Earth Opera emerged from the Boston folk scene (as did Appaloosa and James Taylor) and recorded two
folk rock albums in the late-60's. The main figures of Peter Rowen and Dave Grisman played in various eastern US folk music groups as far back as the early 60's, and their early works can be found on the String Band Project released in 69 by folk-specialist label Elektra.
Coast answer to the Grateful Dead. Spawned out of the early- to mid-'60s folk boom, Earth Opera's core was comprised of Peter Rowan, a former bluegrass player (and Bill Monroe alumnus) whose proficiency on guitar and mandolin was soon matched by his songwriting; and David Grisman, a mandolin virtuoso of no small talent who had played with a various younger ensembles, including Siegel, Grisman, Rose & Lewinger.
They recorded their two albums over 18 months, both produced by in-house producer Peter Siegel, with a
rather stable line-up, although their second album had many guest musicians, including Velvet Underground's John Cale. Their music is a gentle folk rock with some unusual instrumentation (vibraphone), but also had a dark side, which provided some quite interesting songs, usually their longer tracks.
The Great American Eagle Tragedy managed to reach the lower end of the national charts, the cover
featuring a parody of the U.S. presidential seal with a superimposed death skull and what looks like blood stains. However, the band's relative lack of success caused Earth Opera to break up in 1969. Rowan, Grisman, Nagy, and Stevenson all continued their careers in the music business. Nagy became a producer and engineer, including producing the late Mimi Farina (Solo, 1986). In 2002, both of Earth Opera's LPs were reissued on CD by Wounded Bird Records.
LINE - UP
Peter Rowan – vocals, guitar, saxophone
David Grisman – mandolin, mandocello, piano, saxophone, vocals
Bill Stevenson (1967–68) – piano, harpsichord, organ, vibraphone
Paul Dillon – drums, percussion, guitar, vocals
Bill Mundi – percussion, drums
John Nagy – bass, cello
Richard Grando – saxophones
Warren Smith - Drums, Percussion
DISCOGRAPHY
Earth Opera 1968
The Great American Eagle Tragedy 1969
EARTH OPERA - EARTH OPERA 1968
Earth Opera is a good example. The Boston-based group's self-titled debut LP featured a heady mixture of pop, rock, folk, jazz, and classical elements in involved arrangements played on such unusual instruments
as mandocello and harpsichord. Less a rock band than a highly eclectic chamber orchestra, Earth Opera played in an arty style that suited singer/songwriter/guitarist Peter Rowan's songs, with their complicated structures and highly poetic lyrics. Rowan sang those lyrics, which dealt here and there with anti-war and more generalized sentiments of social dissatisfaction, in a distanced, somewhat artificial tone of voice, using an accent that sounded vaguely British, even when he was mentioning the Red Sox.
Earth Opera – Earth Opera
Label: Wounded Bird Records – WOU 4016
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2001
Country: US
Released: 1968
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Acid Folk
TRACKS
01. The Red Sox Are Winning 3:30
02. As It Is Before 7:21
03. Dreamless 2:50
04. To Care At All 3:34
05. Home Of The Brave 4:46
06. The Child Bride 4:40
07. Close Your Eyes And Shut The Door 2:45
08. Time And Again 5:45
09. When You Were Full Of Wonder 3:55
10. Death By Fire 6:05
LINE - UP
Vocals, Guitar – Peter Rowan
Piano, Vibraphone [Vibes], Harpsichord – Bill Stevenson
Bass – John Nagy
Drums – Paul Dillon
Drums, Percussion – Billy Mundi, Warren Smith
Mandocello, Mandolin – David Grisman
Written-By – David Grisman (tracks: 8), Peter Rowan
Flac Size: 240 MB
EARTH OPERA - THE GREAT AMERICAN EAGLE TRAGEDY 1969
The Great American Eagle Tragedy is the second and last album by the Acid-Folk band Earth Opera, recorded in 1969. It is marked by departure of Bill Stevenson, using more guest musicians than on the debut album and use of pedal steel by Bill Keith. The album also had better success on charts then the
previous one, but soon after, the group disbanded, paving the way for solo careers mainly for Pete Rowan and David Grisman. If Earth Opera's self-titled debut album reflected the eclectic, ambitious pop styles of the Flower Power, Sgt. Pepper era of 1967, the group's follow-up, The Great American Eagle Tragedy, took into consideration the changed musical climate of 1968, when arrangements became more stripped down and hard rocking, with country-rock beginning to make inroads. The departure of bandmember Bill Stevenson, along with his harpsichord and vibraphone, may have hastened the group's transition to a simpler sound, too.
Earth Opera – The Great American Eagle Tragedy
Label: Wounded Bird Records – WOU4038
Format: CD, Album, Reissue 2001
Country: US
Released: 1969
Genre: Rock
Style: Country Rock, Psychedelic Rock
TRACKS
01. Home To You 4:27
02. Mad Lydia's Waltz 3:47
03. Alfie Finney 2:34
04. Sanctuary From The Law 2:54
05. All Winter Long 5:57
06. The Great American Eagle Tragedy 10:41
07. Roast Beef Love 3:16
08. It's Love 4:09
LINE - UP
Peter Rowan – vocals, guitar, saxophone
David Grisman – mandolin, mandocello, piano, saxophone, vocals
Paul Dillon – drums, percussion, guitar, vocals
Bass – John Nagy
GUESTS
John Cale - Viola
Jack Bonus - C-Soprano saxophone, Tenor saxophone, Bass Recorder
Dave Horowitz - Piano, Organ
Bill Keith - Pedal, Steel guitar
Herb Bushler - Double Bass
Bob Zachary - Triangle
NOTES
CD release of the original vinyl release 1969
Nicely, Kostas, thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome
DeleteThis band is new for me. Thank you for the discovery.
ReplyDeleteEric.