The Lama Workshop

"The best Kaleidoscope stuff was the show, with the flamenco dancers and all of that. Some of that was taped, most of it has been lost. That's what I remember most, and sitting in a circle, rehearsing, learning songs on traditional instruments - that's what it was all about. It was a lot of fun."

- David Lindley, 1978

Unlike some bands featured here the legacy of LA:s late, great Kaleidoscope has been reasonably well cared for, thanks to a sizable cult following ever since the 1970s. People often refer to a "mystique" surrounding Kaleidoscope but I must admit I've never really seen any great mystery, especially as the members (Lindley & Darrow in particular) have given many interviews over the years, and seem to have mostly fond memories of their early careers.

You talk about "eclectic" bands -- well, Kaleidoscope invented rock eclecticism, and carried it to such lengths that straightforward folkrockers like "Pulsating Dream" sound downright exotic amidst the caz excursions, Irish trad-folk and Cab Calloway numbers. This massive array of influences may be a drawback in terms of their famously inconsistent studio LPs; in other contexts it is a dazzling advantage.

There has never been an official live Kaleidoscope release, and apart from a few bootleg appearances the well of concert recordings remains untapped. This is probably due to the lack of perfect-sounding tapes, but for those that exist the sound quality is usually decent enough to warrant examination by any fan of the band.

V 1.1 info on 1969 educational film added, February 2005

Berkeley Folk Festival, Berkeley CA, 1967-July-3

Probable date, but could also have been from 1 or 2 July shows.

KQED broadcast.

1. Oh Death
2. Taxim
3. Egyptian Gardens

TOTAL: 18 minutes (individual track times differ between the edits)

This appeared on the "California Acid Folk" vinyl compilation in the 1980s; tapes dubbed from this are identified by vinyl hiss and noise due to a mediocre pressing. Non-vinyl sourced tapes exist and are in better sound all over. Sound quality is Good-.

Audience recording.

1. Get Out Of My Life Woman 5:35
2. Oh Death 6:18
3. Taxim 10:10
4. Egyptian Gardens 4:10

Sound quality is Fair/Fair-, and the recording also suffers from the vocals being a bit low in the mix. "Oh Death" has a spoken bit towards the end which is similar (but not identical) to the one on the more well-known Berkeley tape.

Here's a poster/ad for this event.

Club 47, Cambridge MA, probably late 1967

Audience recording.

1. Minnie the Moocher 2:45
2. Steppin' Out 6:28
3. Beacon from Mars 18:59
4. Boogaloo Down Broadway (David Lindley) 7:44
5. Flamenco instrumental (Solomon Feldthouse) 7:09
6. Taxim 18:34
7. Flamenco guitar/vocal (Solomon Feldthouse) 4:40
8. Steppin' Out 8:45
9. Seven-Ate Sweet 11:54

TOTAL: 88 mins

The track order may vary slightly.

The date has been suggested as 1969 elsewhere, but Club 47 closed in mid-1968. This tape contains the only live version of "Beacon" around, and it is great. Sound quality is rated Good.

David Biasotti: "Regarding the Club 47 recordings, my own theory about this recording is that may have been recorded right after Darrow left the band, & Stuart Brotman took over on bass. That was during their 1st "tour" of the East Coast - New York & Boston. Darrow's last date was at the Catacombs, & Brotman took over. The bass playing is obviously Brotman's, & the drumming sounds like John Vidican, not Lagos."

The Shrine, Los Angeles CA, 1968-August-4

Audience recording.

1. Seven-Ate Sweet 19:56
2. Cuckoo 4:12
3. Fanny Mae 5:07
4. Hello Trouble 2:13
5. Rampe Rampe 8:03
6. Killing Floor 4:11
7. Taxim [cut] 2:50

TOTAL: 52 mins

This is the "Incredible Kaleidoscope" line-up, with Paul Lagos on drums.

Two different edits exist; one in poor sound, one in Fair+/Good-. The sound is weakest on Seven-Ate Sweet, then improves. Last song is unfortunately cut.

The first six tracks were released on a vinyl bootleg in Europe in the early 1980s.

Venue and date unconfirmed. Audience recording.

1. Seven Ate Sweet 6:40
2. Amazing Grace 0:57
3. Ballad of Tommy Udo 0:49 (song cut)
4. <unknown title> 1:55
5. Rampé Rampé 4:24

TOTAL: 16 mins

Tape has plenty of splices.

Sound quality is Fair+.

"Captain Milkshake" movie soundtrack (1968)

"Lie to Me" & "Tanya" are the two live recordings from the "Captain Milkshake" movie (the studio version of "The Ballad of Tommy Udo" also appears). There is no soundtrack LP, but tapes of the tracks are in circulation. Sound quality is Excellent. See Ugly Things #21 for details on this 1968 film.

"Discovering American Folk Music" film (1969)

This is an educational film from 1969, directed by Bernard Willetts, with a running time of only 21 minutes.

David Biasotti forwarded the following description to me: "...Kaleidoscope appear at the end of it, performing "The Cuckoo." It's a cool performance, but, unfortunately, not complete. Lindley & Feldthouse first appear, with Sol singing & David accompanying him on banjo. They perform it in the style of Clarence Ashley's early recorded version, & David is absolutely magnificent. This all too quickly segues into the full band performing the arrangement from Incredible. There's a bit of voiceover (not too much), & again too soon, the end credits start rolling..."

The film is available from Aims Multimedia: www.aimsmultimedia.com

Unreleased studio material

Kaleidoscope expert David Biasotti says: "There are some really great outtakes & unreleased songs from the "Side Trips" sessions, & alternate versions of some of the singles. (The Kaleidoscope guys are also sure that different takes of "Beacon from Mars" also exist - somewhere.) There's a possibility of a rarities-only Kaleidoscope release not long from now."

Early 1970s recordings of David Lindley backing up British vocalist Terry Reid have been in circulation for many years, after being broadcast by KSAN. Although sometimes listed as "Kaleidoscope" they do in fact only feature Lindley, and are excluded here.

The "Just A Taste" track that sometimes appear alongside the Reid/Lindley recordings is the official 45 version from 1968, and thus excluded here. An alternate version does exist.

ADDENDUM The Boston Tea Party, 1970-June-29 [Canned Heat concert] Canned Heat show which features a 40 minute jam with members of Kaleidoscope. 1. Refried Boogie 40.35 -- jam with Canned Heat and Kaleidoscope members

ADDENDUM

Dry City Scat Band c1965

Pre-Kaleidoscope with David Lindley and possibly Chris Darrow.

1. Baldheaded End of the Broom 2.09
2. Jealousy 2.13

Kaleidoscope expert David Biasotti has expressed doubt that any recordings of the Dry City Scat Band were done while Darrow was still with them. "All I know of is the EP "Sounds," the two tracks on Elektra's "String Band Project" LP & an unreleased live performance tape from the Ash Grove, all made after Darrow had left. (John Delgatto of Sierra Records has a lot of Lindley & Darrow's bluegrass stuff in his archives which he'd theoretically like to release, but when anyone will ever hear it is anyone's guess)."