Ltd to 1000

Side One:
A Day In The Life Of Lemuria
Night Way
The Butterfly Of Wonder

Side Two:
Laughing Thunder, Crawling Thunder
Thunder Sun

Side Three:
Kateri Tekakwitha
Thunder Love

Side Four:
Song Of The Great Mystery
Death Song
A Day In The Life Of Lemuria (Alternate Take)

Songs of the Great Mystery – The Lost Vanguard Sessions, then, takes its place as the third of the triumvirat of albums Basho recorded for the label. Some of the tunes showed up on later albums in much different forms; 1978’s Visions of the Country featured “A Day in the Life of Lemuria” (re-titled “Leaf in the Wind”) and “Night Way” and “Laughing Thunder, Crawling Thunder” went through various permutations before appearing on 1981’s Rainbow Thunder as “Crashing Thunder”. But for Basho fans, the originals will probably steal the show, particularly “Song of the Great Mystery”, which, unlike some of the songs here that showcase Basho’s singing and piano-playing, brings to the fore his amazing six-string guitar technique and touch.

Vanguard briefly put these sessions up digitally when they were located, but Real Gone Music’s release represents the first time they have come out in any physical form (and the alternate take of “A Day in the Life of Lemuria”, also discovered by Jones, has never been heard anywhere). Featuring track-by-track annotation, rare photos (including Basho’s own handwritten notes found in the tape box), and remastering by Mike Milchner of SonicVision.