Founded by Jac Holzman in 1950, Elektra Records’ first decade and a half were dominated by folk and blues influenced performers. As musicians coming out of that scene electrified, Elektra’s range gradually expanded, eventually exploding with the phenomenon that was the Doors.
Two iTunes-only Samplers compiled by Holzman highlight the two sides of this evolution. Priced at $7.99 each, they offer pretty good value for the adventurous music downloader.
The seventeen track Acoustic Sampler touches on some of the label's earliest folk, blues, and bluegrass recordings, visits more experimental mid-60’s styles, and culminates with a couple country flavored singer-songwriter tunes. I might have picked a different Tom Rush song, and could quibble about some other choices, but it could have been far worse. A rather obscure Harry Chapin song is included, for example, instead of one of his massively overplayed hit singles.
The tastes offered of the Dillards, Tom Paxton, Bob Gibson, Fred Neil, Incredible String Band, Judy Collins, David Ackles, and others, cohere as a listening experience, even if the listener explores no further. And, perhaps a few more people will discover Ian Matthews’ great Mike Nesmith produced Valley Hi album.
The Electric Sampler, appropriately enough, kicks off with the “uncensored” mix of “Break On Through (To The Other Side)”. (”She gets high” was rather too direct an observation for the lead track of a debut album in 1967!) Happily, the selections get a bit more obscure, if no less worthy from that point.
Critical favorites like Tim Buckley, Love, the Stooges and MC5 are represented alongside equally noncommercial but more obscure groups like Rhinoceros, Clear Light, the Wackers, and Crabby Appleton. The Bread selection is not one likely to trigger a reexamination of their soft-rock oeuvre, but it’s easily skipped. The single from the (proto-Blue Oyster Cult) Stalk-Forrest Group may be of interest to hard rock archaeologists, and the Zodiac Cosmic Sounds selection is worth a giggle, at least.
Article comments
1 - Marty1234
Good morning Mr. blue.....
2 - Hazy Dave
A fan of that Clear Light album, eh, Marty? That one escaped my attention for 30 years or so - the presence of Dallas Taylor and Doug Lubahn wasn't quite enough to tempt my purchase. Then my friend Dave Gerbil brought it to my attention... Nothing better than discovering great music, even if it's 40 years old by now!