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Incredible String Band

alex

Gold Meritorious Patron
following a tune through the air

a childs flute houses away

leading to the memories forgot

and loves lost

in the air I float

over the years gone

looking for the love

I hope is to come.
 

alex

Gold Meritorious Patron
sweet licorice

who'd guessed it were so

something so shiny

so black as it were

happy flavors dance, then

in moments of stillness

gentle light dim

vanish'd unnoticed

till to late, had been.
 
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Veda

Sponsor
There are some new ISB videos on YouTube. No telling how long they'll last. (Previously posted videos now need to be top clicked to work.)

'Maya':

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_JnyN1ajYw

It's interesting that the creativity of the Incredible String Band - after initial exposure (as public) to Scientology - increased, then - after prolonged exposure to Scientology - decreased.
 

Moonchild

Patron with Honors
ISB

Back in the "day" the ISB weren't particularly my cup of tea (sorry Malcolm) but listening to these clips, yes there is a certain charm there, especially "First Girl I Loved".

Thanks Veda.
 

Wisened One

Crusader
Wow they are good, reminiscent to me of Van Morrison of Astral Weeks and such. (LOVED that album!).

So they were singing these songs as scn's at the time, then?

Alex: Are those your poems? Beautiful! :clap:
 

Veda

Sponsor
'First girl I loved', and many other songs, were written before involvement with Scientology. 'Wee Tam' and 'Big Huge' came about during the early involvement.

IMO, the ISB initially benefited from their participation in Scientology, as Scientology public receiving auditing, with Robin Williamson being audited at St. Hill in England by Bent Corydon. http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0942637577.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg (This was around the time that William Burroughs was briefly involved with Scientology. http://realitystudio.org/images/biography/burroughs_and_emeter.jpg

An interesting time.

I can remember when their music starting changing, losing its magic and creativity, with the band breaking up soon thereafter. This coincided with the ISB reaching the 'confidential' levels of the Grade Chart. Towards the end, the beautiful mystical poetry was gone - avoided as "R6 bank dramatization" and "mixing practices," etc., followed by several years of musical stagnation in the sterile land of Scientology, followed by permanently exiting Scientology.

Still, at their peak, when I saw them at the Fillmore East in New York City, they were amazing. http://www.steviehill.com/images/fillmoreresized.jpg
 
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Dulloldfart

Squirrel Extraordinaire
They played a gig at Stonelands, the UK main SO berthing building, at the end of 1972, just after I had joined. I saw it, but don't remember much about it.

Paul
 

xwc

Patron with Honors
I can remember when their music starting changing, losing its magic and creativity, with the band breaking up soon thereafter. This coincided with the ISB reaching the 'confidential' levels of the Grade Chart. Towards the end, the beautiful mystical poetry was gone - avoided as "R6 bank dramatization" and "mixing practices," etc., followed by several years of musical stagnation in the sterile land of Scientology, followed by permanently exiting Scientology.

Thanx for the video, Veda. The ISB always bring a smile to my face, particularly when Rose and Licorice are in the mix.

I always loved the ISB, but your analysis of their demise seems perfect. I hadn't aligned it with their progress up the grade chart, but the magic was certainly gone (or at least tragically diminished) there near the end.
 

looker

Patron Meritorious
I saw the ISB at the Los Gatos community theater. Just loved em. I still have one of their albums "Smiling Men With Bad Reputations" I learned how to play "Black Jack Davey" on guitar and mandolin.

Great songs they and Van Morrison, yes. Was a magical time. A gathering of kindred spirits. Playful loving and wondrous.
 
A bunch of us staff members from FCDC went to see them at the Cellar Door in Georgetwon one night in 1972 or 1973.

We got back into their dressing room after the concert.

The Org Officer at FCDC, Don Cooper, had done his training on the Apollo with one of the band members.

A pleasant time was had by all.

The Anabaptist Jacques
 

DartSmohen

Silver Meritorious Patron
I saw the ISB at the Los Gatos community theater. Just loved em. I still have one of their albums "Smiling Men With Bad Reputations" I learned how to play "Black Jack Davey" on guitar and mandolin.

Great songs they and Van Morrison, yes. Was a magical time. A gathering of kindred spirits. Playful loving and wondrous.

I thought that this album was a solo Mike Heron album.

I could be wrong.

Dart
 

Div6

Crusader
The ISB was a major influence on Jimmy Page and Robert Plant....the recorder duet in the intro to 'Stairway to Heaven' was a direct nod in their direction.

This article from Rolling Stone illustrates the fact:

http://www.sahej.com/Incredible-String-and-Led-Zeppelin.htm


To his credit, Bill Graham (Rock Impresario who opened the Fillmore East and Fillmore West) has put his 'vault' of recordings on line from those days. Registration is required, but there are some gems there, including this ISB performance from June 5th, 1968

http://www.wolfgangsvault.com/the-incredible-string-band/concerts/fillmore-east-june-05-1968.html
 

La La Lou Lou

Crusader
Wonderful to see them again, thanks posters.

Yes they were good, no doubt about it, I'm putting my beads on and fluffing up my hair as I write, Nostalgia isn't what it used to be, they were such creative chaps!
 
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