The Story of Coven

One of the most played bands on Arcana Obscura would have to be Coven. Helmed by the mysterious blonde siren Jinx Dawson, Coven released their first album in 1969 entitled Witchcraft Destroys Minds and Reaps Souls, which sounded much like one would imagine a satanic version of Jefferson Airplane.
The album contains a full length "satanic mass" and some gems such as "White Witch of Rose Hall" and "Dignitaries of Hell," which accurately details many of the prominent demons of the infernal regions and their respective ranks and habits (as referenced in Colin de Plancy's Dictionnaire Infernal).

Though not incredibly popular, Coven was encircled with controversy. When they performed in their hometown of Chicago, police had a mandate forbidding the band to speak in between songs, for fear that they would invoke their dark master, I suppose. All of this came to a head when the Manson murders cast aspersions onto the occult subculture and Coven was released from their recording contract.

Coven re-emerged in 1972 with a self-titled album consisting of a very different sound. Reflective of the general evolution of rock in the 70s, Coven had moved towards a more emotional, riff-heavy sound akin to a fusion of Carly Simon and Heart. This album had a song entitled "One Tin Soldier" which was their biggest hit. In 1974, Coven reached the pinnacle of their achievements with Blood on the Snow, one of my all-time favorite albums. The best two tracks on the album are "Lady O" and "Blue Blue Ships."

It is important to remember that Coven is almost definitely the first band to throw up the horns onstage, starting in 1969. Though Gene Simmons and Ronnie James Dio both try to stake that claim, the photos do not lie:

And whatever happened to Coven, you ask? Well, Jinx is still around and looking incredibly hot:

What kind of dark deal did she make Lucifuge Rofocale to retain her youth so? We may never know. But you can visit her personal MySpace page as well as the Coven MySpace page. You can also buy Coven albums and merch via their CafePress store.

You can download this MP3 of "Lady O" to see what I'm talking about. If you like it, buy their albums!

Saturday's Show (7/28/07)

Playlist for Saturday 7/28/07.

Notes (what we learned):

Justin Heathcliff was actually Dr. Osamu Kitajima, a Japanese ad jingle writer who moved to London and became influenced by psychedelia there. He recorded this album under a pseudonym. It is fantastic. In the 80s he became some kind of New Age music guru, along the lines of Yanni or John Tesh.

Though I played Roadrunner by the Modern Lovers, I am in fact NOT in love with Massachusetts.

After playing his popular cocaine smuggling ballad "Coming Into Los Angeles" onstage at Woodstock, Arlo Guthrie announced, "We're gonna do a Bobby Dylan tune, man. Maybe he'll do it with us, you know. Maybe he won't, that's groovy." Whoa, calm down, there Arlo! Jesus, what a hothead.

And finally, never feed a proto-metal jam band after midnight.

Saturday's Show (7/21/07)

Playlist for Saturday 7/21/07.

Notes (what we learned):

Sam Gopal fronted by Lemmy Kilmister (of Motorhead).

Never bring a dull knife to a hobo knife fight.

Dead Moon is the mid 80s brainchild of Fred Cole, who fronted The Weeds and Lollipop Shoppe during the 60s and it essentially channels his veteran rock angst and raw energy.

Arcana Obscura... blog?

Yeah, that's right.

My name is Harrison and I'm here to promote my radio show, Arcana Obscura on WNYU.

Whether you're testifying before congress, publishing an unsuccessful addiction memoir, or making sandwiches for Pegasus the flying horse, I think you'll find Arcana Obscura offers the best and strangest psych and prog rock from the late 60s and early 70s.

The next show is on Saturday July 21 from 6-8pm EST. You can listen live regardless of where you live.

If you send me an email, I will address it on the air. Ask me a question about the 70s, I dare you. Spiro Agnew, pet rocks, Bea Arthur, whatever.