One of the great virtually unheard bands of the sixties, a prized trophy for obscuro collectors, a groundbreaking electronic album, hardcore psychedelia that makes Jefferson Airplane sound like teetotalers, a snapshot of student radicalism, an album with one of the most alluring unknown female singers in rock history, a source of samples for trip-hop bands, a band about 30 years ahead of its time, take your pick; The United States of America were a lot of things to a very small number of people. They vanished without a trace, and their album with them; it wasn't until The United States of America was reissued in the 90's that they even have begun to to get their due; they remain a band known only to the rarified fringe where geek meets hipster.
While their recording sounds dated now, in its primitive electronics and its radical, revolutionary, and psychedelic lyrics, it holds up as a sonic tour de force; it's one of those albums that any fan of late 60's music ought to hear, as well as fans of the avant-garde, electronica, ambient, and trip hop. It's so trippy, it's recommended that novices don't trip to it; "Hard Coming Love" is going to do frightening things to your mind. For a long time, information on the band was hard to find, but since their rediscovery, the story has finally come together.
Joseph Byrd was the guiding force behind The United States of America. An ethnomusicologist and experimental musician from the UCLA New Music Workshop, he approached rock from a quasi-academic direction; his concept was cerebral, but the sounds he wanted extended beyond the brain and reached the central nervous system. Byrd was born in Kentucky, but moved to Tuscon, AZ as a child. In his late teens, he developed an interest in rock 'n' roll and country music, and played in a series of small, informal combos. His tastes grew more sophisticated when he attended classes at the University of Arizona. He took up vibraphone, and played in a jazz band with other students in the late 1950's.
Byrd won a fellowship to Stanford, but instead moved to New York City in 1960 to explore the downtown music scene, which at the time was thriving with experimental and avant garde music. In New York, he first began composing his own experimental music, which gained him some recognition in high places; he met up with classical composer Virgil Thomson, then in his late sixties, an acknowledged influence on Aaron Copeland. Thompson hired him as part-time conductor and arranger, as well as assistant and gofer. Another early acquaintance was Terry Riley, whose minimalist electronic epic, A Rainbow In Curved Air in 1967 remains a milestone, and a big influence on Philip Glass, and who would also work with John Cale in the 70's. La Monte Young was another big avant-garde name in their circle. Byrd himself was involved to a degree with the radical folk and free jazz scene, as well, although not as a major player.
Article comments
1 - godoggo
Never heard of 'em, but they seem to have it all: cool, for the half of me that denies my dorkiness, and serious classical connections, for the side that revels in it. Anyways, for some reason, this page, unlike the one you linked to, has audio samples: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0000011XM/002-1673650-3832052?v=glance
2 - uao
Thanks for the link godoggo. I also have a complete version of "The American Metaphysical Circus" song on this page of my blog.
3 - Shark
I loved that band/album, but I haven't heard it in probably 30 years.
I might add that it was obscure even when it was released. It was very hard to find in record stores, and only one friend of mine had a copy -- which we wore out during our stoned late-night 'happenings'.
Thanks for the overview, uao!
PS: It probably should have been included in this *'review' of mine -- but as I said, I don't own the darn thing.
*you're familiar with "Touch"?
4 - uao
Hi Shark;
I've never heard of Touch, but your review has whet my interest; I had no idea any of the Kingsmen ever attempted anything further. I'll look into 'em more.
I did used to have the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's second album back in my personal late-60's (which was actually the early 80's for me). Your write-up on them is one of the best I've seen.
5 - Shark
uao, thanks. I just hope to turn a few people on to some of my obscure 60s faves.
I'd love to know what you think of the Touch album. It's pretty friggin' incredible, and still holds up after all these years.
Lemme know when you get a listen.
6 - Diane
I love this album!!!!! I'm only 22, so i've been trying to discover great obscure bands from the sixties, since i wasn't born yet during that time, and this band, the usa is incredible. i really want to try to find out dorothy's or joe's email address to tell them to regroup and go on another tour. just for me! (ha ha like they'd do that)
7 - uao
Hey Diane, always gald to hear from someone else who enjoys this record as much as I always have.
By the way, I did find email addresses for both Moskowitz and Byrd on the web. I won't post them here, because I don't have their permission. But here's a hint: they both teach at schools in California. Use some creative Googling, and you'll find them; I "borrowed" the Byrd photo from the university site where he teaches.
If you can get 'em back together, let me know. I'll buy a ticket.
8 - Jordan
yeah, this is an album i put off buying for a few months now. I'm 21 and i missed the 60's, of course... These guys are absolutely amazing. Consider my mind blown to the 8th dimension. The music, the lyrics, everything. I'm glad to see such a detailed review/history of the band somewhere on the web. This band has affected me musically for the rest of my life. Just a completely obscure gem of sorts, that everyone should have a listen to- in my opinion. God bless, The United States of America. And thank you uao for this article you have written about them.
9 - Shark
Young kids checking out history and their musical inheritance: cool.
Diane and Jordan's comments make me think there's hope for the future:
10 - uao
Hey cool, Jordan. Age is irrelevant when it comes to music; I was still wearing diapers when this album came out myself.
Thanks for the kind words; I like to think this is the most comprehensive piece on the band on the internet right now (I couldn't find any more detailed ones, and I really looked hard).
