Neapolitan

band: Whalefeathers
album: Declare

band members:

• Stephen Bacon — drums, percussion
• Ed Blackmon — organ, piano, vocals
• Michael Jones — guitar, vocals
• Leonard LeBlanc — bass, vocals

tracklist:

1. Declare-Prelude 3:55
2. Lost Dimension 7:12
3. Know Thyself 2:51
4. Imagine 3:02
5. Omaha 5:35
6. Please Me For A While 5:15
7. Invention Sequence 3:58
8. Love Can't Be Wrong 3:42

band: Whalefeathers
album: Whalefeathers

band members:

• Stephen Bacon — drums, percussion
• Ed Blackmon — organ, piano, vocals
• Michael Jones — guitar, vocals
• Leonard LeBlanc — bass, vocals

tracklist:

1. World Of Pain 8:25
2. I Don't Need No Doctor 3:31
3. It's A Hard Road (Back Home) 5:04
4. Bastich 6:20
5. Pretty Woman 3:26
6. Shadows 10:28

What hooked me into listening to their albums was the opener of the second album World Of Pain. For all you Cream fans: Yes! it's a cover-song of the third track off of Disraeli Gears. World of Pain was written by Gail Collins Pappalardi, who also wrote songs for Mountain. Whalefeathers give the song a decent make-over, extending the length, and adding a Hammond organ. They impress me so much I thought I give their whole two album discography a listen. ... and I glad I did.

Whalefeather hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, within their five years together only had the chance to release two albums. The first album has the sound of Traffic circa 1968. Invention Sequence for some reason vaguely reminds me of Traffic's "You Can All Join In," a song written by Dave Mason. There are a lot of Traffic moments on the album, while on their second album they switch gears and have more Bluesy sound like that of ABB, especially the song It's A Hard Road and Pretty Women. The latter was written by the Texas born William Dees, it's not the Roy Orbison song. There are only few moments where I thought they could done better, but besides that they are pretty consistent. The band is tight and can jam like no bodies business. I think this band would appeal to fans of Cream, ABB, Traffic, Blues and jam bands in general.

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Neapolitan

band: Michaelangelo
members:
Steve Bohn - guitar, vocals
Robert Gorman - bass, vocals
Michael John Hackett - drums
Angel Petersen - autoharp, vocals

album: One Voice Many
order: debut
released:1971
category:Psychedelic Folk

1. West 2:40
2. Come To See Me 1:51
3. This Bird 3:11
4. Son (We've Kept The Room Just The Way You Left It) 4:15
5. Medley: Take It Bach / Michaelangelo 5:15
6. It's Crying Outside 3:40
7. 300 Watt Music Box 2:32
8. Okay 1:53
9. Half A Tap 2:55
10. One Voice Many 6:48

Just found the album today, and I immediately fell in love with the whole idea that one of the main instrument being featured for this Psychedelic Folk band is the autoharp. Its sound is similar to the harpsichord, except the autoharp is a bit softer in sound. There are a few artist that use it, The Carter Family, Joni Mitchell and John Sebastian from Lovin Spoonful. It's heard on their song "Do You Believe In Magic." I really don't know of any band that used the instrument to this extent. Besides using the not-too-familiar Folk instrument, the band incorporate styles from Rock, Folk, Psychedelia, Sunshine Pop, and Country. The guitar is diverse using Country guitar licks, at times has a warm and fuzzy tone, often heard in Progressive Rock.

The Bird is a favorite of mine. The melody of the lyrics are slightly similar to Chad and Jeremy.
Son is a coming of age song about a guy who is is hooked on coke. He's narrating his Prodigal Son story to his mom as if he is reading a letter he wrote to her. Except he is reluctant go home. I guess her response to him would be "Son, we've kept the room just the way you left it." anticipating his return.

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Lisnaholic

Only just noticed that this journal exists! It seems like a great resource for discovering obscure albums from 40 or so years ago. So far, Fushia is the only name I recognize so I'm enjoying the exploration....

The Apple track you highlighted, The Outsider, has a wonderful, biting guitar running through it, as do other tracks, like Buffalo Billycan. And I'm glad you mentioned Rock Me Baby, my favourite so far. As the vocalist says, "Nice!"

I was listening to some Flying Burrito Brothers last weekend, so I was curious about Twin Engine, but a little disappointed by The Time Is Now, mainly on account of the vocals. Too much Everly Brothers and not enough Sneaky Pete imo. As for the Flying BBs themselves, I really like Hot Burrito#2, but can live without most of their material, tbh.

Anyway, I'm going to move on to some of the other intriguing-looking albums that you've covered here, so I hope you keep this journal going Neapolitan. Your reviews are concise, but very useful, especially your specific track picks.
Keep up the good work, and thanks.

