When I got Nick Jameson's “Already Free” I was surprised to find that he plays all the instruments except Eric Parker's drums and the legendary Paul Butterfield's harmonica, which was the key to my decision to buy the vinyl. I put it on the turntable at home, and I was immediately hooked: country rock, folk, soft rock and 70's RnR twinned in a natural way, without stridency, with great melodies and harmonicas of extreme quality by Butterfield. The surprise comes when I start to investigate Jameson: fasten your seatbelts!!!!
He debuts in 1970 with the band “The American Dream” (whose eponymous debut will be the first production of the legendary Todd Rundgren), in the middle of the decade he establishes himself as a solo artist (“A Crowd of One” from 1986 is his second and last work) and also produces a couple of records to Tim Moore, his colleague Paul Butterfield, and Foghat: the three most popular records of the band (“Rock and Roll Outlaws”, “Fool for the City” and “Live”) bear his signature !!!! But apart from his musical facet Jameson has developed a career as an actor, dubbing specialist (animation and video games) and stand-up comedian... !!!!!
But possibly what fascinated me most of all the interactions, coincidences and twists was his participation in my favorite series of all time, “Lost”. Chance and fate played in my favor so that I could enjoy an album without great pretensions, but super entertaining, well thought out and well played. Lie down in your favorite armchair, listen to “I Ain't Searching” and enjoy. Everything happens for a reason...
Raisin Kane was from Martin, Tennessee and recorded their LP "It's About Time" at Sound Farm Studios in Puryear, Tennessee, circa 1978. An excellent mix of 70s Country Rock / Southern Rock with fantastic guitar sessions. Rare private press in the vein of The Outlaws, Allman Brothers and Marshall Tucker.
Tracks
1. Raisin´ Kane (Larry Bedwell, Russ Hall) - 2:31
2. Tennessee Foxy Lady (Gary Wadley, Larry Bedwell) - 3:26
3. Autumn - 3:25
4. Rock 'n' Roll Song - 3:08
5. We´ll Find A Way (Riley, Larry Brewer) - 3:56
6. I Don´t Want To Take It (Elmore, Larry Bedwell) - 2:31
7. You Don´t Listen To What I Say - 3:30
8. All I Can Do - 2:49
9. Neon Lights (Gary Wadley, Larry Bedwell, Larry Brewer) - 7:32
The most exciting facet of this tremendous album is not so much that it contains the Procols' best recorded works to date, but that their potential is still nowhere near being fully spent.
If this is an example of what their experiments can lead them to, long may they continue to push out past the accepted frontiers of pop.
It would be hard to pick a stand-out but the title-track, also their current single, must rank as their most potently commercial offering since Whiter Shade of Pale. The poetic quality of Keith Reid's lyrics delivered by Gary Brooker against music that rises and crashes like the waves adds up to a positively stunning track.
Brooker takes five other writing credits; Milk of Human Kindness is a personal favourite, mainly for its gorgeous razzy guitar. Too much Between Us, which he co-wrote with Robin Trower, is wispy and dreamy with shades of Incredible String Band in the harmonies. The Devil Came from Kansas has a distinct country feel with Barrie Wilson's powerful drumming behind a piano running rife. All This and More is nearer the old Procols.
Boredom, by Brooker and Matthew Fisher, has the latter featured strongly on marimba with a pretty calypso lilt making it one of the most appealing songs.
Fisher on his own has two entries, stand out being Wreck of the Hesperus with a complex arrangement for piano and strings that spins like whirlpools of water and has a charm and prettiness little found in today's pop.
