Plain and Fancy

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

1969-93 Eddie Hinton - A Mighty Field of Vision The Anthology (2005 issue)

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Eddie Hinton - Very Extremely Dangerous (1978 us, magnificent soulful rhythm 'n' blues)

In his book Sweet Soul Music, Peter Guralnick described Eddie Hinton as "the last of the great white soul singers," and his debut album, 1978's Very Extremely Dangerous, sounds like a glorious throwback to the salad days of the Muscle Shoals, AL, R&B hit factory of the 1960s, where Wilson Pickett and Aretha Franklin cut some of their most memorable songs. Hinton had already earned an estimable reputation as a session guitarist by the time he finally got to step up to the mic as a solo artist, and Very Extremely Dangerous features him backed up by the always-expert Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section, and Hinton's strong and wiry guitar runs fit the group's emphatic support like a glove. (Hinton and his friends also knew how to bring a solid rock drive to these songs without losing their soulful groove in the process.)

As a singer, Hinton was never afraid to step on the gas, and if his vocals are sometimes a bit over the top, they're also consumed with a raw and sweaty joy; like Wilson Pickett, Hinton is able to bring a surprising musicality to a shouting style that can express the pleasures of a hard-partying Saturday night ("Shout Bamalama") as well as the tender agony of love ("I Got the Feeling"). It was Eddie Hinton's poor fortune to cut a great blue-eyed soul album just as disco and funk had bumped deep soul off the charts, but Very Extremely Dangerous still stands as a fine example of latter-day soul at its most accomplished.

by Mark Deming

Tracks

1. You Got Me Singing (Eddie Hinton) - 2:59

2. Concept World (Alvin Howard, Eddie Hinton) - 4:04

3. I Got The Feeling (Eddie Hinton) - 5:06

4. Shout Bamalama (Otis Redding) - 4:13

5. Get Off In It (Alvin Howard, Donnie Fritts, Eddie Hinton) - 3:17

6. Brand New Man (Alvin Howard, Eddie Hinton) - 3:39

7. Shoot The Moon (Dan Penn, Eddie Hinton) - 4:57

8. We Got It (Eddie Hinton) - 5:19

9. Yeah Man (Eddie Hinton) - 3:46

10.I Want It All (Alvin Howard, Eddie Hinton, Sandra Hinton) - 4:34

Personnel

*Eddie Hinton - Guitar, Horn Arrangements, Piano, Vocals

*Barry Beckett - Keyboards, Moog Synthesizer, Organ, Piano, Synthesizer

*David Hood - Bass

*Dennis Good - Trombone

*Harrison Calloway, Jr.- Horn Arrangements, Trumpet

*Harvey Thompson - Tenor Saxophone

*Jimmy Johnson - Guitar

*Roger Hawkins - Drums

*Ronnie Eades - Baritone Saxophone

*Muscle Shoals Horns - Horn

1967 Tim Hardin - Tim Hardin 2 (2006 reissue)

Monday, February 24, 2025

Tim Hardin - 3 Live In Concert (1968 us, gorgeous jazzy folk rock)

Recorded live in 1968 with a backing band comprised primarily of jazz musicians. the support crew is a bit tentative; it's evident that they hadn't played much with hardin, and in places the tempo comes close to breaking down. it's still a good, effective performance; hardin is in good voice (a condition which apparently couldn't be readily counted on, even in his early days), and on the songs that had already been released on his first two albums, the arrangements vary from the recorded versions in interesting fashions. 'live in concert' includes renditions of most of his best early compositions ('if i were a carpenter,' 'red balloon,' 'reason to believe,' 'misty roses,' 'lady came from baltimore,' 'black sheep boy') and half a dozen hardin originals that didn't make it onto his first pair of albums. the best of these is the lenny bruce tribute, 'lenny's tune,' which nico covered on her first solo album (where it was retitled 'eulogy to lenny bruce').

Tracks

1. The Lady Came From Baltimore - 2:00

2. Reason To Believe - 2:30

3. You Upset The Grace Of Living When You Lie - 4:05

4. Misty Roses - 4:35

5. Black Sheep Boy - 2:05

6. Lenny's Tune - 6:45

7. Don't Make Promises - 4:02

8. Danville Dame - 6:15

9. If I Were A Carpenter - 3:20

10.Red Balloon - 3:21

11.Tribute To Hank Williams - 3:55

12.Smugglin' Man - 3:30

Music and Lyrics by Tim Hardin

Personnel

*Tim Hardin - Vocals, Guitar, Piano On "Lenny's Tune"

