Customer Reviews

Faithful Friends

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Solid followup to their equally impressive debut. It's hard to figure out exactly why they didn't achieve greater success. While they dabbled in classical music, and were innovative and experimental, their music still was accessible and often didn't stray too far from more or less mainstream pop/ rock. The band were all really good musicians, and in Kamen and Corrigan they had a pair of accomplished and diverse vocalists. This second album isn't perfect, but they had the good taste to pick a somewhat offbeat choice of a Hendrix cover, and "Kite Song" is really beautiful, a great example of a fairly simple track that doesn't try hard to be overly impressive or technically brilliant- it's just a really nice tune that reminds me of Tim Hardin for some reason. "Sing Lady Sing" is a driving track that Buddy Miles later ' borrowed" for 'Them Changes" "Asking Too Much" is a catchy, appealing number" and there are several other fine cuts. A good album from a band that, like many other acts of its time, deserved more success than they got. Not their best album, but one that has a lot of good stuff.

Even though the band was beginning to focus more on their 'rock' chops, which they would perfect on ROLL OVER, this is a beautiful, ambitious long player. A product of 'the times' which still sounds fresh today. An ambitious marriage of classical, pop, and rock, with a bit of broadway showtune thrown in for fun. That an album so great could lost in the shuffle is pretty amazing. Here's your chance to enjoy a real sixties gem.

I remember watching PBS station channel 13 from New York and this band was playing a guitar, cello and two oboes. I always liked the Brandenburg concerto they were playing, but the oboe player Michael Kamen had switched to piano while singing new added lyrics. Then I realized that each member had switched to electric bass, two guitars, and drums and were rocking out by the end of the song. I immediately went out and bought the album as soon as I could find it.

From Wiki:
"Because Brandenburg was the one song that showed the widest range of their musicianship, the group typically performed that song when they made television appearances on The Tonight Show, The Steve Allen Show and other TV shows of that era."

Drummer Marty Fulterman aka Mark Snow later wrote the X Files theme song and Michael Kamen composed many original movie soundtracks before his untimely death from Multiple Sclerosis in 2003.

I've loved this album since I first heard it 30 or so years ago. I am so glad it was finally released on CD -- I was afraid it might never happen. (Had even purchased a backup vinyl copy some time ago in case I wore out the first one.) Should be required listening for anyone interested in the hazy crossover between classical chamber music and rock/pop. R.I.P. Michael Kamen (and the band in general).

I thought this album might sound a bit dated, but to my surprise it really was as unique as promised. A diamond in the rough for this mixed genere.