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"…Satin Slipper…"
American Baroque, Chamber Music and even its side-dishes like 60ts and 70ts Pastoral Folk, Sunshine Pop and Operatic Rock have been done before by Rhino, Sundazed and Ace Records of the UK (four such Ace CD comps are advertised on the rear inlay beneath the see-through disc tray inside – see list below).
All Harpsichords, Cellos, Woodwinds, layered lush Harmony Vocals and talk of getting it together man with your fellow (well) man – means that some of these entries in late January 2025 could be considered ever so slightly naff. This is a world between 1967 and 1971 where bands were called The Blades Of Grass, Eternity's Children, The Pleasure Fair and The Neon Philharmonic - and mushrooms were not being used for Soup during November (or any other month). But a great reissue label like Ace and compiler Bob Stanley beg to alter our preconceived notions (at the doors of perception you understand) – and on second and a third listen – these men of virtually no potbellies, tasteful hairpieces and Mensa type wisdom have more than a point.
There is some fantastic stuff on here – names you may not know granted - but still 71:08 minutes and 24-slices of inventive arrangements and complex harmonies that swirl and swoop and impress – and on occasion – even move. Much to discuss, to the smooth and trippy details…
UK released Friday, 31 January 2025 - "American Baroque: Chamber Music And Beyond 1967-1971" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDTOP 1657 (Barcode 029667112321) is a 24-Track CD Compilation of Remasters that plays out as follows (71:08 minutes):
1. You're A Very Lovely Woman – THE MERRY-GO-ROUND (from the October 1967 US LP "You're A Very Lovely Woman" on A&M Records SP 4132 in STEREO – band featured Emitt Rhodes (later solo career), Bill Reinhart of The Leaves and Joel Larson of The Grass Roots)
2. I Shall Call Her Mary – MONTAGE (April 1968, US 45-single on Laurie LR 3438, A-side – includes Michael Brown of The Left Banke)
3. Raggedy Ann – JOHN RANDOLPH MARR (from the March 1970 US LP "John Randolph Marr" on Warner Bros/Seven Arts WS 1844 in STEREO – once a Guitarist with the Louis Prima band – Produced by Nilsson House Productions)
4. Tulu Rogers – APPALOOSA (from the July 1969 US LP "Appaloosa" on Columbia CS 9819 in STEREO – featuring John Compton)
5. Turnaway – THE PLEASURE FAIR (from the October 1967 US Debut LP "The Pleasure Fair" on Uni Records 73009 in STEREO – songs arranged and produced by David Gates of Bread)
6. Different Drum – STONE PONEYS featuring LINDA RONSTADT (September 1967, US 45-single on Capitol 2004, A-side – a Mike Nesmith song (of The Monkeys) featuring Don Randi on Harpsichord)
7. Emily's Illness – NORA GUTHRIE (November 1967, US 45-single on Mercury 72753, A-side – Nora is Woody Guthrie's Daughter and Arlo Guthrie's Sister – for the B-side "Home Before Dark" – see Track 21)
8. Barefoot Gentleman – THE ASSOCIATION (from the March 1968 US LP "The Association's Birthday" on Warner Bros/Seven Arts WS 1733 in Stereo – A Jerry Yester and Skip Camel song – Jerry Yester would be in Rosebud with Judy Henske – see Track 24)
9. Land Of Sensations & Delights – J.K. & Co. (from the July 1968 US LP "Suddenly One Summer" on White Whale WWS 7117 in STEREO – J.K. is John Kaye of Nuggets fame)
10. Blue Jack Of Diamonds – H.P. LOVECRAFT (from their September 1968 second LP "H.P. Lovecraft II" on Philips PHS-600-279 in STEREO)
11. Time – BONNIE DOBSON (from the August 1969 US Debut LP "Bonnie Dobson" on RCA Victor LSP-4219 in STEREO)
12. Satin Slipper – THE BLADES OF GRASS (from the November 1967 US Debut LP "The Blades Of Grass Are Not For Smoking" on Jubilee JGS 8007 in STEREO)
13. My Silent Symphony – CHRIS and PETER ALLEN (from the April 1968 US LP "Album Number 1" on Mercury SR-61166 in STEREO – Chris Bell and Peter Allen)
14. Mr. Webster – THE MONKEES (from the January 1990 US CD Compilation "Missing Links Volume 2" on Rhino R2 70903 – Barcode 081227090326 – an earlier 1967 outtake from the "Headquarters" LP sessions featuring Harpsichord and Oboe abandoned for a re-record)
15. Again Again - ETERNITY'S CHILDREN (from the April 1968 US Debut LP "Eternity's Children" on Tower Records ST-5123 in STEREO)
