Iron Butterfly - Metamorphosis (1970)

(U.S 1966–1971, 1974–1985, 1987–present)

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After two solid years of fame and fortune, Iron Butterfly were rapidly losing ground in the rock and roll sweepstakes. The band had been unable to sustain the massive success of their 1968 sophomore offering, the legendary In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, despite releasing the rock solid Ball in 1969.

In 1970, Iron Butterfly issued a stop-gap live album that, of course, featured another lengthy rendition of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida," a move which hinted at a lack of direction. Countless bands had followed Cream and Jimi Hendrix down the hard and heavy path, with Iron Butterfly among the first to venture there. For whatever reason, however, they were unable to capitalise on the preferred heaviness of the era.

Just a few months following the release of Live, however, Iron Butterfly burst forth with a new LP titled 'Metamorphosis' on Aug. 13, 1970. In keeping with the title, this project found Iron Butterfly trying to re-invent themselves. Perhaps more to the point, the band was concentrating on fine tuning their own strengths.

Iron Butterfly 1970

Metamorphosis begins with a short atmospheric piece, "Free Flight," which is really just a lead in to the driving "New Day" – not only a perfect album opener, but a mission statement of sorts for the band at this juncture. "Shady Lady" is a fairly lame, somewhat funky number that's best left forgotten at this point. A quick rebound comes in the form of "Best Years Of Our Lives," with its kick ass guitar and keyboard workouts.

"Slower Than Guns," a beautiful acoustic-based ballad focusing ecological perils, is very much of its time and place – yet listening to it decades years later, Iron Butterfly's theme still rings true, both lyrically and musically. Ditto for "Soldier on the Town." Meanwhile, "Stone Believer" is a heavy groover that, like much of Iron Butterfly catalog, deserved a better fate than being a forgotten album track.

Iron Butterfly 1970

Iron Butterfly wraps up things with another lengthy workout in the form of "Butterfly Bleu," a song that gets into all sorts of dynamics along its nearly 15 minute path before turning into gimmicks and nonsense. Eventually, the track rebounds from these meanderings, but by then it's too late.

Metamorphosis became the band's fourth straight Top 20 album, but remains the last to do so. It was, alas, no In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida – a complaint that forever hung around Iron Butterfly's collective neck.

[Extract:  'How Iron Butterfly Reinvented Themselves With 'Metamorphosis' |    DAVE SWANSON Published: August 13, 2015]

Concert Poster From 1970

Album Review 1

(Review by Prog Sothoth)

 1970 was like a dark amorphous cloud that roamed across the musical landscape seeking out rock bands singing about flowers & beads to absorb, consume and spit out the bones. Iron Butterfly saw the cloud approaching, and weren't going down without a fight. The cloud did eventually win, but the Butterfly's attempt to undergo metamorphosis was nothing to be ashamed of and in retrospect they released a pretty solid piece of work that deserved more notice, considering the band was one of the biggest selling acts in the game just two years prior.

With this effort, Iron Butterfly ditched the fuzzy guitar tones and embraced a funkier and bluesier approach to rock music, basically following the tide so to speak. There's a bit of Grand Funk, a sprinkle of Three Dog Night, some lingering tripped-out acid rock and Doug's mighty baritone telling us that shady ladies are cool. His voice has improved technically and suits the music well. The man is absolutely drenched in soul, sounding like a more earnest and less obnoxious Michael McDonald with no fear of rockin' out.

Musically the band is pretty tight, and the production values for its time sound crisp and surprisingly stellar. These dudes may not have been the big cheese anymore, but they still had a sweet budget to lay down these tracks. There's no real "hooky" tune to latch onto as a potential big single release, but what's bad for the casual rock fan can be good for the prog fan as there's some interesting things going about this disc musically. A song like "Shady Ladies" shouldn't be as complex as it is, but...there you go. In fact, I really dig this tune with its cute keyboard ditties & surprising shifts from happy grooviness to haunting space rock and back again. 

The opening main track "New Day" (after a silly intro) sounds like a sort of Steppenwolf number, which isn't a bad thing, but keep listening, and eventually you'll get to some 'out there' music, especially the final juggernaut "Butterfly Bleu". As a long track, it doesn't meander too far away from the rest of the album's overall arch, but man at one point things do get pretty weird with the goofy vocal chants, mumblings and interactions with a guitar voice box whining "help me!" It's silly and dated, but fun as a one-off listen.

