Incredible String BandRecorded on the Summer 1968 tour when the band was promoting The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter, this live recording captures the Incredible String Band arguably at their peak. The success of Hangman’s had catapulted them into larger concert halls. Even the Beatles and the Rolling Stones would turn out to see the ISB at the Albert Hall in London. Even though the ISB was not well-known in the US, they had already started to attract a cult following on the back of 5000 Spirits as well as a recent live radio appearance.
While there were just two members in the Incredible String Band, Mike Heron and Robin Williamson, they played a variety of different instruments from guitars and organs to sitar and even bells. The track listing reads like the closest the ISB will ever get to a “greatest hits”. This covers from the first album with October Song through 5000 Spirits to Hangmans and Wee Tam & the Big Huge. The latter album had not yet been released but some of the tracks such as Ducks on a Pond are given an airing. Further experiments follow with early snippets of Puppies and Maya. It has been suggested that this version of the much-loved Maya may have been the first time it was ever played live. One of the outstanding tracks is Chinese White from 5000 Spirits that gains a massive roar of approval from the crowd. As the opening track of the album this was the first track heard heard by many String Band devotees. — makingtime
1. Waltz of the New Moon
2. You Get Brighter
3. A Very Cellular Song
4. October Song
5. Bell Ringing
6. Pig Went Walking/See All the People/Swift as the Wind/Mercy I Cry City
7. Ducks on a Pond
8. Puppies
9. Chinese White
10. Maya
The concert was recorded by the venue’s sound desk. This is a 24-bit re-master, approved by the band, taken from that original 1968 concert tape.
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