Plain and Fancy

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Michael Deacon - Runnin' In The Meadow (1975 us, elegant jazzy folk psych, 2008 korean remaster)

Folky singer-songwriter from Omaha Nebraska. You'll hear a little light rock, a little blues, a little pop, and a little jazz. It is a "bread and butter USA mix of some of the freshest songs we've heard in a long time, particularly "Yahoo!" the title song from this signature album. It is truly a song that defies description. It moves, it lifts, it raises your spirit like no other popular song has ever done.

There are 11 other offerings total, and better yet, each one of them has that unmistakable Michael Deacon touch that makes a song like "Yahoo!" so endearing; and the vocal quality, musical tightness, lyrical lilt it's there throughout this masterpiece. Enjoy this lovely album at face value. Then look just below the surface you may be surprised at what you find. "Runnin' In The Meadow " is a little known Folk Psych gem originally released privately in 1975 as Deacon's debut, expanded to include four exclusive bonus tracks.

Liner-Notes

Tracks

1. Yahoo! - 2:29

2. Won't Be Long - 3:21

3. River - 3:32

4. She's Got No Ponytails - 2:29

5. Give What You Can - 3:02

6. I Been Carryin' A Song (So Long) - 2:56

7. Wind River Children - 4:04

8. Wet And Alive - 3:05

9. Life In The Breeze - 2:07

10. Treasure The World - 2:32

11. Can't Impress The Potter - 5:10

12. Quiet Lady - 3:58 -

13. Don't Throw Tomorrow - 2:43

14. Candle In The Kitchen - 2:51

15. Third Story Window - 3:35

16. Little Johnny Snowflake - 3:26

Music and Lyrics by Michael Deacon

Personnel

*Michael Deacon - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

*Ron Steele - 6 String, 12 String, Electric Guitars

*Bill Peterson - Electric, Acoustic Bass

*Bill Berg - Percussion

*Bill Barber - Piano

*Herb Pilhofer - Piano

*Dick Oatts - Saxophones

*Dave Karr - Flute

*Bruce Allard - Strings

*Hanley Daws - Strings

*Carolyn Daws - Strings

*Sal Venittelli - Strings

*Daryl Skobba - Strings

*Kathy Judd - Strings

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Tuesday, January 23, 2024

Lonnie Mack - Home At Last (1977 us, pleasant blues country rock)

When Lonnie Mack sang the blues, country strains were sure to infiltrate. Conversely, if he dug into a humping rockabilly groove, strong signs of a deep-down blues influence were bound to invade, par for the course for any musician who cited both Bobby Bland and George Jones as pervasive influences. Fact is, Mack's lightning-fast, vibrato-enriched, whammy bar-hammered guitar style influenced many a picker, too, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, who idolized Mack's early singles for Fraternity and later co-produced and played on Mack's 1985 comeback LP for Alligator, Strike Like Lightning.

Growing up in rural Indiana not far from Cincinnati, Lonnie McIntosh was exposed to a heady combination of R&B and hillbilly. In 1958, he bought the seventh Gibson Flying V guitar ever manufactured and played the roadhouse circuit around Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky. Mack steadfastly cited another local legend, guitarist Robert Ward, as the man whose watery-sounding Magnatone amplifier inspired his own use of the same brand.

Session work ensued during the early '60s behind Hank Ballard, Freddy King, and James Brown for Cincy's principal label, Syd Nathan's King Records. At the end of a 1963 date for another local label, Fraternity Records, Mack stepped out front to cut a searing instrumental treatment of Chuck Berry's "Memphis." Fraternity put the number out, and it leaped all the way up to the Top Five on Billboard's pop charts.

Mack waxed a load of killer material for Fraternity during the mid-'60s, much of it not seeing the light of day until later on. A deal with Elektra Records inspired by a 1968 Rolling Stone article profiling Mack should have led to major stardom, but his three Elektra albums were less consistent than the Fraternity material. (Elektra also reissued his only Fraternity LP, the seminal The Wham of That Memphis Man.) Mack cameoed on the Doors' Morrison Hotel album, contributing a guitar solo to "Roadhouse Blues," and worked for a while as a member of Elektra's A&R team.

