Here we go again with another Ashratom Midwest progressive rock classic. As stated in a couple of other places, I consider Ontario as part of this scene, as there are many similarities across economic and cultural lines. And once again we are at the crossing path of unabashed FM radio hits and off-the-hinges radical complex progressive rock.
This one front loads all the bad tracks, so that your typical downloader will have already given up on it before the main course is offered (serves them right anyway). In fact, the first 10 minutes are pretty dreadful to be honest. It opens strong enough with a hard rockin' cover of Spooky Tooth's 'Two Time Love' from The Mirror' album. This is followed by a funky version of The Beatles great composition 'Taxman'. Downright blasphemous if you ask me. And finally we get the awful 'It's Not All Mine', a hideous ballad that represents everything that was wrong with FM radio in 1976. Well... isn't this exciting? I'm thinking sell bin at this point.
Enter nine and a half minute 'Munchkin Men' which introduces us to 35 minutes of great music. It's a completely different album. This track is the highlight and demonstrates to us the band is willing to pull out all the stops, recalling every great Midwestern album from Albatross to Yezda Urfa. Fat Hammond organ solos, shredding guitar, emotional vocals, wild flute, acoustic guitar, a thousand meter changes. It's a heart stopper to be sure. The next 4 tracks continue in this manner, three of which pass the 6 minute mark, and are all clinics in mixing the commercially accessible with an academic approach - and mixed with serious chops. It's what all of us underground heads, if we are entirely honest, wished Journey, Styx or REO Speedwagon to have done in the late 70s. And look, you can forget all the words above and just know this one kicks ass.
LP: 1976 Daffodil
CD: 2001 Unidisc
The LP comes in a fine gatefold. The CD is a straight reissue, no chaser. Even though RYM shows a "colored in" version of this album as its primary, the original only exists in primarily silver and black. The CD was where the colors first appeared (and what is shown here)
what is a vinyl copy of this LP worth?
ReplyDeleteFound one in pretty good shape, cover a bit ratty, slight crackle between songs but none during music. Very listenable!!
pwiens1@gmail.com
Mintish copies sell for around $40, so my guess based on what you've told me about your copy (VG?) would put it in the $15-$20 range. It's not a terribly rare album, and copies show up on ebay frequently. But it's hardly a common album either. Great music!
ReplyDelete