I Looked Up
| I Looked Up | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | April 1970 | |||
| Genre | Psychedelic folk, folk | |||
| Length | 41:22 | |||
| Label | Elektra / WEA | |||
| Producer | Joe Boyd | |||
| The Incredible String Band chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
Allmusic |    [1] |
I Looked Up (Elektra EKS 2469 002 / U.S. LP: EKS-74061) 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.
Background
Recording of the album came just 5 months after Changing Horses.[2] Like its predecessor, the album included six tracks with two compositions exceeding 10 minutes. As usual with the band, there are several instruments utilised in unique arrangements and overdubbing in the development of the album.[3]
A rewriting of "Black Jack Davey", a Scottish
Dave Mattacks, a drummer of Fairport Convention, is featured on "The Letter", a track which is more reflective of Fairport's electric folk style.[4]
Recording sessions also produced an unreleased track titled "Queen Juanita and Her Fisherman Lover" that is over 16 minutes in length. It would later appear on the compilation Incredible String Band: Tricks of The Senses.[5] Three tracks from the album, "When You Find Out Who You Are ", "The Letter", and "This Moment", were performed at the
Many consider I Looked Up an improvement to Changing Horses however the album's chart success was limited and disappointing in the US as it only topped at No. 196.[7]
Track listing
All tracks are written by Mike Heron except as noted
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Black Jack Davy" | 3:59 | |
| 2. | "The Letter" | 3:08 | |
| 3. | "Pictures in a Mirror" | Robin Williamson | 10:43 |
| 4. | "This Moment" | 6:07 | |
| 5. | "When You Find Out Who You Are" | Williamson | 10:58 |
| 6. | "Fair As You" | 6:27 | |
| Total length: | 41:22 | ||
"Black Jack Davy" (then called "Black Jack David") would later be recorded again by the Incredible String Band on their album Earthspan on Island Records in 1972.
Personnel
- Robin Williamson – vocals, guitar, flute, gimbri, violin
- Mike Heron – vocals, guitar, harp, organ, piano, violin, horn
- Licorice McKechnie – vocals, percussion, drums, dulcimer, keyboards
- Rose Simpson – vocals, bass guitar, violin, percussion
- Dave Mattacks – drums
- John Gimbri – flute
Charts
| Chart (1970) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums Chart[8] | 30 |
| The Billboard 200[9] | 196 |
References
- ^ a b "I Looked Up – The Incredible String Band – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
- ^ ""The Incredible String Band were an inspiration and a sign." So wrote Robert Plant in his programme notes for Led Zeppelin's 1979 tour" (PDF). 2.kenyon.edu. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ "INCREDIBLE STRING BAND- I LOOKED UP AND U." Dereksmusicblog.com. 26 September 2014.
- ^ "The Incredible String Band – I Looked Up". Discogs.com. 23 August 1970. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ "The Incredible String Band – Tricks Of The Senses". Uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ "The Incredible String Band Setlist at Woodstock". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
- ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1 August 1970). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Google Books.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "INCREDIBLE STRING BAND – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013.
- ISBN 0898201179
