The Incredible String Band ‎- U (1970) US 1st Pressing - 2 LP/FLAC In 24bit/96kHz

Posted By: Fran Solo
Date: Sept. 21, 2019

The Incredible String Band ‎- U
Vinyl | LP Cover (1:1) | FLAC + cue | 24bit/96kHz | 2000mb
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Label: Elektra/7E-2002 | Released: 1970 | Genre: Progressive-Folk

A1 El Wool Suite 8:28
A2 The Juggler's Song 3:10
A3 Time 3:57
A4 Bad Sadie Lee 3:48
A5 Queen Of Love 8:36
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B1 Partial Belated Ouverture 2:54
B2 Light In Time Of Darkness 10:18
B3 Walking Along With You 3:58
B4 Hirem Pawnitof / Fairies Hornpipe 6:18
B5 Bridge Theme 2:15
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C1 Bridge Song 8:47
C2 Astral Plane Theme 4:55
C3 Invocation 4:48
C4 Robot Blues 4:07
C5 Puppet Song 6:15
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D1 Cutting The Strings 5:08
D2 I Know You 3:22
D3 Rainbow 15:39

Published By – Warlock Music Ltd.
Credits
Design – Bob Heimall*
Engineer – John Wood
Mastered At Sterling Sound
Painting [Front cover] – Janet Shankman
Photography By – Francis Loney, Jon Bloom (2), Phil Franks (2)
Producer – Joe Boyd
Set Designer – Janet Shankman
Written-By – Janet Shankman (tracks: Shankman), McKechnie* (tracks: D2), Heron* (tracks: A1; B1; B2; B3; B4; B5; C1; D3), Williamson* (tracks: A2; A3; A5; C2; C3; C4; C5; D1)
Notes
Released with a fold out insert containing all lyrics.
Released in a gatefold sleeve.

Barcode and Other Identifiers
Matrix / Runout: 7E-2002 A-1 CTH
Matrix / Runout: 7E-2002 B-1 CTH
Matrix / Runout: 7E-2002 C-1 CTH
Matrix / Runout: 7E-2002 D-1 CTH







This Rip: 2015
• Cleaning: RCM Moth MkII Pro Vinyl
• Direct Drive Turntable: Marantz 6170
• Cartridge: SHURE M97xE With JICO SAS Stylus
• Amplifier: Marantz 2252
• ADC: E-MU 0404
• DeClick with iZotope RX4: Only Manual (Click per click)
• Vinyl Condition: NM/NM
• This LP: From my personal collection
• LP Rip & Full Scan LP Cover: Fran Solo
• Password: WITHOUT PASSWORD

Of the records that the Incredible String Band recorded for Elektra, U is easily the strangest – even by the band's standards.
The sprawling double album was the musical element of a Robin Williamson theatrical presentation of the same name (with input from Mike Heron), that put the band on a stage with the Stone Monkey troupe, who did dances to these songs, complete with light projections. It played in London and at the Fillmore East in New York before it closed with disastrous financial results. Sans dancers, the group – Williamson, Heron, Licorice McKechnie, and Rose Simpson – went on and completed a limited tour of the West Coast before recording U. They recorded the double album in just two days. Along with their usual wacky and wonderful meld of psychedelic-cum-traditional folk, sitar, tabla, faux raga, and exotic world music aspirations, are songs that encompass blues, singer/songwriter fare, and more. Disc one features a shambolic, yodeling saloon song ("Bad Sadie Lee") offered by cover painting artist Janet Shankman, followed by the dreamy "Queen of Love," which was written by Tom Constanten (more famously a keyboard-playing guest of the Grateful Dead). There are plenty of other things, too, including the beautiful droning guitar and mandolin Baroqueness of "Time" and even rock – check the psych instrumentals "Partial Belated Overtime" and "Bridge Theme." The second disc contains some wonderful vanguard moments in the solo guitar instrumental "Astral Plane Theme," the barrelhouse piano stride of "Robot Blues," and two long Heron pieces. The first is the gorgeous ballad "Light in Time of Darkness." "Rainbow," which closes the record, is a 15-plus-minute exercise in medieval minstrelsy. At the time and given its length, U was a stretch for all but the most adventurous of ISB fans. In the 21st century, it is still somewhat unfocused, but its best material rates with some of the best in the band's catalog.
Review by Thom Jurek, allmusic.com
Welcome to the Dark Side of the Vinyl
Silent spaces haven't been deleted in this rip

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