Sunshine Company (the) - s/t

 Name: The Sunshine Company
Album: S/T
Year: 1968
Style: Oldies, Pop, Psych
Similar Bands: Essex Green, Camera Obscura, Easybeats, Monkees, Bee Gees, Belle & Sebastian, Harpers Bizzare, Mamas & Papas, Association
"One-Word" Review: Hippy Loungey Pop
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: Imperial Records, Liberty Records

Cover, Sleeve Advert, Record

Back, Sleeve Advert, Record

The Sunshine Company (1968)

1. Look Here Comes the Sun 2:53 (John and Terence Boylan) (Single)
2. Reflections on an Angel 2:38  (single b-side)
3. Love, That's Where It Is 2:09 (T.Kaye, B. Schwartz, J.Fine)
4. Sunday Brought the Rain 2:41 (Gregg Allman)
5. I Can't Help But Wonder 2:11(Tony Michaels, Vinny Gormann)
6. I, To We, and Back Again 3:33 /
7. It's Sunday 2:15 (single) (Les Baxter)
8. You Don't Know Her Like I Do 3:10 (Steve Gillette)
9. Your Heart is Free, Just Like the Wind 2:27 (Chevallier-Thomas-Rivat-Shakespeare)
10. If You Only Knew 2:50 (Curt Boettcher)
11. Darcy Farrow 2:35 (Ian & Sylvia, Steve Gillette) (b-side single)
12. Without Really Thinking 3:36

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Joe Saraceno - Producer
• George Tipton - Arrangements
• Maury Mandeau - Arrangements (John Bettis, Malina Reynolds, Steve Gillette, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sevrin Browne, Mary Catharine Lunsford, Steve Martin Brothers)
• Larry Sims - Arrangements
• Lanky Linstrot - Engineer
• Woody Woodward - Art Direction
• John L. Eastman - Illustration
• Linda Graham - Poem
• William E McEuen - Mgmt (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
• Mary Nance - Vox
• Larry Sims - Bass (Loggins & Messina, Feather, Chris Hillman)
• Merel Bregante - Drums (Loggins & Messina, Feather, The Dirt Band, Chris Wall, Don McCalister, Eric Hanke, Sarah Pierce, Severin Browne, Chris Hillman, Steve martin, Gertrude Bradley,  Robert Jetton, Michael Brewer, Rich Rodgers, Cliff Sarde, John McEuen, Austin Lounge Lizards, Volunteer Fire Ants, Dale Watson, Jeff Hughes, James Durst, Bret Graham, Paul Cotton, Mandolin Bros, Regan Brown, Kelly & Ellis, Mike & Pam Martin)
• Douglas Mark - Guitar (Redeye)
• Dave Hodgkins - Guitar (Grains of Sand, Redeye)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but they look like your typical late 60's hippy, happy, shiny love band, so i'm guessing this will be upbeat bubblegum pop...maybe a little psych, too?

Album Review: So the album doesn't deviate much from it's cover image and genre. It will sometimes fall backwards on the ultra light bachelors vocal bands or loungey elements. Their name alone puts them solidly in the niche genre built around similar sounding bands, "sunshine pop." Their name was actually taken from the brand of snacks/crackers that shares the same name, and only materialized once they had a nationally charting single (Happy). They only lasted about 2 years recording 3 and a half albums, perhaps because the label greatly forced their creative hand in a different direction than what the band wanted. 

Stand Out Track: I Can't Help But Wonder, Love, That's Where it Is

Links:

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all but forgotten oldies

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Harpers Bizarre - The Secret Life Of Harpers Bizarre

Name: Harpers Bizarre
Album: The Secret Life Of Harpers Bizarre
Year: 1968
Style: Oldies, Psych, Vocal Group, Sunshine / Baroque Pop
Similar Bands: Association, Kingston Trio, Happenings, Sand Pipers, We Five
"One-Word" Review: Super Light Cheery Pop
Based Out Of: Santa Cruz, CA
Label: Pye Record Sales, Warner Bros.

