Secrets of the I Ching

Secrets of the I Ching is the first full length album by 10,000 Maniacs (following their 1982 EP release), released in 1983 by Christian Burial Music, the band's own label. The album was recorded at SUNY Fredonia with only 500 copies made. This is also the first of their recordings with the new and permanent drummer Jerome Augustyniak. Rerecorded versions of the songs "Tension" (as "Tension Makes a Tangle"), "Grey Victory", "Daktari" and "My Mother the War" appeared on their 1985 album The Wishing Chair. The song "Tension" is itself a re-recording of a song that initially appeared on the band's debut EP, Human Conflict Number Five.

Secrets of the I Ching
Studio album by
10,000 Maniacs
Released1983
RecordedMarch–July 1983
LabelChristian Burial Music, Mark Recordings (1983 US/Germany)[1]
10,000 Maniacs chronology
Human Conflict Number Five (EP)
(1982)		 Secrets of the I Ching
(1983)		 The Wishing Chair
(1985)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
Robert ChristgauB− link
Rolling Stone Archived May 6, 2001, at the Wayback Machine
The Rolling Stone Album Guide [2]

All the tracks on this LP, in remixed, remastered and resequenced form, appear as part of the 10,000 Maniacs compilation CD Hope Chest: The Fredonia Recordings 1982-1983.

Track listing

All songs written by John Lombardo and Natalie Merchant, except where indicated

  1. "Grey Victory" (John Lombardo/Robert Buck/Natalie Merchant) – 2:59
  2. "Poor de Chirico" – 3:09
  3. "Death of Manolete" – 3:52
  4. "Tension" – 3:30
  5. "Daktari" – 4:10
  6. "Pit Viper" (Steven Gustafson/Natalie Merchant) – 3:51
  7. "Katrina's Fair" (Robert Buck/Natalie Merchant) – 2:57
  8. "The Latin One" – 2:59
  9. "National Education Week" (Dennis Drew/Natalie Merchant) – 2:47
  10. "My Mother the War" (John Lombardo/Michael Walsh/Natalie Merchant) – 3:31

The above track listing is for the original Mark Records pressing for Christian Burial Music, the band's own label. Subsequent editions of this album are missing "National Education Week".

Personnel
  • Natalie Merchant: lead vocals
  • John Lombardo (as J.C. Lombardo): rhythm and bass guitars
  • Robert Buck: "principal guitars devices" (i.e., lead guitar, synthesizers)
  • Steven Gustafson: rhythm and bass guitars
  • Dennis Drew: Fender Contempo organ
  • Jerome Augustyniak: drums
  • 10,000 Maniacs: producer
  • Gustav Doré: artwork
  • Bob Grotke: mastering
  • David Brick: mixing
  • Albert Garzon: producer, engineer, mixing
  • Christian Burial Music: publisher

Reception

Robert Christgau recalled Merchant saying, "...and I'll inform you that I was only 17 years old, so it made a big impression on me – that I'd written the most pretentious lyrics since lysergic acid had been in flower. I was upset then but now I laugh about it because I've put Robert Christgau in perspective."[3]

References
  1. http://www.discogs.com/10000-Maniacs-Secrets-Of-The-I-Ching/master/75574
  2. Brackett, Nathan; Christian Hoard (2004). The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City, New York: Simon and Schuster. p. 807. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8. rolling stone 10,000 maniacs album guide.
  3. 'Q Questionnaire': Q, January 1994, p154
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