Disgusted with the record business, Mack retreated back to Indiana for a while, eventually signing with Capitol and waxing a couple of obscure, country-based LPs. Finally, at Vaughan's behest, Mack abandoned his Indiana comfort zone for hipper Austin, Texas, and began to reassert himself nationally. Vaughan masterminded the stunning Strike Like Lightning in 1985; later that year, Mack co-starred with Alligator labelmates Albert Collins and Roy Buchanan at Carnegie Hall (a concert marketed on home video as Further on Down the Road). Lonnie Mack died in Nashville in April 2016 at the age of 74.

by Bill Dahl

Tracks

1. Running Wild - 4:51

2. My House - 3:16

3. Funky Country Living - 3:24

4. Lay Some Loving On Me - 2:21

5. Glad That I'm Home - 3:23

6. Love And You And Me - 3:01

7. Britches (Mike Durham) - 2:09

8. Drive To The Country - 2:41

9. The Other Side - 3:56

10.Give Of Your Love - 2:09

11.Outskirts Of Town - 2:30

All compositions by Lonnie Mack except where noted

Personnel

*Lonnie Mack - Banjo, Guitar, Vocals

*Bill Putnam - Bass, Electric Guitar

*Billy Puett - Saxophone

*David Briggs - Clavinet, Piano, Electric Piano

*David Byrd - Piano, Vocals

*Dennis Good - Trombone

*George Tidwell - Trumpet

*Jesse Boyce Bass

*Johnny Gimble - Fiddle, Mandolin

*Kenny Buttrey - Drums

*Larrie Londin - Drums

*Quad's Children - Vocals

*Russ Hicks - Steel Guitar

*Stuart Basore - Dobro Steel Guitar

*Terry McMillan - Harmonica, Jew's-Harp, Percussion

1969 Lonnie Mack - Whatever's Right (2003 Sundazed remaster)
1969 Lonnie Mack - Glad I'm In The Band (2003 Sundazed remaster)

1971 Lonnie Mack - The Hills of Indiana (2003 remaster)

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Monday, January 22, 2024

Michael Dinner - The Great Pretender (1974 us, nice country soft rock, 2021 korean remaster)

Although the intriguingly-named Michael Dinner (born May 20, 1953) began his career as a country singer, he subsequently moved into film production, finally finding success in that area. His first album (of two), 1974's The Great Pretender, is a proper, trad country release, of the kind that can sell millions with the right promotion. However, given that he was signed to the same label as Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fantasy, maybe we shouldn't be too surprised that this record effectively sank without trace. It occasionally deviates from the country template, notably on the rocking Tattooed Man From Chelsea and the country/blues of Woman Of Aran, its best tracks probably being the aforementioned Tattooed Man... and epic country closer Texas Knights.

Michael Dinner came from the same school as Jackson Browne & The Eagles. His musical worth was not a fluke his albums were excellent. John Boylan plays Mellotron on two tracks, with string parts on Icarus and Texas Knight, that sound, although the album features names of the calibre of Linda Ronstadt, Andrew Gold and pedal-steel god "Sneaky Pete" Kleinow, like an attempt to substitute for a real string section.