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"Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

Neapolitan

band:The Sugar Shoppe
album: The Sugar Shoppe
tracklist:

1. Skip-a-long Sam 3:00
2. The Attitude 2:18
3. Baby Baby 3:18
4. Take Me Away 2:59
5. Let The Truth Come Out 2:57
6. Follow Me (From "Camelot") 2:30
7. Poor Papa 2:24
8. Privilege (From The Film "Privilege") 3:08
9. Papa, Won't You Let Me Go To Town With You 3:30
10. The Candy Children Song 2:35
11. Hangin' Together 2:29

The first track is Skip-a-long Sam. "It's very jammy" as Donovan would say. He should know, he wrote the tune, and a great tune at that. Donovan is genius to write such a catchy song. Their approach is a bit different from his. He sings the original with a hypnotic voice with a syncopated delivery back by a drummer using brushes, a guitar player comping out Jazz chords, and piano player lightly tickling the ivory keys. In comparison the original is very minimalist. The Candy Shoppe pull out all the stops with a band. They add vibes, horns, and four part harmony. The ending is a bit oddly, the guy asks Sam "you've been trippin?" and she says "no, skippin" then they start to laugh, but a little too much, he begins to sound like Dr. Evil, from Austen Powers.

As a vocal group, there is an immediate connection with The Mamas & The Papas, and The 5th Dimension. They make up some of the best in Sunshone Pop. Where The Mamas and the Papas and The 5th Dimension were based in California (with some member coming from other parts of the country) The Sugar Shoppe were from Canada. Not sure if they had any success elsewhere. However one member from the group, Victor Garber, went on to a half decent acting career. He was in Sleepless in Seattle and Legally Blonde. He currently plays Dr. Martin Stein, a regular on Legends of Tomorrow and as a guest star on The Flash. Victor Garber - IMDb

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Neapolitan

Thanks for the encouragement. I still kinda started and I am not sure what direction it will go. I originally plan to include more popular bands. I just have a bad habit of putting bands I know and like on the back burner, and then I never get around to talking about them. It would probably be better to explain what I already know, and then slip in the more obscure stuff. But I am having fun exploring and discovering things I haven't heard before.

I glad you like Apple, I still have a couple of Psychedelia albums I plan to write about. I like the harmonies The Time Is Now maybe cause they sound like the Everly Brothers. I like all things Rock from the early day on.

I guess what I am going for is the "intriguing-looking albums" look. I want the thread to be sorta like a used record bin the kind at a brick and mortr record store. Where you can thumb through the album covers however here if you see something interesting just click on the album cover and give a listen.

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Neapolitan

members:
Jill Child
Paul Corrick
Ken Saul
tracklist:

1. Sanctuary Stone
2. To Find A Reason
3. The Skater
4. Scaborough Fair
5. The Oak Tree Grove
6. Dirge
7. Maids And Gentlemen
8. The Waters Of Sweet Sorrow
9. All Things Are Quite Silent
10. The Two Sisters
11. Winter Song

I adore this lovely, unassuming album. The lyrics are poetic. The vocals are sincere and sometimes melancholy on this album. The songs are about love, the longing for love. There is a simple beauty in the sound of a folk instruments, and they employ almost all of them like the acoustic guitar, mountain dulcimer, hammer dulcimer,banjo, auto harp, and recorder. And the musicianship is excellent.

The band formed in 1972 at a Christmas party at the Great Yarmouth folk club. The two asked Jill Child to join. They did some touring they did a final concert in 1974. They had opportunity to do some recording and did a demo tape, which was stored away until Ken Saul rediscover it in his attic. The album was released in 1993 on the Kissing Spell label. I think it would appeal to any one who enjoy Traditional Folk, Psychedelic Folk and bands like Pentangle, or America. The album can be found on Spotify.

Sanctuary Stone Starts with dual acoustic guitars playing a melody which sound like a tune from the Tudor period. Then the guitars are soon accompanied by a very heavy grunty sounding bass. The percussion is simply a tambourine.

To Find A Reason The singer reminds me a lot of Bert Jansch. A guitar duet with a finger picking guitar and a single melody pick out on the other, and occasionally recorder.

The Skater Jill sings She accompanied by a Country Mountain Dulcimer and a jaw harp, and at the end of the song tapping on the guitar and a recorder.

Scaborough Fair the group sings unaccompanied standard folk song.

The Oak Tree Grove Jill sings on this. Some nice guitar work too.

Dirge An instrumental song with a recorder and what sounds like a hammer dulcimer.

Maids And Gentlemen A duet with Jill and one of the guys. An electric guitar and bass some Psychedelic jamming.

The Waters Of Sweet Sorrow It is the title track, and it's my favorite. This song is so lovely. Jill sings on it, and with Ken and Paul some exquisite Folk guitar music.

All Things Are Quite Silent Jill sings on this track. The song has a banjo and auto harp. I am not sure what the other is, from the sound of it, it could be a zither, perhaps another instrument.

The Two Sisters The male singer sound very much like Bert Jansch on this track. It the only time I recall the fuzz guitar being used, it's reminiscent of Sandman by America.

Winter Song Jill sings on this track. Starts off with a simple arpeggio and harmonics. There is also what sounds like a bowed double bass, or maybe an electric bass with volume swells.

