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Plain and Fancy

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Plato

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

Shawn Phillips - Live In The Seventies (1972-78 us, a blast of thunder in an acoustic lace, artistic melodic and sharp, 2022 three disc digipak remaster)



It has been quite a number of years since the last Shawn Phillips release. I remember seeing his album Second Contribution with him wearing a black cape facing away from the camera on a dry lake bed with cracked mud in the record store when it was released while I was in college. It fascinated me, but being on a tight student’s budget, I passed on it. Then when I moved to Houston in 1972, Shawn was hitting his stride and the local FM radio station KLOL gave him a lot of airplay. And over that decade, he established his presence. This new triple CD set presents nearly four hours of music from eight unreleased live performances between 1972 and 1978. 51 songs from his discography: Contribution, Second Contribution, Collaboration, Faces, Bright White, Furthermore, Rumplestiltskin’s Resolve, and Transcendence. 

This set of live recordings covers most of these albums, and I am sure some die hard fans will lament that some songs did not make it, for example “Man Hole Covered Wagon,” but that is not a great loss as the majority of the well-known songs are here. Lovingly restored from the source tapes by Prof. Stoned - you should check out his blog, the sound quality is quite good overall. I saw Shawn perform live in February 1978 at the Houston Music Hall, but the performance unfortunately is not on this set. What I do remember is that Shawn played hard on both his acoustic and electric guitars, just like you will hear on Live in the Seventies. He also was a great story teller between songs, which sadly is not on this set. He enthralled his audiences, even on his most quiet of ballads. There is barely any audience chatter, except for some moments at the Texas Opry House in Houston. And Shawn was very appreciative of that. What we have here are several FM broadcasts - Majestic Theater in Dallas on April 4, 1973; The Nugget in Rochester, NY on April 10, 1972; Ivanhoe Theatre in Chicago on March 31, 1977, and Texas Opry House on December 11, 1978, some soundboard recordings - unknown venue in 1973; Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio on October 28, 1973: Municipal Auditorium in Austin on November 1, 1973; and The Forum in Inglewood on January  30, 1974. Despite the muffled sound on some of these old recordings, Shawn’s Texas drawl and crystal clear multi-octave vocals stand out. And you can tell that his various audiences loved every minute of each performance. 

One thing does puzzle me though. John Williiams’ iconic five-note sequence from Close Encounters of the Third Kind was well known after its release on November 16, 1977. Yet when Shawn included the sequence in the intro to “Maestoso” a year later on December 11, 1978, the audience did not react. Very odd. Think Like a Key should be applauded for rejuvenating these performances and releasing them nearly 50 years later. Many  of Shawn’s albums are out of print, so this set is an easy way to delve into his discography. And it is a wonderful companion to Shawn’s other live albums released between 2007 and 2009.
by Henry Schneider, Published 2022-08-10


Tracks
Disc 1
1. Lovely Lady - 4:24
2. We - 3:05
3. Lady Of The Blue Rose - 5:16
4. Landscape - 4:11
5. Hey Miss Lonely - 3:02
6. Springwind - 7:31
7. Coming Down Soft & Easy - 6:22
8. Planned "O" - 7:19
9. Never Did Go Down To Baltimore - 2:10
10.Dream Queen - 4:13
11.Screamer For Phlyses - 5:29
12.Steel Eyes - 4:42
13.Song For Sagittarians - 3:49
14.Whaz' Zat? - 1:52
15.Schmaltz Waltz - 2:28
16.Spaceman - 4:40
17.Song For Northern Ireland - 2:09
18.Cape Barras (Shawn Phillips, J. Peter Robinson) - 4:52
Words and Music by Shawn Phillips except track #18
Tracks 1-10 KAFM radio broadcast at Majestic Theater, Dallas TX, April 4th 1973
Tracks 11-15 WCMF radio broadcast The Nugget, Rochester NY, April 10th 1972 
Tracks 16-18 unknown venue, Texas 1973


Disc 2
1. Starbright - 3:01
2. Breakthrough - 5:33
3. Technotronic Lad - 2:48
4. All The Kings And Castles - 4:43
5. Victoria Emmanuele - 4:33
6. Not Quite Nonsense - 2:37
7. Troof - 4:21
8. Talking In The Garden - 9:38
9. Anello - Where Are You - 3:11
10.I Took A Walk - 6:04
11.Woman - 6:06
12.Keep On - 2:30
13.Sleepwalker - 3:49
14.Song For Mr. C - 5:44
15.Furthermore (Shawn Phillips, J. Peter Robinson) - 2:13
16.January First (Shawn Phillips, J. Peter Robinson) - 4:18
17.Bright White - 3:13
Lyrics and Music by Shawn Phillips except tracks #15,16
Tracks 1-5 Municipal Auditorium, San Antonio TX, October 28th 1973
Tracks 6-11 Municipal Auditorium, Austin TX, November 1st 1973
Tracks 15-17 The Forum, Inglewood CA, January 30th 1974


