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Tracklisting & More Information
Becoming Elektra is an account of Elektra Records in the Jac Holzman years, from 1950 to 1973. It tells the story of Elektra's growth from a small independent folk label to a major, multi-faceted, hit making concern.
Jac Holzman's role in founding and running the company is central to the story, and his capacity for lateral thinking - which led to innovations such as the first-ever sampler album, and a million-selling series of sound effects records - is a recurring theme. But the book is not just the story of one man's business success, it is also about the label's artists and the great music they produced. Becoming Elektra places the label in a broad context, with a gripping narrative drawing in elements of musical and cultural history and biographies of the main participants.
The book opens with the pivotal moment in Elektra's history when Holzman discovered The Doors. It then goes back to the previously untold story of Elektra in the '50s, when the label brought folk music to a wide audience through artists such as Jean Ritchie, Josh White, Theodore Bikel and Bob Gibson. Moving into the '60s the story takes in artists that have had an extraordinary resonance down the years including some, such as Tim Buckley, who are far more popular today than in their lifetimes. Buckley's story is told alongside those of artists who comprise an inventory of '60s and '70s musical innovation: The Doors, Love, Judy Collins, The Paul Butterfield Band, Michael Bloomfield, Tom Paxton, Tim Buckley, Fred Neil, David Ackles, Phil Ochs, Bread, Queen, Mickey Newbury, The Incredible String Band, Iggy Pop with The Stooges, Carly Simon and The MC5.
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Becoming Elektra
Various Artists
Catalogue number FEP6
Grey vinyl sleeved in a black disco bag and accompanied by a numbered full colour offset lithographic art print on white card hand signed by Bruce Botnick, all sleeved within a die cut outer bag
Limited edition 250 copies, only available with the Signature Edition of Becoming Elektra.
Tracks chosen and album sequenced by Jac Holzman
All tracks remastered especially for this release by Bruce Botnick
A1 - O LOVE IS TEASIN'
Written by Jean Ritchie
Performed by Jean Ritchie
A2 - ST. JAMES INFIRMARY
Traditional
Performed by Josh White
A3 - JOSHUA
Written by Dick Rosmini
Performed by Dick Rosmini
A4 - YES I SEE
Written by Bob Gibson
Performed by Bob Gibson
A5 - WONDROUS LOVE
Traditional
Performed by Kathy & Carol
A6 - LININ' TRACK
Traditional
Performed by Koerner, Ray & Glover
A7 - WADE IN THE WATER
Traditional
Performed by Judy Henske
B1 - BLACK MOUNTAIN RAG
Traditional
Performed by The Dillards with Byron Berline
B2 - I CAN'T HELP BUT WONDER WHERE I'M BOUND
Written by Tom Paxton
Performed by Tom Paxton
B3 - BLUES ON THE CEILING
Written by Fred Neil
Performed by Fred Neil
B4 - I AIN'T MARCHING ANYMORE
Written by Phil Ochs
Performed by Phil Ochs
B5 - SINCE YOU ASKED
Written by Judy Collins
Performed by Judy Collins
B6 - MORNING GLORY
Written by Beckett-Buckley
Performed by Tim Buckley
BOOK
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