Talk:October Project

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It's really unfortunate that the original lineup of October Project didn't last because artistically speaking October Project was, in all respects but sales, a first class supergroup. With melodies as good as any Lennon-McCartney, lyrics as literate as Kurt Weil, and one of the most powerful female voices of the twentieth century, they produced some of the most painfully beautiful music ever recorded.

Asking why they didn’t sell is kind of like asking why Van Gogh didn’t sell in his lifetime. The blame rests with the audience, and the corporate dominated music industry that simply couldn’t figure out what to do with them.

October Project’s only real mistakes seem to be with personality dynamics. If Lennon and McCartney could make room on Beatle albums for Harrison to write an occasional song, Flanders and Adler should have been able to let Mary Fahl write a few compositions, if just to keep her in the group. True, they’re about the best team the music business ever produced, but Fahl is a truly unique talent, with the finesse of a Barbara Streisand, the operatic qualities of a Beverly Sills, and the raw power of a Janis Joplin. At times her vocals are indistinguishable from an Echoplex tape reverb in full feedback (the nuclear option of music effects in the sixties, as on Spirit’s 12 Dreams album).

Maybe when they’re inducted into the Hall of Fame some years from now they’ll do a reunion tour. We can hope.

71.116.126.90 00:19, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

Was inclusion of Fahl compositions an issue? I heard (not from a source I can rely on for Wikipedia purposes, alas) that the group's original plan was to have, in effect, two lead singers, but that neither Fahl nor the record label could live with that approach.

I agree with you that Fahl is an amazing talent. The post-Fahl OP is still making great music, though. JamesMLane t c 10:59, 2 February 2007 (UTC)

We will probably never know for certain exactly why Fahl and October Project parted ways, but Fahl has been quoted as saying she was told "in no uncertain terms" that she would never be allowed to write songs for October Project, and it really bothered her.

James, you’re quite right in saying October Project is still making extraordinarily beautiful music, and without Fahl's dominating presence it’s easier to notice it. I probably listened to “Something More Than This” dozens of times on the strength of it’s lyrics and melody before I really noticed how superbly crafted the instrumental arrangement was. Their latest work, the Christmas single and their 6 song EP are as good as ever. Let’s hope Adler and Flanders manage to stay together, and we can look forward to new music from them for decades yet to come. 71.116.126.90 01:40, 3 February 2007 (UTC)