Genre: psych
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Epitaph for a Legend
Company: International Artists
Catalog: 13
Year: 1980
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: double LP; gatefold cover
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5241
Price: $80.00
I've always been a big fan of Lelan Rogers International Artists label, though the logic for the track selection on this 27 track, double album set's always been a puzzle. Clearly meant as a sampler to generate increased interest in the rest of the label's catalog, I don't have a problem with the band selection, though I've always wondered why nearly an entire side was devoted to The Red Crayola, with relative little from the label's other nameplate acts - e.g. just two 13th Floor Elevator selections.
So what are the highlights on "Epitaph for a Legend"? Well side one was the most impressive of the four sides in that if showcased a series of IA acts that never managed to release more than a single or two for the label. All seven side one tracks were good, with The Patterns, The Chapparrals (three Houston-based brothers), and the Anglo-influenced Thursday's Children coming out ahead of the pack. Scattered throughout the other three sides highlights included The Emporer's sludgy 'I Want My Woman, a pair of pre-13th Floor Elevator tracks by The Spades, and a weird and extremely psychedelic acoustic piece by The Lost & Found ('25 M.P.H.'). Side three was interesting for spotlighting some of the label's R&B acts - Big Walter, Dave Allan, and a brief part interview segment with Lightnin' Hopkins. In the printed interview Rogers mentions having recorded hours of conversation with Hopkins. Hopkins' stunning acoustic blues 'Black Ghost' also served to shame the rest of the performances. Special mention to The Inner Scene for their spirited, if technically limited cover of 'Communications Breakdown'. They also deserved the 'guitar solo meltdown' award for the same performance. Real person award went to Sonny Hall for the outright strange sci-fi 'Poor Planet Earth'. Elsewhere the set included an interesting Jon Savage interview with Rogers and a couple of obscure aural odds and ends - a 13th Floor Elevators radio promo; a brief and painful mid-1970s interview with Roky Erickson. Not the perfect IA compilation, but an okay place to start. (Always loved Ian Gardiner's low tech cover.)
"Epitaph
for a Legend" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) The Chaynes - Night Time
2.) The Patterns - In My Own Time
3.) The Chapparrals - I Tried So Hard
4.) Thursday's Children - A Part of You
5.) The Electric Rubayyat - If I Were a Carpenter
6.) Sonny Hall - Poor Poor Planet
7.) Inner Scene - Communications Breakdown
(side
2)
1.) Red Crayola - Hurricane Fighter Plane
2.) Red Crayola - Pink Stainless Tail
3.) Red Crayola - Nickel Niceness
4.) Red Crayola - Vile Vile Grass
5.) Red Crayola - Transparent Radiation
6.) The Emporers - I Want My Woman
7.) Lost & Found - 25 M.P.H.
(side 3)
1.) Big Walter - Breakfast In Bed
2.) Dave Allen - C.C. Rider
3.) Dave Allen - Saturday a.m. Blues
4.) Lighnin' Hopkins - Conversation with
5.) Lightnin' Hopkins - Black Ghost
(side 4)
1.) Roky Erickson - Excerpts Interview with Roky KSAN 4/1/78
2.) Spades - You're Gonna Miss Me
3.) Spades - We Sell Soul
4.) Roky Erickson - C. Hall - Splash I
5.) Roky Erickson - C. Hall - Right Track Now
6.) 13th Floor Elevators - Wait for My Love
7.) 13th Floor Elevators - - 60" Radio Spot Bull In the Woods
8.) 13th Floor Elevators - Fire Engine