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Filed under (USA), 1971, 2002, Arrow, LEAF RIVER, Son Shine

February 10, 2012

CHUCK NEUFELD

On The Other Hand… (Stucky SA22282) 1982

The Dylan angle is even more pronounced on this admirable twelve-song acoustic folk collection. No harmonica this time, but the guy can vocally sure sound dead-on like Dylan as he works through convicting titles like ‘Hey Mister’, ‘Callin’ Bad Bad’, ‘Ain’t Gonna Join You’ and ‘Look To The Street’. From passionately strummed numbers to bright folksy melodies to more delicately fashioned songs. Chuck provides guitar and dulcimer, while Duane Gundy returns on guitar, mandolin, bass and backup vocals. SeJesus Music, Christian music, MP3′s, Album Review,e also Charles & Bonnie. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).

Tracks:

01. You Could Be Free

02. Hey Mister

03. Hard Times

04. The Way Of Your Heart

05. Apocalypse

06. Hope To The End

07. Callin’ Bad Bad

08. Ain’t Gonna Join Ya

09. Laughing

10. Count On My Love

11. Look To The Street

12. Blessed Be Those

Filed under (USA), 1982, CHUCK NEUFELD, On The Other Hand, SA22282, Stucky

February 9, 2012

STUART & SANDY CAVE

Dawn On Sunday (Profile GMOR 143) 1977 UK *

With their vibrant British folk/acoustic style, Stuart and Sandy Cave would have fit perfectly on the This Side Of The River compilation from the same label. Dawn On Sunday stands as one of the finest Profile releases as well as one of the rarest. Heartfelt harmonies over mostly self-penned tunes, backed by Stuart’s 6 and 12-string guitar, mandolin and banjo, plus bass and drums, enveloped with that familiar wholesome homemade Profile sincerity. Some of the mandolin tracks have a similar feel to Gimli & Gloin from the aforementioned River lp, particularly ‘The Perfect Cure/In Dulce Jubilo’. Attractive gold-on-aqua cover illustration of figure kneeling before the empty tomb. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).

Tracks:

01. Spaces

02. Two Thousand Years

03. Dawn On Sunday

04. Jesus You Are

05. Glory Glory Glory

06. How Can I Tell You

07. Hallelujah He Is Born

08. Realife

09. Psalm 46

10. Glory Glory

11. The Perfect Cure-In Dulce Jubilo

12. Through The Water

Filed under (UK), 1977, Dawn On Sunday, GMOR 143, Profile, STUART & SANDY CAVE

February 9, 2012

MORNING STAR

Message From the Throne (Sound 80 S80-1071-4144S) 1975?

Magnificent dreamy rural acoustic rock/psych gem from Minnesota trio of Roger Aleckson, Jon Bayless and Chris Hampton. Even though there are no drums, or even electric guitar for that matter, these guys have a cutting-edge pastoral hippie/garage mood that’s like an unplugged version of Wilson McKinley or Maranatha (Soon). This album is an acoustic guitar lover’s dream, with long tracks that feature sharp 6-string leads backed by bass and hardy 12-string action. Mellotron adds a spacious Moody Blues/King Crimson-ish atmosphere to cuts like ‘The First Day’, ‘His Will’ and ‘The Ship Of Life’. Also some great slide guitar and peppy harmonica stirring things up in a bluesy country folk-rock way on ‘Steppin’ In & Steppin’ Out’ and ‘The Conversation’. The 12-string guitar gets a nice phased effect on the psychy opener ‘You’re So Free’, also with slide guitar. ‘Shine On (With Jesus)’, ‘Joy In G Major’, every song a winner! Vocal harmony sounds real similar to Wilson McKinley, with straight-ahead Jesus-lovin’ lyrics to match. Totally homemade black-on-silver cover drawing of scroll in the sky floating above a cross on a hill, with the Biblical reference Revelation 22:16 written at the bottom. Back cover has a drawing of a van with “Jesus Lives” on the back, heading down The Straight and Narrow Pathway. Very rare custom record, mastered at Minnesota’s Sound 80 studio. See also Powerhouse Experience. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).