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Neapolitan

1. A Friend Of Mine 5:25
2. While The Sun Still Shines 3:15
3. Not So Good 3:07
4. Three Minstrels 4:28
5. Slow Susan 3:45
6. Over And Over Again 5:55
7. Feeling Free 3:12
8. Fair-Haired Lady 3:00
9. A Place To Lay My Head 4:25
10. The Eagle 5:15

The art work was the first thing that caught my eye, it was done by Colin See-Paynton. (pictured above) He is an noted wood engraver. His mainly work consists of wood cuts, and prints that focuses on birds and nature.

The organ & keyboard player is fantastic, when he plays there are these phrases that remind me of other keyboard players like Tony Banks, Jon Lord, Keith Emerson, Goldy McJohn (Steppenwolf)

A Friend Of Mine - From the first five seconds you can tell what you're in store for: a Progressive Rock album with top notch musicians. The keyboard player is as talented as
While The Sun Still Shines The song features a funky clav keyboard sound. They sing "da, da daah" in harmony like Yes. They end the song with the organ and guitar jamming, during the fade out it sounds like Goldy McJohn organ playing from Steppenwolf.
Not So Good - a slow number. It starts off with what reminds me of Dennis Wilson playing piano and singing Forever. Then it builds up after about half a minute through. The bass enters followed by drums and organ.
Three Minstrels - One of the only thing that I didn't like about the album was the sound of the drum during the intro. If Chinese water torture had a sound it would be it.
Slow Susan
Over And Over Again This song opens with heavy Greg Lake riff, like something he did with King Crimson or ELP. The vocals are bit Jon Anderson but deeper. The lyrics would be like something Greg Lake would pen.
Feeling Free this songs opens up with piano part that sounds very similar to Bill Withers '72 hit Lean On Me. Notice that Fields release the album a year before. Bill Withers I am surprised at you! Pulling a page right out of Jimmy Page's book of tricks ... well really all musicians beg, borrow, and steal.
Fair-Haired Lady a slow quiet number, vocals accompanied with arpeggios on an acoustic guitar a warm clarinet played by Dafne Down that enters half way through the song.
A Place To Lay My Head back to business with this number.
The Eagle The intro to this song reminds me a little like Cannon in D. The rest of the bands joins in.

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Stephen

I quite like that from the few tracks I just heard. Will have to give them a proper listen. Vocals remind me of Vashti Bunyan. Thanks for the tip Neapolitan.

Neapolitan

band: Dry Ice
album: Mr. Sawyer's Sound Mind (also released under various other titles)
band members:

• David Cutillo
• Frank DiMino
• Jim Fraser
• Michael Hare
• John Marino
• John Robert Tata

tracklist:

1. Mary Is Alone. 1:56
2. Ocean. 3:29
3. Sunny Day. 3:20
4. Mr. Sawyer. 3:11
5. Eyesight to the Blind. 2:23
6. I Saw Her Standing There. 3:16
7. Let's Go Down. 2:38
8. Mary Is Alone. 2:39
9. Oh Darling. 3:36
10. Lucy Mae. 2:26
11. Sweet Little Sue. 2:11
12. Sunny Day. 2:45
13. Ocean. 3:22
14. Mary Is Alone. 3:56

This is more of compilation of unreleased tapes, than it's a proper album. It has a few songs that repeat, and it's lo-fi but still worth listening to it in its entirety. The band never really took off, because like many young men during the time, two of the members went off to Vietnam. They were unreleased for decades. Erik Lindgren acquired tapes from producer Bobby Herne. The band plays music that hovers around Psychedelic, Garage Rock and Acid Rock styles of the late 60s.

Mary Is Alone It has a real hard driven Psychedelia bass line. It's very much like Paul McCartney playing on Sgt. Pepper. It worthy of being include on Nuggets, and probably would had been if was released as a single back in the 60s.
Ocean The guitar player is as apt on the wah-wah pedal as Eric Clapton on World of Pain.
Sunny Day this song reminds me a lot of The Guess Who.
Mr. Sawyer and this song has a little bit The Kinks to it.
Eyesight to the Blind a cover song of a cover song. It was written and recorded by Sonny Boy Williamsonin '51. Dry Ice version is follows the version by The Who song called "The Hawker" which is credited on the album as "words by Sonny Boy Williamson, music by Townshend." Interesting fact: Elmore James plays guitar on the original version of Eyesight to the Blind.
I Saw Her Standing There A cover of the The Beatles song.
Let's Go Down Acoustic guitars
Mary Is Alone Another take of the first track.
Oh Darling Another cover of the The Beatles song.
Lucy Mae Garage Rock number with hand clapping gives it a 70s feel.
Sweet Little Sue (Something about this song sounds vaguely familiar, however I can't recall what it is.)
Sunny Day - It has the same feel of a The Guess Who song.
Ocean an alternative take of the second track.
Mary Is Alone- edited version, splicing together two takes, which is noticeable by the change in volume and tempo, despite that I still like it. Where on the first track the music is more pronounced, on this version the vocals are at the forefront and you can understand the lyrics because of it. The slower pace and the subject matter of being trapped in drug addiction makes it more foreboding a song.

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Neapolitan

Your welcome. It's one of my favorites albums. Let me know what you think.

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