ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
VICTOR KAHN
ABOUT
THE AUTHOR
VICTOR KAHN
From the beginning I was always a 'word lover.' The way the song lyrics started to have meaning and finally made the music worth thinking about. For me it all began with the Beatle's "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album. That record really changed my life! Those were the words and musical images that awakened my dreams & creative juices and 'revolutionized the world' as we knew it then. Having graduated from New York University in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing ~ It was the song lyrics that elevated my mind and motivated me into a 13 year career in the music business. I designed album covers and music books; preparing the graphic images and packaging for the original Superstars of rock music. My major art, design, photography and assembly credits included multiple record album covers, posters & books for Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, The Beatle's 'Hey Jude' (plus many more as shown further below.) Yes, a very nice circle to play in during the Woodstock generation. Both for the then ultimate 'Fast Lane' and for just how wonderful it was to touch what is now sadly becoming Rock & Roll Heaven!
What it seems that we all understood in those simpler times was the meaning behind the music; not the political rhetoric. As in a true paradox it has taken us through assassination, conspiracy and lies ~ to the doors of perception of the truth. It has brought me personally on a path of spiritual realization through my writings about the great illusion of life!
My lyrics, poems and spiritual growth was written & developed over a period of 43 years. Now all this time later, I am finally able to put all of this into a 'Gift of Knowledge' that can be shared and understood by everyone. All of these metaphysical thoughts & surreal images spread the meaning of life to you the readers. It now goes beyond politics, ego, music & art and touches on fate & destiny that this view of my worlds within "THE GREAT ILLUSION" has been presented here for your intellectual understanding and spiritual evolution. The Great Illusion opens you to see. It takes you beyond lifestyle, religion & philosophy. It opens you into an area where the subconscious mind actually recognizes the universal concepts of love, harmony and manifestation. Now with all the knowledge that has been exposed to us here, we shall create a better next chapter!
The Missing Link
It's not what you do, but what you think...
the concept of purpose is the found missing link.
Look toward the future is a place in your mind,
that attracts what is ready to be born into time.Find what's important to prepare for the ride,
the Yin and the Yang of something inside.
Thought is like magic ~ Life is the blur,
a mind bending concept that's meant to occur.Seeing the picture of how life it just flows,
the balance and harmony we must all undergo.
Eye of the eagle with the heart of a dove,
opposite forces of the Power of Love.
Back in those early days of my rock music graphic arts career I quietly wrote words to songs. Lyrics of course that in those years I would never show to anyone! Actually my first poem "Life is a Circle" was originally started from an Aquarian thought that struck a chord within me. Those words were "It Only Takes A Song To Understand". A meaningful line from the song called 'Smile' written by my late friend Bert Sommer who was cast as 'Woof' in the original Broadway show "HAIR". Bert also did 4 solo albums for Capitol, Buddah and Eleuthera Records; the first three were produced by Artie Kornfeld who created the Woodstock Festival at which Bert performed on August 15, 1969. Hear his life changing song "Hold the Light" (by clicking the > arrow below) that first started my long journey into metaphysical consciousness.
Bert Sommer performing at Woodstock
Woodstock producer Artie Kornfeld & me still hanging
Victor Kahn at Woodstock on August 15th, 1969
backstage (day one) as the early crowd starts flowing in
Additionally, if you are at all interested in the real story behind the 1969 Woodstock Music Festival ~
Artie Kornfeld's 40th anniversary book that I designed 'The Pied Piper of Woodstock' is available on Amazon here.
Additionally you may take a visit to Artie's personal website that I designed for him at www.artiekornfeld-woodstock.com
...as well as the memorial website that I did for Woodstock performer Bert Sommer at www.bertsommer.com
Some places in time where my art, design, name & credits still reside...
The 40th anniversary Woodstock book cover art & design in 2009
...and Artie's official Woodstock website at www.artiekornfeld-woodstock.com
...the last two official Jimi Hendrix album designs & poster releases
...four Rolling Stones album artwork, assembly, sleeve and poster design
Keith & Mick approve the new "Let it Bleed" cover - 1969 (photo by Ethan Russell)
The 20 Most Valuable Records Ever
#19. The Rolling Stones, 'Promotional Album' LP, 1969 (per NME & Record Collector)
Just 200 copies of this were pressed, 100 each for the US and the UK, and sent to radio stations.
