"…Heading South Without You…"
Now here's an obscure album
that genuinely shouldn't be.
Originally released June 1969
on Capitol Records ST-231 in the USA - Vince Martin's debut 'solo' album saw
little chart action but has subsequently garnished a reputation as a lost
Folk-Rock gem. Martin had previously fronted a duet LP with the equally legendary
Fred Neil way back in 1965 on Elektra Records called "Tear Down The
Walls" (see separate review) – but its his "...Jasmine..."
platter that deserves the rediscovery. And Rev-Ola think so too. Here are the
windy details...
UK and Europe released January
2006 – "If The Jasmine Don't Get You...The Bay Breeze Will" by VINCE
MARTIN on Rev-ola CR REV 139 (Barcode 5013929443921) is a straightforward
transfer of his rare late 60ts Capitol Records LP and plays out as follows
(40:01 minutes):
1. Snow Shadows
2. I Can't Escape From You
3. Summerwind
4. Danville Girl
5. Yonder Comes The Sun [Side
2]
6. Jasmine (If The Jasmine
Don't Get You…The Bay Breeze Will)
As you can see the album had
only 6-tracks - one of which is the 13-minute centerpiece - the epic "Jasmine
(If The Jasmine Don't Get You...The Bay Breeze Will)”. It’s a sort of trippy
Tim Buckley acoustic-guitar workout that’s properly fabulous. The California
hippy lyrics about "...jasmine blossoms..." and the
"...southeast winds blowing off the islands..." may seem a tad dated
now - but you'll forgive them as the stunning playing works its 'unplugged'
magic on your senses.
Produced by Nick Venet in
Nashville – the roster of session players includes Kenneth Buttrey, Fred F
Carter, Lloyd Green Murray, M Harman Jnr., Charles R McCoy, Norbert Putnam,
Henry P Strzelecki and John Buck Wilkin. Eagle-eye collectors will notice that
Buttrey, McCoy and Strzelecki all played on Dylan's double-album masterpiece
"Blonde On Blonde" in 1966 - with Buttrey and McCoy returning for
1968's "John Wesley Harding". Classy players illuminating chilled
circumstances...
The other tracks like
"Snow Shadows" (lyrics above), "Danville Girl" and
especially "Summerwind" are gorgeous Sixties Folk-Rock ballads - love
songs that are sort of Van Morrison circa "Astral Weeks" and
"Moondance" meets Tim Hardin circa "1" and "2"
meets Tim Buckley circa "Starsailor". It's impressive stuff all
round…and the cover version of Hank Williams’ “I Can’t Escape You” is cool too.
The three-way foldout liner
notes (penned by BOUDWIJN De KADT) give a brief history of the album and
Martin's very sporadic recording history and picture the rare US 45 of
"Cindy, Oh Cindy" on Glory Records, the artwork for the "Tear
Down The Walls" LP (with Fred Neil) and even repro's a trade advert for
the LP. As he's a bit of a 'secret' really (like Neil) – any info on the man
and his life is welcome news.
But (apart from the lovely
music) the other real reason for buying this CD reissue is the stunning sound
quality. NICK ROBBINS and JOE FOSTER at Sound Mastering Studios in London have
done the Remastering. These are two hugely experienced Audio Engineers (lots of
work for Ace and Edsel Records) and names I've praised before. The remastering
on this CD is exceptional – beautifully clear, warm and just a joy to listen
to. It makes such a difference to the listen - gorgeous stuff.
If your appetite is whetted
by this then make a beeline for the following - Vince Martin also did a duet
album of US Folk in 1964 with the legendary FRED NEIL called "Tear Down
The Walls" on Elektra EKS-7248 - it's available on one of those superb
Rhino 'twofer' CD reissues. It's coupled with Fred Neil's equally revered and
magnificent "Bleecker & MacDougal" album from 1965 (Elektra
EKS-7293) and is online in many places for less than a fiver. It's one of those
CDs that is worth ten times that amount - and it's a road to genuine musical
discovery too...
To sum up - a superb reissue
that seems to have slipped through the net. Take a chance on this - I think
you'll be glad you did...