Metamorphosis requires a few listens to get into (at least for me it did), but if you're not looking for something too progressive but with talent and some great manly vocals, this bugger may do the trick.

Album Review 2

(Review by aglasshouse)

Every time I've seen Iron Butterfly's history, their profile has a whole, and the music they've created, I've always thought of them as steadfast. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida, for all intents and purposes, should not have been as successful as it was. An 18-minute long acid trip jam? Many others at the time tried to achieve the same thing and failed, but these Californians somehow managed to turn such a product of the times into a product that stands the test of time (and made a boat-load at that). Something as miraculous as this is hard for anyone to follow up, let alone a half-stoned shit rock band like Iron Butterfly was. They managed it though, the following album Ball (1969) charting even higher than it's predecessor in the U.S.

Iron Butterfly managed to make magic happen twice. I guess the obvious question that should and was asked was: "can they do it again?" Yes and no.

There's a difference this time around. Metamorphosis, released the following year after Ball, charted at 16 in the U.S. Now, in any other circumstance this would be laudable, because obviously it's not easy to whip up a record that charts in the first place. But for Iron Butterfly, this was practically dismal. Granted, 'Easy Rider' did chart 66 on Billboard, being I.B.'s biggest hit since 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida', although I personally owe this more to the success of the latter and name recognition as opposed to song quality (who knows, the 70's were easily pleased). So, financially-wise, Iron Butterfly were sort of able to hit the gold once more. However, musically-wise, Metamorphosis is different from all of it's predecessors, even including Heavy. 

What I was saying about Iron Butterfly's seeming fragility comes into play here, because the band slowly started going downhill after their monster-hit, and Metamorphosis was the last album regarded at least decently by critics. On this particular album, the original line-up is broken, with guitarist Erik Brann parting ways due to band conflicts. Replacing him, flatteringly enough, was four different session guitarists. Mike Pinera of Blues Image and Alice Cooper (as well as Ramadam, a supergroup formed with Mitch Mitchell of Jimi Hendrix Experience), Larry Reinhardt (future Captain Beyond along with Dorman), Bill Cooper, and even producer Richard Podolor on the twelve-string.

Concert Poster

Metamorphosis is really the culmination of Iron Butterfly's slowly building up musical consistency since In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida. This applies for musicianship (because honestly they weren't the greatest players), production, and songwriting. The production is much higher, and allows for a more dynamic sound in both the experimental and traditional departments. Speaking of experimental, critics tend to refer to Iron Butterfly post-Vida as being more and more musically adventurous, and I would tend to agree. Metamorphosis puts a much greater emphasis on the progressive/space rock side of the band, something I've always found remarkably endearing when it comes to them in particular. Mostly this is on the smash epic 'Butterfly Bleu', a masterpiece of proto-metal and prog music that rivals even I-A-G-D-V (except is much more structured and, dare I say, intelligent?). Still retaining a spaced-out, pseudo complex attitude, 'Butterfly Bleu' manages to be heavy, emotional, and eclectic all in on package. It also funnily enough features one of the earliest uses of a talk-box (yeah, that thing Bon Jovi used on 'Livin' On a Prayer' to make his guitar go "rwoworwowrwow") during a gritty section on the latter half of the epic. 

Alternate Cover

Of the traditional we have 'New Day', a Steppenwolf-esque song headed off by a disarmingly good catchy riff. 'Shady Lady' is, at times, your standard brand of funky blues-rock, but it delves into extremely dark tonal shifts at certain areas. The rest of the album is rather expected of Iron Butterfly, being basically cheesy rock n' roll tunes molded by quasi-hippie zeitgeist ('Soldier In Our Town'), but I suppose the big single 'Easy Rider' has it's moments as well.

The band itself does very well for itself on this particular album. As aforementioned, four different multi-talented guitarist make themselves well-known on Metamorphosis. Mike Pinera's (presumably) part on 'Butterfly Bleu' with the talk-box always makes me smile ever time I hear it. It really makes the song have a bigger personality (of course his vocals on the rest of the song is good as well, putting on a zealous, emotional performance). The Iron Butterfly themselves are nothing to scoff about of course, But it's clear that the talents of Ingle, Dorman, and Bushy are not without merit. The band's made their abilities clear ever since 'Vida' in '68, and here they meld almost perfectly with their session musicians.

