Friday, September 28, 2007

Bobby Callender - The way (First Book of Experiences),LP, 1970,USA

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.
From Other Music review by PW
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.

get it here

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi!
Thanks for this, any chance of a track listing corresponding to the LP sides ( as it's not seperated)?
Ta!

Anonymous said...

His third lp (LA MUSEE DE L' IMPRESSIONISM) IS HIS BEST! If you have it please post. Thanks, MARCUS

Anonymous said...

Thanks for this, Jim!
Been looking for it quite a while.
On an old incomplete torrent I foud the following track titles:
1. Drone -Going Back 1st & 2nd Movement
2. Awaken John-Lord An I Dreaming (will probably have to be "AM I)
3. The Bodhi Tree
4. Satori
5. Story Of Rasha & Dhara
6. Chant -Rasha & Dhara & Love, Lo
7. Shringara
8. 3rd Movement -Satyagraha

Lex

Anonymous said...

Correction of my previous comment:
found the complete tracklist:

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)

Lex

Anonymous said...

Mmmm... strange, though..:
the above specified total length of the songs is not corresponding with the 4 uploaded tracks.. there seems to be uploaded more here..
and track 4 has an odd ending... I could sear Bobby is beginning to sing again.. or is that one of his jokes?
What do you think, mutantpeops & fanbase ;-)?

Lex

Anonymous said...

http://dunkel-inderholle.blogspot.com/2007/09/bobby-callender-way-first-book-of.html

here is a better bitrate rip, that is splitted into tracks

attentioneconomy said...

this album has changed my Life!!!!

Anonymous said...

link down?

Anonymous said...

http://mygeneration60s.blogspot.com/2008/04/bobby-callender-way-first-book-of.html