 Cover, Sleeve, Record

Back, Sleeve, Record

The Secret Life Of Harpers Bizarre (1968)

1. Look to the Window 0:14
2. Battle of New Orleans 2:34 (cover, Single)
3. When I Was A Cowboy 2:35
4. Interlude 0:20
5. Sentimental Journey 2:25 (cover)
6. Las Mananitas 1:30 (cover)
7. Medley: Bye, Bye, Bye / Vine Street 4:00 (Vine = Randy Newman cover)
8. Me, Japanese Boy (I Love You) 3:04 (Bacharach cover)
9. Interlude 0:20 /
10. I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise 3:12 G/I Gershwin cover)
11. Green Apple Tree 2:28 (single b-side)
12. Sit Down. You're Rocking the Boat 1:43 (Guys & Dolls cover)
13. Interlude 0:21
14. I Love You, Mama 2:10
15. Funny How Love Can Be 2:35
16. Mad 2:42
17. Look At the Rainbow 0:31(from the film Finian's Rainbow
18. The Drifter 3:03
19. Reprise 0:55

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Nick De Caro - Arrangement
• Perry Botkin Jr - Arrangement
• Kirby Johnson - Arrangement
• Bob Thompson  - Arrangement
• Eddie Karam - Arrangement
• Ron Elliot - Arrangement, Assisting Producer (Giants, Pan, Beau Brummels, Vejtables)
• Randy Newman - Assisting Producer (Peace Choir)
• Ted Templeman - Assisting Producer, Vocal Arrangements, Lead Vox, Guitar (Tikis, Nicolette Larson, Doobie Brothers, Van Morrison, Michael McDonals, Sammy Hagar, Eric Clapton, many)
• Dick Scoppettone - Assisting Producer, Vocal Arrangements, Guitar, Vox (Tikis, Beau Brummels)
• Mike Shields - Assisting Producer
• Joe Sidore - Assisting Producer
• Lenny Waronker - Producer
• Lee Herschberg - Engineer
• Gloria Jones - Gospel Choir (Aquarian Dream, T. Rex [married to Marc Bolan], Brothers & Sisters, Cogics)
• Carolyn Willis - Gospel Choir (Honey Cone, Brothers & Sisters, Girlfriends, Space Angels, Sweethearts, more)
• Sherlie Matthews - Gospel Choir ("His", Blackberries, Nightingales, Paul Johnson Voices, The Belles, Brothers & Sisters)
• Dick Yount - Bass, Vocals (Tikis)
• John Peterson - Drums, Vox (Beau Brummels, Tikis)
• Ed Thrasher - Art Direction
• Bob Zoell - Cover Illustration

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. I remember picking this up off the wall of an Oxfam over in the UK on honeymoon, not knowing what it was, but hoping it was some Psychedelic British 60's band I was about to discover.

Album Review: Well, this is a UK pressing of the record, but the band is american, from Santa Cruz. Similar to The Happenings, they repackaged older songs and gave them their own personal touch to their covers. But unlike Happenings, this album is lighter and feels about 10 years older than Psycle, like an archaic Baroque pop vocal style. Their biggest it was covering Simon & Garfunkel's 59th Street Bridge Song a year before this album in 1967. There is a certain Pet Shop Boys quality to the "ahhh" chant in the chorus of "Mad" as well as a Belle & Sebastian vibe to the trumpet melody.

Stand Out Track: Mad

Links:
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discogs
allmusic
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today's life
and and and

Don Bowman - Funny Folk Flops

Name: Don Bowman
Album: Funny Folk Flops
Year:1968
Style: Parody, Comedy, Folk
Similar Bands: Frank De Lima, Weird Al, Ray Stevens
"One-Word" Review: tea-bagger-get-off-my-lawn-anti-hippie-unfunny-jokester
Based Out Of: Lubbock TX
Label: RCA Victor 

Cover & Record

Back & Record

Funny Folk Flops (1968)