Disc 3
1. Moonshine / Big Boos Man (Shawn Phillips / Luther Dixon, Al Smith) - 6:29
2. Ballad Of Casey Deiss - 6:52
3. Serendipity Peace - 3:53
4. What's Happenin' Jim - 3:53
5. Today - 6:38
6. Early Morning Hours - 5:53
7. Memories For Jh - 2:25
8. Lookin' Up, Lookin' Down - 4:14
9. Good Evening Madam - 2:09
10.Take It Easy - 4:40
11.Lady In Violet - 4:56
12.Implications - 4:47
13.Motes Of Dust - 7:00
14.Julia's Letters - 3:06
15.Maestoso - 4:17
16.Ease Your Mind (Michael Kamen) - 6:24
All songs by Shawn Phillips except where noted
Tracks 1-7 WXRT radio broadcast, Ivanhoe Theatre, Chicago IL, March 31st 1977
Tracks 8-16 FM radio broadcast, ITexas Opry House, Houston TX, December 11th 1978

Musicians
*Shawn Phillips - Vocals, Guitars
*J. Peter Robinson - Keyboards
*Barrington York De Souza - Drums
*Anthony Walmsley - Guitar (Disc 1)
*John Gustafson - Bass (Disc 2)

1970  Shawn Phillips - Contribution / Second Contribution (2009 remaster)
1971  Shawn Phillips - Collaboration
1969-72  Shawn Phillips - Faces (2014 remaster) 

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Sunday, December 1, 2024

Dr. Feelgood - Original Album Series (1977-81 uk, tough boogie pub rock, 2016 five disc box set)



Not as random as it might first appear, this five-disc set joins the Feelgoods’ timeline with the Canvey Island band on the verge of major changes. Sneakin’ Suspicion was the band’s fourth release, and the last to feature guitar-toting figurehead Wilko Johnson, soon to be sacked (in ill-judged haste, considering his role as Feelgood’s sole writer).

It’s a state of affairs born out by the 1977 album’s reliance on covers, with the title track arguably the only original to meet the benchmark set by previous material. Be Seeing You, released later the same year with new strummer John Mayo, found them tapping old friends Larry Wallis and producer Nick Lowe for new songs, while reworked 60s soul hits (Wilson Pickett, Homer Banks) suggested an at least partial detour from their pub-rock roots.

All but three tracks on Let It Roll (1979) were written specifically for the album, on which various permutations of members collaborated with session player Pete Wingfield and producer Mike Vernon, most effectively on the near hit single Put Him Out Of Your Mind, but it was a relatively underwhelming collection.

They were back on track for 1980’s high-octane A Case Of The Shakes, with Lowe again producing and singer Lee Brilleaux writing with more confidence on Punch Drunk and Drives Me Wild. That album was the furthest they’d escape Johnson’s long shadow.

And as if to underline the lessening dependence on their erstwhile founder, 1981’s live release On The Job completely ignores the Wilko-era songs that were hitherto the backbone of any Feelgoods set list. It would, however, be Mayo’s last outing and mark the end of the group’s long deal with label United Artists, the law of diminishing returns heralding their final days as a force with which to be reckoned.
by Terry Staunton,  21 December 2016 


Tracks
Disc 1  Sneakin' Suspicion 1977
1. Sneakin' Suspicion - 3:55
2. Paradise - 4:06
3. Nothin' Shakin' - But The Leaves On The Trees (Cirino Colacrai, Diane Lampert, Eddie Fontaine, John Gluck Jr.) - 3:29
4. Time And The Devil - 3:01
5. Lights Out (Mac Rebennack, Seth David) - 1:55
6. Lucky Seven (Lew Lewis) - 2:48
7. All My Love - 3:50
8. You'll Be Mine (Willie Dixon) - 3:21
9. Walking On The Edge - 3:42
10.Hey Mama Keep Your Mouth Shut (Ellas McDaniel) - 3:57
All songs by Wilko Johnson unless as else written


Disc 2  Be Seeing You 1977
1. Ninety-Nine And A Half (Won't Do) (Eddie Floyd, Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett) - 3:09
2. She's A Windup (John Mayo, Big Figure, John B. Sparks, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:00
3. I Thought I Had It Made (John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:16
4. I Don't Wanna Know (John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:42
5. That's It, I Quit (Nick Lowe) - 2:35
6. As Long As The Price Is Right (Larry Wallis) - 3:09
7. Hi-Rise (John Mayo) - 2:37
8. My Buddy Buddy Friends (Aaron Corhton) - 2:45
9. Baby Jane (Bernard Reed, Harry Nesbitt, Jerry Wilson, John Bishop, Lee Simmons) - 2:58
10.The Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock 'n' Roll (Brownie McGhee, McKinley Morganfield) - 2:20
11.Looking Back (Johnny Guitar Watson) - 2:00
12.60 Minutes Of Your Love (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) - 2:24


Disc 3  Let It Roll
1. Java Blue (Rick Danko) - 4:30
2. Feels Good (John Mayo, Pete Wingfield) - 3:25
3. Put Him Out Of Your Mind (John Mayo, Mike Vernon) - 3:50
4. Bend Your Ear (John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 4:02
5. Hong Kong Money (John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 4:36
6. Keeka Smeeka (John Mayo) - 4:02
7. Shotgun (John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 6:28
8. Pretty Face (Chris Boyle, Gavin Daneski, Ralph Worman, Vic Sendall) - 2:34
9. Ridin' On The L & N (Dan Burley, Lionel Hampton) - 3:32
10.Drop Everthing And Run (Graham Foster, Pete Wingfield, Mike Vernon) - 3:17


