autosalvage “autosalvage”
from: autosalvage, 1968
1968 was dripping with grand sonic experiments like this one from New York City’s Autosalvage. It didn’t strike me as much when I was living with it in 1968, but as I revisit the sound, it hums with that time. The atmosphere: internal guitar solos, exploratory lyrical song forms, a freedom of risk. A theme song for the fun of musicianship. They didn’t have to make it big they were already a big.
“I know a place high in the mountains in Switzerland where there are lakes and trees and woodland parks and music! Beautiful music everywhere
La la la la la lalalalala
La la la la la la
La la la
Inside the auto salvage
On the inside looking in, looking in
On the inside looking deeper
It’ll make your head swim
To think of the people that have owned them
Like the fifty-three Nash
When the streamlined cars
When the streamlined cars are getting done
What kind of person owns a fifty-three Nash?
When you drive a car
Don’t you know how far it takes you?
When you travel far
Do you know where you are?
How many times will it pull you through?
How many times will it pull you through?
Some time ago there were better cars
Better than the Fords and Chevys
But you’ll find them all together in the auto salvage now
La la la la la lalalalala
La la la la la la
La la la
Do... you... see... it all now?
I saw the fifty-nine fords the day they came out
And the fifty-nine Ford was to be a wonderful car
Carry you here and-a carry you there
But today in the junkyards are the fifty-nine Fords
And the sixty-one Fords
And the sixty-three Fords
What kind of person owned a fifty-nine Ford?
When you drive a car
Don’t you know how far it takes you?
When you travel far
Do you know where you are?
How many times will it pull you through?
How many times will it pull you through?
”