Non-Gratuitous Violins Dept.

The King Kong album prompted comments about Lead Violin In Rock (a hot debate topic, back when people cared abut the things that mattered), which prompted me to spin a few pioneering examples. The Flock [Jerry Goodman, above - Ed.] were FoamFeatured Antecedently©, in one of the least popular pieces ever pasted to the front page, so I'm hoping this selection will stir up as much interest!

Showbiz charmer, pal of Charles Manson, drug dealer and convicted torturer-murderer Bobby Beausoleil's 1966 Orkustra attracted David LaFlamme, who smartly bailed for It's A Beautiful Day after establishing the chin cello as a viable lead instrument in rock, and before he could get slain by a bunch of heroin-crazed satanists. "Lucky Bobby" continues his studies to this day at Government College with no student debt to repay.

Sea Train's first album from '68 got hijacked by their label and released as the contract-fulfilling last Blues Project album Planned Obsolescence, a mistake that alienated existing fans rather than attracting new ones. Labels is dumbass. Richard Greene bothers the catgut to rousing effect, and the violin's place in rock is assured. Groovy album, new cover by je, you'll dig it. A consistently excellent band [FFA© - Ed.].

It's A Beautiful Day's first album from '69 is so great it's as great as its cover, so great it is. A big hit, too. I've added Love For You, the only contemporary non-album track by the band, because it slides in perfectly. White Bird is playing as we speak, as white birds fly above the Mekong. It's a beautiful day!

Fairport Convention's Unhalfbricking, again from '69, was their first to feature Dave Swarbrick's fiddle, showcased on the extended jamming of A Sailor's Life. And yes, it's a rock album.

High Tide is highly rated by the Mandrax/Quaalude set (hi, Steve!), but not je. First album from 1970 features headachey fiddling from Simon House. Next!

Curved Air's first album Airconditioning made a big impact in the UK in '70, not least for being a beautiful but shitty-sounding picture disc. Darryl Way's violin and Sonja Kristina's tremulously icy vox gave the band a unique sound, and in Vivaldi they had a college-circuit showstopper.

String Cheese were obviously inspired by IABD, but lacked the material. Their lone album from '71 features Greg Bloch's violin - he played on the It's Not Such A Beautiful Day album Today, when LaFlamme mistakenly took a back seat.

Also in '71, Jerry Goodman made an explosive and unexpected return in The Mahavishnu Orchestra's The Inner Mounting Flame, a staggering achievement that owed nothing to anybody and made everything else seem like ... string cheese.

It had been two years since their last studio album Volunteers, and in '72 Jefferson Airplane were no longer skywriting messages people needed to hear. Bark is an album by a band that doesn't know what it's for any more. Papa John Creach was an inspired addition on violin, but not enough to stop their compass spinning.

Note: Some favorites omitted - including yours - because reasons. I ignore John Cale's challenging work with the Velvet Underground because he plays the fucking viola.