Myrrh (album)

Last updated
Myrrh
Myrrh (Robin Williamson album - cover art).jpg
Studio album by
Released1972
RecordedDecember 1971
Genre Folk
Length39:16
Label Edsel
Producer Robin Williamson
Robin Williamson chronology
Myrrh
(1972)
Journey's Edge
(1977)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Myrrh is a folk album and the solo debut of Robin Williamson, released in 1972. Robin Williamson is noted as being a founding member of The Incredible String Band. Myrrh was subjected to a low budget and placed on the Island label's lowest sub-label, Help. The album was downgraded by poor-quality sound mixing and a single-sleeve cover design.

Contents

As 1971 came to a close, it was evident that The Incredible String Band was drifting into commercial-orientated rock. Williamson was the second member, the other being Mike Heron, to release a solo album. This album is composed of folk songs that are enriched with instrumentals. In many ways it is relatable to The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter. For one, the tracks offer a noble dreamscape with an added effect by the multiple personnel involved in vocal harmonies (including ISB members Licorice McKechnie and Malcolm Le Maistre). They are borderlined by bass and drumming. It also contains Williamson's most extraordinary vocal performances. [2] [3]

Myrrh sold to a larger audience than expected thanks to cheap cost and the Island label that Williamson was signed under. This album was generally favored thanks to its return to the folk sound fans were so familiar with.

Track listing

All songs written by Robin Williamson, except "Strings in the Earth and Air" by Ivan Pawle.

  1. "Strings in the Earth and Air"
  2. "Rends-Moi Demain"
  3. "The Dancing of the Lord of Weir"
  4. "Will We Open the Heavens"
  5. "Through the Horned Clouds"
  6. "Sandy Land"
  7. "Cold Harbour"
  8. "Dark Eyed Lady"
  9. "Dark Dance"
  10. "I See Us All Get Home"

Personnel

Related Research Articles

The Incredible String Band

The Incredible String Band were a British psychedelic folk band formed by Clive Palmer, Robin Williamson and Mike Heron in Edinburgh in 1966. The band built a considerable following, especially in the British counterculture, notably with their albums The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion, The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter, and Wee Tam and the Big Huge. They became pioneers in psychedelic folk and, through integrating a wide variety of traditional music forms and instruments, in the development of world music.

<i>The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion</i> 1967 studio album by The Incredible String Band

The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion is the second album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, The Incredible String Band (ISB), and was released in July 1967 on Elektra Records. The album was recorded following the reformation of the band as a duo consisting of Robin Williamson and Mike Heron. Notably, the album was a change in musical direction for the two as they transitioned from their more conventional folk music structures into complex psychedelic compositions influenced by British folk and Indian music.

<i>Initiation</i> (Todd Rundgren album) 1975 studio album by Todd Rundgren

Initiation is the sixth album by American musician Todd Rundgren, released May 23, 1975 on Bearsville Records. With this album, Rundgren fully embraced the synthesized prog sound he had begun exploring in more depth in his work with his band Utopia. However, unlike Utopia, in which Rundgren had limited himself to playing guitar, most of the synthesizers on Initiation were played and programmed by Rundgren himself.

<i>The Hangmans Beautiful Daughter</i> 1968 studio album by The Incredible String Band

The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter is the third album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, The Incredible String Band (ISB), and was released in March 1968 on Elektra Records. It saw the band continuing its development of the elements of psychedelic folk and enlarging on past themes, a process they had begun on their previous album, The 5000 Spirits or the Layers of the Onion. Instrumentally, it was the ISB's most complex and experimental album to date, featuring a wide array of exotic instruments. In addition, the album captured the band utilising multi-tracks and overdubbing.

<i>Rain Dances</i> 1977 studio album by Camel

Rain Dances is the fifth studio album by English progressive rock band Camel. It was released in 1977 on Gama Records/Decca Records, and brought a major change to the band's lineup, by replacing bassist Doug Ferguson with ex-Caravan member Richard Sinclair and by adding saxophonist Mel Collins, formerly of King Crimson.

<i>U</i> (album) 1970 studio album by The Incredible String Band

U is a double album, the seventh studio album overall, by the British psychedelic folk group the Incredible String Band (ISB) and was released on Elektra Records in October 1970. The majority of the material featured on the album was taken from the mixed-media production of the same name, which saw the band backed by the dancing troupe the Stone Monkey. The concept of U derived from the ISB's fascination and subsequent conversion to Scientology in 1969.