16. My Plan – RUSS GIGUERE (from the April 1971 US LP "Hexagram 16" on Warner Bros WS 1910 in STEREO – ex The Association – track features Vocals by Jerry Yester also ex The Association and partner with vocalist Judy Henske of Rosebud (see Track 24))
17. The Fairest Of The Seasons – NICO (from the October 1967 US Debut Solo LP "Chelsea Girl" on Verve V6-5032 in STEREO – song written by Gregory Copeland and Jackson Browne – band features The Velvet Underground – Lou Reed, John Cale and Stirling Morrison - with Jackson Browne also contributing Keyboards and Guitar before his first solo album of 1972)
18. Other Times – TOM NORTHCOTT (January 1968, US 45-single on Warner Bros 7160, B-side of "1941" – arranged by Leon Russell, Produced by Lenny Waronker and Leon Russell – A-side is a Harry Nilsson cover version - "Other Times" is a Northcott original)
19. You Lied – THE NEON PHILHARMONIC (from the January 1969 US Debut LP "The Neon Philharmonic" on Warner Bros/Seven Arts WS 1804 in STEREO)
20. Close To Carmel – THE FUN AND GAMES (from the December 1968 US Debut LP "Elephant Candy" on Uni Records 73042 in STEREO)
21. Home Before Dark – NORA GUTHRIE (November 1967, US 45-single on Mercury 72753, B-side of "Emily's Illness" – Nora is Woody Guthrie's Daughter and Arlo Guthrie's Sister – for the A-side – see Track 7)
22. I Have Been Alone – THE COMMON PEOPLE (from the August 1969 US Debut LP "Of The People / By The People / For The People by The Common People" on Capitol ST-266 in STEREO – Arranged and Produced by George Hudson Manager of The Seeds and The Lollipop Shoppe)
23. Two By Two (I'm Losing You) – STEVE MARTIN (February 1971, US 45-single on Buddah BDA 219, A-side – Lead Singer with The Left Banke – one of two songs by Steve Martin and Left Banke band members featured in a movie called Hot Parts)
24. Lorelei – ROSEBUD (from the July 1971 US LP "Rosebud" on Reprise/Straight Records RS 6426 in STEREO – featuring Jerry Yester and Judy Henske – also included Craig Doerge on Vocals and Keyboards – longtime collaborator with Jackson Browne)
NOTES: All Tracks in STEREO except Tracks 7, 12, 18, 21 and 23 in MONO
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For the SOUNDS GOOD Music Books Series (32 Titles in all)
Once again long-time associate to Ace Records – compiler BOB STANLEY – has gone deep and wide for the listen. The visuals are a feast too. Paragraphs on each artist are accompanied by tasty Stereo LP sleeves, rare US 45-single labels, trade advert and more. Page 2 (for instance) of the stuffed-to-the-gunnels 20-page booklet is a montage of four US album sleeves from Bonnie Dobson, J.K. & Co, Appaloosa and The Pleasure Fair – titles that are not exactly growing on UK trees no matter how enlightened the shire might be. That Linda Ronstadt was the Lead Singer for The Stone Poneys and that Nico is accompanied by The Velvet Underground is obvious detail for most of us - but that John Kaye of Nuggets 2LP fame is the J and K in J.K. & Co or that Steve Martin is not the famous comedian or actor - but the singer with The Left Banke is cool revelation. Uber-experienced Audio Engineer DUNCAN COWELL had handled the transfers and all is tickety-boo – nice too to hear all that Sixties Stereo that gives the harmonies such extra oomph. To the tunes…
While the Emitt Rhodes led Merry-Go-Round track "You're A Very Lovely Woman" is a very pretty opener – it is roundly trounced on the melody front by Montage and their "I Shall Call Her Mary" – a truly gorgeous tune aided by Michael Brown of The Left Banke. I recall seeing the John Randolph Marr US LP when I worked at Reckless Records Rarities in Soho resplendent in its Seven Arts label design from Warner Brothers with that interesting Nilsson House Productions credit on the rear. But Jan and Dean painted cover or not - "John Randolph Marr" never sold probably because no one knew what this 1970 US obscurity sounded like and to be honest - Nilsson albums interested very few punters back in the Nineties vinyl comeback years. But his "Raggedy Ann" utilises cello strings vs. chamber music arrangements rather beautifully and is an astute inclusion.