Tracks:

01. You’re So Free

02. The First Day

03. Shine On (With Jesus)

04. His Will

05. Steppin’ In & Steppin’ Out

06. Joy In G Minor

07. The Conversation

08. The Ship Of Life

Filed under (USA), about 1975, Message From the Throne, MORNING STAR, S80-1071-4144S, Sound 80

February 8, 2012

PROCLAIMERS

The Proclaimers (Angelus Records, WR 4684) 1970?

Unlike many of the Christian Folk groups that sprung up the Proclaimers were different by offering more than half of the selections (9) as original compositions. Also they have a few standards like a Carmichael and All my trials and a hymn too. Very well done. Performed in the San Francisco Bay area. Review by OK.

Tracks:

01. He’s Everything

02. Oh The Day

03. Baby Born In Bethlehem

04. Casting Every Care

05. All My Trials

06. The Throne Of Your Soul

07. Virgin Mary

08. Well, It’s A Good Thing

09. He That Dwelleth

10. Souls

11. Happiness

12. My Jesus I Love Thee

13. Since Jesus Came Into My Heart

14. Three In One

Filed under (USA), about 1970, Angelus, PROCLAIMERS, The Proclaimers, WR 4684

February 8, 2012

BRILLO BROTHERS

The Brillo Brothers (TO 009) 1979?

Enlisting the services of the Pat Terry Group at the Twelve Oaks studio, David Milford and Rick McKee (The Brillo Brothers) put down this fine custom release that stays true to that wholesome Georgia folkrockin’ sound. Milford handles bass and guitar while McKee covers drums and additional guitar. Sonny Lallerstedt and Pat Terry contribute electric guitar and synths respectively. Opens with a spirited Eagles-styled country rocker ‘Sticks And Stones’. The synthesizer is especially cutting-edge on the more progressive ‘Rick’s Other Song’ which includes some shifts into 5/4 time (or something like that). Sonny’s lead electric kicks into action on the Southern rocker ‘Turn It Over’. Other titles include ‘Headin’ Home’, ‘Tales Of An Ancient Prince’, ‘Other Plans’, ‘One Word Love Song’ and ‘Let’s Get One Thing Straight’. Good acoustic guitar work throughout. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).

Tracks:

01. Sticks And Stones

02. It Might Be Tonight

03. Headin’ Home

04. Rick’s Other Song

05. Tales Of An Ancient Prince

06. Turn It Over

07. Other Plans

08. One Word Love Song

09. Let’s Get One Thing Straight

10. The Difference

Filed under (USA), 009, about 1979, BRILLO BROTHERS, The Brillo Brothers, TO

February 7, 2012

DOVE

Dove II (Shalom SH-1141) 1974

Dove leaves the nest and soars miles above their debut. Leaving the simple folkrock feel of that lp, they’ve developed a rich textured sound layered with synths, mellotron, and even touches of progressive art rock. Starved proggies will swallow the opening cut whole with it’s ’70s prog guitars and keyboards (I think I heard Camel in there for about 3 seconds). Norman’s ‘The Outlaw’ and Pat Terry’s ‘Seen It Now’ both get lush arrangements. ‘Bad News Blues’ growls out the world’s woes before ending on a more upbeat groove about the “good news”. New to the group is Bob Farrell on bass and Sonny Lallerstedt is enlisted for lead guitar – both played on the Millenium album which has a similar sound. A good deal of ballads here, but well worth it for the progressive stuff. Colorful deluxe gatefold cover. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).

