Unboxing Iron Butterfly : Unconscious Power - 7CD Box Set - Esoteric Recordings - Now Spinning

This is a great box set from Esoteric and Cherry Red Records. Unconscious Power by Iron Butterfly is a 7CD Box Set with a poster and very extensive booklet full of information and some great photos from the period.
August 30th 2021 Update - Very sorry to hear of the death of Ron Bushy who played on every one of their albums.
Unconscious Power includes the albums Heavy, In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida, Ball, Live, Metamorphosis and a 2CD live set from the Filmore East in 1968. There are 25 bonus tracks, Heavy and Live also include the Mono mixes for the first time.
I was very, very pleased when this arrived because it reminds me of the packaging that we got with the Spooky Tooth Box Set which came out in 2015. The box is sturdy with the albums presenting very well with replica gatefold sleeves and a tremendous booklet (10/10).
The attention to detail is excellent, even the on-disc printing uses artwork sympathetic to the period. This is exactly the kind of package that collectors love, so well done to Esoteric and Cherry Red.
The 2CD live set was originally released back in 2010 as a limited release and the sound quality is excellent. The project was compiled by Mark Powell and Vicky Powell for Esoteric. The remastering was done by Ben Wiseman from the original Atco Master Tapes. I know some of you out there will possibly have several versions of In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida and will want to know if this version is any better than the last CD remaster. I would say it is, it sounds warmer to me, and is the best version so far.
The booklet is substantial, and I think this makes such a difference to the feel of a package like this. Just like the CD covers, a lot of thought has gone into this as well. Once we get past the album details there is a very detailed history of the band with lots of photos of the band and memorabilia. Towards the end of the booklet, there are lots of posters from the period. They could have easily cut this bit out and saved on a few pages, but the fact they didn’t show the music and presentation came first.
Iron Butterfly is seen as a proto-metal band, and although there are elements where this can be heard, I see them as an important part of the late 1960s USA psychedelic pop/rock scene. If you like The Doors, Jefferson Airplane and Vanilla Fudge, then there is plenty here to enjoy.
The ‘Heavy Metal’ label comes from specific tracks rather than stand-alone albums. For example, ‘The Iron Butterfly’ Theme features glorious distorted guitars laden with reverb and a haunting organ. Also, it was from an album called ‘Heavy’!
The vocal sound is from that time, and in places, it reminds me of Rod Evans from the first Deep Purple lineup. 1969 was a pivotal year in rock music with the arrival of Led Zeppelin, and within 12 months we had Purple and Black Sabbath joining the ranks of music that would soon be called Heavy Metal. Iron Butterfly was still releasing albums in 1970 / 71, but they still sounded like they were from the 1960s. There is an innocent charm to these albums and they maintained the keyboard sound used on those early Doors albums throughout their career.
It would be odd not to mention the track and album they are most known for. That track is of course In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida. This features a riff not that far removed from Sunshine of Your Love by Cream.
Legend has it, that Doug Ingle, who writes the song, had drunk a lot of wine, and when the other band members asked him what it was called, he had tried to say, ‘In The Garden of Eden’ but it came out as ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ The rest is history, except, there is more! It was also one of the first rock songs to take up the whole side of an album, this was also a story in itself. The band were setting up in the studio, and the producer had asked them to play something while he set up the levels. When the producer stuck his head around the door 20 minutes later, they stopped playing, thinking it was time to start playing for real, and found out they had already been recorded. Apart from replacing the guide vocal and adding a guitar solo, the whole track was left as it was.
Phil Aston
Now Spinning
www.nowspinning.co.uk
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[@rolandconnor575]

My first concert, April 4, 1970... Iron Butterfly side bands James Gang and Blues Image. I had just turned 15. My mother dropped me of at the Jacksonville, Fl coliseum, I was alone, and then came back to pick me up. A few months later, Black Sabbath and Uriah sheep's first albums blew the doors open, but not as much as Deep Purple In Rock. And that was the start. What a year to be 15 years old.

