Thursday, December 15, 2022

Jefferson Airplane - Volunteers (1969 psych rock milestone, 2013 Audiophile remaster and 2003 xpanded)



Volunteers was different from many of the anti-war and protest albums of the ‘60s. There was no despair or condescension, but rather, it was an angry and scathing commentary about what was wrong with society and our nation. Listening to such songs as the title track and “We Can Be Together” forty years later may find them a little dated, but the passion of the lyrics and the power of the music remain.

The opening notes of the first track, “We Can Be Together,” announce a strong political statement featuring the harmonies of Slick, Balin, and Kantner. It may be a tad idealistic today, but as the ‘60s drew to a close it was a meaningful anthem. “Volunteers,” which closes the album, was a call to a generation. It was both anti-establishment and unifying, which served as a vehicle for the group to preach their political message. The music demands your attention.

I have always been attracted to The Airplane’s presentation of “Wooden Ships.” The popular version may remain that of Crosby, Stills, and Nash, but this rock interpretation of the apocalypse, Cold War, and nuclear holocaust seems more true to the song’s lyrical intent. And the Kaukonen guitar solo is brilliant.

There are certainly a number of other highlights on this album. “Eskimo Blue Day” finds a tough Grace Slick fronting a song that would look ahead to Blows Against The Empire, while “Hey Fredrick” features another of her great vocals. Jorma Kaukonen continued his creative guitar explorations on the traditional “Good Shepherd” and his own composition, “Turn My Life Down,” which would look ahead to his work with Jack Casady in Hot Tuna.

Two final comments seem in order. Marty Balin was the co-writer of only one song and his time with The Airplane as a regular member was coming to a close. He always had more pop sensibilities than the other members and, as a counterpoint, would be missed. On the other hand, the great Nicky Hopkins contributed his virtuoso piano playing to four of the tracks, which added an interesting sound to their usual mix.

Volunteers  was the last great Jefferson Airplane release. Today the album stands the test of time well. Some of the lyrical nuances may be lost on the modern listener, but it remains an essential statement four decades after its release. Historically, it is an important echo from an era, especially for people with a draft number of three.
by David Bowling, 11/17/2010
Tracks
1. We Can Be Together (Paul Kantner) - 5:48
2. Good Shepherd (Traditional) - 4:21
3. The Farm (Gary Blackman, Paul Kantner) - 3:15
4. Hey Fredrick (Grace Slick) - 8:26
5. Turn My Life Down (Jorma Kaukonen) - 2:54
6. Wooden Ships (David Crosby, Paul Kantner, Stephen Stills) - 6:24
7. Eskimo Blue Day (Grace Slick, Paul Kantner) - 6:31
8. A Song For All Seasons (Spencer Dryden) - 3:28
9. Meadowlands - 1:04
10.Volunteers (Marty Balin, Paul Kantner) - 2:02
11.Good Shepherd (Traditional) - 7:20
12.Somebody To Love (Darby Slick) - 4:10
13.Plastic Fantastic Lover (Marty Balin) - 3:21
14.Wooden Ships (David Crosby, Paul Kantner, Stephen Stills) - 7:00
15.Volunteers (Marty Balin, Paul Kantner) - 3:26
Bonus Tracks 11-15 only on 2003 edition, Recorded November 28 and 29, 1969 at the Fillmore East

Jefferson Airplane
*Grace Slick - Vocals, Piano, Organ 
*Marty Balin - Vocals, Percussion
*Paul Kantner - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
*Jorma Kaukonen - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Jack Casady - Bass
*Spencer Dryden - Drums, Percussion
With
*Nicky Hopkins - Piano (Tracks 1,4,6,8,10)
*Stephen Stills - Hammond Organ (Track 5)
*Jerry Garcia - Pedal Steel Guitar (Track 3)
*Joey Covington - Congas (Tracks 5)
*David Crosby - Sailboat (6)
*Ace Of Cups - Vocals (Tracks 3,5)
*Bill Laudner - Lead Vocals (Track 8)

1966  Jefferson Airplane - Takes Off (2013 audiophile remaster)
Related Acts
1972  Hot Tuna - Burgers (2012 audiophile Vinyl replica)  

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Wednesday, December 14, 2022

James Gang - Straight Shooter / Passin' Thru (1972 us / canada, funky country classic rock, 2004 remaster)



The rock’n’roll city of Cleveland really rocked in the company of the James Gang, the local heroes who rode the American bestsellers from the late 1960s through to the mid-1970s. Now most often remembered as the band in which Joe Walsh made his reputation, they were much more besides, as a tally of 11 chart albums underlines. The fifth of those, Straight Shooter, entered Billboard’s Top LPs survey on March 18, 1972.

