Major labels were taking all kinds of chances on untested talent in the late '60s, but although his name may have been unfamiliar to most in the industry, Bert Sommer was hardly untested. By the release of The Road to Travel, his 1968 debut, he had already written five songs for the Vagrants (founded by a pre-Mountain Leslie West, Sommer's schoolmate) and sung lead vocals on the Left Banke's single "Ivy, Ivy" through a friendship with that band's Michael Brown.
The Road to Travel shows that his well of inspiration had not yet run dry. With help from a conglomeration of friends and studio professionals, Sommer proved he was facile in a variety of styles -- orchestral pop, acoustic folk, and some of the most sensitive singer/songwriter material heard before the style had fully flowered (with apologies to Tim Buckley). All of this was delivered in Sommer's plaintive voice, although he was more convincing when he really let go than when he tried to rein it in. Anachronistically, he began the LP with the words "And when it's over" (the title of the opener), moving quickly on the song from eerie Baroque pop to bombastic, brass-led art rock.
That was a mere taste of what was to come, encompassing the hippie-dippie end of folk on "Jennifer" (the song Sommer gained raves for at Woodstock), straightforward sunshine pop for "Things Are Goin' My Way," and a curiously aggressive falsetto take on art rock for "Tonight Together." Sommer's power as a songwriter and performer was clear, but he was incredibly difficult to pin down. That may be what doomed The Road to Travel, but it has an undeniable flair.
by John Bush
Tracks
1. And When It's Over - 3:13
2. Jennifer - 2:35
3. Things Are Coin' My Way - 2:29
4. She's Just A Girl - 3:44
5. Tonight Together - 2:28
6. The Road To Travel - 3:55
7. She's Gone - 3:01
8. Hold The Light - 2:53
9. A Simple Man - 2:45
10.Brink Of Death - 3:20
11.A Note That Read - 3:27
All selections written by Bert Sommer
Musicians
*Hugh McCraken - Guitars
*Danny Cooch. - Guitars
*David Cohen - Guitars
*Sam Brown - Guitars
*Al Giorgoni - Guitars
*Bert Sommer - Guitars Vocals
*Joe Mack - Bass
*Renie Press - Bass
*Al Rogers - Drums
*Ron Frangipane - Piano
*Paul Griffin - Piano
*Artie Kaplan - Flute
*Specs Powell - Vibes
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A bit cheesy this one, don't you think?
ReplyDeleteBut hey, it's only my opinion, some might enjoy in this one.
Thx
Marios, you're such a wonderful guy.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the Bert Sommer.
Hugs,
June
Muchas Gracias, Marios
ReplyDeleteThanks
Cheese has its place in a well-balanced musical meal! ;-) Thank you, Marios.
ReplyDeleteno lo conocía, muchas gracias, a disfrutarlo. saludos
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot!
ReplyDeleteThanks for still keeping this available....excellent stuff...shame he died so young but.....his spirit still lives on and so does your blogspot....cheers
ReplyDeletea great great record.
ReplyDelete@ Marios, you can perform a re-up of this splendor? Thanks in advance!
ReplyDeleteOn my behalf its his best album, though i can't really find any "psychedelic" relation. the cd version is very hard to find and expensive.
ReplyDeleteEnormous album for what I can hear from Youtube. This link is kinda dead. Glup.
ReplyDeleteHectorvadair, links are Ok, just checked!
ReplyDelete