David Meltzer: composer; guitarist Tina Meltzer: vocalist Denny Ellis: lead guitarist John Payne: keyboardist Jean-Paul Pickens: banjo player David Stensen: bassist Clark Coolidge: composer; drummer
Ιn 1966, San Francisco-based poet David Meltzer and his wife Tina, who was a singer, recruited local musicians Clark Coolidge (drummer, also composer), Denny Ellis (lead guitarist), John Payne (keyboardist), Jean-Paul Pickens (banjo player) and David Stensen (bassist), and started playing gigs at clubs and events in the Bay area, such as the North Beach's Coffee Gallery, Gino & Carlo's, and others.[1] Ellis and Stensen were already experienced musicians, having previously played on tracks of the Lovin' Spoonful. Ed Denton, the manager of Country Joe and the Fish, caught one of their shows and brought them to Joe's label, Vanguard Records, where they were signed as The Serpent Power, releasing their debut, eponymous album in 1967.
The LP was considered by Forced Exposure magazine to be a "true representation of the San Francisco area sound in the psychedelic era,"[2] with "great male/female vocal harmonies, interesting but unusual lyrics and excellent guitar work." It was one of the first rock albums to introduce the influence of Middle-Eastern music, establishing the genre of raga-rock.[2]
Rolling Stone magazine included The Serpent Power in its list of the 50 best albums of 1967. [3]Robert Christgau suggested the group was "the Bay Area's version of the Velvet Underground.[4] Their music was described as "minimalist folk-rock with noise," while "all but a few" songs were said to be "graced by excellent tunes."[4]
Shortly after the album was recorded and while the band was rehearsing in the studio for their next one, Ellis, Stensen, and Payne left and were replaced by Bob Cuff from the group The Mystery Trend on lead guitar along with Jim Moscoso on bass. But their first album failed to chart or generate decent sales and the band broke up soon after, in 1968.
Aftermath
After the break-up of the band, David and Tina Meltzer formed a duo act and in 1969 released the album Poet Song.[1] The following year they recorded a second LP, titled Green Morning, but Capitol Records did not release it until 1998. In 1984, Tina Meltzer composed and recorded on her own a children's album, titled Faces (New Songs for Kids).[1]
Tina died in 1995 from ovarian cancer.[5] In September 2011, David Meltzer married poet Julie Rogers.[5] He died at his home in Oakland after suffering a stroke, on December 31, 2016.[6]
In 2007, an album with previously unreleased tracks, which had been recorded while preparing the group's second LP, was issued, titled Ourobouros, containing extended improvisations.
^ ab"Legendary Beat Poet David Meltzer up for an award", Berkeleyside, 7 June 2012
^"David Meltzer, SF Beat generation poet and musician, dies" by John McMurtrie, The San Francisco Chronicle, 2 January 2017
Further reading
"The Influence of the 60s and Psychedelic Music and Culture on Modern Society" by Nicole Smith, 16 January 2012
February 07, 2023
serpent, power, this, article, about, american, rock, band, book, serpent, power, secrets, tantric, shaktic, yoga, john, woodroffe, were, american, psychedelic, rock, folk, rock, group, active, 1960s, cover, debut, album, british, editionbackground, informatio. This article is about the American rock band For the book Serpent Power Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga see John Woodroffe The Serpent Power were an American psychedelic rock and folk rock group active in the 1960s The Serpent PowerCover of the debut album s British editionBackground informationOriginCalifornia United StatesGenresPsychedelic rock Folk rock Psychedelic folkYears active1967 68LabelsVanguard RecordsPast membersDavid Meltzer composer guitaristTina Meltzer vocalistDenny Ellis lead guitaristJohn Payne keyboardistJean Paul Pickens banjo playerDavid Stensen bassistClark Coolidge composer drummer Contents 1 Career 2 Aftermath 3 Discography 4 See also 5 References 6 Further readingCareer EditIn 1966 San Francisco based poet David Meltzer and his wife Tina who was a singer recruited local musicians Clark Coolidge drummer also composer Denny Ellis lead guitarist John Payne keyboardist Jean Paul Pickens banjo player and David Stensen bassist and started playing gigs at clubs and events in the Bay area such as the North Beach s Coffee Gallery Gino amp Carlo s and others 1 Ellis and Stensen were already experienced musicians having previously played on tracks of the Lovin Spoonful Ed Denton the manager of Country Joe and the Fish caught one of their shows and brought them to Joe s label Vanguard Records where they were signed as The Serpent Power releasing their debut eponymous album in 1967 The LP was considered by Forced Exposure magazine to be a true representation of the San Francisco area sound in the psychedelic era 2 with great male female vocal harmonies interesting but unusual lyrics and excellent guitar work It was one of the first rock albums to introduce the influence of Middle Eastern music establishing the genre of raga rock 2 Rolling Stone magazine included The Serpent Power in its list of the 50 best albums of 1967 3 Robert Christgau suggested the group was the Bay Area s version of the Velvet Underground 4 Their music was described as minimalist folk rock with noise while all but a few songs were said to be graced by excellent tunes 4 Shortly after the album was recorded and while the band was rehearsing in the studio for their next one Ellis Stensen and Payne left and were replaced by Bob Cuff from the group The Mystery Trend on lead guitar along with Jim Moscoso on bass But their first album failed to chart or generate decent sales and the band broke up soon after in 1968 Aftermath EditAfter the break up of the band David and Tina Meltzer formed a duo act and in 1969 released the album Poet Song 1 The following year they recorded a second LP titled Green Morning but Capitol Records did not release it until 1998 In 1984 Tina Meltzer composed and recorded on her own a children s album titled Faces New Songs for Kids 1 Tina died in 1995 from ovarian cancer 5 In September 2011 David Meltzer married poet Julie Rogers 5 He died at his home in Oakland after suffering a stroke on December 31 2016 6 In 2007 an album with previously unreleased tracks which had been recorded while preparing the group s second LP was issued titled Ourobouros containing extended improvisations Discography EditThe Serpent PowerVanguard Records Catalog number VSD 79252 1967 All tracks composed by David Meltzer Side A 1 Don t You Listen To Her 2 20 2 Gently Gently 2 36 3 Open House 3 31 4 Flying Away 4 26 5 Nobody Blues 3 49Side B 1 Up And Down 3 37 2 Sky Baby 2 31 3 Forget 3 34 4 Dope Again 0 47 5 Endless Tunnel 13 13OurobourosLocust Music Catalog number LOCUST 81 2007 Side A 1 Ourobouros Part 1 2 Ourobouros Part 2 See also EditList of psychedelic rock artists Psychedelic trance KundaliniReferences Edit a b c Serpent Power The Bad Cat Records a b The Serpent Power review Forced Exposure The Serpent Power The Serpent Power Rolling Stone 19 September 2017 a b Consumer Guide Reviews The Serpent Power by Robert Christgau a b Legendary Beat Poet David Meltzer up for an award Berkeleyside 7 June 2012 David Meltzer SF Beat generation poet and musician dies by John McMurtrie The San Francisco Chronicle 2 January 2017Further reading Edit The Influence of the 60s and Psychedelic Music and Culture on Modern Society by Nicole Smith 16 January 2012 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Serpent Power amp oldid 1027638753, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