1. Green Sleeves 2:28
2. Crawdad Song 2:28
3. Under Tremendous Amount of Pressure 2:45
4. Worried Man 2:20
5. All My Trials 2:00
6. Dealyer's Stoned 2:35 /
7. The San Francisco Scene 2:16
8. In the Pine Trees 2:10
9. Messin' Up My Mind 2:50
10. House of the Setting Sun 2:05
11. Tom Dooley Baby 2:00
12. Streets of San Francisco 2:39

Album Rating (1-10): 2.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Don Bowman - Vox, Writing
• Chet Atkins - Procucer
• Felton Jarvis - Producer
• Al Pachucki - Recording Engineer
• Eddy Arnold - Liner Remarks

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this artist. But the cover, with him taking on different stereotypes and forms to produce "funky folk flops" with a "can you believe this?" look on his face, i'm guessing this is not someone who takes these styles or cultures seriously or respectfully, and this is probably a joke / insult album.

Album Review: This is a comic record, which mostly pokes fun at counter culture and flower children via an out of touch sense of humor which would ring true with older folks worryin' 'bout them hippies. Bowman passed away in 2013, but was a disc jockey, singer & songwriter, and comedian. His career genre was country as he was the original DJ for "American Country Countdown" from 73-78, and he apparently helped Waylon Jennings get a start. There is really no singing on the album, it is jut Don saying some rhyming phrases over country-folk music, with elderly lines like "can you believe that, and aw shucks chuckles at his own "unbelievable" realizations. From the loose parody of  House of the Rising Sun as the perspective of a nosey neighbor to a community house of folk singers and hippies, like a redneck tea-bagging trumper's version of Tom Wait's "What is He Doing in There?" to the outright hatred of hippies in the obnoxious "The San Francisco Scene" and "Streets of San Francisco" the album is just as terrible in its intolerance as well as the storytelling. Perhaps they assumed that hippies and their culture was a passing phase, that looking back at the scene would put this album ahead of it's time, alas, it's just grandpa yelling get offa my lawn. Or maybe the prejudice was part of the charm, and this album is trying to show folks how disrespectful people come off? I really doubt it.

Stand Out Track: The San Francisco Scene

Links:
Youtube album
Spotify album
Wiki
discogs
allmusic
IMDB
website
second hand songs

Cherry People - s/t

Artist: Cherry People

Album: s/t

Year: 1968

Style: Psychedelic Pop

Similar Bands: Byrds, Hullaballoo, Turtles, Archies, Association, Cowsills, Bee Gees, Monkees

One Word Review: Harmonized Style Array

Based Out Of: Washington, DC

Labels: MGM, Heritage

 

 Cherry People - Cover & Back, Record

 Cherry People - Center Fold-out, Record

Cherry People - Info

Cherry People (1968)

1. And Suddenly 2:06
2. Girl on the Subway 2:52
3. On To Something New 2:22
4. Imagination 1:54
5. My Hyde 2:39 /
6. Do Something to Me 2:13
7. Ask the Children 2:08
8. I'm the one Who Loves You 2:06
9. Don't Hang Me Up Girl 2:53
10. Light of Love 2:40

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:
Punky Meadows - Guitar (Bux, Angel, The English Settlers)
Chris Grimes - Guitars Vox (The English Settlers, Jimi Hendrix)
Rocky Isaac - Drums (Fallen Angels, Bux, Jimi Hendrix)
Dougy Grimes - Vox (The English Settlers)
Jan Zukowski - Bass (Nobody's Children, Nighthawks, Fabulous Hubcaps)
Ron Haffkine - Producer
Barry Oslander - Producer
Jerry Ross Productions
Jimmy Wisner - Arrangement
Joe Renzetti - Arrangement
Val Valentin - Director of Engineering
Neil Ceppos - Engineer
Bob Golden - Cover Photo
Stephan Paley - Liner and Inside Photo
Dick Smith - Art Direction

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band, but I like the weight, coloring, and psychedelic look of this boy band. Short songs, most likely bouncy, upbeat and catchy seem to be what they're going for, I'm guessing. No year on it, but I assume it is somewhere in the late 60's. Excited to see what this sounds like.