The album also marks the emergence of Trower as a writing force. His two songs include Juicy John Pink, a strident rock blues with shades of John Lee Hooker. Other titles: Crucifiction Lane, Pilgrim's Progress
by Nick Logan in New Musical Express, 5 July 1969
Tracks
1. A Salty Dog - 4:39
2. The Milk Of Human Kindness - 3:44
3. Too Much Between Us - 3:40
4. The Devil Came From Kansas - 4:33
5. Boredom - 4:37
6. Juicy John Pink - 2:04
7. Wreck Of The Hesperus - 3:44
8. All This And More - 3:47
9. Crucifiction Lane - 4:56
10.Pilgrim's Progress - 4:33
11.Long Gone Geek - 3:18
12.Goin' Down Slow - 7:48
13.Juicy John Pink - 2:39
14.Crucification Lane - 4:35
15.Skip Softly My Moonbeams / Also Sprach Zarathustra - 5:29
16.The Milk Of Human Kindness - 3:47
All Lyrics by Keith Reid except track #12
Tracks 1-5,8,11,15,16 Music by Gary Brooker
Tracks 3,6,9,13,14 Music by Robin Trower
Tracks 5,7,10,11 Music by Matthew Fisher
Track 12 written by James B. Oden
Tracks 12-15 recorded in USA April 1969
Track 16 Take 1 / Raw Backing Track
Same Tracklist as above
Disc 1
1. A Salty Dog - 4:39
2. The Milk Of Human Kindness - 3:45
3. Too Much Between Us - 3:43
4. The Devil Came From Kansas - 4:36
5. Boredom - 4:34
6. Juicy John Pink - 2:06
7. Wreck Of The Hesperus - 3:48
8. All This And More - 3:51
9. Crucifiction Lane - 5:00
10.Pilgrims Progress - 4:31
All Lyrics by Keith Reid
Tracks 1-5,8,11 Music by Gary Brooker
Tracks 3,6,9 Music by Robin Trower
Tracks 5,7,10 Music by Matthew Fisher
Disc 2
1. Skip Softly (My Moonbeams) - 3:47
2. Wish Me Well - 3:41
3. Long Gone Geek - 2:42
4. Goin' Down Slow - 7:48
5. Juicy John Pink - 2:38
6. Crucifiction Lane - 4:46
7. Skip Softly My Moonbeams / Also Sprach Zarathustra - 5:25
8. The Milk Of Human Kindness - 3:39
9. Juicy John Pink - 2:15
10.A Salty Dog - 4:36
11.Long Gone Geek - 3:10
12.The Milk Of Human Kindness - 3:57
All Lyrics by Keith Reid except track #4
Tracks 1-3,8,10-12 Music by Gary Brooker
Tracks 5,6,9 Music by Robin Trower
Tracks 3,11 Music by Matthew Fisher
Track 4 written by James B. Oden
Tracks 1,2,3,9 recorded at 'Top Gear' BBC Radio One Session
Tracks 4-7 recorded in USA April 1969
Track 8 recorded at 'Symonds On Sunday' BBC Radio One Session
Having issues with their label, as their commercial success was declining dramatically, and the changes in music with disco and punk taking the lion's share of the sales, the times were difficult but they stayed together and in 1980 they recorded and released “Right On Time”, on Auric Records, a Florida based label. The bulk of the compositions of course goes to Dru Lombar, who signed half of the album's 10 songs.
There's another version of our favourite “Lady Luck”, of the three that have appeared on three different albums in total. Τhe music follows the familiar sound fields, with the guitars dominating, the vocals and the rest of the instruments all in high standards. A year later, “Have Band Will Travel” released on the independent Robox Records and soon after, -they realized that as a band they had hit a dead end- broke up. We love Grinderswitch, we love Southern Rock, we don't expect innovations, we are not disappointed by this album.
Tracks
1. Movin' On Back To You (Dru Lombar, Stephen Miller, Joe Dan Petty, Rick Burnett) - 3:42
2. Lady Luck (Dru Lombar) - 4:56
3. Confusion (Dru Lombar) - 6:57
4. 80 Miles To Memphis (Joe Dan Petty) - 3:08
5. Slow Movin' Dancer (Joe Dan Petty, Larry Howard) - 4:17
6. Brand New Feeling (Dru Lombar) - 3:56
7. When The Rain Comes Down (Dru Lombar, Chris Anderson) - 6:38