[@MM-yc3nh]

Another amazing box 🙂👍

[@vincecrystal5998]

Iron Butterfly were the 2nd band to fill out an album side. The LA band 'Love' did so on their 2nd album, da capo released in 1966. Yes it is a stitched together track, but they were playing this live at the time as an extended piece. In fact, according to the liner notes for the reissue, Love inspired Mick Jagger to write Goin' Home an 11 minute track released on Aftermath in 1966 :-)

[@ricardoleon6142]

Beautiful box set. Just like the Electric Prunes and Beau Brummels box sets in size and design. A classic and very good 60s sounding band. Influential around the globe. For many years regarded quintessential rock music indeed. Almost forgotten nowadays. Saludos desde México.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for watching and sharing your thoughts / Phil

[@keithleeuwen877]

coolness !

[@jean-lucpernel2202]

les reeditons ESOTERIC RECORDS sont toujours soignees ! du beau travail!!!!!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you this is a wonderful box set and I dip into it a lot. Phil

[@theironbutterflychannel9400]

This is very awesome, and I'm gonna have to consider getting a copy of this for myself as I love this, up their with The Doors for me. Mostly want this for that poster and booklet! Great video by the way

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Iron Butterfly Channel - Thank you for watching, I feel it is essential for Iron Butterfly fans. It is the best these albums have sounded. - Phil

[@theironbutterflychannel9400]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Very cool and yeah i agree on that and will have to get this soon to hear for myself!

[@luiscardenas930]

Did you get the box set?

[@tomlangley6236]

Incomplete. Wheres Scorching Beauty? Sun and Steel? Both very good albums.

[@TannerBartko]

Fun fact: lead singer Douglas Lloyd Ingle was inspired by Sean Bonniwell lead singer for The Music Machine.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Tanner, thank you for the extra info!

[@MichaelBoyce-tm2vw]

Two were issued on a twofer Steel and Sun and Scorching Beauty both on MCA.

[@PhilipMonsos]

Nobody holds a candle to Iron Butterfly, they are completely in a class of their own. I've been waiting for a box set like this for the better part of a decade. Just recently ordered mine, and I sure hope it replaces that cheap 5 CD set like you said.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Philip, I hope you have your Iron Butterfly Boxset by now, it really is an improvement on the previous one and gives the band the recognition they deserve. Thank you for watching and visiting Now Spinning. Phil :)

[@PhilipMonsos]

@@NowSpinningMagazine I just got finished listening to the studio albums in this set, and yeah, they are pretty mind blowing. First off, Ball is the one I was most interested in since the CD in that cheap 5 pack is very dull and muffled. It's like listening to the album for the first time all over again. In-A-Gadda was also phenominal and when Butterfly Bleu started on Metamorphosis, the bass was so destructive I thought that the disc had been swapped out with the first Electric Wizard album. Heavy sounded about the same to me, that's the only one not insanely better sounding. I actually don't think I have to bring out my vinyl copies for quite some time with this set in my collection.

[@tinostabile3256]

Hi Phil. Very nice package and curation of a great band. Did not know of this. I know of Esoteric and Cherry Red and they do nothing but quality. This is similar in nature to the Eric Burdon and the Animals box set that they released almost two years ago now. Being 2020.... and tight money wise this will unfortunately have to wait but is definitely on my list of when the purse strings loosen up... or if Santa. Oh Santa. Love your channel. Phil you have so much class and the passion you show in these unboxings is immaculate and perfect. God bless keep well. Tino

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Tino, Thank you for watching and your encouraging words. It is comments like this that push me forwards to do more. Thank you again - Phil :)

[@tinostabile3256]

@@NowSpinningMagazine You are most welcome, classy music enthusiast and messenger you are Sir of goodies that come unboxed. Happy new Year. I only wish I can have more money at my disposal to buy more of these wonderful collections. Maybe... 2021 will be a lucky year.... I will win... money or the items I want.... . We can dream, right.

[@tinostabile3256]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Hi Classy Phil.... I watched this video again.... and I decided to go for a deal... this looks just too good to pass up. Beautiful box, great classic and vital music from our youth. Thank you again.... for show this incredible group and box.

[@kevinhewitson3536]

A great package but a shame that the one sided Janus lp recordings weren't added ....maybe next box set eh?

