Plain and Fancy

1969 Man - Revelation (2009 remaster and expanded)

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Man - Do You Like It Here Now Are You Settling In (1971 uk, space prog jam rock, 2007 bonus tracks remaster)

Long a fan favorite, Man's fourth studio album was recorded in 1971 during a harried one-week studio session that found the group having to write nearly the entire album, barring the tight and rocking "Angel Easy" and the group's multi-part masterwork "Many Are Called but Few Get Up." Frankly, the album sounds like a record that was largely jammed in the studio; the eight-minute-plus jams that close each side, "We're Only Children" and "Love Your Life," are particularly tiresome, good instrumental and lyrical ideas stretched well past their breaking points. However, besides the superior "Angel Easy" and "Many Are Called but Few Get Up," the album does include the rather wonderful "All Good Clean Fun," a showcase for pianist Clive John and lead guitarist Deke Leonard that has a delightful prog pop playfulness akin to some of Genesis' more lighthearted early moments or the daffiness of the later band Hatfield & the North.

by Stewart Mason

Tracks

1. Angel Easy - 5:02

2. All Good Clean Fun - 4:34

3. We're Only Children - 8:30

4. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up - 7:26

5. Manillo - 5:17

6. Love Your Life - 8:59

7. Many Are Called, But Few Get Up - 8:55

8. Angel Easy - 5:06

9. Romain - 18:32

All compositions by Martin Ace, Clive John, Michael Jones, Deke Leonard, Terry Williams

Bonus Tracks 7-9 recorded Live at Grugahalle, Essen, Germany

Man

*Martin Ace - Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

*Clive John - Organ, Piano, Vocals

*Michael Jones - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

*Roger "Deke" Leonard - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

*Terry Williams - Drums

1969 Man - 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (2009 remaster)

1971 Man - Man (2007 remaster)

1972 Man - Be Good To Yourself At Least Once A Day (2007 remaster with extra tracks)
1974 Man - Slow Motion (2008 remaster and expanded)
1974 Man - Rhinos Winos And Lunatics (2007 double disc remaster)

1975 Man With John Cipollina - Maximum Darkness (2008 remaster with bonus tracks)

1976 Man - Welsh Connection (2013 double disc remaster)

1971-73 Help Yourself - Reaffirmation An Anthology (2014 Remaster)
1973 Help Yourself - 5 (2004 release)

1973 Deke Leonard - Iceberg (2015 remaster and expanded)

1974 Deke Leonard - Kamikaze (2015 remaster with extra tracks)

1975 Clive John - You Always Know Where You Stand With A Buzzard (2004 remaster)

Sunday, September 29, 2024

Voudouris And Kahne - Street Player / There's A Secret Goin' On (1975-76 us, pleasant orchestrated funky blue eyed soul, 2000 japan remaster)

Voudouris & Kahne a duo consisting of Roger Voudouris and David Kahne, with Roger on guitar and vocals and David on keyboards and vocals.

They have released two albums, “There's A Secret Goin' On” (1975) and “Street Player” (1976). Here we have both albums on CD from Vivid Sound in Japan in 2000, but both albums are now hard to find.

Roger Voudouris, born in Sacramento, California, USA on December 29, 1954. In 1978, Roger Voudouris started as a solo artist under Warner Bros label and released the album “Roger Voudouris”. In 1979 Roger Voudouris his second solo album “Radio Dream” were released, and from this album the song “Get Used To It” gave him his first Billboard Top 30 hits. With these two album Roger Voudouris got established as a west coast american rock musician and followed to release album in this music style backed up by great session musicians such as: Jay Graydon, Michael Omartian, Jeff Porcaro, Neil Stubenhaus, Tom Scott, Jerry Hay, Jim Horn, Richard Page, Steve George and others.

Two albums followed: “A Guy Like Me” (1980) and “On The Heels Of Love” (1981) and Roger Voudouris got established as an artist in Japan also. Most of his albums has been re-released in the 90´s on Japanese labels. Roger Voudouris passed away on August 3rd, 2003.

The title track, “Street Player. It is a funky and groovy number with a sharp performance and Roger's wild and passionate vocals. Backing musicians include Chuck Domanico (b), James Gadson (ds), and Bobby Hall (perc). Saxophone soloist Mike Butera, who also played on the first album, is a lively soloist, and his performance fits the title of the song “Street Player” perfectly. Wonder Of Wonders” is sweet pop soul. Roger's vocals are gentle and soulful.

It Will Happen With Us” is a refreshing, sweet and sour acoustic number. The skilled performance is softly enveloped by delicate strings, creating a pleasant sound. Arranged by David Kahne, who also arranged all the songs on this album, “Were You Alone Last Night” shows a jazzy flavor, and the album has a lot to offer.

