The second and final album from Sagittarius was the first for the ambitious Together Records in 1969, but the label folded soon afterward, leaving The Blue Marble virtually unheard for over 30 years. The British label Poptones remedied the situation in 2001 with an expanded CD edition of the original LP. Like its predecessor Present Tense, The Blue Marble is producer Gary Usher's (the Beach Boys, the Byrds) take on the decidedly late-'60s sunshine pop genre, and features members of the Millennium, including the legendary Curt Boettcher. The record opens with an interesting, intermittently discordant version of the Beach Boys' paean to childhood empowerment, "In My Room" (which Usher co-wrote with Brian Wilson).
A new plaything, the Moog synthesizer, is employed on many of the numbers, and the results are distracting, leaving this period music even more dated. It's as if Usher used Robert Moog's invention to spruce up the weaker songs, instead of letting the tune carry the track. The country-tinged "Will You Ever See Me" showcases what Sagittarius could do with a strong melody, while the tempo-shifting "Gladys" is an intriguing anomaly of dark psychedelic pop. Of the bonus tracks, "Navajo Girl" is the most startling: a country-cum-sunshine pop song with a raga intro, layered vocal harmonies, and soaring horn section, it's a wonder it wasn't included on the initial release.
by Bart Bealmear
Gary Usher died of lung cancer in 1990 at the age of 51. Curt Boettcher died in June 1987, while being treated for a lung infection at Los Angeles County Hospital. He was only 43.
Tracks
1. In My Room (Gary Usher, Brian Wilson) - 2:09
2. From You Unto Us (Curt Boettcher) - 1:47
3. Will You Ever See Me - 2:14
4. Gladys (Gary Usher, Jeannie Piersol) - 2:46
5. I Sing My Song (Michele O'Mally, Dena Adams) - 2:45
6. The Blue Marble (Gary Usher, Lee Mallory) - 2:59
7. Lend Me A Smile - 3:11
8. I Still Can See Your Face - 2:42
9. I See In You - 3:14
10.Cloud Talk - 2:24
11.I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City (Harry Nilsson) - 2:32
12.I Still Can See Your Face - 2:55
13.In My Room (Gary Usher, Brian Wilson) - 2:10
14.Navajo Girl (Gary Usher, Sandy Salisbury) - 2:39
Songs 2,3,7,8,9,10,12 written by Gary Usher
Bonus Tracks 11-14, Sundazed edition
Bonus Tracks Poptones 2001 edition
11. In My Room (Gary Usher, Brian Wilson) - 2:10
12. Navajo Girl (Gary Usher, Sandy Salisbury) - 2:42
13. I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City (Harry Nilsson) - 2:33
14. I Still Can See Your Face (Gary Usher) - 2:56
15. Will You Ever See Me (Gary Usher) - 2:24
Musicians
*Curt Boettcher - Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
*Gary Usher - Vocals, Keyboards
*Glenn Campbell - Vocals, Guitar
*Ron Edgar - Drums
*Mike Fennelly - Guitar
*Bruce Johnston - Vocals, Guitar
*Doug Rhodes - Keyboards, Guitar
*Sandy Salsbury - Vocals
*Joey Stec - Vocals
Releated Acts
1968 The Millennium - Begin (2013 Blue Spec edition)
1969 Curt Boettcher - Another Time (2013 Blu Spec)
1969 Curt Boettcher - Another Time (2013 Blu Spec)