John Cale / Tony Conrad / Angus MacLise / La Monte Young / Marian Zazeela - Inside The Dream Syndicate Volume I: Day Of Niagara (1965)

As far as I know, this had done the rounds as an almost unseen bootleg tape and had never "officially" seen the light until this release. Given that these sounds were never meant to be recorded, and the source material, audio fidelity is patchy but still adds to the mystery and majesty. Unfortunately, it's eventual release saw some old wounds reopened. The people named as contributors constitute the core of the "Theatre Of Eternal Music" who were a wide ranging set of artists working with La Monte Young (and all of the Dream Syndicate compositions probably sit more comfortably within the "Theatre" context). However, La Monte Young took great exception to the presentation of this work as a collaborative composition and employed legal services to leave people in no doubt that he claimed sole authorship. The apparently long sustained bitterness does nothing to detract from the seminal importance of the work of these people at this point in history. Just enjoy it for what it is.

CD released on Table Of The Elements in 2000.

Day Of Niagara