Disc 4  A Case Of The Shakes 1980
1. Jumping From Love To Love (Bat Fasterly, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:52
2. Going Some Place Else (Larry Wallis) - 2:17
3. Best In The World (Nick Lowe) - 2:33
4. Punch Drunk (Larry Wallis, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:44
5. King For A Day (Larry Wallis, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:06
6. Violent Love (Otis Rush) - 2:20
7. No Mo Do Yakamo (Allen Rush, Dennis Linde) - 2:15
8. Love Hound (Allen Rush, Dennis Linde) - 3:00
9. Who's Winning (Nick Lowe, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:12
10.Coming To You (John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:47
11.Drives Me Wild (Bat Fasterly, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:24
12.Case Of The Shakes (Bat Fasterly, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 2:56


Disc 5  On The Job 1981
1. Drives Me Wild (Bat Fasterly, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:48
2. Java Blue (Rick Danko) - 3:57
3. Jumping From Love To Love (Bat Fasterly, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 3:06
4. Pretty Face (Chris Boyle, Gavin Daneski, Ralph Worman, Vic Sendall) - 2:44
5. No Mo Do Yakamo (Allen Rush, Dennis Linde) - 2:07
6. Love Hound (Allen Rush, Dennis Linde) - 2:59
7. Best In The World (Nick Lowe) - 2:31
8. Who's Winning (Nick Lowe, John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 2:09
9. Riding On The L & N (Dan Burley, Lionel Hampton) - 3:21
10.Case Of The Shakes (Bat Fasterly, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux) - 3:06
11.Shotgun Blues (John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 5:48
12.Goodnight Vienna (John B. Sparks, John Mayo, Lee Brilleaux, John Martin) - 0:44

Dr Feelgood
*Lee Brilleaux - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
*John B. Sparks - Bass Guitar, Vocals
*Gypie Mayo - Guitar
*The Big Figure (John Martin) - Drums, Vocals
With 
*Tim Hinkley - Keyboards (Disc 1)


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Thursday, November 28, 2024

rep> Bryan MacLean - Ifyoubelievein (1966-82 us, splendid acoustic folk psych, Sundazed issue)



Bryan MacLean guitarist, singer and songwriter of the cult 60's Californian band Love, died of a heart attack on Christmas day 1998 in the city of Los Angeles where he was born.

Love were responsible for producing the album 'Forever Changes' in 1967 which has long held the reputation with music critics for being one of the finest albums ever made and although Arthur Lee did most of the song writing for the band, it is Bryan's song 'Alone Again Or' from that classic album that Love are generally remembered for.

Born in Beverley Hills, California in 1946, Bryan's father was an architect to the Hollywood stars and his mother an artist and a dancer. Neighbour Fritz Loew of the composers Lener and Loew recognised him as a melodic genius at the age of three as he doodled on the piano. Bryan's gift for music was duly noted and he was given piano lessons and taught classical arrangement theory. Bryan's early influences were more Billie Holliday and George Gershwin rather than Robert Johnson, although he confessed a strong obsession for Elvis Presley. During his childhood he wore out show music records from 'Guys and Dolls', 'Oklahoma', 'South Pacific' and 'West Side Story'. 

His first girlfriend was Liza Minelli and they would sit at the piano together and sing songs like 'The Wizard of Oz'. He learned to swim in Elizabeth Taylor's pool and his father's best friend was Robert Stack from T.V's 'Untouchables'. At 17 Bryan encountered the Beatles, "Before the Beatles I had been into folk music. I had been showing my art work at a panel shop (I wanted to be an artist in the bohemian tradition) - where we would sit around with banjos and do folk music, but when I saw 'A Hard Days Night' everything changed. I let my hair grow out and I got kicked out of three high schools."

Bryan started playing guitar in 1963/64. He got a job at the Balladeer before it changed its name to the Troubadour Club, playing back-up blues guitar. It was here he met the pre Byrds Jet Set while dating Jackie De Shannon and he became 'fast friends' with David Crosby. He moved away from home and by early 1965 he became road manager for the Byrds on their first Californian tour with the Rolling Stones. He managed one more cross-country tour with the group after they hit big with 'Mr Tambourine Man' but the exhausting 30 one nighters broke him physically and when the Byrds left for their first U.K. tour in the summer of 1965 they left Bryan behind.

After an unsuccessful audition for a part in the Monkees Bryan got into a car on Sunset Strip which Arthur Lee was driving. Arthur had a band called the Grass Roots doing a residency at the Brave New World Club and being street wise knew Bryan's 'connections' with the Byrds. He knew all of the scene that followed the Byrds would follow Bryan if he invited him to see the band play at the club as the Byrds were out of town and sure enough after a couple of weeks the crowds were lined up and down the street for blocks. Bryan desperately wanted to join the band and he said, "I'd give my right arm to be in your group." To which Arthur responded "No - you're going to need it!" The Grass Roots became Love when another group registered a hit with the name.
Bryan MacLean-official

"The music that is presented in this collection was written, decades ago, when I was in the band LOVE, and was written with that band in mind, and had been intended to be performed by, and associated with the band, LOVE... So what did happen? ... why weren't they? well...

