Flightless Bird Needs Water Wings (Yodo-Go-a-Go-Go) (2007)

This is where my note from my last post comes into play. Flightless Bird Needs Water Wings (Yodo-Go-A-Go-Go), released by the label 10th Avenue Freeze Out in 2007 comes next chronologically... technically.

You see, tracks 1, 4, and 8 originally come from '67-'69 Studio et Live, which date them to 1968. "Fragment I", also known as "Vallé De L'eau", was sourced from a previous bootleg and (I think) might be from 1970. This bootleg's versions of "Enter The Moon" and "Flame of Ice" are sourced from a studio recording from 1978. "Field of Artificial Flowers", the sixth song, comes from '77 Live by way of Heavier Than A Death In The Family. The final track dates back to 1975.

When it comes to cases like this where the tracklist comes from a variety of times, the earliest date will be used for chronological sorting.

So, what do I think? It's a bit disjointed and unorganized, thanks to the range in recording dates, but it's a nice listen. My favorite songs here are the studio recordings of Enter The Mirror and Flames of Ice. Field of Artificial Flowers is pretty great, the '67-'69 et songs are great, and the short Fragment I is a nice interlude of sorts.

'67-'69 Studio et Live (1991) + An Introduction

My name is Katie. I run the blog "katie's music blog" (formerly known, but still kinda known in the url as kevinsmp3blog). This is a fun new project I decided to undertake.

One might ask, why review all the LRD albums, official or bootleg, in order? I say because I have a true appreciation for the style LRD went for throughout their long tenure together. Also, it allows me to talk about these releases in a deeper way than I'm usually allowed. It's fun. Plus, helps me work on my writing.

So what's first on the chopping block? '67-'69 Studio et Live, released in 1991 by Rivista. Released alongside Mizutani / Les Rallizes Dénudés and the legendary '77 Live, this album collects the band's infancy through (mostly) live cuts of early songs. 

Despite the title suggesting that the earliest songs date to 1967, the liner notes say the opener "Smokin' Cigarette Blues" is the earliest, dated to November 29, 1968, and the rest are from various times throughout 1969.

The original 1991 release featured eight songs, but the 2022 remastered reissue also includes two bonus tracks exclusive to the CD version. I'll be reviewing the 2022 remaster with bonus tracks here. I don't have the CD version, but you can find the bonus tracks easily on Soulseek.

So, what do I think of it?

It's certainly an interesting beginning to the band's style. Stylistically it's a bit all over the place, but it all comes together for a nice listen. The bonus tracks don't add much to the release, but are nice additions. My personal favorite tracks from this are the first version of "Vertigo Otherwise My Conviction" and "La Mal Rouge".

I'd also like to take this time to thank gasman_ on Soulseek/Discord for their help in sharing their (mostly) comprehensive LRD collection in chronological order, as this project would be much more difficult without their help.

Alright, one down, endless more to go.

Note: This project won't cover any and every bootleg, as some aren't online or are difficult to find. Many also are bootlegs of each other or include songs from other releases. Where nesessary, I'll note this and only really review the songs exclusive to the release. For example, some bootlegs that say they have songs from between 1967 and 1969, they mean songs from this release.