Producer Michael Stewart is known for his work on Billy Joel's “Piano Man” (1973) and “Streetlife Serenade” (1974), and on the AOR side he has produced albums by Kenny Rankin, Randy Edelman, Evie Sands, and others. In the AOR field, he produced albums by Kenny Rankin, Randy Edelman, Evie Sands, and others.

David Kahne began his music industry career as an artist signed to Capitol Records. He then began working as independent producer/engineer in the San Francisco Bay area, working with seminal underground bands like Romeo Void, Rank and File, and Pearl Harbor & the Explosions. In 1983, he began a long tenure at Columbia Records, serving 8 years as a Staff Producer before being named Senior Vice-President of A&R in 1991. While at the company, he produced and arranged for a wide range of artists including Tony Bennett, The Bangles, Fishbone, Presidents of the United States of America, Billy Joel, Dionne Ferris, Shawn Colvin, and Bruce Springsteen.

David left Columbia in 1995 and returned to independent production, producing albums for, among others, Sublime, Soul Coughing, and Sugar Ray.

In 1998, David was named Senior Vice-President of A&R for Reprise Records, and in 2000 he was named Executive Vice-President of A&R for Warner Bros. Records. During his tenure there, he produced Orgy, Chris Isaak, Stevie Nicks, KD Lang, and New Order, among other artists.

In 2002, David left Warners to return to independent production. He has produced many projects, including Paul McCartney, The Strokes, Regina Spektor, Sean Lennon, Reeve Carney, Butterfly, Kelly Clarkson, Matisyahu, Taking Back Sunday, and Renee Fleming.

David is also a composer of orchestral music, having written 3 full-length ballets and composing for film, including the score for the Dublin-produced "Bloom", a film adaptation of Joyce's "Ullyses" starring Stephen Rea. He also co-wrote a piece for Twyla Tharp, "Surfer at the River Styx" with Don Knaack. David has his own studio, SeeSquared Studios, situated at Avatar Studios, where he does most of his production work.

Tracks

1. Street Player - 3:06

2. Wonder Of Wonders - 3:30

3. It Happen With Us - 3:26

4. Were You Alone Last Night - 4:33

5. Monterey - 4:36

6. Our Song - 3:42

7. Flamingo Sky - 4:45

8. Ladies In Mercedes - 3:05

9. Are You Willing? - 3:35

10.Endings - 5:04

11.There's A Secret Goin' On - 3:19

12.Lying To Me You - 3:17

13.Take Your Music To The People - 3:26

14.Good Friend Of Mine - 3:20

15.Run Eddie Run - 5:05

16.I Only Wanted To Know Your Name - 3:50

17.Time Is Love - 2:49

18.Sidney - 2:51

19.Beautiful Love Between Beautiful People - 4:12

20.Rock Me Baby - 3:31

21.I'll Come Ridin' - 3:56

Music and Lyrics by Roger Voudouris, David Kahne

Tracks 1-10 from 1976 "Street Player" LP

Tracks 11-21 from 1975 "There's A Secret Goin' On" LP

Musicians

*Roger Voudouris - Acoustic, Electric Guitars, Vocals

*David Kahne - Acoustic Pianos, Fender Rhodes, Synthesizers, Clavinet, Hammond B-3, Celeste, Vocals

*Mike Butera - Alto Saxophone

*James Gadson - Drums (Tracks 1-10)

*Bobbye Hall - Percussion (Tracks 1-10)

*Chuck Domanico - Electric, Acoustic Bass (Tracks 1-10)

*William Snuth - Hammond B3 Organ Clavinet (Tracks 1-10)

*Jimmie Haskell – Strings, Horns Arranged, Conducted (Tracks 1-10)

*Emory Gordy, Jr. - Electric Bass (Tracks 11-21)

*Ron Tutt - Drums (Tracks 11-21)

*Victor Feldman - Vibes, Marimba, Percussion (Tracks 11-21)

1967 Electric Flag - The Trip
1968-69 Electric Flag - An American Music Band / A Long Time Comin'
196?-7? The Electric Flag - Live

Saturday, September 28, 2024

The Nick Gravenites John Cipollina Band - Monkey Medicine (1982 us, solid blues rock)

There's nothing new in the idea that some of the best rock musicians of the last 15 or 50 years are not as famous as they ought to be; genuine talent has always counted for less than image, hype or sheer luck. Nick Gravenites (or if you prefer Nick da Greek) is a classic case; despite being a great guitarist, songwriter and producer, (as well as being in possession of one of the most powerful voices in the business) genuine success has always eluded him, which is a pity because few white people have the knowledge or feeling for the blues that he does; he's got so much of it, it's coming out of his ears.

