Abstracts, The

Band members               Related acts

- Henri Mario Dondini - keyboards (1970)
- Antonio Francesco Raphael Peluso - guitar (1970)
- Michael Thatcher - drums (1970)
- Pierre Armand Vigeant - bass (1970) 
  

 

 

- none known

 

 

Genre:  rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  The Abstracts

Company: Pompeii

Catalog: SD 6002

Year: 1972

Country/State:  USA

Grade (cover/record): G/VG

Comments: bottom seam split; ring wear

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4

Price: $20.00

Cost: $1.00

 

 What little we know about this quartet comes off of the liner notes on their first (and only) album ...

Keyboardist Henri Dondini, guitarist Tony (Antonio) Peluso and bassist Pierre Vigeant formed The Abstracts while attending high school in Los Angeles. Playing school dances, they added drummer Michael Thatcher to the lineup after seeing him win an L.A. "battle of the drums" contest. As a quartet the band began working clubs throughout Southern California and Texas, eventually attracting the attention of Atlantic Records. 

One of the first (and last) acts signed to Atlantic's short-lived Pompeii subsidiary, the band's self-titled 1970 debut teamed them with producers Darrell Glenn and David Anderson. With Peluso handling lead vocals and writing the majority of the material (he was credited with 8 of 12 tracks), "The Abstracts" offered up a weird hybrid sounding like Association-styled MOR crossed with ARS Nova styled Baroque-psych. Yeah, we know it sounds odd. Exemplified by Peluso-penned material such as "Rich Young Heir", "O.D.D. Clown" and "Matter of Life and Death", the deep, thoughtful (aka pompous) lyrics were certain to have appealed to closet intellectuals. The album was also notable for including the year's oddest Gershwin cover ("Summertime"). In spite of those comments, the set wasn't a complete waste. Peluso tended to over sing, but he had a decent voice and on songs with strong melodies, notably "See the Birds" and "Smell of Incense" the band proved quite listenable. Unfortunately, nobody was listening; the album quickly vanishing into oblivion, followed in quick order by the band.

"The Abstracts" track listing:
1.) To Say the Least (Antonio Francesco Raphael Peluso) - 2:52
2.) Results of Love (Antonio Francesco Raphael Peluso) - 2:52
3.) Rich Young Heir (Antonio Francesco Raphael Peluso) - 2:57
4.) O.D.D. Clown (Antonio Francesco Raphael Peluso) - 1:55
5.) Smell of Incense (Antonio Francesco Raphael Peluso) - 2:35
6.) Summertime (George Gershwin)
7.) See the Birds (Pierre Armand Vigeant) - 2:40
8.) Any Only Time (Begas - Vegas) - 3:02
9.) Dreaming of Blue (Antonio Francesco Raphael Peluso) - 3:14
10.) Matter of Life and Death (Antonio Francesco Raphael Peluso) - 2:45
11.) My Mind Ain't Peculiar (Acree) - 2:26

"" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) 

 

(side 2)
1.) 

 

 

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