John Fahey - The Great San Bernardino Birthday Party

[@paulmendell9583]

First heard this late 60's in the course of a psychedelic adventure. Still living about 30 miles south of his last home in Salem, OR where he played occasionally at local venues. Thinking about it, the first one I heard was the Voice of the Turtle...same circumstance...

[@thomascreek6387]

What a story teller, the man is savage.

[@maxroyle6750]

This magical piece of one, if not the greatest of his masterpieces had been recently released, the most current release at the time-1966-67, I was still in high school at the time, having been clued in by a friend, Brad Jones about 'this guy who plays with a bar on the strings'- I had a vision of an upright playing position like Son House, etc.(who I'd only seen photos of). So, before I could locate Johns vol.'s 1-4, I heard this on the first 'underground' radio station KMPX(later KSAN)on FM that I knew of, late night, and so, this WAS my introduction to John. I was thoroughly mesmerized. I was fortunate to see him live within the year at the Straight Theater in S.F., was slightly disappointed, because he was so drunk, he came out, with guitars, 2 brown paper bags containing whiskey in one, and the largest family size Coke bottle, as time went on, he got so wasted he couldn't locate them under his chair, so because the venue was almost like a large coffee house, you could sit on the floor a few feet away, my friend Pete Shafer was there and kindly located hi drinking bottles that with about 3 gigantic gulps each, John -finished them off. All he ever said was 'MORE REVERB !!I WANT MORE REVERB !!.( the Straight Theater's P.A. system had NO reverb, he didn't care, he still wanted MORE REVERB !) He did not play G.S.B.B.P., although I requested it. He rambled through a few L-O-N-G pieces, and that was it. On the same bill was 'Quicksilver Messenger Service and Phoenix .Both who caused me to nod-the opposite of a crew of 6-7 of us from Los Altos High on that summer night-still, slightly disappointed, an experience etched in my mind forever .A creator, similar to Bill Monroe in a respect'-Primitive Guitar' And 'Bluegrass' didn't exist before these two treasures.

[@thomascreek6387]

It's like following the fellowship of the ring, but set in the wild west. Absolutely brilliant.

[@Darren-D.C-Cross]

Perfect balance of everything. Funny as well.

[@nathanael8612]

Praise God

[@richardmazzara6242]

I think this is still my all-time favorite Fahey composition, probably because it was the very first thing I ever heard of his and it hit me in the right place and right time. There's a video of someone covering this, and the chords sound right, but it's more than just getting the chords correct. There's a whole concept going on, where Fahey magically transports you to some special place. He was a rare talent.

[@wyliecox2010]

it was the first thing i heard by him also. Heard it 40 yrs ago on a crappy little plastic record player with hinged fold-out speakers, in the dark attic of a old house in OR, just after jumping off a freight train that we'd hopped from Oakland. The sound that came out of that record produced a religious experience. :)

[@trruthawareness]

had a similar experience, and this piece has stuck with me from its inception in my ears at least 40 years ago

[@katharinegarretteastman4830]

Thank you @awkadan for all your postings, and to you for all your wonderful comments. ♥️

[@sooperheep]

Found this record at a thrift store before I got into his music and bought it cuz I knew it was special, years later I’m glad I did

[@nazzzz89]

What a goddamn masterpiece man. From the first chord this track took me to the astral plane. It's like a psychedelic trip from start to finish. I really wonder what was his inspiration because the name of the track can be based on anything really. Maybe the San Bernardino party is a metaphor for life? Seems like he was in a very deep introspective state pondering existence and all of its wonders..

[@katharinegarretteastman4830]

I agree. This is brilliant, the modulation from A minor to A Major, which happens only twice (once in the theme, and in the penultimate variation (?) Otherwise A minor carries the day. Love everything by Fahey, but especially this record. ♥️

[@katharinegarretteastman4830]

Sounds like a shitty Birthday party with a couple of happy moments.

[@Rivmic]

John was being lead on by a girl he was into, she invited him over to her birthday party but she really just wanted him there so he would play and impress her friends. He found this out and proceeded to argue with her and then got black out wasted. He got escorted off the premises by his friends and puked out the car window when they were leaving. Thus the title

[@shane8037]

Reminds me of the time I turned 35 in the high desert.

[@FryingBurritoBro]

My favorite track by Mr. Fahey

[@katharinegarretteastman4830]

♥️

[@margarethaney8404]

I'm in heaven

[@memphiscameraman]

Thank you for posting this. One of my faves. It brings back many very personal memories.

[@fields1956]

all of a sudden night falls

[@mrnoiz23]

Beautiful no-fi heaven recorded on noisy old tapes with cheesy reverb. 10+

[@lectrikdog]

Hi @Scott Wurcer , lol[one year later]

[@mrnoiz23]

@@lectrikdog Hi Andrew, hope you are doing well.

[@marcelog668]

EXCELENTE PRESENTACION

[@rjguitbox3267]

You can tell what he's thinking almost by listening to his music.

[@Marco_Venieri]

this is a space trip

[@johnmorrell2450]

Got raga?

[@M1000-y8b]

An advertisement in the middle of John F? Asinine

[@BNardolilli]

King shit