, Bass, Whistle – Robin Williamson
Written-By, Organ, Harpsichord – Mike Heron
04. The Yellow Snake   2:04
Guitar, Sarangi, Written-By – Robin Williamson
Sitar – Mike Heron
05. Log Cabin Home In The Sky   4:00
Guitar, Washboard – Robin Williamson
Written-By, Guitar, Washboard – Mike Heron
06. You Get Brighter   5:44
Harpsichord – Robin Williamson
Written-By, Guitar – Mike Heron
07. The Half-Remarkable Question   5:01
Sitar – Mike Heron
Written-By, Guitar, Percussion – Robin Williamson
08. Air   3:12
Flute – Robin Williamson
Guitar, Organ, Written-By – Mike Heron
09. Ducks On A Pond   9:17
Percussion, Harmonica – Mike Heron
Written-By, Guitar, Kazoo, Bass Drum, Piano – Robin Williamson

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - THE BIG HUGE 1968

                     

Consisting of a varied selection of songs by Robin Williamson and Mike Heron, with intriguing and

poetic lyrics, the album is rich with eclectic and adept instrumentation and arrangements. Around 15 instruments are featured, played mainly by the two band members Williamson and Heron but also, in supporting roles, on a few tracks by Rose Simpson and Licorice McKechnie. Williamson explained the title as follows: "I saw a man with a huge big dog, [and] we knew somebody called Wee Tam, in Edinburgh. It seemed like it was a good idea in terms of one person looking up at the stars; Wee Tam and the Big Huge. Just like the vastness of the universe".

TRACKS

01. Maya   9:24
Percussion – Licorice
Sitar – Mike Heron
Written-By, Bass – Robin Williamson
02. Greatest Friend   3:30
Written-By, Harmonica – Mike Heron
03. The Son Of Noah's Brother   0:16
Organ, Written-By – Mike Heron
04. Lordly Nightshade   5:54
Percussion – Mike Heron
Piano, Drums, Written-By – Robin Williamson
05. The Mountain Of God   1:51
Written-By, Organ – Robin Williamson
06.Cousin Caterpillar   5:15
Bass – Robin Williamson
Written-By – Mike Heron
07. The Iron Stone   6:33
Percussion, Harp [Irish] – Licorice
Sitar – Mike Heron
Written-By – Robin Williamson
08. Douglas Traherne Harding   6:15
Violin, Percussion – Robin Williamson
Written-By – Mike Heron
09. The Circle Is Unbroken   4:47
Organ – Mike Heron
Written-By, Harp [Irish] – Robin Williamson

LINE - UP

Robin Williamson – lead vocals (1, 4, 7, 9, 10, 12-14, 16, 18), guitar (1, 2, 4, 7, 9-13, 16), bass guitar (2, 3, 10, 15), guimbri (2, 3), percussion (2, 7, 9, 17), sarangi (4), violin (5, 17), harpsichord (6), piano (9, 13), Hammond organ (14), flute (8), kazoo (9), whistle (3, 13, 17, 18), harmonica (11), Irish harp (18), drums (13), backing vocals
Mike Heron – lead vocals (2, 5, 6, 8, 11, 15, 17), guitar (2, 5, 6, 8, 15, 17), sitar (2, 4, 7, 10, 16), bass guitar (2), organ (3, 8, 12, 18), harpsichord (3), washboard (5), percussion (9, 13), harmonica (9), backing vocals
Rose Simpson – violin (5), percussion (10, 15, 16), backing vocalsLicorice McKechnie – percussion (10, 16), Irish harp (16), backing vocals

Flac (2 Albums)  Size: 523 MB

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - CHANGING HORSES 1968 - I LOOKED UP 1970
               

The Incredible String Band – Changing Horses / I Looked Up
Label: Collectors' Choice Music – CCM-291-2, Collectors' Choice Music – CCM-291
Series: Two Classic Albums From (2)
Format: 2 x CD, Compilation, Reissue
Country: US
Released: 2002
Genre: Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk

                  

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - CHANGING HORSES 1969

             

Changing Horses is the fifth album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, the Incredible String Band

(ISB), and was released in November 1969 on Elektra Records. The album saw the group continuing their use of unique instruments while integrating a standard musical structure. In addition, the album is seen as a transitional period in which the ISB shifted in musical textures, including early utilization of electric-based instruments.

 

 

TRACKS           

01. Big Ted   4:21
Written-By – Williamson
02. White Bird   14:46
Written-By – Heron
03. Dust Be Diamonds   6:14
Written-By – Williamson
04. Sleepers, Awake   3:44
Written-By – Heron
05. Mr. & Mrs.   4:54
Written-By – Williamson
06. Creation   16:04
Written-By – Williamson

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - I LOOKED UP 1970

              

I Looked Up (Elektra EKS 2469 002 / U.S. LP: EKS-74061) is the sixth album by the Incredible String

Band. Recorded at a time when the band was busy rehearsing for their ambitious upcoming stage show, U, the album has been described by band member Robin Williamson as a "quickie" album. Recording of the album came just 5 months after Changing Horses. Like its predecessor, the album included six tracks with two compositions exceeding 10 minutes. As usual with the band, there are several instruments utilised in unique arrangements and overdubbing in the development of the album.

TRACKS       

    
01. Black Jack Davy   3:59
Written By – Heron
02. The Letter   3:08
Written-By – Heron
03. Pictures In A Mirror   10:43
Written-By – Williamson
04. This Moment   6:07
Written-By – Heron
05. When You Find Out Who You Are   10:58
Written-By – Williamson
06. Fair As You   6:27
Written-By – Heron

Flac (2 Albums)  Size: 526 MB

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND - U 1970 (A Surreal Parable in Song and Dance)

                     

ISB is again eclectic, drawing freely from a range of traditional musics and instruments in a broad and

masterful variety of styles and ideas. Sitars and fiddles move us from one culture to another in relative ease - the music is never forced or artificial. The melodies would turn up unexpectedly, in quiet moments or while falling to sleep. As would the words: "I was your slave, now you are mine, I am time..." So much so that I tracked down a good-condition copy of the LP just two years ago and had it coverted to CD. Needless to say, the sound quality of this reissue easily surpasses what I remember from the vinyl.

The Incredible String Band – U
Label: Elektra – 7559 62761-2, Warner Strategic Marketing United Kingdom – 7559 62761-2
Format: 2 x CD, Album, Remastered, Reissue Aug 12, 2002
Country: UK
Released: 1970
Genre: Rock, Folk, World, & Country
Style: Folk Rock

DISC ONE

                

01.  El Wool Suite  8:31  
02.  The Juggler's Song  3:13  
03.  Time  3:58  
04.  Bad Sadie Lee  3:49  
05.  Queen of Love  8:37  
06.  Partial Belated Overture  2:56  
07.  Light in Time of Darkness/Glad to See You  10:16  
08.  Walking Along With You  3:59  
09.  Hirem Pawnitof/Fairies' Hornpipe  6:20  

Flac Size: 284 MB
 
Disc TWO

           

01.  Bridge Theme  2:18  
02.  Bridge Song  8:49  
03.  Astral Plane Theme  4:52  
04.  Invocation  4:49  
05.  Robot Blues  4:09  
06.  Puppet Song  6:16  
07.  Cutting the Strings  5:10  
08.  I Know You  3:24  
09.  Rainbow  15:41  

Flac Size: 293 MB