The band came together in 1966, but didn’t release their first disc, Yer’ Album, until early 1969. Throughout that year, their profile continued to build, until the record entered the chart that November. Their next three releases, James Gang Rides Again, Thirds and Live In Concert, would all eventually go gold.

Then came Walsh’s departure, to form Barnstorm and move on to the solo albums that eventually led to him becoming a member of the Eagles. The two remaining James Gang members, bassist Dale Peters and drummer Jim Fox, replaced Walsh with not one, but two new players. Roy Kenner joined as chief vocalist, and Domenic Troiano became the new guitar figurehead and occasional lead singer. Both arrived from the Canadian band Bush.

Kenner and Troiano had an immediate impact on the group’s songwriting, composing four songs on Straight Shooter together. Troiano wrote another on his own, and they collaborated with Peters on three more. After this album, Troiano was on his way again, to join the Guess Who, replaced in the James Gang by Tommy Bolin, later to become part of the mid-1970s Deep Purple line-up.

Meanwhile, Straight Shooter edged into the Billboard chart at No.197, but went on to a No.58 peak. The magazine’s review noted that despite Walsh’s departure, “it has all the strengths of their previous efforts. Roy Kenner’s vocal stylings exceed the common degree of musicianship. Instrumentally they have sustained their former level of excitement.”

"Passin'" Thru is the fifth studio album by James Gang, released in October 1972, and their final album released on ABC Records (catalog no. ABCX 760). The band moved to Atco Records the next year. The scene shown on the album's cover is of East Main Street in Bismarck, North Dakota in the 1880s.
by Paul Sexton, March 18, 2022
Tracks
1. Madness - 3:12
2. Kick Back Man - 4:52
3. Get Her Back Again - 2:46 
4. Looking For My Lady - 2:53
5. Getting Old (Domenic Troiano) - 3:45
6. I'll Tell You Why (Dale Peters, Domenic Troiano) - 3:53
7. Hairy Hypochondriac (Dale Peters, Domenic Troiano, Roy Kenner) - 2:55
8. Let Me Come Home (Dale Peters, Domenic Troiano) - 5:00
9. My Door Is Open (Dale Peters, Domenic Troiano, Roy Kenner) - 5:56
10.Ain't Seen Nothing Yet (Roy Kenner) - 3:03
11.One Way Street (Domenic Troiano) - 4:35
12.Had Enough (Roy Kenner) - 2:59
13.Up To Yourself (Domenic Troiano) - 2:42
14.Everybody Needs A Hero - 6:03
15.Run Run Run - 3:44
16.Things I Want To Say To You (Domenic Troiano) - 3:40
17.Out Of Control (Domenic Troiano) - 3:38
18.Drifting Girl - 5:07
All songs by Domenic Troiano, Roy Kenner except where noted
Tracks 1-9 from "Straight Shooter" LP 1972
Tracks 10-18 from "Passin' Thru" LP 1972

James Gang
*Roy Kenner - Lead Vocals, Percussion
*Domenic Troiano - Guitars, Vocals
*Dale Peters - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals, Percussion
*Jim Fox - Drums, Backing Vocals, Percussion, Keyboards
With
*Sheldon Kurland - Violin (Tracks 1-9)
*Glen Spreen - Strings (Tracks 1-9)
*David Briggs - Piano (Tracks 10-18)
*Charlie Mccoy - Harmonica (Tracks 10-18)
*Weldon Myrick - Pedal Steel Guitar (Tracks 10-18)
*Craig Sapphin - All Strings, Arrangements (Tracks 10-18)
*William D. "Smitty" Smith - Piano, Organ, Harpsichord (Tracks 10-18)

1969  James Gang - Yer' Album (Japan SHM remaster)
1970  James Gang - Rides Again (2010 SHM remaster)
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Tuesday, December 13, 2022

Jefferson Airplane - Thirty Seconds Over Winterland (1973 us, superb live recording, 2013 Audiophile remaster and 2009 expanded)



Thirty Seconds Over Winterland, originally released in 1973, was the final original album release from rock icons Jefferson Airplane. Captured live in concert, the album finds the early ’70s edition of the Airplane (with longtime members Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady joined by jazz and blues violinist Papa John Creach, former Quicksilver Messenger Service vocalist David Freiberg and ex-Turtles drummer Johnny Barbata) at its hardest rocking. 

