The Incredible String Band - Maya [Wee Tam & The Big Huge] | jt1674

  . . . .a perennial favourite . . . I was mentioning that I played my entire collection in full and in chronological order some time last year ( I think . . . .) these too are indelibly written in memory

‘all the world is but a play be thou the joyful players'

https://www.tumblr.com/jt1674/820766790825164800/the-incredible-string-band-maya

Singing The Dolphin Through - Mike Heron (Echo Coming Back)

Closing the day with some more Mike Heron . . . . . . 

 Also found on Echo Coming Back - The Best of Mike Heron if you can find any of them . . . . . . ?!!!!

Not exactly a Christmas song but echoes of Winter and colder climes this mystical eerie winter song will see us into the next days before the year ends . . Singing The Dolphin Through (Still Waters)

Farewell Plymouth, your morning cold and grey
Is painting shadows on my thoughts
And we're bound for Norway

Singing the dolphin through
Singing the dolphin through
Singing the dolphin through still waters

Joseph, I know you're trusting me to see you right
And I know you can't stand the fighting
Yes I know you can't stand the fighting
For one more, one more night

Joseph, the mud gives way to coral somewhere
And the hours of light they last and last
We'll see no hostile flag there from craft unknown
We will have grown free from sighing

Singing the dolphin through
Singing the dolphin through

Singing the dolphin through still waters

 

Vocals - Mike Heron

Acoustic Guitar – Ulf Ronquist

Backing Vocals – Krysia Kocjan, Linda Thompson

Bass – Amin Mohammed*

Harmonium – Ron Leahy*

Marimba, Drums – John Gilston

Written By – Mike Heron  [not Manfred Mann - who coincidentally get the lyrics wrong!)

Mike Heron - Flowers of The Forest +

Because Robyn mentioned Mike in the last post from TWILIGHTZONE there is THIS! 

Mike Heron - Flowers of The Forest

Incredible String Band 17.08.2017 (+ Joe Boyd)

Everything’s Fine Right Now - ISB (1970)

More Robyn Hitchcock "Trolley Bus 2” 2010 from TWILIGHTZONE

Robyn Hitchcock "Trolley Bus 2" 2010

Robyn Rowan Hitchcock (born 3 March 1953) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar...
...Coming to prominence in the late 1970s with The Soft Boys, Hitchcock afterward launched a prolific solo career. Hitchcock's musical and lyrical styles have been influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan, John Lennon and Syd Barrett. Hitchcock's lyrics tend to include surrealism, comedic elements, characterisations of English eccentrics, and melancholy depictions of everyday life. His themes include the eternal contingencies of existence — namely: death, sex, and eating. (Recognising these themes, he released an EP in 2007 called Sex, Food, Death and Tarantulas.)
He was signed to two major American labels (A&M Records, then Warner Brothers) over the course of the 1980s and '90s, but mainstream success has been limited. Still, he has maintained a loyal cult following and has often earned strong critical reviews over a steady stream of album releases and live performances.

trax:
01 Be Here Now (Studio Outtake) 02 Blue Moon of Kentucky (PT Session Vocal Nick Lowe) 03 Candyman (Nashville with the Tennessee Crawdads) 04 Changes (3 King Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit) 05 Copper Kettle (Propellor Time session) 06 I Still Miss Someone (PT Session Vocal Scott McCaughey) 07 LIfe On Mars (Live at the 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit) 08 Pink Moon in C (Studio Outtake) 09 Quicksand (Live at the 3 Kings Halloween 2010 MSF Benefit) 10 Song for Bob Dylan (3 Kings Halloween 2010 - MSF Benefit) 11 Very Cellular Song (Lead Vocal Mike Heron at Petsival 2009) 12 Wang Dang Doodle (Propellor Time session)

mostly because Mike Heron is featured on this collection I couldn't find them doing a Very Cellular Song togather but found ‘Olé' and . . . . 

