David Ackles


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American Gothic (1972), 7/10 Links:

One of the greatest American singer-songwriters of the 1970s, David Ackles (born in Illinois in 1937) was one of the Los Angeles eccentrics (Tim Buckley, VanDyke Parks) who set a new standard for melodic music.

David Ackles (Elektra, 1968), re-released as The Road To Cairo, containing his debut single, Down River, The Road To Cairo, as well as the psychodrama His Name Is Andrew, and Subway To The Country (Elektra, 1970) revealed his eclectic and depressed talent when he when also in his thirties. Ackles could write a song about the most unpleasant subject and sing it in a tormented and macabre tone.

American Gothic (Elektra, 1972), his masterpiece and a awe-inspiring fresco of American life, managed to bridge Kurt Weill's decadent orchestrations and Woody Guthrie's passionate story-telling.

Five & Dime (Columbia, 1974) was a nostalgic concept about ordinary life in the USA.

Ackles retired from music and became a professor of musical theatre. He scored a musical, "Sister Aimee", which is still unreleased.

David Ackles died in Los Angeles of cancer in March 1999.

(Translated by Ornella C. Grannis)

David Ackles (nato nell'Illinois nel 1937) e' stato uno dei piu' grandi cantautori americani. Fece parte, insieme a Tim Buckley e VanDyke Parks, dei Los Angeles Freaks e insieme a loro stabili' i nuovi standard della musica melodica.

David Ackles (Elektra, 1968), che contiene il 45 giri del debutto, Down River - in seguito ridistribuito con il titolo The Road To Cairo, dall'omonimo brano - e Subway To The Country (Elektra, 1970), rivelano il suo talento eclettico e depresso. Ackles avrebbe potuto scrivere canzoni su qualsiasi tema, anche il piu' sgradevole e poi cantarle nel suo tono macabro e tormentato.

American Gothic (Elektra, 1972), il suo capolavoro, e' un affresco di vita americana che fa da ponte tra le orchestrazioni decadenti di Kurt Weill e l'intensa narrativa di Woody Guthrie.

Five & Dime (Colombia, 1974) e' un nostalgico concept-album sulla vita di tutti i giorni negli Stati Uniti.

Ackles abbandono' le scene per dedicarsi all'insegnamento della musica da teatro. Compose un musical, "Sister Aimee", tuttavia inedito.

David Ackles e' morto di cancro a marzo del 1999, a Los Angeles.

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