[@metalmark062]

Phil Aston another Great post I would love to spend a day talking music with you I know your over in the UK but you have good stuff.. I think the mid to late 60s were genius music , yeah so it some was psychedelic but their were great under rated bands. . I just bought a rare CD: The Beau Drummels at a Disc Replay store(friends with the owner) .. I’m 58 but I didn’t get to listen to this Great stuff til I was older. (You know Parents and AM stations). I keep saying I was born 10 years to late....the music and attitude of life was better..anyways I really love Iron Butterfly I got the remastered In Gadda Divda Da Vida CD with the holograph Butterfly on box cover years ago huge booklet! that song alone stands the test of time. Vox Super Continental Organs and the guitar solos started the Heavy revolution... I’m gonna have to seek this box set out.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, that would be great, I am 61 and there is still so much good music to discover and listen to. Thank you for watching these videos I really appreciate it. Phil

[@jimisanta]

Iron Butterfly was far better than the Doors or Jeferson airplane even put together, way ahead of time skillfully, musically and in feeling /intonation etc. Long Live Iron Butterfly

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Jimi, thank you for watching. I am pleased I bought this box set and did the video. More people need to know about this band and their legacy - Phil :)

[@elfandetodo6787]

A pesar de que Warner Music tenía el catálogo de Iron Butterfly, este lanzamiento es de Esoteric Recordings/Cherry Red Records, los bonus tracks son buen material extra

[@jordanfarquharson5345]

Thanks for the review. I like that the booklet has the ATCO label in a few places. I was actually going to get the other box set that you showed, but I'm going for the Esoteric.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Jordan, this is the one to get, I am sure you will enjoy it ! Thanks, Phil

[@charlestonson2200]

This looks amazing, I love the band’s first three records. I’ve tried to get into Metamorphosis and besides Butterfly Blue, I can’t get into the record.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Thank you for watching. That is ok, there are lots of albums that people tell me are classics ( and they are!) but I just cannot get. For example I still cannot get Captain Beefheart - Phil

[@williamcolville8773]

Booklet says ron bushy under lee dorman.?.

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

It thanks them for their assistance. The project was compiled by Mark Powell and Vicky Powell for Esoteric. The remastering was done by Ben Wiseman from the original Atco Master Tapes. Sorry if you already have this info. Thank you, Phil

[@hellochicago2]

Nice review. How is the remastering of the In A Gadda album compared to previous efforts, is it any clearer?

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, Thank you for watching. I feel it is the best version so far. Obviously it still sounds like it recorded a while ago but the clarity is improved on the previous version. The 24 bit digital re-mastering was done from the original Atco master tapes by Ben Wiseman. Thanks, Phil

[@hellochicago2]

Very helpful, thanks. That is important for me, as all the other I.B. albums sound fine on the CDs I already have.

[@TannerBartko]

I have the Classic Albums Series, is this from the same remastering?

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi Tanner, these are new remasters and are much improved. Thanks, Phil

[@davidmorgen4558]

Were the live fillmore shows taken from bootleg recordings ?Wounded bird records is not a bootleg label to my Knowledge?

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi David, thank you for watching. I don’t think so and Wounded Bird are definitely not a bootleg label - Phil

[@davidmorgen4558]

@@NowSpinningMagazine Thanks

[@mulemusic]

I pre-ordered this back in Oct 2020, and as of today, Feb 16, 2021, I still haven't gotten it! I paid for it early before release because I was so excited about it. Very frustrating. I checked their site and it's OUT OF STOCK! Very disappointing.... After seeing this unboxing, I'm really disappointed even more!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, that is bad news, I hope you can get a refund and purchase it from somewhere else. It is really it worth it - Phil :)

[@mulemusic]

@@NowSpinningMagazine I put in a claim for my money back, and ordered it from Amazon 2 days ago! It is in my hands and I am listening to METAMORPHOSIS now! Imagine, pre-ordering it and waiting all this time to have in 2 days now! It wasn't available at Amazon during pre-order, or I would have just done that. It is a wonderful box set, and your unboxing is perfect!! Thanks!

[@NowSpinningMagazine]

Hi, thank you for letting me know, I am so pleased you have now got a copy. Phil :)