Wee Tam and the Big Huge

Background

The Incredible String Band were fairly busy in the latter half of 1968. With their popularity and reputation growing on both sides of the Atlantic, they began selling out large venues like the Fillmore and the Royal Albert Hall. As Heron explains, "...we were touring maybe six months of the year and by that time we all lived together, in eight cottages joined together in this place called Glen Row. When we were not on the road we were either in the studio or playing each other songs we'd written. So it came out of the experience of just being in each other's company all the time". With their recent exposure to the musical style of the U.S., the band returned to England hoping to incorporate both of their English and American influences. The internal politics of the band also changed as both Heron and Williamson both had a desire to have a say on one another's arrangements. More important was the emergence of Simpson to balance out the role of McKechnie, which, upon further developments, exerted a positive effect on the band. With the incorporation of the two new personnel, live performances could more closely resemble album pieces, which was in the band's mind as Wee Tam and the Big Huge was simpler in comparison to its predecessor.

Recording took place between April and August 1968 on an intermittent basis at Sound Techniques Studios in Chelsea, London. The tracks were more conventional in concept, but the band still continued to utilize eastern instrumentals in the album's development. Wee Tam and the Big Huge, like on past albums, exudes a specific message of serenity, harmony, and overall well-being. The album had an optimistic outlook on life, nature, and the universe while retaining a sense of eclecticism. Heron and Williamson's interaction on another's compositions also played a large role, more so noticeable on the instrumental development of the tracks. The whole process was complete with less overdubbing than on past albums due to the more standard arrangements and lengthier recording period.

Release

In November 1968, Wee Tam and the Big Huge was released by Elektra Records as EKL 4036. In the UK, the album was released as a double LP, but in the U.S. the album was released individually as Wee Tam and The Big Huge. This affected sales and chart position in the U.S., but, more importantly, it diluted the single thematic continuum the band had expected the album would express. The front and back covers were featured as both covers, and lyric sheets as the design was simply showing the lyrics of all the tracks. For the individual albums, there are images of Williamson and Heron posing in a garden. On the inside of the gatefold sleeve, a poem by Williamson, along with two accompanying pictures on each fold are present. Upon release, the album, again, earned the band success in the UK, but after the decision by Elektra's American office to split the album, the sales fared less successfully. Still, Wee Tam managed to reach number 174 on the Billboard 200, and The Big Huge also charted at number 180.

Personnel