One of the nice things about listening to WFMU is at any given time you are likely to hear something random and unexpected. One such example: psuedo-garage music made by Armenian American camp counselors in the 70s. Yesterday while tuning into Tony Coulter's fine radio program my interest was piqued by a lovely, slow tune called "Come Down in Time", a beatless and airy number consisting of twangy guitar lines against a backdrop of fender rhodes/dulcimer-esque chords with another line of angular guitar noodling on top. It was very pleasant and struck me as the kind of thing that might sit nicely alongside something off of Eno & Fripp's Apollo Soundtrack.I've since discovered its a cover of an Elton John song.
The Hye Stars were camp counselors at Hye Kamp in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, a camp for Armenian Youth. Liz tells me that "Hye" means Armenian and people are usually lumped into two categories "Hye" and "Odar" (like "other"... it means "everyone else"). This is a private press record issued in 1974 as a keepsake when the group broke up. Unfortunately none of the other songs on the record struck me quite like the first track but I suppose this album might be of interest to the 365 crowd who might enjoy the amateur, garagey takes on classic rock staples. As Tony points out, the version of "Give me some truth" is not bad...
Many thanks to Mike Ascherman for unearthing this record. Photo lifted off of a popsike auction.
Come Down in Time (has a skip unfortunately...)
Mother Freedom
25 or 6 to 4
Cold Turkey
Blue Suede Shoes
Color My World
Give Me Some Truth
Long Tall Sally
Whole Lotta Love
I am LOVING "Come Down In Time" thanks a lot for posting!
Posted by: Mike H. | April 19, 2008 at 03:23 AM
Just Give me Some Truth!
Posted by: Carl Coloian | August 07, 2009 at 03:26 PM