Unicorn - Blue Pine Trees (Harvest-EMI, 1974, UK)

Unicorn was an English folk/country rock band formed in 1963 by a bunch of scholars in their teens as an amateur project. Later, they dropped out school and started to take their hobby into a more professional basis, practicing almost every day and playing regular gigs. They were heavily influenced by the ”Laurel Canyon Sound”, specially by the countrified outfit of The Byrds and the superb vocal harmonies of CSN & Y.

It took almost eight years until they released their first record. Second one, featured on this new entry, was released eleven years later. And it’s certainly a landmark, a very appealing and gentle LP:  West Coast rock made in UK. What is found inside is not psychedelia or even progressive –as the precious art cover could suggest- but a delicious collection of melodic soft rock tunes produced by no other than David Gilmour. It resembles a lost Byrd’s circa “Ballad of Easy Rider” session, featuring Clarence White!

Instrumentation includes delicious jangly 12 string Rickenbacker; superb male vocal harmonies –I’m already satisfied-; cool chicken pickin’ licks; acoustic guitars and mandolin; delightful piano accompaniments; ultimate ‘70s drumming; groovy bass lines; even a xylophone in “Rat Race” and astonishing pedal steel guitar effects trademark of maestro Gilmour.  

Almost every track is worth checking. There’s a lot going on musically speaking and contains a beautiful assortment of diversity. You can find joyful jingle jangle in “Electric Night” and “Sleep Song”; laid-back mystery intoxications in “Winter Wine”; countrified ballad sensibility in “Just Wanna Hold You” and “The Farmer”; country-funk blasts in “In the Gym”; dusty rockin’ excursions in “Holand”; delicate soulful acoustic folk in “Ooh! Mother”.  And I leave the best for the last: the self-titled cut. Exquisite.

Just play it while gambling with a Tarantula Juice in hand. A grower, definetly. 

Tracks

A1. Electric Night (Baker)

A2. Sleep Song (Baker)

A3. Autumn Wine (Smith, St. John, Waters)

A4. Rat Race (Smith, St. John, Waters)

A5. Just Wanna Hold You

B1. Holland (Baker)

B2. Nightingale Crescent (Baker)

B3. The Farmer (Baker)

B4. In the Gym (Baker)

B5. Blue Pine Trees (Baker)

B6. Ooh! Mother (Baker)

Personnel

Kevin Smith: Lead Guitar, Mandolin

Pete Perrier: Drums, Lead Vocals

Pat Martin: Bass, Vocals

Kenny Baker: Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
David Gilmour: Pedal Steel Guitar

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The Dean Davis Company - IInd time Around (ETC Enterprises, USA, 196?)

The Dean Davis Company was an obscure folk-rock group from Colorado, active during the golden era of late sixties/early seventies. Whose brainchild was singer-rhythm guitarist Dean Davis, producing three private pressed records under his name (one as Dean Davies, two as Dean Davis Company) and one other as Winterwood on the odd ETC Enterprises label.

On today’s post we will cover his second LP. A little search in the net has shown me that exist two different covers: the one I own, showing a black and white photo of the four members giving a concert for a peculiar audience of four child mounted on their tricycles (beautiful and peaceful, isn’t it?). The other, consisting on five lines, repeating the disc name each time a row in a black and white descending color scale.

The album has a very nice rural folk period flavor, certainly XIAN, providing an enjoyable listening experience, mostly because of the use of acoustic instrumentation (12 string acoustic guitar!), minimalistic electric guitar arrangements, byrdish suave drumming and beautiful and subtle male/female harmony vocals.  

Songs are mostly covers of seminal folk artists like Phil Ochs, Arlo Guthrie and Buffy St. Marie, imprinting their own identity with the creation of very beautiful atmospheres and passages. There’s also time for two originals: “What the World Needs Now” and “Suzzanne”. The first one consisting a introductory narrative speech and a second part song. But it’s on the terrific “Suzzanne” where the band suns through the clouds. “Old Blue” is also stunning with their combination of musiqued speech and chorus response, so real!

More information about this amazing artisan band will be warmly welcomed! Drop me a line.

Tracks

A1. Highway in the wind (Arlo Guthrie)

A2. Crucifixion (Phil Ochs)

A3. What the World Needs Now

A4. Saint of CSU (Saint of San Walkeen) (John Stewart)

B1. Lazy Morning (Chet Hanson)

B2. Suzzanne

B3. Old Blue (traditional)

B4. Until It's Time for Me to Go (Buffy St. Marie)

Personnel

Lead Guitar: Dave Bigalow

Rhythm Guitar: Dean Davis

Vocals: Paula Streiff, Rich Curran, Dean Davis

Bass: Ed Bigby

Drums: Vince Haffey

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The Forerunners – Prepare the way for Jesus (Strawberry Creek Productions, 1972)

The Forerunners were a XIAN folk group formed in the late sixties. Clearly established in the vein of emerging Jesus music that popped up on that époque, this one is a very comfortable and warm listen. 

Flavored mainly with acoustic arrangements and male/female harmony vocals, the themes of this private pressed record verge upon the praise of lord. Some tracks feature some string section, producing grandeur sensations (“Prepare the way”) or even nostalgic impressions (“Where can I go”). There’s also some funky feel in “Somebody loves you” and some cheesy camp fire country in “Wood, stubble and hay”. But definitely, the most psychedelic cuts are the moody “Clouds without water” and the amazing “Thank god for” with the exquisite multi-layered vocals.

Hope you enjoy it and more light upon this great group is welcome!   

Tracks

A1. Prepare The Way (J. Bowers)

A2. Early Misty Morning (J. Gilbert)

A3. Nothing Like a Conversation (J. Gilbert, J. Bowers)

A4. God Who Is There (M. Denman)

A5. Lord (M. O. Martian)

A6. Wood, Stubble and Hay (J. Bowers)

B1. Somebody Loves You (D. Lee)

B2. Oh Heaven (J. Thompson)

B3. Clouds Without Water (P. and J. Gilbert)

B4. We’ve So Much To Thank God For (D. Reuter)

B5. Where Can I Go? (Psalm 139) (J. Bowers)

B6. Prepare the Way Reprise (J. Bowers)

Personnel

All voices and instruments performed by the Forerunners with the exception of the string accompaniment, which were written and conducted by Ted Nichols. 

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