Under My Own Disguise [Limited Edition, Box set]

Chris Darrow | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Limited Edition, Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Everloving
• ASIN: B001Q8FRQM
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #563,846 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

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Editorial Reviews

After founding psychedelic band Kaleidoscope with David Lindley and playing with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and Linda Ronstadt, this revered multi-instrumentalist won his own record contract. These United Artists LPs (1973/1974) matched his raw California twang and taste for experimentation with the shimmering folk-rock that was exploding in the UK. The results still sound fresh and ahead of their time; here are Don't Let Your Deal Go Down; Hong Kong Blues; Whipping Boy; Miss Pauline; Live or Die Rag; Livin' Like a Fool; Old Scratch , and more. This limited-edition set has both LPs on CD and 180-gram vinyl plus a 46-page photo book and die-cut Chris Darrow "mask!" An overdue spotlight on an integral figure in country-rock.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars California country-rock pioneer's mid-70s solo LPs, March 10, 2009

By 

hyperbolium (Earth, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Under My Own Disguise (Audio CD)

Given Darrow's musical pedigree, it's a wonder his name and these two early-70s solo albums aren't better known. In the 1960s he put together the California bluegrass group, Dry City Scat Band, was a founding member of the eclectic psychedelic band Kaleidoscope, and spent a few years in the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, toured behind Linda Ronstadt and did studio work for James Taylor, John Fahey, Leonard Cohen and others. In the early `70s he signed with United Artists and recorded this pair of albums, the self-titled Chris Darrow in 1973 and Under My Own Disguise the following year. The latter was previously reissued on CD on the Taxim label, and the pair was previously issued as a two-fer by BGO. This deluxe reissue is remastered from scratch, offering each album on individual CDs and on individual 180-gram vinyl LPs, all housed in gatefold covers and sporting a 48-page 12" x 12" photo and liner note book.

Chris Darrow models itself after the breadth of Kaleidoscope, but without the overt psychedelia. Darrow's songs cover rambling Allman Brothers styled country-rock, reggae rhythms crossed with New Orleans' fiddles, a hot-picked double mandolin instrumental, piano-based ballads, old-timey country, Celtic fiddles, close harmony and Stonesy blues. He mixes originals with traditional tunes ("Don't Let Your Deal Go Down") and selected covers (Hoagy Carmichael's "Hong Kong Blues" and Cy Coben's country bluegrass "A Good Woman's Love"). The original "Faded Love" is sung to a mandolin and flute arrangement that's distinctly Japanese, and the closing "That's What It's Like to Be Alone" is given a chamber pop arrangement replete with harpsichord. Darrow's "We're Living on $15 a week," with its upbeat depression-era optimism is sadly applicable amid the ruins of today's world economy.

Under My Own Disguise follows a similarly varied course, but more tightly bunched around country sounds, including fiddle-led Zydeco, steel guitar ballads, Allman-styled rock, dusty gospel soul, acoustic rags, blues, and the sort of pop-country-rock hybrid that Gram Parsons termed "cosmic American music." The album's featured cover is a Hot Club styled country-jazz take on the Ink Spots' "Java Jive." Darrow has an appealingly unfinished voice - tuneful, but unpolished. He's mixed especially low into the instrumentation on Under My Own Disguise, giving the impression of an introvert more comfortable as a sideman than a leader. No matter, as his melodies and musical textures carry a great deal of emotion. Thirty-five years on, these tracks sound fresh and contemporary, and offer up hidden nuggets of California country. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

5.0 out of 5 stars Small correction to Hyperbolium's review, April 27, 2009

By 

Art C. Phartsy (Hellameda, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Under My Own Disguise (Audio CD)

This is a fantastic collection of Darrow's best work. There's not a weak song in the collection. However, Darrow did not found Kaleidoscope as stated. It was an offshoot of David Lindley and Solomon Feldthouse's folk effort in Berkeley, David and Solomon, the Kings of Israel. Chester Crill (aka Max Buda and Fenrus Epp) was then included, followed by John Vidican and finally Darrow. Their first effort of naming this group came up with the hilarious moniker, The Neoprene Lizards, which didn't work out. Darrow left after the 2nd album, but returned to head up the first reunion effort, along with Crill (which Lindley secretly played on as D. Paris Letante), When 'Scopes Collide on Mike Nesmith's label, recently remastered and re-released on Taxim. Later he and Chester got the guys back together for Greetings From Kartoonistan: We Ain't Dead Yet, which Lindley wanted no part of.