- Bruce Dedrick -- vocals, guitar, trombone (1966-75, 2001)
- Chris Dedrick -- vocals, guitar, trumpet, recorder 

  (1966-75, 2001)
- Ellen Dedrick -- vocals (1968-75, 2001)
- Sandy Dedrick (aka Sandy Zynczak) -- vocals, keyboards

  (1966-75)

- Chris Dedrick (solo efforts)

- Ellen Dedrick (solo efforts)

- Enoch Light

- Star Scape Singers (Chris Dedrick)

Genre: pop

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Kites Are Fun

Company: Project 3

Catalog: PR 5019 SD

Year: 1967

Country/State: Delevan, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5672

Price: $50.00

I'll readily admit that it took me awhile to figure out charms The Free Design deliver with their chirpy, upbeat, and MOR-leaning.  I also understand that the same characteristics I now find charming drive many others to distraction.  That said, these guys are a must for anyone into The Association, The Cowsills, early Carpenters, or what is now commonly referred to as sunshine pop.

Living in and around New York City, 1966 found siblings Bruce, Chris and Sandy Dedrick holding down a variety of day jobs (Chris attending the Manhattan School of Music). Earning pocket change as a folk act, they began performing at various Greenwich Village clubs. Their father Art Dedrick (who had played trombone for Vaughn Monroe), helped the group record a demo which promptly attracted the attention of Enoch Light and his newly established Project 3 label. 

left to right: Bruce - Sandy - Chris Dedrick

Produced by mentor Enoch Light, 1967's "Kites Are Fun" showcased a largely original set of material (mostly penned by Chris).  Selections like the title track, 'When Love I Young', 'My Brother Woody' and the stunning ballad 'Don't Turn Away' were highly orchestrated and polished (but never overbearing)  - probably explaining why rock audiences wanted nothing to do with the group.  Thematically most of the thirteen songs were 'feel good' pop, but the Dedricks certainly weren't above adding mild social commentary to their repertoire - check out 'Make the Madness Stop', 'Don't Turn Away' and 'Never Tell the World'.   The handful of covers were also interesting.  Their drastically slowed down cover of Paul Simon's '59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)' was surprisingly enjoyable, while their pseudo-jazzy cover of The Beatles' 'Michelle' was far from the worst version I've ever heard.  In fact the only truly horrible offering was their lame cover of Francis Lai's 'A Man and a Woman'.  The album certainly wasn't hurt by the fact all three siblings were gifted with wonderful  voices and they were even better harmony singers (check out the way they intertwine their performances on the should've-been-a-hit 'Umbrellas').  The detailed song-by-song liner notes were also great.  As you'd expected from an Enoch Light produced collection, the sound was fantastic making this one of those great headphone albums ...  Elsewhere the set was tapped for a series of singles:

- 1967's 'Kites Are Fun' b/w 'The Proper Ornaments' (Project 3 catalog number PR-45-1324-SD)

- 1968's 'Umbrellas' b/w 'I Found Love' (Project 3 catalog number PR-45-1336-SD)

- 1968's 'Make The Madness Stop ' b/w 'Eleanor Rigby' (Project 3 catalog number PR-45-1345-SD)

"Kites Are Fun" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Kites Are Fun   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:34

2.) Make the Madness Stop   (Chris Dedrick - S. Zynczak - Sandy Dedrick) - 3:07

3.) When Love Is Young   (Stephanie Zynczak - Sandy Dedrick) - 2:49

4.) The Proper Ornaments   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:45

5.) My Brother Woody   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:34

6.) 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)   (Paul Simon) - 2:50

(side 2)

1.) Don't Turn Away   (Chris Dedrick) - 3:55

2.) Umbrellas   (Bruce Dedrick) - 2:21

3.) Michelle   (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 3:08

4.) Never Tell the World   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:28

5.) A Man and a Woman   (Francis Lai - J. Keller - P. Barouh) - 3:02

6.) Stay Another Season   (Chris Dedrick) - 4:31

I've never owned a copy, but there was also a limited release seasonal 45:

- 1968's 'Close Your Mouth (It's Christmas)' b/w 'Christmas is the Day' (Project 3 catalog number PR-45-1347-SD)

Genre: pop

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  You Could Be Born Again

Company: Project 3

Catalog: PR 5031 SD

Year: 1968

Country/State: Delevan, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 2

GEMM catalog ID: 4325

Price: $50.00

With the release of 1968's "You Can Be Born Again" the group expanded to a quartet with the addition of recent high school graduate/younger sister Ellen Dedrick.  

left to right: Bruce - Sandy - unknown (guitar) - Ellen - Chris Dedrick

While the addition of Ellen fluffed out their harmony work (check out 'Like the Sunrise), musically the change did little to tamper with their unique sound.  Offering up another mix of Chris Dedrick-penned originals ('You Could Be Born Again' and 'A Leaf Has Veins') and popular covers ('California Dreamin'' and The Turtles' 'Happy Together'), the package was characterized by their tight knit sibling harmonies (check out their pseudo-accapella cover of The Beatles 'Eleanor Rigby'), their distinctive MOR sound, and producer Enoch Light's crystal clear production (which made the set a delight to listen to with headphones).   Elsewhere, given their MOR orientation it was interesting to see the group taking a step in the direction of political commentary - check out their cover of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's 'The Windows of the World' and the ominous, dirge-tempo original 'An Elegy' (the latter baring a dedication to "Dwight Arthur Dedrick killed in Viet Nam January 31, 1968").  Perhaps because their activism was so subtle, at least to my ears it was far more effective than some of the shrill rhetoric that characterized the era.  On the surface you probably wouldn't think this set would have much to interest psych collectors, but it was charming in a strange and bizarre fashion that you simply can't aptly explain.  You also had to wonder if anyone could be this positive and uplifting without a major boost from various illicit substances ...   By the way, Phil Ramone's fawning liner notes were simply hysterical.  Project 3 again tapped the album for a single:

