The related singles are less worth to trace musically. It contains some garage rock from Sky Saxon, but
"There's nothing from his most Yod-like solo release, "Lover's Cosmic Voyage"." B.Coley
All singles were released under the names of "World Peace Band", "Sky Saxon Sunflower Dragon Slayers" with "the Bangles Vicky and Debbie", or with "The Lamed",or by "Hale Sunlight Wings White Magick + Being Poor", or by "the Universal Stars Band"
(CD released as related singles, CTCD-141)
Unreleased materials was released as disc 13 from Captain Trip Records, CTCD-142, all by Fire, Water and Air, "largely mainstream rockoid material... plus a Saxon rap about being nice to dogs.*"
* hippie talk in fact. Quite OK is an earlier Yahowa track without the master from "Penetration".
Tr.9, "Sky Sunlight Saxon speaking to the Earth Aquarian Family" 5 min
This track, from the most loyal follower, telling about the music which I played, is a good track to end with, giving a perpsective overview but shows also how much respect as well as naivity Yahowa left behind.
All quoted parts from Byron Coley, came from an article with review of the 13 CD box of Yahowa 13, which first appeared in The Wire magazine issue 180 February 1999. These quotes are reproduced by permission. Link to The Wire magazine : www.thewire.co.uk.
In 2004 a few recordings of Yahowha 13 were found and rereleased on Swordfish in UK :
"The psychedelic find of the decade-their long-lost final magnum opus. Rumoured to exist for years-often put down as just rumour though. Here it is, unearthed from tapes thought lost forever but now found after nearly 30 years. The first thing to be released from Ya Ho Wha 13 since 1975. In the spring of 1975 the Family was homeless and was travelling on the West Coast after having been driven out of Hawaii by local laws (they would return later that year for what would be the final time with Father). Ya Ho Wha had taken a spontaneous journey to the East which had culminated in his initiation in the Great Pyramid of Egypt on Easter Sunday. Upon his return to the San Francisco area a warehouse in Corte Madeira was rented for the Family to gather for their Aquarian style morning meditations and meetings to greet the dawn. This is where The Operetta came down. It represents the first musical channelling from the time after Ya Ho Wha's Easter Ressurrection in the Great Pyramid (returning transformed) and the last total musical recording he would make with the band. The 6 pieces which make up The Operetta form the culmination of all the YaHoWhan recordings -- thunderous percussion, massive psychedelic guitar swirlings are all vying for space with Ya Ho Wha's spontaneous chanting in this intense journey into inner self. The final and most awesome of all their creations. A strictly limited edition 2 LP set presented in a gatefold cover featuring previously unseen photographs from the Family's personal archives, it comes with an insert featuring a transcription of Ya Ho Wha's thoughts and comments on the piece when he heard the tapes played back to him shortly after they were recorded. One off pressing -- this is destined to become as rare as the Higherkey originals."
-I heard the LP version of this album and noticed the sound quality of this is pretty poor. For this reason I didn't find it an essential Yahowha release, but I hope I can still listen to it closer and more attentively, on cd for instance-
10. Fire, Water, Air is Djinn, Arelich,Pythias, Octavius, Sunflower :
Golden Sunrise
with Sky Saxon & Ya Ho Wa 13
Emerald Light ELR-84510 /1977
Higher Key Records 006 (CD)
Yahowa collection disc 10 Captain Trip CTCD-139*
"Then, on 25 August 1975, Yahowa went hang gliding for the first time in his life. His maiden flight was short. He landed badly and broke his back. He refused medication, relying instead on massages and salt packs, which kept him alive for all of nine hours. Following his instructions, the family gave his body an anema, lit insence and chanted three days before they called the authorities to remove the heat bloated corpse. A rumour persists that Yahowa was stuffed and mounted in a corner of the family's Hawaiian homestead. More likely he was cremated.
After his death The Source splintered, but the musicians of Yahowa 13 renamed themselves Fire, Water, Air (possibly what Yahowa means in astrological terms). In 1977 they released an eight track cartridge "Golden Sunrise" continuing Yod's legacy. It's hard to tell whether its weird effects are intentional, or whether the tape recorder was just out of phase. But when Sky Sunlight Saxon*, an acolyte since 1969 makes his first appearance midway through, the session takes off. The extended psych jams are a perfect match for Sky's boiling word gush, and the results are transportational in the extreme." Bryan Coley
° he used equipment not strong enough for his weight.
* later famous in The Seeds
I especially like the Neil Young like American native Indian in favour song "Across the prairie". "Celebration" is a far out Hare Krisjna like celebration in a distance.
Tr.9, "Across the prairie" 5 min
11. Yodship
Private pressing / Father
Yahowa collection disc 11 Captain Trip CTCD-140*
Infinity driven hippie folk in memory of Yahowa, with its moments.