Gravenites was originally part of a thriving folk and blues scene in Chicago in the early '60s but in 1962 he travelled out west to San Francisco.

The Beats had gone but folk was booming and Gravenites was able to gig regularly at places like The Fox and Hound and The Coffee Gallery, both in the city's North Beach district. Quite often sharing the bill was a young fresh in from Texas, called Janis Joplin. Many musicians, later to attract the attention of the world's press during the 'Summer of Love', were also on the circuit - pre-electricity and, largely pre-acid.

Within in a couple of years Gravenites was in Chicago running a blues club called the Burning Bush, amongst other things, however when '67 rolled around, with every musician in the States heading out to San Francisco, Nick did likewise. Things were different from '62 everywhere was peace, love and good vibes, for a couple of months at least. Gravenites was there primarily to join Mike Bloomfield's new band, known at the time as An American Music Band but shortly to change their name to The Electric Flag. The Flag became the definitive blues/funk outfit of the late '60s, albums like 'A Long Time Coming' were required listening for anyone remotely interested in the 'new rock'. Gravenites' amazing gravelly voice was heard on hi-fi's all over the western world. After a couple of years the band ground to a halt, he made a solo album 'My Labors' and joined a last gasp, post Janis version of Big Brother.

The '70s proved a lean time for Gravenites, until it became apparent that people in Europe still wanted to hear him play, especially as he'd teamed up with the ubiquitous John Cipollina, guitar picker extra-ordinaire, wolf fetishist and refugee from the pioneering acid-rock outfit, Quicksilver Messenger Service. QMS were the definitive proponents of the guitar-based San Francisco sound, who should have conquered the world but failed to, owing to a seemingly in-built self destruct mechanism. Their music owed much to Cipolllina's playing, at times menacingly growling, at other times hard edged and bluesy.

Quicksilver staggered on into the mid '70s but Cipollina wisely quit at the end of 1970, taking his distinctive playing into Copperhead and then on to various loose aggregations, notably Terry & the Pirates. The link up with Gravenites came in 1979 when it seemed that neither of them were likely to play live in Europe again. However, since then they have been fairly regular visitors, especially to Germany and Italy where they are able to fill concert halls night after night.

This album was recorded during a recent tour, when they were augmented by Marcus David on drums and Al Staehely on bass. Staehely is notable for having the distinction of having played in a bogus line-up of Spirit, he now doubles as a lawyer in L.A.

This album is, of course, blues based and displays Gravenites' interpretations of a couple of standards plus some fine new songs, not to mention a reworking of his own classic 'Buried Alive in the Blues'.

Staehely also contributes a couple of excellent originals and needless to say Cipollina's guitar is as fiery as ever, notably on 'Bad Luck Baby' which has echoes of the old Quicksilver and the reworking of 'Pride of Man', the Hamilton Camp number, which was an integral part of the old QMS set.

In terms of chart success this album is unlikely to compete with Soft Cell, which is a pity because music played with this kind of integrity and ability is all too rare these days. I, for one, am glad that these guys are still doing it.

by John Platt, (Editor, Comstock Lode magazine)

Nicholas George Gravenites passed away in Santa Rosa, California on September 18, 2024, at the age of 85.

Tracks

1. Blues In The Bottle (Sam Hopkins) - 4:07

2. Six Weeks In Reno (Nick Gravenites) - 4:33

3. I'll Pull The Trigger (Nick Gravenites) - 3:34

4. Trust Me (Al Staehely) - 3:52

5. Buried Alive In The Blues (Nick Gravenites) - 5:18

6. Born In Chicago (Nick Gravenites) - 4:14

7. Bad Luck Baby (Nick Gravenites) - 7:36

8. Signs Of Life (Al Staehely) - 3:51

9. Pride Of Man (Hamilton Camp) - 3:54

10.Hot Rods And Cool Women (Al Staehely) - 3:36

11.Small Walk-In Box (Nick Gravenites) - 7:48

Personnel

*John Cipollina - Guitars

*Nick Gravenites - Guitars, vocals

*Marcus David - Drums

*Al Staehely - Bass, vocals

1974 The Electric Flag - The Band Kept Playing (2002 edition)
1969 Michael Bloomfield with Nick Gravenites And Friends - Live At Bill Graham's Fillmore West
1969 Nick Gravenites - My Labors

1968 The Barry Goldberg Reunion - There's No Hole In My Soul

1969 Barry Goldberg - Two Jews Blues (vinyl edition)
1970-71 Big Brother And The Holding Company - Be A Brother / How Hard It Is

