living in these star wars

1977 was a seminole year. elvis died. a new elvis was born. the first apple 2 computers went on sale. the clash released their first album, and a little science fiction/fantasy film was released in may of that year which would go on to become the stuff of myth. yeah, i'm talking about star wars.
i suppose i could write a book about my relationship with this film (maybe i should) or at least a screenplay. anyway, central to my story with it is that i never really got a chance to actually see star wars until much later. and so, as a frustrated devotee with much time and little resource i began to assimilate a collection of ephemera to piece the details of the story together for me. books and comics, posters, trading cards and of course records.
in berkeley, not far from where i grew up there was a little shop on telegraph avenue called "the federation trading post" dedicated then to all things geekery. only we didn't know it then. i spent many hard earned credits there and once met david prowse, the actor who played darth vader (well, at least the body of darth vader) one day while looking for something new i spotted this little gem in one the racks. it is titled "living in these star wars" or "star warz" i was never sure.
at first look, the cover seems to indicate these guys are part of the rebel force and that they are rockin' the death star, and indeed they are called "the rebel force band". when i got this baby home, opened it up and put it on the turntable nothing could have prepared me for what came next. this was not an "official" star wars item released with the blessing of george lucas. no, these were just four guys who apparently had fallen in love with the film and taken up the cause. with songs like "you'll be a warrior in the star wars", "chewie the rookie wookie" and "a respirator for darth vader" these cats were bringing the funk.
i honestly have to say, of all my vinyl this has to be my favorite. it's a very personal item from a very formative time. and in fact my copy had gotten a bit dodgy as i'd left it in the back window of my parents car one sunday morning and it forever became a shallow cereal bowl. so i must give a shout out to "brainwerk" from "check the cool wax" for helping me distribute the love today.
as you're listening, picture these guys, adult guys, with their full on boston rock moustaches and flowing hair. and then listen to the "leia" track. and i want you to picture a slightly blurred image of a classy 70's custom van with an x-wing/death star airbrush motif on the side rolling down a coastal highway. and then let it drift from there.
if the force is with you and you are ready to become a warrior in these star wars, simply close your eyes, let go and click here.