"The mysterious "Yodship" in the late 70's by unnamed family members, features two untitled suites in praise of Yod, which are eerily remniscent of music by other cults, like the Manson Family, The Jonestown Choir, Spirit in the Flesh, Sun Ra's Arkestra etc. The funaral rite for a dream, its edge of depressive menace gives it a very high rate on the loner folk-psych scale." B.Coley
In some way it's like music from Yahowa's mourning sheep, from children crying for their father" I wonder now if a great personality replacing the Power of Father could provide adultery to any followers when such person disappears and with him his power to concentrate renewing inventive creation. Can a leadership, not only for the moment of its creation, could ever provide spiritual adultery for worshippers of creative energy after a process of chance shortly occuring ?
Tr.1, suite 1, -600
Tr.2, suite 2, 931-1119
There seems to exist a third suite, not known during the creation of the Ya Ho Wa 13 box. It's recording has been found by he webmaster of the following webpage :
This and following album are back to improvisation, but this time heading towards a more professional electric psychedelic improvisational sound. Starts quietly, builds up a tension, creates odd moods by using strange improvised noises. There's some eastern like improvisation in the guitar playing at the first track with weird American native like singing and nice distorted guitar effects. Third track is a weirdness like Algärnas Trädgard's first album. Last track starts with whistling. Unique, with some purity and balance between improvisation/ creating sounds and structured tension, expressing a (spiritual) content. Recommended.
4. Father Yod and the Spirit of '76 : All or nothing at all.
Higher Key Records 3304 / 1974
Yahowa collection disc 4 Captain Trip CTCD-133
"Late ass hippy makeout crud. ... B.C. Father Yod only blows the horn on the cover but does not participate on this lame album. The only noteworthy track is the bonus track "The Great Woe". "It wiggles with enough lopside mania to sound like a coed version of The Godz' "Quack (I am a quack). Around this time Father Yod changed his name into Yahoweh or Yahowah, depending on who's spelling the story, and decreed that his family could wear coloured clothes." Byron Coley
Tr.14, "The Great Woe" 3
5. Yahowa 13 : Yahowa 13
Higher Key Records 3305 / 1974
Yahowa collection disc 5 Captain Trip CTCD-134°
Very different in style. One simple bluesrocksong, a lame Elvis reminding pop song, an improvisational like low pop and a poprock song, all not worth so much mentioning. Keeping the improvisational style short to song zize doesn't make songs like "kind of depressing" so enjoyable. Also the next bluesy improvisational songs can't make it good for me. Only the song "Pain" is slightly better, still not making this album for me worth enough tracing it.
6. Yahowa 13 : Savage sons of Yahowa 13
Higher Key Records 3306 / 1974
Yahowa collection disc 6 Captain Trip CTCD-135**°
This is West Coast styled rock.
"If early Crazy Horse had been deranged by fruit juice, they might have sounded like this. Electron's fried Screamin' Jay Hawkins* vocalize on "Fire In The Sky" is particularly evocative of a bad trip. "Oh Ya Ho Wa" in particular, is a stand out of blues punk genius°." Byron Coley
* some might be reminded at Captain Beefheart.
° a bit primitive punk/garage like I would say.
"Red River Valley" reminds a bit at (Crosby, Stills, Nash and) Neil Young.
Starts as Van Morrison on Acid like singing, with piano, organ, drums (by JJ Light, the Native American protégé of the West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band's Bob Markley). Odd and in moments stretched, with weird electric guitar solos. Also, quite passages with Pink Floyd like mood (piano and organ,..). An abnormality for its first side, but beautiful unique psychedelic weirdness at side 2, with flute, weird whistling, beautiful backing voice noises. And Father Yod who goes out of his mind again. Crazy electric guitar/piano accompanies the most weird moments. This side is very crazy, but still structured from within. Recommended for its highlighting power.
Tr.1, 1500-1743
Tr.2, 17
9. Yahowa 13 : To the principles, for the children.
Higher Key Records 3309 / 1974-1975
Yahowa collection disc 9 Captain Trip CTCD-138*
"At the end of 1974 The Source sold their restaurant and moved to Hawaii. There they went looking for paradise only to encounter hostile locals, who were reluctant to rent out a pad for Yahowa and his 13 wives, forcing them to temporarily retreat to Northern California. But they eventually reconfigured themselves and returned to Hawaii for a final fractious stand. "To the Principles, for the children" dates from this period and the tension shows. Its two long tracks are broken into untitled fragments, one of them an ode to "woman power" worthy of Helen Reddy. More frequently Yahowa locks into heaven chant mode, surrounded by instrumental rings that recall The Magic Band of "Abba Zabba". Very possibly, this album explains a great deal of the Father's philosophy-that is, if you can make out the words, of which there are many. By way of compensation the ensemble seamlessly blends effects and percussion, and when the kids'chorus of "Yahowa" starts up at the end you'll know you've already been somewhere." Byron Coley
A more personalised painfully vulnerable album style of songs. Odd. Musically not always that interesting, but charming at some points within its fragmented nature.
Tr.1, 526-804
Tr.2, 234 3
Tr.2, 759-1032
8. Yahowa 13 : I'm gone take you home Higher Key Records 3308 / 1974
Originally a double LP. Great electric guitar playing. This is Yahowa's group at its best, and my favourite album. Yahowa plays the big drum (smoothly changing the rhythm at one point),screams a bit savage-like. Recommended.
