I Looked Up
Studio album by
the Incredible String Band
ReleasedApril 1970
GenrePsychedelic folk, folk
Length41:22
LabelElektra / WEA
ProducerJoe Boyd
The Incredible String Band chronology
Changing Horses
(1969) 		I Looked Up
(1970) 		U
(1970)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[1]

I Looked Up (Elektra EKS 2469 002 / U.S. LP: EKS-74061) is the sixth album by the Incredible String Band. Recorded at a time when the band was busy rehearsing for their ambitious upcoming stage show, U, the album has been described by band member Robin Williamson as a "quickie" album.

Background

Recording of the album came just 5 months after Changing Horses.[2] Like its predecessor, the album included six tracks with two compositions exceeding 10 minutes. As usual with the band, there are several instruments utilised in unique arrangements and overdubbing in the development of the album.[3]

A rewriting of "Black Jack Davey", a Scottish traditional folk song, begins the album, sung by Heron in an uptempo style. The album also contains Robin Williamson's most experimental, "Pictures in a Mirror". The epic, a mixture of folk and drama, tells the story of Lord Randell. Williamson's vocals are prominent on this track for his range and ability to distort his voice. A highlight of the album, Mike Heron's composition "This Moment," is regarded as one of Heron's best pieces.[1]

Dave Mattacks, a drummer of Fairport Convention, is featured on "The Letter", a track which is more reflective of Fairport's electric folk style.[4]

Recording sessions also produced an unreleased track titled "Queen Juanita and Her Fisherman Lover" that is over 16 minutes in length. It would later appear on the compilation Incredible String Band: Tricks of The Senses.[5] Three tracks from the album, "When You Find Out Who You Are ", "The Letter", and "This Moment", were performed at the Woodstock Festival, which constituted half of their set that day.[6]

Many consider I Looked Up an improvement to Changing Horses however the album's chart success was limited and disappointing in the US as it only topped at No. 196.[7]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Mike Heron except as noted

No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Black Jack Davy" 3:59
2."The Letter" 3:08
3."Pictures in a Mirror"Robin Williamson10:43
4."This Moment" 6:07
5."When You Find Out Who You Are"Williamson10:58
6."Fair As You" 6:27
Total length:41:22

"Black Jack Davy" (then called "Black Jack David") would later be recorded again by the Incredible String Band on their album Earthspan on Island Records in 1972.

Personnel

Charts

Chart (1970) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[8] 30
The Billboard 200[9] 196

References

  1. ^ a b "I Looked Up – The Incredible String Band – Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic.
  2. ^ ""The Incredible String Band were an inspiration and a sign." So wrote Robert Plant in his programme notes for Led Zeppelin's 1979 tour" (PDF). 2.kenyon.edu. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  3. ^ "INCREDIBLE STRING BAND- I LOOKED UP AND U." Dereksmusicblog.com. 26 September 2014.
  4. ^ "The Incredible String Band – I Looked Up". Discogs.com. 23 August 1970. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  5. ^ "The Incredible String Band – Tricks Of The Senses". Uncut.co.uk. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  6. ^ "The Incredible String Band Setlist at Woodstock". Setlist.fm. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  7. ^ Inc, Nielsen Business Media (1 August 1970). "Billboard". Nielsen Business Media, Inc. – via Google Books. ((cite web)): |last= has generic name (help)
  8. ^ "INCREDIBLE STRING BAND – full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013.
  9. ^ Whitburn, Joel; Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Albums, 1955–1996; p. 366. ISBN 0898201179
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