BILL HOLT (Early 1970s, album released in 1974)
Bill Holt describes his early life in the 1950s and '60s as "seemingly one-dimensional" and "pretty much pre-packaged," until the assassination of President Kennedy. As the nation's shock accelerated political, cultural and musical evolutions, Holt became inspired to create something original that would capture the moment. In 1974, he was ready. Determined to record and self-release an album that told this story, Holt quit his sales job at 3M in Philadelphia and set to work. The album DREAMIES: auralgraphic entertainment, that he recorded in his Claymont, DE, basement became the time capsule he set out to make, resonating with audiences around the globe for years to come.
Holt created the album using a 4-track reel-to-reel recorder, acoustic guitar and a Moog Sonic Six synthesizer. His experimental pop sound is woven through two meandering 25-minute songs, that feature carefully recorded TV news clips, layered over synth, sound effects, such as a stop watch, and Holt's vocals.
Dreamies original press was 2,000 copies, sold in Philadelphia record stores and via mail order. Without commercial success to support himself financially, Holt returned to the business world, but repeated the process again to release Program Twelve (The End Is Near) on CD in 2006.
Address: 732 Elmtree Ln, Claymont, DE 19703
Members: Bill Holt
List of releases: Discogs
- Dreamies Auralgraphic Entertainment (Stone Theatre Productions 1973)
- Program Twelve (The End Is Near) CD (Wilmington Studios 2006).
Links:
- Purchase remastered reissue
- Wikipedia
- Review by Obladada John
- Review by Joe Tangari on Pitchfork
- Review by The Self Portrait Gospel
- Interview with Klemen Breznikar in It's Psychedelic! Baby Magazine
- Interview on Swan Fungus Substack
Full album on YouTube
Trailer for Dreamies DVD from Bill Holt YouTube