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31 jul 2013

Tripsichord Music Box - Tripsichord Music Box (1970)

Grupo estadounidense de rock ácido formado originalmente como The Ban, en Lompoc, California en 1963, el cual después se cambió el nombre a Now y finalmente a Tripsichord Music Box en 1968, que fue sugerencia de Matthew Katz, ex-representante de grupos como Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape e It's a Beautiful Day.

El grupo grabó un disco para la disquera de Katz "San Francisco Sound" junto con 2 sencillos entre 1967 y 1969, pero el álbum fue lanzado hasta 1970, cuando el grupo ya estaba separado.

Mi opinión sobre la música contenida en este único álbum del grupo, tal vez no difiera mucho a la de Vernon Joynson (escritor del libro-enciclopedia de música psicodélica gringa "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers"), pues el grupo tiene un estilo muy cercano al de Quicksilver Messenger Service, pero con algunos ecos de Grateful Dead, Country Joe & The Fish, Moby Grape y Jefferson Airplane, por lo que creo que será del agrado e interés de los fans de este tipo de grupos psicodélicos que tanto abundaron en California entre 1966 y 1981.

No hay más que decir, solo que es un discazo, con músicos casi tan talentosos como los de las grandes bandas del área de San Francisco.

DESCARGA

8 comentarios:

gregg dijo...

From L->R the photo is Oliver Mckinney(kyb/Voc)Randy Gusman(Dr/Voc)Frank Straight(gt/Voc)and David Zandinotti(Bass/Voc). If this is a rip from a CD, then you should get the cuts that appeared on the 5th Pipe Dream: San Francisco Sounds album. "You're The Woman", "It's Not Good" and "The Family Song". These were recorded in Dec. 1967. I was lucky enough to have been there for those recoding sessions. My older brother is Oliver and I was on Xmas vacation from Florida and had the time of my life. I had known all the guys in the band from when we all lived in Lompoc, CA. In the studio, the producer wanted to do something different and asked Oliver if he could come up with something on the piano to tie two to the songs together. Oliver worked on it through lunch break (which consisted of doughnuts and free coffee in the studio offices because no one had any money). Oliver wrote the classial sounding piece in that hour and they recorded it that after noon. Besides the tracks that were on the album, the studio had just intalled a new 8 track recording system and they had Tripsichord spend hours jamming and playing all sorts of music just so the engineers could play around with their new toys. They guys played everything from Country & Western to Jazz, hard rock to big band and even Christmas songs. I don't know if any of it was kept on tape or not but it was sooo good that during the Jam sessions everyone from the offices and some of the people next door all came in to get a free concert. Tripsichord was the first group to record on 8 track equipment in San Francisco. Jefferson Airplane, Moby Grape, Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service all went to L.A. and used the studios in Southern California because there were no 8 track studios in the Bay area at the time. Oliver is retired from being a graphix artist and musician in North West Florida. Frank lives in the Bay area and still plays in a group. Randy is still active as a drummer, even did a reunion tour with Moby Grape and recoded with Bob Mosely on the Mosely Grape LP. David Zandinotti live in Oragon and has recorded with the Blue D'Arts and solo as David "Z".

El Guajolote dijo...

Thanks for comment, gregg! It was really helpful the info! who was the girl that sung in tunes like "Son of the Morning", "The New Word", "The Narrow Gate", "Everlasting Joy", "Times and Seasons" and i think "Sunday the Third" and "Fly Baby"?

gregg dijo...

On those recordings the gravely - raspy voice is David Zandinotti. And the girl's voice is not a girl. It's Randy Gosman, the drummer. They also used some studio tricks to speed up the tape… Randy has one of the sweetest voices for singing. (youtube has posted the single that they recorded under the name THE NOW "Like A Flying Bird" [ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49XKZYcv6e8 ] and Randy really shows his great voice and also look around for "Now That I'm Hoping" recorded under the name THE BAN (their original name when they came out of Lompoc, CA)[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdayKlqavYQ ], Randy shines here too.) Randy's Father was in the USAF and he ran on base clubs (Officer's Club - NCO clubs etc.) at different Air Force bases around the world. They were stationed in Greenland for a number of years and Randy got to sit in with all of the USO shows that came on tour, his dad could always sneak him in the side door. He is a fantastic Jazz drummer and he would skip school to sit in on the rehearsals and get pointers from some of the worlds best drummers.

El Guajolote dijo...

Thanks again, gregg! Recently i discovered this web of 60's/70's records collectors that haves a recent mail (i think) of a woman called "Debbie Au Beckh", that said that she made the backing vocals of that songs. Here's the page: http://badcatrecords.com/BadCat/TRIPSICHORD.htm

P.S. Randy has a great voice!

adamus67 dijo...

