• Artist: The Incredible String Band
• Rating:
• Styles: British Folk-Rock, Folk-Rock, British Folk
• Similar Albums: Early Classics, Live at Leeds, Tribute to Woody Guthrie, Now We Are Six, Below the Salt, The Best of Sandy Denny [Best of Box], Sandy Denny & the Strawbs, Sandy, Fully Qualified Survivor

Review

Conventional wisdom has it that the Incredible String Band had already peaked by the time they released this double-LP soundtrack to their ambitious stage show ("A Surreal Parable in Song and Dance") in 1970. Further, a little of the group -- which could be rather precious -- tended to go a long way. A two-pronged vocal attack, courtesy of Mike Heron and Robin Williamson, that leaned toward the whiny and droning didn't help (female vocalists of a more traditional folk bent augmented most recordings, including this one). Therefore, even if U is somewhat underrated, it's still a lot to take in at one time. On repeated exposure, however, what at first seems like overkill starts to make more sense and to have more of an impact as the strongest material rises to the top. At over 15 and a half minutes, for instance, Heron's "Rainbow" may be more "epic" than necessary, but is affecting nonetheless and witnesses the lads (along with euphoniously named girlfriends Rose and Licorice) weaving rock elements into their psych-folk mélange more successfully than on subsequent efforts -- a bit like the Stones' "She's a Rainbow" by way of Cat Stevens with a little Ravi Shankar on the side. Janet Shankman's "Bad Sadie Lee," on the other hand -- an attempt at old-timey honky tonk from the future Mrs. Williamson -- is an experiment that probably worked better live than on record (yodel, fiddle, banjo, and all). Incidentally, sides one and four are combined on one disc, sides two and three on the other. It seems unlikely that many listeners would have taken the time to play them in sequence (assuming they even noticed), but the problem was rectified with the CD release. The title is depicted on the gatefold cover by a Shankman illustration of two jugglers lying head to head, stockinged legs pointing into the air. That about sums things up -- i.e. those with an aversion to mimes, acrobats, and the like are advised to stay far, far away. ~ Kathleen C. Fennessy, All Music Guide

Tracks

CD 1

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
El Wool Suite		Mike Heron	The Incredible String Band	(8:31)
The Juggler's Song		Robin Williamson	The Incredible String Band	(3:13)
Time		Robin Williamson	The Incredible String Band	(3:58)
Bad Sadie Lee			The Incredible String Band	(3:49)
Queen of Love		Robin Williamson	The Incredible String Band	(8:37)
Partial Belated Overture		Mike Heron	The Incredible String Band	(2:56)
Light in Time of Darkness/Glad to See You	...	Mike Heron	The Incredible String Band	(10:16)
Walking Along With You		Mike Heron	The Incredible String Band	(3:59)
Hirem Pawnitof/Fairies' Hornpipe	...	Mike Heron, Traditional	The Incredible String Band	(6:20)
Bridge Theme		Mike Heron	The Incredible String Band	(2:18)

CD 2

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
Bridge Song		Mike Heron	The Incredible String Band	(8:49)
Astral Plane Theme		Robin Williamson	The Incredible String Band	(4:52)
Invocation		Cris Williamson	The Incredible String Band	(4:49)
Robot Blues		Robin Williamson	The Incredible String Band	(4:09)
Puppet Song		Robin Williamson	The Incredible String Band	(6:16)
Cutting the Strings		Robin Williamson	The Incredible String Band	(5:10)
I Know You		Licorice McKechnie	The Incredible String Band	(3:24)
Rainbow		Mike Heron	The Incredible String Band	(15:41)

Credits

The Incredible String Band (Main Performer), Robin Williamson (Guitar), Robin Williamson (Violin), Robin Williamson (Keyboards), Robin Williamson (Vocals), Tom Constanten (Arranger), John Wood (Engineer), Mike Heron (Bass), Mike Heron (Guitar), Mike Heron (Horn), Mike Heron (Keyboards), Mike Heron (Vocals), Joe Boyd (Producer), Peter Grant (Banjo), Greg Heat (Sitar), Licorice McKechnie (Violin), Licorice McKechnie (Keyboards), Janet Shankman (Harpsichord), Janet Shankman (Vocals), Janet Shankman (Set Design), Janet Shankman (Cover Painting), Rose Simpson (Bass), Rose Simpson (Percussion), Malcolm (Vocals), Robert L. Heimall (Art Direction), Phil Franks (Photography), Francis Loney (Photography), Richie Unterberger (Liner Notes), Gordon Anderson (Executive Producer), Mike (Organ), Mike (Bass), Mike (Guitar), Mike (Mandolin), Mike (Piano), Mike (Sitar), Mike (Vocals), Robin (Bass), Robin (Fiddle), Robin (Flute), Robin (Guitar), Robin (Mandolin), Robin (Piano), Robin (Drums), Robin (Jew's-Harp), Robin (Vocals), Robin (Washboard), Robin (Guitar (12 String)), Robin (Gimbri), Robin (Clay Drums), Robin (Shanai)

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

u s s	3032 U
U S Mint	300750 u