1972 Nick Gravenites And Mike Bloomfield - Steel Yard Blues (2015 remaster)
1973 Bloomfield, Hammond, Dr.John - Triumvirate (Japan remaster)
1976 KGB - KGB
1976-77 Michael Bloomfield - Live at the Old Waldorf
1977 Prescription For The Blues
1972 Various Artists - Mill Valley Bunch Casting Pearls

Friday, September 27, 2024

The Grasshoppers - Let It Be That Way (1966-68 us, spectacular garage beat, 2023 release)

Formed in 1965, the group of White Bear Lake ΜΝ teens started as The Eskorts, changing theirname to The Grasshoppers after a booking agent suggested they adopt a bug name like the Beatles. Acheson played rhythm guitar. Other band members included Greg (Jiggs) Lees, lead singer;Ben Hamar, lead guitar; Tim Black, bass guitar and Phil Scollard, drums. They rehearsed inBlack’s basement.

It was December 1967 and the band was in a recordingstudio playing a song called “Sugar and Spice” (originally recorded by The Searchers) for a 45-rpm single. The back, or B-side, was “Very Last Day,” originally done by Peter, Paul and Mary.The 45 played on Twin Cities radio stations; it was the only single The Grasshoppers released. The newly compiled album, called “Let It Be That Way,” contains that lone 45 and 14 unheardtracks, including eight original songs written by guitarist Hamar. The songs were recorded in adifferent session later that same month in ’67. The CD also contains a bonus tune written byHamar, a Dutch immigrant who moved to White Bear with his parents at age 14.

The Grasshoppers played their last gig March 10, 1969. Three of the five stayed with music, allon a part-time basis, Acheson said. He finally sold his guitar and amp in 1982, the same year heput his turntable, tuner and speakers in storage.

Tracks

1. Sugar And Spice (Tony Hatch) - 2:31

2. Still In Love With You Baby (Ron Elliott) - 2:38

3. Riding In My Car (Bernard Hamar) - 3:09

4. With This Kiss (Dale Menten) - 2:10

5. Words Of Love (Bernard Hamar) - 1:42

6. Paper Cup Beggar (Bernard Hamar) - 2:05

7. The Muffin Man (Bernard Hamar) - 1:45

8. Our Love (Bernard Hamar) - 2:48

9. Mustang Sally (Mack Rice) - 3:16

10.Look Through Any Window (Charles Silverman, Graham Gouldman) - 1:55

11.Watch People (Bernard Hamar) - 1:49

12.Let It Be That Way (Bernard Hamar) - 2:00

13.Mister, You're A Better Man Than I (Brian Hugg, Mike Hugg) - 3:23

14.Lonely Me (Bernard Hamar) - 3:00

15.Very Last Day (Paul Stookey, Peter Yarrow) - 2:46

16.Chini Wong (Bernard Hamar) - 2:20

The Grasshoppers

*Jiggs Lee - Lead Vocals

*Ben Hamar - Vocals, Lead Guitar

*Tim Black - Bass

*Tom Acheson - Rhythm Guitar

*Phil Scowler - Drums

1969 Man - Revelation (2009 remaster and expanded)

rep> Man - Man (1971 uk, sensational guitar bluesy psych prog space rock, 2007 remaster with extra tracks)

The group Man evolved from the Bystanders, a mid-'60s Welsh combo whose blend of Beatlesque harmonies and blue-eyed soul yielded a number of well-received singles, most notably the progressive and poppy "Royal Blue Summer Sunshine Day." That side was indicative of the direction they would take after changing their name to Man. Perhaps due to the eponymous moniker, this album has long been mistaken as a debut effort. However, prior to this title, they had already released a pair of LPs, Revelation (1969) and the somewhat more centered and ambitious follow-up 2 Ozs. of Plastic with a Hole in the Middle (1969). By the time of this platter, Clive John (organ/piano/electric guitar/harpsichord/vocals), Deke Leonard (guitar/vocals), Martin Ace (acoustic guitar/bass guitar/vocals), Terry Williams (percussion/drums), Roger Leonard (acoustic guitar/piano/electric guitar/steel guitar/vocals), and Micky Jones (acoustic guitar/electric guitar/vocals) had settled into what most enthusiasts consider to be a seminal aggregate.