Arthur was the leader, and he made the final decisions, and we did, primarily his songs. Oh, I didn't mind really, Arthur was my (best) friend, and I was having a ball.

I firmly believe if things had been the other way around, by now, you probably would've already heard a great deal, if not all, of what is assembled here. For one thing, I would have stuck around the band alot longer, not feeling the frustration of having such a backlog of unpublished, and unperformed material, and the natural unfulfilled desire for recognition, or even vindication. But things weren't, and I didn't, and after all, it's not what happens, so much, it's how you end up."
Bryan MacLean


Tracks
1. Barber John - 4:03
2. Fresh Hope - 4:13
3. Kathleen - 2:03
4. Orange Skies - 4:19
5. Strong Commitment - 3:22
6. Alone Again Or - 3:32
7. Tired Of Sitting - 2:33
8. Blues Singer - 3:23
9. Friday's Party - 2:56
10.People - 2:49
11.Claudia - 3:01
12.If You Believe In - 3:06
13.Orange Skies (Second Version) - 4:34
14.Alone Again Or (Second Version) - 3:46
15.She Looks Good - 3:59
16.Old Man - 3:05
All songs by Bryan MacLean

*Bryan MacLean - Vocals, Guitar

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Wednesday, November 27, 2024

rep> Marble Phrogg - Marble Phrogg (1968 us, hard psych, Relics 2011 edition)



This now rare and sought-after album was the work of a band from Tulsa in Northeastern Oklahoma. Although entirely embellished with cover versions collectors will pay hundreds of bucks for an original copy, the attraction being that many of the covers are as good, maybe even better than the originals. 

First off is I'm So Glad with some tasty fuzz guitar; next up is Love Me Again with more superb guitar work; this is evident too on Mars Bonfire's Born To Be Wild - every bit as good as The Steppenwolf version. There's a fine rendition of The Byrds' I Feel A Whole Lot Better, a very psychedelic treatment of Ingle-De Loach's Fields Of Sun with some excellent guitarwork and drumming and a fine Hendrix impersonation on Fire. 

Side Two isn't quite as good but it includes a rehash of Mick Jagger's Connection, a very fuzzy cover of Strange Brew and impressive reworks of Donovan's Season Of The Witch and Eric Burdon's Sky Pilot. Certainly any collector of psychedelia should snap up the recent repress. It has an interesting back cover too! 


Tracks
1. I'm So Glad (Skip James) - 4:08
2. Love Me Again (Phil Norvell) - 3:57
3. Born To Be Wild (Mars Bonfire) - 3:45
4. I'll Feel A Whole Lot Better (Gene Clark) - 2:48
5. Fields Of Sun (Darryl DeLoach, Doug Ingle) - 2:47
6. Fire (Jimi Hendrix) - 2:58
7. Ryder (Rose) - 2:47
8. Connection (Mick Jagger) - 2:16
9. Strange Brew (Eric Clapton, Gail Collins, Felix Pappalardi) - 2:45
10.There's A Girl (Dickerson) - 3:17
11.Season Of The Witch (Donovan Leitch) - 4:05
12.Sky Pilot (Eric Burdon) - 5:28

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Friday, November 22, 2024

Meal Ticket - The Albums (1977-78 uk / canada, beautiful country soft rock, 2017 three disc box set)



Meal Ticket’s first album “Code Of The Road” was released in 1977, possibly the worst possible timing ever as the pub-rock movement into which they could have fitted had dissipated in 1976 to give way to punk-rock, a real shame as that first LP is a cracking record that will satisfy every fan of American country-rock. This first album firmly dominated by the writing partnership between keyboard player Rick Jones and lyricist Dave Pierce (which Steve Simpson describes as an integral part of the band in the liner notes) and sees lead vocals spread between Willy Finlayson and Rick Jones. “Code Of The Road” is probably the mellowest of the three LP’s with a feel not too far removed from what band like Poco were doing on the other side of the Atlantic at the same time. The guitar work courtesy of Ray Flacke and Steve Simpson is fabulous throughout. To sum things up: a great debut album.

During the Watford gig, great covers of  tracks by Boz Scaggs, Tony Joe White, Randy Newman proved  that Meal Ticket’s main influences came from the US. The band opened for several American artists on their UK tours but never toured Uncle Sam’s country. Their follow-up album “Three Times A Day” (also released in 1977) is often considered a lesser effort which is untrue but turns out to have a  more spontaneous feel than its predecessor. Opening track “This Could Be The Town” (a song from Willy’s days in “Bees Make Honey” penned by Barry Richardson) has turned out to be the band’s most famous song due to an appearance on The Old Grey Whistle Test. Finlayson’s vocals on the excellent version of “Yesterday’s Music” prove that he was a more than worthy competitor to Glen Frey and Bob Seger.
by Craig Chaligne, 1 February 2017 

Their third and last album "Take Away" from 1978, is splendid and fully demonstrates their unique characteristics of being pop and catchy despite their extremely earthy sound. They play The Band's famous song "Shape I'm In." and Mike Heron's, "Down On My Knees", is a little mellow and a great piece. 


