Rick Stanley – Song of Life


Rick Stanley’s musical presence in the late 60s was ethereal at best, with his most prominent recording garnering no less than three of Pokora’s coveted stars. The Gentle Soul’s (Rick Stanley and vocalist Pamela Polland) self-titled release boasted an association with Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder and Terry Melcher, and secured its place in the annals of flower-power folk by combination of beauty and idealism.

In 1970 Stanley recorded his first solo effort, “Song of Life”. The album was produced by Henry Lewy at A&M records and featured Paul Horn on flute. Unlike The Gentle Soul (or Stanley’s current Celtic harp recordings), “Song of Life” marked a temporary (three album) shift towards Eastern philosophy in his work. After recording The Gentle Soul, Stanley traveled to India, as was the custom for young, radical musicians at the time, to study under Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in a program designed to train teachers of transcendental meditation. Upon completing the course, Maharishi convinced Stanley to record an album of songs preaching the guru’s teachings. “Song of Life” is the result.

This album contains seven original folk songs written and performed by Rick Stanley. Five of those six are followed by narratives explaining the relevance of each song’s lyrics, respectively. The music displays Stanley’s respectable talents as a songwriter, and although he often comes off as didactic, the overall feeling is peaceful and pleasant. I don’t know if I would want to meditate to “Song of Life”, but, at the very least, this album is quite conducive to letting your mind wander.

4 Comments

  • Douglas says:

    I think you are the coolest guy ever.

  • twoply says:

    Thanks, Douglas. I love you too.

  • Rick Stanley says:

    This album was the actual performance I gave at all my Introductory TM Lectures in the 70’s.
    Maharishi wanted me to feel comfortable teaching TM through song which I enjoyed. The Beatles, Donovan and The Beach Boys were all signed to contracts and couldn’t put His teaching to music. I, on the other hand had purposely left Columbia Records with the intention of offering my musical services to the effort of pointing the direction inward as in “The kingdom of Heaven is within you, seek ye first the kingdom within and all else will be added unto you.” Meditate, everything you really want is within you.
    When the 80’s materialistic age turned musicians into loud hair and neon spandex and all trace of insight and spiritual life had vanished from our artists I turned to my Celtic roots and the music that makes my heart flow.

  • David A Tokar says:

    Rick, you must know that “Song of Life” was an inspiration to many, including me. I am deeply grateful for your work and happy that you are still performing and your heart still flowing. JGD!

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