domingo, 5 de julho de 2009

Lovercraft - 1970 - Valley of the Moon (H.P. Lovecraft / Bangor Flying Circus / Madura)



Following H.P. Lovecraft's collapse the band members scattered. Singer George Edwards stayed in California trying to form a new band, before giving up and returning to Chicago where he did some production work, including recording some material with friend Terry Callier. Drummer Michael Tegza also returned to Chicago where he joined The Bangor Flying Circus.

The band signed with ABC's Dunhill subsidiary, recording an album, before calling it quits.
In 1969 Edwards and Tegza decided to resurrect the band. As the lone carryovers from the original lineup, they started recruiting musicians, eventually rounded out their lineup with former Aorta bass player Michael Been and lead guitarist Jim Donlinger.

The foursome returned to California, settled into a big communal home, subsequently recruiting ex-Buckinghams keyboard player Marty Grebb and started rehearsing. Having shortened their name to 'Lovecraft', the band were signed by Reprise. Naturally another personnel disaster struck; founding member Edwards dropping out of the project. In spite of his departure the group continued on, recording 1969's self-produced, "Valley of the Moon" as a quartet.

Musically the set proved a major disappointment on the heels of earlier efforts. With Donlinger and Been contributing the majority of material (Grebb kicking in three tracks), material such as 'Never Gonna Go Back', 'Two Step Tussle', 'Hopefully We'll All Remain Together' and 'Dear' found what was essentially a totally new band somehow managing to replicate some of H.P. Lovecraft's trademarked vocals harmonies, but losing much of the band's unique sound in favor of a commercial mixture of guitar rock.

Certainly not as distinctive as earlier efforts, the collection was still worth a listen though it did little commercially. Reprise lifted one instantly obscure single from the LP.
- 1971's "We Can Have It Altogether' b/w 'Will I Know When My Time Comes' (Reprise catalog number 0996)

"Valley of the Moon" track listing:

(side 1) 1.) We Can All Have It Together (Jim Donlinger - Michael Been) - 3:55 2.) Brother I Wonder (Jim Donlinger - Michael Been) - 2:22 3.) Love Has Come To Me (Marty Grebb) - 3:11 4.) Will I Know When My Time Comes (Jim Donlinger - Michael Been - Donlinger) - 3:00 5.) Two Stop Tussle (Marty Grebb) - 3:34

(side 2) 1.) Take Me By the Hand (Jim Donlinger - Michael Been) - 3:10 2.) Lady Come Softly (Jim Donlinger - Michael Been - Donlinger) - 2:36 3.) The Dawn (Marty Grebb - Ken Wolfson) - 4:56 4.) Never Gonna Go Back (Jim Donlinger - Michael Been - Michael Tegza) - 3:42 5.) Dear (Jim Donlinger - Michael Been) - 3:11 6.) Hopefully We'll Remain Together (Jim Donlinger - Michael Been) - 4:20

The band hit the road opening for various name acts and within a couple of months the comeback project was over.

- Been formed The Call and also recorded a 1994 solo LP "On the Verge of a Nervous Breakthough" (Qwest catalog number 45557-2).

- Dolinger went on to a solo career and wrote a book about his rock experiences Space Traveller

- a Musician’s Odyssey. - Grebb reappeared as a member of The Fabulous Rhinestones and then became a member of Bonnie Raitt's touring band.
- Tegza briefly resumed his collaboration with Edwards in the Chicago band Elixir, opening for various national groups playing Chicago (rateyourmusic.com)

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Anônimo disse...

thanks for music,
please reup
DAVID WAGNER - d/b/a