Customer Reviews

Yellow Princess

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If I could own only one John Fahey album, it would be "The Yellow Princess," so this reissue is a real treat. This is at least the third time Vanguard has issued this album on CD-"The Essential John Fahey" and "Best of the Vanguard Years" couple it with tracks from Fahey's "Requia"-but this 2006 release restores the original cover art and Fahey's surreal, confounding liner notes. The addition of three previously unreleased tracks from 1965 would suffice to justify purchasing this version, even if you already owned an earlier edition. These include a rare example of his 12-string work, an early version of "Fare Forward Voyagers," and a lengthy slide guitar improvisation. For the uninitiated, I can think of no better introduction to Fahey's music than "The Yellow Princess." All the primary strains of his work are represented here: pre-WWII country blues guitar stylings; Indian raga; Episcopal hymns ("Commemorative Transfiguration and Communion at Magruder Park" quotes "Ye Watchers and Ye Holy Ones") and even musique concrete ("Singing Bridge of Memphis, Tennessee"). There is a more whimsical, evocative quality to the last-named track than one finds in Fahey's at times dissonant, abrasive later material. Reviewers elsewhere have remarked that "The Yellow Princess" features some of his best guitar work, and that the sonic quality of the recording is as if one is listening from inside the instrument. My friend Clark quotes John Fahey as having said something like, "I'm not the greatest guitarist, but I am the deepest." Let the "Yellow Princess" show you what he meant.

"The Yellow Princess" has a lot in common with Fahey's other early stuff, especially "Death Chants, Breakdown, and Military Waltzes." Similar inspired mix of full-on fingerpicking, slow blues, dissonance and found sound. The title track can be found on a number of anthologies, but the rest of the record is excellent as well. There's drum and bass backing on a few cuts, an unusual set-up for Fahey but one that works well.

Suprising this is only available as an import, according to Amazon. You'd think Vanguard would get with the program and reissue this excellent CD, especially now that he's kicked the bucket. Let's hope so.

I remember I was cleaning my apartment when I put this CD in the player. I am very jittery and can't stand still for long periods of time so it means something when I say that I dropped whatever I was cleaning and sat in the midle of my living room and listened to this record in it's entirety. Now, one could hypothesize that the only reason I had such a religious experience with the Yellow Princess is because it was my FIRST John Fahey listening experience and that explanation holds water. There is no way to tell if I would have the same experience had I listened to Breakdowns, Waltzes, and Military Waltzes, Blind Joe Death, or America, or any of the dozens of recordings Fahey has put out first. I will say that none of those aforementioned albums do the same thing that The Yellow Princess does. There is an overall realxed mood of the album that transports the listener to the esoteria of Fahey's mind. Especially if you read the charming linear notes. I love the way he labels his songs as well. He's not afraid to use directions and place names and combine spirtuality with whatever he finds to be meaningful and moving in his life, instead of only what religion would tell him to. In short, this is an amazing album that is guaranteed to satisfy.

I've owned this album for a little while, and listened to it a few times without really being too affected. But something has changed and I cannot stop listening to the record and going over the songs in my head. Fahey is stupendous, and this album is playful and serious enough to contain some of his brilliance. I highly recommend it.

There are two editions available of this CD and the difference is very notable.

First there is the slightly cheaper original 9 track Vanguard release, then there's the superior 12 track Vanguard Masters edition.

The three additional tracks added onto the excellent Vanguard Masters issue were recorded earlier in 1965, when John Fahey was recording demos for Elektra Records. Three of the tracks from those Elektra sessions have now surfaced as bonus tracks here, making up the newer 12 track CD edition. The three extra tracks have a total running time of just under 25 minutes, and the music is all just as essential as that on the original (9 track), so it's more than worthwhile paying that little bit extra just to get these wonderful pieces of John Fahey music.

Informative booklet included.

What I enjoy about John Fahey's albums is that listening to them is an aural experience of the lacerating blossoming unhinging (if I may) of John Fahey's perceptions, intuitions and memories. What is special about this album is theoretically what is special about many of John Fahey's works . . . more blossoming. There are some great freight train and steel string tracks here. I think there's a raga, or use of the style, and plenty of irreverent hammering. The packaging is lovely to run your fingers over. Buy it.

I first heard this album in 1969. It was my first Fahey album and I have been in love with his playing ever since. I was living in the D.C. area at the time so I went looking for a feww of the items . I found the B. & O. trestle and some years later located the singing bridge of Memphis Tn. I saw the invisible city of Blanensburg though I see why it was labeled as invisible. I wish he was still with us. This album was a major part of growing up for me. It is hard to believe 41 years have passed.

... raison d'etre

Enjoyable. If you like guitar music, you'll liek this album from a master.

As anybody can see I have not given any stars!(except 1 mandatory star

to get this essay published at all!)

Explanation: The original Yellow Princess deserves 7.5 stars in a

5-star system....but this is not the original Yellow Princess!

Confused?......Ok...let's start from the beginning.

Vanguard released the Yellow Princess in Sweden in 1969 and I was one

of the first on the waiting list!

Bought it, listened and subsequently was hooked for the rest of my

life.

Bought it again a couple of years later after having resultlessly

tried to find Requia...and had to buy the twin-pack including these

two...and by the way was not very satisfied with side two of Requia.

(in the meantime I had managed to get hold of Vol. I-II-II, Transfiguration,

Days Have Gone By, The Great San Bernardino.. and America (the one-record-LP))

Well...anyway...some ten years ago I bought the cd-reissue of the original

Yellow Princess in order not to completely wear out my vinyls ....third time

around with other words!

I shall not write so very much about the original Yellow Princess here, more

than that it is to my opinion one out of three best Fahey records. The other

ones are by the way Transfiguration and Fare Forwards....and as a little side

track....If you take Days... and San Bernardino... and take away 50% of the

material and put it somewhere where you do not run the risque to stumble over

it in some time.... the rest of it would make a tremendous record!

Anyway...just a short while ago this actual reissue with bonus tracks came to my

knowledge and I bought it.....fourth time anround with other words!

The bonus tracks are wonderful for an addict like me....and the liner notes

are very nice as well as very informative, regarding the fact that these recordings

have been lost for almost forty-five years and everybody in the field have been

trying to find out the whereabouts.

Now to the final conclusion:

In my humble opinion it would have been more satisfying with an issue consisting

of only these three "lost Electra tapes", perhaps combined with the Fahey track

from the so impossible to find "Takoma Sampler LP"*, contractual and financial aspects

between record companies set aside.

That, if anything, would be to pay respect and hommage to the memory of Fahey and

an adequate appraisal of the beauty and importance of these recordings, first lost

but now found.....

Would anybody spend some dollars on such a thing?.....I would for sure!

chief karlsson

*nowadays it is possible to find the tracks from "The Takoma Sampler" and hear them

from internet!

And my dream is still to have that perfect combination from "Days have Gone By" and "The

Great San Bernardino Birthday Party"....maybe I will do it myself one of these days.