Elephant's Memory

Elephant's Memory | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 2004)
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B0001XAPEW
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,288 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Band Of Love

2. Brief Encounter

3. Crossroads Of The Stepping Stones

4. Don't Put Me On Trial No More

5. Hot Dog Man

6. Jungle Gym At The Zoo

7. R.I.P.

8. Super Heep

9. Takin' A Walk

10. Yogurt Song

11. Old Man Willow

Editorial Reviews

That this band’s founders (saxophonist Stan Bronstein and drummer/vocalist Rick Frank) met on the strip joint circuit is too perfect, for if one thing was consistent about Elephant’s Memory’s career through numerous line-up and label changes, it was their flair for the outrageous, culminating in their backing of John Lennon on 'Some Time in New York City' and Yoko on 'Approximately Infinite Universe'. This, however, is their first record, made in 1969 when they were gaining a reputation for wildly theatrical, Zappa-esque stage shows; a unique blend of psychedelia, wistful balladery, jazz and hard rock, this album also landed two songs on the 'Midnight Cowboy' soundtrack, 'Old Man Willow' and 'Jungle Gym at the Zoo'. In short, a very late ’60s New York experience awaits you on this 'Collectors’ Choice Music' exclusive! Includes 'Band of Love; Brief Encounter; Crossroads of the Stepping Stones; Don’t Put Me on Trial No More; Hot Dog Man; Jungle Gym at the Zoo; R.I! .P.; Super Heep; Takin’ a Walk', and 'Yogurt Song'.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Both Of Them Are Great, August 19, 2005

By 

Michael Roy "Mike." (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elephant's Memory (Audio CD)

This album is stange in a way. Its very well made. Nice harmonies on the vocals. All the instruments sound great together. The saxophone also fits well within the tracks. I also have there 2nd album "Elephants Memory" on Apple Records produced by John Lennon & Yoko Ono. Sadly that one is not avalible on CD yet. Hopefully soon enought. If You Like Beatles Related Stuff I strongly recommend this album. Great Addition to any collection.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Wiser Purchase is the MIDNIGHT COWBOY score, November 3, 2005

By 

L. S. Slaughter "silvanus" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elephant's Memory (Audio CD)

That score, along with John Barry's original themes and Nilsson's "Everybody's Talkin'", includes the BEST tunes on this early Elephants Memory Buddah record, "Old Man Willow" and "Jungle Gym at the Zoo."

The rest is uneventful. Not bad, just a producer in search of a band's sound.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars It was the 60s, man!, January 16, 2005

By 

Rand Higbee (Hager City, WI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Elephant's Memory (Audio CD)

Elephant's Memory is a difficult group to pin down. With shifting lineups (Carly Simon actually once sang for them!) and a constantly evolving sound, even the guy who wrote the liner notes for this CD can't quite seem to keep it all straight. (Ask yourself who the lead female voice is on this album. Though nothing on this CD actually indicates it, the singer must be Martha Velez.)

One is tempted to say that Elephant's Memory was a product of the 60s and leave it at that. A combination of acid rock and jazz, this 1969 first album from the group might remind you a bit of Jefferson Airplane with a Big Band/Jazz twist.

The album is a little too inconsistent to be called a classic, but it has enough good tracks and showed enough promise to warrant the 4 stars I give it. "Band of Love" is probably the best of the bunch here, with a feel good chorus where it sounds like the entire band joins in to sing along. "Yogurt Song" and "Hot Dog Man" show the group was not above having a little fun, while "Don't Put Me on Trial No More" and "Takin' a Walk" show signs of the harder direction the group would soon take.

Elephant's Memory grabbed their 15 minutes of fame in 1972 when John Lennon discovered the group and used them as the backing band for his album "Sometime in New York City." What could have been a star turning break for the group ended in disappointment as the album became Lennon's biggest mistake. Bad reviews and bad sales made Lennon quickly forget about Elephant's Memory.

Still, the Lennon period lead to a few other notable releases. They backed Yoko on one of her solo albums, backed John and Yoko during a few concerts (one of which was recorded and would become the posthumous Lennon release "Live in New York City") and had John and Yoko produce and perform on an album for them. That album, released in 1972 and also titled only "Elephant's Memory" (What? They couldn't think of any album titles?) was group's best effort. It is strongly hoped that this album, along with the others they did along the way, will be scheduled for a CD release of it's own sometime soon.