Tracks
Disc 1 Code Of The Road 1977
1. Out Of The Blue - 4:46
2. Keepin' The Faith - 6:31
3. Ok Bar - Same Old Story - 3:53
4. Last One To Know - 4:36
5. Day Job - 4:26
6. The Man From Mexico - 6:52
7. Snow - 3:21
8. Golden Girl - 4:26
9. Standing On The Wrong Corner - 3:29
10.Georgia Syncopator - 3:02
11.The Code Of The Road - 1:17
Tracks 1-5 written by Dave Pierce, Rick Jones, Steve Hammond
Track 6 written by Michael Ross, Rick Jones
Tracks 7-11 written by Rick Jones, Dave Pierce


Disc 2 Three Times A Day 1977
1. This Could Be The Town - 2:38
2. Oh Sister - 3:35
3. Last Port Of Call - 4:54
4. Comes The Dawn - 3:09
5. River Man - 5:45
6. Yesterday's Music - 3:31
7. Rural Routes - 3:19
8. I Wish, I Wish - 3:06
9. Laughing Daughter - 4:01
10.This Dream I Have Of You - 4:01
Track 1 written by Barry Richardson
Track 2 written by Rick Jones, Steve Simpson
Tracks 3,4,8,9,10 written by Dave Pierce, Rick Jones
Track 5 written by Steve Simpson
Track 6 written by David Clayton-Thomas, William Daniel Smith
Track 7 written by Dave Pierce, Rick Jones, Steve Hammond 


Disc 3 Take Away 1978
1. Why In The World? - 3:21
2. Down On My Knees - 4:09
3. Lucy - 4:29
4. Lonestar Motel - 3:32
5. The Shape I'm In - 4:06
6. Blame - 2:46
7. Simple - 3:05
8. Bonnie Lee's Dinette - 3:33
9. At The Funny Farm - 2:51
10.Get On Board - 3:19
11.Son Of The Creature From The Black Lagoon - 4:34
12.Boogie Queen - 4:27
Tracks 1,8 written by Dave Pierce, Rick Jones, Steve Hammond
Track 2 written by Mike Heron
Tracks 3,6,7,9,11 written by Dave Pierce, Rick Jones
Track 4 written by Dave Pierce, Rick Jones, Willy Finlayson
Track 5 written by Robbie Robertson
Track 10,12 written by Barry Richardson
Bonus tracks 11,12 live recordings

Meal Ticket
*Richard Jones - Keyboards, Lead Vocals
*Steve Simpson - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Fiddle, Mandolin
*Willy Finlayson - Guitar, Keyboards, Lead Vocals
*Jack Brand - Bass, Vocals (Discs 1,2)
*Chris Hunt - Drums, Percussion (Discs 1,2)
*Ray Flacke - Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Dobro, Vocals (Disc 1)
*Alan Coulter - Drums (Disc 3)
*Rod Demick - Bass, Vocals (Disc 3)
With
*Alby Greenhalgh - Saxophone (Disc 1, Track 5)
*Don Weller - Saxophone (Disc 2, Track 4)

Related Acts

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Friday, November 15, 2024

Thomas Jefferson Kaye - First Grade (1974 us, wonderful folk classic rock, 2016 korean remaster)



Thomas Jefferson Kaye's second solo work “First Grade'' is perfect. Along with the 1st, it can be recommended as a masterpiece of a swamp singer-songwriter. All three albums he released in the 70's, including White Cloud, are all essentials, and the works he has been involved in producing are all wonderful.

The participating members are all famous, Steely Dan's Donald Fagen, Walter Becker, Jeff Baxter, Rick Derringer, Richie Huley, Timothy Schmidt, Jim Gordon, Joe Osborne, Dean Parks, Clydie King, Dusty Springfield, and a strong lineup including Jimmy Haskell, who arranged the horn and strings.

Thomas Jefferson Kaye a talented man was also active as a producer for Bob Neuwirth, Gene Clark, Gordon Waller, Link Wray, he also produced and participated on Dr. John's, Hammond's and Bloomfield's "Triumvirate" in 1973. Thomas Jefferson Kaye (real name Kontos), died in hospital in Warwick, New York, September 16th, 1994.


Tracks
1. Northern California (Thomas Jefferson Kaye) - 1:12
2. Easy Kind Of Feeling (Thomas Jefferson Kaye) - 3:38
3. She Bout To Drive Me Wild (Alvin Robinson, Jessie Hill, King Floyd, Mac Rebennack) - 4:13
4. Say That You Love Me (Loudon Wainwright III) - 2:26
5. American Lovers (Donald Fagen, Walter Becker) - 5:00
6. Jones (Donald Fagen, Walter Becker) - 3:17
7. Shine The Light (Link Wray) - 3:36
8. All Cried Out (Thomas Jefferson Kaye) - 4:23
9. L. A. (Thomas Jefferson Kaye) - 2:44
10.One Man Band (Thomas Jefferson Kaye) - 3:14

Personnel
*Thomas Jefferson Kaye - Guitars, Vocals
*Rick Derringer - Electric, Acoustic, Slide Guitars
*Jim Gordon - Drums
*Dean Parks - Electric, Acoustic Guitars
*Joe Osborne - Bass
*Victor Feldman - Percussion
*Michael Omartian - Keyboards
*Jeff Baxter - Guitar
*Walter Becker - Bass
*Donald Fagen - Keyboards
*Richie Furay - Vocals
*Jimmie Haskell - Horn
*Clydie King - Vocals
*Jim Mason - Vocals
*Sherlie Matthews Vocals
*Timothy B. Schmit - Vocals
*Dusty Springfield - Vocals