Mike doing his very own Cellular Song on Record Store day back in 2013

The Mike Heron Band - "A Very Cellular Song" live at Record Store Day 2013

See above for more Mike Heron

Mike Heron - Feast onwards . . . .

forgot to post Feast of Stephen as I frequently used to on Boxing Day (look it up) as it reminds me of my brother Steve (always) so here goes more than just that with a live version with Robin in Bloomsbury and another revelatory song I found only recently on Mike’s album ‘Echo Coming Back’ another haunting song and just listen to the voices on choral back up including the mercurially voiced Linda Thompson

 A winter favourite ‘Feast Of Stephen’ Robin Williamson and Mike Heron live - Bloomsbury 1997

The original here which I adore and stands as a winters evening favourite from Smiling Men With Bad Reputations which I used to strongly identify with . . . . . . . 

 Mike Heron - Feast of Stephen - Smiling Men With Bad Reputations

and finally this . . . . . . check this out!

Singing The Dolphin Through 

MIKE HERON

 

The Incredible String Band: Albums 1966 - 1970 | URBANASPIRINES (9 albums)

The Incredible String Band 1966 - 1970 - URBANASPIRINES

"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."

Now I have said quite lot about following The Incredible String Band and I only recently posted ‘Painting Box’ as a song of the day and this therefore from Kostas is a great introductory biog and introduction to their music starting as it does with their work with Clive Palmer. I followed them about the time of the release of 5000 Spirits and left them when Mike started his solo work (Smiling Men With Bad Reputations is still a favourite) and have pretty much everything he released on his own as well. The last time we saw them was in Leicester when I was at the Art school there and we noticed posters or handbills possibly done by students that they had stuck on lampposts advertising “The Increbidle Strong Bond” which we began to refer to them as for the rest of the time we followed them. 

Around the time the scientology message was coming through I fell out with them and was bitterly disappointed they had followed anything thing so crass and controlling as the thought control cult. Robin and his partner and Mike continue to make music as far as I am aware and it is reported that Rose became Lady Mayoress of the Welsh town of Aberystwyth [sic]. Licorice seems to have disappeared into the Arizona desert where she is said to have set off hitchhiking and has not been heard of since 1990. Whether she nestles still in the malign bosom of Scientology is doubtful but possible and when last heard from Rose certainly mentioned that there was a strong ‘possibility she was dead'

 Mike talks about Smiling Men . . . . . . . 

every year I usually post Mike’s Feast of Stephen as a memory of the time of year and to remember my brother Steve . . . . . . . . it makes me feel safe and winterful! (it’s a word!)

so here’s another track from the album

Flowers of The Forest

something you can dance to on a Saturday?

Why of course

Call Me Diamond . . . . . . . (check out the sax solo Dudu Pakwana!)

Remembering . . . . here on the extraordinary TV show with Julie Felix far ahead of its time here Robin and Mike do the Half Remarkable Question . . . . . . 

The Incredible String Band  - Live

Classic Tracks | The Incredible String Band :: Painting Box

 And yes I bought this when it came out and I was living in Banbury going to the Art School there and this song almost makes me think of my wife (to be then . . . . .) 

we saw them a few times and had pretty much all the early albums . . . . . going on to follow Mike Heron in his solo regards 

were we hippies? I hear you ask?

why of course . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. they influenced Led Zeppelin too

and played Woodstock!

so what ya gonna do?  . . . . . . . . . wait for the smoke to clear

Mike Heron’s Incredible Acoustic Band - Four Track demo -1993 | Wagon store

 There’s also a nice Mike Heron knocking around . . . . . .you know, where you might have to pop over to the bookstore, motel and the liquor store . . . . . . . ya get me . . . . . . its not available anywhere I can see and my guess is it is long out of print like so much of Mike’s solo work criminally, so I don’t know why I am being so coy but follow the hints and links and enjoy this one too!

Wagon Bookstore

Thanks Jeremiah!

Mike Heron - Call Me Diamond & Singing The Dolphin Through (Still Waters)

 MIKE HERON

From 'Smiling Men With Bad Reputations' still a favourite album and check out Dudu Pukwana on sax

as it was last listed at £75 and Amazon have it as currently unavailable I guess it 'out of print' as is most all of Mike's work which is little short of criminal but you can smile here 

and get a bad reputation . . . . .

Speaking of reputations there's alway this from Reputation in 1975 . . . . . covered once by Manfred Mann's Earth Band but then largely forgotten . . . . . . I love this song

Also found on Echo Coming Back - The Best of Mike Heron if you can find any of them . . . . . . ?!!!!