*Eddie Gómez - Bass

*Warren Bernhardt - Piano, Clavinet

*Daniel Hankin - Guitar

*Mike Mainieri - Vibraphone

*Donald "Beautiful" MacDonald - Drums

1966-68 Tim Hardin - The Millennium Collection (2002 issue)
1969-70 Tim Hardin - Suite For Susan Moore / Bird On The Wire
1972 Tim Hardin - Painted Head (2007 japan remaster)

1970 Redbone - Redbone (2006 edition)

Sunday, February 23, 2025

Rep> Aorta - Aorta (1969 us, excellent wild psych with a hint of early prog rock, 2011 remaster)

Aorta was a highly talented rock band from Rockford, IL that released two albums throughout 1969 and 1970. The band was originally known as the Exceptions, a popular soul rock group that played around the Chicago area and released a handful of singles. It’s interesting to note that the Exceptions had at one time included future members of H.P. Lovecraft (another great Chicago psych band), the New Colony Six, Chicago, The Buckinghams, and Illinois Speed Press. The Exceptions eventually morphed into Aorta when band members felt a more progressive direction was needed.

In 1969 Columbia released this startling record which was a mix of psychedelia, soul, jazz, folk, and rock. The album was housed in a beautiful, graphic sleeve that has always overshadowed the great music from within. Musically speaking, Aorta’s sound comes close to Boston band Listening or even the more psychedelic aspects of early Blood, Sweat and Tears during its Al Kooper phase. There seems to be some kind of concept that reoccurs under the Mein Vein theme. Aorta is solid throughout though, featuring strong musicianship, inventive studio wizardry, superb songs with a healthy dose of fuzz guitar and wonderful string and horn arrangements.

Some songs like Heart Attack and Ode To Missy Mxyzosptlk have lots of organ and are very early stabs at what would later be coined progressive rock. Ode to Missy has some intense guitar solos and a great studio psych out ending that will put your stereo speakers on overdrive. A personal favorite is the more restrained Sprinkle Road to Cork Street, which is a dramatic folk-rock track with horns and a beautiful medieval-like intro. Trippier tracks like the spooky Catalyptic with its ethereal, acid church organ work extremely well too and make it clear that these guys could play any style of music well. What’s In My Mind’s Eye is a great lost piece of psychedelic pop that has really cool disembodied vocals and a prominent horn arrangement.

Aorta may seem grandiose and even downright indulgent at times but make no mistake this really is a great lost record. Conclusion: definitely pick this great album up if you’re looking for some far out, wild psychedelia with a hint of early progressive rock.

by Jason Nardelli
Tracks
1. Main Vein I (Jim Donlinger) - 2:17
2. Heart Attack (Jim  Donlinger, Jim Nyeholt) - 2:30
3. What's In My Mind's Eye (Ginna Donlinger) - 2:47
4. Magic Bed (Dan Hoagland, Jim  Donlinger) - 2:37
5. Main Vein II (Jim  Donlinger, Jim  Nyeholt) - 1:25
6. Sleep Tight (Lowell George, Russ Titelman) - 4:38
7. Catalyptic (Gary Montgomery, Jack Dalton) - 3:32
8. Main Vein III (Jim  Donlinger) - 0:42
9. Sprinkle Road To Cork Street (Dan Hoagland, Jim  Nyeholt) - 3:06
10.Ode To Missy Mxyzosptlk (Jim  Donlinger) - 3:08
11.Strange (Dan Hoagland) - 4:18
12.A Thousand Thoughts (Billy Herman, Jim  Donlinger) - 3:48
13.Thoughts And Feelings / Main Vein IV (Jim  Donlinger) - 4:07

Aorta
*Jim Nyeholt - Bass
*Billy Herman - Drums
*Bobby Jones - Guitar, Vocals
*Jim Donlinger - Keyboards, Vocals

1970 Aorta - Aorta 2

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Saturday, February 22, 2025

Redbone - The Witch Queen Of New Orleans / Message From A Drum (1971 us, soulful funky native rock, 2004 remaster)

The third "Redbone" album contains their second hit: "The Witch Queen of New-Orleans". Another great song, maybe one of the best in the whole Rock History. But the album is much more then that. Wonderful guitar parts, swirling around, overwhelming, taking you far ("Emotions").

James Flemming Rasmussen remembers : “It was Pat and Lolly Vegas, who hired me to produce the string session. Pat and Lolly were friends of mine, I had known them, since I first came to Hollywood, in 1965. Pat and Lolly were at that time, playing on a Club in Hollywood, and in the daytime, we went in the studio, trying to make some music together. Later in 1969, I produced a hit record “Echo Park”, with an artist called Keith Barbour. On that production, I hired the string session from LA symphony orchestra, and that way Pat and Lolly knew my work with strings. So a few years later, they recorded Witch Queen, then Pat they contacted me, to help them work with a string arrangement on that song.”