In addition to their exceptional improvisational skills, Man would display a more aggressive sound. The opening track, "Romain," instantly gels into driving blues behind Leonard's woozy steel guitar interjections. "Country Girl" is reminiscent of the New Riders of the Purple Sage, complete with a distinct West Coast county-rock lilt. Both of the extended pieces, "Would the Christians Wait Five Minutes?...The Lions Are Having a Draw" and "Alchemist" are pastiches of well-developed instrumentals, although at times they come off as somewhat dated. There is plenty of inspired interaction, however, especially on the latter song as they unleash some definitive heavy metal licks that could easily be mistaken for seminal Black Sabbath. "Daughter of the Fireplace" is another highlight as a compact and attitude-heavy rocker.

by Lindsay Planer

Tracks

1. Romain (Martin Ace, Clive John, Micky Jones, Deke Leonard, Terry Williams) - 6:13

2. Country Girl (Martin Ace, Deke Leonard) - 3:07

3. Would The Christians Wait Five Minutes?/The Lions Are Having A Draw (Martin Ace, Micky Jones) - 13:.02

4. Daughter Of The Fireplace (Deke Leonard) - 5:17

5. Alchemist (Martin Ace, Clive John, Micky Jones, Deke Leonard, Terry Williams) - 20:47

6. Daughter Of The Fireplace (Deke Leonard) - 3:07

7. Alchemist (Martin Ace, Clive John, Micky Jones, Deke Leonard, Terry Williams) - 24:22

Man
*Micky Jones - Guitars, Vocals
*Deke Leonard - Guitars, Piano, Vocals
*Terry Williams - Drums, Percussion
*Martin Ace - Bass, Acoustic Guitar
*Clive John - Organ, Piano, Guitar, Harpsichord, Vocals

1969 Man - 2 Ozs Of Plastic With A Hole In The Middle (2009 remaster)

1975 Man With John Cipollina - Maximum Darkness (2008 remaster with bonus tracks)

1976 Man - Welsh Connection (2013 double disc remaster)

1971-73 Help Yourself - Reaffirmation An Anthology (2014 Remaster)
1973 Help Yourself - 5 (2004 release)

1973 Deke Leonard - Iceberg (2015 remaster and expanded)

1974 Deke Leonard - Kamikaze (2015 remaster with extra tracks)

1975 Clive John - You Always Know Where You Stand With A Buzzard (2004 remaster)

Thursday, September 26, 2024

The Mourning Reign - Satisfaction Guaranteed (1966-67 us, awesome garage blues psych, 2013 edition)

If any event delineated the differences between the music of San Jose and what was happening in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury, 50 miles to the north, it might have been the night that all the South Bay heavyweights played the Continental Ballroom in Santa Clara. "Everyone was there," recalls Steve Canali, rhythm guitarist for the Mourning Reign, of this Gathering of the Tribes: "the Watchband, the Count Five, the Syndicate of Sound." And what was the main event of the evening? Mantras recited by Allen Ginsberg? Acid-laced Kool-Aid ladled out by Ken Kesey? "Actually," smirks Canali, "they lined all the bands up on opposite sides of the wall, and we had a pie-throwing contest."

The Mourning Reign-whose classic line-up consisted of Canali, Jagger-esque vocalist Beau Maggi, Johnnie Bell on lead guitar, bassist Charlie Gardin and Beau's brother Craig Maggi on drums-did share one trait with their SF hippie brethren. "We all lived together," says Canali. "Craig's girlfriend found this old house in the middle of a fruit orchard on Alum Rock Avenue. We used the music to the Byrds" "So You Want to Be a Rock and Roll Star' and made this great Super 8 film of the band, cutting up around the house, just like in A Hard Day's Night."

Canali soon took a leave of absence from the Reign-against the advice of his dad, John Canali, who managed and booked the band-to play topless joints in New Jersey with the Tribe, a Doors cover combo formed by singer Sonny Johnson, former leader of Canali's first band the House Pets. "People back east thought those songs were ours," Canali chuckles. When Canali rejoined the Reign-with Tom O'Bonsawin now in for Bell-he brought along Johnson to replace the recently drafted Beau Maggi.

It soon became evident the bloom was off the rose. Before long the band changed its name to Roadhouse and plunged headlong into the '70s. Not, however, before their legendary appearance at the Northern California Folk Rock Festival in 1968 alongside the Doors, the Airplane, Big Brother, Kaleidoscope, Eric Burdon and the Youngbloods. "The Mourning Reign never played a battle of the bands," muses Canali. "We were above that. We already knew we were on top."

