Name: I’m the Sky: Studio and Demo Recordings, 1964–1971
Brand: Norma Tanega

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

ARC0841

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Colour

Black

Colour details

Discogs ID

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format detail

Format Music GB

Limited edition

Release date

2022-05-06

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier GB

The Orchard

Tax rate GB

Standard:20

UPC / Barcode

184923608410

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Total Cap

2 / Extended format: No / LP / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No / black

Artist

Norma Tanega

Genre GB

Folk

Label GB

Anthology Editions

Anthology Editions is a reissue label that aims to bring rare and out-of-print music from all eras, genres, and cultures to the online world. Originally launched in 2006 as an all digital label, Anthology Recordings provided a platform for music enthusiasts to access hard-to-find tracks. Although it went offline in 2011, the label was relaunched in 2014 as part of the Mexican Summer label group. In 2016, Anthology Editions expanded its scope by venturing into publishing books alongside their reissued music collection.

The team at Anthology Editions is dedicated to preserving and sharing *rare* and *out-of-print* musical gems with fans around the globe. With their extensive catalog spanning various eras and genres, they offer a diverse selection that caters to different tastes. Whether you're searching for lost classics or discovering hidden treasures from different cultures, Anthology Editions has something for everyone.

As part of the Mexican Summer label group, Anthology Editions benefits from a strong network within the music industry. This allows them to curate high-quality releases that showcase both well-known artists and lesser-known talents deserving of recognition. Their commitment to excellence ensures that each release is carefully remastered and packaged with informative liner notes, providing an immersive experience for listeners.

Norma Tanega was an American folk and pop singer-songwriter, guitarist, percussionist, painter, teacher, and experimental musician. Born on January 30, 1939 in Vallejo, California and passing away on December 29, 2019 in Claremont, California, USA.
Throughout her career, Norma showcased her talents across various artistic mediums. She captivated audiences with her soulful vocals and heartfelt songwriting. Her skills extended beyond music as she also expressed herself through painting and teaching.
As an experimental musician, Norma pushed boundaries and embraced innovation. Her unique sound blended elements of folk and pop genres to create a style that was truly her own. With her diverse range of talents and passion for creativity, Norma left a lasting impact on the music industry.

Norma Tanega’s I’m the Sky: Studio and Demo Recordings, 1964–1971 is a comprehensive survey of the pioneering folk artist’s two commercially released studio albums, an unreleased album, and a trove of unheard demos. Before playing a pivotal part in folk music’s cultural crossover in the sixties, Tanega was a curious little girl born at the very end of the thirties to a multicultural Navy family in Long Beach, California. Her parents often brought her to Los Angeles for piano lessons, and eventually Tanega earned an MFA at Claremont College, where she studied classical composers like Aaron Copeland and George Gershwin.

Amidst her academic pursuits, Tanega learned to play acoustic guitar and autoharp by following Joan Baez records and hanging out at the Folk Music Center, a music store and performance space in Claremont that exists to this day. After college, Tanega landed in Greenwich Village in 1963 and became active in the coffee house scene and early protests against the Vietnam War. Working summers as a camp counselor in the Catskill Mountains, the up-and-coming producer and arranger Herb Bernstein caught Tanega perform at the camp, and introduced her to songwriter Bob Crewe. The trio found their first collaborative success in 1966 when Tanega’s “Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog” rocketed to #22 on the American and British charts. That same year, Tanega traveled to England where she toured in support of her debut full- length Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog. During rehearsals for the British music television show Ready Steady Go!, Tanega met Dusty Springfield. The pair became fast friends, then lovers and partners in a committed long-distance relationship. Tanega moved to London to be with Springfield, and went on to write and co-write a number of songs for and with Dusty.

While in London, Tanega recorded a second album, Snow Cycles, in 1969 that would never see the light of day, and I Don’t Think It Will Hurt If You Smile, eventually released with little fanfare in 1971. As heard on the first half of I’m the Sky, the same whimsical and joy-filled spirit guides all three of Tanega’s studio albums, and provides a colourful stage for her idiosyncratic meter and songwriting. Tanega’s lyrics touch on love and adoration to introspection and melancholy, while her music offers an eclectic take on popular folk-rock and psychedelic sound of the late sixties.

I’m the Sky: Studio and Demo Recordings, 1964–1971

Music GB