Magick Brother
Magick Brother is the debut studio album by the progressive rock band Gong, recorded in Paris during September and October 1969 and released in March 1970 on the French BYG Actuel label.
| Magick Brother | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 1970 | |||
| Recorded | September–October 1969 Studio ETA and Studio Europa Sonor, Paris, France | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 43:52 | |||
| Label | BYG Actuel | |||
| Producer | Jean Georgakarakos, Jean-Luc Young | |||
| Gong chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [1] |
The band's recently recruited bass player Christian Tritsch was not ready in time to play on the album, and so singer/songwriter/guitarist Daevid Allen played the bass guitar himself; a photo of Allen recording bass tracks for the album is featured on the cover artwork. They also made use of jazz contrabass (double bass) players Earl Freeman and Barre Phillips, who were recording for the label at the same time, on three tracks.[2] Occasional early Gong collaborator Dieter Gewissler, who normally played violin, also contributed some "free" bowed contrabass to two tracks. The LP sleeves were printed before the final track order and titles had been decided and so the songs "Rational Anthem" (AKA "Change the World") and "Glad To Sad To Say" were listed the wrong way round.[3]
Shortly afterwards, the band played its debut gig at the BYG Actuel Festival in the small town of Amougies, Belgium, on 27 October 1969, introduced to the stage by bemused compere Frank Zappa.[4]
Track listing
All songs written by Daevid Allen, though credited to his partner Gilli Smyth for legal reasons.[5]
Produced by Jean Georgakarakos and Jean Luc Young.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mystic Sister" | 1:32 |
| 2. | "Magick Brother" | 4:44 |
| 3. | "Rational Anthem (Change the World)" (mislabelled as "Glad To Sad To say") | 3:43 |
| 4. | "Glad To Sad To Say" (mislabelled as "Rational Anthem") | 4:09 |
| 5. | "Chainstore Chant" | 1:13 |
| 6. | "Pretty Miss Titty" | 4:06 |
| 7. | "Fredfish / Hope You Feel OK" ("Fredfish" listed on LP label but not on LP cover) | 4:33 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 8. | "Ego" | 3:57 |
| 9. | "Gong Song" | 4:11 |
| 10. | "Princess Dreaming" | 2:56 |
| 11. | "5 & 20 Schoolgirls" | 4:30 |
| 12. | "Cos You Got Green Hair" | 5:05 |
| Total length: | 43:52 | |
The version on CD has a different tracks grouping and lengths:
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mystic Sister, Magick Brother" | 5:54 |
| 2. | "Rational Anthem" | 4:08 |
| 3. | "Glad To Sad To Say" | 3:45 |
| 4. | "Chainstore Chant & Pretty Miss Titty" | 4:49 |
| 5. | "Fable Of A Fredfish & Hope You Feel O.K." | 4:43 |
| 6. | "Ego" | 3:58 |
| 7. | "Gong Song" | 4:12 |
| 8. | "Princess Dreaming" | 2:56 |
| 9. | "Five & Twenty Schoolgirls" | 4:30 |
| 10. | "Cos You Got Green Hair" | 5:05 |
| Total length: | 44:00 | |
Credits
- Gong
- Daevid Allen – guitar, bass guitar, vocals
- Gilli Smyth – space whisper
- Didier Malherbe – flute, soprano saxophone
- Rachid Houari – drums, percussion
- Additional personnel
- Barre Phillips – contrabass on 4 & 10
- Earl Freeman – contrabass on 8, piano on 9
- Burton Greene – piano on 8
- Dieter Gewissler – bowed contrabass on 2 & 9
- Tasmin Smyth (Gilli's daughter) – voices on 1 & 10
References
- "Allmusic ((( Magick Brother > Overview )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-10-29.
- Allen, Daevid. Gong Dreaming 2. SAF Publishing, 2009, p. 14.
- Allen, Daevid. Gong Dreaming 2. SAF Publishing, 2009, p. 19.
- Allen, Daevid. Gong Dreaming 2. SAF Publishing, 2009, p. 31.
- Allen, Daevid. Gong Dreaming 2. SAF Publishing, 2009, p. 20.