Tracks

1. The Great Pretender - 3:32

2. Jamaica - 4:02

3. Yellow Rose Express - 4:10

4. Sunday Morning Fool - 4:10

5. Last Dance In Salinas - 4:10

6. Tattooed Man From Chelsea - 2:50

7. Woman Of Aran - 3:51

8. Pentacott Lane - 4:06

9. Icarus - 2:58

10.Texas Knight - 6:11

All songs by Michael Dinner

Musicians

*Michael Dinner - Guitar, Vocals

*Ed Black - Steel Guitar

*Ronee Blakley - Vocals

*Michael Bowden - Bass

*John Boylan - Keyboards

*Gail Davies - Vocals

*Nick DeCaro - Accordion

*Don Felder - Guitar

*Andrew Gold - Piano

*Robert Grinnedge - Drums, Steel Guitar

*Jon Douglas Haywood - Vocals

*Milt Holland - Percussion

*Sneaky Pete Kleinow - Pedal Steel

*Larry Knechtel - Piano

*Russ Kunkel - Drums

*Gary Mallaber - Drums

*Mickey McGee - Drums

*Herb Pedersen - Vocals

*Linda Ronstadt - Vocals

*Mike Utley - Organ

*Dr. Robert Warford - Guitar

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Thursday, January 18, 2024

Pookah - Pookah (1970 us, interesting experimental art prog rock)

For a band that released an album on a major label, there's surprisingly little information to be found on Pookah. Featured keyboardist Pat Cupo, guitarist John Ippolito, and drummer Dave Ranaletta. Cupo and Ippolito had been members of the mid-'60s Rochester, New York cover band The Trackers. As for the band name, it was either a sly nod to a hookah, or taken from characters found in Irish folklore - spirits known as shape changers which could take the appearance of black horses, goats and rabbits. Given songs like 'Ha! Ha! I Can Fly ' and 'Rain On Your Grave'.

With Ranaletta handling lead vocals, 'Blue and Peaceful' was built on a nifty Cupo piano riff and some tasty Ippolito bass. With a pseudo-jazzy feel, this one actually sounded a bit like a mid-career Traffic tune. Nice harmony vocals on the chorus. United Artists tapped it as the American single. Opening up with some nice raga-flavored guitar and Ranaletta's martial drums, 'In a Field' came off as an interesting slice of acid-folk. Very different from the rest of the album and quite attractive.

With a spare, sluggish and distinctly lysergic feel, 'Merlin's Party' is probably the album's best known tune. Hard to accurately describe, but along with Ippolito's raspy voice and Cupo's roller rink keyboards, it's one of those songs that sounds like it should have been featured on some sort of "B" flick. Album's standout performance, the combination of Cupo's keyboard-powered droning melody, and Cupo and Ippolito's stoned vocals meant 'Rain On Your Grave' simply oozed lysergic influences.

The album saw a couple of singles released. The band attracted a bit of attention opening for national acts stopping in Rochester (Family, Grand Funk Railroad, etc.), but simply couldn't break. They were history by 1970 and seem to have all dropped out of music..

Bad-Cat

Tracks

1. Blue And Peaceful - 4:17

2. In A Field - 3:07

3. Tomorrow's The Day - 3:21

4. Things Don't Matter - 2:56

5. Broken Dream - 5:55

6. Kickin' A Can - 3:44

7. Merlin's Party - 4:31

8. Lady Ostrich - 4:42

9. Ha Haii Can Fly - 3:10

10.The Heat - 0:32

11.Rain On Your Grave - 5:27

All compositions by Onorato Cupo, John Ippolito, David Ranaletta

Pookah

*Onorato Cupo - Organ, Piano, Keyboards

*John Ippolito - Vocals, Bass, Guitar

*David Ranaletta - Vocals, Drums, Percussion

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Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Andy Robinson - Break Out Of The City (1970 us, wonderful folk psych rock, 2018 korean remaster)

The second album by Philadelphia-born singer-songwriter Andy Robinson. Released in 1970/Janus Records with the support of Janis Ian.

In addition to the original, it also includes covers of "I'll Be There" Hall & Oates and "For Free" Joni Mitchell. The two members of Hall & Oates were backed up by members of the folk rock band Gulliver, of which Hall was a member.

The highlight is the world of innocent songs that reflect the gentle atmosphere of Woodstock, where they were living at the time.

