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It seems tenuous, but appropriate, to give the book a recommended listening list too.
When I imagine Luther's music it's a cross between the following.
- Alexander Spence - Oar - Sundazed - SC11075 is the album the wayward Moby Grape member recorded in 1968 having busted out of Bellevue Hospital.
- 13th Floor Elevators - Easter Everywhere - Decal - CDLIKM002 is for me the best of the 60's Austin Texas band's albums.
- Roky Erickson - Gremlins Have Pictures - Demon - Fiend CD66 is a compilation of their leader's later, solo stuff.
- Black Sun Ensemble - s/t - Camera Obscura - CAM040 is a re-issue of debut of the mid-80's Tucson instrumental band, led by Jesus Acedo.
- Various Artists - The Tucson Sound 1960-1968 - Bacchus - BA002LP is what it says it is, and probably isn't on CD.
Being a fan of the Tucson band Giant Sand first led me to the South West in 1995, and whether they like it or not, they seem inextricably bound up with their environment. Giant Sand - Chore Of Enchantment - Loose - VJCD113 is probably their best album. OP8 - OP8 Featuring Lisa Germano - Thirsty Ear - THL57030.2 is a Giant Sand collaboration with Lisa Germano. I bought it in Adelaide in 1997 and it was always on when I was writing there. Giant Sand - Selections Circa 1990-2000 - Loose VJCD121, a compilation of later recordings is a good introduction.
The night I, the actor Kevin Eldon and the man Ben Moor arrived in Tucson in September 1995 was the launch of the first album by local supergroup The Friends Of Dean Martinez, in the cellar of Hotel Congress. The Friends Of Dean Martinez - The Shadow Of Your Smile - Sub Pop - SP306b is the desert rock/cocktail lounge hybrid soundtrack to the imaginary screenplay of this book
Opening the show in the lobby of Hotel Congress was the late Rainer Ptáçek, who played the version of George Harrison's Within You Without You included on.. Rainer - Nocturnes - Glitterhouse- GRCD363. The previous year I'd seen him play The Weavers in Stoke Newington. It was packed. Robert Plant was there. At Hotel Congress a few people milled around, not paying attention, a prophet without honour …
Probably the most famous Tucson band these days is Calexico, a Giant Sand spin off more self consciously attuned to a regional sound. Their second album, Calexico - The Black Light - City Slang - 08707-2, was out about the time I really set to on the text and was good for atmosphere.
The opening of the book fell into place one night in March 97 in the Arkaba motel, Adelaide, Austalia, while under the influence of repeated playings of … The Beasts Of Bourbon - Gone - Red Eye - REDCD58
Finally, the following three spoken word albums, which include little instrumental snatches of Calexico, were bought at The Singing Wind Bookshop in Arizona, which is, as far as I know, the sole outlet for them. Lawrence Clark Powell is a local historian and all 3 of these cd's are brilliant and changed the way I thought about the region
Lawrence Clark Powell's Southwest:
- Volume I: Southwest, an Essay On The Land
- Volume II: Where Water Flows
- Volume III: Revista Nueva Mexicana
If you're interested try writing to Singing Wind Audio, Box 2197, Benson, AZ 86502, USA
