Judy Henske and Jerry Yester
Judy henske & Jerry yester, “farewell aldebarpm”
from, Farewell aldebaron, 1969
“Taking Larry’s cue re: musical married couples — Judy Henske needs no introduction; husband Jerry Yester (they were married in 1963) is probably best-known for replacing Zal Yanovsky in the Lovin’ Spoonful after the infamous drug (pot) bust.
Their 1969 album Farewell Aldebaran includes some of Judy’s finest vocal performances… but the lead singer on the title track is Jerry (boy, he can really hit those high notes). I think this is one of the earliest throughly “electronic” pop songs — others had used the Moog synth for ornamentation, but here it’s a crucial part of the song, and even the vocals are processed throughout (to an extreme in the closing chorus, with its heavy robot-like ring modulation).
Wikipedia says: “The album was based on Henske’s lyrics, many of which were verses written when she had a high fever.” Seems like that might be the case for this song, a strange trip through the cosmos….
-Charlie Blaum-
lyrics:
See, she is descending now...
Starting the slide.
The comets cling to her,
The fiery bride;
She is the mother of
The mark and the prize.
The glaze of paradise
Is in her eyes;
Her mouth is torn with stars
And bruised with wings.
She cannot call to us,
She does not sing—
Abandoned and bright,
Out from Andromeda;
Into the night,
Out from Andromeda,
Flaming she falls.
Farewell, Aldebaran.
Alpha Crucis,
Lift me up;
Alpha Centauri,
It is too far
To come to die,
Too far to die.
(Henske/Yester)”
Their lp was released on Frank Zappa’s Straight Records label