BUFFY SAINTE-MARIE - He's A Keeper Of The Fire [1969]

HE'S THE PROPHET OF THE NEW DAY, BABY! HE'S A KEEPER OF THE FIRE!

"He's A Keeper Of The Fire" written by Buffy Sainte-Marie.

"lluminations", released in 1969, was the sixth album by Buffy Sainte-Marie. Though most of the tracks did away with the backing she had used on her previous two albums, Illuminations had a completely different sound from anything she had previously done. From a basis of vocals and acoustic guitar, Sainte-Marie and producer Maynard Solomon used electronic synthesisers to create a sound that was much more experimental music than folk. Indeed, Illuminations was the first quadrophonic vocal album ever made, and on songs like the album's only single "Better to Find Out Yourself", her voice is completely altered by a Buchla synthesiser.
Peter Schickele, however, did provide arrangements to "Mary", "Adam" and "The Angel", whilst the four tracks "Suffer the Little Children", "With You, Honey", "Guess Who I Saw in Paris" and "He's A Keeper of the Fire" were her first work to be not produced by Vanguard boss Maynard Solomon. Instead, they had a stripped-down rock sound and were produced by little known folk-jazz songwriter Mark Roth.
On its initial release, "Illuminations" was a disaster commercially, failing to get anywhere near the Billboard Top 200 and being deleted and largely disowned by Sainte-Marie within a few years.
However, in more recent times Illuminations has acquired a fan base quite distinct from that associated with any of Sainte-Marie's other albums. In addition to being cited as a favourite album by a number of famous musicians - notably Steve Hackett of Genesis, a number of critics have seen its twisted, eerie soundscapes as laying the grounds for the evolution of gothic music as well as having an influence on New Weird America.
In 2000, just before Vanguard re-issued it on CD, Wire magazine listed "Illuminations" amongst its "100 Albums that Set the World on Fire While No-One was Listening".



He's as heavy as a lead weight, baby!
He's as skinny as a wire!
He's a prophet of a new day, baby!
He's a keeper of the fire!

He's got a funny kinda voodoo, baby!
You oughta see him at the zoo!
He's got a heavy kinda hoodoo, baby!
And he can lay it on you!

He can say it like an angel, baby
He can say it like a blowhorn
He can see a-seven devils, baby
And never even give a whole turn

Been haunted like a razor, baby!
He's been tested in the blood!
He's a walker on the hot coals, baby!
And he's a-heavenly bound!

I saw him walkin' in the valley, baby!
I could see him through the trees!
I saw him talkin' to the moon there, baby!
He was walkin' on his knees!

He can play it like a rainbow, baby!
He can play it like a clown!
He can play it like a river, baby!
And he can follow you down!

He's as heavy as a lead weight, baby!
He's as skinny as a wire!
He's a prophet of a new day, baby!
He's a keeper of the fire!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Buffy
• Sainte-Marie
• Illuminations
• 1969
• Rare
• Studio
• TV
• Canada

[Hemulen40]

Wooow... da beauty of Buffy !

[saltcitysuesey]

I've been to 2 Buffy concerts thanks to my Grandparents & by now I have most of her records in my collection and a few videos. Where can I buy a video of this one? Buffy is so cool. I'll never understand why she isn't even more popular. I hear stories. Not sure what to believe but I do know Buffy Sainte-Marie is one of the very best singers/writers/performers of all time. She does have a pretty good following (fan base) but she deserves much more. This song is a knock out tune! Thanks Buffy!

[SantaAnaRoadWildman]

Buffy I was not even born when u performed this but it hypnotizes me so and I can NEVER tire of it! 

[SantaAnaRoadWildman]

BEAUTIFUL native daughter! PROUD! hypnotic and awe inspiring!

[bingbong35]

Absolute favorite of Buffy Sainte-Marie's!!!!

[orbitalsatellite]

groovy man!

[nedhamson]

For the Fire Keeper of the Anishinaabe - You go Bruce!

[gyellowmoon]

All i can say is wow!

[Grawp55]

@saltcitysuesey

I loved this album as a kid and would also LOVE to buy it now!

[PHAEDRIDER]

i always wanted to know whio p[layed on this record .

[ivycompton]

This was such an innovative album, really quite ahead of its time - mixing poetic lyrics, hard rock hooks, experimental sounds. The whole thing is incredible.