[.ca] Crazy World Of

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It should've been obvious at the time that the Crazy World of Arthur Brown had a built-in obsolescence that was ticking towards extinction by the day in 1967-68, but such was the musical landscape during that time that this record was seen as part of the future of rock and pop. In retrospect, one should not criticize Brown's bizarre approach though, they should slap him on the back and give him some love because few have ever put something this decidedly unique into the music world and seen it be successful at all. And no one will ever make anything like it again without being compared to Brown. He was able to pull it off convincingly because he was a true artist who would've been cooking up a strange brew in any era that fate handed him. Sure, he borrowed his entire delivery and sense of theater from Screamin' Jay Hawkins, but Hawkins was securely in the laugh basket and he knew it. What Brown did was provide the world with the fantasy of what Hawkins would have sounded like had he lived in medieval Europe instead of the swamps of the American south. He gave Hawkins real religion. The damnation-inspired mini-opera that begins the record can easily be seen as a commentary on the intense fear of God and His wrath that dominated pre-Renaissance Europe - and to a lesser degree, ever since - and Brown's total commitment to the theme effectively conveys an all-encompassing fear and awe - the fear being the fear of questioning one's existence in the Judeo-Christian world and the awe being the part of him that believes in what he's questioning and possibly leaving behind. As much as some like to play the acid card on this album to explain its relentless insanity, you'll find no drug references in it. Fear can lead to insanity all by itself and I think that's what Brown was aiming at - in the first half of the record anyway. The second half is almost like a different project. The instrumentation and singing is consistent with the first half but the songs are more of a self-parody than anything. You get a cover of Screamin' Jay's 'I Put A Spell On You', that in fairness is the best cover of that song you'll hear, and a take on James Brown's 'I've Got Money' that isn't very good, as well as three Arthur Brown originals that don't attempt to follow the hellfire theme of the first half, though 'Child of My Kingdom' vaguely hints at it. 'Spontaneous Apple Creation' is simply a Disney take on a Hawkins theme from songs like 'Alligator Wine' and 'Feast of the Mau-Mau', though it is satisfying in its weirdness. 'Rest Cure' is a pretty solid song that might've benefitted from a different singer. Brown has admitted these five songs were the concession he made to the record company in order to have the mini-opera stay on the album, and that's a shame. My complaint, and the reason I give it only four stars, is that the album should've been one way or the other - no duality of themes divided between sides of the record. Brown wanted it that way, so he can't be faulted. Each side of the album would've made a solid record on its own with other like songs, but putting them together was unwise. What can be said about the record as a whole is that, for an experiment of such unusual vision, it sures grooves like a mother - whether you're interested in the content or not - and Brown wasn't just a screamer, he came up with some nice, hummable melodies that justified its chart status.

Crazy Brown:
When Mr. Brown brought his show to Honolulu in the late '60s, only about 400 people showed up. The man generously envited *everyone* present to come down to the front and center section. And then he gave us an *incredible* performance! I've never seen anything like it since. Great music! This is a hugely classic CD. I want to give it 5 stars. Several of the songs *are* 5 stars. Hmmm... Well, it's still one of the essential works that shook the definition of rock when it first appeared. (Like much of the music at the time.) Brown, of course, has an amazing voice. Arthur, my dear...I love you. You made a fine album. Yes, but, the live show was ever better....

• Prelude - Nightmare \oMono Version\c
• Fanfare - Fire Poem \oMono Version\c
• Fire \oMono Version\c
• Come and Buy
• Time/Confusion \oMono Version\c
• Prelude - Nightmare
• Fanfare - Fire Poem
• Fire
• Come and Buy
• Time/Confusion
• I Put a Spell on You
• Spontaneous Apple Creation
• Rest Cure
• I've Got Money
• Child of My Kingdom