Thursday, February 27, 2025

Smoke Rise - The Survival Of St. Joan (1971 us, excellent concept psych rock, 2013 flawed gems edition)



This is an underrated record by US progressive band Smoke Rise. In 1970 they created the first American rock opera and Paramount Records allowed them to release a double concept album. As a consequence the vinyl edition (with a gatefold sleeve and an accompanying booklet that explained the elaborate story) was released in 1971. It was backed by strong, progressive elements, tight rhythm section, smooth four parts vocal harmonies and enthusiastic performances. This very melodic album was actually quite heavy, with some tracks standing up well against far better known competitors like Grand Funk and Bloodrock. Unfortunately, commercially the set went nowhere. This reissue is simply too good to be ignored!
Liner-Notes
Tracks
    The Prison
1. Survival - 3:42
2. Someone Is Dying - 2:40
3. Run, Run - 0:47
4. Back In The World - 2:30
5. I'm Here - 2:33
6. Love Me - 1:02
    The Farm 
7. Stonefire - 3:35
8. Love Me - 2:47
9. Lady Of Light - 2:14
10.Country Life - 1:41
11.Run, Run - 1:33
12.Precious Mommy - 1:52
     The Encounters
13.Medley - 2:14
     Survival/Run, Run/Back In The World
14.Lonely Neighbors - 2:37
15.Cornbread - 1:44
16.This Is How It Is - 1:24
17.Cannonfire - 3:40
    The Submission 
18.It's Over - 2:22
19.Darkwoods Lullabye - 1:42
20.You Don't Know Why - 2:46
21.Propitious - 1:04
22.Burning A Witch - 4:09
23.Love Me - 3:58
Tracks 1,9-11,15-20 written by Hank Ruffin, James Lineberger
Tracks 2-8,12,14,22,23 written by Gary Ruffin, James Lineberger
Track 13 written by Hank Ruffin, Gary Ruffin, James Lineberger
Track 21 written by Gary Ruffin

Smoke Rise
*Gary Ruffin - Guitar 
*Randy Bugg - Bass 
*Hank Ruffin - Keyboards 
*Stan Ruffin - Drums, Percussion
With
*James Lineberger - Lyrics

Rebecca And The Sunny Brook Farmers - Birth (1969 us, unique blend of folk pop jazz and acid rock, 2007 edition)



This is a delightfully weird record, and one that grows on the listener with repeated plays. Rebecca & the Sunnybrook Farmers were a sextet from Pittsburgh, PA, who didn't seem to have any fear of where to tread musically. The songs here range from breezy lyrical pop ( "Ma-Ma" ) that breaks into waltz time signatures -- picture a cousin to "Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing" with a lead vocal somewhere midway between Laura Nyro and Joanie Sommers -- to topical political statements ("What Do You Think of the War?"), the latter highlighted by extended instrumental freakouts (the latter broken up by lush choruses and an intermittent lead vocal, all supplemented by a sitar). And in between those two extremes are Janis Joplin-style blues workouts, upbeat mid-'60s folk-rock ballads, and spacy psychedelic excursions, highlighted by Mickey Kapner's guitar and organ and Ilene Novog's viola; the latter even gets into sonic and textural reaches that weren't explored much more heavily until Jerry Goodman joined the Flock. And coupled with debts also owed to the Byrds, the early/middle Jefferson Airplane ("Endless Trip"), the Doors ("What Do You Think of the War"), and even the We Five, this is one eclectic album, covering lots of territory, and most of it surprisingly well. The ballads hold up best of all, but even the anti-war material is highly effective musically. 
by Bruce Eder
Tracks
1. Oh Gosh (Running Through The Forest) (Ilene Rappaport, Mickey Kapner) - 3:11
2. Two Blind Sisters (Ilene Rappaport, Mickey Kapner) - 2:34
3. David And Sally (Ilene Novog, Mickey Kapner) - 3:18
4. Love (Ilene Rappaport) - 3:15
5. Endless Trip (Ilene Rappaport) - 2:41
6. Better Dead Than Red (Ilene Rappaport, Mickey Kapner) - 5:46
7. All These Ties (Mickey Kapner) - 2:21
8. What Do You Think Of The War ? (Ilene Rappaport,Mickey Kapner) - 5:18
9. Ma Ma (Ilene Rappaport) - 2:49
10.Ghost (Mickey Kapner) - 1:42

Rebecca And The Sunny Brook Farmers
*Ilene Novog - Backing Vocals, Harpsichord, Viola
*Ilene Rappaport - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica, Recorder
*Mickey Kapner - Backing Vocals, Guitar, Organ, Sitar
*Clifford Mandell - Backing Vocals, Percussion, Drums
*Ernie Eremita - Bass, Backing Vocals
*Ki Ki - Lead Vocals, Backing Vocals