The Yellow Princess (John Fahey album)
Encyclopedia
The Yellow Princess and its reissue has received consistently positive critical reviews. Record Collector
called it "...a pleasant journey to take, rattling along with the odd surprising flourish to mark the way, a random piece of dissonance to keep you awake and, above all, a reassurance that you’re in safe hands." Critic Andrew Gaerig praised the reissue, claiming "[It] is exemplary of Fahey’s knack for exploiting his limited premise. The Yellow Princess is a hallmark not because it revolutionized Fahey’s sound, displayed an improved technique, or broke him to a wider audience. Rather, it was the combination of a particularly deft melodic touch... and a growing tendency to expand his sonic palette... that marks The Yellow Princess as one of Fahey’s most consistent, and ultimately enlightening works." Gaerig also notes the three previously unreleased tracks added are mostly noteworthy for “Steel Guitar Medley”, writing "The length and variety of the extras solidify The Yellow Princess as a fine starting point for any Fahey virgin."
Critic Eugene Chadbourne, writing for Allmusic praised the recording sound especially, calling it "...among the best of his many releases; at the proper volume, the effect is as if one had taken up residency inside the sound hole of a giant acoustic guitar." He particularly singles out "View (East from the Top of the Riggs Road/B&O Trestle)" as one of Fahey's masterpieces, "... on a par with Charles Ives for musical Americana."
Mason Jones of Dusted magazine especially praised the album for the title track, "March! For Martin Luther King" as well as "View" and especially "The Singing Bridge of Memphis, Tennessee" as unexpected musique concrète
. Tracy Rogers of Music Box, called it a "...experimental, innovative, and avant-garde... seminal, minor-key, blues-folk recording."
In his liner notes for The Return of the Repressed
, Barry Hansen
noted Fahey's playing on The Yellow Princess as "some of the most technically accomplished playing of John's career."
Production notes:
Record Collector
Record Collector is the United Kingdom's longest-running monthly music magazine. It distributes both within the UK and worldwide. It started in 1979.-The early years:...
called it "...a pleasant journey to take, rattling along with the odd surprising flourish to mark the way, a random piece of dissonance to keep you awake and, above all, a reassurance that you’re in safe hands." Critic Andrew Gaerig praised the reissue, claiming "[It] is exemplary of Fahey’s knack for exploiting his limited premise. The Yellow Princess is a hallmark not because it revolutionized Fahey’s sound, displayed an improved technique, or broke him to a wider audience. Rather, it was the combination of a particularly deft melodic touch... and a growing tendency to expand his sonic palette... that marks The Yellow Princess as one of Fahey’s most consistent, and ultimately enlightening works." Gaerig also notes the three previously unreleased tracks added are mostly noteworthy for “Steel Guitar Medley”, writing "The length and variety of the extras solidify The Yellow Princess as a fine starting point for any Fahey virgin."
Critic Eugene Chadbourne, writing for Allmusic praised the recording sound especially, calling it "...among the best of his many releases; at the proper volume, the effect is as if one had taken up residency inside the sound hole of a giant acoustic guitar." He particularly singles out "View (East from the Top of the Riggs Road/B&O Trestle)" as one of Fahey's masterpieces, "... on a par with Charles Ives for musical Americana."
Mason Jones of Dusted magazine especially praised the album for the title track, "March! For Martin Luther King" as well as "View" and especially "The Singing Bridge of Memphis, Tennessee" as unexpected musique concrète
Musique concrète
Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that utilises acousmatic sound as a compositional resource. The compositional material is not restricted to the inclusion of sounds derived from musical instruments or voices, nor to elements traditionally thought of as "musical"...
. Tracy Rogers of Music Box, called it a "...experimental, innovative, and avant-garde... seminal, minor-key, blues-folk recording."
In his liner notes for The Return of the Repressed
The Return of the Repressed: The John Fahey Anthology
The Return of the Repressed: The John Fahey Anthology is a compilation album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1994. Fahey's career, health and personal life had been in decline...
, Barry Hansen
Dr. Demento
Barret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
noted Fahey's playing on The Yellow Princess as "some of the most technically accomplished playing of John's career."
Reissues
- The Yellow Princess was reissued on CD by Vanguard in 2000, 2001, and 2004.
- The Yellow Princess was reissued on vinyl LPLP albumThe LP, or long-playing microgroove record, is a format for phonograph records, an analog sound storage medium. Introduced by Columbia Records in 1948, it was soon adopted as a new standard by the entire record industry...
by Vanguard in 2008. - All the tracks from The Yellow Princess plus four from RequiaRequiaRequia is an album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1968...
are available on The Essential John FaheyThe Essential John FaheyThe Essential John Fahey is a compilation album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1974.-History:The original 1974 double-LP release included all songs from both Fahey's Vanguard albums — the only two albums Fahey recorded for the label.The CD reissue in 1996 of...
. - All the tracks from The Yellow Princess were included in 1999 on the CD The Best of the Vanguard YearsThe Best of the Vanguard Years (John Fahey album)The Best of the Vanguard Years is a compilation album by American fingerstyle guitarist and composer John Fahey, released in 1999.-History:...
Track listing
All songs credited to John Fahey.- "The Yellow Princess" – 4:52
- "View (East from the Top of the Riggs Road/B&O Trestle)" – 4:56
- "Lion" – 5:10
- "March! For Martin Luther King" – 3:43
- "The Singing Bridge of Memphis, Tennessee" – 2:53
- "Dances of the Inhabitants of the Invisible City of Bladensburg" – 4:10
- "Charles A. Lee: In Memoriam" – 4:02
- "Irish Setter" – 7:17
- "Commemorative Transfiguration and Communion at Magruder Park" – 5:58
- 2006 Reissue bonus tracks:
- "The John Fahey Sampler, Themes and Variations"
- "Fare Forward Voyagers"
- "Steel Guitar Medley"
Personnel
- John FaheyJohn Fahey (musician)John Fahey was an American fingerstyle guitarist and composer who pioneered the steel-string acoustic guitar as a solo instrument. His style has been greatly influential and has been described as the foundation of American Primitivism, a term borrowed from painting and referring mainly to the...
– guitar, sound effects - Mark AndesMark AndesMark Andes is an American musician, known for his work as a bassist with Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall, Heart, and Mirabal.-Early life:...
– bass - Matt Andes – guitars
- Jay FergusonJay Ferguson (American musician)Jay Ferguson is an American rock and roll musician, known for his work with Spirit and Jo Jo Gunne, and his 1978 solo hit "Thunder Island". His later career has been as a composer of music for television programs and films.-Childhood and early musical career:He was born in Burbank, California, in...
– organ, piano, keyboards - Kevin KelleyKevin Kelley (musician)Kevin Daniel Kelley was an American drummer, best known for his work with the rock bands The Byrds and the Rising Sons. Kelley also played drums for Fever Tree, although it is unknown whether he was an official member of the group or not...
– drums - Barry HansenDr. DementoBarret Eugene Hansen , better known as Dr. Demento, is a radio broadcaster and record collector specializing in novelty songs, comedy, and strange or unusual recordings dating from the early days of phonograph records to the present....
– sound effects
Production notes:
- John Fahey – producer
- Barry Hansen – producer
- Sam Charters – executive producer