Iain’s Reviews > Moondog > Status Update

(1971-1974) The first Columbia album is a peak in a life with many valleys. However it does not lead to wider success. Moondog returns to the streets but is reunited with his wife Mary and his daughter June who become a part of the Moondog 2 album. The album faces difficulties in production and a lukewarm reception. Moondog then leaves for Germany.

(1969-1970) After a mainly quiet decade in the 60s without large releases but with much work and several performances '69 arrived and with it the Columbia album. Entitled "Moondog", the album signalled Moondog's ascension from street busker to fully fledged composer. What an album honestly, a sense of fun in its songs but also more epic booming compositions all suffused with his rhythm and counterpoint.

(1960-69) After a court battle, numerous albums and a separation from his wife and child that would last until the 70s Moondog starts the 60s in jail. He has hit rock bottom. The author offers some great commentary on the 60s and how it's dream of peace and love seems naive in hindsight and dead in practice in our current world. In this decade Moondog would become the Viking he would forever be known as.

(1953-1960) Moondog's second marriage and first child, Mary and June respectively. Hard to understate the influence of these two events and people on his first recordings. His relationship with Tony Schwartz who produced much of this early material. Public performances. Throughout relaying his life the author on occasion provides some insightful commentary but never oversteps his place as biographer.

(1943-1953) Moondog moves to New York and continues to expand his musical and personal horizons. He adopts his nom de plume, meets many people and in turn some of this relationships reflect his childhood. People cannot or do not seem to want to understand him but this does not deter him from walking his particularly unique path.

(1929-1943) Moondogs parents marriage dissolves but as he enters those strange teenage years he gains a greater sense of himself and of other people. He acquires a feel for the orchestral and creates more instruments, unfortunately his creative hand leaves him blind due to tinkering with a blast cap found left behind by rail crews after a flood.

(1916-1929) This section covers Moondog as a child in Wisconsin. Fascinating to see how his parents were instrumental in the local church but due to writing a satirical novel which clearly poked fun at the church they were cast out of the community. Moondog heads with his father to Wyoming and at one point hears native Americans drum at a reservation. Birth of his love of percussion?

A lovely preface from Philip Glass recalling Moondogs impact on his life. An intro from the author on Moondog as a person and writing this book with Moondog and after he has passed and a final intro relaying a typical day for Moondog in the 60's in Manhattan.