Motor-Cycle (album)

Motor-Cycle is the debut album by singer-songwriter Lotti Golden, released by Atlantic Records in 1969.[1] Though not a commercial success upon its release,[2] the album was nonetheless acclaimed by most critics.

Motor-Cycle
Studio album by
Lotti Golden
ReleasedMay, 1969
Recorded1968, Atlantic Studios, New York City, New York, United States
GenreRock
LanguageEnglish
LabelAtlantic
ProducerBob Crewe
Lotti Golden chronology
Motor-Cycle
(1969)		 Lotti Golden
(1971)

Music and lyrics

Musically, Motor-Cycle is a synthesis of stream of consciousness confessional poetry, R&B infused vocals and a "sometimes satiric mélange of rock, jazz, blues and soul".[3] The album was composed by Golden as an autobiographical account of her immersion in the life of New York's East Village,[4] expressed through music and lyrics because, according to her, "a book is too flat."[5] Motor-Cycle describes the underground world of the late 60's counterculture, "down to the last seconal capsule",[3] with lyrics that evoke "a Kerouac novel."[6] Golden's coming of age saga is likely the first rock concept album by a female recording artist.[7] On an album of "restlessly epic roadhouse suites"[8] Golden uses the story-based format, featuring a cast of archetypal characters while playing the part of "emcee" of her own "aberrant cabaret."[8]

Critical reception

Newsweek hailed Golden as a new breed of female troubadour—an artist who not only sings, but writes her own songs: "What is common to them -- to Joni Mitchell and Lotti Golden, to Laura Nyro, [and] Melanie... are the personalized songs they write, like voyages of self discovery…startling in the impact of their poetry."[4] It was listed among the most influential albums of the era by The New York Times music critic Nat Hentoff,[9] who said in 1970, "It's an extraordinary evocation of a life-style… and one girl's plunge into and out of it."[5] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau was less impressed, giving it a "D+" in his consumer guide[10] and finding it "terrible".[2]

In a retrospective review, music critic Path, of Tiny Mix Tapes, said how Motor-Cycle plays like a musical, transporting the listener to the late 60's underground: "Golden gets help on Motor-Cycle from an impeccably arranged Atlantic Records session band… with a flawless, swinging rhythm team. Then, at key moments, the curtain goes up and they've got rows of saxes, trumpets, vibes…and you begin to realize that this is not the same song and dance… it's as if The Velvet Underground recorded for Motown."[8]

Track listing
  • All songs written by Lotti Golden, except track 5 (Golden/Bob Crewe). Copyright Saturday Music.
  1. "Motor-cycle Michael" 8:14
  2. "Gonna Fay's" 8:31
  3. "A Lot Like Lucifer (Celia Said Long Time Loser)" 6:32
  4. "The Space Queens (Silky is Sad)" 7:21
  5. "Who Are Your Friends" 5:52
  6. "Get Together (With Yourself)" 5:36
  7. "You Can Find Him" 5:13

References
  1. David Edwards, Patrice Eyries, and Mike Callahan. "Atlantic Album Discography, Part 5". 8000 Series (1968-1972) SD-8198 to SD- 8305
  2. Christgau, Robert (August 19, 1971). "Consumer Guide (19)". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
  3. Barry, Thomas (Sept 9, 1969). "The Salty Socking Soul of Lotti Golden". Look, pp. 76,76,78
  4. Saal, Hubert (July 14, 1969). " The Girl's-Letting Go". Newsweek, pp. 68,71.
  5. Hentoff, Nat (July, 1969) "Cosmo Listens to Records". Cosmopolitan, p.74.
  6. Otto, Amanda (August 25, 2009). Needle Points, "Who The #@%! Is Lotti Golden", Gutter Magazine
  7. Baker, Robb, (June 8, 1969). "The Sound" Chicago Tribune p.S2
  8. PATH ( May 29, 2008). 1969 "Lotti Golden- Motor-Cycle", Delorean, Tiny Mix Tapes
  9. Hentoff, Nat (March 8, 1970). "The Best of Rock: A Personal Discography". Sunday Section: Rock Recordings, The New York Times, p. M3.
  10. Christgau, Robert (1969). "Consumer Guide (1)". The Village Voice. Retrieved November 5, 2017.
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