It’s been a few years since I last wrote an update on the many influences of Eden Ahbez in contemporary pop culture and since that time a number of new projects and mentions of the composer have emerged. The first of these is a full-blown ode by former Wall of Voodoo frontman Stan Ridgeway (as…
Acid / Ahbe Casabe / Ahbez / Beatnik / Brooklyn / Civil Rights / Counter-Culture / Dave De La Vega / Eden Ahbez / Eden's Island / Exotica / Gypsy Boots / Hippie / Hollywood Sign / Joe Romersa / Moondog / Nat Cole / Nature Boy / Peace / Summer of Love / Tiki / To Love and Be Loved in Return / Youngbear Roth
Follow the progress of the Eden Ahbez documentary, As the Wind, with this behind the scenes series. Part one of three is linked here: Vimeo link:
Acid / Ahbez / Beatnik / Civil Rights / Counter-Culture / Eden Ahbez / Exotica / Gypsy Boots / Hippie / Hollywood Sign / Nat Cole / Nature Boy / Peace / Summer of Love / Tiki / To Love and Be Loved in Return
At long last! A 78rpm single, written by Eden Ahbez, which has eluded me for more than twenty years, has finally materialized!! It is titled “Gravy Train” b/w “Two Shades of Blue” and is by Nature Boy and His Orchestra, on Mercury Records. The single was announced in Billboard magazine on March 31, 1951 and…
Ahbez / Beatnik / Counter-Culture / Eden Ahbez / Exotica / Gypsy Boots / Hippie / Hollywood Sign / Nat Cole / Nature Boy / Peace / Summer of Love / Tiki / To Love and Be Loved in Return
It gives me great pleasure to announce it first here that I am now working on a feature-length documentary about the life and music of Eden Ahbez. The film is to be titled “As the Wind: The Enchanted Life of Eden Ahbez” and is currently in production. Here is the promo, or preview, of things…
Acid / Ahbez / Beatnik / Civil Rights / Counter-Culture / Eden Ahbez / Exotica / Gypsy Boots / Hippie / Hollywood Sign / Nat Cole / Nature Boy / Peace / Summer of Love / Tiki / To Love and Be Loved in Return
Last month I posted a quick blog announcing the rediscovery—by David De La Vega—of the flexi-disk of “Divine Melody,” an uber-rare single he produced with Eden Ahbez in 1982. The song, however, was recorded over a decade prior, as well as several other tunes written and performed by Ahbez (also produced by De La Vega). I…
“Divine Melody” is a recording that Ahbez made in 1971 and had released on Elefunt Records (backed with the song “Richard Milhous”). Then, in 1982, Elefunt re-released it as a flexi-disc. Dave De La Vega, the engineer of the record (and label owner of the indie Elefunt) recently came across a small stash of them and…
Erik Davis, author of the book Techgnosis: Magic, Myth, and Mysticism in the Age of Information, recently interviewed yours truly (Brian Chidester) for the Progressive Radio Network about the making of the new Eden Ahbez compilation, Wild Boy, on Bear Family Records. The show is called Expanding Mind and the episode (from December 8, 2016)…
As they say: ‘The hits keep on coming!’ Well, in this case, it’s the same Ahbez hit over and over again. But it’s always cool to see the latest musical legend try and tackle his great standard. Here is Michael Stipe of R.E.M. doing it and looking more than a small bit like Ahbez while…
Well, it’s gotten quiet here in Ahbezland once again; but fear not! Work on all things Eden continues apace!! Below is a new video interview with yours truly talking about the making of the new Bear Family Records compilation, Wild Boy: The Lost Songs of Eden Ahbez. Enjoy!
Hey fans of Ahbez! It’s been a while since the last post. But worry not! Much has been happening in Eden Land! See here. Per the above link, I’m happy to announce the eminent release of a new vinyl-only compilation of rare Eden Ahbez music. Bear Family Records, the reissue company extraodinaire out of Germany,…
The last time I spoke to author Gordon Kennedy, his book Children of the Sun was out of print. To date, it remains the authoritative text on the California Nature Boys and the transference of alternative culture from Germany to the deserts and shores of California during the early 20th century. Recently, Kennedy’s book was reissued.…
Here’s hoping for a new summer of love and thinking back on the original one in 1967… Behold! A version of “Nature Boy” by Grace Slick, lead singer of that seminal San Francisco psychedelic act, Jefferson Airplane. This version is by her original band, Great Society. Enjoy!
