I know, maybe it would have been better by reviewing the debut Pampered Menial (which was released in 1975) nut for some reason At The Sound Of The Bell landed first into my cd-player. Not that it is that important as for some reason (just like all the other fans do) these two albums form a holy duo.
Reviewing an album by this progrockband isn't the easiest of things as you either hate them or worship them, even if I still have to meet the first person who dislike Pavlov's Dog! These six guys who formed a band in St. Louis, Missouri are making prog-rock just like so many others did, but still their music is very, very different. The band were "big" listeners of British progrockbands like King Crimson, Soft Machine, Family, Gentle Giant and of course Genesis and they used these influences to make something quite unique.
It's not only the Bee Gees-voice from frontman David Surkamp which make Pavlov's Dog a godlike band. Nah, everything's perfect....from arrangment to the used ingredients. The album opens with a poppy (almost forgettable) She Came Shining but beneath the pop lies a layer of melancholic feelings. Cos yes, you'll cry on Standing Here With You, Mersey and you'll definitely burst out in tears once you reach Valkerie or Early Morning On.
Every song is perfect and I'm sure (at least that's in my case) you'll hear the album a thousand times once you discovered it and no (if I'm not counting King Crimson) then Pavlov's Dog is the sole progrockband in my collection, so there you go!
It's not the first time that this album (just like the debut Pampered Menial) got reissued but the version on Cherry Red is digitally remastered and even if there are no extra tracks on it, the cd comes with a mighty booklet in where you can finds lots of information about this essential band.
If you never tried Pavlov's Dog, you better do as changes are big they'll chance your life. And yes, these are the kind of albums you'll take to that famous island.... Classic.
by Didier Becu, 03/04/2013
Tracks
1. She Came Shining (David Surkamp, Doug Rayburn) - 4:19
2. Standing Here With You (Megan's Song) - 3:52
3. Mersey (David Surkamp, Steve Scorfina) - 3:05
4. Valkerie - 5:21
5. Try To Hang On - 2:11
6. Gold Nuggets - 3:28
7. She Breaks Like A Morning Sky (David Surkamp, Doug Rayburn) - 2:28
8. Early Morning On (David Surkamp, Doug Rayburn) - 3:12
9. Did You See Him Cry (David Surkamp, Doug Rayburn) - 5:42
10.Gold Nuggets - 4:38
11.Standing Here With You (Megan's Song) - 4:07
12.Try To Hang On - 3:12
All songs by David Surkamp except where indicated
Bonus Tracks 10-12
Track 10 recorded live at Burg Herzberg Festival 2007
Tracks 11 - 12 recorded live at Ford Auditorium Detroit 1976
Pavlov's Dog
*David Surkamp - Lead Vocals, Veleno, Acoustic Guitars
*Steve Scorfina - Lead Guitar
*Tom Nickeson - Acoustic Guitar, Backing Vocals
*David Hamilon - Keyboards
*Doug Rayburn - Mellotron, Bass, Percussion
*Rick Stockton - Bass
With
*Martyn Ford Orchestra - Strings
*High Wycombe Parish Boys Choir - Chorus Vocals
*Elliot Randall - Guitar
*Les Nicol - Guitar
*Paul Prestopino - Mandolin
*George Gerich - Organ
*Mike Abene - Organ
*Andy MacKay - Saxophone
*Michael Brecker - Saxophone
*Gavin Wright - Violin
*Bill Bruford - Drums