Prior to forming Redeye, singer/guitarist Douglas Marks obtained a bit of glory with the Sunshine Company and the Grains Of Sand. Active from 1967-68, this Los Angeles band parented a moderate amount of airplay with radiant Mamas and Papas-styled songs such as “Happy” and “Back on the Street Again.” The Sunshine Company released a trio of enjoyable albums, as well.
In 1970, Redeye – which also included rhythm guitarist/vocalist Dave Hodgkins, bassist/vocalist Bill Kirkham and drummer Bob Bereman – secured a contract with the Pentagram label. By the end of the year, the band notched a No. 27 nationwide hit single with “Games” that also appeared on Redeye’s self-titled debut album.
Listeners are guaranteed to experience a dose of deja vu (pun intended) when hearing “Games,” as the high-pitched harmony blend coating the bright and buoyant track are hijacked straight from the Crosby Stills Nash and Young songbook. A repetitively catchy chorus of “Yeah, you know” calls for a sing-a-long fest, while a clanging cowbell and an energetic jam rock with strength and substance.
Although “Games” sounds too close to comfort to CSNY to give Redeye a unique identity, there is no denying it is nattily crafted and sports plenty of appeal.
Riding the success of “Games,” Redeye toured and shared bills with the likes of the Byrds and Cactus. Things certainly looked good for the band, but their next single – the funky blues-oriented “Red Eye Blues” – failed to make much of an impact. Breaking up in 1972, Redeye’s short-lived popularity is rather a pity because they definitely had what was required to juggle commercial characteristics with edgier aspects.
by Beverly Paterson
Tracks
1. Games - 3:05
2. Empty White Houses - 2:44
3. Mississippi Stateline - 4:00
4. Green Grass - 3:10
5. Down Home Run - 2:18
6. Dadaeleus` Unfinished Dream (Bill Kirkham, Dave Hodgkins) - 2:46
7. Oregon Bound - 3:15
8. Your Train Is Leaving - 2:46
9. 199 Thoughts Too Late - 2:30
10.Collections Of Yesterday And Now (Dave Hodgkins, Douglas Mark) - 4:31
All songs by Dave Hodgkins except where nored
Redeye
*Douglas "Red" Mark - Vocals, Guitar
*Dave Hodgkins - Guitar, Vocals
*Bill Kirkham - Bass, Vocals
*Bob Bereman - Drums, Percussion
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A long time on my wish list.Thank you "MARIOS".Please,if you can post their second album -One man's poison.Cheers...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marios
ReplyDeleteThank you very much
ReplyDeleteI take you now, to a garage in Costa Mesa, California.
ReplyDeleteI remember those days when Redeye started out in my sister’s garage in Costa Mesa. It was a wonderful time for me back then. I was 10 years old but already grown up in so many ways. I had a wildness about me, even at that young age. Costa Mesa back then was a wonder place to live. My sister was married to Bill Kirkham the Bass player of Redeye, and it was their house and the garage that the band practiced. I would get out of school riding my bike to my sister’s house. I lived between my sister’s and my mother's home that were in the same town. But the garage was on Walnut Street. It was older homes lined with pine trees and shade trees and the easy-going folks of a 70s beach town in California. I would ride my bike down that street that was lined by large trees which shaded the warm summers and blue skies. All throughout was the fresh ocean air coming up from Newport Beach. Remembering back to those days, it seems to have always been the blue skies of summer and spring, but there was plenty of dark skies as well. But even those darker days had levity, bright, and of no consequence today. But the garage was always spring for me! Riding up to the house and into the driveway, the garage would be open. It was cushioned by mattresses bolted to the walls and door. Concert posters, photos, big Persian rugs on the floor with a table and chairs. The band equipment was everywhere. Clusters of cables, power cords and audio cords. A reel-to-reel recorder with a boom mic. Stacked around were the cases, speakers, and amps. The mic stands seemed to stand at ready, waiting over the guitars, the base, and the drum set with its small and large cymbals, chrome stands and snares. A wonderful, magical garage that seemed to me to have been placed there out of time. Like a wonderful portal that could take me to places anywhere the music went. At times the driveway would have neighbors and friends sitting around, listening to the band in front of the garage. Mixed with the smells of Pine tree and ocean breeze, would be the smoke of weed, rising through the friendly talk and laughter of the day. On the good days, when the music had been placed to the lyrics and just needed ironing out. Those neighbors and friends would bring carrot cake, banana bread, and with their beer or a joint in their hand, would dance as the sun would set and the lighting for the band radiated out from the garage upon the music. Along the driveway, a small white picket fence, trimming the front yard of the house, captured the perfume of flowers in the garden of my sister’s touch. The lazy sound of wind chimes accented the garden while sun catchers twirled in the light with bright fragments. It was a magical time and place, and this is how I remembered it.
Thanks for leaving that great comment Unknown... really sets the scene. Sounds like a wonderful time.
ReplyDeleteMike
I dig the sound of this album. Nice.
ReplyDelete