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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZINCREDIBLE STRING BANDUK folk duo who inspired cult following late '60s. Mike Heron (b 12 Dec. '42) and Robin Williamson (b 24 Nov. '43), both from Glasgow, could play over 30 instruments between them; first LP Incredible String Band '66 also incl. Clive Palmer; second 5000 Spirits, Or The Layers Of The Onion '67 was a collection of wistful mysticism and child-like innocence, with the same incandescent effect on UK folk scene as Beatles' Sgt Pepper had same year on the larger world; incl. 'First Girl I Loved', covered by Judy Collins, helping US fame cemented by their appearance at Newport Folk Festival '67. (The Chelsea Sessions 1967 '97 on Pig's Whisker Music is a set of songs incl. some that didn't make it on to 5000 Spirits.) Hangman's Beautiful Daughter '68 carried on, balancing 13-minute 'A Very Cellular Song' with mock-Gilbert and Sullivan 'The Minotaur's Song'. They inhabited their own world, and concerts were communal events; they were increasingly self-indulgent with two-disc Wee Tam And The Big Huge '68, Changing Horses '69, I Looked Up and two-disc U '70, inspired by dabblings with stage and film presentations, lineup expanding and contracting as required: ancillary members incl. Licorice McKechnie and Rose Simpson (girlfriends who didn't get along, a disruptive factor) and Malcolm LeMaistre. Two-disc best-of Relics '71 accompanied by Be Glad, For The Song Has No Ending, an ironic title; by then the tweeness was becoming embarrassing, a move towards electric rock unsuccessful. Heron's solo LP Smiling Men With Bad Reputations '71 redressed the balance somewhat incl. guests the Who, John Cale, Richard Thompson. Duo carried on: Liquid Acrobat As Regards The Air '71, Earthspan '72, No Ruinous Feud '73, Hard Rope And Silken Twine '74; split was followed by compilation Seasons They Change '76. Early albums on Elektra, then Reprise USA, Island UK. Solo LPs recovered some integrity: they'd signed with Peter Schekeryke's Neighbourhood label and began making an Incredible album when Williamson left, Heron finished Mike Heron's Reputation (reissued on Unique Gravity label '96), and Mike Heron '79 was on Casablanca. Williamson's Journey's Edge '77, American Stonehenge '78, A Glint At The Kindling '79, Songs Of Love And Parting '81, later Music For The Mabinogi and Legacy Of The Scottish Harpers were all on Flying Fish; Songs For Children '88 on Claddagh, The Island Of The Strong Door '96 on The Music Corporation. Williamson recorded two-CD Mirrorman Sequences on Pig's Whisker, a half-spoken half-chanted narration of his bohemian adventures up to the Incredibles; not much music but perhaps a masterpiece of the spoken-word genre. Celtic Harp Airs And Dance Tunes '97 on Greentrax with a 34- string Triplett harp was a solo instrumental. |