by Jud Cost, Santa Clara, CA, 1998

Tracks

1. Evil Hearted You (Graham Gouldman) - 2:28

2. Get Out Of My Life Woman (Allen Toussaint) - 2:38

3. Satisfaction Guaranteed (Rick Keefer) - 2:21

4. Our Fate (Frank Maggi) - 2:28

5. Light Switch (Frank Maggi) - 2:11

6. Run Run Run (Pete Townshend) - 2:14

7. Tales Of Brave Ulysses (Eric Clapton, Martin Sharp) - 2:50

8. Signed D.C. (Arthur Lee) - 3:07

9. Cut Back (Frank Maggi, Steve Canali) - 2:04

10.Light Switch (Frank Maggi) - 2:20

The Mourning Reign

*Charlie Gardin - Bass Guitar

*Craig Maggi - Drums

*Frank "Beau" Maggi - Vocals, Guitar

*Johnnie Bell - Lead, Rhythm Guitar

*Tom O'Bonsawin - Lead, Rhythm Guitar

*Steve Canali - Rhythm Guitar

1966-68 Sagittarius - Present Tense (2006 japan)

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

Sagittarius - The Blue Marble (1969 us, miraculous baroque sunny folk psych, 2008 and 2001 digipak remasters with bonus tracks)

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

1966-70 The Ballroom - Preparing For The Millennium

1973 Curt Boettcher - There's An Innocent Face

1967-68 The Millennium - Pieces (2013 Blu Spec)

1968 The Millennium - Begin (2013 Blue Spec edition)
1969 Curt Boettcher - Another Time (2013 Blu Spec)

1970-71 Curt Boettcher - Chicken Little Was Right (2013 blu spec)

1969 Sandy Salisbury - Do Unto Others (2013 Blu Spec)

1967-69 Sandy Salisbury – Everything For You Vol.1 (2013 blu spec)

1966-69 Sandy Salisbury - Falling To Pieces (2002 remaster)

1966-69 Lee Mallory - Many Are the Times (2013 blu spec)

1965-71 Ruthann Friedman ‎– Hurried Life / Lost Recordings

1966-73 Ruthann Friedman - Windy - A Ruthann Friedman Songbook (2013 remaster)

1966 Tandyn Almer - Along Comes Tandyn (2013 digipak)

Monday, September 23, 2024

The Love Generation - Love And Sunshine The Best Of (1967-68 us, groovy harmony sunny pop, 2002 remaster)

Of the many sunshine pop groups that proliferated in Southern California in the late '60s, the Love Generation were one of the most wholesome and downright sunniest. "Sunniest" is not necessarily synonymous with "best," even for a genre called "sunshine pop." The Love Generation's records were about as over-the-top as their name in their smiley-face, see-no-evil, upbeat, even anodyne harmonized pop/rock, commercial enough to often be mistaken for commercial jingles. Taking the advances of sunshine pop godfathers and godmothers the Mamas & the Papas to the most saccharine extremes (with echoes of the Beach Boys and the Association as well), the Love Generation released three albums in 1967 and 1968, getting small hit singles with "Groovy Summertime" and "Montage From How Sweet It Is (I Knew That You Knew)." The Love Generation were not quite as faceless as some acts plundering this territory, though, as much of their material was written by brothers John Bahler and Tom Bahler. The arrangements were densely crafted blends of male-female vocal harmonies and orchestrated pop/rock that put quite a bit of frosting on the incessantly chipper tunes.

At its outset, the group was a sextet of the Bahler Brothers, Ann White a former member of The New Christy Minstrels, Marilyn Miller (who had supplied Sally Field's singing voice on the Gidget TV show), Mitch Gordon, and Jim Wasson,a member of the vocal group that backed Patricia Morrison. John Bahler took the greatest share of the lead vocals, and session musicians played the instruments. The lyrics often tapped into the most optimistic and innocuous traits of the early hippie generation, with references to love-ins, sunshine (naturally), summer, dreams, candy, and magic peppering not just the words but the song titles: "Fluffy Rain," "Meet Me at the Love-In," "Consciousness Expansion," "Love and Sunshine," "Candy," "Magic Land," and "Love Is a Rainy Sunday" were just some of them.

The group really existed in name only by the third and last album, Montage, on which only the Bahlers and producer/arranger Tommy Oliver were listed in the liner notes. Gordon, White, and the Bahlers all sang as studio backup vocalists in subsequent years, with Tom Bahler writing songs for others including Cher ("Living in a House Divided") and Michael Jackson ("She's Out of My Life"), as well as co-writing "We Are the World." The Bahlers might be most famous/notorious, though, for recording and supplying several songs used in early episodes of The Partridge Family, several of them appearing (with the Bahlers' lead vocals) on the Partridge Family's first album.

