Gale Garnett & the Gentle Reign [Import]

Gale Garnett & the Gentle Reign | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 16, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Rev-Ola [Cherry Red]
• ASIN: B001B1QUE2
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,302 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Breaking Through

2. Fall in Love Again

3. Ballad for F. Scott Fitzgerald

4. Big Sur

5. That's Not the Way

6. Word of Advice

7. Believe Me

8. You Could Have Been Anyone

9. Bad News

10. The Dolphins

11. Freddy Mahoney

12. Peace Comes Slowly to the Thrashing Fish

13. Pretty Is Gone

14. This Year's Child

15. Berkeley Barb Want Ad

16. Deer in the City

17. Water Your Mind

18. My Mind's Own Morning

19. Trip Note Song

20. Man in the Middle

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

2008 digitally remastered collection feature both albums recorded in the late '60s by the sultry vocalist with backing from The Gentle Reign, a mere smidgen of the woman's immense and unique talent. Like a lot of Folk-Pop performers who began their careers in the early- to-mid-'60s, by the end of the decade Gale Garnett seemed to have drifted into the Rock and Psychedelic scene, hooking up with the band The Gentle Reign to cut two bizarre albums for CBS: An Audience With The King Of Wands (1968) and Sausalito Heliport (1969). Singer, journalist, actress (from cult '60s movie Mad Monster Party to My Big Fat Greek Wedding), star of Scopitones (check Youtube for some delights!), Gale Zoe Garnett is a marvel and a one-off. 26 tracks. Rev-Ola.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2 "lost" albums by Gale Garnett on CD at last., December 11, 2008

By 

David Ybarra "Daeida Magazine" (West Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Gale Garnett & the Gentle Reign (Audio CD)

If you don't know the name Gale Garnett, you probably know the song "We'll Sing In The Sunshine."
But, if all you know is "We'll Sing In The Sunshine," then you don't know Gale Garnett.

Remembered today as a "folk singer," Garnett's rich voice, soulful range, jazz singer's improvisational
instincts and oft-penned repertoire put her in the unusual and commercially unenviable position of
being un-categorizable. In truth, she is part troubadour, part cabaret performer, part balladeer,
part torch singer, part pop stylist. She is an original. But a "folk singer?" No more than Sylvia Telles or
Joanie Sommers or Annie Ross could be considered "folk singers." Or Cher - whom Garnett eerily
sounds similar to in range and delivery when she lets go and wails.

Intrigued? You ought to be. Gale Garnett's body of music - largely out of print but rather easy to
find in its original vinyl format - is a gorgeous (and grossly overlooked) treasure of original works that
hold up like jewels to the light.

This CD reissue of two of her albums, An Audience With The Kind of Wands (1968) and Sausalito
Heliport (1969) sparkles. Both works pair her with a crew of musicians called "The Gentle Reign."
Though the members of The Gentle Reign are pictured on the album cover(s) and heard
(pleasantly) on "The Dolphin," (unpleasantly on) "Freddy Mahoney," it is Garnett in the driver's seat
for the entire ride.

An Audience With The King of Wands must've been a cutting edge undertaking in its time (1968). A
14 track album - including 4 "mini songs" which are curious quick vignettes that don't necessarily
rob from the listening experience but don't enhance it either - is the more conventional of the two
albums. That does not mean it is a tame recording. The Eastern-themed, sitar-heavy track
"Breaking Through" is an unexpected opener and nice surprise. Garnett's lyrics (autobiographical?)
reflect the mood of the times (late 1960s) yet ring alarmingly contemporary some 40 years later. Her
use of Eastern chant and arrangements in pop music do not sound dated but perhaps only ahead
of its time. After all, "Breaking Through" was recorded decades before Paula Abdul used Ofra Haza's
voice for her hit single "My Love Is For Real" (1995), or Sting used Cheb Mami's voice for "Desert Rose"
(2000), or Madonna used the voice of Yitzak Sinwami for her 2005 controversial album cut, "Issac."

Other highlights include "Ballad for F. Scott Fitzgerald," "You Cold Have Been Anyone" and an
outstanding slow dancer called "Believe Me" that is so steamily sixties, it is positively "retro." "Believe
Me" fits snugly between Smokey Robinson & The Miracles' "Ooh Baby, Baby" and Rose & The
Originals' "Angel Baby," so surprise the couples on the dance floor at your next party and crank this
one up.

The contents of the second album, Sausalito Heliport," are - even by 2008 standards - completely
experimental and free-form. Think Kate Bush-meets-Grace Slick: circa 1968. The rollicking organ solo
on "This Year's Child" exemplifies this. As chaotic and curled as a maze, the listener is never lost but
pulled through the gossamer screen of a smoky chorus only to resume the fast-paced romp set by
the rhythm of that wild organ.

"Pretty Is Gone," a spirited, sweaty number dripping in psychadelic Hallelujah organ chords offset by
tambourines, is catchy and almost cool. On another track, tribal elements serve the
percussion-heavy and chant-laden "Berkeley Barb Want Ad" very well. You'll want to shimmy in
your seat - if you can stay seated!

Sometimes Garrett's experimentation of blending music/theatre/chant "clicks" in its unique way to
convey a message within a mood ("Deer In The City"), sometimes it just doesn't work at all ("Freddy
Mahoney"). Nevertheless, it's interesting and worth experiencing, and Sausalito Heliport is a
valuable pairing with An Audience With The King of Wands.

Biographical liner notes by Duglas T. Stewart are articulately, informatively and intelligently penned.
The CD artwork and design by Andy Morten consists of excellent reproductions of the respective
album cover arts, fonts, and complimentary use of supplemental images within the reissue design.
Truly an artwork.

Sound Quality: Remastered perfectly. The tones and lower register of Garnett's range are heard
clearly without overbearing the various musicians. Just right and pleasant to the ear. What's
discovered in the "sound recreation" by Norman Blake and Joe Foster is the enormous quality of
Garnett's tone and phrasing - and her astonishing wail. Their collaboration is a sonic toast to
Garnett's instrument.

Kudos to Joe Foster and Andy Morten for selecting two lesser known albums by the
criminally-overlooked and incredibly talented Gale Garnett. Let it be the inauguration for the
musical rediscovery of an artist and a lady worthy of a thorough rennaisance. DAVID YBARRA