Skyboat/Hymn To The Seeker [Import]

Mac Gayden | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 9, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Phantom Sound & Vision
• ASIN: B001E181P0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)

Editorial Reviews

2008 release containing the complete ABC masters of this highly rated cult favorite. You may not know the name, but you will certainly know the sound, as Mac was responsible for the guitar sound that will always be associated with J.J. Cale's classic albums. Singer-songwriter Gayden evolved from being one of the best pop songwriters in 1960s Nashville (co-writing the hit `Everlasting Love') to a consummate performer of his own uniquely introspective material . The two 1976 albums featured here, plus the non-album bonus track `Sunfall', are part of the chain that links American Southern Rock with the contemporary strand of Country that's known as Americana. Out of print for three decades, they are much treasured vinyl items for those lucky enough to own copies. Ace's CD release of this wonderful music will hopefully appeal to Mac's hardcore devotees, as well as bringing new fans and admirers to the table. 23 tracks. Big Beat Records. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a tale of two recordings, and how USA markets musics, October 6, 2008

By 

Peppino - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Skyboat & Hymn To The Seeker (Audio CD)

Very simple to say, even the Amazon description of this great recording, (just now avaliable to the cd format), Mac Gayden is a "Nashville musician",and even the two cover art designs also not tell the tale.

Nashville has also a R&B tradition, as it is a USA river town, but "Opry USA" has been the stereotype for a long time, no?

Mac Gayden, fame for his "wha-slide" guitarristics, and was stalwart of JJ Cale's languid recordings..well, for lack of better way to say, "hippi white guy" (which pre-date the hippie redneck look of the country musics idioma which still exists today) give no indication of the musical styles contained within. A unique guitarrista, both with the medicine bottle slide , and fluid single line frasing (atrange enough, NOT a "bluesy" style of tipico southern rock guitarristas, but very thoughtful and melodic frasings!).

This is a cd 2X1, the first recording , "Skyboat" with the incredible abstract flying "buda" defines Mac gayden's "R&B" roots, and is my less favourite of the two recordings, it is an accomplished "southern rock/R&B" style that features his "hits", ~Everlasting Love, and the less known ~Morning Glory, and strange ineffective versions of Smokey Robinson (Dont Look Back) and Curtis Mayfield and the Impressions (It's Allright).

Solid, but for me, too much rock/R&B. Fans of Southern rock can love it, and I think he just as good with guitar as the famous Duane Allman, or that Marshall Tucker fellow, for ex.

The gem, in every sense of the word,is the second recording ~Hymn to the Seeker, a jazz/soul/spiritual excursion, with soaring vocals, (including Mac's sincere falsetto ,one of my favourite tracks, ~Standing in the Background is a more distinct homage to the post doowop styles of the Intruders, Chi Lites, etc).

The band is what they call "tight", a solid unit soaring to the stratosfere with inspiration.

Other tracks feature beautiful flute-istics and sassofone , along with well placed guitarra, solo and 'wha-slide', much more jazz influenced, even sounding at times in the "jazz fusion" moda, how the record label missed this fine musician and relegated him to quase-obscurity from labeling this as "country musics" is a travesty.

~The Minstrel is Free at Last might be the cornerstone of this release, from uptempo funk to introspective falsetto harmony bridge,, finishing with a ripping fusion-style guitar solo that seems a combination of southern rock style mix with the "jazzy", 10000 stars this track alone.

Heavily recommend, 10000 estrelas no ceu, starbound and inspired, and even some avante-guard banjo and more traditional "Nashville", but that far between the Muscle Shoals ritmo guitars, almost Jaco=like bass lines, and Mac Gayden's passionate vocals. (actually, the basslines are very close style to the syncopations of legend session musician Jerry Jemmott, or Rocco Prestia from Tower of Power.

Time for something "old", time to find it "New", a recording that could note even be made today, by tipico "record industry" standards, adventurous and diverse! Get this while you can !!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweet Serenity on a Musical journey through the Mountains., August 12, 2010

By 

Trout Voice (Spokane, WA.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Skyboat & Hymn To The Seeker (Audio CD)

The Music contained on these 2 CD's may not be your cup of tea, it certainly is mine.
Mac Gayden and Skyboat are completely unique from any Music that I've ever heard. The level of Mac's artistry is very HIGH. It is Rock, it is Blues, it is Soul. It is Grand! I can't honestly compare it to anyone else sound wise, it's just too unique. He writes lyrics that touch your soul, plays Slide guitar and Banjo like God is in the audience, and has a singing voice that is as pure as sweet honey.
These albums are very close to being my favorites of any Music ever released so I'm very biased. You feel really good after hearing this Music. The Music is also of a healing quality if you are in any way depressed. Seek out Mac's fine 1995 release "Nirvana Blues" as well. I hear that there is more on the way in 2010 as well. God Bless Mac for all of the Beautiful Love that he has shared. This Music will make you cry tears of joy, they don't make music this good anymore!
The Slide guitar playing is absolutely amazing on these songs! The Banjo is from another World! The sound quality is excellent! The lyrics are pure joy.

5.0 out of 5 stars Re-Discovered Treasure, August 26, 2011

By 

Lindsay R. Barnes, Jr. - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Skyboat & Hymn To The Seeker (Audio CD)

Mac Gayden's solo work, especially Skyboat (one of the two cd's available in this set), is some of the finest rock 'n roll relatively few people have ever heard. It's hard to understand how albums like this could be mishandled so poorly by any reasonably reputable and able record company. When Skyboat was released in 1975, I was working my way through graduate school as a DJ at a "progressive" country station in Athens, GA. We received the album, listened to it, and were blown away by it. But it wasn't country -- far from it. So how could ABC Records be pushing the record as a country release? Beats me. Still, however, we played the dickens out of songs like "Morning Glory" (still one of my all-time favorites with a guitar lead unsurpassed anywhere), "Southwind", "Appalachian Fever", and Mac's own rendition (the best version of many that have been recorded, in my opinion) of "Everlasting Love", a hit for Robert Knight and others. Gradually, however, Skyboat and Mac's next release, Hymm to the Seeker (interesting and well done but not, to my taste, the equal of Skyboat) faded into obscurity, the victim of record company suits who didn't know how to promote a truly exceptional musician, songwriter, and singer. Mac's still around -- working with other musicians, promoting his daughter's musical career, and occasionally releasing some fine solo work of his own (e.g., Nirvana Blues, a late 90's release). But he's never made the big time, which is a crying shame. However, the richness of his music can once again be enjoyed, thanks to this excellent two-fer package by Big Beat. Five stars all the way -- no if's, and's, and but's.