Customer Reviews

Wildflower - Golden Classics Edition

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

When you look back at this album, little did we know in the spring of 1973, ( when "WILDFLOWER" was breaking into the BILLBOARD TOP 10), that this group had one of the most dominant musicians and record producers of the 1980's!!
David Foster went on to be an amazing studio musician and record producer. He produced records for CHICAGO, (He ressurected their career!) Barbara Streisand, Lionel Richie, and a number of other top acts of the 80's. David also was in a few other bands such as AIRPLAY (1980), and the Attitudes (1977). His credentials are legendary! It basically started with the group SKYLARK. However, the short-lived group out of Canada had several other fantastic artists aboard.

One of the lead singers, Donny Gerrard, had one of the greatest soulful voices of the 70's. Listening to him on their big hit "WILDFLOWER" can bring a tear to your eye. It's a shame that he didn't go on to great things. ( He did release a solo album around early 1976 on Greedy Records.) I also think he did a few TV and radio jingles.
Was that him on the MONRO Muffler Commercial back in the late 70'S? "Monro, Monro, we fix your car all under."

Yet another amazing voice in the band was B.J. Cook and later B.J.Cook Foster. (I'm assuming she and David were married for awhile.) B.J. had a voice that was so emotional and chilling at times. "I'll Have to Go Away" which was the follow up hit to "Wildflower" is probably in the TOP 10 most beautiful songs ever! I know that is just one person's opinion, but the musicianship and emotion that runs through this 5 minute ballad is off the charts!!! Unfortunately, this song never made the Billboard chart. I believe it was a BUBBLING Under hit in 1973. Maybe because the 45 version is so hacked up.

Finally, the drummer, Duris Maxwell is a much better than average trap-man. He puts down some nice fills in "What Would I Do Without You".
Overall, this is one of the best albums of the early 70's. So much talent and a unique mix of soul and pop.
The lead singer of the O'Jays said on their live album that the group sounded like a white group trying to sound black, or maybe a blackgroup trying to sound white. I think it was a stab at SKYLARK, but in the song "WIldflower", he made somewhat of a valid point. Unfortunately, SKYLARK only released one more album in 1974. The title is so original- "SKYLARK 2". The sound quality is muffled and they even throw on the hit "WILDFLOWER" as a draw or as to fill up space. The complete first album is on this Collectables CD, and they added "If That's the Way That You Want It" and "Virgin Green" from SKYLARK 2. "Virgin Green" was originally called "Foster Frees" on the record album. This song is an instrumental that really shows off that keyboard talents of David Foster.
On a final note, if you can ever find SKYLARK 2, buy it. It's never been released on CD but it has a lot of great songs. It's too bad Collectables didn't do a two-fer on this CD. With "Wildflower" being repeated on both records, there would have been plenty of room to combine both on one CD. "Skylark 2" has a really FAR-OUT cover which Collectables could have used instead of the generic one. Overall, I heavily recommend this CD.

Yes, this is the first Skylark album (1972), with a couple of bonus tracks. If you look at the trck listing for this CD, here at Amazon or elsewhere, it looks like there is just one tune, "Wildflower". In reality it contains all the songs from the Skylark's first work:

1. Brother Eddie

2. What Would I Do Without You

3. A Long Way to Go

4. Suites for My Lady

5. I'll Have to Go Away

6. The Writing's On The Wall

7. Twenty-six Years

8. I'm In Love Again

9. Wildflower

10. Shall I Fail

Plus 2 tracks not on the original:

11. If That's The Way You Want It

12. Virgin Green

I would describe this album as basically early seventies pop & easy listening, with gospel overtones. However, there are a couple tunes here which qualify as rock classics in my book. The group's one and only hit, "Wildflower", is melodramatically sad but has a beautiful melody. The instrumental track, "Suites For My Lady", has one of the most intense and moving symphonic bits ever used to accent a rock tune. It leads seamlessly into "I'll Have To Go Away". Like "Wildflower", this is a very melancholy tune, but somewhat prettier and more interesting, and beautifully sung. Both these songs, and "Shall I Fail" are lyrically touching and thought-provoking, in contrast to the rest of the album. However, you're bound to find something you like among the other tunes too. WARNING: Don't trade-away your rare vinyl version of this CD. Although it has no scratches, this is a fairly poor recording for a CD and suffers from some noticeable fidelity problems, even for a tin-ear

My father David Richardson wrote the lyrics to the hit song "wildflower" that is in this c.d. I think that this c.d. is awesome and can be listened to continuosly. My favorite song on this c.d. is of course "wildflower". I love how the music is done, the melody flows so smoothly, and the lyrics go along perfectly with it. Overall this is a great c.d.

Man...if only you knew what it's like to find and old friend...so to speak...in the early 70's I worked with Donnie Gerrard and David and the rest of the Skylark crew...help set up at the now defunct Hollywood Sportatorium in s. fl...what a talented group and the album speaks for itself...please listen to every song and you will bring back a time long forgot...it picks me up when times are blue...it's music is such a mixture of culture and heart felt feelings...my daughter is 13 and she loves it...I at 45 can't put it down...it would be a seller in todays market...fresh...and uplifting...now if I could only find them again...buschman

I have owned multiple copies of this album since it first came out, and was always disappointed that a follow up album by this group was never released. Although wildflower is a wonderful song and was the song that got the most airplay when the LP was first released, it has always been the instrumental "Suites for my lady" and the vocal "I'll have to go away" that immediately follows it that have been my favorites. The combination of the two pieces is enough to bring a tear to the sternest of individual. The vocals are clean and clear, and at the same time haunting. I have been looking for a CD of this album for many years, as my old LPs have become scratchy from overuse over the years, and I am so happy to finally find it on Amazon.

Wildflower is reason alone to get this CD...the soul-rock groove and the melancholy lyrics are unforgettable. About the only other song I can think of off the top of my head that gets me like this is Into the Night, by Benny Mardones.

The lyrics,vocal and guitar work on the track "wildflower" are so perfect that I find myself almost in another world as I listen. I listen to it every day (my fix).

Amazon's "review" says this was released in 1972. If so, even the single hit tune took time to find its legs as I remember it clearly in spring of 1973, along with Wings' "My Love". 1973 was a good year for music overall and there was no better song among the really good singles that year than "Wildflower". You would think that there would have been more from this group to hit the U.S. charts but I can't find one. Even so you can bet I'll always have a good copy ot "Wildflower" on hand. And, hey, check out the rest of the tunes on this package. Not bad.

Is there anyone who knows what Donnie Gerard is doing now?
Is he still around? making music or living where??
ANY info is appreciated!

Wildflower! the title is very fitting; its truly a masterpiece in a tough world. a song I've always loved as a young man, but really began to appreciate and understand with age and loving relationship maturity. Really like this original and the o'jay's live version. Both - awesome.