Related Acts

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Sunday, November 10, 2024

The Stanky Brown Group - Our Pleasure To Serve You (1976 us, fine brass funk rock, 2010 edition)



The Stanky Brown Group was an industrious rock sextet from New Jersey. With a varied blend of sounds and exceptional musical talent, the Stanky Brown Group has delivered a mix of brass mellow and funky free soul elements with their debut album " Our Pleasure To Serve You’ in 1976. Recorded at Ultima Sound Studios in Blauvelt, New York, and featuring first rate guests such as “Mountain” Leslie West on lead guitar, Eric Weissberg on pedal steel guitar among others and nice songs like “A Hundred Times Around”.


Tracks
1. Masquerade - 3:28
2. You've Come Over Me - 3:52
3. Let's Get to Livin' - 3:28
4. U B U - 2:30
5. A Hundred Times Around - 5:15
6. Don't You Refuse - 2:47
7. Friday Night Without You - 2:50
8. Matthew - 3:02
9. Misery Loves Company - 3:09
10.Ravin' Beauty - 3:25
11.Where Have They Gone - 3:45
Songs 1,2,3,5,6,9 written by Jeffrey Leynor
Songs 4,7,8,10,11 Music by James Brown, Lyrics by Frank Greene

The Stanky Brown Group
*James Brown - Keyboards, Vocals. ARP 2600, ARP Pro-Soloist
*Richard Bunkiewicz - Assorted Fender Basses, Mostly Fretless
*Jerry M. Cordasco - Pearl Drums, Percussion, Vocals
*Jeffrey Leynor - Acoustic, Electric Guitars, Vocals
*Allan Ross - Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
*Frank Greene - Lyrics
With
*Leslie West - Lead Guitar (Tracks 1,3,10)
*Stan Bronstein - Tenor Saxophone (Tracks 2,4,7,9)
*Eric Weissberg - Pedal Steel Guitar (Tracks 2,11)
*George Devens - Chimes (Track 3), Bass Marimba (Track 4), Vibes (Track 5)
*Santos - Latin Percussion (Track 4)
*Al Steckler - Tambourine (Track 5
*Ron Frangipane - Tambourine (Track 5)
*Joe Shepley - Flugelhorn (Track 8), Piccollo Trumpet (Track 11)
*Artie Kaplan - Clarinet (Track 9)
*Frank Green - Tambourine (Track 11)


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Sunday, November 3, 2024

Rain - Tomorrow Never Comes The NYC Sessions (1967-68 uk / us, fantastic sunny beat psych, 2024 remaster)



One popular noun used in songwriting is “Rain”, expressing a wide range of feelings and emotions. Here, I’m using this concerning a band, and there are a number of groups who have chosen to take this as their moniker. Be this Rain, the ‘90s indie band who achieved minor success with their song ‘Lemonstone Desired’. Or the Basingstoke band The Rain, another indie-pop band who began their activity, even earlier, in 1986. Another group who predated both of these are Rain, the band unearthed by Cherry Red and imprint Grapefruit, on the release of Tomorrow Never Comes: The NYC Sessions 1967-1968. This Beatles-meets-West-Coast vibe comes from a band who played at both the Gilmore and Whiskey a Go-Go, in the early ‘60s, but failed to make headway or achieve a recording contract. An early US-only single was issued under the name One, but the band renamed themselves Rain, after their favourite Beatles B-side. No complaints from me, both The Beatles and their track are favourites, but what about this West Coast band. Will they deserve to have their music held with the same esteem as both of these?

Well, early on, I can confirm that the 16 tracks here both surprised and fed my wish for great sounds, albeit with a hippy-trippy vibe. This single CD package comes complete with reproductions of some of the vintage handbills and posters the band advertised their appearances with, as well as photos from New York friend, Linda Eastman, perfect for these fans of The Beatles. This is the first-ever release of this lost psychedelic pop album, which both pleases and leaves me questioning why it is only now that TNC has been made available. Maybe it’s that ‘Tomorrow Never Knows’, but enough of my frippery, let me press play.

Wow, now this is music sprinkled with some fairy dust, as the first track ‘Sapphire Skies’ makes its debut. Music that is not the same as, but certainly inspired by the likes of Jimi Hendrix and his Experience, this track kicks ass. With musical effects laid on the vocal and instrumentation, it has the feel that it has consumed a dose of LSD before recording. But if this opening track was a little full-on for you, then the second track ‘One Is All, And All Is One’ might be a little more to your flavour. A country-tinged number, although this may be down to the instruments used and how they are played. The melody is extremely moreish and when the vocalist pronounces that “…Love will change your mind…”, it’s a number that speaks of Flower Power and its ethos. There is nothing to dislike about this track, that you might find yourself taking it home at the end of the evening. Followed by ‘No Deposit, No Return’, another song I liked its message. The line “…Is it true, that when you give your love to someone, you are never ever all alone…”, continuing “…Cause when you give your love to someone, you will always get love in return. No deposit, no return, you don’t get something you don’t earn…”. Yes, some would say hippy-trippy, but Rain is expressing a wish that life be much simpler. As this number plays out, the guitarist uses a bottleneck, to allow the guitar to express laughter, or maybe it’s descending through the scale. Whichever way, a nice touch.

