lluminations, released in 1969, is the sixth album by Buffy Sainte-Marie. T… Read Full Bio ↴lluminations, released in 1969, is the sixth album by Buffy Sainte-Marie. Though most of the tracks did away with the backing she had used on her previous two albums, Illuminations had a completely different sound from anything she had previously done. From a basis of vocals and acoustic guitar, Sainte-Marie and producer Maynard Solomon used electronic synthesisers to create a sound that was much more experimental music than folk. Indeed, Illuminations was the first quadrophonic vocal album ever made, and on songs like the album's only single "Better to Find Out Yourself", her voice is completely altered by a Buchla synthesiser.
Peter Schickele, however, did provide arrangements to "Mary", "Adam" and "The Angel", whilst the four tracks "Suffer the Little Children", "With You, Honey", "Guess Who I Saw in Paris" and "He's A Keeper of the Fire" were her first work to be not produced by Vanguard boss Maynard Solomon. Instead, they had a stripped-down rock sound and were produced by little known folk-jazz songwriter Mark Roth. Bob Bozina played guitar, John Craviotta drums and percussion, and Rick Oxendine played bass.
On its initial release, Illuminations was an utter disaster commercially, failing to get anywhere near the Billboard Top 200.
However, in more recent times Illuminations has acquired a fan base quite distinct from that associated with any of Sainte-Marie's other albums. In addition to its being cited as a favourite album by a number of famous musicians (notably Steve Hackett of Genesis), a number of critics have seen its twisted, eerie soundscapes as laying the grounds for the evolution of gothic music as well as having an influence on New Weird America.
In 2000, just before Vanguard re-issued it on CD, Wire magazine listed Illuminations amongst its 100 Albums that Set the World on Fire While No-One was Listening.
Peter Schickele, however, did provide arrangements to "Mary", "Adam" and "The Angel", whilst the four tracks "Suffer the Little Children", "With You, Honey", "Guess Who I Saw in Paris" and "He's A Keeper of the Fire" were her first work to be not produced by Vanguard boss Maynard Solomon. Instead, they had a stripped-down rock sound and were produced by little known folk-jazz songwriter Mark Roth. Bob Bozina played guitar, John Craviotta drums and percussion, and Rick Oxendine played bass.
On its initial release, Illuminations was an utter disaster commercially, failing to get anywhere near the Billboard Top 200.
However, in more recent times Illuminations has acquired a fan base quite distinct from that associated with any of Sainte-Marie's other albums. In addition to its being cited as a favourite album by a number of famous musicians (notably Steve Hackett of Genesis), a number of critics have seen its twisted, eerie soundscapes as laying the grounds for the evolution of gothic music as well as having an influence on New Weird America.
In 2000, just before Vanguard re-issued it on CD, Wire magazine listed Illuminations amongst its 100 Albums that Set the World on Fire While No-One was Listening.
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Illuminations
Buffy Sainte-Marie Lyrics
Adam In the dawning, wakening hour He'll lift his head and brush…
Better To Find out For Yourself Every little baby that's ever been born Been spanked and mad…
God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot God is alive; Magic is afoot God is alive; Magic is…
Guess Who I Saw in Paris La da, da da, da da La da, da da,…
He's a Keeper of The Fire He's as heavy as a lead weight, baby He's as skinny…
Mary Yonder I see a star Oh see how bright it's burning Joseph…
Poppies I tippy-toe across your dream each night So as not to…
Suffer the Little Children School bell go "Ding! Dong! Ding!" The children all line up…
The Angel Come now, and now my love And leave your dying desert…
The Dream Tree Lo how the dream tree is sighing and shaking Pretty dreams…
The Vampire Shall I tell you of the night It was long ago Late…
Chuck
on Moonshot
I don’t know if this interpretation is by AI or an idiot, but it isn’t close to the mark. “Off into outerspace” isn’t an awestruck nod to space travel, but sneering at those whose minds are basically in outer space. “We wish you bon voyage” is sardonic. Welcoming back is sincere, hoping they come back to earth and realize what is here in these simple places, these cultures rooted in balance with nature and those around us. Cultures buried by the might and white-washing of American society. The anthropologist disappeared from that American society and into native culture, for which his wife is distraught viewing him as lost. But he spoke the truth and spoke it boldly and wisely as if from the heavens themselves.