Tracks

1. Forever - 3:21

2. Break Out Of The City - 2:44

3. Where Do We Belong / Need Somebody On Your Bond (Andy Robinson / Traditional) - 4:15

4. The Right Way - 2:47

5. I'll Be Bye (John Oates) - 2:47

6. Party Ball - 3:35

7. Uptight Saturday Nite - 2:52

8. Sally She Weep - 1:56

9. Every Mother Father Brother Sister - 3:35

10.For Free (Joni Mitchell) - 3:25

Music and Lyrics by Andy Robinson except where noted

Musicians

*Andy Robinson - 12 And 6 String Acoustic Rhythm Guitars, Vocals

*Tom Sellers - Bass, Piano, Organ, Franco

*Tim Moore - Lead Electric Guitar, 6 String Acoustic

*Jim Helmer - Drums, Percussion

*Gerall Heiser - Cello

*John Oates - Mouth Harp

*Robert Cupit - Conga

*Daryll Hall - Backing Vocal

1968 Andy Robinson - Patterns Of Reality (2018 korean remaster)

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Sunday, January 14, 2024

Karthago - Rock 'n' Roll Testament (1974 germany / uk, fascinating classic rock with southern feel, feat. Glenn Cornick from Jethro Tull fame)

Karthago were founded in Berlin by Joey Albrecht and Gerald Luciano Hartwig who had been performing together sicne 1968 as a duo called Blues Machine. The band became a quartet prior to their first recording in 1972 and in 1974 they added a well known bass player, Glenn Cornick formerly of Jethro Tull and Wild Turkey.

Probably no other Karthago album was as extensively and intensively prepared as this one with songs finally composed by Joey Albrecht. This 3rd album of Karthago was a big step foreword, produced in London and with the participation of Glenn Cornick, famous bass player of Jethro Tull. Karthago developed a more mainstream style than most Berlin acts with strong songs, jazz and funk elements, backed up by excellence musician ship. Especially Joey Albrecht, influenced by Jimi Hendrix, had a real rock star appeal.

Shortly before recording "Rock 'n' Roll Testament" in 1974, two founding members had left Carthage : bassist Gerald Hartwig (who returned two years later) and drummer Norbert 'Panzer' Lehmann. A drummer was quickly found in Mannheim's Konni Bommarius , but all of the German bass players were 'in solid hands'. So they started looking around the 'island', but which Brit back then wanted to voluntarily go to a tiny island in the middle of the 'Red Sea'? It was a huge sensation back then that they were able to sign former Jethro Tull bassist Glenn Cornick . He had just left the band he founded, Wild Turkey , and from then on was the attraction on the Kudamm with his American road cruiser. As a great bass player and a super nice guy, he was a perfect fit for Carthage .

The 'opener' "Hard-Loving Woman": fantastically sparkling double leads open and then it sounds as if Carlos Santana and Skynyrds Honkettes had been brought into the studio. A song with hit potential at the highest international level. "We Gonna Keep It Together" breathes a casual, driving West Coast feeling and is crowned by Ingo Bischoff's unearthly good grand piano solo. "Now The Irony Keeps Me Company" is arranged in an almost dramatic and opulent way - just as deeply rooted in US popular music as its two predecessors. The title song "Rock'N Roll Testament" is reminiscent of Skynyrd's early phase in its unpolished, rough style . Joey Albrecht wails with the then emerging talk box in the blues "The Creeper" just like Peter Frampton does. "Back Again" is warm and 'funky' straight into your stomach and legs - the chorus that sings along is sensational in its simplicity. In the dreamy "Sound In The Air" you listen to Ingo Bischoff's extremely characteristic Mini-Moog with emotion - this is what you later heard from Kraan after he joined there.

"Highway Five" sets off a real funk rock fireworks display - everything is just right here: vocals, choirs, Joey's excellent guitar work, the driving percussions as well as Glenn Cornick's jumping bass figures . With "For Kathy" Santana is once again skillfully quoted, including Gregg Rolie 's asthmatic wheezing Hammond . "See You Tomorrow In The Sky" is dedicated to none other than Jimi Hendrix and can probably be described as the 'pearl' of this timelessly good record. I wonder why? Because I think I'm hearing my favorite southerners, Lynyrd Skynyrd, here again. Carthage's "Rock'N Roll Testament" is essential for any record collection.