The unique set focuses on their then-current material while acknowledging Kaukonen and Casady’s Hot Tuna splinter group and glancing backward to Jefferson Airplane’s groundbreaking ’60s work. Although their contemporary studio albums (1971’s Bark, Long John Silver from ’72) were somewhat disjointed and the group would disband after the release of Thirty Seconds Over Winterland, Jefferson Airplane was still a unified force onstage and many fans regard this period as the Airplane’s live peak.

That statement is borne out by the music captured on this CD, recorded during Jefferson Airplane’s final shows at San Francisco’s Winterland on September 21-22, 1972 and a month earlier in Chicago. As dynamic and forward-propelled as any music they’d created during the previous seven years, the tracks released in 1973 as Thirty Seconds Over Winterland reflect a band that had both come a long way and was ready to move on.
Tracks
1. Have You Seen The Saucers (Paul Kantner) - 4:19
2. Feel So Good (Jorma Kaukonen) - 11:28
3. Crown Of Creation (Paul Kantner) - 3:24
4. When The Earth Moves Again (Paul Kantner) - 4:19
5. Milk Train (Grace Slick, Papa John Creach, Roger Spotts) - 4:01
6. Trial By Fire (Jorma Kaukonen) - 5:05
7. Twilight Double Leader (Paul Kantner) - 5:25
8. Wooden Ships (David Crosby, Paul Kantner, Stephen Stills) - 6:37
9. Long John Silver (Grace Slick, Jack Casady) - 5:32
10.Come Back Baby (Traditional) - 7:08
11.Lawman (Grace Slick) - 3:14
12.Diana/Volunteers (Grace Slick, Marty Balin, Paul Kantner) - 6:06
Bonus Tracks 8-12 only on 2009 Iconoclastic edition

Jefferson Airplane
*Jack Casady - Bass
*Paul Kantner - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
*Jorma Kaukonen - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Grace Slick - Vocals
*Papa John Creach - Electric Violin
*John Barbata - Drums, Percussion
*David Freiberg - Vocals

Related Acts
1972  Hot Tuna - Burgers (2012 audiophile Vinyl replica)  

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Monday, December 12, 2022

Curly Curve - Curly Curve (1973 germany, stunning hard prog blues rock)



Curly Curve is a German rock band with roots in Berlin founded in 1968. The line-up changed a lot during their life time. In 1973 they gained a contract with Metronome Records.  The mother label of Brain. Eventually they only released one album on Brain in The Golden Era.

It is powerful blues rock with a strong American influence. Good vocals and very good musicianship. They really managed to create a own unique vibe on this album. Sometimes the music flirts with classic rock. 
Tracks
1. Hell And Booze (Charlie Prince, Chris Axel Klöber) - 4:05
2. I'm Getting Better (Jim Reeves) - 4:44
3. All Things Clear (Charlie Prince, Hans Wallbaum) - 2:20
4. Bitter Sweet (Charlie Prince, Kurt Herkenberg) - 5:59
5. Shitkicker (Charlie Prince, Martin Knaden) - 4:19
6. Dream For Today (Charlie Prince, Chris Axel Klöber) - 4:46
7. Patricia Reprise (Charlie Prince, Kurt Herkenberg) - 3:49
8. Queen Of Spades (Charlie Prince, Chris Axel Klöber) - 4:57

Curly Curve
*Hanno Bruhn - Vocals, Guitar
*Kurt Herkenberg - Bass, Vocals
*Chris Axel Klöber - Keyboards
*Martin Knaden - Guitar
*Hans Wallbaum - Drums

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Friday, December 9, 2022

Cherubin - Our Sunrise (1973-74 germany, excellent poppy and funky based psych prog rock, 2004 bonus track remaster)



Guitarist Andreas "Andy" Marx lived in London for two years (1968-70) and played with "Creepy John Thomas". In 1971 he joined Doldingers Passport. Soon after, he left the jazz rock combine and together with Udo Lindenberg they recorded Udo's first solo album in Hamburg. 