Some may get turned off by Iron Butterfly's material, but for me Metamorphosis is nothing short of a wonderful surprise. People wanted the Butterfly, and they got the Butterfly.

Wish these were my tickets!

This post consists of FLACs ripped from my vinyl copy. Although I have this album on CD, I decided to rip my vinyl instead because I still think the progressive/space rock sound of the 60/70's is best heard from the media it was originally released on, warts and all, typical of this medium (crackles & pops).  In this case, my copy is in excellent condition, so you won't be disappointed.

Full album artwork and label scans are included along with all featured photos. One anomaly that I discovered while researching this album is that there appears to be some confusion over what images belongs on the front and back covers of this LP. My cover certainly has the coffin image on the front (see above) while the image of the naked woman sitting on a tree stump (see right) is on the back cover, while other sources (including discogs.com) display it the other way around, including CD releases. Very confusing indeed.

I love this album because it has essences of the classic 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' sound mixed with some more mature progressive sounds, but also because I'm a big fan of Captain Beyond and the connection between these two bands is extensive.

Track Listing:

1. Free Flight (0:50)

2. New Day (3:20)

3. Shady Lady (3:57)

4. Best Years Of Our Life (4:00)

5. Slower Than Guns (3:50)

6. Stone Believer (4:25)

7. Soldier In Our Town (3:22)

8. Easy Rider (Let The Wind Pay The Way) (3:07)

9. Butterfly Bleu (13:58)

Line-up / Musicians

- Larry 'El Rhino' Rheinhart / guitars

- Mike Pinera / guitar, lead vocals (3,4,6,9)

- Doug Ingle / organ, lead vocals (1-3,5-8)

- Lee Dorman / bass, backing vocals

- Ron Bushy / drums

Also with:

- Richard Podolor / 12-string guitar, sitar, arrangements, producer

- Bill Cooper / 12-string guitar, engineer

Iron Butterfly Link (231Mb) New Link 25/02/2024

Iron Butterfly - Live Sweden (1971) Ex SB

(U.S 1966–1971, 1974–1985, 1987–present)
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Here's an Iron Butterfly soundboard from Goteborg, Sweden in A+ quality.
With only two songs, it's not complete but they are really long songs. I just love this version of "In A Gadda Da Vida" - the drum solo isn't over the top like other versions.
In "Butterfly Bleu", guitarist Mike Pinera uses what he called the Magic Bag. Designed in 1969 by Doug Forbes, who called it simply The Bag, it was worn on a strap over the shoulder, like a wine bag, with a clear tube going to his mouth. Sound familiar? Two years later Bob Heil would develop the Talk Box, used by Joe Walsh ("Rocky Mountain Way") and Peter Frampton ("Do You Feel Like We Do") in 1973. They made it famous, but Iron Butterfly and Mike Pinera did it first.

Biography:
Archetypal American heavy metal outfit, originated out of San Diego, California, with founder member keyboards man Doug Ingle plus drummer Bushy and fellow San Diegan Jerry Penrod, Danny Weis and Darryl DeLoach. This five cut the debut album Heavy in early 1968 but group friction caused Penrod, Weis and DeLoach to quit shortly after.
In their places Ingle and Bushy recruited Boston-born guitarist Erik Braunn and multi-instrumentalist Lee Dorman.
As four-piece, the group cut the monster-selling In A-Gadda-Da-Vida set later in 1968, that album staying on the U.S. album charts for more than two years, and becoming one of the largest-grossing rock albums of all time. It was also reputedly the first ever rock group album to achieve platinum status.

