Fankhauser, Merrell - Return To MU (CD)

Re-issue 2003 Sundazed Music. Inc.

Merrell Fankhauser—The eccentric guitar/ songwriting genius behind psych/folk-rockers Fapardokly and H.M.S. Bounty—is back on the scene with an all-new album of shimmering delights. Return To MU not only flashes the utopian spirit of those golden days of the Summer Of Love, it features many of its original participants, including: Quicksilver Messenger Service guitar god John Cipollina, Jay Ferguson and Ed Cassidy of Spirit, John McEuen of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Rolling Stones/Kinks session keyboard whiz Nicky Hopkins.

TRACKLIST:

1) MYSTICAL LAND 3.47
2) WATERFALL 3.43
3) ON OUR WAY TO HANA 3.49
4) PICTURES OF THE PAST 4.29
5) THE UNKNOWN WRITER 3.49
6) QUEEN MU 4.34
7) MOTHER SEA 3.03
8) BECKONING MAIDEN 2.44
9) POLYNESIAN DREAM 4.50
10) TIME TRAVELLERS 3.43
11) PROSPECTORS MOON 4.08
12) GOIN' DOWN TO ATLANTIS 3.25
13) THE LAND OF MU 4.00
14) UNDER A MAUI DREAM 7.37
15) MATTHEW'S DREAM 5.15
16) LODRU'S MU CHANT 1.29
17) THE MOTHERSHIP 5.16
18) MU RAINFOREST 3.06

MERREL FANKHAUSER, vocal, guitar, bass keyboard
JOHN McEUEN, mandolin (1,13), background vocals (10,12), guitar (12)
DOM CARMARDELLA, piano & keyboard (1,7,9,10,15), bass (8), strings (13,15)
PAUL DELPH, background vocals (1,8), piano & strings (5,8,10), drums (12)
TIM FANKHAUSER, background vocals (1,4,6,9,11), acoustic guitar (11)
LORENZO MARTINEZ, congas (1,10,12,15)
LUIS MUNOZ, percussion (1,2,3), drums (10)
JERRY SAGOUSPE, drums (1,6,9,11), background vocals (6)
BRUCE CLARK, flute (1,5,7,13), sax (9)
WILLIAM E. McEUEN, percussion (1,13), tamborine (7,9,12)
JOHN CIPPOLINA, slide guitar (2)
RANDY TICO, bass (2,3,4,17,18)
MARY LEE, violin (2,3)
JAY FERGUSON, vibes & synthesizer (2,3,4), keyboards (6,11,16,17,18), flute
(11)
MARSHA SHERMAN, harp (2,3)
BILL BERG, drums (3)
STEVEN MEESE, piano (3)
JIMMY DILLON, guitar (3)
ED CASSIDY, drums (5)
NICKY HOPKINS, piano (6)
BRUCE SAHROIAN, bass (7,15)
ART DOUGALL, drums (7,15)
FRED RALSTON, vibes (7,15)
DEAN TORRANCE, background vocals (9)
JIM McRAE, bass (9)
DARRELL THATCHER, steel guitar (9,10)
NED CHRISTIANSON, Kurzweil strings (11)
MIKE BENNET, bass (11)
DONNIE SMITH, sitar (14)
STEPHEN BE, flute & Indian drums (14)
CHRIS OLSON, percussion (14)
ANNA ROMERO, background vocals (15)
BEN BENAY, acoustic guitar (17,18)
BILL CUOMO, piano (17), keyboards (18)
MARTY DAVITCH, synthesizer (17)
GARY MALABAR, drums (17)
THE MU PEOPLE, tribal drums (18)
ERNIE ANDERSON, voice (18)

...Erstaunlich wenig ist von Fankhauser - respektive seinen Veröffentlichungen zu haben. Stark vernachlässigt im Vergleich zu anderen frühen Hippierockern, dabei kann sich seine Historie sehen lassen. Die Bands denen er beiwohnte: Fapardokly, Impacts, H.M.S. Bounty, Merrell & The Exiles, und nicht zuletzt Mu. Psychedelic, Rock, Folk und Blues, in verschiedensten Härtegraden, und nicht unbedingt in der obigen Reihenfolge. Je nach Drogenpegelstand verschroben, härter oder lieblich, aber immer mit mindestens passablen Songs, instrumentaler Güte und oft auch mehr als das. Jedenfalls ab den sechzigern immer relevant und in der vordersten Reihe der jeweiligen Zeit. Angefangen hat er schon in den frühen sechzigern, in den Bands gings vom Surf zum British Invasion Rock zur Psychedelic, Folk und Bluesrock...