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