Monday, October 7, 2024

Mike Deasy - Letters To My Head (1973 us, fine country classic rock, 2009 korean remaster)



Michael William Deasy (born February 4, 1941) is an American rock and jazz guitarist. As a session musician, he played on numerous hit singles and albums recorded in Los Angeles in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Mike Deasy looks plenty country on the cover of this Capitol Records set -- but he comes across in a way that's more rock overall -- yet still touched with plenty of the southern roots that were showing up in the hipper currents of the American underground at the time! You might think of this record as being in that great late Byrds/early Eagles moment when an artist could freely mix together elements of Los Angeles and Nashville, but without coming across like some sort of commercial crook or pretender -- and Deasy is definitely his own man in the setting -- handling plenty of guitars, mandolin, banjo, and other stringed instruments alongside his vocals -- but also getting some warm west coast backing in the process. Titles include "Beauty", "If You Pick Her Too Hard", "The Peace Song", "Flutterby", "Letters To My Head", and "Little Water". 
Tracks
1. Flutterby - 2:24
2. Humpty Dumpty - 3:27
3. Letters to My Head - 3:00
4. I Am I Am I Am - 3:09
5. The Peace Song - 3:26
6. Stagger Lee (Traditional) - 5:02
7. Beauty (Mike Deasy, Kathy Deasy) - 3:33
8. If You Pick Her Too Hard - 2:35
9. Little Water - 3:45
10.All God’s Children - 2:27
Words and Music by Mike Deasy except where stated

Musicians
*Mike Deasy - Vocals, Guitars, Mandolin, Sitar, Banjo, Bass, Alto Sax, Piano 
*Steven Adler - Vocals
*Max Bennett - Bass
*Michael Clough - Vocals
*Gary Coleman - Percussion
*Kathy Deasy Vocals
*Venetta Fields - Vocals
*Chuck Findley - Horn
*Jim Gordon - Drums
*Annie Hening - Vocals
*Jim Horn - Horn
*Paul Hubinon - Horn
*Richard Hyde - Horn
*Plas Johnson - Horn
*Tris Jons - Vocals
*Jackie Kelso - Horn
*Jim Keltner - Drums
*Larry Knechtel - Keyboards
*Jay Dee Maness - Steel Guitar 
*Art Manson - Guitar
*Lew McCreary - Horn
*Mike Melvoin - Keyboards
*Charles Merriam - Vocals
*Ollie Mitchell - Horn
*Jerry Scheff - Bass
*Leland Sklar - Bass
*Kathy Ward - Vocals