RedBone

Tracks

1. Message From A Drum (Pat Vegas) - 3:07

2. Niji Trance (Lolly Vegas, Pat Vegas, Tony Bellamy) - 3:26

3. The Sun Never Shines On The Lonely - 2:32

4. Maxsplivitz - 0:14

5. Emotions - 4:10

6. Jerico (Lolly Vegas, Pat Vegas) - 3:49

7. The Witch Queen Of New Orleans (Lolly Vegas, Pat Vegas) - 2:45

8. When You Got Trouble (Lolly Vegas, Pat Vegas) - 3:24

9. Perico - 0:15

10.Fate - 6:38

11.One Monkey - 4:05

12.Chant: 13th Hour (Pat Vegas) - 3:02

All songs by Lolly Vegas except where noted

Bonus Track 12

The Redbone

*Lolly Vegas - Lead Guitar, Vocals

*Tony Bellamy - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

*Pat Vegas - Bass, Vocals

*Pete DePoe - Drums, Percussion

1970 Redbone - Potlatch (2004 bonus tracks remaster)
1972 Redbobe - Already Here (2011 bonus tracks reissue)

1973 Redbone - Wovoka

1974-75 Redbone - Beaded Dreams Through Turquoise Eyes (2013 xpanded)

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Elliott Murphy - Aquashow (1973 us, amazing folk classic rock)

With all the praise accorded every other artist anointed with the "new Dylan" tag, Elliott Murphy burst onto the scene in 1973 wearing the mantle proudly. His debut, Aquashow, came on like the son of Blonde on Blonde, but with the streetwise poetic bent of Lou Reed. And, as is the case with most 24-year-olds armed with pen, paper, guitar, and harmonica, he has plenty to say. There is the tendency to wield a heavy hand when it comes to his takes on love, fame, growing up, and the underbelly of middle-class life, but Murphy, whose insights cut deeper than the majority of writers his age, is successful more often than not. If the irony of "How's the Family" or the overstated "Marilyn Monroe died for our sins" are a bit much, tracks such as "Hangin' Out," "Scrapbook Graveyard," and "Last of the Rock Stars" more than make up for it, painting a vivid picture of disenfranchised youth -- searching yet self-destructive.

Still, as good as Murphy can be lyrically, it's the music that first draws you in. From his own electric guitar, and a rhythm section made up of brother Matthew Murphy and Byrd Gene Parsons, to Highway 61 Revisited pianist Frank Owens' organ and piano, Murphy creates some of the most convincing Dylan-esque folk-rock to come along since 1966. In and out of print over the years, Aquashow remains a minor classic, thanks to a keen eye, intelligence, and a sparse, straightforward sound that stays clear of trends.

by Brett Hartenbach

Tracks

1. Last Of The Rock Stars - 3:43

2. How's The Family - 4:23

3. Hangin' Out - 4:18

4. Hometown - 4:34

5. Graveyard Scrapbook - 2:58

6. Poise 'N Pen - 2:39

7. Marilyn - 4:18

8. White Middle Class Blues - 3:00

9. Like A Crystal Microphone - 3:13

10.Don't Go Away - 4:03

All songs by Elliott Murphy

Musicians

*Elliott Murphy - Vocals, Electric Guitar, Harmonica, Piano

*Matthew Murphy - Bass

*Gene Parsons - Drums

*Rick Marotta - Drums (Track 2)

*Teddy Irwin - Acoustic Guitar

*Frank Owens - Piano, Organ

*Pat Rebillot - Piano, Organ (Track 4) Electric Piano (Tracks 7,9)

*Matthew Murphy, Gene Parsons, Dennis Ferrante, Maeretha Stewart - Background Vocals

*Jim Mason, Tasha Thomas, Eddie Mottau, Dick Wagner - Background Vocals

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

Raven - Raven (1969 us, excellent blues psych rock, bonus tracks remaster)

1969 album by the American blues psych rock band Raven that's similar to the Band, B.B. King and John Mayall. Features the epic composition Bad News and the superb blues rocker opener Feelin' Good. Drummer Gary Mallaber worked as session musician with artists like Van Morrison, Steve Miller, Gene Clark, Jackson Browne, America among others. Keyboardist James Frank Calire joined America from 1976 to 1980.

