US Album Cover: Electric Ladyland
While walking to work on Friday and thinking about the day's post (with the identify this picture quiz - answer Jimi Hendrix), it suddenly occurred to me that I had overlooked one of the great rock epic songs, which is in turn part of one of the finest concept album sides (in my opinion, the finest - yeah, bring 'em on, the Beatles, the Who, Decemberists, Yes, Flaming Lips etc., I'm standing pat), that happens to make a most definitive illusion to a great work of literature: "1983 ... A Merman I Shall Be" by the incomparable Mr. H.
Included in the above widget are the 2 songs that song "1983," comprising side 3 of the two album set. The set opens with "Rainy Day, Dream Away," which sets the story of spliff induced rainy day reverie which one critic described as a psychedelic suite. I'd call it a mini rock opera, centered around a sci/fi like tale of two people who, as the final apocalyptic war rages, go down to the sea having been transformed by their machine to return from where the human race emerged. The music matches the theme, mock epic in style, with a beautiful melody. Moving on to the next side after the "Moon, Turn the Tides ... Gently, Gently Away," the listener and narrator simultaneously continue the reverie and begin to come out of a long excursion into a mythic alternative to Mr. Orwell's "1984.
UK Album Cover: Electric Ladyland
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Today's featured archive poem comes from Lilliput Review #65, February 1995. Enjoy.
Today's featured archive poem comes from Lilliput Review #65, February 1995. Enjoy.
Bird Haiku #14
Wings extended across the ground
a dead sparrow
flies into eternity.
David Rhine
grafting a branch--
I might be dead
tomorrow
Issa
translated by David G. Lanoue
best,
Don
Send a single haiku for the Wednesday Haiku feature. Here's how.
Go to the LitRock web site for a list of all 123 songs
As much as they are at times maligned, the Eagles told some pretty literate stories in their music.
ReplyDeleteI pulled Electric Ladyland out after Friday's post. My favorite J.H. album, depending on the mood.
ReplyDeleteCharles, I'll have to look into that for a future post. Somehow I hadn't thought of them.
ReplyDeleteDon
Bandit: Ah, yes, this is one for the age ... Don
ReplyDeleteThe name of Jimi's Band -- The Experience -- has a Zen ring to it.
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteAlmost 40 years since I went into my best friend's basement, he put that first Experience disc on the turntable and the world changed forever and I never thought about what you just said.
The world just keep changing.
Amazing experience, indeed.
Don