Tracks:

01. Opening-Do You Need Somebody

02. The Outlaw

03. Changed

04. Bad News Blues

05. Ugly Louise

06. Freedom

07. Seen It Now

08. Information, Please

09. Adoption

Filed under (USA), 1974, DOVE, Dove II, SH-1141, Shalom

February 2, 2012

SHEKINA GLORY

Have You Considered (IGL 6045N1) 1976

Very impressive custom obscurity from five-guy two-girl outfit scoring high with their mix of dreamy mysterious folk/psych, hard rock and west-coast rural rock. Some really breathtaking moments here. One listen to powerful songs like ‘If I Don’t Let People Know’, ‘Jesus’, ‘Ask’ and ‘Good Samaritan’ and you’ll see these folks definitely knew how to weave in mood and texture alongside the heavier elements. One minute there’s a gentle eerie atmospheric melody with acoustic guitars and spacey flute accompaniment; next thing you know they’ve built up to a climax of blaring hard-rock guitar. Good joyous upbeat fuzz jamming ala Earthen Vessel on ‘Glory Glory’. ‘Now I Lay Me’ gets a decent lively folkrock groove going, while ‘Talkin’ Bout Jesus’ and ‘Father Forgive Me’ reveal the group’s mellower melodic side. Some of the group’s ethereal moods remind me of songs like The Way’s ‘Have You Ever Heard’ from the Maranatha! Four lp. The climactic title track closes the album with another intense buildup of electric guitar. An extremely rare private press monster recorded in Milford, Iowa. Trust me – it’s a biggie! (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).

Tracks:

01. Ask

02. Now I Lay Me

03. Talkin’ About Jesus

04. Good Samaritan

05. Glory Glory

06. If I Don’t Let People Know

07. Jesus

08. Father Forgive Me

09. Have You Considered

Filed under (USA), 1976, 6045N1, Have You Considered, IGL, SHEKINA GLORY

February 2, 2012

LINDY HEARNE

Lindy Hearne (no label 9275) 1978?

It certainly can’t hurt to have Eddie DeGarmo and Dana Key helping you out on your custom record. And help they do on this obscure debut from singer/songwriter Lindy Hearne. The cover illustration of him playing guitar next to an old-fashioned potbelly stove would seem to hint at an acoustic album. Such is the case on several songs, like the opening cover of The Beatles’ ‘Blackbird’, the dreamy flute-accompanied ‘Bird Of The Sea’, or the beautiful Cockburn-esque ‘Not Like You’. Also some good country rock (‘Satan’s Chains’), as well as early D&K-styled roots rock with the aforementioned duo on organ and electric guitar (‘Lean On One Another’). ‘Truckin’ and ‘He Will Speak To You’ are fine examples of country folk with backing from pedal-steel and harmonica respectively. Linda Hearne adds her vocals to a couple ballads. Twelve selections in all. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).

Tracks:

01. Blackbird

02. Lean On One Another

03. Truckin’

04. Silence Of A Memory

05. I’ve Never Had It So Good

06. More Than A Friend

07. Satan’s Chains

08. Bird Of The Sea

09. If We Only Have Love

10. Day Of Flowers

11. Not Like You

12. He Will Speak To You

Filed under (USA), 9275, about 1978, Lindy Hearne, LINDY HEARNE, no label

February 1, 2012

NEWBORN

The Road of Life (North Park College SS-22484-01) 1970

Newborn’s plain-and-simple folk music has much of the wonder that Take Three, Random Sample, and Gamble Folk had in their debuts. Simple as in three guitars, an upright bass, and a tambourine. It’s the harmonies and basic acoustic leads that elevate their rendition of ‘Jesus Met The Woman’, ‘Put Your Hand In The Hand’, ‘Here Comes Jesus’, the John Fisher title tune, and others. A custom lp from five students of Chicago’s North Park College. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).

Tracks:

01. People Gotta Be Free

02. Psalm 19

03. O Amor de Dios

04. Jesus Met The Woman

05. Love Is Surrender

06. Put Your Hand In The Hand

07. Teach Me, Jesus

08. Until Tomorrow

09. Bright New World

10. Have Faith My Friend

11. Here Comes Jesus

12. O Happy Day

13. Road Of Life