Gayle Caldwell Discography:
ALBUM- Celebration of Life (1968)

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About This Album
Credits
Liner Notes
Photos
Release Date
Track Listing

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About This Album

Gayle's feelings about this album are mixed.  Ironically, it is highly sought by record collectors and commands a fairly high price, depending upon where you get it.  It was produced by Chad Stuart (of the pop duo, Chad & Jeremy).

For the most part, Gayle thinks this album is "okay", but there were some things done in production to give it certain psychedelic overtunes that she wasn't entirely pleased with.  "Some parts made it sound like I was on drugs," she laughs.  In 1968, "psychedelic" was the thing.  Unfortunately, it wasn't a good fit for Gayle, who wasn't at all a part of the psychedelic sub-culture.  Perhaps worst of all, the psychedelic sound was outdated by 1970, which made this album hard to re-release.

Still, this is a fine solo album with great musical highlights.  The only thing that dates it is the occasional psychedelic feel.  If you're into the psychedelic sound, like I am, it won't bother you a bit.  The rest of the music is timeless and just as fresh today as it was in 1968.

Gayle's next solo album, All is One, is a great follow-up.  It's the Gayle you know, with more musical maturity, but without the psychedelics.

Gayle had a framed copy of this album hanging on the wall of her living room.  She was still very proud of her work, although she wished it had sold better at the time.  Gayle looked on the cover very fondly because she was pregnant with her youngest daughter Melissa at the time.  Gayle and Melissa were quite close.  Sadly, Melissa died 11 years before her mother.

Track Listing

1. The Birth of Today (2:05)
2. Celebration of Life (4:04)
3. Wandering (2:50)
4. Morning of Lovely Thoughts (2:17)
5. Cycles (3:11)
6. Man on the Corner (3:52)
7. Quiet Prince (3:28)
8. Lonely Lily (3:39)
9. Nice People (2:45)
10. Understanding (2:21)

All songs written by Gayle Caldwell
(Irving Music Inc., BMI)

Release Date

1968, A&M Records (Catalog Number: A&M SP 4196)

Credits

Chad Stuart- Arranger & Producer (For Almo Productions)
Rick Henke- Engineer
Tom Wilkes- Art Direction; Front Cover Photography
Jim McCrary- Back Cover Photography

Liner Notes

I'm yearning to feel and experience all that exists
For there is so much!
A moment can hold for a lifetime.
The ever constant changes of the tides
And seasons and generations
Only make me more aware
Of the movement within myself

Nothing is static, not even the soul
Nothing remains the same, not even for a minute
For rebirth is more real than a promise.
It can renew the body, a wish, even an ideal.
So I will celebrate life...all of it!
Not only the sweet, but the bitter as well
The sure along with the doubtful
The sadness that so often follows great happiness
And even my loneliness when we are apart.

Life is to be fully and deeply tasted
From its first tiny pulse to its last know consciousness
As it surely ebbs into a new being
A new day.
Yes there is always time
Always time for the celebration of life.

Photos

The photos you see below are of a copy I had Gayle sign for me.  This turned out to be the very last thing she ever autographed for anyone.  She passed away two weeks later.

You'll notice in the photo above that Gayle is pregnant.  Believe it or not, a lot of people don't catch that, nor do they get the significance of the album's title.


"Blair, you have revived some wonderful times.  Warmly, Gayle Caldwell"


Gayle did this as well.  She was married to stuntman Richard "Dick" Ziker at the time.  Gayle was pregnant with their daughter Melissa.  In her dedication, she wanted it to read: 'This album is dedicated to Richard Ziker, without whom this cover would not have been possible.'  A&M screwed up her dedication, replacing the word 'cover' with 'album'.  Just one word messed up the whole idea of what she was trying to say!  Richard had NOTHING to do with the album itself, but was partly responsible for what you see on the cover.  The mistake kind of ruined Gayle's little tongue-in-cheek joke.  She wanted to correct it by crossing out the word 'album' and writing 'cover' below it.  I don't think she ever got the chance to do it before, and it bothered her for years!


This is the back cover and I believe Gayle told me that she wasn't pregnant (or at least not showing) at the time it was taken.  The front cover photo was taken later.