Sweet Smoke
Sweet Smoke - Just A Poke & Darkness To Light (197
Sweet Smoke - Just A Poke & Darkness To Light (1970 & 1973)
Sweet Smoke - Just A Poke & Darkness To Light (2 LPs on 1 CD, Remastered Edition)
Released: 1970 & 1973
Genre: Psychedelic-, Prog-, Jazz-Rock
EMI Electrola 7243 5 22641 2 4
"Great '70s psychy / jazzy / folky / West Coast styled Europe based US commune band who interweave Eastern flavoured spiritual lyrics into some wonderful tunes. Electric guitars, sitars, percussion and great harmonies... A wonderful, happy, uplifting album...… "
German reissue of two 70s rock albums ' Just a Poke' and 'Darkness to Light' together on one disc. Originally released on Harvest. Digitally remastered. Standard jewel case. 2000 release - Reissue description
Sweet Smoke was an American music group living and playing in Europe from 1970 till 1974. Originally from N.Y. the group moved to Germany where they lived as a family commune. Within a year of their arrival they recorded their first L.P. Just a Poke which almost immediately turned them into a sort of cult icon of the underground scene which was beginning to emerge as europe's response to the american hippy scene.
An extremely resourceful and creative group, they took the art of spontaneous improvising to new heights, very often involving their audiences in their music. Words like rock jazz, acid rock, raga rock, hard rock, experimental music are only some of the words used to describe their music. Looking back one can see the early roots of fusion and new age music beginning to manifest through them.
Though the basic group consisted of 5 musicians, they came to most of their concerts with their communal family (10-15 of their friends) who helped them on and off stage to create an atmosphere of a musical happening.
To Sweet Smoke music was not simply a collection of songs that the audience would sit back and listen to, but rather it was a living vehicle through which they could share with everyone their vision and joy of life.
To sweet smoke music was magic, their concerts were an interaction between them and their audiences, and their group was like a Cosmic Space Ship forever exploring the unknown regions of our musical universe. - Mike Paris
Tracklist:
1. Baby Night 16:35
2. Silly Sally 16:35
3. Just Another Empty Dream 4:24
4. I'd Rather Burn Than Disappear 4:18
5. Kundalini 13:29
6. Believe Me My Friends 4:30
7. Show Me The Way To The War 5:34
8. Darkness To Light 12:51