by Steve Braun

Tracks

1. Hard Loving Woman - 3:38

2. We Gonna Keep It Together - 5:14

3. Now The Irony Keeps Me Company - 3:21

4. Rock N Roll Testament - 4:24

5. The Creeper (Joey Albrecht, Patricia Jordan) - 4:04

6. Back Again - 4:04

7. Sound In The Air - 5:09

8. Highway Five - 3:43

9. For Kathy (Joey Albrecht, Patricia Jordan) - 3:02

10.See You Tomorrow In The Sky (Joey Albrecht, Patricia Jordan) - 3:47

All songs written by Joey Albrecht, Tom Cunningham except where indicated

Karthago

*Joey Albrecht - Guitar, Lead Vocals

*Ingo Bischof - Organ, Grand Piano, Clavinet, Electric Piano, Synthesizer, Vocals

*"Pedro" Tommy Goldschmidt - Congas, Bongos, Timbales, Drums, Vocals, Percussion

*Glenn Cornick - Bass

*Konni Bommarius - Drums

With

*Tom Cunningham - Harmony Vocals

*Barry St. John - Backing Vocals

*Joanne Williams - Backing Vocals

*Vicky Brown - Backing Vocals

1973 Karthago - Second Step (2011 remaster)

1972 Wild Turkey - Turkey (2013 remaster)

1975 Paris - Paris (2013 japan SHM remaster)

1976 Paris - Big Towne 2061 (2013 japan SHM remaster)

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Saturday, January 13, 2024

Keith West - Wherever My Love Goes (1974 uk, good soft classic rock)

Having spent his entire career as a professional singer, songwriter, and musician, ‘Thinking About Tomorrow’ is the amazing tale of rock and roll survivor Keith West. From being inspired by Elvis in the 1950s to pop stardom and working alongside the greats of the music world in the 1960s, Keith was at the eye of the storm alongside peers including The Who, The Beatles, The Kinks, The Small Faces, Pink Floyd, Jimi Hendrix and many, many more.

Wherever my Love Goes was an experimental album which Ken Burgess and Keith had recorded for general release as a duo. Sadly, that didn’t happen, so it was decided to put it out under Keith's to perhaps secure more sales. Andrew Oldham had been involved in the making of this record and produced a couple of tracks. It never really took off and has become a bit of a cult item over the years. The standout tracks are The West Country, Sad Song, and the Andrew Oldham production of the Power and the Glory which it was written for Elvis, at the behest of Freddy Bienstock who owned Carlin Music.

by Klemen Breznikar

Tracks

1. The Power And The Glory (Keith West, Ken Burgess) - 3:25

2. West Country (Keith West, Ken Burgess) - 4:50

3. Liet Motif - 2:45

4. The Visit - 5:47

5. Hope You're Feeling Better - 5:30

6. Going Home Song (Keith West, Ken Burgess) - 4:30

7. Company (Keith West, Ken Burgess) - 4:05

8. Marshwood - 2:25

9. Wherever My Love Goes - 4:30

10.Sad Song (Ken Burgess) - 4:40

Songs written by Keith West except where noted

Personnel

*Keith West - Electric Guitar, Vocals

*Ken Burgess - Acoustic Guitar, Vocals

*Lisle Harper - Bass

*Rod Coombes - Drums

*Ann Odell - Keyboards

*Roy Young - Keyboards

*Tommy Eyre - Keyboards, Flute

*Johnny Almond - Saxophone

*Glenn Campbell - Steel Guitar

*John Weider - Violin

*Twink - Drums

*Roger Sutton - Bass

Related Acts

1968 Tomorrow - Tomorow

1973-75 Moonrider - Moonrider (2011 remaster)

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Thursday, January 11, 2024

Flow - Flow (1970 us, magnificent jazz blues brass psych rock, feat. Don Felder from Eagles fame)

Flow were an American sax-rock/psych band from Ocala, Fla., that released a self-titled album on CTI Records in 1970. After graduation, Bill Ruff went on to become Road Manager for the Flow and co-authored the song “Chicken Farm”.

