Changing

Incredible String Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 20, 1994)
• Label: Hannibal
• ASIN: B00000064J
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,788 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Big Ted

2. White Bird

3. Dust Be Diamonds

4. Sleepers, Awake!

5. Mr. and Mrs.

6. Creation

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

They really don't write them like this any more. "Big Ted's dead / He was a great old pig," sings Robin Williamson. "He'd eat most anything / Never wore a wig." Although the Incredible String Band had always been delightfully ramshackle, 1969's Changing Horses found the innovative folk-rock duo of Williamson and his mate Mike Heron becoming almost a slipshod stoned parody of themselves--with assistance from their girlfriends Rose and Licorice. Of the six tracks, two ramble on at such length (over 14 minutes) that even such exotic instruments as sarang, gimbiri, Chinese banjo, and the inevitable sitar fail to maintain much interest. Bob Dylan's "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" had, no doubt, convinced them that quarter of an hour wasn't too long to go on about "messengers with sharpened heels" and an "amethyst galleon out on the rolling sea." But it is! Committed Incredible fans will hug this to their bosoms, but the casual listener is advised to check out the 1967 classic The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. --Johnny Black

Product Description

Limited Edition Japanese pressing of this album comes housed in a miniature LP sleeve. Strange. 2006. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I'm still amazed, August 24, 2003

By 

kirkeby (new email adress) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Changing (Audio CD)

If there ever was something that change my life. It was definily this band. How modest they are to call themselves the Incredible Stringband when in fact they are/were the Incredible innovators of 'my thoughts' in all my early years, that is from the age of 13 well, until now. If anybody had an impact onmy life Robin certainly did. For many years ago, in Copenhagen, I meet licorice in a park, I wasgoing the same evening to a concert with the I.S.B. And there I was..... together with Licorice.. what a thrill... Until this day I remember that day. And the concert was great. There was light everywere and I mean light,because wereever the ISB played, there was light. I love these persons I know that they loved me. If ever you should listen to music, and offcourse you are, DO'NT MISS THIS. I love you but the maker he loves you the best.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Almost a masterpiece..., January 10, 2000

By 

S. GODFREY "Stuart" (Risca, South Wales) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Changing (Audio CD)

This album caused quite a split among the band's fans when it first came out: some saw it as the culmination of the brilliant hippy wierdness developed over previous gems like "Hangmans" and "Wee Tam" - to others it was just boring. What we get are a couple of fairly obvious throwaway songs: "Big Ted" is fun but not much more, "Sleepers Awake" is OK as an unaccompanied piece but not much in comparison to (say) Steeleye Span, and "Mr & Mrs" and "Dust Be Diamonds" are fine but hardly quintessential ISB. The two real contenders here are the long tracks: Mike's brilliant, quirky meditation "White Bird"" (not to be confused with Its a Beautiful Day's song) and Robin's awesome elegy on no less a theme than Creation itself. Both pieces are slow-burning with repetitive dreamlike choruses which either send you into realms of wonder or bore you stupid. Either way, the album is an experience which, on its own terms, has never been equalled. Its either the epitome or the nadir of the String Band depending on which side of the great divide you fall. As for me, I love it and always will, but its flaws are self-evident which is why it loses a star. Great cover (the band in full hippy regalia perched in a tree - they were never lovelier).

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars overall Incredible String Band rating, February 28, 2001

By 

Mark R. Dobos (Indian Harbour Beach, FL USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Changing (Audio CD)

This album being a personal favourite, for its extended transcendental meditative trance numbers, White Bird and Creation, only gives you an idea of the ground Robin Williamson and Mike Heron are capable of breaking. Its interesting for me to look back and see how I got turned on. It wasn't immediate acceptance, me being only 21,it was over my head--I wasn't at that level yet. Couple years later, I started to see(mostly for the lively blend/fusion of eastern influence and folk-rock including innovations on the sitar). Williamson's lyrics are beyond reproach from even Bob Dylan as is his completely unique and supplemental singing style--East is as far as music goes. And the Incredible String Band is as far as Eastern goes. I now acclaim Robin Williamson as the greatest music artist(and least acknowledged) perhaps in all of history. Accompanied by Mike Heron, on any of a half a dozen instruments, this is the most farthest reaching experimentation and exploration of the ultimate limit in music. But most people we'll never even come close to "seeing". I'm deeply effended when uncultured/uneducated individuals insult their genious with rude, negative verbal insults and unsubstantiated, uneducated comparisons to the Bealtes who , of course, is probably the only band this person ever heard of(And this sorry excuse for anything claimed to be from and "know" the 60's-don't make me sick. The Beatles never had what these guys do. The comparison to me is ludicrous. Assists from Licorice and Rose are more than just whip creme and a cherry. The Incredible String Band recorded many great albums. Whether or not you listen to them depends on what you're looking for. But do you know genious when you see it?