I'd heard of this compilation way back when but it was a bit of a cult item, either unavailable or too expensive if you ever did see a copy. Prompted by a comment left on an earlier post I decided it was time to investigate. As is the way these days this once near mythical item became mine in a matter of clicks. Sad in a way. Anyway, it arrived today and I'm still getting into it but so far the Red Krayola versions are the most interesting things on it.The impact of some of the best songs ("You're Gonna Miss Me" by the Spades and the demo version of "Transparent Radiation") has been lessened slightly due to previous exposure on other compilations but the album's worth it just for those two tracks alone. I think the sleeve artwork's brilliant and on its reverse there's a transcript of an interview of Lelan Rogers by Jon Savage. Fairly standard stuff about how the Establishment was so down on them and how out of it the 13th Floor Elevators all were and how few records they sold.
One bit that caught my eye though was a comment from Lelan, saying that working with them was a real education as to the attitudes of young people, "...at the time there was a saying around the country that anyone over 30 should be put in prison. They all belonged to the under-30s. I understand it's now down to the under-20s" . You can see in that comment the jump off point for the main plot device in "Logan's Run". I always found the idea that the vast majority of people would passively submit themselves for death at the age of 21 the least credible part of the book. But it was interesting to have such a vivid flash of where the authors were coming from and that, given such hostility to the older generation, it perhaps wasn't such an outrageous backdrop.
Chapparalls: I Tried So Hard
The Red Krayola: Hurricane Fighter Plane
Man, I loved them! The internet has taken some of the mystique away. It's a shame. I guess Great Britan was hurt especially (as I child I was certain GB consisted of moors, strange people, castles and wonderful music). Now anyone can look it up on Google maps and buy it instantly. It's a problem, I guess we have to deal with it. Does AMY mystique withstand transparently? Hmm
ReplyDeletesic ANY not amy
ReplyDeleteThe 13th Floor Elevators or the Red Krayola? Or both? Hello Anders, nice to see you back. I find it hard to comment on your poetry posts I'm afraid, I don't think I'm very good at interpreting them.
ReplyDeleteIt's very hard for me to comment on Great Britain, or at least whether the people are strange. Is Britain (or was Britain) a more mystical place than so many other countries? Britain held a dominant position as the modern world was coming into being - we probably peddled a few myths about ourselves.
Personally I think it's unlikely that British people are any different from any other nationality. There's lots I like about Britain, but, naturally, I find other countries more intriguing, no matter how much I google them.
You're absolutely right, Britain was successful in spreading myths about itself. It comes with the dominance held by language and culture in the 20th century, of course. I partly thought about the fact that once mythical (rare) albums (etc) now are available on Amazon in one click. The internet dispel illusions. Only our persons, in flesh, can compete with the internet (until human like robots at a reasonable price hits the market).
ReplyDeleteWell, I meant Red Krayola. Never heard them before; grand sound. I love the 13th floor elevators already.