The Incredible String Band - The 5000 Spirits Or T
The Incredible String Band - The 5000 Spirits Or The Layers Of The Onion (1967)
LP Elektra EUKS-7257, 1967
CD Elektra 7559-60913-2, 1992
Stone psychedelic freaks Robin Williamson and Mike Heron were two talented multi-instrumentalists who were eventually joined in the Incredible String Band by their earth-goddess lovers, Licorice and Rose. They tapped into the British Isles' centuries-old traditions of myths and folklore, updating the ancient sounds with inspired, multi-layered recordings and a modern twist that helped you envision fair maidens riding unicorns through green and fertile fields while simultaneously advocating better living through chemistry. Hell, the title alone of this, their second album, is more psychedelic than anything the Jefferson Airplane ever did. ~Jim Derogatis
Lineup:
Robin Williamson - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin, Oud, Gimbri, Flute, Bass Guitar, Percussion
Mike Heron - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Licorice McKechnie - Vocals, Percussion
Danny Thompson - Double Bass
John Hopkins - Piano
Soma (Nazir Jairazbhoy) - Sitar, Tamboura
Engineer: John Wood
Producer: Joe Boyd
Tracklist:
1. Chinese White (Mike Heron) – 3:40
2. No Sleep Blues (Robin Williamson) – 3:53
3. Painting Box (Heron) – 4:04
4. The Mad Hatter's Song (Williamson) – 5:40
5. Little Cloud (Heron) – 4:05
6. The Eyes of Fate (Williamson) – 4:02
7. Blues for the Muse (Williamson) – 2:49
8. The Hedgehog's Song (Heron) – 3:30
9. First Girl I Loved (Williamson) – 4:55
10. You Know What You Could Be (Heron) – 2:46
11. My Name Is Death (Williamson) – 2:46
12. Gently Tender (Heron) – 4:49
13. Way Back in the 1960s (Williamson) – 3:11