- 'You Could Be Born Again' b/w 'A Leaf Has Veins' (Project 3 catalog number PR 45-1350 SD)

"You Can Be Born Again" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) You Could Be Born Again   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:38
2.) A Leaf Has Veins   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:30
3.) California Dreamin'   (John Phillips) - 2:25
4.) The Windows of the World   (Burt Bacharach - Hal David) - 2:33
5.) Eleanore Rigby   (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 2:44
6.) Quartet No.6 In D Minor   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:40

(side 2)

1.) I Like the Sunrise   (Duke Ellington) - 3:37
2.) I Found Love   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:42
3.) Daniel Dolphin   (Chris Dedrick) - 3:27
4.) Happy Together   (G. Bonner - A. Gordon) - 2:54
5.) Ivy On a Windy Day   (Chris Dedrick - S. Zynczak) - 2:39
6.) An Elegy   (Chris Dedrick) - 3:22

I've never seen or heard it, but there was also an Ellen Dedrick solo 45: 

- 1969's 'Nature Boy' b/w 'Settlement Boy' (Project 3 catalog number PR 45-1352 SD)

Genre: pop

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Heaven / Earth

Company: Project 3

Catalog: PR 5037 SD

Year: 1969

Country/State: Delevan, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+

Comments: gatefold sleeve; still in shrink wrap

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5671

Price: $50.00

Continuing their partnership with producer Enoch Light, 1969's "Heaven / Earth" wasn't a major departure from the group's two earlier album.  Needless to say that consigned the collection to the same fate their first two LPs enjoyed - namely instant oblivion.  Brother Chris Dedrick was again responsible for the majority of material and under his guidance these folks simply epitamized the summer pop genre.  Exemplified by tracks like 'My Very Own Angel', 'Girls Alone' and 'Hurry Sundown' the collection brimmed over with amazing melodies, glistening vocal harmonies from all four siblings, and complex, but radiant arrangements - be sure to check out the stunning 'You Be You and I'll Be Me'.  They were simply a unique act.  Imagine The Association, or perhaps The Mamas and the Papas after overdosing of happy gas and you'd start to get an idea what this was about ...  There were plenty of highlights with my votes going to 'Summertime' (which was simply the most dazzling cover of a George Gershwin tune I've ever heard - acid guitar introduction, hardcore jazz moves, and killer vocals all in one package) and '2002 - a Hit Song' - the latter showing the Dedrick clan still had a sense of humor and were capable of dealing with their inability to catch a commercial break.  That's not to say their blissed out sound was going to appeal to everyone.  The album certainly had a trippy feel (doubt that comment then take a listen to the monks-tipping-on-acid-jazz 'Dorian Benediction'), but anyone looking for hardcore psych needed to keep their distance, or risk going into a diabetic coma.  Elsewhere, as you'd expect from anything released on producer Light's Project 3 label, the arrangements and sound were simply pristine - listening to the album on a good stereo system, or through a good pair of headphones remains a major treat.  Elsewhere Project 3 tapped the album for a series of three instantly obscure singles:

- 1969's 'Where Do I Go ' b/w 'Girls Alone' (Project 3 catalog number PR 45-1356 SD)

- 1969's 'Dorian Benediction' b/w 'Summertime' (Project 3 catalog PR 45-1358 SD)   

- 1969's '2002 A Hit Song' b/w 'Hurry Sundown' (Project 3 catalog PR 45-1366-SD)

promo shot

"Heaven / Earth" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) My Very Own Angel   (Chris Dedrick) - 3:00

2.) Now Is the Time   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:14

3.) If I Were a Carpenter   (Tim Hardin) - 3:17

4.) You Be You and I'll Be Me   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:34

5.) Girls Alone   (Chris Dedrick) - 3:55

6.) 2002 - a Hit Song   (Chris Dedrick) - 2:34  

(side 2)

1.) Summertime   (D.B. Heyward - George Gershwin) - 3:36

2.) Where Do I Go (From Hair)   (G. McDermont - J. Rado - G. Ragni) - 2:14

3.) Hurry Sundown   (B. Kaye - H. Montenegro) - 3:04

4.) Memories   (B. Strange - S. Davis) - 3:29

5.) Dorian Benediction   (Chris Dedrick) - 4:27

Over the next three years they released four more studio sets before take a thirty year hiatus:

- 1970's "Stars/Time/Bubbles/Love" (Project 3 catalog number PR 5045 SD)

- 1970's "Sing for Very Important People" (Project 3 catalog number PR 4006 SD)

- 1971's "One by One" (Project 3 catalog number PR 5061 SD)

- 1972's "There Is A Song" (Ambrotype catalog number 1016)

I've got them in my to-listen-to pile and will eventually get around to adding them to the listing.

For anyone interested, Robbie Baldock has a nice Free Design website at:

http://www.rcb.uklinux.net/light/freedesign/index.htm