In The Land Of FREE we still Keep on Rockin'

It's Not Dark Yet

Plain and Fancy

Music gives soul to universe, wings to mind, flight to imagination, charm to sadness, and life to everything.

Plato

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Mother Earth - Living With The Animals (1968 us, enormous blues rock with folk and jazz touches, 2004 reissue and original vinyl edition)



Though Mother Earth is often remembered as a vehicle for Tracy Nelson, Living With the Animals is a true group effort, combining memorable vocal performances with tight R'n'B-derived playing with excellent guitar work from Michael Bloomfield. Side one is a showcase for Nelson's blues belting and piano, particularly on "Down So Low" and "Mother Earth." Not to be overlooked is the blues shuffle "I Did My Part" and R.P. St. John's sardonic "Living With the Animals" and "Marvel Set," which features him on lead vocals. 

Side two offers some stellar moments here as well, including "Cry On" and "Goodnight Nelda Grebe," with fine horn section work and excellent Nelson vocals. Written and fronted by St. John, "The Kingdom of Heaven Is Within You" is a brilliant closer; it's nocturnal, moody, and spacy and showcases beautiful muted trumpets and reeds with a gorgeous flute solo by Link Davis Jr. 
by J.P. Ollio and Thom Jurek


Tracks
1. Marvel Group (Powell Saint John) - 3:17
2. Mother Earth (Memphis Slim) - 6:16
3. I Did My Part (Allen Toussaint) - 2:51
4. Living With The Animals (Powell Saint John) - 4:57
5. Down So Low (Tracy Nelson) - 3:51
6. Cry On (Allen Toussaint) - 4:36
7. It Won't Be Long (John Leslie McFarland) - 3:39
8. My Love Will Never Die (Willie Dixon) - 4:59
9. Goodnight Nelba Grebe, The Telephone Company Has Cut Us Off  (Sylvia Caldwell, Tracy Nelson) - 2:42
10.The Kingdom of Heaven (Is Within You) (Powell Saint John) - 5:05

Musicians
*Tracy Nelson - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards
*Martin Fierro - Vocals, Flute, Saxophone, Altohorn, Tenorhorn, Synthesizer
*Powell St.John - Vocals, Harmonica
*Bob Salisbury - Vocals, Saxophone, Baritone Horn
*Losella Funque,Sylvia Caldwell,Shalimar Samuelson,Bob Arthur - Vocals
*Michael Bloomfield,  John Andrews, Makal Blumfeld - Guitar
*Spencer Perskin - Violin
*Ron Taormina - Saxophone, Baritonehorn
*Frank Morin - Saxophone, Tenorhorn
*George Rains - Saxophone, Drums
*Link Davis - Saxophone
*Luis Gasca - Trumpet
*Link Davis Jr. - Altohorn
*Mark Naftalin - Piano, Organ, Keyboards
*Danny Goldberg, Barry Goldberg - Organ
*Jose Rodriguez, Jose Emilio Rodriqueziii - Drums
*Earthettes - Background Vocals

Free Text
Just Paste

5 comments:

  1. I have the same vinyl edition of this marvelous album and though I don't have turntable anymore, every now and then I take it in my arms and just stare at it.
    I'm not an expert for vinyl transfers, but it seems to me that the sound is fantastic and that you've managed to preserve the whole beauty and richness of the sound of the original vinyl release.
    And yeah, I almost forgot: the scans are just wonderful.
    Thanks for posting this Marios.

    ReplyDelete
  2. would you, could you, please show the picture and dedication to tamarie dean?

    ReplyDelete
  3. This has always been one of my go to albums since it was first released. I enjoy the comparison of 'Kingdom of Heaven' on this release to the 13 Floor Elevators version on 'The Psychodelic Sounds' album.

    ReplyDelete
  4. "Mother Earth - Living With The Animals 1968", updated..

    ReplyDelete