U

Incredible String Band

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 8, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1970
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Collector's Choice
• ASIN: B00006BC4Y
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #125,171 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Their 1970 album intended as a soundtrack to their theatrical stage show, this was subtitled A Surreal Parade in Song and Dance. Includes the epic 'Rainbow'. Never before on CD! 2002.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE FUN OF BEAUTY, November 2, 2002

By	Kerry Leimer (Makawao, Hawaii United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"U" is something special, and almost accidental. Its structure, dictated by its title, seems almost unapparent in the music itself. Look closely at the cover: it represents a "Siddhartha" like journey from the purity of innocence, down into the temptation and turmoil of the physical world, returning to a high level of spirtuality. What is lost? Innocence, represented by the little ball at the top left, then left behind at the lower right. Easy enough.

Judging from the cover, the song that tells this story best is "The Juggler's Song", a lovely little parable that reveals the whole story, and sets the band free to amble through their "surrealist " mutli-media adventure at will. The liner notes fill you in on the history of the few performances of "U" and it's demanding recording schedule. But, despite all the limitations, setbacks and misinterpretations, the music remains magical, adventurous and charmingly beautiful. The CD is a fitting record of an idiosyncratic project that shines all the more for its eccentricity.

Listening, you feel that in this instance, in a more profound way than in other early period ISB recordings, Williamson and Heron worked apart from one another. Williamson does the heavy lifting: with the exception of "Robot Blues", "The Juggler's Song", "Time" "Queen of Love", "Astral Plane Theme", "Invocation", "Puppet Song" and "Cutting the Strings", are solemn, striking a sometimes ominous and serious tone in both music and lyric. These pieces advance the story in the most tangible way.

Heron delivers less-abstract, more emotional charges to the proceedings. His plaintive voice is perfect in "Light in time of Darkness" and the "Hirem Pawnitoff" medley with the traditional "Fairies' Hornpipe" injects energy and spirit. But Heron's "Rainbow" crowns the whole project with a wonderful, melodious sing-along that will stay with you. Does anyone remember his marvelous "Feast of Stephen" from "Smiling Men With Bad Reputations"? "Rainbow" gives off the same light.

ISB is again eclectic, drawing freely from a range of traditional musics and instruments in a broad and masterful
variety of styles and ideas. Sitars and fiddles move us from one culture to another in relative ease - the music is never forced or artificial. "Rainbow" and many other parts of "U" stayed with me for years. The melodies would turn up unexpectedly, in quiet moments or while falling to sleep. As would the words: "I was your slave, now you are mine, I am time..." So much so that I tracked down a good-condition copy of the LP just two years ago and had it coverted to CD. Needless to say, the sound quality of this reissue easily surpasses what I remember from the vinyl.

Music offers each of us so much more than the Billboard charts and A&R men can ever hope to understand. "U" is unique in it's singular and eccentric existence, and it's back again. If you remember it, buy it once more. If you've never heard it, listen closely. It represents a time and a music that the untiring commercial impulse of the industry has conspired, but failed, to erase.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The long awaited return of "U", October 11, 2002

By	Marion Morford "Morf" (Tacoma, WA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

OK, I'll admit to being a hardcore Stringhead from way back. I've been awaiting the release of "U" on CD for years. I had the LP version and always loved the dreamy idyllic musical portrayals of life and love that only The Incredible String Band (ISB) could carry off.

I listened to "U" throughout the 1970s when the music scene dissolved into disco and raged into the punk scene. All that was acoustic or "unplugged" seemed to have been lost in the noise.

One reviewer described ISB music as a cross between nursery rhymes and hymns. I'd have to agree. If you want eclectic and thoughtfully provocative music "U" is definitely for you.

The ISB did "world music" ten years before most people even knew what it was, but, as always, didn't stop there. Some of my favorite songs on "U" range from semi-rock blues pieces to the haunting (Licorice solo) "I know you" and the closing celebratory "Rainbow." "Walking along with you" is a love song in action. "Queen of love" is indefinable, but I can't keep the song out of my head.

There are also comic relief pieces here; the country western "Bad Sadie Lee," medieval "Hirem Pawnitof" and futuristic "Robot Blues" are only a few.

I don't remember, and can't quite make sense of "Invocation" - it sounds like a clarion call to paganism. I used to find the utopian idealism of near nature worship appealing but I've seen far too much evil in the guise of a bland universalism to tolerate much in the way of spongy spirituality.

I also didn't remember, but was quite delighted by the instrumental pieces - especially "Bridge theme" and "Partially belated overture."

I had also forgotten the barely contained delight of "Walking along with you."

I certainly have missed the gentle spirit of "U" as I (and the world) have gotten far too hard and cold.

If I were stranded on a desert island with my solar operated CD player by my side, I would definitely take this set with me.

The one ISB CD set I'd still like to see on CD is "Relics" a compilation of truly the best of ISB.

"You're a rainbow" indeed.

PS. I picked up my copy at my local (bookstore)- they had ONE copy and weren't planning on ordering any more - and that was the day "U" was released! Demand that stores carry this one. It is not to be missed.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of ISB's Strangest (And Finest) Works!, August 22, 2004

By	K. Brown "El Rudo Lucky Pierre!" (Walnut, Ca USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is the album that turned me on to The Incredible String Band over 25 years ago. Since collecting all their other releases since that time, it hit me how odd this album must have looked to the group's followers upon its release.

While there are many tunes in here that are in the spirit of The String Band's previous albums, there are some very offbeat tunes that sounded very 1970s folk with a large twist of children's music thrown into the recipe, most notably in "Bad Sadie Lee," "Hiram Pawnitof," and "Robot Blues." While a verse or two in "Robot Blues" might not be suitable for the kiddies, the childlike aura works here, though a few more tunes like these would have brought The Incredible String Band just a dangerous step away from turning into Peter, Paul and Mary!

The crowning glory on "U" is, in my opinion, the final tracks on Disc 2, "I Know You," and "Rainbow." Never has Licorice's voice sounded so genuinely sensuous and haunting. This is a great song to play at a party late at night, with the lights turned out, in order to creep out your inebriated friends. This song is beautiful and eerie at once. It concludes, shifting immediately into "Rainbow," which will bring your party-pals back into the comfort zone. Similar to Licorice in "I Know You," this is one of those pieces where Mike Heron's unique voice drives the spirit of this song. This is one of the most underrated "soulmate" songs I have ever heard.

The other great high-spots on "U" include "The Puppet Song" (those who know the history of the band members' spiritual quests will no doubt recognize various flavors of various pop-religions in the 1960s & 70s), Williamson's calming "Queen of Love" (one of his finest songs in ISB history), and "Walking Along With You."

I would not rank this album over "The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter" or "I Looked Up," but "U" is excellent, and an essential CD for anybody who is more than just a casual Incredible String Band fan.