By the same time Andy Marx recorded his first solo album "The Circle", but he didn't want to move on completely alone, and at the beginning of 1973 he decided το  form  "Cherubin" together with Eberhard Wilhelm (drums), whose previous collaboration was in Amos Key, Wolfgang Graf (bass), Peter Bornkessel, Bo Born (Organ) and Peter "Pit" Troja. They first album was release thru United Artists.
by Wolfgang Wilholm
Tracks
1. Funky Beat (Andy Marx) - 8:00
2. East Wind Blowin' (Andy Marx) - 3:59
3. Cracy (Micheal Hodjera) - 3:21
4. Sunrise (Andy Marx, Robby Rogers) - 3:05
5. Sunday Child (Andy Marx) - 3:15
6. The Letter (Wayne Carson Thompson) - 2:40
7. Bikini Panties And White Lipstick (Micheal Hodjera) - 1:15
8. One Way Ticket (Andy Marx) - 3:48
9. Lost Lession In Time (Micheal Hodjera) - 3:05
10.Feel Is Real (Andy Marx, Micheal Hodjera) - 6:06
11.Electric Waves (Andy Marx, Wolfgang Graf, Eberhard Wilhelm) - 4:54
Bonus track 11 Live At Zirkus Krone Munich '76

Cherubin
*Andy Marx - Electric Acoustic Guitars, Banjo, Sitar, Vocals
*Bo Born - Organ, Piano, Vocals
*Wolfgang Graf - Bass
*Pit Troja - Percussion, Vocals 
*Eberhard Wilhelm - Drums, Vocals
With
*Micheal Hodjera - Electric Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
*Thor Baldurson - Piano
*Dieter Bauer - Bass
*Frank Baum - Pedal Steel Guitar
*Wolfgang Grude - Flute, Alto, Tenor Saxophones
*Bertl - Backing Vocals

Related Act

 

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Thursday, December 8, 2022

Brian Hopper with Beggars Farm - Brian Hopper with Beggars Farm (1969-70 uk, solid heavy psych rock with jazz and prog elements)



Here's one of the latest of the Canterbury music resurrections. Brian Hopper, brother of former Soft Machine bassist Hugh, was a key member of the "original" Canterbury band, The Wilde Flowers. His rhythm guitar, winds, occasional vocals, and R'n'B sensibility had a lot to do with The Wilde Flowers' embryonic Canterbury rock sound. So, as an encore to the successful reissue of old Wilde Flowers material, Voiceprint has released this, ostensibly a Brian Hopper project. Do not be misled, however. There is very little Hopper, Brian or otherwise, to be found on this disc. The liner notes credit Hopper for flute, saxophone, electronics, and "growler" (?), but in reality, there are only a couple of tracks on this album which contain any of the above. Hopper receives no songwriting credits, either.

What we do have is a pretty basic rock band playing heavy prog-inspired music that relies more on crunchy riffs than on instrumental color. At their best ("Story"), they sound a bit like early Jade Warrior at their hardest. At other times, they even sound like the Yardbirds, as on the standout track "You're Not My Girl at All". Overall, it's an entertaining album, provided you're not expecting A) that it qualify as progressive rock, or B) that it actually feature Brian Hopper — which are, ironically, two of the main reasons you're reading this review in the first place! Not at all bad, but be careful before you shell out for this one.
by Steve Robey, 01/02/1998
Tracks
1. Long Time (John Lawrence) - 3:21
2. Story (John Lawrence) - 3:12
3. Tomorrow Won't Be Long (John Lawrence) - 3:17
4. Astral Plane (John Lawrence) - 3:59
5. Sea (Dave Holman) - 5:06
6. You're Not My Girl At All (John Lawrence) - 2:28
7. Living In A Building (John Lawrence, John Tilley) - 2:26
8. Looking Back (Dave Holman, John Tilley) - 3:16
9. Thinking Of Me (Dave Holman, John Tilley) - 3:00
10.Your Lovin' Man (Dave Holman, Dave Smith, John Lawrence, John Tilley) - 5:53 
11.You Forever (John Lawrence) - 8:00