Album Review: The biggest thing that any of Cherry People did was be part of the backing band with Jimi Hendrix when he recorded five songs. This was the result of trying to get a meeting with Jerry Ross to be released from their contract in NYC after a west coast tour, and ending up blowing off steam at an open mic/jam night where Hendrix also showed up.

“And Suddenly” was their one and only hit single, which reached #44. It begins with a little Bee Gee’s sense, and perhaps a little R&B. Then after the family harmonies, it finds its groove with a light sing-song, cheerful melody. It feels a little Monkee’s-ish, too.

“Girl on the Subway” is instantly psychedelic pop. It is very thematic, with a complicated barrage of harmonized parts and layers. It is happy and polite and very non-threatening. The trumpet takes center stage when the song reaches the instrumental break.As the song winds down, the trumpet takes over, and steals all the attention, in a somewhat jarring way.

“On To Something New” was the b-side to “Light of Love.” It harkens back to a male vocal group of the 50’s or early 60’s, with swirling harps and strings and a lofty soaring harmony. This song was made to appeal to the parents of the teens they were trying to sell the record to.

“Imagination” was the B-Side to “And Suddenly.” It too is a quiet, delicate vocal band throwback to a style that was nearly extinct. It is still theatric with flutes and sound stage flourishes and swirls.

“Mr. Hyde” was the b-side to a single. It is a more updated sound for the era, a slightly psych harmony, with a very Cowsills collaboration as the chorus kicks in. It has a bit of a marching pace, spurred on by the drumbeat.

“Do Something to Me” starts off side two with an upbeat, dancey song. It has a little bluesy vocal style, with a simple clap-along-tempo. It feels a little like a Belle & Sebastian song, with a different vocal style. There is an urgency and hunger to the vocals that feels like real emotion. This is the real star on this album, and sounds like a completely different singer/band.

“Ask the Children” is a bouncy, fun child’s-dream-like song. Lots of bubble gum pop harmonies, and it builds well into the chorus, which is just a psychedelic-vocal breakdown, not really delivering on the build.

“I'm the one Who Loves You” was a single. It has a smooth sexy glide, a little bond-theme-like. The backing vocals actually sound a little disco, well before disco was a thing.

“Don't Hang Me Up Girl” starts out seeming like a light, older style, but the pace picks up a snappy little groove, and hangs on some call and response harmonies. The song has its feet planted in the two different styles, and does a pretty good job of making it work.

“Light of Love” was a single, tapping into organ psychedelica of the time. The song is a pretty basic example of pop at the time that Herman’s Hermits or ? and the Mysterians (and the like) were making.

"Stand-Out" Track: Do Something To Me

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Guardian- strange albums on spotify
FB
Allmusic
Rateyour music
badcat records

Leapy Lee - Little Arrows

Name: Leapy Lee
Album: Little Arrows
Year: 1968
Style: Pop Oldies, Novelty, Country, Lounge Vocals
Similar Acts: Monkees, Johnny Cash, Tom Jones
"One-Word" Review: Average Thrift Store Vocals
Based out Of: Eastbourne, England
Label: Decca, MCA

Little Arrows - Cover & Record

Little Arrows - Back & Record

Little Arrows(1968)

1. Little Arrows 2:42
2. So Afraid 3:11
3. Harper Valley PTA 3:15
4. I'll Be Your Baby Tonight 3:52
5. Where Has All the Love Gone 2:42
6. My Girl Maria 3:15/
7. If I Ever Get to Saginaw Again 2:30
8. Teresa 2:28
9. Little Green Apples 3:25
10. Roly 3:12
11. Senorita Jones 2:56

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5
Members & Other Bands:
Leapy Lee - Vox
Gordon Mills - Producer, Arrangements
John Timpearley - Engineer
Grace Waring - Cover Photo
Mike Vickers - Arrangements
Joe Moretti - Arrangements

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this artist. But just from the cover, he appears to be a non-flashy, down to earth singer. And from the bio on the back, he seems to have an awe-shucks, lucky to be anywhere, history and just enjoyed what he did. Musically, I'm guessing some cutesy, heartfelt songs; nothing too catchy or bombastic, but talented just as much.

