elyse

Canadian-American singer-songwriter from the late-’60s Toronto/Los Angeles folk circuit, a contemporary of artists like Neil Young and Joni Mitchell. After early club gigs and a move to L.A., she signed with Tetragrammaton, released one cult-favored LP, then largely stepped back from the scene until 2000s reissues sparked renewed interest.

Issued in 1969 on Tetragrammaton (T-117), Elyse sets Weinberg’s husky vocals and 6-/12-string guitars in a shadowy folk-psych frame—equal parts pastoral folk and late-’60s pop experimentalism. Arrangements by Don Gallucci and Jeremy Stewart, with core tracks by the so-called “Band of Thieves” (Touch members) and vivid touches from Colin Walcott’s sitar and tabla; Gene Shiveley produced. The record attracted notice on release (including a Tonight Show appearance with “‘Deed I Do”) and later became a collector’s favorite. Orange Twin’s 2001 CD reissue added period material—most notably “Houses,” featuring Neil Young—which helped fuel a modern reassessment.

TRACK LISTING

• A1 Last Ditch Protocol 2:28
• A2 Oh Deed I Do 2:53
• A3 Iron Works 2:53
• A4 Spirit Of The Letter 2:22
• A5 Here In My Heart (Underneath The Spreading Chestnut Tree) 3:12
• A6 Band Of Thieves 2:46
• B1 Sweet Pounding Rhythm 2:38
• B2 Meet Me At The Station 2:30
• B3 Simpleminded Harlequin 2:22
• B4 Painted Raven 1:20
• B5 Mortuary Bound 3:26
• B6 If Death Don't Overtake Me 4:25