Personnel
*John Tilley - Lead Vocals, Flute 
*John Lawrence - Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Brian Hopper - Soprano, Tenor Saxophones, Flute
*Dave Holman - Bass, Backing Vocals
*Dave Smith - Drums

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Wednesday, December 7, 2022

Stonehouse - Stonehouse Creek (1971 uk, remarkable bluesy hard rock, 2007 digi pak remaster)



The band was a short-lived and unlucky brainchild of Peter Spearing, amazing guitarist and composer. Before founding "Stonehouse" he toured Germany in 66-67, recorded few sigles for Deutsche Vogue, and even appeared on Bremen TV. After returning to UK, he released some singles on Decca and Columbia.

"Stonehouse" emerged in 1970 with James (Jimmy) Smith on vocals - powerful high-pitched voice, which goes almost hysterical on "Hobo" and screaming like lost soul on "Cheater"; and Ian Snow ("Snowy") on drums, while Terry Parker provided solid bass.

The band soon was offered a contract by RCA, and within only 3 (!) days in Advision Studios in London they've recorded "Stonehouse Creek 1971" named after a small locality in Plymouth, knowns as Tinkies and "Deadlake" - in the days of Queen Victoria.
Tracks
1. Stonehouse Cree - 1:24
2. Hobo - 3:33
3. Cheater - 4:16
4. Nightmare - 4:54
5. Crazy White Folk - 5:03
6. Down, Down - 4:31
7. Ain't No Game - 3:53
8. Don't Push Me - 3:49
9. Topaz - 3:44
10.Four Letter Word - 3:29
11.Stonehouse Creek - 1:22 
All songs by Peter Spearing

Stonehouse
*Ian Snow - Drums, Percussion
*Peter Spearing - Lead guitar, Vocals
*Terry Parker - Bass
*James Smith - Vocals

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Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Exmagma - Three (1975 germany, excellent avant garde jazz prog rock, 2006 remaster)



The famous lost Exmagma album finally on the loose! What a long strange trip it has been... As one of the hand-selected chosen few who own a tape copy for a couple of years, it’s as much a great joy as it is a relief to live to see a proper (though 3 decades delayed) release of the masterpiece of one of the most inventive Krautbands and one of Konrad Plank’s best ever production jobs.

If you’ve ever seen the band on stage you knew that the problem with the two Exmagma releases always was double trouble. The time limitations of an lp prevented them from showing the full spectrum of their potential and both their albums were rare as hen’s teeth, as the first one wasn’t much more than a private pressing on the tiny Neusi label and the second an equally limited French-only release on the obscure Urus label more or less unavailable in their homeland.

The third album, intended as a double-LP, is their most mature and representative release. While all the influences from Hendrix via Soft Machine to "Bitches Brew"-Miles Davis are still intact, the band had now developed a great ability in songwriting and singing, as opposed to their former strictly instrumental recordings which sometimes made it hard for the average rock customer. But it’s amazing how cleverly contrasting the whole project is puzzled together. Whenever you start thinking: "wow, Exmagma gets commercial!", they strike back with one of their experimental soundscapes and, listening to it in its entirety, it always reminds me of the idea behind "Ummagumma". But I can’t help it: it’s a lot more fun.

It’s not Kraut, it’s not Rock, it’s not Jazz, it’s not Avantgarde. It’s all of that. But the result is much bigger than the sum of the parts. Don’t miss it!
by Allen Voran
Tracks
1. Box 25 - 3:36
2. My Baby's Gone I'm Out Of Tune Blues - 2:08
3. Torpedo Tits - 3:59
4. Fred Braceful Is Talkin' To Bread Faithful - 1:14
5. It's So Nice - 6:06
6. Rock 'n' Roll - 7:46
7. Weltstar - 0:17
8. The Pope - 5:49
9. Überm Beutental - 3:19
10.Dr. Phil. S.H. - 7:34
11.Qu'est-ce Que C'est? - 1:19
12.Da Da Too - 2:28
13.Stoned Chicken - 5:25
14.In Arkansas Steht 'n Atomkraftwerk - 1:11
15.Full Moon Again - 12:06
16.Walkin' On Ice - 4:27
17.If I Could - 0:18
All compositions by Thomas Balluff, Fred Braceful, Andy Goldner

