Mythical Kings & Iguanas/Reflections in a Mud Puddle [Import, Original recording remastered]

Dory Previn | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 15, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import, Original recording remastered
• Label: Bgo - Beat Goes on
• ASIN: B0000011PL
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,395 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #45 in Music > Indie Music > Folk > Folk Rock

Track Listings

1. Mythical Kings and Iguanas

2. Yada Yada La Scala

3. Lady With The Braid

4. Her Mothers Daughter

5. Angels and Devils The Following Day

6. Mary C. Brown and the Hollywood Sign

7. Lemon Haired Ladies

8. Stone For Bessie Smith

9. The Game

10. Going Home (Mythical Kings and Iguanas)

11. Doppelganger

12. The New Enzyme Detergent Demise of Ali MacGraw

13. The Talkative Woman and the Two Star General

14. The Altruist and the Needy Case

15. Play It Again, Sam

16. The Earthquake in Los Angeles (February, 1971)

17. The Final Flight of the Hindenburg (May, 1937)

18. I Dance and Dance and Smile and Smile ("After an initial deep split the tremors can go

19. The Air Crash in New Jersey

20. Aftershock

Editorial Reviews

You might have expected that British label BGO, in reissuing Dory Previn's early-'70s albums as two-fers, would pair her debut album, On My Way to Where, with her second, Mythical Kings & Iguanas, and her third, Reflections in a Mud Puddle/Taps Tremors & Time Steps, with her fourth, Mary C. Brown & the Hollywood Sign. But On My Way to Where wasn't released in England until after the others, and BGO bloody-mindedly decided to follow the British release schedule, first releasing a two-fer of Mary C. Brown & the Hollywood Sign with On My Way to Where, then following with this disc containing Mythical Kings & Iguanas and Reflections in a Mud Puddle (the second part of the album's title is not listed on this release). While it would have made more sense to do it in the correct order, matching these two albums which followed each other and were both released in 1971, is less jarring than the other pairing. Mythical Kings & Iguanas is Previn's most consistent and accessible album, one on which the confessional tone of On My Way to Where is more tempered by craft. Like Leonard Cohen and Joni Mitchell, the singer is concerned with intimate relations on such songs as "Yada Yada La Scala," "The Lady with the Braid," "Angels and Devils the Following Day," and "Lemon Haired Ladies," adopting the persona of a needy older woman contending with a young, heedless companion. But she also finds space for "Mary C. Brown & the Hollywood Sign," a commentary on her adopted hometown, and "Stone for Bessie Smith," which reflects on the then-recent death of Janis Joplin. Reflections in a Mud Puddle/Taps Tremors & Time Steps, as its double title implies, is really two mini-albums (occupying either side of the original LP). Reflections contains more discursive and less personal songs than those found on Mythical Kings, but the intensely personal, 13-minute, five-song medley of Taps Tremors & Time Steps, (subtitled "One Last Dance for My Father"), is an account of the singer's learning of her father's death, which sets off a series of childhood memories. It is as idiosyncratic as it is compelling, but probably the least conventional part of Previn's recorded work, which means it makes for an odd ending to a CD that began with the more easily engaging material on Mythical Kings. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Piece of Music, May 6, 2003

By 

Thomas M. DeFeo (Washington, D.C. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mythical Kings & Iguanas/Reflections in a Mud Puddle (Audio CD)

I first purchased "Mythical Kings and Iguanas" in 1971 when it was first issued on the MediArts label. The only thing I knew about Dory, was that she was, or had been married to Andre Previn, and that she had written the lyrics to "Valley of the Dolls". With that, and the fact that I liked the look of the cover of the album, I purchased it! I never, in all my life, was more fascinated with an album than this one. And as of today, it remains probably, my favorite album of all time. She is a master story teller, with bruding, dark , haunting lyrics. Her images are so intense, you can not only visualize them, you can smell and taste them. Her statement on basic human conditions and emotions border on neurotic (I love writers like that), and yet you empathize with her. All tracks are amazing, but "Her Mothers Daughter", in my opinion is the stand out. It will send chills down your spin, it is so hauting and scary. Dory is probably the most prolific female songwriter of the '60's and '70's, and yet not widly recognized at all.
I was so wild about this album, I forced all my friends th hear it, they went out and purchased it, also. I went through 4 copies of this album, and my last copy is badly used. I think I was the only person, along with my friends, who actual bought his on vinyl way back when.
To hear it on CD is a joy, no cracks, scratches, and most of all,the quality is remarkable. The original master was terrible, so the original pressings sounded "cloudy". The CD format, I hear instruments, and vocal backings I never heard on vinyl.

If you love female songwriters, and you love to feel suicidal after listening to an artist---BUY THIS, it will put you off the deep edge!

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Two fascinating musical autobiographies, August 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mythical Kings & Iguanas/Reflections in a Mud Puddle (Audio CD)

Dory Previn is a shockingly overlooked singer/songwriter. Her songs manage to be sad, harrowing and witty at the same time, and her verbal acuity and gift for composing catchy melodies mean that her music is easily as good as Joni Mitchell's or Leonard Cohen's. In fact, on the evidence of these two albums, it is better ­ Dory's albums never sound like mere vanity projects. Mythical Kings and Iguanas and Reflections in a Mud Puddle were her second and third albums, and first appeared in the ealy 70s. Reflections, in particular, is startling. The second side is taken up entirely by a suite of songs, detailing Dory's extraordinary childhood. Her abusive father once locked Dory, her mother and her sister, in a room for several months, keeping them prisoners by threatening them with guns. Dory's past ­ one that would break anyone's heart in half, especially a child as sensitive as she was, is chronicled with dignity, anger and warm-hearted wit. Everything else on this album and its predecessor is insightful, charming and catchy, too. All her recordings have something to recommend them. She has not recorded since 1976, so this two-on-one reissue (part of a series) is very welcome.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars After all these years Mythical Kings still packs punch!, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mythical Kings & Iguanas/Reflections in a Mud Puddle (Audio CD)

While I was unpacking boxes in my new house I came across all of my old Dory Previn albums. I listened wished I had them on CD. To my delight I checked and sure enough they were not only available but re-mastered. The sound of Mythical Kings is crisp and clean. Thirty years have not diminished the power and the beauty of this astonishing album. Fans from the 70's will not be disappointed with how this old friend has aged. New fans are in for a wild ride. Come out come out wherever you are Dory, we need your wit and wisdom!!