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HIFI/STEREO REVIEW'S CHOICE OF THE LATEST RECORDINGS ENTERTAINMENT

Re% it:%%edby NAT HENTOFF PAUL FRESH REN REED PETER REILLY

ED AMES: My Cup Runneth Over. Ed and -western singer who performs with hon- myself.I am suffering from an advanced Ames (vocals) ; orchestra. Perry Botkin, Jr., esty, conviction, and a breathtaking lack of case of hyperacidity after this recorded out- Ray Ellis, Jimmy Wisner, Stu Phillips, and excitement which would not be nearly so ing with Country Joe and The Fish. Said by Sid Bass cond. and arr. My Cup Runneth disturbing if his material was not as good as connoisseurs of these things to be the best Over; In the Arms of Love; Don't Blame it is. But when a man tackles Rod McKuen's album to take a trip by, "Electric Music for Me; Our Love is a Living Thing; Watch The World I Used to Know and 's the Mind and Body"issomething of a 117hat Happens; and six others. RCA VicroR purple -tinged Catch the Wind, he should short circuit in the cold, clear air of this ® LSP3774, QLPM 3774 $4.79. have the vigor to deliver something more reviewer's listening room. I found it to be a interestingthanamonotone,flat -pitched noisy mélange of overamplified , or- Performance: Imitative whimper. Cryin' should have three times the gan, various bells, and tambourine, and a Recording: Excellent power it has here, that beautiful ballad Mary sound that could just possibly be LOVE badges StereoQuality: Very good in the Morning should be much more rueful, and Indian beads clanking together in the Ed Ames' cup may run over, but my patience songs by Donovan should demonstrate much background. with his determined imitation of the late Joe McDonald does most of the "singing," Buddy Clark runneth out quicker. The imi- composing, and lyric writing. His lyrics are tation does not end with purely vocal simi- fairly good, but rigidly fashionable: his dis- larities but also extends to phrasing and ar- approval of President Johnson extends to ticulation. Since I could never work up much wanting to make him "eatflowers" and "drop enthusiasm over Clark's own incessant car- some acid."(If Country Joe succeeded in olling of Linda, it can be safely deduced thelatterendeavor, what color do you that my reaction to Ames' singing of Melin- supposeL.B.J.wouldpainttheWhite da from On a Clear Day You Can See For- House ?) The lyrics contain approving men- ever was distinctly tion of all the other hippie touchstones: the Aside from its derivative pall, "My Cup I Ching, marvellous trips, and most of all, Runneth Over" is a randomly pleasant al- LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. (By the way, why doesn't bum. And, if you don't remember Buddy someone revive Gershwin's Lore Is Sweep- Clark, there is no reason why you should not ing the Country for use asthe hippies' enjoy it. The selection of songs is extremely anthem ?). Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine good-including one thatis new to me, was the one band on the album that Irea- Bon Soir Dame, which is delightful. Edel- sonably enjoyed. The remainder would seem weiss from The Sound of Music and Watch to be primarily for the initiated. What Happens from The Umbrellasof In all truth,I am beginning to actively Cherbourg are also nicely treated. dislike many aspects of the acid subculture. There are enough arrangers and conduc- It seems to me that in examples such as tors listed here for a performance of the this current album, it is becoming aggressive- Ives Fourth Symphony; however, they have ly arrogant, smug, and repellently zombie - all done yeoman service. P. R. like. If indeed the acid generation is search- ing for something different and new, then I : . BOB CROSBY ( FLANKED BY BOBCATS) think it ought to start coming up with more Glen Campbell (vocals and ); orches- A superb collection of oldies convincing evidence of the fruits of that tra, and cond. and search than the random recorded ditherings arr. Gentle on My Mind; Catch the Wind; more feel for the twisted complexity of the offered here. P. R. The World I Used to Know; Without Her; lyrics. Campbell sounds like he is singing to Mary in the Morning; Bowling Green; It's his prize steer. The whole affair is thorough- R. R. RECORDING OF SPECIAL MERIT Over;You're My World;Love Me as ly expendable. Though There Were No Tomorrow; Cryin'; BOB CROSBY AND THE BOBCATS: Just Another Man. CAPITOL ® ST 2809, 8 COUNTRY JOE AND THE FISH: Elec- Their Greatest Hits. Bob Crosby and the T 2809* $4.79. tric Music for the Mind and Body. Joe Bobcats (vocals, accompaniment). March of McDonald (vocals, guitar,bells,tambou- the Bob Cats; My Inspiration; South Ram- Performance: Listless rine) ; Barry Melton (vocals, guitar) ; Dave part Street Parade; Honky Tonk Train ; Recording. Good Cohen (guitar, organ) ; Bruce Barthol (bass, Boogie lVoogie Maxixe; Little Rock Geta- Stereo Quality: Good harmonica) ; Chicken Hirsch (drums). Fly- way; Gin Mill Blues;1Vhat's New?; Yancey Glen Campbell is a big, raw-boned country - ing High; Death Sound; Porpoise Mouth; Special; The Big Noise from rinnetka; Superbird; Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine; Summertime; I'm Prayin' Humble. DECCA Bass Strings; and five others. VANGUARD® ® DL 74856, ® 4856* $4.79. VSD79244. C) VRS 9244 $4.79. Explanation of symbols: Performance: Nostalgic Performance: Alka-Seltzer, please Recording: Good ® = stereophonic recording Recording: Good Stereo Quality. Good lrt = monophonic recording Stereo Quality:Good I approached this assemblage of the old Bob *= mono or stereo version not received for review IfI have to keep listening to these "trip" Crosby singles, recorded in the 1930's when albums much longer, it may drive me to LSD his Dixieland band was all the rage, with

DECEMBER1967 139

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