Tracks

1. Feelin' Good (James Frank Calire, Thomas J. Calandra) - 2:55

2. Neighbor Neighbor (Alton Joseph Valier) - 4:31

3. Green Mountain Dream (James Frank Calire) - 4:39

4. No Turnin' Back (Thomas J. Calandra) - 3:38

5. Let's Eat (James Frank Calire, John Weitz, Thomas J. Calandra, Gary Mallaber, Tony Galla) - 5:51

6. Howlin' For My Baby (Howlin' Wolf, Willie Dixon) - 4:39

7. Frumpy (James Frank Calire) - 3:09

8. None Of Your Jive (James Frank Calire) - 3:35

9. Bad News (John Weitz) - 10:04

10.Children At Our Feet (Thomas J. Calandra) - 2:47

11.Here Come A Truck (John Weitz) - 1:59

Bonus Tracks 10-11, single 1970 release

Raven

*James Frank Calire - Keyboards

*John Weitz - Guitar

*Thomas J. Calandra - Bass

*Gary Mallaber - Drums

*Tony Galla - Vocals, Harp

1973 Ian Thomas - Ian Thomas

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Ian Thomas - Long Long Way (1974 canada, beautiful folk soft rock)

Long Long Way includes three of Thomas' strongest tunes with the anti-violence-themed title track, the rocksteady "Makin' It Hard," and "Mother Earth," which is an obvious ode to the environment. All of these songs were played on Canadian radio, but none of them managed to keep Thomas in the spotlight or put his name back on the American charts. What they did do was expose the fact that Thomas was writing for himself and expressing his opinions on matters that he felt were important, and all that was needed was some punchy music to accompany his pop/rock sentiments.

by Mike DeGagne

In 1974 Ian Thomas released his second album, Long Long Way. The title track from the album climbed to #17 in Vancouver. However, unlike his previous Top 40 success in the USA, “Long Long Way” became the first of twenty-five single releases to fail to crack the Billboard Hot 100. While “Long Long Way” was on the charts in August and September 1974, America was going through a political crisis. Richard M. Nixon had resigned from the presidency on August 9, 1974, due to the Watergate scandal. The introspective tune questioning the notion of progress was out of synch with sentiment given the political crisis south of the border.

Tracks

1. Long Long Way - 5:00

2. Tidal Wave - 3:48

3. Makin It Hard - 3:32

4. Wheels On Fire - 2:52

5. Top Of The World - 3:01

6. For Knowing You - 6:53

7. Count Your Blessings - 4:24

8. Mother Earth - 3:17

9. It's Over - 5:24

Words and Music by Ian Thomas

Musicians

*lan Thomas - Acoustic Guitars, Vocals

*Steve Hogg - Bass

*Barry Keane - Drums, Percussion

*Mick Ralphs - Electric Guitar

*John Capek - Keyboards

*B.J. Cole - Steel Guitar

*David Hentschel - ARP Synthesizer

*Milan Kymlicka - Strings, Brass, Tympani Arranger

Monday, February 17, 2025

Ian Thomas - Ian Thomas (1973 canada, spectacular singer songrwriter)

Ian Campbell Thomas, singer, songwriter, guitarist, producer, actor (born 23 July 1950 in Hamilton, ON). A Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter, Ian Thomas is best known for the hit single "Painted Ladies" (1973), and for his role as Dougie Franklin in the first six seasons of Steve Smith's cult TV program The Red Green Show (1991–2006).

Thomas began his career as a member 1969–71 of the rock band Tranquility Base (the pop group-in-residence 1970–71 with the Hamilton Philharmonic). As a CBC producer 1972–74 in Toronto, Thomas was responsible for the radio program National Rock Works and for CBC LM-series recordings by more than 20 performers, including Bearfoot, Bim (Roy Forbes) and Cal Dodd. He produced commercially released recordings by James Leroy, D'Arcy Wickham and others. Throughout his career he has also written, produced and performed many jingles.

His debut album, Ian Thomas (1973, GRT 9230-1037), included the song "Painted Ladies," which was popular in Canada and the Unites States.

by Andrew Mcintosh, March 22, 2009

Tracks

1. Painted Ladies - 3:32

2. Another - 3:12

3. One Of Those Days - 3:08

4. Will You Still Love Me - 3:58

5. Coming For My Life - 3:55

6. Come The Son - 3:44

7. When You Have Love - 3:49

8. Evil In Your Eyes - 3:37

9. Insecurity - 3:58

10.White Clouds - 4:55

Lyrics and Music by Ian Thomas

Personnel

*Ian Thomas - Bass, Acoustic, Electric Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals

*Al Briscoe - Steel Guitar

*Barry Keane - Drums

*Mike Donavan - Acoustic Guitar

*Milan Kymlicka - Strings Arranger

*Steve Hogg - Bass