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In addition to my 20,000 Vinyl LP collection I'm selling, I have reel-to-reel, pre-recorded tapes for sale. If interested, contact me by email please, not by a comment.
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Metamorphosis is the fourth studio album by
Iron Butterfly,
released on August 13, 1970. Iron Butterfly's album,
Metamorphosis, was
the new line up with Mike Pinera on Guitar and Vocals and Larry "Rhino"
Reinhardt on Guitar. Ron Busy on drums, Lee Dorman on Bass, Doug Ingle
on vocals and Keyboards. Though it was not as successful as its
predecessor
Ball (1969), it reached number 16 on the US charts.
Erik Brann,
who left because of band disputes, was replaced by four session
guitarists. Two of them, Mike Pinera and Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt (called
El Rhino on the sleeve), would become members of Iron Butterfly shortly
after the album's release. Officially, the album is credited not to
Iron Butterfly, but to "Iron Butterfly With Pinera & Rhino", in
reference to the two aforementioned guitarists. The album is noted for having one of the earliest uses of the
Talk box on a rock album.
As with all my other albums, there are favorites of mine on this one also. This time, they all happen to be on the second side.
Soldier in Our Town starts out with with a slow drum & hi-hat beat and goes into a torpid rock ballad love sung by
Doug Ingle that is stunning.
Easy Rider (Let The Wind Pay The Way)
starts moderately fast but quiet before breaking out into an aggressive
syncopated sort of tom-tom beat hard rock tune that totally rocks out.
Easy Rider reached number 66 on the
Billboard chart, making it the band's biggest hit aside from
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida.

Of the three songs on this album I mentioned that I like, my very favorite is,
Butterfly Bleu, what an amazing song it is.
Butterfly Bleu is another epically long song by
Iron Butterfly (the other one being, of course,
In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida). It is slow, with a great bass guitar and drum beat intro. The vocal by
Mike Pinera
is superb. At a little over four minutes it goes into a fantastic
instrumental break that ruptures into a faster beat at four & a
half minutes. Then alternates with some great drum work by
Ron Bushy.
At seven & a half minutes it speeds up even faster with a great
guitar instrumental with trippy vocal effects. At ten minutes there is a
great 'scat' duet with voice and guitar. There are very quiet parts
that gives one time to catch ones breath. At almost eleven minutes it
goes back to the original beat with the vocal. What an amazing exercise
in music pyrotechnics!
Lyrics to the songs and links to the songs on YouTune below.

Soldier In Our Town Lyrics
track #7 on the album
Metamorphosis
There's a soldier here today
But she don't bear steel in anyway
She's like a bow
Seeking a wooden arrow
Pointing the way to love
We all know how we can hate
Just as strong as we could ever love
We can love, we can love
God bless you, God
For Sending me a woman
Pointing the way to love
We gotta love a woman
There's a statue in the square
But the things they hadn't
It ain't fair, it ain't fair, Lord
The things they hadn't
Cause beneath the stone
The greatest Man is all alone
Without a woman to love
Without a woman to shove
Without a woman to point the way to love
We gotta love a woman
Songwriters: Robert Edmondson / Douglas Ingle
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Easy Rider (Let The Wind Pay The Way) Lyrics
track #8 on the album
Metamorphosis
Pegs of people line the street
A ball and chain around their feet
Waitin' for a weekend treat
But Easy Rider's got 'em all beat 'cause
(chorus)
Easy rider, he's a glider
(Easy) Freedom, every day
(Rider) Easy rider, easy glider
Lettin' the wind pay the way
(that's all he ever does)
Freedom!
Freedom!
Puts a rocket in his pocket
At the dawn of day
Needs a goodbye kiss in the mornin', mist
You know the man can't stay.
(chorus)
solo
(who'm I talkin' 'bout)
Easy, easy, easy rider
Easy, easy, easy rider
Goin' easy, where you goin'
Gettin tired of being all alone
Oh, the roads are calling you
Back to where you belong
Oh, ride on!
Talkin' bout Easy........
Songwriters
Robert Edmondson / Ron Bushy / Lee Dorman / Douglas Ingle
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group

Butterfly Bleu Lyrics
track #9 on the album
Metamorphosis
I found me a little butterfly
As blue as the sky
With just a touch of gold
I knew I had to hold
My butterfly fly away with me
Every time I reached for her
She managed to slip away
Takin' my breath away from me
How can I make her stay?
My butterfly, fly away with me, yeah
My heart was beatin' faster
She started to come near
Spread her wings around me
And cast out all my fears
My butterfly, fly away with me, yeah
Now the bright light of her eyes show
She never was leavin' me
Got in me by my efforts to reach her
Leadin' me to be free
My butterfly, fly away with me
(Yeah, yeah, oow)
Butterfly, fly away
Songwriters
Douglas Ingle / Lee Dorman / Ron Bushy
© Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

Allmusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine rated Metamorphosis three out
of five stars. He explained that "the group continued its musical
explorations, adding a layered production to its sound." He also stated
that "[the] ambition [...] makes for an interesting listen.

Track listing:
All songs written and composed by Doug Ingle, Ron Bushy, and Lee Dorman, except where noted.
Side one:
1. - “Free Flight" - 0:40
2. - "New Day" - 3:08
3. - "Shady Lady" (lyrics - Robert Woods Edmonson) - 3:50
4. - "Best Years of Our Life" - 3:55
5. - "Slower Than Guns" (lyrics - Robert Woods Edmonson) - 3:37
6. - "Stone Believer" - 5:20
Side two:
1. - "Soldier in Our Town" (lyrics - Robert Woods Edmonson) - 3:10
2. - "Easy Rider (Let the Wind Pay the Way)" (lyrics - Robert Woods Edmonson) - 3:06
3. - "Butterfly Bleu" - 14:03
Personnel:
Iron Butterfly:
Additional musicians:
Label: ATCO Records – M 339
Country: US
Released: 1970
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock
The Iron Butterfly ~ Metamorphosis, reel-to-reel tape, is for sale on eBay
Other reel-to-reel tapes now for sale on eBay
These guys had a great time making this album!