Exmagma
*Thomas Balluff - Organ, Electric Piano, Clavinett, Effects
*Fred Braceful - Sonor Drums, Percussion 
*Andy Goldner - Fretless Electric Bass, Electric Guitar, Alto Sax, Tape Recorder

  


 

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Sunday, December 4, 2022

Steve Young - Renegade Picker / No Place to Fall (1976/78 us, brilliant singer songwriter, double disc remaster)



While Steve Young may be best known as "the guy who wrote that Eagles hit ("Seven Bridges Road")," he also held his own with Waylon, Willie, and the boys during the 1970s. Renegade Picker and No Place to Fall are superior mid-'70s outlaw albums, filled with splendid songs (many of them Young's), inspired performances, and, very importantly, have a real honky tonk sound. Young is a fine singer, and his resounding vocals really bite into a lyric like Willie Nelson's "It's Not Supposed to Be That Way" and Merle Haggard's "I Can't Be Myself." He also has a knack for reimagining familiar material, even material, on first glance, that may seem far afield from country. 

He transforms John D. Loudermilk's "Tobacco Road" into slow blues, Mentor Williams' "Drift Away" into pure country-soul, and Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice" into a deeply moving melodrama. Several of Young's best-known songs make an appearance across these two discs, including "Montgomery in the Rain," "Lonesome, On'ry, and Mean," and "Seven Bridges Road." As mentioned above, both albums have a superior sound and streamlined (read: non-Nashville) arrangements, allowing the guitars -- acoustic, electric, and, most importantly, steel -- to ring out cleanly in the mix. (Renegade Picker and No Place to Fall, in fact, are much closer to pure country than David Allan Coe's early Columbia albums from the same period.) It is somewhat of a cliché among Young fans to call him underrated and unsung, a lost outlaw. The availability of Renegade Picker/No Place to Fall, however, guarantees that anyone who purchases the set will soon discover just how good Young is. 
by Ronnie D. Lankford, Jr.

Issued in 1978, No Place to Fall is, regrettably, the second and last album for RCA. Like its predecessor, Renegade Picker, Young's ever-evolving music is centered in the heart of outlaw country this time out, though there are, as usual, interesting twists and turns. The band is stellar, with Buddy Emmons and Buddy Spicher, Tracy Nelson, Jerry Shook, Dale Sellers, and a bunch of guitar pickers, as well as drummer Kenny Malone, among others. The material is noteworthy on many levels, not the least of which is Young's decision to record, for the third time, "Montgomery in the Rain" and "Seven Bridges Road." Once more, he reinvents both songs, fills them out, adds different textures and stresses, and as a result, in the grain of his voice the meanings widen and deepen. The title track was written by the late Townes Van Zandt, and Young's read is damn near definitive, with layers of guitars haunting the middle of the tune and his own voice carrying the lonely edge of Van Zandt's lyric into oblivion. 

