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Illuminations is the sixth album by Indigenous Canadian-American singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, released in 1969. Most of the tracks did away with the backing she had used on her previous two albums, and Illuminations had a completely different sound from anything she had previously done. From a basis of vocals and acoustic guitar, Sainte-Marie and producer Maynard Solomon used electronic synthesisers to create a sound that was much more experimental music than folk. Indeed, Illuminations was the first quadraphonic vocal album ever made, and on songs like the album's only single "Better to Find Out for Yourself", her voice is completely altered by a Buchla synthesiser.

Illuminations
Studio album by Buffy Sainte-Marie
Released	1969 (1969)
Recorded	1969
Studio	Electronic Music Studios at State University of New York, Albany, New York
Genre	Folk
Length	35:51
Label	Vanguard
Producer	Maynard Solomon (tracks 1 to 6, 8 and 12) Mark Roth (tracks 7, 9 to 11)
Buffy Sainte-Marie chronology
I'm Gonna Be a Country Girl Again (1968) Illuminations (1969) She Used to Wanna Be a Ballerina (1971)
Singles from Illuminations
"Better to Find Out for Yourself" Released: 1969

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Pitchfork	9.0/10[2]

Peter Schickele, however, did provide arrangements to "Mary", "Adam" and "The Angel", whilst the four tracks "Suffer the Little Children", "With You, Honey", "Guess Who I Saw in Paris" and "He's a Keeper of the Fire" were her first work not to be produced by Vanguard boss Maynard Solomon. Instead, they had a stripped-down rock sound and were produced by little known folk-jazz songwriter Mark Roth. Bob Bozina played guitar, John Craviotta drums and percussion, and Rick Oxendine played bass.

Reception

Illuminations has acquired a fan base quite distinct from that associated with any of Sainte-Marie's other albums. In addition to its being cited as a favourite album by a number of musicians (notably Steve Hackett),[3] a number of critics have seen its twisted, eerie soundscapes as laying the grounds for the evolution of gothic music as well as having an influence on New Weird America.^{[citation needed]}

In 2000, just before Vanguard re-issued it on CD, Wire magazine listed Illuminations amongst its '100 Albums that Set the World on Fire While No-One was Listening'.[4]

Track listing

All songs composed by Buffy Sainte-Marie except where noted.

1. "God Is Alive, Magic Is Afoot" (text by Leonard Cohen from his novel Beautiful Losers / music by Buffy Sainte-Marie) – 4:51
2. "Mary" – 1:30
3. "Better to Find Out for Yourself" – 2:12
4. "The Vampire" – 2:05
5. "Adam" (Richie Havens) – 5:05
6. "The Dream Tree" – 2:34
7. "Suffer the Little Children" – 2:53
8. "The Angel" (Ed Freeman) – 3:41
9. "With You, Honey" – 1:48
10. "Guess Who I Saw in Paris" – 2:25
11. "He's a Keeper of the Fire" – 3:21
12. "Poppies" – 3:26

Personnel

• Buffy Sainte Marie - Vocals, Guitar
• Electronic Score – Michael Czajkowski
• Bass – Rick Oxendine (tracks: 9, 10, 11)
• Drums – John Craviotto (tracks: 9, 10, 11)
• Lead Guitar – Bob Bozina (tracks: 6, 9, 10, 11)
• Arranged By – Peter Schickele (tracks: 2, 5, 8)
• Engineer – Bob Lurie, Ed Friedner
• Mixed By – Jack Lathrop
• Producer – Maynard Solomon (tracks 1 to 6, 8, 12)
• Producer - Mark Roth (tracks: 7, 9 to 11)

References

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