Album Review: “Little Arrows” wah wah guitar begins the song, but the vocals are smooth and have a very folk, camp fire feel. It feels a little like a Monkees song. It is a fun, bouncy pop song. I am reminded of the song “Little Boxes”, because the word “little” is heavily used in both songs. It is a very upbeat, rolling, catchy song.
“So Afraid” is a bass / country heavy oldie. The vocals are deep and smooth, reminding me of a less-smoky Johnny Cash. But the vocals glide along the melody like a lounge singer. He does break from the low bassy voice for a few measures with heightened emotion.
“Harper Valley PTA” has a country twang and matching bass and lyrical story lines. The story is fun about a mother that was shunned, and she comes back proving every member of the PTA was worse than she.
“I'll Be Your Baby Tonight” is more of a lazy swaggering cowboy trail song, fit with harmonica and side to side swaying guitar rhythm. Storyline included, it sounds like the singer’s a little drunk as he’s singing the song to some girl he just met in a bar.
“Where Has All the Love Gone” has the rhythm of an island cha-cha. It also could be mistaken for a Jimmy Buffet song. It is like a They Might Be Giants song, where the topic is sad and solemn, but the music is upbeat and danceable, but it is definitely not a TMBG song.
“My Girl Maria” is a quiet and vocal heavy waltz. This is what I imagine every vocal record at thrift shops to sound like.

“If I Ever Get to Saginaw Again” is an upbeat, travelling ballad. It has the driving drum beat of a train. It features strings in the background and horns to finish each verse. It has many orchestral elements, but they are not overused or abused. They just accent the song.
“Teresa” is a very Tom Jones styled love song to an individual girl. It’s not slow or fast, just honest, and bold, possessing confidence as well as vulnerablility.
“Little Green Apples” begins with guitar and tinkling bells. It is a quiet song, where you assume the vocals are sung at a closer distance to the microphone than the other songs on the album. The tempo is nearly the same as “Teresa,” the song right before it.
“Roly” is a rollicking, bouncy folk song. It is upbeat and fun, where you can easily anticipate the rhyme at the end of each stanza. It is a straightforward built song, including an instrumental section before it kicks back into the final verse.
“Senorita Jones” is a psychedelic pop song. It is very catchy and interesting. A different direction than the rest of the album, perhaps inspired by the music of the time, to seem relevant in an otherwise, standard vocalist world.

Stand Out Track: Little Arrows

Links:Wiki
Official site
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Fever Tree - s/t

Name: Fever Tree
Album: Fever Tree
Year: 1968
Style: Psychedelic Folk Rock
Similar Bands: Association, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Bee Gees, Blind Melon, Doors
"One-Word" Review: every-style-60's-pop
Based Out Of: Houston, TX
Label: UNI, Universal City Records, MCA

Fever Tree - Cover & Record
Fever Tree - Back & Record

Fever Tree (1968)

1. Imitation Situation 1 (Toccata And Fugue) 2:32
2. Where Do You Go 2:25
3. San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native) 3:58
4. Ninety-Nine and One-Half 2:45
5. Man Who Paints the Pictures 2:32
6. Filligree and Shadow 3:51 /
7. The Sun Also Rises 2:41
8. Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out 3:27
9. Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing 3:00
10. Unlock My Door 3:45
11. Come With Me (Rainsong) 3:45

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:Walter Andrus - Engineer
Scott Holtzmsn - Producer
Vivian Holtzman - Producer
Dennis Keller - Vox (The Bostwick Vines)
Michael Knust - Guitar (The Bostwick Vines)
Rob Landes - Keys, Woodwind, Organ, Harp, (Rob Landes Trio)
John Tuttle - Percussion (The Bostwick Vines)
E.E. Wolfe - Bass (The Bostwick Vines)
Frank Davis - Assistant Engineer
Mic Leitz - Assistant Engineer
Mike Shields - String/Horn Assistant
Jill Gibson - Cover & Liner Photo
Harry Golightly - Liner Photos
David Angel - String/Horn Arrangement
Gene Page - String/Horn Arrangement
Diane White Hudson - Dust Cover Sketches
Martha Armstrong - Calligraphy

Unknown-ness: I’ve never heard of this band. But from the psychedelic tree in the background, the costumes the band is wearing, and the energy in the name Fever Tree, I’m guessing this is a solid Psych-Rock band from the mid-late 60’s. It could be lighter than I expect, but I always hope for the best when it comes to a descent band name and exciting cover art.