<i>Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending</i> 1971 soundtrack album by The Incredible String Band

Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending is the eighth album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, the Incredible String Band, featuring Mike Heron, Robin Williamson, Licorice McKechnie and Rose Simpson. It is the soundtrack for a film of the same name, and was released on Island Records in March 1971, failing to chart in either the UK or US. It would be the first album from the band on the Island label, and the last to feature Joe Boyd as the producer.

<i>Wee Tam and the Big Huge</i> 1968 studio album by The Incredible String Band

Wee Tam and the Big Huge is the fourth album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, the Incredible String Band, released in Europe as both a double LP and separate single LPs in November 1968 by Elektra Records. In the US, however, the two discs were released separately as Wee Tam and The Big Huge.

<i>Changing Horses</i> (Incredible String Band album) 1969 studio album by The Incredible String Band

Changing Horses is the fifth album by the Scottish psychedelic folk group, the Incredible String Band (ISB), and was released in November 1969 on Elektra Records. The album saw the group continuing their use of unique instruments while integrating a standard musical structure. In addition, the album is seen as a transitional period in which the ISB shifted in musical textures, including early utilization of electric-based instruments.

<i>I Looked Up</i> 1970 studio album by The Incredible String Band

I Looked Up is the sixth album by the Incredible String Band. Recorded at a time when the band was busy rehearsing for their ambitious upcoming stage show, U, the album has been described by band member Robin Williamson as a "quickie" album.

Robin Williamson

Robin Duncan Harry Williamson is a Scottish multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and storyteller who was a founding member of The Incredible String Band.

<i>Earth & Sky</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Graham Nash

Earth & Sky is the third solo studio album by British singer-songwriter Graham Nash, released in February 1980 on Capitol Records.

<i>Thoroughfare Gap</i> 1978 studio album by Stephen Stills

Thoroughfare Gap is a studio album by American singer-songwriter Stephen Stills, released in 1978. It was a critical and commercial disappointment that only charted at number 84 in the US. This album is now available as a three-album set on two CDs with Stills & Illegal Stills, having never been released on its own on CD.

Don Kay (composer)

Donald Henry Kay AM is an Australian classical composer.

<i>The North Star Grassman and the Ravens</i> 1971 studio album by Sandy Denny

The North Star Grassman and the Ravens is a 1971 album by English folk rock singer-songwriter Sandy Denny. Built mostly around her own compositions, The North Star Grassman and the Ravens is distinguished by its elusive lyrics and unexpected harmonies.

<i>Diamond Head</i> (Phil Manzanera album) 1975 studio album by Phil Manzanera

Diamond Head is the first studio album by the rock artist Phil Manzanera. It was released in 1975, originally on Island Records in the UK and in the US on Atco Records. The sound quality on the US album was deemed to be worse than the UK album, so the UK import became a popular seller in the speciality record shops who sold Roxy Music and other UK bands. The diesel locomotive featured on the cover art is a EMD E9.

<i>Trampoline</i> (The Mavericks album) 1998 studio album by The Mavericks

Trampoline is the fifth studio album by the American country music band The Mavericks. The album was released on March 10, 1998, by MCA Nashville. It includes the singles "To Be with You", "Dance the Night Away" and "I've Got This Feeling". Although none of these singles were Top 40 hits on the U.S. country charts, "Dance the Night Away" reached #4 on the UK Singles Chart and "I've Got This Feeling" reached #27.

<i>Journeys Edge</i> 1977 studio album by Robin Williamson and his Merry Band

Journey's Edge is the second solo album by Scottish folk artist Robin Williamson and his Merry Band. The work was released in 1977, and re-released in 2008 by Fledg'ling Records with ten bonus tracks.

<i>An Appointment with Mr Yeats</i> 2011 studio album by The Waterboys

An Appointment with Mr. Yeats is the tenth studio album by The Waterboys, released on 19 September 2011 through W14/Proper Records. The album contains 14 tracks, all of which are based upon the poetry of W.B. Yeats, a long term influence on lead-songwriter Mike Scott.

References

  1. Christopher, James. "( Myrrh > Overview )". allmusic. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  2. "Robin Williamson - Myrrh". headheritage.co.uk.
  3. Whittaker, Adrian. "Be Glad: An Incredible String Band Compendium p. 268".Missing or empty |url= (help)