John Compton of Appaloosa sings of a lady in love with Sebastian Bach – more plucked strings and Dylan-deep reams of lyrics – another good offering. So clever arrangements for The Pleasure Fair as they go all Mamas and Papas with a Harpsichord on their truly lovely "Turnaway". Time for an actual hit – Linda Ronstadt dominating The Stone Poneys and their classy and still fresh-sounding "Different Drum" (written by Michael Nesmith of The Monkees). Woody Guthrie's Daughter and Arlo Guthrie's Sister – a US Trade review once described Nora Guthrie and her seriously unsettling Nov 1967 45 "Emily's Illness" as a "…touching plaintive ballad…" – and if you want drug addiction, suicide, self-mutilation and societal duplicity all wrapped up in the lyrics then I suppose you're belly-aching all the way. With words that are frankly brutal and done in an unnerving coquettish chanteuse kind of a way (no doubt on purpose) – it is brilliant, timely and a genius inclusion even if I never want to hear its horror story ever again (nice one Nora). The rather fay B-side that ends the comp is more Vashti Bunyan than Lou Reed in a temper.
So much part of the Baroque and Chamber Music scene – The Association and their fourth album "…Birthday" contains the rapturous "Come On In" (I have it on a Rhino CD) – Bob Stanley arguing that it's a God-like 60ts melody and I completely concur (shame it isn't on here actually). So big shoes for their "Barefoot Gentleman" (from the same 1968 album) to live up to and it just about does. Layer after layer of vocals arranged into speaker separation for maximum effect are pumped up by an almost Phil Spector Wall of Sound rhythm section – but make no mistake - parts of "Barefoot Gentleman" are as sublime as The Mamas & The Papas at their best or The Beach Boys tapping into Brian Wilson melodic genius. Slowing down to things outside your mind (and such wonderful sights) – "Land Of Sensations & Delights" by J.K. & Co. (John Kaye of Nuggets fame and his pals) tell us of a land that is cleaner. It has tree-filled mountains and virgin snow peaks as the Harpsichord and Piano combine (very hippie man, but very nice too).
Chronicling an obsessively fussy teller they saw in a Hollywood Bank they frequented, The Monkees version of "Mr. Webster" offered up here dates from the summer of 1967 during the sessions for the "Headquarters" LP. It has Oboe and Harpsichord predominating - but when they decided to re-record using their own players and instruments – it got left in the can as an outtake until Rhino included it as one of four Bonus Tracks on the January 1990 CD compilation "Missing Links Volume Two" (also issued in the EU/UK on Rhino 0630 14930-2 – Barcode 706301493021). That compilation is long-since deleted (pricy too) so a smart inclusion here by Ace. Formerly known as a Folk group called The Phantoms out of Cleveland, Mississippi – a relocation to California in the mid Sixties saw them add singer Linda Lawley and reinvent themselves as the Sunshine-Psych-Baroque four-piece ensemble Eternity's Birthday – their self-titled debut of 1968 considered a classic (hence the near £200-ish price tags for either Mono or Stereo LP). Produced by genre champions Keith Olsen and Curt Boettcher (groups like Sagittarius, The Millenium, Summer's Children, The Ballroom and The GoldeBriars) – "American Baroque: Chamber Music And Beyond 1967-1971" offers us the Side 1 opener "Again Again" (off the Stereo LP) written by Bob Tinker. And what a strange little brute it is. Stanley describes the song in his notes as uneasy – an apt description and aurally – you can so hear why Psych and Chamber Music nutters want the whole platter- never mind a lonesome entry like this one.