This first-time release of an album that was laid down over 50 years ago feels something special and sounds as fresh as ever. Although as I have suggested it is filled with elements that speak of the day it was produced, the mastering and production feel new. From track 4 is ‘Sundrops’ with its lo-fi string arrangement, the harmonies from this Anglo-American trio are simply perfect, although briefly the recording does show production anomalies. Track 5 is ‘So Unhappy’, which proves far from it. With an upbeat tempo played in what comes across as a West-Coast Byrds-style moment. Again harmonies are used when it comes to the track ‘Didn’t Lie’, in its very Beatles-style delivery, this album is just so easy to accept and goes down like your favourite milk shake.

During these 10 tracks, recorded for the album, I have to say that I felt nothing less than exhilaration, this is indeed a great lost album. Although is the first time the album has seen the light of day, or cry in the morning and coming complete with bonus tracks to make an album of 16 tracks, increasing the original 34 minutes to 54 and making a more acceptable 21st Century release. This is a wonderful album, for anyone who appreciates music coming from the 1960s and the birth of pop. But when you’re looking for the band, these are Rain, not to be confused with Rain – a tribute to the Beatles, are an original band and not a tribute band. I could play this album to death and still go back for more.

But before I leave you, I want to clarify that track 15 on the album ’She’, is not the Charles Aznavour song. Slightly different in tone and time, the opening line runs “Everybody’s got to have themselves a woman, to love and keep him company…”, so before equality I guess, but a song projecting its own message. Seriously though, this is a great album, once lost, now available to all. Rain, a band I’m very glad to have made their acquaintance.
by Nick James, July 19, 2024


Tracks
1. Sapphire Skies - 3:21
2. One Is All, And All Is One - 4:10
3. No Deposit, No Return - 3:36
4. Sundrops - 3:12
5. So Unhappy - 3:07
6. Didn't Lie - 3:34
7. You Can't Hide Your Love - 2:42
8. Something Is Happening (Thom Caccetta) - 3:15
9. Midnight Blue - 4:35
10.You, You, You - 2:43
11.The Brightest Light - 3:55
12.A Daily Thought - 2:33
13.Spreading Love All Around - 2:27
14.The Old Man - 3:45
15.She (Thom Caccetta) - 3:16
16.In Deadication - 3:47
All songs by John Cannon except where stated
Tracks 11-16 as The Gypsy Wizards Band

Rain
*John Cannon - Guitar, Vocals
*Thom Caccetta - Bass, Vocals
*Buggs Pemberton - Drums, Vocals

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Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Alkana - Welcome To My Paradise (1978 us, tough 'n' heavy rock dynamite, 2016 edition)



Formed in the biker hotspot of San Bernadino, east of Los Angeles, Alkana centred on the voice and lyrics of  Jack Rucker (who would also become known by the nickname Damien King I, the lead singer for the heavy metal band Warlord), the guitar pyrotechnics of Danny Alkana, who drew heavily from the style of Boston’s Tom Scholz and Deep Purple’s Richie Blackmore, bassist Craig Williams and drummer Donny McLaughlin keeping the rhythms fast and furious.

‘California Rock n Roll Queen’ and psych epic ‘The Tower’ have the kind of Golden State rock majesty of Van Halen or Journey, and there are shades of Granmax, Asia and Judas Priest too. Hard rock? 70s metal; Epic; Progressive? Innovative? Paleolithic? Nostalgic? All of these together? Yes, but one more thing: Good music as a whole. At least the outrageous prices for which vinyl (originally issued on the Baby Bird label in 1978), was changing hands were commensurate with the quality of its content. this is a long lost hard rock gem.
  

Tracks
1. California Rock 'n' Roll Queen - 5:44
2. Montezuma's Sweet Revenge - 3:17
3. On Our Own - 6:30
4. Freedom Lady - 4:45
5. Paradise (Graig Williams, Jack Rucker) - 5:29
6. The Tower - 11:22
7. Head Games - 3:31
All songs by Danney Alkana, Jack Rucker except track #5

Alkana
*Graig Williams - Bass, Vocals
*Donny McLaughlin - Drums, Vocals
*Jack Rucker - Lead Vocals, Piano, Guitar
*Danney Alkana - Lead Vocals, Lead Guitar

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Saturday, October 19, 2024

Blind Faith - Blind Faith (1969 uk, supergroup, 2001 double disc remaster)



Blind Faith were the band that introduced the world to the notion of a rock "supergroup," a combo featuring several musicians who had already achieved popularity and critical acclaim before joining forces to make music. Blind Faith also unwittingly established one of the most common features of supergroups -- most featured enough performers with strong resumes and egos to match that internal conflicts were all but inevitable, and as a consequence, they usually fell apart rather quickly. Despite a hit album and a financially successful international concert tour, Blind Faith managed to rise and fall in the space of less than a year, and ultimately proved to be a large but curious footnote in the careers of four giants of British rock: Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Ginger Baker, and Rick Grech.

