Gilli Smyth first started performing with Soft Machine in the sixties when the band played their mixture of poetry/music gigs. Gilli became more active as a performer following the formation of Gong with her partner Daevid Allen following his departure from the aforementioned Soft Machine in 1968.
Following her departure with Allen from Paris following the Paris riots of late 1968 Gilli along with Allen decamped to Spain although the duo once again returned to France in 1969 where the second edition of Gong became a reality. Gilli was the only female in the band originally and developed her "Space Whisper" which became an integral part of the Gong sound.
Gilli along with Daevid Allen left Gong in 1974 and moved to Spain and spent her time writing material that would find its way onto her debut solo album Mother in 1978. It is with this album the story of Mother Gong begins. From here Gilli began performing concerts as Mother Gong and played many high profile concerts including Glastonbury Festival in 1979 and again in 1981.
The band has been through a number of personnel changes over the years with Gilli at the helm of all the various incarnations of the band. Gilli has also managed to resume working alongside Daevid Allen in various incarnations of Gong including but not limited to Planet Gong, Gongmaison and more recently the Gong Acid Mothers line up.
Live In the USA has been unavailable for some time and this reissue will be a welcome release for the dedicated Mother Gong and Gong related fan base. Recorded at various locations across America in 1991 from New York to Texas. The line up features Gilli Smyth, Harry Williamson, Rob Calvert and Tom The Poet.
Tracks featured include, Womb, Wilful Housewife, Four Horsemen and Wild Child.
01 Womb 02 In the beginning 03 Four horsemen 04 New man 05 Ambassadors 06 Hungry 07 Fat cats 08 Big daddy world 09 Miaow 10 Pigalle 11 Superboots 12 Wild child
13 Sorry! 14 Mr union carbide 15 Space case 16 We who were raging 17 Wilful housewife 18 Crying is strength too