by Richie Unterberger

Tracks

1. Groovy Summertime (Dick Ross, Keith Colley, Tom Bahler) - 2:24

2. The Love In Me (Jim Wasson, John Bahler) - 2:23

3. Hey, Look Around (Tom Bahler, Noelle Green) - 2:19

4. Not Be Found (Jimmy Seals) - 2:39

5. She Touched Me (Ira Levin, Milton Schafer) - 2:46

6. Meet Me At The Love-in (Keith Colley, Tom Bahler) - 2:13

7. When The Sun Goes Down (Tommy Oliver) - 2:13

8. Playin' On The Strings Of The Wind (Keith Colley, Nancy Mantz) - 2:39

9. Consciousness Expansion (Jim Wasson, John Bahler) - 3:19

10.You (Dave Mani, Ed Fournier) - 2:33

11.Leaves Grow Grey (Jim Wasson, John Bahler) - 2:44

12.The Bummer (Guide Me Home) (Jim Wasson, John Bahler) - 2:39

13.Epitaph (A World Without Love) (Dick Ross,Tom Bahler) - 2:19

14.Fluffy Rain (Christine Copeland, John Bahler, Tom Bahler) - 2:14

15.W.C. Fields (Christine Copeland, John Bahler, Tom Bahler) - 2:42

16.Montage From "How Sweet It Is" (I Knew That You Knew) (Jim Webb) - 3:03

17.Let The Good Times In (Carole Bayer, Neil Sedaka) - 2:13

18.I Keep On Talking (Michael Z. Gordon) - 2:09

19.Love And Sunshine (Tommy Oliver) - 2:44

20.A Touch Of Love (Dick Ross, Tom Bahler) - 3:10

21.Candy (James Griffin, R. Wilson Royer) - 2:27

22.Love Is A Rainy Sunday (Ray Chafin) - 2:40

23.The Pill (John Bahler, Mitch Gordon, Tom Bahler, Tommy Oliver) - 1:37

24.Magic Land (Tom Bahler, Tommy Oliver) - 2:10

25.Catchin Up On Fun (Mark Barkan, Ritchie Adams) - 2:22

The Love Generation

*Annie White - Vocals

*Jim ''Little Flower'' Wasson - Vocals

*John Bahler - Vocals

*Marilyn Miller - Vocals

*Mitch ''The Count'' Gordon - Vocals,

*Tom Bahler - Vocals

1972-74 Flo And Eddie - The Phlorescent Leech And Eddie / Flo And Eddie (2008 double disc remaster)

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Flo And Eddie - Illegal Immoral And Fattening / Moving Targets (1975-76 us, a nice melt of multi rock sounds with satyrical mood, 2007 remaster)

After issuing a pair of thoroughly excellent albums on Reprise Records, the Phlorescent Leech & Eddie aka Flo & Eddie -- who were embodied by Mark Volman (Flo) (vocals/guitar) and Howard Kaylan (Eddie) (vocals) -- moved over to the Columbia label for two additional LPs Illegal, Immoral and Fattening (1975) and Moving Targets (1976). The contents of the former are split between studio and live material containing considerable overdubs. The support backup band for the project consists of West Coast session talents Phil Reed (lead guitar), Erik Scott (bass), Andy Cahan (keyboards), and Craig Krampf (drums) -- with one notable exception that will be dealt with shortly. As the anti-authoritarian title track "Illegal, Immoral & Fattening" instantly reveals, the performances are victims of -- or perhaps too-accurately parody -- mid-'70s glam metal, which is heavier and may come off as slightly pretentious when compared to their earlier outings.

What certainly has not escaped them are their immutable vocal harmonies or the vicious Flo & Eddie sense of funny business. Kaylan and Volman's tenure as co-founders of 1960s folk-rockers the Turtles likewise reveal their remarkable sensitivity when interpreting ballads. Their version of Albert Hammond's "Rebecca" and the catchy, lithe "Let Me Make Love to You" are this platter's quintessential examples. Fellow Turtles and Mothers of Invention member Jim Pons is co-credited with the first of several obligatory cuts to feature their mature-theme gags circa the Mothers' anything goes stage shows under Zappa's baton. "Kama Sutra Time" -- which also handily pokes fun at Elton John and T. Rex -- as well as the "Sanzini Brothers Return," are filled with plenty of locker-room humor. Then there is the case of the rapid, multi-syllabic "Tiberian Memory Trick" tongue twister. This famous bit of convoluted conversation was handed down from the likes of Del Moore and Jerry Lewis. By the time Danny Kaye began incorporating it into his act, it was named "The Tibetan Memory Trick." And it remained an integral part of Flo & Eddie's stage act ever after.

