JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Research into a Mysterious ~1968 Folk Song.

Just close my account Brian, remove my whole thread. You and some on this forum are so toxic that I feel like I need a shower to wash off this last week of my life.

Brian, thanks for your well meaning response. But I have to take up arguments (just the once) against many of your points. To wit:

>>> I have listened to perhaps more music than any other human from more different artists, genres, countries and universes.<<<

Gosh, such omnipotence immediately bristles with chronic arogance. It is not a matter of breadth of listening history Brian, but specificity of period style, genre, place and recognition of this particular track/voice/players that I seek. I just can't believe anyone over 70 cannot recognise this as ~late 60s ~SF. Joel Selvin, 76yo, The SF Chronicle's music critic from 1970-2000 said it's "clearly generic 1968-1969 SF folk rock scene". And he should know. He was there. So who am I to argue.


>>>My opinion is this is circa 1986-1996 done on either a 4 track cassette recorder or far more likely a live band practice into a two track cassette recorder. Having recorded over 2000 songs in that era using that equipment including , it sounds pretty much like what results people were getting.

>>>It was the first surge of DIY recording gear. <<<

Not in 1986 it wasnt. Our schoolboy garage band collectively owned a Tascam 2340 (4 track, 4 chan x 7.5" reels) in 1972 (first out in 1968). We mixed and dubbed down to mono cassettes for demo distribution, exactly as I suspect for Light the Lanterns. Or a real studio was used for a 4 or maybe 8 track master which was then mixed down and copied for some demo cassettes.


>>> I first thought live practice tape (which it could be) but there is an effects pedal sound in the background which might indicate a separate track recording, but truthfully it sounds live. It sounds like a simple rough live band recording and I am pretty confident it is NOT session players (if it was, she got robbed). <<<

It is beyond comprehension that you imagine this was a live recording. Just too silly to discuss.

>>>To me this sounds like an amateur band, with a girlfriend singing ( I was in a LOT of those bands), or simply a pretty average singer fronting a rookie/hobbyist level band. <<<

That could indeed be true. But also, someone was the songwriter. Are you trying to tell me those poetic hippie lyrics were written in 1986-1996. Lol. And who in in their right mind would record such song demo in 86-96 hoping to break into commercial success. Don't make me laugh, Brian.

But, were it late 60s, as I maintain, session players need not have been virtuosos in that acoustic-to-electric folk crossover period. Take away their subsequent fame and growth -- Were the Beatles, the Byrds, Jefferson Airplane, Dylan, Baez, Peter Paul & Mary anything but rookies in their early years? When I suggested session players, I imagined "cheapies" for an unheard-of young vocalist to cut a 3 min demo to hawk around talent agents. Besides, pro-sessionists do not play their complicated best unless the song requires it. This is a simple song with simple backing and production ... for the girl, imo.

What makes me think it is not a unified band, is that the chick singer is mixed right up front, with the lovely sensitive slide guitarist NOT playing guitar hero for his ego. SHE and the story and the supportive instrumental harmonies (and slidey bass) is the star.

Besides, I don't know, (or care), why you are judgjng, this track outside of what it actually is. I didn't ask you to like it, or grade it for Top 10, or pan its simplicity. I just wanted some links into its possible cultural history. In short, you've been bloody useless. You could just have posted "I'll pass your post on to some others who might help".


>>> I also think it could easily have been anywhere in the USA. <<<

So you "think" that. What evidence -- by ear or local storyline -- do you have to back up such an assertion? As well, if you consider the singer's accent, it's hardly Tennessee, Florida, NY, Texas, Boston, Idaho, Montana! I was told by a linguist it is classic "General American", (soft rhotic style) "a nondescript, possibly West Coast, but definitely pre Valley Girl influence".


>>>Additionally, I think the person who uploaded is enjoying the attention and has no reason to ruin it by coming forward. <<<

Again, you "think" that. Well, your unfounded suspicions do not match at all with the honest and sincere nature of the original uploader -- with whom I and others have emailed over the years about the tape's provenance. He is/was a musician but of a totally different style and instrumention to this track. He pulled down his original site years ago.

Fyi, noone gains from the attention of this song. It's has a small cult following on YouTube by lovers of the song. Also, if some mediocre chick singer-songwriter once wrote and recorded this, why would she not these days be self-producing her songs as an indie muso, like so other many wannabes. Your "thinking" is nonsensical.


>>>The song itself would never garner interest without the mystery and hype attached. Most of those "mystery" songs have been uploaded by the very people who first say "who is this" to get web hits, clicks and views.<<<

This is, once again, a cynical and unfounded supposition. Many folks have made such accusations about the Lost Wave mysterious songs over the years, and some may well be PR fake. But that does not make this one fake. And what exactly is your research proving "most of them"? You've debunked 50% of their claims, have you? Fyi, "Like the Wind", took some 17 years to solve from a single demo play on a German Radio station in 1983. The original writers and band members were astounded by their eventual discovery just last year. "Light the Lanterns" may have a similar fate ... or this singer may be long time dead.


>>>And if you think my initial claims are exaggerated, I would LOVE to meet the person who has even come close to what I have heard over the past 40 years!<<<

Un-fkn-believable Brian. Such chutzpah causes me to block any more unhelpful posts from you. I have explained and argued my case for some 4 years now against many doubters, and only want practical input to further objective research in a clearly defined direction. You are welcome NOT to join that search. In which case, don't piss in my pocket. I clearly stated "How Can You Help?" But no, you just shat on someone's sincere hobby project. So maybe your forum is not the place to expect any serious and helpful input to my research ... judging by the other nutty replies of the last few days. You are welcome to delete my post and my membership. I'm out.

And PS. I couldn't believe how quickly "my" thread got hijacked by a bunch of ADHDs into completely off-topic raves. I'm certainly not a forum nazi (I've run a few myself, so I understand the nature of topic entropy). But if that's the quality of member self-awareness and engagement ... it's sayonara.