The Belle of Avenue A
The Belle Of Avenue A is a 1969 studio album by the Fugs, a band composed of anti-war poets. It was released in the US by record company Reprise. The album was first released on CD as part of the 2006 3-CD box set, Electromagnetic Steamboat, and eventually as a stand-alone CD in 2011 on the Wounded Bird label (WOU 6539).
The Belle of Avenue A | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1969 | |||
Recorded | 1968 | |||
Studio | Apostolic (New York) | |||
Genre | ||||
Label | Reprise | |||
Producer | Ed Sanders, Richard Alderson | |||
The Fugs chronology | ||||
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Background
The Fugs recorded The Belle of Avenue A at Apostolic Studios in New York City. The band would split up after its recording, as they had tired of the police and FBI investigations they had received.[1]
The album contains much more restrained and straightforward rock music than its predecessor, It Crawled into My Hand, Honest. The vocals demonstrate Ed Sanders's growing country music influence,[2] and tracks such as "Yodeling Yippie" have been likened to "beatnik country."[3]
Track listing
- "Bum's Song"
- "Dust Devil"
- "Chicago"
- "Four Minutes to Twelve"
- "Mr. Mack"
- "Belle of Avenue A"
- "Queen of the Nile"
- "Flower Children"
- "Yodeling Yippie"
- "Children of the Dream"
Personnel
- Tuli Kupferberg – vocals
- Ed Sanders – vocals
- Ken Weaver – drums, vocals
- Dan Hamburg (tracks 1, 6, 7 & 9), Ken Pine (tracks 2–5, 8 & 10) – guitar, vocals
- Jim Pepper – flute (track 8)
- Bill Wolf – bass, vocals (tracks 2–5, 8 & 10)
- Bob Mason – drums (tracks 2–5, 8 & 10)
Critical reception
Billboard praised the album upon release: "The irrepressible Fugs have their most commercial album to date here, but they're still the biting social commentators."[4]
References
- Katz, Mike; Kott, Crispin (June 2018). Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to New York City. Globe Pequot. p. 144. ISBN 9781493037049. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- Unterberger, Richie (2002). Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Bogdanov, Vladimir (eds.). All Music Guide to Rock. Backbeat Books. p. 438. ISBN 9780879306533. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- Needs, Kris (30 May 2008). "Lower east side story". Record Collector Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
- "Billboard Album Reviews". June 1969. Billboard. June 1969. Retrieved 11 April 2023.