...the Beatles "HEY JUDE" 1970 album
The 'Hey Jude' cover shooting was photograhed by Ethan Russell at John Lennon's home on 8/22/69
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My 'Hey Jude' album cover graphics evolution. That name 'Beatles Again' was never an option for me!
My name change was about the first stereo release of the song 'Hey Jude' two years after the mono single.
...and three HAIR show cast LP's are Bert Sommer, Jennifer Warnes and Martha Velez
At the right is my first album cover (Zombies) and then some of my many music books for Screen Gems.
Special thanks to my old friend Eric Christensen for his
new documentary movie called 'The Cover Story' about
the making of record album cover art. He was gracious
enough to include me in his wonderful film
along with just
about
every
famous graphic artist, photographer and LP
SEE IT HERE: www.thecoverstoryalbumart.com
It has taken quite an effort to develop 'The Great Illusion' to this point. I would like to thank my personal friend and visionary artist Jim Warren for collaborating with his immense artistic talent to all of these surreal metaphysical adventures. Jim's career also began in the music business realizing its ultimate achievement; A Grammy Award in 1980 for his painting of Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band's 'Against the Wind' album cover. At your leisure you may visit Jim Warren's personal website www.jimwarren.com to view over 40 years of his incredible visionary art.
The
late 60's brought us to the edge of the Aquarian Age.
Peace, Love and Woodstock became the symbols
of a new generation.
Some grew their hair long and tried dropping out of the 'rat-race' to become
hippies, vegetarians,
politicians ...and Rock Stars!
Brian Jones & Leon Russell ~ dressed for the new revolution!
A
counterculture that wore tie-dye, tried pacify and sought to mystify.
Some tripped, most slipped.
Some tested rules, others tested drugs.
A patriotic hippie smoked the flag ...not burned it!
Most
inhaled ~ Clinton didn't
LOVE
IS OUR LAW ~ TRUTH IS OUR WORSHIP
~ FORM IS OUR MANIFESTATION
CONSCIENCE IS OUR GUIDE ~ PEACE IS OUR SHELTER ~ NATURE
IS OUR COMPANION
ORDER IS OUR ATTITUDE ~ BEAUTY AND PERFECTION IS OUR LIFE
Patriotic
Rolling Papers were first introduced on July 4, 1970
at the 'Honor America Day Smoke-in' in
Washington, DC on
the march for legalization by Paul Ropp, Richard Sauter and me!
"An unidentified hippie smokes what appears to be a marijuana cigarette for the benefit of a pair of
middle-aged women, along with several other onlookers, during the ‘Honor America Day Smoke-In' thrown by
marijuana activists to protest other government ceremonies being held at the Lincoln Memorial, Washington, DC"
Paul Ropp and me celebrating Obama's re-election 42 years later
The big 180 degree reversal
...my corporate America years
Camelot ~ that other great illusion'
We all remember where we were that day. Being a graphic artist I switched seats with JFK and put myself in the back left seat of the presidential
limousine, placed it in front of the Texas School Book Depository on the day of the assassination to see if I could maybe change history.
personal contact:
The Road to Travel
It
has been a really important part of my life's journey to share these concepts with you.
I would truly appreciate even just a short comment about what you have read here.
Click either of the above images to email me directly or:
THE JOURNEY
May your mind always be open
May your thoughts always be pure
May your dreams always be answered
May your path always be sure.
May you live the life you wanted
May you have the one you love
May you take from those who offer
May you thank those up above.
May you listen to the answers
May you mean the words you speak
May you understand the secret
that creates the life you seek...
May your journey be remembered for what you say and do
May you touch the world & change it ~ Love, Expand, Renew
This website is dedicated to Bert Sommer & Richard Shannon whose words started it all for me.
©1999-2013 Victor Kahn (and Jim Warren) for The Great Illusion ~ Library of Congress copyright # TXU000909102 / 06-21-1999
victor@thegreatillusion.com / Palm Beach County, Florida / U.S.A.
All the original oil paintings throughout this entire website are done by Jim Warren and copyrighted.
Special appreciation needs to go out to Ethan Russell whose photography appears in
almost every piece of 60's graphic art, album design & assembly that I was part of for:
The Beatles, The Stones, London Records, Apple Records, Abkco Records, and Alan Steckler.
Please read the copyrights page linked below for questions regarding downloading
or use of the words & images.
This website has been free on the internet since November 22, 1998 and reaching over 2.9 million readers!
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