Music of El Topo

by Shades of Joy

Music of El Topo cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: December 1971
  • Label: Douglas
  • Country: United States
  • Length: 38:10
  • Community rating: 3.84/5 from 3 ratings

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Conceived as an interpretive R&B/jazz-rock companion to Alejandro Jodorowsky's cult surrealist film, 'Music of El Topo' was orchestrated by American studio collective Shades of Joy[cite: 1]. The ensemble rearranges Jodorowsky's original cinematic themes into groovy, heavily psychedelic instrumental jams anchored by prominent brass and fuzz guitar[cite: 1]. The album serves as a fascinating, funky parallel to the notorious midnight movie[cite: 1].

Genres

Descriptors: Folk, melodic, instrumental, soundtrack, acoustic

Tracklist

  1. The Desert Is A Circle (7:40)
  2. Man Of Seven Years (2:00)
  3. Flute In A Quarry (7:11)
  4. Together (3:20)
  5. El Topo's Dream (2:29)
  6. Slowest & Saddest Waltz (4:10)
  7. Freakout #1 (11:20)

Credits

  • Shades of Joy - primary artist
  • Ivory Smylie - congas, triangle
  • Martin Fierro - cowbell, flute, guiro [scratcher], alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, arranged by, conductor, sleeve notes, written-by
  • Eddie Adams - cowbell, tambourine, acoustic bass, electric upright bass
  • Jerry Love - drums
  • Jack Dorsey - drums, guiro [scratcher]
  • Roger Troy - electric bass [electric 6 strings acoustic, fender]
  • Howard Wales - electric piano, organ

More from Shades of Joy: full discography