U (album)

Infobox Album
Name = U
Type = studio album
Longtype =
Artist = The Incredible String Band


Released = 1970
Recorded =
Genre = Psych folk, folk rock
Length =
Label = Elektra Records / WEA
Producer =
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|2.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:gud7yl44xpcb link]
Last album = "I Looked Up"
(1970)
This album = "U"
(1970)
Next album = "Be Glad for the Song Has No Ending"
(1970)

"U" is a double album by The Incredible String Band released in 1970 on Elektra Records.

The music on the album is taken from the Incredible String Band's live mixed-media show of the same name, for which the band had just concluded performances when they recorded the album. The "U" show, which involved pantomime-like dancing along with music, had failed financially. Therefore, in an effort to recoup some of the losses, producer Joe Boyd booked the band for a mere two days in a recording studio to record what became a double album's worth of material. Despite the time constraints (literally 48 hours in which band members switched off in shifts between recording and napping) the album still contains (characteristically) rich overdubbing.

The letter "U" represented a transition from a high level of spiritual awareness to a low, then returning to a final peak of awareness and communication.

Track listing

Disc 1

# “El Wool Suite” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 8:31 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “The Juggler's Song” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 3:13 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Time” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 3:58 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Bad Sadie Lee” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 3:49 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Queen of Love” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 8:37 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Partial Belated Overture” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 2:56 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Light in Time of Darkness/Glad to See You” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 10:16 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Walking Along With You” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 3:59 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Hirem Pawnitof/Fairies' Hornpipe” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 6:20 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Bridge Theme” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 2:18 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}

Disc 2

# “Bridge Song” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 8:49 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Astral Plane Theme” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 4:52 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Invocation” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 4:49 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Robot Blues” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 4:09 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Puppet Song” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 6:16 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Cutting The Strings” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 5:10 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “I Know You” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 3:24 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}
# “Rainbow” #if:{subtitle|}|{subtitle} #if:{artist|}|by {artist} #if:{guests|}|featuring {guests} #if:{writers|}|({writers}) – 15:41 {on-line| } #if:{notes|}|
#* {notes}

External links

* [http://www.richieunterberger.com/isb.html Sleevenotes for reissue of "U" by Richie Unterberger]