Otherworld Cottage Industries Reports Excellent Demographic Responses to "Travis Edward Pike's Odd Tales and Wonders 1964 – 1974 A Decade Of Performance"

June 19, 2014 - Otherworld Cottage Industries claims Travis Edward Pike's fan mail defies generation gaps. A 90-year-old, WWII war bride wrote "I am so glad you decided to write the story of your early successes and disappointments which, I am sure, will inspire other writers and musicians … Best wishes for your CD of 'Stories in Song.' They are all delightful and lots of fun." A retired Vietnam veteran wrote, "I have just finished reading your Odd Tales and Wonders … but you missed my favorite one of your coffeehouse songs with a lot of special meaning to me. I liked seeing all the words to the songs and rhymes … Thank you for a nice read."

Bridget, a student at California State University, Los Angeles wrote, "As I was reading the book, I swear it was as if you were talking to me … it's great you added the English translation for End of Summer. Also, I'm glad you added "The Red-backed, Scaly, Black-bellied, Tusked Bat-winged Dragon. It's my favorite … It was wonderful reading your other stuff, like "Santa's Magic." (It's a new favorite of mine, now.) "The Twaddle and the Gurck" is another one … I try to imitate the way you tell it, but it sounds funny coming from my mouth. I'm glad I read this. I really love it!"

And Alana, Bridget's twin sister wrote "I have read every page of your book with gusto … and now that I have the lyrics for "The Red-backed, Scaly, Black-bellied, Tusked, Bat-winged Dragon," I will definitely be singing along with you, as well as acting out the screams and swoons with my sister. The world of whimsy and magic and wonder you managed to create is one I will forever want to hear and read and sing and listen to over and over again. It makes me feel like I'm part of the magic … a magic I hope to show people with the ideas that I write and draw, and you inspire me not to give up."

It should come as no surprise that the Vietnam era song "Don't You Care At All," referred to by the veteran above is on the "Reconstructed Coffeehouse Blues" CD due out in July. That fan is close to Travis's age and one might imagine that Travis's songs and sounds of the late sixties might especially appeal to him – but the wonders of "Odd Tales and Wonders" do not stop there. One has to wonder how and why his songs have such an impact on young people today.

Says Travis, "The note from the WWII War Bride was a delightful surprise. As for the Vietnam vet, some think that since I wrote these songs and stories in the sixties, I am now recording them for that generation. While I am tremendously pleased that I still speak to my age-group, when I composed and performed the works featured in 'Odd Tales and Wonders,' I was in my early twenties. My audiences were enlisted men and coffeehouse and concert crowds, many of whom were younger than me, mostly ranging in age from their late teens to their mid-twenties. The CalState twins are from the demographic of today that I most appealed to back in the late sixties. They're dealing with the same issues – looking for love, the heartache of failed relationships, what price popularity, all the coming of age issues, so it's no surprise to me that my songs resonate with them. I'm not at all surprised, but I'm thrilled that they do!"

Since the publication of "Odd Tales and Wonders," Travis and his brother, Adam, have recorded two more CD albums firmly rooted in the "1964-1974 Decade of Performance." "Travis Edward Pike's Tea Party Snack Platter," featuring original songs made popular with live audiences by his band, Travis Pike's Tea Party, and "Reconstructed Coffeehouse Blues," songs he performed for servicemen hospitalized in Chelsea and Portsmouth Naval Hospitals in 1965 and 1966, and thereafter, with coffeehouse crowds across New England. Travis and Adam have already begun work on the last CD album to be spawned by "Odd Tales and Wonders," featuring several updated versions of songs Travis composed and performed in the 1966 widescreen, feature film, "Feelin' Good." That album, "Feelin' Good and Getting' Better," has no scheduled release date, but will probably be out before year's end.

Go to http://www.oddtalesandwonders.com and click on the links to hear samples from the CDs or to go to the online store to order products. Reviewers and interviewers may request copies of the book or the CD albums by contacting Otherworld Cottage Industries.