Felius Andromeda: Meditations (1967)

 |   |  <1 min read

Felius Andromeda: Meditations (1967)

There are a number of stories about John Lennon being so smitten by Procol Harum's Whiter Shade of Pale that he would play it over and over, often while tripping.

This from a man whose band had just delivered Sgt Pepper's on an unsuspecting world?

But Lennon was not so taken with the song's melding of classical allusions and dreamy lyrics that he went out and tried to replicate it, as any number of acts at the time did.

Among those who fell for the idea of church organ and trippy lyrics were Felius Andromeda who even managed to haul in some faux chanting (Gregorian or Buddhist, you choose), stabbing strings and one of those very embarrassing spoken word sections which sound like the musings of schoolboy trying hard to be part of the acid generation: "Through the ruins of my mind I see, premonitions of my destiny, and with the death of my comprehension my heart is lost in my soul's redemption . . ."

Whatever that means.

But of course to a generation which the Desiderata on its wall alongside a Hendrix poster, probably quite a lot. 

A clue for aspiring lyric writers: the word "destiny" is to be avoided (as mentioned here) at all times.

And maybe don't use a faux-Latin name.

 

For more oddities, one-offs or songs with an interesting backstory  check the massive back-catalogue at From the Vaults.

Share It

Your Comments

Peggy in America - Mar 22, 2022

You goof! I love your sly asides, wiseass cracks, and succinction that only comes from ... knowing. No WONDER you teach! God love them students of yours.

post a comment

More from this section   From the Vaults articles index

Tony Lambrianou: Product of the Environment (1999)

Tony Lambrianou: Product of the Environment (1999)

Gangsta rappers may bang on about putting "a cap in yo ass" (trans: a bullet in your bottom) but much of that is posturing. The London 'ard men on the album Product of the Environment... > Read more

The Last Poets: When the Revolution Comes (1970)

The Last Poets: When the Revolution Comes (1970)

In the wake of the killing of Martin Luther King and the rise of Black Power politics, the ghettos were in flames. It was inevitable that music -- and in this case street poetry coupled with... > Read more

Elsewhere at Elsewhere

Otis Taylor: Clovis People Vol 3 (Telarc)

Otis Taylor: Clovis People Vol 3 (Telarc)

First, there is no Vol 1 or Vol 2, but this addition to Taylor's catalogue of "trance blues" which follows the excellent Pentatonic Wars and Love Songs of last year is certainly a... > Read more

AMERICA'S QUEEN; THE LIFE OF JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS by SARAH BRADFORD: Nice'n'sleazy does it

AMERICA'S QUEEN; THE LIFE OF JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS by SARAH BRADFORD: Nice'n'sleazy does it

Writers of trashy, salacious and titillating novels about the rich and famous -- Jackie Collins comes to mind -- must despair when biographies appear which reveal the moneyed and mediocre to be... > Read more