Appaloosa - Appaloosa LP 1969

CBS CS 9819

US 1969

levy Ex/Ex-

kannet VG+ ring wearia

netistä:

This album is a lost baroque pop masterpiece. It's up there with the Zombies and Left Banke. This will eventually be discovered by Light In the Attic or some other reissue label and original pressings will shoot up in value. Don't sleep on this one.

Opening track Tulu Rogers is a Bach-laced pastoral New England countryside folk piece with just the group playing guitar, violin, cello, and bass at its purest and progressive essence of Appaloosa. On the flipside Pascal's Paradox is much the same.Yesterday's Road has Reiser's bass soaring and Kooper "uncontrollably tinkling" (his words) on el piano, which gives a delightful flavour to this nostalgic track, where Rosov's cello gives it some solemnity. 

Progheads will be more interested with Thoughts Of Polly, a folk rock track with its touches of both classical and jazz; concluding in a dizzy jazz-coda courtesy of Blood, Sweat &Tears' Fred Lipsius and his distinctive sax, sounding absolutely delightful, daring and progressive. At close to 6 minutes, this is the album's highlight. On the flipside, Georgia Street is set up a bit like the Polly track with similar arrangements and unusual shifting rhythms.

The Charlie Calello-arranged Bi-Weekly was recorded in the upper studio to fit the full orchestra (with horns as well); it was thought to be the hit-single, especially with the distinctive Al Kooper organ ending. Oddly enough, this track will also find its flipside equivalent, Now That I Want You, albeit this time with a full rock band backing it up, with BS&T's Bobby Colomby drumming up a storm. Glossolalia, a Donovan-esque folk song is bassist's Reiser's moment of glory, as his jazz-tinged bass playing, while Rivers Run To The Sea has drummer Colomby and Kooper on electric guitar as added musicians is nearing pure folk rock ala Fairport Convention. The closing Rosalie was originally performed for years as a folk song and Kooper folk-rocked it up with piano and electric guitar again nearing Fairport but being country-esque as well.