Monday, September 2, 2024

The Stanky Brown Group - If The Lights Don't Get You The Helots Will (1977 us, nice maintream rock, 2010 edition)



Three straight years, three straight Sire LPs on the national charts for Stanky Brown from New York City.  "If The Lights Don't Get You The Helots Will" from 1977 is their second and one of those 70s records that has everything going for it, but somehow never got a chance to get off the mark – well-written and catchy tunes, a tight approach to production that's also somehow fresh, and a sense of personality that marks this second set by the band to be one where they're really hitting their stride! The record's of the AOR generation, but it's also got a sense of individuality that really shines through – never too polished, but also not an indie effort as well – and some nice echoes of the kind of cuts that would have peaked on British radio a few years before. Titles include "Confident Man", "Coaltown", "As A Lover I'm A Loser", "Alone Tonight", "Good To Me", "Free & Easy", and "Faith In The Family"
Tracks
1. Coal Town (Jeff Leynor) - 3:22
2. Life Beyond (James Brown, Frank Greene) - 4:05
3. Woman, Don't Let It Slip Away (James Brown, Frank Greene, Jeff Leynor) - 3:28
4. Confident Man (James Brown) - 3:15
5. Faith In The Family (James Brown, Frank Greene) - 3:55
6. Alone Tonight (James Brown, Frank Greene) - 3:11
7. Good To Me (James Brown) - 3:12
8. As A Lover, I'm A Loser (James Brown) - 2:31
9. Stop In The Name Of Love (Brian Holland, Edward Holland, Jr., Lamont Dozier) - 3:06
10.Free And Easy (Jeff Leynor) - 5:05

The Stanky Brown Group
*Ames Brown - Keyboards, Vocals
*Jeffrey Leynor - Acoustic, Electric Guitars, Vocals
*Richard Bunkiewicz - Fretless Fender Bass
*Jerry M. Cordasco - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
*Allan J. Ross - Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
*Jimmy Miller - Solo Guitar (Track 4)
With
*Elliot Randall - Electric Guitars
*Jimmy Maelen - Congas (Track 7)
*Werner Fritzsching - Gultar (Tracks 1,3,8)
*David Lasley, Lynn Pitney, Arnold McCuller - Background Vocals (Tracks 7-9)