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ZAGER & EVANS: VOM FOLK POP ZUM PSYCHEDELIC ROCK
- Feb 02, 2023
Zager & Evans hatten eine merkwürdige Karriere: Mit ihrer ersten Single "In The Year 2525" waren sie 1969 praktisch auf der ganzen Welt auf Platz eins - danach kam aber nichts mehr. Das dürfte vor allem daran gelegen haben, dass das US-amerikanische Duo noch im Jahr des Mega-Erfolgs eine Stiländerung vornahmen. Waren die Songs auf dem LP-Debüt 2525 (EXORDIUM & TERMINUS), das auch die Hit-Single enthielt, noch eine Mischung aus Folk Rock und Pop, legten die beiden Künstler mit ZAGER & EVANS (1970) ein ziemlich durchgeknalltes Psychedelic-Rock-Album vor, dem eingängige Songs fehlten. Der "In The Year ..."-Nachfolger "Mr. Turnkey" hatte wenigstens noch Folk-Rock-Charakter, war aber schon etwas abgehoben. "Listen To The People" hatte zwar den Drive des Top-Hits, allerdings eine extravagante Melodie, die sich einfach nicht festsetzen wollte. Auf dem Album zogen die Beiden dann alle Effektregler hoch. Das kann man als Zeitdokument feiern, oder einfach nur merkwürdig finden. Wie auch immer: Beide Alben sind ein Spiegelbild der ausgehenden 60s und des sich ankündigenden neuen Jahrzehnts. Gehört haben sollte man die Teile durchaus.
Zager & Evans had a strange career: With their first single "In The Year 2525" in 1969, they were at number one practically all over the world - but nothing came after that. This was probably due to the fact that the American duo changed their style in the year of their mega-success. While the songs on the LP debut 2525 (EXORDIUM & TERMINUS), which also contained the hit single, were still a mixture of Folk Rock and Pop, the two artists presented a pretty crazy Psychedelic Rock album with ZAGER & EVANS (1970), which lacked catchy songs. The "In The Year ..." follow-up "Mr. Turnkey" at least still had Folk Rock character, but was already a bit off the wall. "Listen To The People" had the drive of the top hit, but an extravagant melody that just wouldn't catch on. On the album, the two musicins then pulled up all the effects knobs. You can celebrate this as a document of the times, or you can just find it strange. Either way, both albums are a reflection of the end of the 60s and the upcoming new decade. One should have heard both absolutely.
Zager & Evans had a strange career: With their first single "In The Year 2525" in 1969, they were at number one practically all over the world - but nothing came after that. This was probably due to the fact that the American duo changed their style in the year of their mega-success. While the songs on the LP debut 2525 (EXORDIUM & TERMINUS), which also contained the hit single, were still a mixture of Folk Rock and Pop, the two artists presented a pretty crazy Psychedelic Rock album with ZAGER & EVANS (1970), which lacked catchy songs. The "In The Year ..." follow-up "Mr. Turnkey" at least still had Folk Rock character, but was already a bit off the wall. "Listen To The People" had the drive of the top hit, but an extravagant melody that just wouldn't catch on. On the album, the two musicins then pulled up all the effects knobs. You can celebrate this as a document of the times, or you can just find it strange. Either way, both albums are a reflection of the end of the 60s and the upcoming new decade. One should have heard both absolutely.
