rep>>> Green - To Help Somebody (1971 us, pleasant rural, classic rock, 2011 reissue)

One of the most unjustly-neglected bands of their time, Green got together at North Texas State University in the late '60s, and released a stunning psych-pop debut in 1969. Their largely-overlooked second LP first appeared in September 1971. In the interim between albums, multi instrumentalist James Neel had been replaced by pianist / trumpeter Jay Pruit.

"To Help Somebody" was self produced, and recorded at 2545 North Fitzhugh, Dalla Texas. It's still largely unknown, perhaps because it doesn't sound much like its predecessor, a punchy pop rock record, tightly performed and well recorded.

A classy combination of rock and roll and ballads, with acid-tinged guitar and tasteful horns, it comes across as an idiosyncratic amalgam of The Beatles, The Zombies and Buffalo Springfield, making it a must-have for fans of classic '60s psychedelia and early 1970s rural rock. 

Tracks

1. All My Bells - 3:24

2. To Help Somebody - 1:53

3. She Dont' Love Me - 2:58

4. Mary Magdalena - 2:04

5. Can You See Me (Wilson Fisher) - 2:52

6. Teenage Woman (Gary Casebeer) - 2:34

7. Lady, Oh Lady - 1:49

8. Big Dipper (John Martin, Wilson Fisher) - 3:48

9. High Time (Jay Pruitt, John Martin) - 3:02

10.Suzy - 2:49

11.Funny Faces - 3:11

12.San Fernando Valley Girls - 3:11

13.Forest Lawn - 1:35

All compositions by John Martin except where indicated

Green

*Gary Casebeer  - Drums, Vocals

*Richard Gardzina - Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Clarinet, Trumpet, Piano, Accordion

*Wilson Fisher - 8 String Bass, 12 String Guitar, Vocals

*John Martin - Guitar, Piano, Clavinet, Vocals

*Jay Pruitt - Piano, Trumpet

With

*Kathy Kelsey Pruitt - Cello (Tracks 5,7)

*Chuck Mandernach - Trombone (Track 11)

1969  Green - Green  

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rep>>> Green - Green (1969 us, great texas psych rock, 2007 edition)

Like many bona fide lost classics, Green is still largely shrouded in mystery. It sold badly on its original release (in the spring of 1969, on Atlantic subsidiary Atco), and still hasn't received its due as one of the most imaginative psych-pop albums of the period.

Certain members were from Denton, Texas, while Richard Gardzina (now a distinguished saxophonist and flautist) hailed from Manchester, New Hampshire. The group are thought to have coalesced at North Texas State University, and recorded four songs as demos in a local studio, an acetate of which has recently surfaced (included here as bonus material). It shows them to have been a superbly tight unit well before they got to cut an album.

Their eventual debut, produced by veteran songwriter and composer Fred Darian, reflects little of the crazed psychedelia of fellow Texan musical travellers like the 13th Floor Elevators and the Golden Dawn. If anything, it's more Englishinfluenced, a taut collection of acid pop tunes set to distorted guitar and taut horn arrangements that complement, rather than swamp, the material.

Though four separate band members are credited with contributing brass to the record, selfindulgence is entirely avoided in favour of complex arrangements that consistently take unexpected turns. This means that, like many other neglected gems, the album reveals itself best on repeated listening. The songs veer from the mellow ballads Sunrise #7 and Footprints In The Snow to the hard psychedelic Green and Eastern-tinged Where Have I Been?', and - though most feature an impressive range of instruments - they are never cluttered.

Ultimately, however, the band's very breadth of talent may have damaged their chances of commercial success, for the album sank without trace. Its follow-up, 1971's To Help Somebody (also on Atco) was less focused (though still impressive in parts) and didn't sell either, prompting the band to fall apart. It is to be hoped that this first CD reissue will help to shed more light on the story behind this widely-admired LP.

Tracks
1. To Be (John Martin) - 2:52
2. Where Have I Been? (John Martin) - 3:10
3. Sunrise # 7 (Wilson Fisher) - 3:37
4. Just Try (John Martin) - 2:13
5. Sparkle (John Martin) - 2:20
6. Green (Wilson Fisher, Gary Casebeer, Bobby Blood, Richard Gardzina, John Martin) - 3:24
7. Footprints In The Snow (John Martin) - 2:23
8. At The Time (John Martin) - 2:15
9. RCMPB (Wilson Fisher) - 3:06
10.Don't (John Martin) - 2:11
11.Have You Ever? (John Martin, Richard Gardzina) - 3:05
12.Where Have I Been? (John Martin) - 3:25
13.Have You Ever? (John Martin, Richard Gardzina) - 3:19
14.At The Time (John Martin) - 2:22
15.Sunrise # 7 (Wilson Fisher) - 3:28
Bonus Tracks  12-15

Green
*Gary Casebeer  - Percussion, Keyboards, Brass, Vocals
*Richard Gardzina - Reeds, Keyboards, Vocals, Brass
*Wilson Fisher - Strings, Vocals, Harmonica
*John Martin - Strings, Keyboards, Vocals
*James Neel - Brass, Keyboards, Vocals, Reeds
*Bobby Blood - Brass

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