Singing The Dolphin Through (Still Waters)

Singing The Dolphin Acoustic Guitar – Ulf Ronquist Backing Vocals – Krysia Kocjan, Linda Thompson Bass – Amin Mohammed* Harmonium – Ron Leahy* Marimba, Drums – John Gilston Written-By – Mike Heron

MIKE HERON - FEAST OF STEPHEN

Usually post this on St Stephen's Day (Boxing Day) but never mind, this is a favourite winter song and I post it every year . . . . . 




May I take this opportunity to wish you all well for the coming year ahead and may you discover all that you need and just a little of what you want!

Mike Heron solo album with invited guests

Pete Townshend * John Cale * Richard Thompson * Deve Pegg * Dave Mattacks * Jimmy Page * Elton John * Keith Moon * Ronnie Lane * Dudu Pukwana * Pat Donaldson * Gerry Conway * Steve Winwood and Dr Strangely Strange (now THAT'S  a line up!!!)

Turn it up!

Buy the album here

DUDU PUKWANA

Lovely compilation from 

this morning

Some For Dudu :: A Dudu Pukwana Companion

“If he plays a gig in some club, it’s the talk of the town for the whole year. Who can afford to pay for so much entertainment?… Well, for those who do not know Dudu Pukwana, he is the heaviest of the heaviest alto saxophone players and for many of us coming from South Africa… THE TEACHER. Go on doing the BOOGIE Bra Dudza.” – Joe Malinga (liner notes, One For Dudu)
Here now, “Some For Dudu,” a celebration and glance at Pukwana: the teacher, the exile, the saxophonist, the front man, the collaborator, the pianist, the singer and shouter; two hours of calm, frenzy, jazz and beyond.

Some For Dudu :: A Dudu Pukwana Companion

Playlist . . .

Dudu Pukwana – “Ko-didi”
Assagai – “I’ll Wait For You”
Dudu Pukwana – “Sondela”
Johnny Dyani with John Tchicai & Dudu Pukwana – “Magwaza”
Assagai – “Ayleo”
Gwigwi Mrwebi – “Nyusamkhaya”
Gideon Nxumalo – “Home At Night”
Dudu Pukwana and Zila – “Matume”
Dudu Pukwana – “Flute Music”
Gwigwi Mrwebi – “Mra”
Osibisa – “Inkosi Sikeleli Africa”
Centipede – “Septober Energy Part Two”
Dudu Pukwana And Zila Featuring Pinise Saul – “Ziyekeleni”
Chris McGregor’s Brotherhood of Breath – “MRA”
Johnny Dyani with John Tchicai & Dudu Pukwana – “Eyomzi”
Jabula – “Baile – They Are Gone”
Toots & The Maytals ft. Dudu Pukwana – “So Bad”
Dudu Pukwana – “Flute Music” [2]

I first came across Dudu's work through the wondrous Mike Heron's 'Smiling Men With Bad Reputations' and he rapidly became a favourite sax player of mine

so I would have included 'Call Me Diamond' from that album as one of the most joyous and exuberant examples of saxamaphone playing ever laid to vinyl - 

DUDU PAKWANA

From the wondrous Aquarium Drunkard comes this tribute!

Some For Dudu :: A Dudu Pukwana Companion

“If he plays a gig in some club, it’s the talk of the town for the whole year. Who can afford to pay for so much entertainment?… Well, for those who do not know Dudu Pukwana, he is the heaviest of the heaviest alto saxophone players and for many of us coming from South Africa… THE TEACHER. Go on doing the BOOGIE Bra Dudza.” – Joe Malinga (liner notes, One For Dudu)

Here now, “Some For Dudu,” a celebration and glance at Pukwana: the teacher, the exile, the saxophonist, the front man, the collaborator, the pianist, the singer and shouter; two hours of calm, frenzy, jazz and beyond.

I first came across the work of Dudu Pukwana via Mike Heron's solo album 'Smiling Men With Bad Reputations' which was never off my turntable when it came out and the sax and piano [apparently?] took a hold of me not least the extraordinary name and I have always liked his phrasing on the saxophone ever since. Check this it is REALLY worth a listen! Extraordinary joyful rhythmic and jazz at its very best!