I'd never even heard of Don Shinn until about 5 years ago. I then proceeded to add him to a (rather large) list to sample at some point in the future. And, as is usually the case, forgot all about him. Until I read earlier this year that Sunbeam intended to reissue both of his albums (the other I have yet to hear). Perhaps Shinn would have been forever lost to obscurity were it not for a one Keith Emerson praising his work, and stating that Shinn was a major influence on his style. In hearing Temples with Prophets, it becomes apparent that Shinn probably wasn't trying for a progressive rock album at all - it just worked out that way. His background was not only in jazz, but also R&B, and so he wasn't unfamiliar with 60's beat pop music, being a member of The Soul Agents. It could be argued that he was simply following in the footsteps of other creative organists of his era, and ended up with an album that is just as much The Nice as it is something perhaps an early Krautrock band would come up with. The album features 7 excellent instrumental keyboard driven tracks with guitar, bass, and drums accompaniment. It's not a radical album by any means, and yet it is a pioneering work. Well worth owning.
Ownership: CD: 2020 Sunbeam. Digipak. Excellent reissue with extensive liner notes, photos, memorabilia, and 2 bonus tracks taken from a 45.
5/26/20 (new entry)
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