Masses In Time Of War

There are soooo many privately pressed lp’s of various church services, sermons, masses, church choirs, etc… that trying get a handle on them would probably cause your mind to literally explode. Not that anyone would really care to though, ’cause the sounds found on the vast majority would probably put even the most hellishly hyperactive child to sleep. And, in my opinion, are without much redeeming value aside from the funny looking church ladies, and dorky men and boys often pictured on their jackets. This one however is one of a handful of more interesting ones that I’ve heard/heard of. Made in Berkeley, CA in 1975 it is no doubt a product of the hippie earth mamma Christian scene. The entire first side is entitled “Requiem for Veit Nam”, and sounds like a cross between a normal church service and some sort of anti-war play. Sermons give way to war sound effects, which merge into choral singing and strange spoken word passages. Pretty interesting and unique in concept.

[audio:vietnam_mass.mp3]

Side two is Hayden’s “Mass in a Time of War” – which isn’t so intersting.

Thanks to Ryan for sending me this one.