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

Get it here