Customer Reviews

Mashmakhan / Family

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

 

 

Okay, so they only really put out one album and Grateful Dead bootlegs have sold more copies, but Mashmakhan is just about the highest quality set of musicians to emerge from the late-sixites/early-seventies. With out a doubt they are the best Canadian band of that era, and I would put them in my top 5 Canadian bands of all time (sorry Roch). Although Mashmakhan's lyrical content is relatively amateurish and overly cerebral, the rhythmic structure echoes that of Santana and their chord and melodic patterns often through the listener a delightful and unexpected loop. All around their songs are smart, catchy, and interesting. If you want to know what psychadelic rock should sound like, pick up some Mashmakhan.

Mashmakhan was originally a 3 piece backup group, called the Triangle, for Trevor Payne, a Canadian R & B singer. With the addition of Brian Edwards, singer and bass player, they became Mashmakhan. Anyone who saw them live (especially with the Joshua? light show) can attest to their simmering, moody feel. The songwriting has an original take on standard song formats. Of interest to guitarists are "Days when we are free", and "the Prince"(with its Clapton from Mars solo). Rayburn Blake is one of the great unsung Canadian guitar talents. Pierre Senecal was a fine songwriter, wind player and...one of those Hammond/leslie guys! Somewhat reminiscent of traffic. Also, letter from Zambia, with its Osibisa/Santana like percussion, would be quite contemporary in today's world music scene. These guys were simply the best Canadian act of the period. My only complaint is the omission of Mr. Tree from this compilation (the reason why I'm not giving it 5 stars). Great playing on that song. If you can find a vinal copy, burn a CD of that song.

I don't know why there are two albums packaged on this CD. The self titled Mashmakhan album is simple one of the best albums on the planet. A classic and revolutionary album right up there with the Beach Boy's 'Pet Sounds' album. The vocal arrangements are very tight, the chord progressions are so unique and seemless. I love the way most of the songs switch into differnt tempo and emotional expressions, none so more evident than the song 'Shades of Loneliness.' Simply amazing!! Big shout out to Jerry Mercer the drummer, what an awesome job he does on this album. I love the way the drums were recorded as if in a concert hall, and not in some sterile and sound proof recording room. When reading the linear notes, it speaks of the groups sharp demise into oblivion. How is this possible? Well dare to let the CD move onto track 11, the start of "The Family' album and you'll hear a sharp decline in creativity!! All the hard work and genius that went into their debut album simply vanished! They worked so hard to be so different from all the 'bubble gum' pop rock of the day, but just like the Beach Boys, they could only pull off this level of genius on one album, sadly to be followed up with 'bubble gum' pop rock failures. It hurts my ears to even listen to 'The Family.' Take 'The Family' off this album and you've got a five star classic!!

After several years performing as The Phantoms, The Dominoes and Ray Blake's Combo, before settling in as the back-up band for local Blues artist Trevor Payne and calling themselves The Triangle, the Montreal gathering of Pierre Senecal (vocals/keyboard), Rayburn Blake (guitar), Brian Edwards (bass) and Jerry Mercer (drums) finally struck out on their own under the new, and very sixties-ish name Mashmakhan, signing a recording contract with Columbia and cutting an album in New York, for which Senecal composed most of the material (Mashmakhan - Columbia ELS 365 in Canada and Epic E30235 in the U.S. - tracks 1 to 10).

One of the tracks was As The Years Go By, just over 5:00 in length on the LP, but producer Billy Jackson liked it so much he had it edited (to 3:06) and released in Canada in the summer of 1970 as Columbia C4-2924. When it began a steady climb to # 1 on the Canadian CHUM charts, it was released in the U.S. on Epic 10634 b/w Days When We Are Free, and in September it topped out at # 31 Hot 100. Not a huge hit there, but a decent one. Unfortunately, it would also be their only Billboard Hot 100 entry and so relegating them to the One-Hit Wonder Club.

Apparently it sold over 100,000 in the limited Canadian market, and just over half a million in the much larger U.S. market, but it was in some foreign markets that it drew its best response, especially Japan where it sold over one million! That prompted a tour of Japan where they received enthusiastic response bordering on Beatlemania.

After cutting the 1971 LP The Family (Columbia 90000 - tracks 11 to 17), out of which emerged another decent-selling single (in Japan), Gladwyn (or Gladwin as shown here), they disbanded, with drummer Mercer hooking up with April Wine and Blake going to the Lisa Hart Band.

This Collectables release offers up all but one track of the two Columbia/Epic releases, including both sides of their one major hit, with very good sound reproduction. Since the total running length of all 18 went beyond the 80 min. limit of the CD, the final track from the second album (Mr. Tree) was sacrificed. Too bad since it too was worthy of a single at the time.

This album has some excellent Mashmakhan tunes, but it is sadly missing one of the best, MR. TREE. I wonder why they left this song off the CD, and can the CD be bought with MR. TREE added?

Before purchasing the products i wanted to be sure if they are in good state considering quality, if they are not damaged.
After acquiring the products my concern is if i will also receive them intact.