Nice notes, Mitchell, on the Cale/Reed conflicts, which I wasn't too clear on before. I was never really into their brand of experimentation (I was 15 in '70), but watched with bemusement, Reed's career progression, and the rock mags of the day carrying pix of Bowie (whom I loved and followed) and Reed (with Ig, whom I dug) and others.
So few seem to really be aware of Cale's recording career (early '70s/post-Velvets, anyway): Two albums on Columbia, followed by two on Warner/Reprise. It's those 2 that I had ('72's "The Academy in Peril" and '73's "Paris 1919")---they were promos brought home by good ole Dad---but can't say I was taken in by them, but again, as an aging high schooler, at the time, I'm afraid I was more than a fan of the "competition"---Tull, Sabbath, Deep Purple, Genesis, et al!
Such a great song. I don't see it mentioned very often, though. Glad to see it highlighted here. I was caught off guard this week while listening to The Sand Pebbles "Pleasure Maps" album. The last track began and I was like "this song sounds familiar." It was "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'".
Thanks for this essay. Great reminders. As someone who works in music today with younger musicians who revere this kind of "roots" music I watch as they try to figure it all out. Times are so very different to say the least. But the large themes are quite similar.
Nice notes, Mitchell, on the Cale/Reed conflicts, which I wasn't too clear on before. I was never really into their brand of experimentation (I was 15 in '70), but watched with bemusement, Reed's career progression, and the rock mags of the day carrying pix of Bowie (whom I loved and followed) and Reed (with Ig, whom I dug) and others.
So few seem to really be aware of Cale's recording career (early '70s/post-Velvets, anyway): Two albums on Columbia, followed by two on Warner/Reprise. It's those 2 that I had ('72's "The Academy in Peril" and '73's "Paris 1919")---they were promos brought home by good ole Dad---but can't say I was taken in by them, but again, as an aging high schooler, at the time, I'm afraid I was more than a fan of the "competition"---Tull, Sabbath, Deep Purple, Genesis, et al!
Such a great song. I don't see it mentioned very often, though. Glad to see it highlighted here. I was caught off guard this week while listening to The Sand Pebbles "Pleasure Maps" album. The last track began and I was like "this song sounds familiar." It was "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'".
Thanks for this essay. Great reminders. As someone who works in music today with younger musicians who revere this kind of "roots" music I watch as they try to figure it all out. Times are so very different to say the least. But the large themes are quite similar.