Intergalactic Touring Band
| Title: | Intergalactic Touring Band |
| Creator: | various |
| Date(s): | 1977 |
| Medium: | LP album |
| Fandom: | science fiction |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
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Intergalactic Touring Band was a professional endeavor, an science fiction concept album of science fiction songs recorded by a collection of musicians, and presented as the work of a fictional band.
The ensemble album featured many star performers from progressive rock and other genres, including Meat Loaf, Ben E. King, Larry Fast (Synergy), Percy Jones, Annie Haslam (Renaissance), Rod Argent, David Bedford, Peppi Marchello (Good Rats).
The songs' theme is multi-generational space travel and human space colonization.
The Fictional Members
- Hope Larson — Lase Keyboard Panel
- Ixol Phaane — Computerized Keyboard Synthesis
- Justice Conrad — Globe Lase Base
- Krys — Holographic Percussion
- Raif Reed — Lase Guitar
Fan Comments
Those fans who are interested in a new science-fiction experience might enjoy turning off the light, turning on the stereo, and lying back in a comfortable chair to listen to an album called "The Intergalatic Touring Band.”… In my experience, music is a medium which is largely ignored by organized fandom--with no good reason. A well done science-fiction album (there are many of them--surprised?) can be an enjoyable addition to the serious fan's collection of books and posters. This particular album is one of the best.
The recordings are said to be "live" from a concert given by the band on a tour of the galaxy. A booklet included in the album jacket, resembling a concert program, lists the words and a short history of each song. It's a slick piece of background to set the mood for what follows.
The album begins with "Silver Lady", the voice of the ship's computer awakening them as they approach the concert site. The silver lady materializes and belts out the landing sequence with a beat that will make you see ripples in the air around you.
We then move into the concert with a song that tells of a "Universal Zoo". Beginning with a huckster who is easily visualized standing outside his tent describing the marvels within, the song suddenly changes to a plaintive question asked by one of the "animals"--"Why?"
We now proceed to a history lesson. The next four songs trace the beginning of the current galactic society. "Starship Jingle" is a happy advertisement played at one time to the citizens of an overcrowded earth. It tells of the wonders that were said to await anyone who would volunteer for one of the first three colonization starship launches. The first of the ships disappeared without a trace, and in "Heartbreaker" is pictured endlessly circling some far distant sun. The second ship malfunctioned and now drifts forever as its inhabitants sing of "Reaching Out" for their home on earth. The third ship managed, after 10 generations had been born and died within it, to blunder into the gravitational pull of a habitable world. "First Landing" is their song of joy as they stepped out onto the first green grass what any of them had ever seen.
The next three songs, alas, are not quite as good. "Space Commando" is a heavy dirge delivered by a futuristic soldier. "Robot Salesman" (shades of Asimov) is sung by a mechanical slave with neither a care--nor a hope--in the world. And "Love Station" is a sort of sci-fi Motown, the theme song of a D.J. in a floating radio station.
"A Planet Called Monday" is a description of a world once visited by the band, where people must sacrifice their own bodies to fuel the furnaces which keep their planet alive. A grisly theme but a good song.
Finally, the band offers what is probably the most beautiful song on the album. "Keeper, Keep Us" is the anthem of God as He is perceived by this future civilization, still watching, still taking care of us.
For those of you interested in some earthly aspects of this album (e.g Where do I get it?), I found my copy in the rock section of my local record shop. Depending on where you buy your records, I imagine you might pay anywhere from $4.98 to $ 7.98 for it--whatever is the going rate for plastic in your area. The record is manufactured by Passport Records. The Intergalactic exist. The record sleeve credits 30 different artists performances on this album, all of whom are performers with other groups. You might recognize some of the names--Rod Argent, David Bedford, Annie Halsam (from "Renaissance"). At any rate, if you like music there's bound to be one of your favorites here.
Why not enhance your enjoyment of what sf book by letting
a good sf record set your mind free before you settle down to read? [1]
Further Reading
- Intergalactic Touring Band at Wikipedia
- Tentative Review by The Christopher Currie: Intergalactic Touring Band - Intergalactic Touring Band, Archived version
References
- ^ from a fan in A Companion in Zeor #2 (November 1977)