The Buoys - Timothy "Golden Classics" (1971-73 us, fine classic rock with counrty folk influence)

"Timothy” really was about a mule, but a lot of people thought he was another trapped miner." Rupert Holmes, the man who wrote "Timothy", was still trying to explain his 1971 hit for The Buoys in a 1988 interview to promote his new Broadway musical, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood." Laughing, Holmes swore the anguished song about the two survivors in a trio of trapped miners was not an ode to cannibalism. 

It was easy to laugh then, but it wasn't so funny when Scepter Records issued the single by the Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania quintet. Even though the song would eventually go into Billboard's Top 20, many radio programmers were reluctant to play the song, especially when listeners called demanding to know why some band was singing about eating this poor miner. It also didn't help when there were media reports about college students holding 'Timothy For Lunch Bunch" gatherings. 

Whatever the song was about, the notoriety did help get a hit for the group made up of Fran Brozena - keyboards, Gerry Hludzik - bass, Chris Hanlon - guitar, Carl Siracuse - drums, and Billy Kelly - lead vocals. They were discovered by a Scepter engineer, who then approached Holmes about writing a song to help the quintet get some attention. He agreed, and the song ultimately became Holmes' first real hit as a writer. Holmes also wrote a number of songs and played keyboards on The Buoys' debut Scepter album. 

It featured 'Timothy" and two other minor chart successes that also told odd stories. "Bloodknot" was said to be about a reform-school ritual while "Give Up Your Guns" was about an old West shootout. Although Holmes would go on to chart success as a singer, going Top 10 with "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)" and "Him", The Buoys soon sank out of sight. Scepter issued a few other singles, all featured here. 

The group then signed to Polydor, cutting two singles, "Don't Try To Run" and "Liza's Last Ride", also included on this album. In 1980, a couple of Buoys - Billy Kelly and Gerry Hludzik, who was also known as Joe Jerry - were back in music as a group called Dakota. Their self-titled album on Columbia failed to generate any attention.

by  Mark Marymont

Tracks
1. Timothy (Rupert Holmes) - 2:49
2. Give Up Your Guns (Rupert Holmes) - 4:16
3. Sunny Days/Memories - 5:02
4. Tell Me Heaven Is Here - 3:33
5. The Prince of Thieves (Rupert Holmes) - 4:17
6. Castles - 2:27
7. Bloodknot (Rupert Holmes) - 2:13
8. Tomorrow (Rupert Holmes) - 3:26
9.Streams Together - 2:48
10.Good Lovin' - 2:30
11.Pittsburgh Steel - 4:13
12.Absent Friend - 3:51
13.These Days - 2:47
14.Sunny Days - 1:25
15.Don't Try to Run (Brozena, Kelly, Hludzik) - 3:21
16.Dreams (Brozena, Kelly, Hludzik) - 3:26
17.Look Back America - 6:34
18.Liza's Last Ride - 2:55
All songs written by the Buoys except where noted

The Buoys
*Bill Kelly - Lead Vocals, Guitar
*Jerry G. Hludzik - Bass, Vocals
*Chris Hanlon - Guitar
*Fran Brozena - Keyboards
*Carl Siracuse - Drums
with
*Sally Rosoff - Cello

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