Pynchon Music: The Fool
Arcana Zero
The Fool (1966–1974)
In Gravity’s Rainbow, a group called The Fool in which Slothrop plays is described as posed “in the arrogant style of the early Stones, near an old rocket-bomb site” (GR, Viking, 742). In fact, a real band called “Fool” did exist in the late 60’s. They produced one album called Fool in 1968 (Mercury) which was produced by none other than Graham Nash, the major force behind both the Hollies and Crosby, Stills & Nash. The group was comprised of Barry Finch, Marijke Koger, Josje Leeger, and the oddly named Simone Posthuma. There is also an unidentified harmonica player on the album. Hmmm… The album cover is covered with Tarot imagery and the most interesting track (No. 3) is called “Rainbow Man.” We can only assume that the group was referring to the mystical end of Slothrop himself and were unable to get “Rainbow Cock” past the censors…
Spermatikos Logos visitor Robin Landseadel remarks:
When I see the reference in Gravity’s Rainbow to The Fool (obviously in part a Tarot reference) I can’t help but think of the archetypical 60’s artists/illustrators “The Fool” noted briefly in your list. In addition to the LP you listed, they also painted the cover to the Incredible String Band’s classic LP The 5000 Spirits Or the Layers of the Onion. They also painted the infamous mural that illustrated the side wall of the Beatles’ “Apple Boutique” and did day-to-day operations within the Boutique, in the process running it into the ground. Insofar as these people were insiders to states of high weirdness within the sixties scene, I find these particular details relevant.
Cover Scans
Thanks to the kindness of a Spermatikos Logos visitor, we can provide scans of the Fool’s LP:
Additional Information
The Fool
The Fool
The Fool
Mercury, 1968
Track Listing
1. Fly (2:25)
2. Voice On the Wind (5:24)
3. Rainbow Man (2:20)
4. Cry For Me (3:51)
5. No One Will Ever Know (2:50)
6. Reincarnation (4:06)
7. Hello Little Sister (2:00)
8. Keep On Pushin’ (6:00)
9. Inside Your Mind (2:42)
109. Lay It Down (4:50)
2. Voice On the Wind (5:24)
3. Rainbow Man (2:20)
4. Cry For Me (3:51)
5. No One Will Ever Know (2:50)
6. Reincarnation (4:06)
7. Hello Little Sister (2:00)
8. Keep On Pushin’ (6:00)
9. Inside Your Mind (2:42)
109. Lay It Down (4:50)
Musicians
Seemon Poshima
Seemon Poshima
Marijke Koker
Josje Leeger
Barry Finch
Listen to The Fool — The entire psychedelic trip may now be experienced on YouTube!
Dangerous Minds Fool Page — Richard Metzger’s page has everything you’d want to know about this cheerfully demented group.
The Fool Wikipedia Page — You can read more about The Fool on Wikipedia.
The Fool Discog Page — Collects album covers and information on The Fool’s releases.
The Fool — You can browse or purchase the album at Amazon.
The Fool Review — Record Collector, 8 December 2007. Grahame Bent remarks, “It’s not hard to imagine The Fool’s miscellaneous warbling being taken for the work of some obscure late 60’s flower power cult.”
The Fool at johnkatsmc5 — Another music blogger falls prey to the seductive charms of Dutch psychedelia!
Pynchon on Record
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Authors: Dr Larry Daw & Allen B. Ruch
Last Modified: 10 November 2021
Main Pynchon Page: Spermatikos Logos
Contact: quail(at)shipwrecklibrary(dot)com
Last Modified: 10 November 2021
Main Pynchon Page: Spermatikos Logos
Contact: quail(at)shipwrecklibrary(dot)com