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Les Carlsen 1971

by Les Carlsen

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HILLIARD DAVIS II
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HILLIARD DAVIS II Really, one of the pioneers, then. Even before Bloodgood. Well done!
Jason Sullivan
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Jason Sullivan What a gem! As a long time Bloodgood fan; I am delighted to hear Les in his pre-Bloodgood days...but even if you're not familiar with Bloodgood there is solid psych rock to be enjoyed here! Favorite track: Battle Fatigue.
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1.
Valley of the Shadow Watch the red-faced children of the sun, I know what will make them run When their best laid plans have come all undone. In the Valley of the Shadow, x2 Wise men, good men and even saints like me, Will bow and scrape and fall on their knees When the sounds of black bells still the breeze In the Valley of the Shadow, x2 No rest for the weary no light for the blind No comforting thoughts in anyone’s mind Angels and demons searching to find In the Valley of the Shadow, x4 When you talk about my God, you’d better fall on your knees x2 Joshua fit the battle of Jericho, Jericho, Jericho, Joshua fit the battle of Jericho and the walls came tumblin’ down…
2.
Elevator Operator You’re an Elevator Operator and you have no cause to get uptight You’re an Elevator Operator you just don’t seem to have that down right You’re in no place for judging others by the varying covers of their faces You think your thinking’s fine but you ought to wash your mind of your foul graces. You been workin’ here for many years according to the cheers of your home town Everything’s been very smooth but you’re gonna loose the ups are coming down It’s difficult to go along for violence and wrongs cause so many griefs But paraphrasing Steinbeck’s cries, fear when men refuse to die for their beliefs So Mr. Elevator Operator, you’re the vertical ticket to social floors You’re pressing on the basement button and you’re about to open up some doors So let them in, they’re eager men, they merely want to stand by our side So let’s forget the past remarks, take our hands both lights and darks, turn the tide.
3.
Hello There 03:42
Hello There Hello There, won’t you take my hand and sit by my side I’d like to get to know you a little better my dear Before the wind sets in and carries you away again from me Hello There, my love for you is growing ever stronger Hold me close and say you’ll always love me Before the wind sets in and carries you away again from me Try and look around, there I’ll see Your gentle little face pleasantly Then I’ll know you were meant for me Hello There, won’t you take my hand and sit by my side I’d like to get to know you a little better my dear Before the wind sets in and carries you away again from me Try and look around, there I’ll see Your gentle little face pleasantly Then I’ll know you were meant for me
4.
Can You Hear Me Too many people been singin’ my song Too many people been round too long Guess that’s why I come on so strong Can You Hear Me callin’ my name You’re tellin’ me it sounds the same Can You Hear Me callin’ my name You’re tellin’ me it sounds the same How many words can a wise man hear How many lives can you hold dear Gotta be a star by the end of the year I got a little tune I’d like to call mine You say you’ve heard it before, well, I don’t mind I better play it fast cuz I don’t have much time If the wind wanders free, darling, why can’t we Oh, I’m getting’ so tired I can hardly see And who are you to tell me I ain’t me And who are you to tell me I ain’t me
5.
Flesh Failures/Let the Sunshine In Galt McDermott, James Rado, Gerome Ragni We starve-look at one another short of breath Walking proudly in our winter coats Wearing smells from laboratories Facing a dying nation of moving paper fantasy Listening for the new told lies With supreme visions of lonely tunes Somewhere inside something there is a rush of Greatness, who knows what stands in front of Our lives? I fashion my future on films in space Silence tells me secretly Everything Everything Singing Our space songs on a spider web sitar Life is around you and in you Answer for Timothy Leary, dearie Let the sunshine Let the sunshine in The sunshine in Let the sunshine Let the sunshine in The sunshine in
6.
Lay Me Down 01:08
Lay Me Down Lay me down by the meadow Scotch-broom green, flowers yellow Hills are rollin’ soft sky, blue Clouds are golden, I think of you My mind is rushing I think of you.
7.
Bad Credit 03:13
Bad Credit Now the day has gone away You’re sitting in the dark When you say you are that way You are because you are When you lease a life worth living You can buy it on time Your credit is bad I call that dying Death’s a bitter wine Soon you’ll say you’ll have to pray Cause praying is a start Good for you ‘cause I pray too I feel it in my heart When you lease a life worth living You can buy it on time Your credit is bad I call that dying Death’s a bitter wine When you lease a life worth living You can buy it on time Your credit is bad I call that dying Death’s a bitter wine Kindly souls they find a home And very rarely lose Life is light When switched on right Your nature you must choose When you lease a life worth living You can buy it on time Your credit is bad I call that dying Death’s a bitter wine
8.
Someday 03:57
Someday Ya know someday you’re gonna need someone Someday you’ll need someone to care Well one day soon I hope you find someone Hopin’ that the one you find is you One day soon you’ll realize All good things they have their price It doesn’t matter now, but you’re gonna find out how it is You left yourself out in the cold Ain’t it kinda strange how time just slips away You always find yourself back in the hole A friendly smile has turned into a villain’s snare You find that you’ve got no place left to go The progress that you thought you made the love that’s turnin’ into hate The way you throw it out, it’s gonna come right back on you. I’ve heard you say that to yourself, you’re no use You’re down too low, to just sit down and cry Ain’t no way to walk out of this mess you’re in It does no good to sit and wonder why And all this time you contemplate tell yourself there’s just no way You’ve heard tales of another side So ya better spread your wings and fly.
9.
Changing Me 03:16
Changing Me I can only hope to see what is changing me Being here like I am The world is spinning faster heading for disaster Changing Me, Oh oh Changing me Turn on the light in the dark I can’t see I can’t taste what I’m eating The earth is being tread upon and bled upon Blood dripping to the sea I can only hope to find how I got in this bind Being here like I am The world is spinning faster heading for disaster Changing Me, yeah Changing me Bring on the sleigh I want to slide away I’m not hot, I am freezing Bring on the sleigh I want to slide away I’m not hot, I am freezing Turn on the light in the dark I can’t see I can’t taste what I’m eating The earth is being tread upon and bled upon Blood dripping to the sea
10.
Battle Fatigue Hey you young soldiers, wherever you are Put down your weapons, It’s not very hard Your king is worthless He’s failed to serve his purpose As your leader and your guide He plans to kill you all Come all ye faithful, join the triumphant x4 Now it’s all over there’s no one around Your king has failed, the decision was your I was your leader your king was the devil’s pride Come all ye faithful, you all have died Come all ye faithful, join the triumphant x8

about

While touring with the Broadway musical, Hair, Les put together the material for this album with a group of musicians from Seattle. It was recorded, but never released.
Playing the dramatic lead role in Hair influenced Les's theatrical approach to the songs which he has continued to explore in all his music.
His voice hadn't yet developed the rasp of the later years and the vocals sound very young but the Les Carlsen 'sound' is unmistakable.
The primal scream in "Someday" is a foreshadowing of the signature screams in later BLOODGOOD material. Two of the songs, Bad Credit and Changing Me were re-worked in the mid-80's and added into the BLOODGOOD catalogue.

credits

released November 24, 2018

Les Carlsen- Vocals
John Agostino- Drums
Mike Elliot- Guitar, moog
Ted Schreffler- keyboards, mellotron
Bob Coie- bass

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Les and Joyce Carlsen Visalia, California

We're singer/songwriters who have been in rock bands for many years. Now we're experimenting with different genres and discovering our own music. Follow us as we explore and create.

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