Album Review: “Imitation Situation 1 (Toccata And Fugue)” is introduced by a thunderous drum rattle, and followed by a segment of Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue” as suggested by the parenthesis in the title. Grand echoing vocals are then brought in, and lonely vocals are repeated until the music drops off into a buzz, and the next song begins immediately.“Where Do You Go” is a dirty, fuzzy 60’s garage band. It is powerful, and hard hitting for a folk band. Then the music hits a still spot where the bass and light drums play and a flute is added over top. This instrumental section builds nicely into a resurgence of the vocals. The electric guitar is very catchy and just an over all delightful sound. The song winds down like the quick burst of energy is overSan Francisco Girls (Return of the Native) is their “hit,” sounding like the Bee Gees of that time period. It has a nice way of building into a psychedelic garage song. The vocals are proud and confident, and when combined with the music, remind me of a male counterpart to a less chaotic Janice Joplin. The song resets itself with lighter vocals again, and flute echoing in the background. Again the bridge builds, but instead of hitting the chorus, it slinks back into a psychedelic zone out.“Ninety-Nine and One-Half” begins with a scream, and enters typical psychedelic classic rock territory with raspy vocals and continuous wailing electric guitar. It has a nice trippy groove to it, a style that was rekindled by Blind Melon in the 90’s. “Man Who Paints the Pictures” is a driving psych song with booming drums, electric guitar and strong, confident vocals. It reminds me of Ween’s “Stallion pt. 5” with its driving tempo. But the guitar’s sound and flute lock its footprint firmly in classic psychedelic rock. “Filligree and Shadow” is a lighter, trippy renaissance fair folk number. It is very much along the lines of the early Bee Gees or Strawberry Alarm Clock. It possesses a marching, drummer boy cadence with a dark side. The dark is balanced by the light of the orchestral strings in the background. The song breaks down into bass hum and other noise overtaking the proud, bold chorus which is still audible in the background in a messy chaotic swirl.

“The Sun Also Rises” is a piano based number at the outset. Then it diverges into a psychedelic lounge singer number. “Day Tripper / We Can Work It Out” Instrumental folk guitar picking and single note bass eventually come together (no pun intended) to begin their cover of Day Tripper. It is slowed down a bunch and made more orchestral. The vocals are pretty close parody to the Beatles. The lyrics are forced right into “We Can Work It Out” without much of a choice for one verse. Slowed down and with brass and more orchestral renderings of the popular (and my favorite) Beatles song.“Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing” is a psychedelic carousel waltz. It bobs from side to side, and is crooned like the very best lounge singer with everything to lose.“Unlock My Door” is a quiet balladeer’s song storytelling of desire toward a specific love. Acoustic guitar bombards the middle section, sounding like progressive music a little. After that rant, it returns to delicate echoing finger picking and retelling of the first verse. “Come With Me (Rainsong)” begins with a wash of rain and quiet piano. Gentle guitars are added. The vocals are solemn and comforting, sounding like a religious song written for a Jesus type to sing.

