The Electric Prunes - Mass In F Minor (1968 US Psychedelic Acid Rock)

UMA MISSA ACIDA E PSICODÉLICA!! UMA VIAGEM MUSICAL E PIRADA!! AS FAIXAS DO ALBUM FORAM ARRANJADAS E CONDUZIDAS POR "DAVID AXELROD" E É A INTERPRETAÇÃO DE UMA OPERA-ROCK OU UMA MISSA E SUAS DIVISÕES: KYRIE, GLORIA, CREDO, SANCTUS, BENEDICTUS, AGNUS DEI E NESSE RELANÇAMENTO HÁ A INCLUSÃO DE DUAS FAIXA BONUS!! A CURIOSIDADE É QUE NO MEIO DA GRAVAÇÃO E ATÉ MESMO PELA PIRAÇÃO DO AMBIENTE OS MEMBROS DA BANDA SE DESENTENDERAM E AÍ PRA ACELERAR AS GRAVAÇÕES FOI CHAMADA A BANDA CANADENSE "THE COLLECTORS" PRA FINALIZAR O ALBUM!! PELA ASPECTO BIZZARO E PIRADÉX DO DISCO LÓGICO QUE O ALBUM FOI UM FRACASSO COMERCIAL NA ÉPOCA, MAS HOJE É PEÇA VITAL DE COLECIONADORESA MUNDO AFORA!! APESAR DISSO AS MISSAS PSICODELICAS VIRARAM CULT E A FAIXA "KYRIE ELEISON" FOI USADA NA TRILHA SONORA DO FILME CONTRACULTURAL "EASY RIDER" (SEM DESTINO)!! AS CANÇÕES SÃO ÓTIMAS, BEM CONDUZIDAS E TRABALHADAS, NUM CLIMA VERDADEIRAMENTE PSICODÉLICO!! NUMA VISÃO ALUCINÓGENA PARECE ESTARMOS ESCUTANDO CANTOS GREGORIANOS EXECUTADOS POR PADRES CHAPADOS DE LSD!! VENENO CHAPANTE E ALTAMENTE RECOMENDADO PRA QUEM TEM "PESCOÇO GRANDE" E CONSEGUE VER ACIMA DO HORIZONTE LIMITADO!!

"...problemas com a gravação da Missa significava que a banda The Collectors (outra banda, sob a orientação de Hassinger) teve que ser chamada para ajudar a terminar a gravação do album. Posteriormente um desempenho desastroso ao vivo pela Prunes da Missa resultou na miséria e ainda o grupo se separou logo depois. Isso não quer dizer, entretanto, que Mass In F Minor não deve ser considerado um álbum Prunes. Ele ainda está listado na sua discogografia em seu site oficial. O vocalista James Lowe contribuiu para as vozes por toda parte. Baterista Quint e guitarrista Mark Tulin trabalharam em cada uma das seis músicas, e a banda completa está presente nas faixas de abertura, "Kyrie eleison", "Gloria" e "Credo".

Ironicamente, são essas três faixas que são os destaques do álbum. "Kyrie eleison" é a única faixa, sem uma orquestra de apoio, e é o mais próximo da identidade sonora da Prunes. Sua groove inícial e solo de guitarra chorado é um classic rock-ácido. "Gloria" foi um ótimo groove e ainda melhor solo de guitarra wah-wah, soando semelhante ao Big Brother & The Holding Company em um dos seus momentos mais estranhos. "Credo" começa auspiciosamente carregado com órgão de igreja e uma sinistra melodia embebecida de ácido..."

ALBUM REVIEW :
For fans of the Electric Prunes, the 1968 Reprise album Mass in F Minor is a disaster, but for aficionados of failed and bizarre concept records of the late '60s, it's definitely worth investigating. The eight tracks on this religious-based rock opera (with lyrics sung in Latin!) were written, arranged, and conducted by classical composer David Axelrod and spurred on by then-Prunes manager Lenny Poncher and record producer Dave Hassinger. Evidently, all parties involved, including the band, agreed that this project would propel the Electric Prunes from minor-league garage rockers into a finely tuned psychedelic ensemble to be taken seriously as musicians and artists. Unfortunately, the Prunes were not prepared to tackle Axelrod's complex and involved arrangements without a major struggle. In order to keep the sessions from going into costly overtime, Hassinger brought in studio musicians to finish the project. The results were completely unlike the group's previous two releases, with the majority of the tracks being performed by ad hoc Prunes. Shortly after the album's release, the original lineup faded into obscurity, taking Mass in F Minor with them. However, an eerie version of "Kyrie Eleison" received fleeting attention when it was featured in the film Easy Rider.

The Album Mass in F Minor

Hassinger and their manager seem to have forced Axelrod’s Mass in F Minor upon them. The band were regarded as a recognised and marketable product name that was supposed to help sell the concept. Subsequent trouble with the recording of the Mass meant that the Collectors (another band under the guidance of Hassinger) had to be called in the help finish the record. A disastrous live performance by the Prunes of the Mass resulted in further misery and the group disbanded soon after. Greedily Hassinger released two more albums in their name after the group had packed it in. Release of an Oath (68) and Just good Old Rock and Roll (69) contained none of the original band members, the former being another Axelrod concept played by top session musicians, the latter being a completely different outfit altogether.

That is not to say however that the Mass in F Minor should not be considered a Prunes album. It is still listed in their discogography on their official web site. Release of an Oath and Just Good Old Rock and Roll are conspicuously absent. Lead singer James Lowe contributed to the vocals throughout. Drummer Quint and lead guitarist Mark Tulin performed on each of the six cuts, and the full band are certainly present on the opening cuts, “Kyrie Eleison”, “Gloria” and “Credo”. Ironically it is these three tracks which are the standouts of the album. “Kyrie Eleison” is the only track without a backing orchestra, and is the closest to the Prunes’ own sound. Its’ jerky stop start groove, and wailing guitar solo’s make for a stone-wall acid rock classic. The keen eared among you may also notice its inclusion in Easy Rider, when Fonda and Hopper are mooching around in a brothel.

“Gloria” has a great groove and even better wah-wah inflicted guitar solo, sounding akin to Big Brother and The Holding Company in one of their stranger moments. “Credo” starts out auspiciously enough with church organ and a sinister/comical sounding brass melody, before the band and the guitarist let rip on another acid soaked jam. These three pieces more than highlight the fact that when they got down to it, the band could play intelligent and exciting rock music.Given what happened to the Prunes after this record was made it is hard not to feel animosity towards their producer and management for sending a respectable psych band under. It just shows that the music industry can be a hostile place.Still the band have garnered a following from their inclusion on psychedelic compilations and are still touring today. And from what can be read on their website they seem to still have a soft spot for this LP. Axelrod’s concept was an odd one but it worked, and talk of resurrecting the Mass for a live performance by the band may be a distinct and ironic possibility.

1 Kyrie Eleison (3:21)
2 Gloria (5:45)
3 Credo (5:02)
4 Sanctus (2:57)
5 Benedictus (4:52)
6 Agnus Dei (4:29)
7 Hey Mr. President (*) (2:49)
8 Flowing Smoothly (*) (3:04)

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