Genre: psych
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Last Song First Side
Company: Black Walnut
Catalog: BW-3001
Year: 1973
Country/State: USA
Grade (cover/record): NM/NM
Comments: still in shrink wrap
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 2348
Price: $80.00
Cost: $50.00
A trio featuring the talents of bassist Lance Gessler, guitarist (and uncredited vocalist) Andrew Jay Goulart (we're guessing the band name came from his initals), and drummer Tom Arnold, its hard to know what to make of this effort. Released in miniscule quantities by the small Black Walnut label, 1973's "Last Song First Side" was apparently a self-financed ego project. With Goulart writing and producing all ten tracks (the liner notes actually listed four songs, though two of the titles consisted of multipart medleys), material such as "Feeling Down" and "Strange" proved surprisingly accomplished. Unfortunately, as lead singer Goulart wasn't quite as impressive. Burdened with a thin and fragile voice, his performances were seldom more than passable. That's not to say his voice was unattractive; rather it just wasn't very distinguished (though he occasionally bore a passing resemblance to a lightweight Neil Young (check out the ballad "How Long"). (No idea why they thought anyone would care, but the liner notes point out the album was recorded on Halloween night.)
"Last Song First Side" track listing:
1.) Feeling Down (Andrew Jay Goulart) - 4:04
2.) Medley - 8:25
a.) Morning Chill (Andrew Jay Goulart) -
b.) Thoughtless (Andrew Jay Goulart) -
c.) Strange (Andrew Jay Goulart) -
3.) Medley - 9:45
a.) Quietness (Andrew Jay Goulart) -
b.) Pardon Me (Andrew Jay Goulart) -
c.) Beautiful Day (Andrew Jay Goulart) -
4.) How Long (Andrew Jay Goulart) - 3:43