In addition, Young delves deep into Okie blues with a barbed-wire-and-whiskey cover of J.J. Cale's "Same Old Blues," with stunning slide guitar work. But it is in the cover of Mentor Williams' composition "Drift Away" -- the multi-million-seller recorded by Dobie Gray -- that Young offers his greatest surprise. This is a soul song, performed by a soul singer originally, and here Young, while keeping the song's intent essentially the same, transforms it into a country prayer. The same can be said for his loose cover of Dylan's "Don't Think Twice It's Alright"; Young reworks the melody slightly while emphasizing different parts of the lyric as the band fills in the cracks to bring an entirely new light to the song. No Place to Fall failed ultimately to sell, but it did a great deal to bolster his confidence as both a bandleader and as a producer. Young is a survivor, albeit on the fringes; he is one of the few whose records are so consistent as to be essential listening for anyone interested in late 20th century country music and rock 'n' roll. 
by Thom Jurek
Tracks
Disc 1
1. Renegade Picker - 3:13
2. I Can't Be Myself (Merle Haggard) - 3:19
3. Old Memories (Mean Nothing To Me) - 3:18
4. It's Not Supposed To Be That Way (Willie Nelson) - 3:44
5. Tobacco Road (John D. Loudermilk) - 3:45
6. Light Of My Life - 4:08
7. Lonesome, On'ry And Mean - 3:18
8. All Her Lovers Want To Be The Hero - 3:30
9. Broken Hearted People (Take Me To A Barroom) (Guy Clark) - 4:11
10.Sweet Thing (Buddy Starcher) - 2:56
11.Home Sweet Home (Revisited) (Rodney Crowell) - 5:58
Disc 2
1. No Place To Fall (Townes Van Zandt) - 4:02
2. Montgomery In The Rain - 4:28
3. Dreamer - 3:44
4. Always Loving You - 4:54
5. Drift Away (Mentor Williams) - 4:33
6. Seven Bridges Road - 4:53
7. I Closed My Heart's Door (Ralph Jones, Stoney Cooper) - 4:56
8. Don't Think Twice It's All Right (Bob Dylan) - 4:09
9. I Can't Sleep (Steve Goodman) - 3:45
10.I've Got The Same Old Blues (J.J. Cale) - 2:26

Personnel
1976  Renegade Picker
*Steve Young - Guitar, Vocals
*Johnny Gimble - Mandolin, Violin
*Buddy Emmons - Steel Guitar
*Jerry Shook - Guitar, Harmonica
*Mike Leech - Bass
*Bobby Wood - Keyboards
*Dale Sellars - Guitar
*Terry Mcmillan - Harmonica
*Mac Gayden - Guitar
*Karl Himmel - Drums
*Tracy Nelson - Vocals
*Kim Young - Vocals
*Kimberly Morrison-Cole - Vocals
*Anita Ball - Vocals

1978  No Place To Fall
*Steve Young - Guitar, Vocals
*Buddy Spicher - Violin
*Buddy Emmons - Steel Guitar
*Lloyd Green - Steel Guitar
*Jerry Shook - Guitar, Harmonica
*Joseph Allen - Bass
*Mike Leech - Bass
*Charles Cochran - Keyboards
*Kristin Wilkinson - Viola
*Larry Byrom - Guitar
*Jimmy Colvard - Guitar
*David Kirby - Guitar
*Dale Sellers - Guitar
*Charlie McCoy - Harmonica
*Mac Gayden - Guitar
*Karl Himmel - Drums
*Kenny Malone - Drums
*Tracy Nelson - Vocals
*Kim Young - Vocals

1968  Stone Country - Stone Country
1969  Steve Young - Rock Salt And Nails (2010 korean remaster)
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Saturday, December 3, 2022

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy - Is Spreading / The Great Conspiracy (1967-68 us, wonderful psych rock)



If you want to know why producer Gary Usher is revered in some circles, play The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading next to the pretty much self-produced For Children of All Ages. A name as trendy as the Jefferson Airplane -- and a sound that is absolutely the Airplane -- meets the Mamas & the Papas; the '60s guitars sound smart; the 1967 liner notes by Lawrence Dietz tell you nothing about the group; and the front cover looks like something Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper encountered during Easy Rider. "It's a Happening Thing," like much of this record, tries too hard. 

Decades after it was recorded, there is charm in a band like the PBC (which rhymes with PCP) being such an authentic figment of someone's countercultural imagination. Sandi Robison is stunning on "Then Came Love," and the production by Gary Usher really is impressive -- it makes the record something special. But if the intro to "Twice Is Life" sounds like the Monkees (and it does), The Peanut Butter Conspiracy ends up sounding like an FM version of Spanky & Our Gang. Spanky McFarlane's hits are what made her so hip, and the PBC's lack of hits makes for an interesting trip back to the days of flower power, and not much else. "You Took Too Much" has gorgeous harmonies, a sing-songy guitar riff, and lyrics bogged down by blatant references to the hippy-dippy mindset of a record company trying to cash in. "Second Hand Man" could be Peter, Paul & Mary on mescaline. That's not a knock; the song actually works in its audacity. 

