Here's a genuinely peculiar and interesting little EP-length 45 from my collection. The title of this post captures the difficulty I encounter in trying to nail down exactly how to label this 1984 release.
It's a religious record, released by the distinctly un-catchy named Farinella-Siena-Fretto, and housed in a sleeve that shows not only the four members whose names appear above the title, but also the other three members, as well as a drawing of the "Pig In Mud" who is featured in one of the songs.
The lead track, carrying the very direct title and message "Don't Be Left Behind", fills the entire first side, all 6 1/2 minutes of it. The mixture of new wave sounds and Born-Again Christian theology is quite the experience, but then, just over halfway through the track, it segues into a completely different sound, more of a boogie arrangement, where it stays for the rest of the song.
"Pig in Mud" starts the second side, and is subtitled (II Peter 2:22). This one reminds me of nothing so much of Captain Beefheart's spoken-word-over-avant-jazz-rock performances - certainly not on the same level, but that's style I'm reminded of here. Then it's back to the New Wave setting for the final piece, "Look At the Mess".
The back of the sleeve is quite the production, too, with more pictures, a list of credits that mentions that the drummer was named "A. Drummer", links to biblical verses which inspired two of the three songs, and a statement that the record was "Composed, Arranged and Produced by GOD, through Jesus Christ and through Gerald M. Fretto",
Farinella-Siena-Fretto - Dont Be Left Behind (MP3)
Farinella-Siena-Fretto - Pig In Mud (MP3)
Farinella-Siena-Fretto - Look At the Mess (MP3)
EP Front Cover (JPG) | EP Back Cover (JPG) | EP Label A Side (JPG) | EP Label B Side (JPG)
Oh, and on another note, All Hail The King, Rafa Nadal!!!
Great post!
Posted by: John | June 22, 2013 at 01:41 PM
I enjoyed this in some odd way. Thanks!
Posted by: John | June 22, 2013 at 08:30 PM
Hi . Thank you for this review of my record ! I'm Gerald M. Fretto . You can hear my latest 3 cd s @ frettomusic.com . Titled : Don't Turn Your Back On Cactus Jack ( comedy ) , Fret To Fusion Jazz and The Joy Ahead ( Gospel Fusion ) . GOD bless you and Thank you for the review ! Sincerely Jerry Fretto
Posted by: Jerry Fretto | August 22, 2013 at 10:28 AM