PETER GRUDZIEN
THE UNICORN
Self released, 1974 / Subliminal Sounds, 2007


OK, there have been some very special and strange records here in this column,
but "The Unicorn" by Peter Grudzien is the one that may truly upset the neighbors played too loud. For the musically adventurous listeners and collectors, this provides a never-heard-before, in a way joyful and unexpected experience that seems to come directly from an other dimension. It is often celebrated as the "first psychedelic country concept" album featuring stuff like bluegrass mountain music mixed with tape effects, musique concrete, fuzz guitar, surreal lyrics, and themes that include religion, (gay)sex, death, and some other stuff the audience wasn't really ready for in 1974. All done by an eccentric "urban hillbilly one-man-band"...

Peter Grudzien was born in Astoria, Queens, New York. In the 1950s, he developed a love for Christian and Hillbilly music, and soon found musical kinship in artists like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash. As an art student in the early 1960's, he developed a passion for Bob Dylan and hallucinogenic drugs, later documenting a peyote trip in his 1964 song "I Don't Complain". In 1974, while working as a graphic designer, Peter Grudzien quietly and independently wrote, performed, and recorded "The Unicorn". He then attempted to sell copies – of which there were a mere 500 pressings and no label involvement – in local bookstores and out of his briefcase after shows with little success.

Now, for the first time, there's an exact vinyl reissue out on the swedish Subliminal Sounds label. Also included in this beautiful gatefold sleeve is a bonus record "The Garden of Love", with lots of truly amazing, unreleased material spanning the years 1950-1970. For more information, buy the legendary "Songs in the Key of Z" book or
hurry up and buy this linernote-intensive double LP, as there are only 500 copies pressed again this time. Also watch out for livegigs somewhere in the New York area, where Peter still seems to play from time to time and also sells some unreleased stuff (he claims to have written over 900 songs throughout his career).