U (album)

U
Studio album by The Incredible String Band
Released October 1970
Recorded May 1970
Genre
Length 1:47:07
Label Elektra / WEA
Producer Joe Boyd
The Incredible String Band chronology
I Looked Up
(1970)I Looked Up1970		 U
(1970)		 Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending
(1971)Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending1971
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]

U is a double album, the seventh studio album overall, by the Scottish psychedelic folk group the Incredible String Band (ISB) and was released on Elektra Records in October 1970. The majority of the material featured on the album was taken from the mixed-media production of the same name, which saw the band backed by the dancing troupe the Stone Monkey. The concept of U derived from the ISB's fascination and subsequent conversion to Scientology in 1969.

Although the show, along with the songs, were seen as ambitious, U was a commercial failure for the ISB. The album managed to chart at number 183 on the Billboard 200,[2] fairing considerably better in the UK where it peaked at number 34 on the UK Albums Charts.[3] Critics heavily panned the album and long-time fans of the group enjoyed the show aspect, but were less receptive to U. However, the album is today considered to be one of the ISB's most experimental and progressive work, and has been reissued.

Background

In 1969, after researching its concepts, the members of the ISB had joined the Church of Scientology, and expressed some of their changing views on their subsequent studio album, Changing Horses, later in the year.[4] In November 1969, at the Hotel Chelsea in New York City, the ISB met two ex-members of David Medalla's kinetic art group the Exploding Galaxy, after the troupe unsuccessfully tried to negotiate a recording contract with MGM Records.[5] Former members Malcolm Le Maistre and Rakis, as well as their newly formed dance ensemble the Stone Monkey, took residency at the ISB's commune in Glen Row to help the band, especially Robin Williamson, realize their vision for a multi-media stage act.[6][7]

Described as a "surreal parable in song and dance" by Williamson, U was "neither a pageant, a play, dance, theater, nor pantomime, though there were elements of all of those" in the show.[6] For the plot, Williamson explained "the vague notion was, a soul incarnates out of nowhere, lives, and then vanishes again at the other end. Hence the idea 'U'", although the performances themselves hardly followed a coherent storyline.[6] On April 8, 1970, the three-hour U show opened at London's Roundhouse where it ran for ten consecutive days.[8] As many as 12 dancers accompanied the band on stage; the dancing aspect was reminiscent of the group's early performing days with the duo Mimi and Mouse. Another booking, this time for six days at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, came at the ISB's own expense, and the financial fallout forced the group to complete the shows without the Stone Monkey in a standard concert format.[9]

In an attempt to recoup the financial losses of the "U" show, record producer Joe Boyd booked the band, along with session musicians Janet Shankman, Peter Grant, and Maistre, into a San Francisco studio to record the nearly two hours of material that is featured on the double album.[6] U was recorded in just 48 hours; Williamson recalled "We just went day and night for two days and two nights, in shifts, and finished. I can't remember what the reasons were, but we had to be done in a hurry. In a way, it seemed to fit".[6] Regardless of the time constraints, the album still contained characteristically complex instrumentals and overdubbing. The music on the album was taken from the songs the band performed on the U tour, showcasing a staggering diversity of psychedelia, folk rock, and traditional folk arrangements long associated with the group, as well as new, highly progressive elements.[10]

Release

U was released in October 1970 on the Elektra label (catalogue item 7E-2002 in the US, catalogue item 2665 001 in the UK). In the US, the album peaked at number 183 on the Billboard 200, remaining on the charts for three weeks, and on the UK Albums Charts it managed to reach number 34 during a two-week stay. Also, in Melody Maker magazine the album charted in the top 20, before dropping off in a few weeks.[2][3] The album's cover by Shankman was literal interpretation of the show as it featured a mult-colored "U". Inside the gatefold sleeve were photographs depicting the band and the Stone Monkeys in the midst of a performance of the "U" show.[11]

Track listing

All tracks written by Robin Williamson except where noted.

Disc 1
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."El Wool Suite"Mike Heron8:31
2."The Juggler's Song" 3:13
3."Time" 3:58
4."Bad Sadie Lee"Janet Shankman3:49
5."Queen of Love" 8:37
6."Partial Belated Overture"Heron2:56
7."Light in Time of Darkness/Glad to See You"Heron10:16
8."Walking Along With You"Heron3:59
9."Hirem Pawnitof/Fairies' Hornpipe"Traditional, arr. Heron6:20
10."Bridge Theme"Heron2:18
Disc 2
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Bridge Song"Heron8:49
2."Astral Plane Theme" 4:52
3."Invocation" 4:49
4."Robot Blues" 4:09
5."Puppet Song" 6:16
6."Cutting The Strings" 5:10
7."I Know You"Licorice McKechnie3:24
8."Rainbow"Heron15:41

Charts

Chart Entry
date		 Peak
position		 Weeks charted
UK Albums Chart[3] October 31, 1970 34 2
The Billboard 200[2] January 23, 1971 183 3

References

  1. ↑ Thom Jurek. "U - Review". allmusic.com. r605108. Retrieved March 22, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 Whitburn, Joel; Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums, 1955-1996; p. 366. ISBN 0898201179
  3. 1 2 3 Chart Archive - Incredible String Band(Link redirected to OCC website)
  4. ↑ Roach, Pemberton. "Changing Horses - Review". allmusic.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  5. ↑ Whittaker, Adrian (2003). Be Glad: The Incredible String Band Compendium. Helter Skelter Publishing. pp. 188–190. ISBN 1-900924-64-1.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Unterberger, Richie. "Liner Notes for the Incredible String Band's album, "U"". richieunterberger.com. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Joynson, Vernon (1984). The Acid Trip: A Complete Guide to Psychedelic Music. Babylon Books. p. 118. ISBN 0-907188-24-9.
  8. ↑ "Who Are the Incredible String Band" (PDF). kenyon.edu. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Whittaker, Adrian (2003). Be Glad: The Incredible String Band Compendium. Helter Skelter Publishing. p. 196. ISBN 1-900924-64-1.
  10. ↑ Whittaker, Adrian (2003). Be Glad: The Incredible String Band Compendium. Helter Skelter Publishing. pp. 214–215. ISBN 1-900924-64-1.
  11. ↑ "U back cover credits". Missing or empty |url= (help)
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