The United States Of America – S.T.
The sole album by Joseph Byrd’s The United States Of America is a New York avant-garde classic that pulls influences from both the Fluxus and hippie movements of the time. Produced by the great David Rubinson, the tracks combine samples from military marches, synth drones, kabuki rhythms, electric violin, choral vocals, and fuzzy psych solos with politically charged lyrics for a wholly unique sound that takes you straight back to the 60’s. Interestingly, this wild combination of avant-psych-ethno-pop actually performed well on the charts and made it to 181 on the Billboard 200… Different times!
Recommended – Full Listen
A1 The American Metaphysical Circus
A2 Hard Coming Love
A3 Cloud Song
A4 The Garden Of Earthly Delights
A5 I Won’t Leave My Wooden Wife For You, Sugar
B1 Where Is Yesterday
B2 Coming Down
B3 Love Song For The Dead Ché
B4 Stranded In Time
B5 The American Way Of Love
Electric Bass – Rand Forbes
Engineer – David Diller
Engineer [Remix] – Arthur Kendy, Glen Kolotkin
Keyboards, Electronics, Organ, Piano, Arranged By, Harpsichord [Electric Harpsichord], Synthesizer [Calliope] – Joseph Byrd
Lead Vocals – Dorothy Moskowitz
Organ, Piano, Synthesizer [Calliope] – Ed Bogas
Percussion, Drums [Electric Drums] – Craig Woodson
Producer – David Rubinson
Violin [Electric Violin], Electronics [Ring Modulator] – Gordon Marron