The funky, wah wah driven "Livin' in the Jungle" and the demented power ballad "Cheap" are on par with their best straight-ahead rockers -- although the term "straight-ahead" is definitely relative. The "Kung-Fu Killer" is a brilliant piece of live shtick that -- on-stage at least -- seems to have developed out of an update of the Turtles' hit "You Showed Me." They draw upon the concurrent pop hit "Kung Fu Fighting" and even the Doors' Oedipal climax to "The End" before remaking the Mothers' classic "Eddie, Are You Kidding?" circa Just Another Band from L.A. (1972) appropriately enough. "The Pop Star Massage Unit" is another sexually suggestive wink and nod that also includes allusions to "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and "My Sweet Lord." Wrapping up the effort is a rock & roll spin on Irving Berlin's "There's No Business Like Show Business" that boasts a significantly different combo of all-stars -- namely Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar (guitar), Leland Sklar (bass), Ian Underwood (keyboards), and Aynsley Dunbar (drums).

For their final (of two) projects for Columbia Records in the mid-'70s, Mark Volman (Flo) (vocals/guitar) and Howard Kaylan (Eddie) (vocals) serve up a mixed bag of rockers as only Flo & Eddie can. With the exception of the Turtles' "Elenore" and "Guns" -- the latter of which features a shared credit with former Turtles' and Mother of Invention bandmate Jim Pons -- the remainder of Moving Targets (1976) was written entirely by the pair. While their lyrics might come off as cynical (read: realistic) or whiney to some, they counteract the typical pop/rock fare by presenting the listener with an undeniably fresh vantage point. The (perhaps) semi-biographical "Mama, Open Up" seems to be a psychological profile of its authors disguised as a typical '70s power ballad. Sounding like a combination of Chicago and Todd Rundgren, Alan MacMillan's horn-fuelled arrangement on "The Love You Gave Away" -- not to mention Flo & Eddie's impeccable harmonies -- almost disguise the odd spin on a love triangle.

Marked by a bright jangle guitar introduction and strong dual-lead vocals, "Hot" stands out as a return to a feel that recalls earlier Flo & Eddie material. MacMillan's brass score provides some punch to "Best Friends." The compact and catchy tune lives up to its parenthetical moniker that indicates it as a "theme to the unsold T.V. pilot." "Best Possible Me" is truly exceptional, equaling anything in the Flo & Eddie cannon. MacMillan earns his keep as the orchestration underscores the powerful melody. In a very different way, the same can be said of the tongue-in-cheek "Keep It Warm" as they mull over their life and future as singer/songwriters. "Guns" is an upbeat rocker with the occasional anti-war sentiments, while the new recording of "Elenore" is taken at a noticeably quicker pace that reflects the way Flo & Eddie were concurrently performing the song in their live shows. "Make Your Own Kind of Music" meets "Add Some Music to Your Day" on "Sway When You Walk" as the highly recommended entry not only brims with positivity, it taps into the duo's silly and cerebral sides as well. Bucking the norm of placing the title track at the beginning of the disc, "Moving Targets" can be found at the conclusion of the platter. The mid-'70s proto-heavy metal vibe bears an Alice Cooper or Kiss influence, contrasting the rest of the effort in its relative straightforward approach.

by Lindsay Planer

Tracks

1. Illegal Immoral And Fattening - 3:14

2. Rebecca (Albert Hammond, Michael Hazlewood) - 2:43

3. Kama Sutra Time (Marc Bolan, Howard Kaylan, Jim Pons, Mark Volman) - 6:40

4. The Sanzini Brothers Return (Howard Kaylan, Ian Underwood, Mark Volman) - 2:53

5. Livin' In The Jungle - 3:43

6. Cheap - 2:40

7. The Kung Fu Killer - 3:00

8. Eddie, Are You Kidding? (Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman, Frank Zappa, John Seiter) - 2:22

9. The Pop Star Massage Unit (Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman, George Harrison, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) - 4:56

10.Let Me Make Love To You - 2:21

11.There's No Business Like Show Business (Irving Berlin) - 3:39

12.Mama, Open Up - 4:12

13.The Love You Gave Away - 3:33

14.Hot - 3:26

15.Best Friends - 2:02

16.Best Possible Me - 4:06

17.Keep It Warm - 4:16

18.Guns - 3:56

19.Elenore (Howard Kaylan, Al Nichol, Jim Pons, John Barbata) - 2:11

20.Sway When You Walk - 2:03

21.Moving Targets - 4:44

Words and Music by Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman except where indicated

Musicians

Howard Kaylan - Vocals

Mark Volman - Guitar, Vocals

Andy Cahan - Drums, Keyboards

Aynsley Dunbar - Drums

Craig Krampf - Drums

Danny Kortchmar - Guitar

Erik Scott - Bass

Ian Underwood - Keyboards

Leland Sklar - Bass

Phil Reed - Guitar