Of the three songs renowned singer-songwriter Jackson Browne contributed to the Nico debut solo album "Chelsea Girl" of October 1967 on Verve Records (it followed on from "The Velvet Underground & Nico" ground-breaker album in late 1966) – Ace have chosen the opener for Side 1 "The Fairest Of The Seasons" (her album also includes his own 1972 debut LP classic "These Days" which has been covered by loads of artists after Nico). Her band mates from The Velvets (Lou Reed, John Cale and Sterling Morrison) are on their too – the whole album vibe a very Pastoral, Baroque, Chamber Music, Folk Chanteuse affair – her deep German droning vocals fitting right in. Info-wise: Jackson Browne's co-writer on "The Fairest Of The Seasons" song was Greg Copeland who would have to wait for his own solo album "Revenge Will Come Back" in 1982 on Geffen Records which JB produced - 10 years after Jackson had his solo debut in 1972 on Asylum Records – a label David Geffen started and owned (what a web). Canadian Folkie Tom Northcott signed to Warner Brothers as a possible next big thing – the 45-single "1941" being one of two Harry Nilsson covers he did – the other being "Rainmaker". Ace has chosen the Harpsichord and backwards sound effects B-side of "1941" - Tom's own "Other Road" where his vocal style could even be mistaken for a woman or a Monkee with a clamp on his nuts (nice).
For its first two-minutes-ish of its 3:25 minutes playing time – The Neon Harmonic (Keyboardist Tupper Saussy and Singer Don Gant) give us the brilliantly orchestrated Operatic Rock of "You Lied" – a melodramatic over-the-top Scott Walker-esque pleader complete with oodles of earnest strings interlocked with Piano and Harpsichord. But about 1:50 minutes in – the style veers off into dead stop – then a melodic flourish – then a wildly experimental fast-paced Psych finish that sounds like an embryonic Hawkwind (maybe they sent an Acetate to England). What a trip baby and a fab inclusion! Ace even located a Neon Philharmonic poster (along with a H.P. Lovecraft one) that are so rare – Page 17 for NH.
Speaking of discoveries – Track 23 gives us Steve Martin – no not the comedian and film star – but the Vocalist with The Left Banke. His "Two By Two (I'm Losing You)" was apparently recorded for a 1971 movie called Hot Parts which featured Andy Warhol ward Ultra Violet. It was a Left Banke recording as the band had reformed and settled differences but for some reason was issued as the A-side of a Steve Martin solo single on Buddah Records BDA 219 which of course sank without a trace despite its gorgeous melodic strength. Sounding like a vocal cross between Emitt Rhodes of The Merry-Go-Round meets Colin Blunstone of The Zombies meets Chris Bell of Big Star – "Two By Two (I'm Losing You)" should have caught a break on some plug list somewhere – but unfortunately not so in a crowded 1971 release schedule (the label is pictured on Page 8).
"American Baroque..." potters on to its musical end with The Common People and their plaintive "I Have Been Alone" – a 1969 Capitol LP that will put you back over £150. In a I may need to get out more tidbit: The Common People album was produced and arranged by the eccentric George Hudson – aka Lord Tim Hudson – one time Manager of The Seeds and The Lollipop Shoppe - but who was also one of the bird voices in Disney's The Jungle Book where George Sanders (as Sheer Khan) serenades Mowgli with 'That's What Friends Are For' (you see how you needed to know that). Nora Guthrie shows up again with the B-side of Track 7 and Jerry Yester with former floor-stomper singer Judy Henske as the band Rosebud also do plaintive with the lovely but slightly underwhelming "Lorelei". Job done.
As I said earlier – such a compilation (and one that is so genre-specific) – is an acquired taste – but I was shocked and pleased and more importantly – made some lovely discoveries – something that is hard to do in these CD saturation days. And for this old codger indeed Grateful that he isn't Dead – these trailblazers can come to my chamber any day of the week.
Now let me get those Satin Slippers and commune with nature (wee-wee on a tree in the back garden as I badmouth younger neighbours). Recommended…
Other Titles of Interest by Ace Records
On the Baroque, Chamber Music and Sunshine Pop Sound
Of The 60ts and 70ts
1. Happy Lovin' Time: Sunshine Pop From The Garpax Vaults
29 June 2015 UK CD on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 328 (Barcode 029667432825) – 24 Tracks
2. Tea And Symphony: The English Baroque Sound 1968-1974
31 January 2020 UK CD on Ace CDCHD 1562 (Barcode 029667096928) – 22 Tracks
31 January 2020 UK 2LPs on Ace XXQLP2 064 (Barcode 029667000864) – 23 Tracks (One Bonus)
3. Trip On Me: Soft Psych & Sunshine 1966-1969
30 September 2020 UK CD on Ace/Big Beat CDWIKD 351 (Barcode 029667105927) – 24 Tracks
4. London A To Z: 1962 to 1973
29 September 2023 UK CD on Ace CDTOP 1638 (Barcode 029667109024) – 24 Tracks
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