May 15, 2009 Playlist

      

"Far Out" by Far Out (Far East Family Band) (1973)
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK
Far Out (Far East Family Band)  "Far Out"  1973 (Japan)
Far East Family Band was one of the greatest of the unsung bands of the 1970's.  This Japanese group specialized in excess -- there were a whole lot of guys with very long hair in the band, their first album boasted "eleven synthesizers!" (one played by the guy who would later become new age artist Kitaro), and most of their songs are in the 10-20 minute range in length.  But before becoming Far East Family Band, there was originally a smaller group called Far Out which was the first to pioneer the epic psychedelic song stylings of Fumio Miyashta.  There's a whole terrific chapter on FEFB in Julian Cope's Japrocksampler book.
Here's  some very cool footage of Far East Family Band live back in their glory days when they were sort of like "The Japanese Pink Floyd." At the end of the group's career, FEFB leader Fumio Miyashta moved to Los Angeles and tried to keep the band going -- here's the much-reduced "group" live in Los Angeles 1978, and here is Fumio on LA cable access TV in 1979!!  And as a bonus, here's the incredible Flower Travellin' Band live in 2008, reunited after 35 years with all original members! (Check out Hideki Ishima's rad electric sitar!!!)
 
(N) = New Release
      
Artist Song Album Year (label) Country
Melvins Hung Bunny / Roman Dog Bird Lysol (a/k/a Melvins) 1992 USA
Neil Young Fork In The Road Fork In The Road (N) 2009 (Reprise/WB) Canada
 
 
Psychedelic Horseshit Bad Vibrations Magic Flowers Droned 2007 USA
Psychedelic Elevator Psychedelic Elevator / In The Sky We Are The Psychedelic Elevator 2004 Czech Republic
The Vaselines Son Of A Gun (demo version) Enter The Vaselines (N - compilation) c. 1987 (2009 Sub Pop) UK (Scotland)
Black Moth Super Rainbow Sun Lips Dandelion Gum 2007 USA
Black Moth Super Rainbow Drippy Eye Dandelion Gum 2007 USA
Kinit Her Colossal Portal Glyms or Beame of Radicall Truthes (N) 2009 (Hinterzimmer) USA
 
   
Second Family Band As yet untitled track May 10, 2009 Tape (N) 2009 (as yet unreleased) USA
Second Family Band First untitled(?) track on side A Vernal Mystery Hour (N - cassette) 2009 (Skulls of Heaven) USA
   
 
Far Out (later became Far East Family Band) Nihonnjin Far Out
CLASSIC ALBUM OF THE WEEK		 1973 Japan
 
 
Bob Dylan Visions Of Johanna Blonde on Blonde 1966 USA
Miles Davis Filles de Kilimanjaro Filles de Kilimanjaro 1968 USA
Caravan Waterloo Lily Waterloo Lily 1972 UK
 
 
Komar & Melamid and David Soldier The Most Unwanted Song The People's Choice Music (N) 2009 (Dia Art Foundation) USA
            
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