Flow formed by John Winter, keyboards, sax, flute, Mike Barnett, Drums (fellow members of Ocala High School Class of '66) Don Felder, guitar, and Chuck Newcomb, bass and vocals. They recorded this album on Creed Taylor Records.

Winter and Barnett were in The Incidentals, a British invasion cover band, and Felder was in The Continentals (with Stephen Stills, Bernie Leadon) and when Stills departed, they changed the name to the Maudy Quintet.

After the Maundy Quintet broke up, Felder went to Manhattan, New York City, were he improved his mastery of improvisation on the guitar and learned various styles, the rest is history. John Rogers Winter, died December 22, 2019 at the age of 71.

Tracks

1. Daddy (Chuck Newcomb) - 3:36

2. Here We Are Again (John Winter, Mike Barnett) - 6:51

3. Line'Em (Leadbelly) - 2:47

4. Gotta Get Behind Your Trip (Chuck Newcomb, John Winter) - 3:34

5. Chicken Farm (Bill Ruff, John Winter, Mike Barnett) - 2:55

6. No Lack Of Room (Chuck Newcomb) - 3:49

7. Summer's Gone (John Winter) - 5:50

8. Mr. Invisible (Chuck Newcomb, John Winter) - 3:59

9. Arlene (John Winter) - 5:10

Flow

*John Rogers Winter - Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Soprano, Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Harmonica

*Don Felder - Guitar

*Chuck Newcomb - Bass, Vocals

*Mike Barnett - Drums

*Ed Shaughnessy - Tabla, Congas, Cowbell

*Angel Allende - Tabla, Congas, Cowbell

*Johnny Pacheco - Tabla, Congas, Cowbell

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Tuesday, January 9, 2024

White Chocolate - White Chocolate (1973 us, groovy blues funky glam classic rock)

White Chocolate were a Fairfield County, CT based band that played predominately throughout the East Coast. The original line-up was Charlie Karp on Guitar, David Hull on Bass and Jimmy Maher on Drums. The name was later changed to Dirty Angels and a change was made to the line-up, with the addition of George Maher on Rhythm Guitar.

Charlie Karp has an impressive musical background. Starting out as a young teen with Buddy Miles, he has also performed with the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith, Meatloaf, Arthur Lee, Charlie Karp and the Namedroppers, Buster Poindexter and is now a member of Slo Leak along with Danny Kortchmar and Harvey Brooks. His is an example of the finest Blues guitar as well as Rock.

David Hull is equally an impresario of the Bass. He also started out as a youth with Buddy Miles. His credits include Arthur Lee, the Joe Perry Project, Ted Nugent, Farrenheit (he used the pseudonym of Dave Heit), and most recently Pete Droge and the Sinners. Jimmy Maher was an excellent drummer and his contribution to the band was sizeable.

Tracks

1. Getting Ready To Rock 'n' Roll (Charlie Karp) - 2:50

2. Midnight Flight - 3:03

3. I'm Crying - 3:37

4. Past History - 3:04

5. Make It Easy (Charlie Karp, David Hull, Richard Gordon) - 3:38

6. Let's Get Funked (Charlie Karp, David Hull, Jimmy Maher) - 3:28

7. Outcast - 4:12

8. Sad Eyes (Charlie Karp) - 3:36

9. Looking For Love - 3:54

10.I'm Alive - 4:35

Songs written by Charlie Karp, David Hull except where noted

White Chocolate

*Charlie Karp - Guitar, Lead Vocals

*David Hull - Bass, Vocals

*Jimmy Maher - Drums, Vocals

With

*André Lewis - Keyboards

*Maxayn Lewis - Background Vocals

*Gene Hull - Saxophone

*Jerry Mirliani - Trumpet

*Candido - Conga

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Monday, January 8, 2024

Various Artists - Fading Yellow Vol.19 More Magic (1965-71 us, charming sunny pop psych trip, 2022 release)

Volume 19 contains artists only from USA, and it's another example of serious responsible work, an excellent release with an eight-page booklet containing information about the artists. Light ethereal sunny psychedelia.