Illinois Speed Press (the) - s/t

Name: The Illinois Speed Press
Album: s/t
Year: 1969
Style: Blues, Southern Pub Rock
Similar Bands: Hendrix, Chicago, Lynard Skynyrd, Buffalo Springfield, Allman Brothers
"One-Word" Review: Country R&B Rock
Based Out Of: Chicago, IL
Label: Columbia, CBS

Cover & Back, Sleeve, Record

Gatefold, Sleeve, Record

Illinois Speed Press (1969)

1. Overture 3:29
2. Get In The Wind 2:57 (single)
3. Hard Luck Story 4:46
4. Here Today 3:18
5. Pay the Price 5:18 /
6. P.N.S. (When You Come Around) 7:54
7. Be A Woman 4:57
8. Sky Song 2:25
9. Beauty 5:19
10. Free Ride 4:37

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Paul Cotton (Norman) - Guitar, Vox (The Capitols, The Mus-Twangs, The Starfires, Carol Vega Trio, The Gentrys, The Rovin' Kind, Poco, Peter White, Gunhill Road, Ten City, Hannibal, Richie Furay)
• Kal David (David Raskin) -  Guitar, Vox (The Exceptions, The Rovin' Kind, The Fabulous Rhinestones, HP Lovecraft, The Stupid Guys, Merryweather & Carey, Rhythm Heritage, Kat McCord, Robbie Dupree, Leslie Smith, Jennifer Warnes, Julie Brown, Smokey Robinson, Darlene Love, Dirk Hamilton, Vonda Shepard, Rod Piazza & Mighty Flyers, Janis Ian, Bobby Martin, Bonnie Raitt, Tony Wilson, Robert Lee, Thelma Camacho, Ringo Starr, Johnny Rivers, John Mayall, BB King, Pete Levin)
• Mike Anthony - Keys, Vox (The Gentrys, The Rovin' Kind)
• Fred Page (Pappalardo) - Drums (The Gentrys, The Rovin' Kind)
• Rob Lewine - Bass (Song)
• Jerry Hochman - Engineer
• Dave Dillar - Engineer
• Roy Halee - Engineer
• Glen Kolotkin - Engineer
• James William Guercio - Producer (Chicago, Buckinghams, Blood, Sweat & Tears)
• Craig Butler - Design
• Dave McMacken - Design
• Patti Mitsui - Design
• Dave Swaney - Writer
• Mark Gottlieb - Photos
• Frank Bex - Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them. Cover and front and back photo look like any CSNY or Loggins and Messina record, so i am supposing it will be southern-bluesy rock. The gatefold newspaper liner notes & stories is a fun artistic choice, centered around their printing press name suggestion.

Album Review: Although the album begins with a collage of tracks layered over each other, sounding like a bit of chaos, the album is a soulful slice of country-blues rock. Singer Paul Cotton went on to replace Messina in Poco, and the band was instrumental in the formation of Lynyrd Skynyrd. They were originally from Chicago, and along with The Flock, Aorta & Chicago, were touted as the "Chicago Sound" by Columbia Records, even through they had moved to LA. "Beauty" carries more Psych & California pop in it than the other tracks on the record.

Stand Out Track: P.N.S. (When You Come Around), Beauty

Links:
Youtube full album
wiki
Discogs
allmusic
angelfire paul cotton archive
rate your music
steve hoffman music forum
rock tour database
wiki commons
second hand songs