Music, Lyrics, Arrangement, and Recording Produced by: Michael Foster.
Recorded and Rough Mixed at The Gallery Studio...East Hartford, Conn. in August, 1979.
Michael Foster: 6 and 12 String Acoustic Guitars, Electric Guitar and Lead Guitar, Piano, Vocals. Charles Calmese: Bass.* Mark Easton: Electric Guitar. Barry Easton: Drums.
In my opinion this is the closest to being able to hear what the original group was actually like "live"...that is available anywhere. This song was actually recorded "live in the studio"... in one take...at 3:00AM, after we had spent nearly eight hours in the studio recording our second single "You Just Can't Stop It". We were tired, but in good spirits, and decided to play this just to unwind. Unknown to us, Peter, who was the recording engineer who was working with us during that period... decided to run tape before we began playing, and the song you hear here...is the result.
This song was a song I wrote and spent over five years arranging with two other groups before AVALANCHE even existed. All changes in tempos, accented hits, and chords, that occur during the extended instrumental section on the second half of the song are cued by the lead guitar. The solo on this section of the song represents hundreds of hours of taping rehearsals and fine tuning...over a period of years. What you hear on this recording is the result of all that evolution, and work. We played it exactly this way...everytime we did it live...and we ended nearly all AVALANCHE concerts with this song. It is kind of our anthem to "Woodstock Nation"...and seemed to capture the time. The entire song...as complex and varied as the parts sound... is really just an exploration of how much can be done with a simple three chord pattern. But most importantly, it is the best recorded example of just how tight and well rehearsed this original lineup was...it is one of my favorite compositions, and this is pretty much what the energy of this band was like live in concert....although most of our other stuff has more of a heavy edge.
Vocals were dubbed in, and Piano and Acoustic Guitars were added afterwards by me as well, and although those instruments improve the song, the heart and soul of all AVALANCHE music is the total empathy we all have for each other's playing...and our total committment to what we are doing...and "The Golden Sun" is the best evidence of that fact, that exists from the original group. Although it is nearly fourteen minutes long...the song never seems to drag or stay in one spot for any real length of time...it just flows and moves with a life of it's own. I have always been grateful for that night in the studio, and the fact that...through sheer accident... this song was captured on tape. It was the last night the original band was ever in the studio together as a unit, and this song...like so many of our others...would have been lost forever...if not for Peter's quick thinking. This song is kind of like our "Freebird"...except this song was written years before THAT song ever existed. For maximum enjoyment...listen to the song as you read the lyrics...and TURN IT UP LOUD...and I hope you like it as much as I do!
*Charles Calmese...Avalanche's original Bass player was killed in an automobile accident in 1988. He is greatly missed by all of us. Charles received two Platinum Record Awards for his fine work on two of The Steve Miller Band's best albums from the mid-1970's..."Fly Like An Eagle" and "Book Of Dreams" and his playing is featured prominently on the hits "JUNGLE LOVE" and "SWING TIME". He also toured and recorded with Johnny Winter, and The James Cotton Blues Band before joining Avalanche in 1977.
What a wonderful piece of music this is, Mike. I grew up on Southern Rock, and this tune has that flavor... tastes mighty good to me.
This is well written and SO nicely done. I wish I could tip Peter for deciding to turn on the tape. Funny how a seemingly small decision can bring joy to people... and this tune brings me joy.
peace, love, woodstock, jimi hendrix, blacklight poster, and stuff like that.
kooder
This is one of the most beautiful songs I ever heard! Great loud, but also wonderful for just chilling to!!
Love everything about it, but like Piperon, I just want it to keep going!! Superb!
I think I can only use this word "You Just Can't Stop It" for the ending but I love it totally. Bravo!
Beautiful song path and lyrics is upright. Easily setup a peaceful mood while listening. Thumbup on the chord progression and evolution of this song is definitely well defined. I hope one day the "Golden Sun" will rise and all dispute will be resolved, unity to mankind.
PS : My art mentor, Chris (From Germany) met with a deadly automobile accident last few years too, I know how much pain it cost. But not to worry, it is only a transition to another world. Nothing is loss.
With million of love from Singapore.
Piperon - One and Only spiritual flute player on Earth.
Hey Bro, just wanted to let you know that "The Golden Sun" will be heard in the first set tomorrow night at 6pm ET ... followed by your anniversary tune as a band!
Cheers,
Mike
My pleasure Mike.
When it is this good,the words come easy as the music inspires in all the right ways.
Thank you all for this osng,your friendship and wise council through the years we have known each other.
Nigel.
Hi Nigel...
You know I feel as though we are brothers who have traveled so many of the same roads...and so your words here have so much more weight and meaning to me than you can possibly know. It isn't often that an artist is allowed to feel how much something they have created has so profoundly affected another person...and when that happens...and is expressed as well as you just did...then it becomes more than a compliment...it becomes a validation.
From the bottom of my heart...I thank you for your kind, heartfelt words..and for your friendship over these past few years. I only wish we had met a number of years before we did....it would have been an amazing thing to have experienced more of our journey together.
Love...Mike (NAV)
Now you know I couldn't see this sitting here without saying something about it to add to the book I have already said about this song.
To me,as I have expressed before,it is a piece of musical HISTORY.
Added,yes,it is a super song,but it is a super song within the context of it's birth and life that mark as history making in my book.
The whole vibe of this just takes me away to kinder times and warm friends,places and music without end.
It makes me think of my own journey...
Names,places,and the truly endless music that has flowed across the years.
It inspires me,it fills me full of old hopes and dreams,new hopes and dreams,it makes me want to write that ONE song that says all to all.
Just as I feel this does.
It is no exaggeration IMHO to say this song is LEGENDARY.
It will always remain for meone of those songs that I feel richer for having heard (So many times now
You have penned something here that simply defies true measurment of.
It is history,art,a living breathing music legend.
Superb.
Nigel.
MIKE!!! I have been wanting to take some time to go thru some of your songs and spend some time on your page....I had to bring this song to light, for anyone who may not have heard this. It's a CLASSIC!!! For those of us who appreciate the Best Sounds of the 70's.......Mike and NAVALANCHE have captured them here in this song.....hints of Boston, Journey, Skynyrd....all topped with their own sound and style. NAVALANCHE should have gotten a Contract, IMHO......Anyway....I LOVE this Track!!! Mike you SMOKED the ending solo on this and I LOVED THIS WHOLE CD!! It's a GREAT Cruisin' CD!!!
Rob
Really beautiful song and love the falsetto! Great vocal range! enjoyable ride--vocally i think perhaps i hear "Yes" influence..Thats what comes to mind!!!Great song and fabulous musicianship!
Sweet Acoustic guitars nice clean track recording bostonish sound
As far as hard rock i would say more to the southern rock rock genre but hey what the hell.
Vocalist is right on key nice vocals
every thing fits well for this track great job
Thanks for the good listen
Peace my friends
Steph
Nice, I really like the music on this one. Some nice guitar tones and a solid mix. You are really treading on the early sound of the band Traffic which I find amazing.
Great track here bro.