Bobby Callender - The Way (First Book of Experiences) (1971)
Line-up/Musicians
- Bobby Callender / vocals
With:
- members of OREGON
With Walcott's Codona, no doubt the best fusion jazz project which includes massive Hindu "raga" elements. After the brilliant, psychedelic and highly original "Rainbow", the singer & lyricist Bobby Callender carries on an other conceptual, deeply religious album called "The way". The "soul", jazz rock music progressively lets the place to spiritual influences of the East, marked by choirs and orchestration. The combination of East meets West is very achieved, putting here more stress on meditative, peaceful effects than before. This musical universe is full of beauty and introspection. All the compositions are floating in a "sacred" time, punctuated by a fragile female voice and Callender's odd, mysterious recitations. A rare, unique and eternal album! An excellent following to the revolutionary "Rainbow".
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Recorded in 1970, Bobby Callender's "The Way" is a truly puzzling amalgamation of psych, soul, jazz, Eastern sounds, spoken word and pop. Callender's distinct falsetto voice hovers above Axelrod- inspired orchestration that blends with an odd mysticism, creating a lush, psychedelic whirlwind of gorgeous pop sounds. The album's initial beauty quickly takes a turn for the surreal, when Callender begins a head-scratching spoken word segment about the mysterious "John" that ventures into other worldly places. The Eastern hippie vibe is particularly prevalent in Callender's lyrics; he sings "Be a Karma Yogi, Act Selflessly?. Be a Karma Yogi, Act Not Violently" with the utmost sincerity. Between the confounding religious themes, perfect pop arrangements and sublime production, Callender's "The Way" is a masterpiece of soulful psychedelia.
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Excellent psychedelic poetry embedded in an eastern progressive rock arrangement. Musical a Sherezade feel-Lyrical an Hermann Hesse 'Siddharta' feel The poetry is about a experiences in a kind of Indian Religion . Less use of sitar than on his first album(Rainbow). Bobby on this attemp is backed by members of Oregon.
Track Listings
1. Drone - Going Back - Ist and 2nd Movement (2:46)
2. Awaken John - Lord Am I Dreamnng (2:58)
3. Bhodi Tree (2:06)
4. Satori (2:28)
5. Story of Rasha and Dhara (4:27)
6. Chant: Kasha and Dhara and Love, Love, Love (0:59)
7. Shringara (2:02)
8. 3rd Movement - Satyagraha (6:37)
9. Transmigration - Travel With Me (3:43)
10. Karma Yogi (2:16)
11. 4th Movement - Ooda Rata Travel With Me (2:23)
12. Story of the Shepherd (3:49)
13. Let Thy Will Be Done (2:17)
14. Hari Om and Deva Chant Interlude (4:18)
15. Santa Grace (3:16)
16. Going Back Instrumental/Ooda Chant and Ending (4:42)
Releases information
LP Akarma Records AK129
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