IRON BUTTERFLY

1. Introduction (The group says "hi" while grabbing a bite to eat). 2. Iron Butterfly Theme 3. Unconscious Power 4. In the Time of Our Lives 5. Flowers and Beads 6. Silent Screaming 7. Butterfly Blue 8. Whispers in the Wind 9. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida

As one may notice there are two unfamiliar songs on the setlist (Silent Screaming & Whispers in the Wind). Thoses songs were written in 1997 with the hopes of recording a new album before the Millenium, well we all know what happened there. The songs are very prog (if anything they would probably be best catorgorized as Cross-Over prog). Unfortunately they did not perform one other newly written song: Interactive Man (which is full of organ, piano and a little bit of synthesizer. Again very prog indeed! That song can be found on bootleg format).

The concert footage is simply the best and the music is just amazing! The DVD also includes interviews with the 1997 lineup: which included Doug Ingle, Lee Dorman, Ron Bushy and Erik Barnett. (by the time they did the interview Derek Hilland had already left the group) The interviews quickly reveal that Doug Ingle is a down to earth and very goofy guy! Ron Bushy and Lee Dorman are very well spoken and think very highly of each other and aren't too afraid to make fun themselves. Erik Barnett mainly expresses his love and respect for his fellow band mates and the band as a whole. And of course Steve Howe who reminisces about the time Yes opened for Iron Butterfly.

This lineup of Iron Butterfly is definitely one of the most solid lineups they have ever had in my opinion and the sound they have proves it! If this lineup had released an album, like they intended to, it would most likely be very highly regarded here on ProgArchives. It had so much potential just based off those three new songs.

They play each song as if they've been playing together for decades even though at this point (1997) they had only been playing together for 2 years! This is a must have for all Iron Butterfly fans, whether new or old. They play songs from their first four albums (Heavy, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, Ball, and Metamorphosis) plus two new songs (Silent Screaming, Whispers in the Wind). The band sounds just as great as the classic Vida/Ball lineup but still sound modern and fresh without sacrificing the quality of a live show they are famous for.

An Excellent DVD By An Excellent Band! 5 Stars!

-AP

Then there's the title song which covers the whole second side of the album. If it would be this song only, I would be giving this 4 stars at least. It's truly a classic (if a bit too long though, there's not much going on a lot of the time) and rightly so. But because of the first side, I have to give the album two stars. A shame really.

''Light And Heavy: Thec Best Of Iron Butterfly'' is sure a great compilation. All the songs are good but the passage of the styles, although easy, shall set the attention and appeal that, instead, the first songs extol.

''In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida'' is presented in single version and this version is pure Heavy Rock. ''Iron Butterfly Theme'' is a pure Psychedelic piece and ''Easy Rider (Let The Wind Pay The Way)'' is another good Hard Rock for bikers (and true evergreen). This for a small description of my 3 preferred song in this compilation (please me in a manner of other all 21 songs but these 3 are the songs that hit my mind!).

In definitive ''Light And Heavy: The Best Of Iron Butterfly'' is a compilation for who love Iron Butterfly. Also if this is a compilation also for Iron Butterfly's newbies.

''Heavy'' is the debut album of Psychedelic/ Proto-Prog/ Heavy Metal band Iron Butterfly, recorded in october 1967 and published January, 22, 1968. Produced by Charles Greene & Brian Stone- A York/ Pala Records, Inc. Production in very good manner for 1967/ 1968, ''Heavy present 10 compositions.

For me the best songs in ''Heavy'' are: ''Unconscious Power'', a Psychedelic POP song. In my opinion this song present also symphonic elements. The Allen Toussaint's cover ''Get Of My Life, Woman'' present some elements in common with Santana (maracas, latin ryhthms). This cover is arranged in very obscure and heavy manner. In a sense ''Get Of My Life, Woman'' in this version anticipates Black Sabbath. ''Gentle As It May Seems'' is another Psychedelic POP... But extreme close to POP. ''You Can't Win'' present an excellent Doug Ingle either as a singer, both as an organist. ''So-Lo'' is another good song who here sounds like a filler. ''Field Of Sun'' is the more Heavy song of this album. In a sense ''Field Of Sun'' is an inspiration for mamy Heavy Metal band. The last song that I prefer in ''Heavy'' is ''Iron Butterfly Theme'', the more Psychedelic Rock song of ''Heavy''. This instrumental present all the ingredients of Iron Butterfly music: heavy organ riffs, virtuoso distorted guitar, simply rhythms and obscure feelings.

