Listen to the Golden Age of Elektra
14/12/2006
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Forever Changing: The Golden Age Of Elektra Records - 1963 to 1973 is a 5 CD set that focuses on the heyday of the Elektra label as it made a transition from folk music to folk rock before fully embracing electric rock.
Click onto the links below and you can listen to four of the tracks - including two classic tracks from Bread and Doors.
The album opens with early folk artists such as Judy Collins, Fred Neil and Phil Ochs and follows the gradual impact of electric music with The Paul Butterfield Blues Band and key signings including Love, The Doors and the unique Tim Buckley.
But Elektra Records never lost its folk roots and, as the sixties progressed, the label embraced the singer/songwriter era by signing Carly Simon, Harry Chapin and the hugely successful Bread. Yet in 1969, Elektra went on to release the debut albums by The Stooges and the MC5, groups which still make a fierce impact on young musicians to this day: a far cry from the pristine folk of Judy Collins.
Elektra Records was the brainchild of Jac Holzman and it is his vision which drove the label through till 1973 when he handed over the reigns. A true visionary who believed in the artist and was never afraid to take risks, Elektra went from releasing traditional folk and exotic recordings in the fifties to signing those truly trail blazing artists: Love, The Doors, Tim Buckley, Fred Neil, Phil Ochs, David Ackles and so many more.
'Forever Changing’ mixes these familiar names with a host of genuine rarities and lesser-knowns but these are not included merely for the sake of obscurity but because the likes of Hamilton Camp, David Stoughton, Paul Siebel or Pat Kilroy all made fantastic music that was somehow overlooked. Elektra’s reputation preceded it and helped give maverick artists such as Nico, The Holy Modal Rounders, David Peel or the UK signed psychedelic folk group, The Incredible String Band, a launching pad to wider recognition.
A bonus disc on ‘Forever Changing’, titled ‘Another Time, Another Place’, presents an alternative take on Elektra’s history from the rare 1963 single by The Beefeaters (who went on to become The Byrds) through to one of Jac Holzman’s final signings, Jobriath. This disc also includes Eric Clapton & Powerhouse, The Baroque Beatles Book, Simon Stokes, Joseph Spence, Eclection, Leviathan, Goodthunder and David Peel.
'Forever Changing’ is being compiled with the full cooperation and assistance of Jac Holzman himself and all tracks will be newly remastered from the best possible sources, under the supervision of the renowned Bill Inglot. At least half of the tracks included have never before been available on CD.
The booklet will include a special foreword by Jac Holzman, new interviews with some fo the artists, and contributions from Elektra insiders, fellow artists and fellow travellers for whom Elektra was and still is the label.
In addition to the regular version, a very special limited edition (pictured at the top of this page) in a sumptuous 12 inch box, is being prepared that will include, among other delights, a lavishly illustrated hardback book to accompany the discs, four fine art prints of classic Elektra sleeves, a set of postcards, scrapbook style facsimile memorabilia, an illustrated discography and a CD Rom copy of Jac Holzman and Gavan Daw’s autobiography and label history ‘Follow The Music’.
Mature Times is currently running a competition to win copy of the standard version of a set of 5 CDs (pictured right). Please visit our competitions page for further details. (competition closes 15th January 2007)