Tony Coulter here, hoping to share a small batch of LPs with you -- some for the music, others for their covers. Why not meet in the great by-and-by, on the other side of the fold?
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Let's start out with my favorite tracks from a small group of LPs, found here and there. I have very little to tell you about most of these artists, since pretty much all you'll find if you google them is that I've played their records on my FMU show (thanks, Google).
Troy Dausend: Some Fantasy (no label, 1979)
First up is one Troy Dausend, whose 1979 album Some Fantasy was recorded in both San Jose, CA and Phoenix, AZ -- so your guess is as good as mine as to where he was from. Dausend wrote and arranged all the songs, and is heard on vocals, guitars, bass, piano, and trombone. His LP is self-released, and features a paste-on cover, front and back.
In the clouds:
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The Allegras: The Best of Kaleidoscope (RPC, 1972)
Next is the one outfit I do know a little about. The Allegras hailed from Portland, OR, and were the girls' choir at Marycrest, a Catholic (Dominican) high school that closed in 1973. They released seven albums, and gave a private reunion concert in 2010, which you can see part of here.
The hand-drawn back cover:
The Allegras: We've Only Just Begun
The Allegras: Hey That's No Way to Say Goodbye
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The Pomona Catholic High School Glee Club: Dreams Are Forever (no label, 1974?)
As a trained investigator and logician, I have deduced that the Pomona Catholic High School Glee Club was from Pomona (CA). They were directed by Sister Mary Angelee, a Felician sister, and the haunting tune I have chosen was (co-)written by the pianist, Cathy Tortell.
The Pomona Catholic High School Glee Club: Misty Morning
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Jan: Thank You Lord (Crusade, 1969?)
Sadly, I can't even tell you the last name of x-ian singer-songwriter Jan. (What was it with the sixties and calling women only by their first name? Seems kind of sexist to me.) I can tell you Jan wrote most of the album's music and lyrics (including the two songs I've chosen), and is heard on (multitracked) vocals and guitar. The striking back cover image below seems to have been done by hand with spray paint, and may possibly be unique to my copy.
Jan, resplendent in flames of gold:
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The Parish Mission Team of the Archdiocese of New York: Album Three -- More Music (no label, 1982)
At least at the time of Album Three, the Parish Mission Team, who I assume were based in New York City, consisted of twelve people, and thus several vocalists and composers. For me, the standout member is Mary Beth Coakley, who composed and sang the first two tracks below (the second sung together with Jaime Rickert). The third track below, which features fine vocals by Katy Feeney, was composed by one J. Fanelli, who was not -- at least then -- a group member.
The PMT tag:
The Parish Mission Team of the Archdiocese of New York: Jesus in Me
The Parish Mission Team of the Archdiocese of New York: My Heart Cries
The Parish Mission Team of the Archdiocese of New York: The Canticle
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The Resurrection Singers: Brother Get Ready ... for Our Lord Is Coming to Take Us to a Better Land (Musi-Mation, 1975?)
We close the musical portion of this post with the Resurrection Singers, a group I suspect had roots in white gospel, even if the track I've given you has a subtly psychedelic flavor. The song in question was written by lead vocalist Harry Hackman (with lyrics by his wife Juanita), and features the harmony vocals of Verlyn Oedewaldt and the laid-back lead guitar of Terry Garrison.
Thee Resurrection Singers:
The Resurrection Singers: Man of Many Faces
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We turn now to the album covers, or in some cases, to the parts of album covers that caught my eye. I've given you the artists' name whenever the record label saw fit to do the same.
Art: ??
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Thanks so much for posting The Allegras "We've Only Just Begun." Heard you play it on your show and found it thoroughly charming.
Posted by: conrad | October 20, 2011 at 01:38 PM
Thanks for all this. Good stuff.
Posted by: Editor B | October 20, 2011 at 03:14 PM
Great post! Thanks Tony. The samples of "We've Only Just Begun" are lovely...
The Jan LP seems very cool too.
Posted by: Alexandre | October 21, 2011 at 05:17 PM
Amazing that you have that Troy Dausend lp - I picked it up many years ago in the Thousand Islands. Periodically I look online for information and nothing comes up - till now. Glad to see you share it.
Posted by: Paul | January 21, 2012 at 09:09 PM