"Five long, untitled tracks of flipped guitar psych represent their most thorough integration of vocals and music. At its best, Yahowa's vocals incorporate all the sounds of a barnyard revolution while the guitarist destroys himself" B.Coley
The Higher Key CD reissue its cover is a bit more clearly printed. Some might take the cover very serius. I personally think it's very funny, with some humour (see next back cover to confirm this).
The cover quotes :
On the front :
"A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse ; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed"
Song of Solomon ch.4, V12
"Woman was God's first creation, in order to express the great love within him. God then creates within his creation a vehicle to use, whenever he chooses to appear" Yahowa
On the back :
"And call no man your father opun the earth : for one is your father which is in heaven" bible
"..still, when the need is great, do I appear in my own universe, and am therefore born into the world by my power of thought and will" Gita
In the inner sleeve :
"And there was the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits and yielded her fruit every month..and there shall be no more curse : but the throne of God and of the lamb shall be in it ; and his servants shall serve him." Revelations ch.22,v.2-3
"Divine communion time is here little kitties" Yahowa (licensed to give life)
THE STORY, THE RADIOPROGRAM, CHRONICALLY WITH DISCOGRAPHY
"In 1969 To Baker, a middle aged follower of the Yogi Bhajan a Kundalini yoga master and health food prophet who came to the US on the heels of the Maharashi. When Bhajan declared that he was not God, Baker assumed the mantle himself. He gathered a group of acolytes who became known as The Source and opened a health food restaurant, The Aware Inn, in Hollywood's Laurel Canyon. Eventually dubbed Father Yod (later changed to Yahowa), Baker espoused a philosophy dictating kindness to animals, a rw fruit and vegetable diet, wearing the white cotton clothes, and sex without orgasm. Apocryphal stories about The Source's practices abound. The most persistent was based on the similarity of the spelling between god and dog. Among the faithful who toiled at the Aware Inn were a number of musicians, whose talents Yod enlisted when the tapes began spooling." Byron Coley (from review in the Wire : see note at the end)
A little bit "incredible strange" or over the top of odd singing vocals, not always with the best voice in an improvisational manner (piano, electric guitar, el. bass, voice, backing female vocals).
Liner notes :
"Kohoutek is an energy. Scientists estimate that its radiance will excel Haley's Comet 50 times, its head to be 100,000 miles in diameter, and its tail to span 100,000,000 miles in space. It will not appear again they say for another 80,000 years.
Man in his history and myth has long associated the comet with the ominous power of the unknown. He has learned that they bring changes. Life after their fiery visitation is never quite the same.
What is Kohoutek ? Why is it coming ? What will it bring ?
The mystery of "K houtek" is explored in spontaneous music, sound and song on Higher Key Record's first release by Father Yod and The Spirit of '76'.
Don't stay in the dark Kohoutek is for you."
PS. The text of "I am God, I am the Father of All" (click cover to see it readable), according to the aditional liner notes came "from the Father of All Words to his son Yahowa God of this sphere who is here, now."
Tr.1, 737-1455
Tr.2, 120-720
2. Father Yod and the Spirit of '76 : Contraction Higher Key Records 3302 / 1974
SwordfishEvan Wells : Re-visiting "Father" and the Source Family ****°
This video gives a well structured compilation of interviews mostly, with former members of the Source Family, the people who were under Yahowha's (aka Jim Baker's) wings for a certain period of time. Thanks to this compilation, combined with some images and a few rare video's we get some idea of first of all the personal evolution of Jim Baker's life (war hero, world judo champion, succesful businessman with vegetarian restaurant,...) and spiritual quest but also down to earth practical life exploration, and how he got so many people ivolved into this process. Secondly, it is also extremely interesting to witness how people became dependent on him and the Hawaiian foundation became at first a practical failure. After a period of growing consciousness when having a spiritual and psychological Father his seemingly deliberate leaving of them to draw them finally back to a more normal life, to a period of their own independence with each of them their own inspiration, as people who became life-experienced enough for becoming spiritual adults. For me this focus comes out and is presented very clearly. without restriction. We also hear a few words of Jim Baker, and various fragments of his improvised music. A really fine Documentary.
Other review :
"Documentary video by Evan Wells, in conjuction with Isis and E from the Source Family. "This 2 1/2 hour documentary traces the history of the Source Family, Father Yod/Ya Ho Wha/the man formally known as Jim Baker. Going back to the Beatnik era of the late '50s when Baker ran a sandal shop in Hollywood it goes through the origins of the Family in Los Angeles in 1967 to the dispersal in the mid '70s. Many of the original members of the Family are interviewed and the new and extensive footage from the '70s is featured throughout. For anyone who has been fascinated by this mysterious cult/commune, this documentary should provide the answers to most questions and allow you to make up your own mind as to who Father Yod / Ya Ho Wha / Jim Baker was."
