Customer Reviews

You Could Have Been Born Again (Mlps)

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You Could Be Born Again, released in 1968 is the second album by The Free Design. The group was a family act, the members were all members of the Dedrick family. Despite the title, this is no Christian rock, this is a moving blend of 60's pop, jazz rhythms and amazing multi-part vocal harmonies.

I first became aware of the Free Design when Stereolab named a song and an EP after the group in 1999 (great song and EP, I love "Escape Pod"). Having listened to most of their catalog by now I can definitely see the Free Design's influence on Stereolab and associated groups like the High Llamas. While they have a twee/sunshine pop edge that can be a little to cutesy at times, there is a lot of variety and some excellent songwriting on their albums make them quite enjoyable, Born Again is no exception.

Like some of their of other releases, there are a few covers that most people will recognize on this album, those being: The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby", The Turtles' "Happy Together" and The Mamas & the Papas' "California Dreamin' ". While I felt "Eleanor Rigby" fell short, both of the other two covers were great and very different from the original versions (at least in terms of vocal arrangements).

Of the original material, the closer "An Elegy" is an absolute standout. Eerie strings accompany a sad tale delivered via an incredible vocal from one of the Dedrick sisters. The song is beautiful and haunting and is so different from the sunny, happy mood of the rest of the album. It is a true showcase of what makes The Free Design not just fun, but smart and interesting.

Other good tracks include "Daniel Dolphin", "I Found Love" and "Quartet No 6 In D Minor". "Daniel Dolphin" is strange story about a dolphin and features some neat psychedelic lyrics.

The rest of album is sunny jazzy pop with great vocal arrangements. Recommended for fans of the group or 60's vocal pop, the song "An Elegy" is for everyone.

Kid Koala & Dynamite D. did a remix of "An Elegy" that appeared on the 2005 The Now Sound Redesigned remix album of the Free Design (following the group's reformation in 2000 to record the excellent Cosmic Peek-a-boo). The remix album also features the incredible Caribou as well as Dangermouse, Stereolab, The Super Furry Animals, Madlib and The High Llamas, also recommended.