Incredible String Band

Released in 1966, this first album by The Incredible String Band is an absolute must-have if you are into British folk. A little more direct and less adventurous than the albums that followed, it stands its ground as a marvellous piece of work.Produced by Joe Boyd and recorded at Sound Techniques in London, this is also the only album by the original line-up which - apart from Robin Williamson and Mike Heron - still counted with Clive Palmer. The results are strikingly positive and I found myself at its feet for weeks!There's no way to pick a favourite but Williamson's October Song with its wonderful lines comes close. Heron's The Tree, Maybe Someday and How Happy I Am are all classic examples of singing acoustic wizardry. And even Palmer's Empty Pocket Blues sheds some light and makes a difference.When this music starts to play, let me be around!!!

I luv this first album (with all its fresh ideas) but have never really appreciated the later albums. Too quirky for me!

I never received my item; The seller shipped it via FedEx with no signature required so they left in outside my apartment and I never got it so I assume it was stolen. :(

Love it.

Great CD

I must admit that I do not have any big picture of the career of The Incredible String Band's career or of the group's many albums. However, I have over the years been presented to quite a few songs by the group and I have always felt that the music just lacked the last bit. Having recently re-listened to Mike Heron's two fine albums "Smiling With med Bad Reputation" and "Mike Heron's Reputation", I thought I’d give the group the "serious" new chance. I felt it natural to start from the beginning with the group's first selftitled album from 1966.I hardly know what to think; the album is pretty pure folk, with some inspiration from traditional music and artists like Woody Guthrie.It’s Mike Heron's songs that hit my taste in music the most with "Maybe Someday", "When the music Stars to Play" and "How happy I am" as some of the best. Robin Williamson's songs are also quite good; especially "October Song" and "Dandelion Blues", but I have a preference for Heron's; not least because of his much more interesting and personal vocals.The group was at this time a trio with banjo-player Clive Palmer as the third man; but the two main members Heron and Robinson are obviously the driving forces.

This is the first ISB Album and it is special and the best, in many ways. If you like folk music at all, this album shows why the band's name is very accurate. There is energy in this album that only diminishes over the successive ones, so for an ISB or folk person, knowing this album is essential.Anyone who did not give the album itself 5 stars must be high or something.

A delightful album which showcases the emerging talents of songwriter/minstrels Mike Heron and Robin Williamson along with the (slightly) more conventional musical abilities of their friend and mentor Clive Palmer. Clive contributes the more traditional banjo and blues pieces while Robin and Mike drop fascinating hints about the diverse musical territories they were about to venture into. "Womankind" and especially "October Song" stand out as timeless classics but everything else is pretty fine. If this is a true reflection of the music to be heard regularly in Clive's Incredible Folk Club in the mid 1960's, it must have been an extraordinary time and place. The original Incredibles are now touring again after all these years, which makes this first album all the more fascinating.

I bought this album in december 2010 and to my ears the remastered sound is excellent throughout and, as usual with Fledg'ling, the presentation is excellent. The album itself is truly exceptional. Nobody else made music remotely like this in 1966 with the possible exception of Donovan. Some ISB fans might not like this comparison much, but I'm referring to the sheer originality of the lyrics and melodies. Curiously it's Mike Heron's work that stands out for me here. All his songs are great. Who could ever forget the lovely swirling fiddle introduction to "Maybe Someday". That being said my favourite track on the album is Williamson's Dandelion Blues". The whole album is beautifully sung and superbly played. Absolutely essential

it a fine cd thanks