Aura formed in 1971 in Los Angeles with roots in Chicago’s late-1960s soul and club circuit. Guitarist Bill Waidner had co-founded garage R&B act the Bots, later renamed Boston Tea Party* for a 1968 tour with Archie Bell & the Drells and the Fona Records single “Is It Love” (b/w “Don’t Leave Me Alone”). Bassist Jerry Smith was a former member of The Flock, and both keyboardist Sam Alessi and drummer Dennis Horan played in the Mauds. Alessi also spent time with the Five Stairsteps. Vocalist Al Lathan fronted the soul-rock band For Days & A Night, an integrated Chicago group managed by Nick Vitullo and active throughout the teen club circuit under varying lineups from 1966 onward.
For Days & A Night developed a horn-driven soul sound under Vitullo’s direction. The group added saxophonist Fred Entesari and trombonist Andy Foertsch in 1967 after the departure of two original brass players to the Flock. Over the next three years, the band cycled through numerous members—reportedly as many as fifty—while maintaining a steady regional booking schedule under Vitullo’s management. In 1969, the band adopted the name Giant City, inspired by an Illinois state park near Carbondale where they frequently performed.
By late 1970, Giant City’s lineup included Lathan, Alessi, Foertsch, Horan, and Smith. Trumpeter and vocalist George Barr joined around this time, completing the brass section with Entesari and Foertsch. With Vitullo departing for a career in talent booking, management passed to Scott Doneen of American Tribal Productions. Under Doneen, the band secured a deal with Mercury Records. The label requested a name change; during sessions, Lathan reportedly suggested “Aura” after observing a halo around the moon, and the name was adopted. Aura released their self-titled album in December 1971 on Mercury.
The eight tracks showcase a tightly arranged brass-rock sound centered on sharp horn voicings and rhythmic shifts.
Jazz•Rock•Soul
Tracks
1. Listen To Me (The Ragg) (M. Johnson) - 5:13
2. No Opportunity Needed, No Experience Necessary (Richie Havens) - 5:49
3. Song Of Everything (Doug Sahm) - 5:25
4. Show Me The Way (Al Lathan, Jerry Smith, Bill Waidner, George Barr, Fred Entesari, Andy Foertsch, Sam Alessi, Dennis Horan) - 4:34
5. Truckin' (Al Lathan, Bill Waidner) - 4:01
6. Life Is Free (Al Lathan) - 6:50
7. Can You Imagine (Al Lathan, Jerry Smith) - 5:11
8. Cross-Eyed Eagle (Dennis Horan) - 3:57
Aura
*Al Lathan - Vocals, Percussion, Gong
*Bill Waidner - Electric Guitar, Acoustic 12 String Guitar
*Fred Entesari – Alto Sax
*Andy Foertsch - Trombone
*Jerry Smith – Electric Bass, Backing Vocals
*George Barr - Trumpet, Backing Vocals
*Dennis Horan – Drums
*Sam Alessi - Organ, Electric Piano, Vibes
With
*Chuck Greenberg - Flute, Baritone Sax
*Terry Quaye - Congas
Thanks a lot, Marios.
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