Neon’s 1970 debut album was produced by Tommy James and Bob King (the pair also handled musical arrangements and contributed one song to the set). "Neon" is actually a surprisingly good heavy rock album. With Crabtree penning the majority of the material, the set offered up a nice blend of guitar rock ('Mountain Baby' - ignore the ponderous drum solo) and more commercial moves (check out the Tommy James and the Shondells-styled harmonies on 'Hold Back My Tears').
Personal favorites were the band's cover of James' 'Dark Is the Night' (always liked that 1960s sitar sound), the rocker 'Can't Stop Myself (From Loving You)' and the mildly psychedelic 'Magic Man'. Listening to the album a couple more times, the set sounds like something The Shondells might have done had the ever elected to go for a tighter, AOR audience - that's meant as a compliment. A pleasant surprise and a bargain at the asking price
1. Mountain Baby - 6:26
2. Hold Back My Tears - 3:24
3. Dark Is The Night (Tommy James, Bob King) - 3:26
4. Can't Stop Myself (From Lovin' You) - 6:20
5. Magic Man - 7:31
6. Nobody Nowhere (P. Brannigan, F. Crabtree, R. Leslie, F. Porter) - 7:30
7. Funny Kind Of Feelin' - 5:15
8. Darling Before I Go (Stereo Single Bonus Track) - 2:13
9. Movin' (Mono Single Bonus Track) - 2:37
All songs by Francis Crabtree except where indicated
Neon
*Peter Brannigan - Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Francis Crabtree - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
*Russell Leslie - Vocals, Drums
*Fung Porter - Vocals, Bass
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Excellent music! Thanks a lot
ReplyDeleteYES! NEON!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great album this is!
Thank again Marios!
Thanks I didn't know this one.
ReplyDeleteTHANKS, MARIOS !!! THE MORE I LISTEN TO THIS THE MORE I LIKE IT AND "CAN'T STOP MYSELF (FROM LOVING YOU)" IS ONE OF MY FAVORITES.GREETINGS !!!
ReplyDeleteSounds good! Can you please RE-up NEON!
ReplyDeleteSnosbig, Neon enlightened...
DeleteLately I've run into lsome really rare 60's - early 70's cassettes on Paramount (I collect really rare cassettes) and I've found these paramount ones have the most interesting unheard psych bands.. this one really shows it's Tommy James influence (another artist I've been surprised with recently)
ReplyDeleteThe second track here is absolutely amazing..
Thanks for turning us all onto it!
Hi Marios! I'm curious if you also have another Paramount album in your collection thst being the two "Womb" albums.. the first simply entitled "Womb" and the second titled "Overdub"? They are actually really rare, both came out in 1969, and info about them is difficult to find.. but there's a few videos on their discogs entry..
ReplyDelete