Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Stoneground - Family Album (1971)
Originally released as a 2 LP set in 1971, this has never had a major label reissue on CD. I purchased this through the artist's website so it is authorized, and not a bootleg. Three of the LP sides were devoted to a live set that was broadcast on San Francisco's KSAN radio, performed at Pacific High Recording Studios in front of an audience of about 200 people. The last LP side was new studio material. I don't know if the master tapes have been lost or what, but this is vinyl-sourced, some light surface noise can be heard during quiet passages. But, so what? The music is awesome and if this is the only way we can hear it, so be it. The music is great West Coast hippie rock, not psychedelic and not boogie, but a kind of rhythm and blues infused with soul and elements of gospel! Star of the show and apparent leader of the band is ex-Beau Brummels guitarist and singer Sal Valentino, possibly one of the most under-rated guitar players of the 70's. Four outstanding female vocalists are on hand, I think there's seven singers on the album altogether. The live set starts with a rollicking version of Johnny Cash's Get Rhythm and the passion and excitement doesn't let up for over 60 minutes. The duet with Sal Valentino on guitar and Annie Sampson on vocals, "Precious Lord", is nothing less that awesome.

Disc One - Live
1. Get Rhythm
2. Passion Flower
3. Corina
4. Big River
5. Won't Be Long
6. Super Clown
7. Richland Woman
8. Queen Sweet Dreams
9. Precious Lord
10. It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To Cry
11. I Can't Help It
12. No Doreen
13. It's Not Easy
14. If You Gotta Go
15. Total Destruction To Your Mind

Disc Two - Studio
16. You Must Be One Of Us
17. All My Life
18. Where Will I Find Love
19. Gonna Have A Good Time
20. Jam It

Sal Valentino - Guitar, Vocals, Percussion
Tim Barnes - Guitar, Vocals
Cory Lerios - Keyboards
Stephen Price - Drums
Brian Godula - Bass
John Blakely - Guitar, Bass
Lynne Hughes - Vocals
Dierdre LaPorte - Vocals
Annie Sampson - Vocals
Lydia Morero - Vocals

EAC-FLAC-LOG-CUE-SCANS 474MB

Part 1__Part 2__Part 3

Happy New Year!

11 Comments:

Blogger flyra said...

for some reason i have always liked to discover obscure bands - this one is great!

thanks and i wish a happy new year for you and your family

th.da. - greece

4:06 AM, December 31, 2009  
Blogger space88 said...

Fine FINE!Thanks for this Gem and a Happy New Year!!

4:07 AM, December 31, 2009  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Fuck my ass 8 days in 2010!!!

12:11 PM, December 31, 2009  
Blogger GarColga said...

Hello flyra and andre88 - you're welcome & Happy New Year!

Hello anon @12:11 - I'll pass dude thanks anyway.

12:54 PM, December 31, 2009  
Blogger Hank Helpless said...

Awsome !! (i think)
Thanks & happy new year

5:51 PM, January 01, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

Happy New Year Hank!

6:02 PM, January 01, 2010  
Blogger PRICE RIGGER FORD said...

This blog is classic!! Visit mine for rare vinyl rips:

http://dopecastle.blogspot.com/

1:20 PM, January 09, 2010  
Blogger A.O.O.F.C said...

Cheers Gar. Great album, and up to your usual exemplary standard. You're a legend, and thanks X 1000,000!!

2:10 PM, February 07, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

Greetings A.O.O.F.C (how do you pronounce that?) anyway nice to hear from you!

2:19 PM, February 07, 2010  
Anonymous dom said...

Here's a clip of Stoneground ( or "The Stoneground" as one character calls them ) in the film "Dracula AD 1972"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_4hxMkuKg8

10:23 AM, April 19, 2010  
Blogger GarColga said...

dom, awesome clip, thanks!

12:45 PM, April 19, 2010  

Post a Comment

<< Home