I hope to put up some Three Wise Men selections (the theme, not the group) before this day is o'er--I mean, over. Right now, we have the magnificent 1964 EP, Songs of Faith and Doubt, featuring six religious songs by the late, brilliant Sydney (Lord of the Dance) Carter, sung and played by Donald Swann. My previous copy of this EP (a thrifted copy, of course) was pretty banged up, with only two playable selections. I recently got a new copy and have listened to the entire EP for the first time. The experience is best described as life-altering.
(The Rat Race, by the way, doesn't quite thematically fit with the rest, but I don't complain.)
Carter was a Christian--as in, a very liberal one--and his songs are powerful stuff. Some are mind-blowing, like Every Star shall sing a Carol, which describes the birth and death of a cosmic savior--known by different names in different instances--occurring again and again across time and space. Others, especially Friday Morning, make John Lennon's Imagine sound as controversial as a thumping car jingle:
You can blame it on to Pilate,
You can blame it on the Jews,
You can blame it on the Devil, but it's God I accuse.
It's God they ought to crucify instead of you and me,
I said it to the carpenter a-hanging on the tree.
Christmas is about birth and rebirth, a theme which dominates these marvelous texts and tunes, so beautifully rendered by Donald Swann. This album is an absolute joy and honor to share.
To the faith and doubt: Songs of Faith and Doubt (Syney Carter)--Donald Swann, 1964.
LORD OF THE DANCE
THE DEVIL WORE A CRUCIFIX
THE RAT RACE
EVERY STAR SHALL SING A CAROL
THE MASK I WORE
FRIDAY MORNING
Songs of Faith and Doubt (by Sydney Carter)--Donald Swann (Argo ZFA-48; 1964)
Lee
2 comments:
Thanks, Lee - this sounds like it should be outstanding.
Thank you!
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