Wichita Lineman

Put aside the fact that there’s very little chance of listening to this song/album/recording legally these days. Put aside the fact that the b-side of this 42 minute long cover of “Wichita Lineman”, a reworking of Crosby, Stills, & Nash’s “Guinnevere,” is even more elusive to find. And put aside the lack of knowledge of the Dick Slessig Combo in general apart from a handful of articles, the most deep-diving of which is an Aquarium Drunkard piece from 2020. Click the YouTube link and try to do as little as possible. Each repeating chord progression sliding gently back and forth for what seems like an eternity, the cushiony drums, the deep organ, and the times where the song is in danger of actually turning into a straightforward cover. It is beautiful improvisation, dangerous in its gentle stamina. Let it happen.