Blind Faith were born of discord within two noted British acts of the late '60s. Cream were at the peak of their fame when the band broke up in 1969, in part because guitarist Eric Clapton was uncertain about the group's creative direction, but mainly because bassist Jack Bruce and drummer Ginger Baker found it all but impossible to see eye to eye. Meanwhile, vocalist and keyboard player Steve Winwood had founded Traffic after leaving the Spencer Davis Group to explore an adventurous brand of rootsy but instrumentally adept psychedelia informed by jazz and blues. After initial success, however, they had trouble negotiating egos as well as working out the balance of songwriting and instrumental work within the band, and in 1969, Traffic shut down.

Clapton and Winwood were friends and mutual admirers who had jammed together on several occasions, so when both found themselves at liberty following the breakup of their respective groups, they investigated the idea of forming a band together. One day, Ginger Baker stopped by while Clapton and Winwood were working out material, and he sat in on drums. Musically, Clapton and Winwood were happy with the way Baker's ambitious percussion melded with their new songs, which explored a more subtle blend of blues and R&B than Cream. While Clapton was wary of reuniting with Baker so soon after closing the book on Cream, Winwood's enthusiasm won out, and Baker joined the band. The group became a quartet with the addition of bassist Rick Grech, who had been playing with the celebrated U.K. band Family.

By May 1969, the quartet was recording an album with Jimmy Miller serving as producer. Given the massive commercial success of Cream and widespread curiosity about Clapton's next project, the new band -- dubbed Blind Faith by the tongue-in-cheek Clapton -- signed a lucrative record deal with Atlantic in the United States as well as Polydor in the U.K. Promoters were clamoring for a tour, and the band scheduled dates in Europe, the United States, and Canada. Blind Faith made their public debut with a show at London's Hyde Park on June 7, 1969. An estimated 100,000 people were on hand for the show, and while most in attendance seemed thrilled with the concert, Clapton in particular was not pleased with how loose and informal Blind Faith sounded on-stage. 

By the end of the month, Blind Faith had set out on a club tour of Europe, and the smaller shows allowed them better control of their sound and performances. When they hit America in July, however, they were booked into large arenas often saddled with dubious acoustics and poor sound systems. Fans eager to see the new band that was the talk of the rock press often battled with police and security as they rushed the stage, and the musicians were displeased with the chaotic atmosphere. It didn't help that Blind Faith had less than an hour's worth of new music to perform before they set out on tour; the band played North America for seven weeks, and by most reports they were rarely happy with their performances or the circumstances of the tour.

In August 1969, the Blind Faith album finally hit the streets, and while "Presence of the Lord" and "Can't Find My Way Home" quickly became FM rock staples and the album topped the charts in Britain and the United States, reaction to the project was less enthusiastic than many had expected. The band received negative press for the LP's cover, which featured a topless schoolgirl playing with a silver airplane model. (The sleeve was rejected in America in favor of a cover featuring a portrait of the band.) After Blind Faith returned home from the North American tour at the end of August, the members went their separate ways. Clapton joined Delaney & Bonnie & Friends on tour as a sideman, and next formed Derek & the Dominos, while Winwood re-formed Traffic, who became more successful than ever. Baker formed his own group, Ginger Baker's Air Force, which would feature Grech in the lineup. Grech also played briefly with Traffic, and in 1976 became involved with another ill-fated supergroup, KGB, featuring Michael Bloomfield, Carmine Appice, and Barry Goldberg.

Grech died in 1990, and Baker passed in 2019. While Clapton and Winwood would occasionally perform together, there has been no effort to revive Blind Faith; presumably their brief run in 1969 was enough for all involved. 
by Mark Deming


Tracks
Disc 1
1. Had To Cry Today (Steve Winwood) - 8:48
2. Can't Find My Way Home (Steve Winwood) - 3:16
3. Well All Right (Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, Joe Mauldin, Norman Petty) - 4:27
4. Presence Of The Lord (Eric Clapton) - 4:50
5. Sea Of Joy (Steve Winwood) - 5:22
6. Do What You Like (Ginger Baker) - 15:18
7. Sleeping In The Ground (Sam Myers) - 2:49
8. Can't Find My Way Home (Steve Winwood) - 5:40
9. Acoustic Jam (Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Rick Grech, Steve Winwood) - 15:50
10.Time Winds (Steve Winwood) - 3:15
11.Sleeping In The Ground (Sam Myers) - 4:44


Disc 2
1.Jam No.1: Very Long And Good Jam - 14:01
2.Jam No.2: Slow Jam #1 - 15:06
3.Jam No.3: Change Of Address Jam - 12:06
4.Jam No.4: Slow Jam #2 - 16:06
All compositions by Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker, Rick Grech, Steve Winwood

Blind Faith
*Steve Winwood - Organ, Keyboards, Piano, Guitar, Bass, Lead Vocals
*Eric Clapton - Guitar, Vocals
*Rick Grech - Bass Guitar, Violin, Vocals
*Ginger Baker - Drums, Percussion

Related Acts
1964  The Yardbirds - Five Live Yardbirds (2007 Repertoire digi pack with extra tracks)
1965  The Yardbirds - For Your Love (japan 2018 mono edition)
1965  The Spencer Davis Group - Their First LP 
1966  The Spencer Davis Group - The Second Album

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