This album was originally recorded in late 1969, but their record came comparatively late, released in early 1970 on the local San Francisco Sound label in a very tiny quantity. It should be noted that this original version has, by far, the most superior sound quality of all pressings. By late 1970, the Janus label had expressed interest in picking the album up for national release, and immediately annexed the remaining copies pressed by SFS (4A-12700) and slapped a new white label promo Janus/San Francisco Sound label on them They also pressed an additional small quantity of these same promos using the original San Francisco Sound stamper. Producer and manager of the group, Matthew Katz. Like so many other great bands came from San Francisco. These versions obviously also have the superior sound quality, since they are original pressings and are all identifiable via the matrix numbers. Then, Janus began pressing their own versions of the album, which they finally released in 1971. Though the reason is not known for sure, it is widely believed that Janus mastered their pressing from an original San Francisco Sound vinyl issue.

Moreover,I was convinced I it must have been with a woman on vocals in the group but I have not been able to find any information on who it might have been?.. The only female name that I can find the album cover is Dorothy Schwartz mentioned as a coordinator for the album. A woman with the same name was in the pop group The Chordettes in the late 50th - early 60th century. Could it be that she sings?...

WOW Now,thanks to the information, sent by Gregg McKinney, I know who is 'hidden'... behind this kind of female vocals.

Must mention the great cover too. A drawing comes from John Bauer Among pixies and trolls. I read in the newspaper shindig that much of the psychedelic art associated with San Francisco, descended from Victorian times. It was especially the group The Charlatans interest in the future of art and design that brought this interest.

adamus67 dijo...

The album begins with the song 'On The Last Ride'. Slowly flowing with good vocal performance. Varied guitar playing from zip to quivering tones. Towards the end they hurl the perfect relaxed a little crazy guitar that sounds absolutely huge fine. 'We Have Passed Away' is a very beautiful song that has a little country rock over it. It feels like it falls freely in a wonderful way when you listen to it. Great guitar that sometimes played like a mandolin. Even some acoustic guitar that sounds crystal clear. 'Black Door' has spend a bit darker mood. Very good vocal performance and song. The melody flows pleasant and varied and the guitar virtuoso and seemingly unrestrained tones are perfect. Even some piano tones here and there.

'The New World' a heavy song with lots of bass and drums. Will a dreamy effect with an almost imperceptible change of singer, first raspy voice is David Zandinotti together coupled with female vocals,NOW I know that emanating from the throat, drummer Randy Gordon... awesome!!! The appropriation of the song is also changing from hard rocking to fast and virtuosic but still heavy in a long improvised solo. After singing the female voice(Randy Gordon) again on top of furious distorted guitars. Whereupon the more rocking accompaniment takes over and they are singing a duet. The last song on the first page ' Son Of The Morning' sung again (I think) by Randy,the song is beautiful with nice snappy guitar and piano with nice thoughtful drums. The song takes off and it floats up. Then change the song completely shape in a nice way and turned into jazz basically but with cruel varied and tempermentsfyllda guitar solos in a long improvised interludes. Then slide it back just as beautiful in term originated, more folk influenced.

Side two opens with 'Short Order Steward' with another male singer but with female choir in swinging interaction. Very good vocal performance, different and much soul in his voice. Little Organ just the beginning. Very diverse guitar playing which sounds sometimes pouring in so that they almost tripped over each other. The wines and sounds distorted at times. Just wonderful. Additionally cruel bass in good interaction with the guitar. A little blues and Southern rock over this song. 'The Narrow Gate' opens thoughtfully with acoustic sound and soft drums. Song insert is wonderful as well. A little, the voices in duet from the last song on the first page. They sing in good arrangement where they sometimes sound well together and sometimes as two distinct voices. Completely wonderful. The song has a little Spanish feel with castanets in the end. 'Fly Baby' again has a bit darker and dreamy atmosphere about it. It somehow manages to combine the dark and somewhat dreamy with something light and lyrical looking up every now and then. I think the song is a duet, or at least reinforced mannans voice with a female in some passages. In a long improvised interlude we are invited to good guitar that shines over great drums and occasionally superb bass. It sounds like both acoustic and electric guitar played simultaneously and it is very virtuosic, while restrained. 'Everlasting Joy', a happy and beautiful song, just as the title suggests. Quick guitar and beautiful vocal performance into a fantastic flowing melody with an unexpected twist and feathery guitar.

A truly wonderful album, seen as a whole. They combine beautiful harmonies with dazzling guitar playing in a natural and laid-back manner. Their music moves easily and freely between folk rock, blues, country rock and hard rock, between conservative and lyrical sounds to gloomy and dark tones. Great melodies very varied with crystal clear sound.


@El Guajolote: It is nice to see this album on you blog!

@Gregg McKinney: Many thanks for such detailed explanation .. professionally presented ... really appreciate it! all the best Gregg!

Yours sincerely I greet,
Adam

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Anónimo dijo...

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