Various Artists - An Introduction to the Music of New Guinea - Prestige International INT-25013 (Documentary Series) - Original Prestige Pressing, Maroon Label, Mono [ultra scarce and impossible to find!]
Produced by Kenneth Goldstein in association with Wattle Records, N.S.W, Australia
Edited by Ray Sheridan
Released - 1962?
I think this side constitutes the very definition of a way cool Prestige rarity/obscurity... Perhaps it's instructive and/or frightening to quote the opening paragraph of John Greenway's entertaining, but most certainly inaccurate liner notes: "This is the music of the world's last true savages... Some of the voices you hear in the 75 selections on this record come from the throats of men who have eaten human flesh". Ok!
That being said, once you become immersed in this amazing and small little bit of Prestige ethnomusicology , you appreciate that this side has its own independent aesthetic, which is often quite starkly beautiful.
Excellent post!
ReplyDeleteDo you think there's an Ethnic Folkways "version" of this? Those came with booklet inserts. Did Prestige do the same? (You probably would have mentioned that.)
Anyways, I always marvel at your blog. You manage to produce some of the rarest of sides and grooviest of sounds. I'm still luxuriating in all the rad Argo releases you shared. Thanks, man!
Wow. Any possibility the "booklet of notes" insert noted on back cover was included and can be shared?
ReplyDeletehi....yep.....one more .....thnxs from mr".G.Orgell"
ReplyDeletenow this looks super interesting. i am excited to hear it! thank you!
ReplyDelete"savages" lol. real savages are the people who would call others savages just because their ways strike them as 'primitive.' yay ethnocentrism!
There are, in fact, many reports (some eyewitness) from white missionaries and patrol officers - as recently as the 1960's - of cannibalism in New Guinea. So, maybe the liner notes aren't necessarily inaccurate.
ReplyDeleteThat aside, continued thanks for the music you make available. It can't be found in my part of the world (not New Guinea! A litle south of there).
http://min.us/mxLmSBVZA
ReplyDelete