It Crawled into My Hand, Honest
It Crawled into My Hand, Honest | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 1968 | |||
Recorded | 1968 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 35:03 | |||
Label | Reprise (US) Transatlantic (UK) | |||
Producer | Ed Sanders, Richard Alderson | |||
The Fugs chronology | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [3] |
Rolling Stone | (positive)[4] |
It Crawled into My Hand, Honest is the fifth studio album by The Fugs, a band composed of anti-war poets. It was released in the US by record company Reprise.
History
When poet and publisher Ed Sanders established a bookstore next to the apartment of beat poet and publisher Tuli Kupferberg in 1964, the two decided to form a band, The Fugs, writing 50–60 songs between them prior to asking Ken Weaver to join.[5] In subsequent years, this core trio worked with a number of musicians as they produced a series of albums in quick succession. It crawled... was their fifth studio album.
The band built up a cult following, gaining admiration from counter-culture figures such as
Due to their overt sexual content, The Fugs were at risk of censorship. However, while on Reprise Records, the company president Mo Ostin showed a willingness to release Fugs material uncensored.[6] This era of freedom began with the release of the album Tenderness Junction, released in early 1968. Work on It crawled.. began straight after.
The album was The Fugs' most expensive, costing around $25,000.[6] The working title was Rapture of the Deep; this along with Tenderness Junction, and "It Crawled..." demonstrate The Fugs' enjoyment of including thinly-veiled sexual references in their work.[original research?]
Musical style
In 1967, The Fugs' sound had developed considerably from their early works such as The Fugs First Album, with several complex and interesting compositions. This was partly due to personnel changes; Charles Larkey, an excellent bassist, and Ken Pine, a skilled guitarist were added in 1967 and played on both this and the preceding album Tenderness Junction.[7] Session musicians also added to the depth of the work; Band leader Sanders later stated:
For back-up harmonies, we used some fine singers who had worked as Harry Belafonte's harmonists. You can hear them, say, on "Wide, Wide River," and "When the Mode of the Music Changes".
Described as "ambitious and extravagant sounding", It Crawled Into My Hand, Honest takes the form of a
Among the diverse styles explored on the album include satirical country music ("Ramses II Is Dead My Love"), grandiose classical music ("Burial Waltz"), comedic
The Fugs also introduced the use of a pair of drummers at this period: founder member
Track listing
Side A
- Crystal Liaison [3:17]
- Ramses II Is Dead, My Love [2:55]
- Burial Waltz [2:31]
- Wide, Wide River [2:58]
- Life Is Strange [2:40]
Side B
- Johnny Pissoff Meets the Red Angel [4:45]
- Marijuana [1:43]
- Leprechaun [0:15]
- When the Mode of the Music Changes [3:59]
- Whimpers From the Jello [0:24]
- Divine Toe, Pt. 1 [0:42]
- We're Both Dead Now, Alice [0:18]
- Life Is Funny [0:17]
- Grope Need, Pt. 1/Tuli, Visited By the Ghost of Plotinus/More Grope Need [0:43]
- Robinson Crusoe [0:21]
- Claude Pelieu and J.J. Lebel Discuss the Early Verlaine Bread Crust Fragments [4:41]
- National Haiku Contest [0:28]
- Divine Toe, Pt. 2 [0:52]
- Irene [1:14]
Personnel
- Ed Sanders – vocals
- Ken Weaver – drums, vocals
- Tuli Kupferberg – vocals
- Ken Pine – guitar, vocals
- Danny Kootch – guitar, violin
- Charles Larkey – bass
Produced by Richard Alderson
References
- ^ a b c d Needs, Kris (May 30, 2008). "Lower east side story". Record Collector. Archived from the original on October 13, 2022. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ a b c Needs, Kris (January 5, 2018). "1968 Crowns of Creation". Record Collector. Archived from the original on June 29, 2020. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
The Fugs uncork Ed Sanders' "beatnik country" on total collage assault It Crawled Into My Hand, Honest, introducing redneck Johnny Pissoff before Crystal Liaison makes a storming single.
- ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie. "It Crawled into My Hand, Honest Review by Richie Unterberger". AllMusic. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
- ^ Brodey, Jim (December 7, 1968). "Records". Rolling Stone. San Francisco: Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc.
- ^ Section source. Sanders, Ed. The History of the Fugs. The Fugs official website. Accessed October 3, 2007.
- ^ a b c "History of the Fugs".
- ^ "The Fugs – Tenderness Junction/It Crawled into My Hand Honest Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ a b c Foster, Chuck (July 12, 2009). "Chuck Foster: July 12, 2009". The Big Takeover. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ ISBN 978-0306818882. Retrieved October 14, 2022.
- ^ "Liner Notes for the Holy Modal Rounders' The Holy Modal Rounders Eat the Moray Eels, on the Water Label". Richie Unterberger. Retrieved October 18, 2022.