A very hip oldies station could play this and attract listeners. It's just hard to take songs like "Why Did I Get So High" seriously when artists like Marty Balin and Grace Slick were freaking out their record label and doing this for real. 
by Joe Viglione

The Great Conspiracy, the second long-player from the Los Angeles-based Peanut Butter Conspiracy, was much more a reflection of their live sound than their debut effort, the pop-driven Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading (1967). Around 1964, the quintet was literally born from the Ashes (another burgeoning L.A. rock combo whose personnel featured soon-to-be Jefferson Airplane drummer Spencer Dryden). After solidifying their lineup, they inked a deal with Columbia Records, which assigned staff producer Gary Usher to work with them. His well-meaning but over-the-top production style diffused the band, which came off sounding more like the Mamas & the Papas than the Jefferson Airplane or It's a Beautiful Day -- both of whom also sported female lead singers. 

However, by the time of this release the Conspiracy were sonically asserting themselves with a decidedly hipper approach. This is especially evident on the stretched-out and psychedelic "Too Many Do" and the deliciously trippy "Ecstasy" -- which sports frenzied and wiry fretwork similar to that of Quicksilver Messenger Service string man John Cipollina. Equally inspired are "Lonely Leaf" and the somewhat paranoid and darkly guilded "Time Is After You." These contrast with the somewhat ersatz hippie fodder "Turn on a Friend (To the Good Life)," the 38-second throwaway "Invasion of the Poppy People," or the simply wretched "Captain Sandwich." [In 2000 the Collectables reissue label coupled both The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading and The Great Conspiracy on a single CD. Also included were the 45-rpm sides "I'm a Fool" and "It's So Hard" as well as the previously unissued track "Peter Pan."
by Lindsay Planer
Tracks
1. It's A Happening Thing (Alan Brackett) - 2:24
2. Then Came Love (John Merrill) - 3:41
3. Twice Is Life (John Merrill) - 2:47
4. Second Hand Man (Daniel Walter Dalton) - 3:23
5. You Can't Be Found (Alan Brackett) - 2:45
6. Why Did I Get So High (Alan Brackett) - 2:07
7. Dark On You Now (John Merrill) - 2:19
8. The Market Place (Lance Fent) - 4:02
9. You Should Know (John Merrill) - 2:10
10.The Most Up Till Now (Alan Brackett) - 2:33
11.You Took Too Much (John Merrill) - 2:06
12.Turn On A Friend (To The Good Life) (Alan Brackett) - 2:20
13.Lonely Leaf (John Merrill) - 3:52
14.Pleasure (John Merrill) - 3:24
15.Too Many Do (Alan Brackett) - 6:30
16.Living, Loving Life (Alan Brackett) - 3:18
17.Invasion Of The Poppy People (John Merrill) - 0:38
18.Captain Sandwich (John Merrill) - 2:09
19.Living Dream (Alan Brackett) - 4:18
20.Ecstacy (John Merrill) - 6:17
21.Time Is After You (Alan Brackett) - 3:02
22.Wonderment (John Merrill) - 4:09
23.I'm A Fool (Alan Brackett) - 2:35
24.It's So Hard (Alan Brackett) - 2:31
25.Peter Pan (Alan Brackett) - 3:18
Tracks 1-11 from "The Peanut Butter Conspiracy Is Spreading " 1967 LP 
Tracks 12-22 from "The Great Conspiracy" 1967 LP 
Tracks 23,24 1968 single  
Track 25 previously unreleased

The Peanut Butter Conspiracy
*Barbara "Sandy" Ronbinson - Vocals
*Alan Brackett - Bass, Vocals
*Jim Voigt - Drums
*John Merrill - Vocals, Lead Guitar
*Lance Fent - Lead Guitar (Tracks 1-11)
*Bill Wolff - Guitar, Harmonica (Tracks 12-22)
With
*James Burton – Guitar (Tracks 1-11)
*Glen Campbell – Guitar (Tracks 1-11)

1966-70  Barbara 'Sandy' Robison With The Peanut Butter Conspiracy - Barbara (2014 release)  
1965-71  Ashes - Ashes
1967-68  The Peanut Butter Conspiracy - Living Dream
1969  Peanut Butter Conspiracy - For Children Of All Ages (2008 bonus tracks remaster) 

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