Tolkien, Muz Murray and the Third Ear Band in an interesting essay by philologist Monica Sanz.

In an interesting article entitled "Shadows of Middle-Earth: Tolkien in Subculture, Counterculture and Exploitation" written by Monica Sanz, a graduate in English Philology specialising in British Isles Literature, I was quoted for my old interview with Muz Murray (read here) about his magazine "Gandalf's Garden' and his relationship with the Third Ear Band.

The seat of Gandalf's Garden in Chelsea (London), circa 1969. Photo: Colin Bord.

Sanz, an expert on J.R.R. Tolkien, reflects in his essay on the influence exerted by the writer on contemporary culture. “Tolkien's works have inspired many artists,” he explains in the abstract of the essay, "who reflected their 

Muz Murray and Jaya Amler  (photo by Colin Bord).

"views on illustrations, music, cinema or comics. But they also have inspired unexplored niches of artistic realisations, their influence reaching even subcultural and countercultural movements. Through Tolkien’s personal view of applicability and his aim to leave inspiration for other hands to complete his masterpieces, and by adopting a Cultural Studies perspective, this essay will take you on an unexpected journey through lesser known cultural phenomena that resonate with Tolkien’s works as inspiration, justification, appropriation or reflection. The results of such interactions may surprise you, as well as they could surprise Tolkien himself, but they prove to be worth the study as independent entities touched by the Professor’s writings."

"Gandalf's Garden" issue 1 (1968).

The essay can be downloaded free of charge from the Academia website at

https://www.academia.edu/99237418/Shadows_of_Middle_Earth_Tolkien_in_Subculture_Counterculture_and_Exploitation

no©2026LucaChinoFerrari (unless you intend to make a profit. In which case, ask first). 

American label published vinyl edition of the Elements album in August 2025.

In August 2025, the American label Antarctica Starts Here (San Francisco, California) released the remastered vinyl edition of Third Ear Band's second album (catalog number ASH 104) under license from Cherry Red Records. Following the release of “Alchemy” by Esoteric Recordings (2019) and “Music from Macbeth” by Spain's Munster Records (2020), the release of the Elements album completes the remastering of the Harvest catalog on vinyl, arriving just as long-playing records are enjoying a renaissance.

Comparing my original 1970 gatefold edition (SHSP 773) with this one, it must be said that the packaging of Antarctica Starts Here faithfully reproduces that of Harvest, but features a much thicker cardboard sleeve with bright, more contrasting colors. Inside, this new edition features brilliant black-and-white photo and drawings without (of course) the EMI-Harvest label and the catalog number.

On a colorful insert, brief notes by Dave Segal outline the band's history.

And how does the record sound?

Despite its decidedly dull label, the vinyl sounds really good, with brilliant dynamics, full-bodied sound, which, on my stereo system, make listening (especially at high volume) a unique, truly extraordinary experience that even shakes my conviction that “Alchemy” is my favourite album...

Distributed in regular record stores, it costs between 30 and 40 euros, and can be purchased on the label website (https://www.superiorviaduct.com/collections/catalogue/products/third-ear-band-s-t-lp) for 25 dollars.

 no©2026LucaChinoFerrari (unless you intend to make a profit. In which case, ask first).