In a sense ''Heavy'' have a title that reflect the music contained, because in general all 10 songs of ''Heavy'' are very heavy for 1968. The POP side of Iron Butterfly music is all in the service of heavy side of Iron Butterfly music, so to make ''Heavy'' an album (for the time), even commercial. But it is clear that if you search an innovative album for 1968 ''Heavy'' is this album.

02. Flowers And Beads This song is a beauty! Pull that beautiful music. It has all the air of psicodelia, but with a ravishing melody, the background vocals are so cool harmony. The choir at the end is very beautiful.

03. My Mirage The timbre of organ and the conventions of the band early in the cases are part. The riff of the music itself is a psychedelic groove invoked. Recalled in some passages from some guitar sounds of Janis Joplin. But the body is the charm of the band, it means a touch ... let me see, (we never thought it would be so difficult to explain something laughs).

04. Termination Riffezão (there exists such words!) The posts, the band was based largely on them. But the big balcony of the song is a change of pace there by the end of it, with a beautiful fingering the guitar and with some 'background noise'.

05. Are You Happy The introduction is spoken, the various riffs and low, are sensational, the backing vocals, the 60's more alive than ever, I am not surprised that the disc has sold well. The half forward changes everything, and everything ground to battery. Final dry as many songs.

06. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida Long and short with the letter! That would say a lot. Because as they say there, entendedor it means, just half word! The Riff reminds me a lot of Sunshine Of Your Love Cream (if I am not mistaken, 1967, a year before), as I said long and short letter, which already makes us understand that is an act of self- indulgence and a lot of improvisation, as it is almost all improvised, including soils of all members. The battery in the beginning of the ground reminds me of Ringo at Abbey Road. And after much doidera back to the beginning as if nothing had happened. Êê 60s saw!

www.progshine.com

All the songs from this album are more melodic and more psychedelic than the Vida album.

The opening track In the Time of Our Lives is a wonderful song and the opener of any Iron Butterfly album. This song is dark and sorrowful and was way ahead of its time.

Soul Experience is a beautiful track, one of Iron Butterfly's most melodic psychedelic song.

Lonely Boy is the only weak track off this album, although I am quite fond of it, but it is mostly a soulful song with a great psychedelic atmosphere and great guitar solo by Erik Braunn.

Real Fright is one of Iron Butterfly's more faster paced and darker songs. The title is pretty self-explanatory, the song is about being so deathly afraid to the point of going completely insane.

In the Crowds is the most pop oriented song off this album, but no more than the first half of In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (such as Flowers & Beads, Most Anything You Want, etc...)

It Must Be Love is just simply one of their best.

Filled with Fear - Now onto Iron Butterfly's darkest and most powerful song. It pretty much continues where Real Fright left off, lyrically wise that is. It is about a person who is losing their mind to fear and knows it, but can't stop it. The only thing they can do is sit there and watch as their mind withers away.

Belda Beast is, in my opinion, Iron Butterfly's best song they ever recorded. It is completely drenched in acid and wrung out with the most melodic psychedelia the band ever attempted. It is sung by Erik Braunn with the most beautiful guitaring he's ever done. This is simply their most proto-progressive song.

5 Stars

-AP

The title and opening song is particularly well crafted: excellent vocals, fine melody with some superb instrumentation. Sun & Steal is one of their true prog track in all their career. A highlight!

This album as a whole though is more of a hard-rocking affair; something typical for the date of release. Some strong and powerful tracks (Lightnin) combined with some syrupy rock ballads like hard-rocking bands were keen to write (Beyond The Milky Way, Watch The World Going By).

A certain New York Dolls flavour is also noticeable during the rock'n'roll Free or Get It Out. But there will still be a heavy rock one for the nostalgic old fans (Scion).

The influence of the new keyboard player (Bill De Martinez) is clearly marked on the very good I'm Right, I'm Wrong: after a symphonic opening, he will develop a fine atmospheric play to get along with this traditional rock number. It is the second highlight from this enjoyable album.

