Whether it was creative fervor or contractual obligation, Jesse Colin Young was back with a new album only six months after his commercial and artistic breakthrough with Song for Juli, and though the album featured more original songs, Young seemed to be stretching for material, turning the three tunes on side one into a "California Suite" with lots of jazzy instrumental work. Many of Young's backup musicians -- notably drummer Jeffrey Myer, keyboardist Scott Lawrence and reed player Jim Rothermel -- had been with him for a while now and were playing like a tight band.
Some of the songs were little more than weather reports ("Grey Day") or travelogues ("Barbados"), and when Young did have a message to convey, as in the title song (repeated from the Youngbloods' Good and Dusty album), he could come off as preachy, but the music was so delightful that none of that mattered much. Fans made it Young's highest-charting album yet, and it ranks with Song for Juli as his biggest seller.
by William Ruhlmann
Tracks
1. California Child - 2:23
2. Grey Day - 11:19
3. Light Shine - 5:25
4. Pretty And The Fair - 2:37
5. Barbardos - 2:58
6. Motorcycle Blues - 2:40
7. The Cuckoo (Traditional) 6:53
8. Susan - 4:21
All songs by Jesse Colin Young except where indicated
Musicians
*Jesse Colin Young - Vocals Guitar
*Jeffrey Myer - Drums, Congas, Percussion
*Scott Lawrence - Piano, Keyboards, Harmonies
*Kelly Bryan, Bass
*Jim Rothermel - Alto, Soprano Sax, Flute, Clarinet, Recorder, Harmonica
*Ozzie Ahlers - Electric Piano
*Marty David - Bass
*Jerry Corbitt, Suzi Young - Harmonies
Jesse Colin Young releases
1973 Song For Juli (2009 remaster)
1976 On The Road (Japan remaster)
with The Youngbloods
1967/69 The Youngbloods / Earth Music / Elephant Mountain
1969 Elephant Mountain (Sundazed expanded)
1971 Beautiful! Live In San Francisco (Sundazed edition)
1972 High On A Ridge Top (Sundazed remaster)
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