Day 27 - S.F. Sorrow (1968) ⚠ Warning: Neurodivergent Yapping ahead — S.F. Sorrow is my favourite album of all time. It is also the first rock opera, and profoundly influenced The Who's Tommy. S.F. Sorrow incorporates a variety of influences, including the Beatles' superfluous chanting in "Bracelets of Fingers," Syd Barrett's psychedelia in "Defecting Grey," proto-punk in the grisly "Old Man Going," and even a hint of R&B in heavier songs like "She Says Good Morning," which dates back to the Pretty Things' early days. The triptych "I See You -> Well Of Destiny -> Trust" is probably my favourite three-song-run from any album. S.F. Sorrow chronicles the story of a single protagonist named "Sebastian F. Sorrow" and his journey towards trust to ultimate delusion. The album was inspired by "Cutting Up Sergeant Time", one of Phil May's short stories based loosely around an ordinary WWI veteran. For those who have not had a chance to read the narrative, here is a "brief" explanation (I can honestly go on-and-on about S.F. Sorrow): Sebastian F. Sorrow was born in Number 3 of a nameless town to ordinary parents. Nobody knew what the "F" in his name stood for but nobody really cared, which is how his miserable life will go. He spends the most of his childhood in the 'greys of his mind'. In other words — maladaptive daydreaming and sex. Phil May portrays him to be an alluring, though sensitive soul (much like himself.) As he grows older, Sorrow falls in love with the girl next door. The two dream of escaping the miserable town and establishing a new life elsewhere. Just then, World War I rolls in and Sorrow is drafted into the army. Once again, he tries to escape the ugliness of war via his imaginations. Unfortunately, it isn't quite as easy as it once was. "See shells whistle Let your mind drift away See shells whistle Let your mind hide away" When the war was finally over, Sorrow takes refuge in a new land called "Amerik." He sends a balloon ticket for his beloved wife to join him. Upon arrival, Sorrow watches as the balloon bursts into flames, which consume the love of his life. The narrator makes a brief remark, "In sadness, she was buried by the spade of his grief." Sorrow grows lonely as he wanders the streets of New York City. Once more, he allows his imaginations to take flight, trying to block out his grief. He dreams of being visited by the mysterious Baron Saturday, a tall man cloaked in black. Baron Saturday magically lifts Sorrow into the sky and heads towards what Sorrow believes to be the Moon (which is symbolized in the rock opera as beauty.) But the true destination was Sorrow's core itself. Sorrow reexaminines himself and sights his dead fiance for the last time. This experience leads him down to depression. Instead of continuing to fight against the world with his imagination, Sorrow resigns to a world where people have given up all emotional attachment to a belief that it would be better: "Finding that their minds are grey And there’s no sorrow in the world that’s left to trust" As he grows older, bitter Sorrow descends into insanity, blocking out light until all is dark. The album ends with the melancholy "Loneliest Person," where Sorrow sings: "You might be the loneliest person in the world Your name it would have to be me" — Sorrow realizes his destiny was implied by his name, and accepts his tragic fate. The CD reissue also includes a few more tracks, most notably "Defecting Grey" and "Walking Through My Dreams." "Defecting Grey" is particularly noteworthy since it addresses the notion that S.F. Sorrow is bisexual, which would make sense given that composer Phil May was one of Kent's rock 'n' roll bicons ("bi-icon"). The idea, however, was abandoned, and the track did not appear on the original S.F. Sorrow. However, it is up to the audience to decide whether: 1) S.F. Sorrow concludes with a disillusioned Sorrow; 2) Sorrow self-actualizing and learning to love again. TL;DR, S.F. Sorrow was well ahead of its time and remains under appreciated even today. If you enjoyed the album, I highly recommend that you listen to "Emotions" and "Parachute", both by the same artist.