Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: 31st of February
Company: Vanguard
Catalog: VSD-6503
Year: 1969
Country/State: USA
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: minor edge and corner wear
Available: SOLD
GEMM catalog ID: SOLD
Price: SOLD
Cost: $1.00
It's kind of sad
that this outfit is largely remembered as little more than an Allman
Brothers precursor. While Duane and Greg Allman contributed material to the
band's planned second LP, they weren't even formal members.
Having recorded a one-shot single as The Bitter Ind ("Hands Are Only To
See" b/w "Baby Blue" catalog number ACP 380), by 1967
singer/guitarist Scott Boyer had formed The Tiffany System with bassist
David Brown and drummer Butch Trucks. The trio started their recording
careers with an instantly obscure single for the Florida-based Minaret label
("Let's Get Together" b/w "Wayward One" catalog number
MIN-128). By 1968 the trio had generated a large following in their native
Jacksonville, Florida, as well as having opted for a name change. As The
31st of February (anyone know the significance?), they signed a recording
contract with Vanguard. Co-produced by Steve Alaimo and Mike Shapiro, 1969's
"The 31st of February"
strikes us as an undiscovered gem. Performed with considerable enthusiasm,
the collection was varied and energetic. Boyer had a great voice, perfectly
suited for the band's excursions into Byrds-styled folk-rock
("Porcelain Mirrors" and "A Different Kind of Head"),
progressive ("Treason") and psyche ("A Nickel's Worth of
Benny's Help"). Elsewhere, the standout tracks may have been Brown's
stomping "Wrong" and the trio's ghostly cover of Buffy Sainte
Marie's "Co'dine". Among the few missteps; Brown's "Broken
Day" was a little too sensitive singer/songwriter, while the band's
cover of Jackie DeShannon's "The Greener Isle" (good taste in
outside material), came off as MOR (blame Shelby SIngleton's overwhelming
string arrangement). Unfortunately, the set generated little in the way of
sales. Highly recommended !!! (We're not saving this just to sell the LP
(that's due to the fact we have two copies), but this is one of those set's
we pull out to hear on a regular basis.)
"The 31st of February" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Sandcastles
(Dan Penn - Spooner Oldham - Chips Moman) - 2:55
2.) Porcelain Mirrors (Scott Boyer) - 2:55
3.) Broken Day (David Brown) - 2:56
4.) Wrong (David Brown) - 2:11
5.) The Greener Isle (Jackie DeShannon) - 2:45
6.) Cod'ine (Buddy Saint-Marie) - 6:17
(side 2)
1.) A Different
Kind of Head (David Brown) - 2:46
2.) Pedestals (Scott Boyer) - 2:25
3.) Free (Scott Boyer) - 2:29
4.) A Nickel's Worth of Benny's Help (Scott Boyer) - 4:22
5.) Pick a Gripe (C. Trucks - Scott Boyer) - 2:06
6.) Cries of Treason (Scott Boyer) - 3:09
Following the collapse of their band Hour Glass (see separate entry), Duane
and Gregg Allman returned to Florida. Having known Trucks for years, they
helped the trio record material for what was planned as their sophomore
release. The project never saw the light of day, though much of the material
was finally released in 1973 under the title "Greg and Duane Allman".
As y'all know, Trucks joined the Allman Brothers Band, while Boyer
reappeared as a member of Cowboy (see separate entry).