I'll second Shark's comment that it is cool to hear from young people about this band; that's why I write these things, to help those just starting out in their musical odyssey know the context and history of music they may have missed.
11 - Janio
I Just love this album. I heard them through the band Broadcast that cited them as their influence. I can see how. Well anyway, I got a hold of a burned copy from a friend(I know burning is bad). But I just had to have it. Anyhow, I wanted to know if anyone had a copy or a website for the lyrics. Sometimes it is hard to make out what Moskowitz says. Especially on the first track there are parts that I can't comprehend. Oh, yeah and are there lyrics on the real copy. Just wondering since I will
be getting one soon.
12 - uao
Heya Janio--
I always love to hear from fans of this band.
Like you mention, the original vinyl copy of the album had the lyrics printed on the back cover (incidentally, aside from Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, it was one of the very first albums to do so)
I bought that vinyl way back in 1983, but no longer have it. I bought a CD of it on Edsel records while in Japan in the 90's, but I don't recall the CD having the lyrics on it.
There is a "deluxe" CD that also included a sizable number of outtakes and alternate versions (including stuff from the 1967 session mentioned above, including "American metaphysical Circus") on Sundazed records. I've not found it in stores, but Sundazed sells it on their site.
Not sure if that reissue restored the lyrics though; maybe you could email them and ask.
I used to know most of 'em by heart; here's the lyrics to "American Metaphysical Cicus", I think I got 'em 100% right here (comment #2 has a link where you can hear it):
At precisely 8:05
Dr. Frederick Von Meyer
Will attempt his famous dive
Through a solid sheet of luminescent fire
In the center of the ring
They are torturing a bear
And although he cannot sing
We can make him whistle Londonderry Air
And the price is right;
The cost of one admission is your mind
We shall shortly institute
A syntopicon of fear
While it's painful it will suit
Many customers whose appetites are queer
Or for those who wish to pay
There are children you can bleed
In a most peculiar way
We can give you all the instruments you'll need
And the price is right;
The cost of one admission is your mind
If you're harder yet to please
We have most delightful dreams
Our recorders will preserve
The intensity and passion of your screams
For we only aim to please
It's our customers who gain
As their appetites increase
They must come to us for pleasure and for pain
And the price is right;
The cost of one admission is your mind
13 - uao
Bummer-- some of the pics in this article went dead over the past year.
I can't fix it here after it has been archived, but they're back on my blog here, if anyone wants to see the original piece with pics intact:
Artist Overview: United States of America
14 - Janio
Hi, Thanks for the reply, I forgot to mention that
I'm 20 and also discovering old bands from the 60's and 70's. Like The Incredible String Band and
my favorite, Leonard Cohen.
Wow, those are some really weird and interesting lyrics. Is the song about capitalism and how we are the consumers. "The cost of one admission is your mind." Very much like Radiohead. This is like an early version of OK Computer. The song Fitter Happier best explains what I mean.
Anyway if it's not too much trouble, do you think I could get the other lyrics as well. I mean, if you can't, that's okay.
Oh, and by the way I'm using Firefox and all the pics come out fine on my browser.
15 - uao
Hi Janio--
Well, I don't actually have the lyrics printed anywhere, my copy of the album is a rip.
However, someone else also emailed me recently asking if I had the lyrics, too. So maybe as a little project, I'll try to transcribe the lyrics and post them here, if I can't find 'em anywhere else. Check back in a couple of days...
OK Computer is an apt comparison; I hadn't really thought of it until now, but when you mention it, I can see a similarity; good call.
Broadcast, as you've noted, is something of a spiritual grandchild of this band, and if you like "American Metaphysical Circus" you've gotta hear "Half Day Closing" by Portishead which has that same ominous bassline and similarly paced and fuzzed vocals.
Worth looking for the Joseph Byrd and the Field Hippies LP too; I know it turns up on filesharing sometimes; the CD exists but is hard to find.
For an older band that shares some similarities, try out Curved Air, an early 1970's British prog-rock outfit featuring Francis Monkman in a Joseph Byrd-like role on synthesizers and keyboards, and Sonia Kristina in the Moskowitz role. By far their best album is Second Album from 1971. Phantasmagoria from 1972 is also pretty good. Not nearly as mind-warping (or good), but an interesting variation on the USA's sound. Some good songs by Curved Air include "Back Street Luv", "Young Mother", "Puppets" "Jumbo" "Marie Antoinette" "Metamorphosis" "Cheeta" "Vivaldi" "It Happened Today" and "Purple Speed Queen". Police drummer Stewart Copeland joined in the mid 70's (and married the singer, I think), but their earlier, first four albums are the best.
Leonard Cohen and Incredible String Band, eh? Here's a couple of offbeat other albums you might find interesting: Al Stewart, Love Chronicles, anything by West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band (Shark agrees), Pearls Before Swine (who cover Cohen's "Suzanne" and sound kinda like ISB), and maybe even Ultimate Spinach, if you're into offbeat 60's obscurities.
I'll see what I can do about those lyrics; stay tuned...
16 - Janio
I'll make sure to check on the lyrics in the future.
And thanks for all the suggestions. I'll give them all a listen when I can. I have Portishead's Dummy album. But not that song. Oh, and I noticed that on Joseph Byrd and the Field Hippies LP there is a song called You Can't Ever Come Down.
Which is also on The USA as a bonus track,(I found out from Amazon.com) are these two the same songs or just different versions.