Genre: psych
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame (The Bells Were My Friends)
Company: Mercury
Catalog: SR-61291
Year: 1969
Country/State: USA, New Jersey
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor seam split top and bottom
Available: SOLD
GEMM catalog ID: SOLD
Price: SOLD
Cost: $1.00
This one shot quartet (we based that statement
on the fact the back cover of their album shows four faces), is a complete
mystery to us ... Judging by the arty sound, we always thought they were
English, but at least one well known reference work says they were from New
Jersey ...
Recorded in New York's Associated Recording Studios, 1970's "The
Hunchback of Notre Dame (The Bells Were My Friends)"
was co-produced by Irving Spice and Max Ellen (the eccentric Jerry Samuels (aka
Napoleon XIV) engineering). In spite of the goofy title, the collection of
original material (a rote cover of Otis Redding's "I've Been Loving You
Too Long" being the one exception), was diverse and surprisingly
engaging. While the extended title track bogged down in Procol
Harum-meets-Tolken art-rock mysticism (not a pretty combination), elsewhere
the band displayed considerable versatility, capably polishing off nifty
rockers (the scorching "Goin' Down"), Association-styled ballads
("My Woman") and decent pop-rock ("Faraway Man"). While
it wasn't the year's most consistent release, the fact it was so diverse was
part of its charm. Well worth looking for and you can still find the LP at a
decent price (witness our sale) .... Curiously, while Cashbox's Fred
Holman's pompous and fawning liner notes credited the material to B.
Bradbury, C.J. Brodowicz, L. Demski and C. Holmes, there were no performance
credits.
"The Hunchback of Notre Dame (The Bells Were My Friends)" track
listing:
(side 1)
1.) The Hunchback of Notre Dame (C. Holmes - B.
Bradbury) - 7:17
2.) Goin' Down (C. Holmes - L. Demski) - 2:59
3.) My Woman (C. Holmes - B. Bradbury) - 4:16
4.) Faraway Man (C. Holmes - B. Bradbury) - 4:16
(side 2)
1.) Living In the
World (C.J. Brodowicz) - 2:42
2.) She Don't Come Around (C. Holmes - S. Scheier) - 5:43
3.) Dreams of My Life (C. Holmes) - 2:38
4.) I've Been Loving You Too Long (Otis Redding - Jerry Butler) - 2:15
5.) Medley: I Knew I'd Want You / I've Got You (Alexander Rabbit) - 3:26
They apparently also recorded a single for A&M: 'Malaguena' b/w 'I
Didn't Even Thank Her' (A&M catalog number AM-1101).