02-27 058
Leaf
Arcesia
Reachin' Arcesia
(1972)
The story of John Arcesi has been told a few times, but to those not in the know, I'll paraphrase here.
John Arcesi was a crooner during the tail end of the big band era, late 40s into the 50s. He would never reach major fame, but would consistently release singles throughout the 50s, sometimes under his own name, sometimes under aliases.
By 1961 or thereabouts, he would pause his career and settle down with his wife, then a decade later, something happened.
Some sources say he had a breakdown with psychotropics, some say it was the death of his wife the year prior, but in 1972 at age 54, he would write and record "Reachin' Arcesia," aa tortured vanity project of the psychedelic era with the vocal strains of the aged balladeer he was.
The wild album has been the conversation of many theories to what frame of mind John Arcesi had during the project... and it appears after it was recorded he lived the remaining decade or so of his life as an artist in Hawaii before settling back in Palm Springs... the place his wife and him spent the last years of her life.
Many tracks from this album have been comped already... "White Panther," "Butterfly Mind" and "Rainy Sunday." The album itself released in many bootlegs and one official reissue, which I suggest seeking out.
Listen here!