Predictably, however, the disproportionate acclaim garnered by In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (title came from 17-minute composition by Doug Ingle) became something of a millstone around their necks. Braunn left in late 1969, to be replaced by the twin guitars of Mike Pinera and Larry Reinhardt (a former associate of Duane Allman).
Thus reorganised they recorded Iron Butterfly Live and Metamorphosis (both in 1970). However, the rot had long since set in. Butterfly were typical )although more explosively popular) of the run-of-the-mill West Coast heavy groups, and they were always on the decline from their 1968 peak; their pulling power dropping at an alarming rate.
After a farewell American tour they dissolved in May 1971.
However, after relatively unsuccessful alternative careers, Bushy and Braunn reunited to form a second incarnation of Iron Butterfly in 1974 with Phil Kramer (bass) and Howard Reitzes (kybds). They cut Scorching Beauty (1975), then Bill DeMartines replaced Reitzes [extract from The Illustrated New Musical Express Encyclopedia Of Rock, Salamander. 1977 p114-5].
Both Doorman and Larry Reinhardt went on to form the highly successful and legendary 'Captain Beyond' in 1972 (see previous posts).
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Recordings:
Heavy (Atco/Atlantic)
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (Atco/Atlantic)
Ball (Atco/Atlantic) Iron Butterfly Live (Atco/Atlantic)
Metamorphosis (Atco/Atlantic)
Scorching Beauty (MCA)
Sun And Steel (MCA)
Compilation: Best Of The Iron Butterfly (Atco)
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.This bootleg has also been released under the name of 'Butterfly Blues 71' . The post consists of mp3 (320kps) rip (sourced from Soundboard blog with thanks) along with artwork for both 'Live In Sweden' (above) and 'Butterfly Blues' (below) - you decide which artwork is best.
I really like this bootleg - it's an amazing recording for its time and features one of the best performances of " In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" I've heard.

Track Listing:
01. Butterfly Bleu (23:12)
02. In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida (24:29)

Band members:
Doug Ingle - keyboards, lead vocals
Ron Bushy - drums
Lee Dorman - bass
Larry "El Rhino" Reinhart - guitar
Mike Pinera - guitar


Iron Butterfly Link (105Mb)  

New Link 09/09/2024

W.O.C.K On Vinyl - Bart Sells His Soul - In The Garden Of Eden (The Simpsons)

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Before things get too serious here at Rock On Vinyl, I thought it might be fun to post a song at the end of each month, that could be categorized as being either Weird, Obscure, Crazy or just plain Korny.
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.In the episode of the Simpsons entitled "Bart Sells His Soul", the hit track "In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida", by Iron Butterfly is used as a hilarious parody during a church scene. The show was the fourth episode of Season 7, and first aired on October 8, 1995. The episode was written by Greg Daniels and was directed by Wesley Archer. The plot of the episode is a parody of the book "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret.", by Judy Blume.
The Simpsons serve as church ushers one Sunday morning. Bart uses the opportunity to switch the intended hymn with a song called "In the Garden of Eden" by "I. Ron Butterfly"; actually, the song is Iron Butterfly's "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida".
Reverend Lovejoy initially fails to notice anything amiss (or the lewd behavior of congregants) but he eventually catches on, noting "This sounds like rock and/or roll". At the end of the 17-minute song (shortened in this episode of course), the exhausted organist collapses on the organ.
Reverend Lovejoy demands that the perpetrator step forward, and Milhouse names Bart. As punishment, Lovejoy assigns Bart and Milhouse to clean the organ pipes. Bart is indignant with Milhouse, who claims he feared for the fate of his soul. Bart proclaims that there is no such thing as a soul and agrees to sell his to Milhouse in the form of a piece of paper saying "Bart Simpson's soul". After the deal is made, Lisa tells Bart that he will regret selling his soul, but Bart does not believe her. Bart soon finds that his dog, Santa's Little Helper, will not play with him, automatic doors fail to open for him, and when he breathes on the freezer doors at the Kwik-E-Mart no condensation forms. He begins to suspect he really did lose his soul, and sets out to retrieve it.
"In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" was a psychedelic rock epic by Iron Butterfly, released on their 1968 album 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida', and is one of my all time time favourite psychedelic tracks. At a little over seventeen minutes, it occupies the entire second side of the 'In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida' album. The lyrics are simple, and heard only at the beginning and the end. The track was recorded on May 27, 1968, at Ultrasonic Studios in Hempstead, Long Island, New York. The recording that is heard on the album was meant to be a soundcheck for engineer Don Casale while the band waited for the arrival of producer Jim Hilton. However, Casale had rolled a recording tape, and when the rehearsal was completed it was agreed that the performance was of sufficient quality that another take wasn't needed. Hilton later remixed the recording at Gold Star Studios in LA. The single version (included here) reached number thirty on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
So for this posting, I have included both the 'Simpson's version of 'In the Garden Of Eden' along with the shortened 'single version' released by Iron Butterfly - and therefore classify this WOCK on vinyl posting under the category of 'Korny' but still very, very Cool !
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The Simpsons Link (7 Mb) New Link 07/08/2024
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