The closing number is another fine song from this offering. A very performing rock ballad which holds a great guitar furry in the middle part. It is bizarrely called Scorching Beauty (title of their previous album).

In all, this is an enjoyable rock album. Three stars.

Most of the songs are uninspired, vaguely heavy and definitely on the hard-rocking side. Of course, you shouldn't expect any great stuff here. When I mentioned hard-rock, this album is playing in some kind of amateur third division league (but let's consider that there are already four professional ones before the first amateur one...).

Song writing is poor, and it leads to a pretty much forgettable effort. Pop rock People Of The World, this album really doesn't hold one song that could. But to have survived the listening of this track is quite remarkable. It is indeed a very poor song. A marvellous example of the press next syndrome.

I don't know how many of these albums the band have sold, but my guess is that in comparison with the thirty+ millions for In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida , this one had little to do with those numbers. What I mean, is that they would have been very much inspired NOT to have released this dreadful work even if the New York Dolls oriented Lonely Hearts is not a bad rock song. A little earlier on the album, the T. Rex oriented Am I Down was not too bad either.

The best number from this poor album is the good rocking Before You Go. Excellent guitar and fine drumming are the highlights of this song. But this is really one of the very few moment during which I could find a genuine pleasure while listening to it.

I just can tell that it would be better to stay away from this one. Two stars, thanks to three songs, that's it. Nothing needs to be added really.

You know, in these ancient times, one went to the disc shop and usually listened to the first song and made his judgement to buy an album or not. Needless to say that with such a poor track, the temptation to drop it and find some more interesting stuff was easily recommendable.

What's available on this album, is just another heavy-soul work. Pretty much in line with their previous Motown oriented Ball. When I have to bear such a poor "Best Years Of Our Lives", I am just voiceless. These are definitely not the best musical moments of mine.

It is quite difficult to determine which is the poorest song from this offering, but let's take for granted that "Slower Than Guns" is going to be on the podium. Even if this album has been rated with the masterpiece status by one fellow reviewer, I won't be as generous.

This album doesn't hold a second of prog feeling. It is all funk and soul stuff ("Stone Believer"). OK, on the heavy side, but still.If I am willing to listen to some "Temptations" recordings (which is a very, very rare temptation of mine), I would just have an ear to "Papa. " and that's it. If you want to play some extra time, you can always borrow this album and listen to it endlessly on your CD player. But I'm not buying this.

Nothing prog, nothing interesting, nothing actually. Except the long and fine closing number!

"Butterfly Bleu" is a good song; still in the heavy blues department but with a great feeling and a superb guitar work. An obvious psychedelic obedience, a strong rhythmic section, a certain improvisation atmosphere are such a fine combination! Why the hell didn't "Iron Butterfly" built on more of these type of songs?

It is the one track which prevents me to rate this album with one star. Be prepared though to some really weird passages which are close to native Indian incantations and pretty boring. Experimental and improvised are the words.

In all, this is a very average album. Two stars.

This album is of course shy of what could have been a legendary performance. Just imagine In-A- Gadda-Da-Vida performed and filmed in front of half a million of people.Quite different of course with this confidential live album. So is the destiny.

Half of these songs come from their average and last to date album Ball. These live renditions are not weaker than their original; but to tell the truth the version of Soul Experience is nothing but a dreadful Motown experience (but so was the original). I made the same comment for their studio album and I can't really tell you anything different in here. Just an advice: press next. Immediately.

One of my fave is the old You Can't Win: a heavy psyche track which took its roots in their good and debut album. No need to say that the best numbers from this live offering don't come from their latest album at the time of releasing.

The wild and superbly heavy Are You Happy is just a splendid rock song and a great rendition of the studio counterpart available on their monster album which is of course best experienced with this live version of their memorable song: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.

I would say that this version is waaaaaaay better than the studio track. Even if it is recorded live, it sounds much more fresher than the studio work. Of course, the drum solo isn't gigantic (but there are no Moon nor Bonham to hold the sticks) but overall, I am much more receptive to this version than the studio one.

In all, this is a good live album. Nothing form the outer world though. Three stars.