Stand Out Track: Where Do You Go

Links:
Discogs
Rate Your Music
Allmusic
Wikipedia
Psych Interview w/ Knust
German Fan Site
Landes's Church
Landes's Site
Oldies.com
Keller's Message about Knust passing

(the) 5 Stairsteps & Cubie - A Family Portrait

Name: (the) 5 Stairsteps & Cubie
Album: A Family Portrait
Year: 1968
Style: Soul, Theatrical Soundtrack
Similar Bands: Jackson 5, Tom Jones
"One-Word" Review: Cinema-Doo-Wop
Based Out Of: Chicago, Ill
Label: Buddah Records

A Family Portrait - Cover (my record came in the wrong cover)
A Family Portrait (1968)

1. A Million to One 2:45
2. You Make Me So Sad 2:07
3. Somethings Missing 2:45
4. The Look Of Love 3:01
5. The New Dance Craze 3:00
6. Windows Of The World 3:15 /
7. Bad News 3:05
8. Tell Me Who 2:55
9. Under The Spell 2:10
10. Find Me 2:35
11. I Remember You 3:00

Album Review (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:
Keni Burke - Vox (Invisible Man's Band)
Clarence Burke Jr - Vox, Recorded & Produced (Invisible Man's Band)
Dennis Burke - Vox (Invisible Man's Band)
James Burke - Vox (Invisible Man's Band)
Alohe Jean Burke - Vox
Cubie Burke - Vox
Clarence Sr - Bass, Vox
Betty Burke - Vox

Unknown-ness: I’ve never heard of the 5 Stairsteps, The Stairsteps, or Cubie. But all the bios read like I should have heard of them. They were apparently the original family of soul. When I recorded this record to CD, I remember saying “oh yeah, I know this song” at least once. Unfortunately I cannot write about my prediction of what the music will sound like, because the record came in the wrong sleeve. It came in a The Mad Lads sleeve which was markered over with the 5 Stairsteps band name. The main reason I got the record, wrong sleeve and everything, was because it is a Buddah Records release. And I equated Buddah Records with the great collection of bubblegum pop bands. “5 Stairsteps & Cubie” sounded like something silly that would fit up there with the 1910 Fruitgum Co & Ohio Express.

Album Review: “A Million to One” starts off the record. It is a soulful R&B slow song with female lead vocals. It is a slow dance with the boys in the family supplying an echoing word or phrase in the background on occasion. There are some swirling string sections, and bold brass flashes, but it maintains a basic swaying rhythm with a very theatrical orchestral ending with “doorbell” patterned vocals echoing the word one. “You Make Me So Sad” is a little more upbeat soul, again female fronted, with some cinematic musical production. “Something’s Missing” has a slight spy detective feel to the song. This is male fronted, switching with female vocals. Together they share the 70’s R&B soul chorus. The grand sweeping orchestral sound paints the background as in the other songs. “The Look of Love” is a slow, female fronted, James Bond romantic theme. The buildup to the chorus sounds familiar, but I can’t say I’ve heard the song before. “The New Dance Craze” is a slightly funky doo-wop dance song featuring the young brother Cubie’s child speaking voice over buried vocals from the rest of the family. It sounds a bit like when the midget, Joe-C, would talk/sing with Kid Rock (of which I just know from pop-culture references, I’ve never really heard a full kid rock song). The family takes turns busting out lines some strained, some sung, all over the place in style and it never feels cohesive. “Windows of the World” is back to a string-picked slow ballad with deep crooning vocals taking turns with a beautiful elegant female voice. I believe I’ve read that these are the parents adding their song to the family portrait album.

“Bad News” is back to the 70’s updated music-for-film style. It is slick and confident male vocals. It struts along, not quite slow, but not quite rocking either. “Tell Me Who” starts off with a jungle sounding percussion and then adds horns that sound off like something out of a show girl review. I feel like the song kind of just slumps along, but it is trying to have more bold courage than that. “Under The Spell” follows in the steps of the last song, trying to be over the top, but just lacking something that would push it over, making it believable. It features a male lead with the rest of the family playing back up with echoing phrases through out the song “Find Me” starts off as a strong simple R&B Doo Wop soul song. This song grooves along and is toe tapping good. The hooks are short and dependable. “I Remember You” is back to the deep crooning slow melody. This is a famous song, and I know I’ve heard it because Bjork has covered it too. This is a tamer version than Bjork’s, and it sounds right in place with an evening ending dance number at a big band concert of the 30’s.

Stand Out Track:Find Me
Links:
Allmusic
wikipedia
5 Stairsteps site
Soulwalking - Invisible Man's Band info
Soulwalking - Stairsteps