Various Artists // Wilderness America, A Celebration Of The Land LP

Published a paper that triggered the spread of the term "global warming" to the worldWallace 'Wally' Smith BroeckerCult compilation record self-published in 1975 Recurrence this time.Influential New Age writers Iasos and Patrick Gleeson are also participating.Below is an explanation by the label.

In 1975, Wallace Smith Blocker published the paper that popularized the term "global warming" and was commissioned a musical concept album against the backdrop of change and environmental uncertainty. Wilderness America, A Celebration Of The Land is a musical expression of our place in the cycle of living things.All tracks were commissioned specifically for this album and blended with sounds recorded in nature, giving the whole project a conceptual feel that still feels fresh today.

The journey begins with the sun rising through the atmospheric haze in 'Dawn', composed by new age innovator Iasos.Gospel singer Walter Hawkins sings the soulful and funky "Metropolis," while session musicians Patrick Gleason, Ed Bogus and Tom Salisbury add a misty spell to the album..David Riordan is a songwriting wizard, with vocals on 'Mountain' and 'Before I'm Gone'.

Wilderness America / A Celebration of the Land was born when environmentalist Emily Despain Polk formed a group of Californians to participate in a landmark conservation project.Calling the group SWAP (Small Wilderness Area Preservation), Emily needed funding and started a project to produce a nature-themed promotional music album.To get her finances, Emily had to find good musicians.She contacted Cliff Branch of Warehouse Sound, who told her she was looking for David Riordan.

David Riordan spent several years in the music industry with Yankee Dollar, Sugarloaf, and Sweet Pain, before hitting the big time with the single 'Green Eyed Lady'.David played on Cliff Branch's 'Warehouse Sound Co. & Friends' album and later on his solo album"Medicine Wheel" has been released.However, tired of touring, he moved on to more concept-oriented albums.He first announced that he was “Christmas in San Francisco” and then “Wilderness America, A Celebration Of The Land”.

Riordan began putting together ideas for the album with his San Francisco friend, music producer Peter Scott.They asked Ed Bogus to arrange the strings and Tom Salisbury to conduct.David also asked his friend Patrick Gleeson if he knew any R&B/gospel singers in the Bay Area and quickly added gospel singer Walter Hawkins to the mix.

'Wilderness America, A Celebration Of The Land', with the exception of 'Metropolis' recorded in LA, was recorded and mixed by Richard Beggs at Francis Ford Coppola's San Francisco studio.Coppola was filming "Apocalypse Now" at the same time, so the musicians could watch the never-ending rush of films arriving from the Philippines between studio sessions.

Over time, the record, produced by David Riordan and Peter Scott, began to feature key tracks on mixtapes and sales lists, catching the attention of record-obsessed people and selectors alike.It wasn't long before this privately pressed, artistically funded masterpiece became a collector's holy grail.Finally, a reissue of this masterpiece will be released by EBALUNGA!!! Records.

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The vinyl edition with original artwork from 1975 on black vinyl in the full-colored inner sleeve.

Text by EBALUNGA!!!:

"In 1975 Wallace 'Wally' Smith Broecker published a paper that popularized the term 'global warming' and against a backdrop of change and environmental uncertainty, a musical concept album was commissioned. 'Wilderness America / A Celebration of the Land' - is a musical exploration of our place within the cycle of living things. All compositions were specially commissioned for the album and blended with natural sounds recorded in the wild – lending the entire project a conceptual air that still feels fresh today.

The journey begins with the sun rising in the atmospheric haze of 'Dawn' - a track composed by new-age innovator Iasos. Gospel singer Walter Hawkins soon drops in with the soulful but ever so funky 'Metropolis' backed by a heavy array of session musicians with Patrick Gleeson, Ed Bogas and Tom Salisbury all adding their own misty magic to the album. David Riordan is the sorcerer conjuring up many of the compositions and also takes vocal duties on the evocative 'Mountain' and the climatic 'Before I'm Gone'.

'Wilderness America / A Celebration of the Land' was born when environmentalist Emily DeSpain Polk assembled a group of California residents to participate in a groundbreaking conservationist project. Christening the group SWAP (Small Wilderness Area Preservation) Emily needed funds and began a project to produce a promotional nature based music album. Financial backing Emily would need to source a musician of some calibre. Contacting Cliff Branch from 'Warehouse Sound Co.' she was told the man she was looking for was David Riordan.

David Riordan had been around the music business for several years, first with The Yankee Dollar, then Sugarloaf and then Sweet Pain, he saw huge success with the single 'Green Eyed Lady'. David had worked on Cliff Branch's 'Warehouse Sound Co. & Friends' albums and then released his solo album, 'Medicine Wheel'. But bored of touring he made the move to more concept-driven albums. First with 'Christmas in San Francisco' and then, in quick succession, 'Wilderness America, A' Celebration Of The Land'.

Riordan, along with Peter Scott, a music producer friend in San Francisco, began piecing together an idea for the album. They brought in Ed Bogas to do string arrangements and Tom Salisbury to conduct. David had also asked his friend Patrick Gleeson if he knew of any R&B/Gospel singers in the Bay Area, and they soon added gospel singer Walter Hawkins into the mix.

Other than the track 'Metropolis', which was recorded in LA, the rest of 'Wilderness America, A Celebration Of The Land' was recorded and mixed by Richard Beggs at the San Francisco studio of Francis Ford Coppola. ' at the same time – so in between studio sessions, the musicians were able to view the seemingly never-ending film rushes arriving from the Philippines.

Eventually, the record produced by David Riordan and Peter Scott drifted onto the radar of vinyl obsessives and selectors as several of its key tracks began popping up on mixtapes and sales lists. something of a holy grail for collectors. At long last, a re-issue of this masterpiece is now available on EBALUNGA!!! Records." 

Artist: Various

Label: EBALUNGA!!!