Stu Phillips - Jud [soundtrack]
released on LP in 1971 (no date given on LP, but I found the release year of the film online)
I found a copy of this promo LP in some thrift store a few weeks ago. I've never heard of the film, but I'm familiar with Stu Phillips with having heard his music over the years thanks to various generous sharity blogs and sharity sites. He's composed music for biker flicks and that Buck Rogers TV show that was on the air seemingly centuries ago among other film and TV projects. Still, I was a bit hesitant at first whether I should purchase this copy. I didn't know anything about the quality of the music on this album. Since the asking price was $1.20, I figured it would be worth taking a chance on. I'm glad I did obtain this record. I find the all instrumental side 2 to be awesome (I think that's what I kind of expected and hoped for anyway). (Yeah, it's wild and groovy at times.) Side 1 has rock/pop songs with performers I've never heard of. If you're familiar with early 70s rock/pop, that's what it sounds like, music of the period. I enjoy the Crow song (track 4) the most from side 1, but I couldn't really get into the rest of the songs.
From what I read on the web, Jud is about a soldier who returns home from serving in Vietnam and tries to get his life back together. Instead, he ends up in some difficult situations and his life goes downhill from there. I read some review that said that it had potential to have been a really good movie, but turned out to be more of an exploitation film instead. I lost the link to that review so you'll have to take my word for it at the moment. Anyways, it sounds like a flick I want to check out.
Tracklisting:
Side 1
1. One Too Many Mornings [with John Hartford] {2:58}
2. Solitary Sanctuary [with American Breed] {1:59}
3. Comin' Down Easy [with Mason Proffit] {2:25}
4. Something In Your Blood [with Crow] {2:34}
5. Come to Me, Anytime [with Barbara Robison] {3:01}
Side 2
1. Solitary Sanctuary {1:57}
2. Jud Escapes {2:15}
3. Bill Flips {2:02}
4. Retrospection {1:49}
5. Comin' Back {3:52}
Apes of Wrath - Apes of Wrath
released on LP in 1982
recorded at Unique Productions - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
I bought a used copy of the Apes of Wrath LP among many other items at a recent library sale (the recently posted Former Fetus CD and Tom Wopat LP were among the same batch of records, tapes, CDs and books). Apes of Wrath was an Oklahoma City band led by a fellow named Ted Dodson who wrote all of the songs and music on this LP. There are 21 musicians including Dodson credited on the back cover. I cannot tell who were the other principal members since there is very little information available. According to Ted Dodson's bio on his website, 1000 copies of this LP were pressed with half of the copies being sold in local record stores (by the way be sure to read his very interesting bio although he mentioned that he was proud of this album for some reason there is not much info about the band). This obscure gem is a collection of psychedelic rock tunes with quirky lyrics especially on side two which is the better side in my opinion. Mr. Dodson did set up another website to store some videos of a few songs off this album and of live performances for viewing.
As I mentioned earlier, there is very little info about this band. I did enter "Apes of Wrath" in Google and most of the results retrieved are links to another band with the same name. Apparently more info exists for that band than the one featured here. As far as I can tell from his website that may not have been updated in a few years, Dodson lives in Dallas, Texas and the whereabouts of the other musicians are unknown.
Tracklisting:
Side One
1. Back to Playing Again {1:53}
2. Where Did Your Daddy Go {3:29}
3. Old Doe {3:04}
4. I Need Somebody New {4:00}
5. Hey Gyp {5:58}
6. Broken Blue Heart {2:24}
Side Two
1. The Apes of Wrath {3:07}
2. Mutant Ape {1:37}
3. 3 Billion Blind Mice {4:03}
4. Mankind's Lies {3:51}
5. Oh! Dear {1:38}
6. Hypnotize the Masses {3:09}
7. Going Ape Over You {3:37}
Former Fetus - A Rock Opera
CD released in 1997
recorded on January 5, 1997
band members (no mention of which instruments are played by which individual):
Ben Hofmann
John Ganz
Mark Junglen
Randy Turnquist
I acquired a copy of this CD at the latest library sale along with a truckload of solo piano LPs and nature sounds cassettes. As one can tell from the title of this album, it is a "rock opera" about a fetus that receives a warning from a dream that its mother is about to abort it. Somehow the fetus escapes its mother's womb and goes on to live in the world. The fetus lives through struggles to fend for itself as most born human beings do by trying to procure food and shelter. Later, the fetus somehow becomes prosperous and draws people to follow him. The fetus ascends to be president, but its position at the top does not last long as the world comes crashing down.
There is very little info about this band in cyberspace. However, I learned that Mark Junglen is the fellow who is the leader of this band and owner of the label Big Ball Records that released this rock opera. Big Ball Records is based out of Colorado Springs, Colorado, the hub of fundamental conservative Christianity. An excerpt from some magazine is included in the liner notes that describes the band's sound as "Neil Young meets Minor Threat." I'll let you, the visitors, be the judge of that. The liner notes also offer a little bit more info: This disc is made for demonstration purposes on a limited budget and time to show the raw power of Former Fetus. If you can hear potential in a full production of this rock opera, realize ... this is our 4th album length set . . . we have THREE more sets of melodies as rampaging and powerful as this one.
The back cover has brief notes for each song and are included in the tracklisting below.
Tracklisting:
(link will be back soon)
1. Overture {1:03}
A Fetus, in the womb
2. Former Fetus {2:45}
Fetus becomes aware. A dream tells it's about to be aborted from its mother.
3. I'm Free {2:45}
The fetus escapes from the womb, wondering, into the world, he flees his death.
4. Live & Nesting {2:52}
Quietly into the world he blends, while fending for himself a creature's comfort. He grows strong and intelligent.
5. Under the Bridge {3:04}
Coming of age and completely alone.
6. Twilight Zone {2:21}
Former Fetus is propserous, has fame, and in the end, is a great leader.
7. I'm a Mom {3:40}
As you may have wondered why our hero was going to be done in.
8. Love {3:54}
Has our little guy finally found some peace and comfort?
9. After the Rapture {3:05}
His wistful taste of Love has been taken along with what good there was in the world.
10. Acoustic Nerve {2:00}
Not having been born, the Former Fetus is the only conscious being, scorned and left to witness the terror.
11. Former Fetus {5:05}
(reprise to noise)
