Genre: psych
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Autosalvage
Company: RCA Victor
Catalog: LSP-3940
Year: 1968
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: mono pressing
Available: 1
GEMM catalog number: not yet listed
Price: $100.00
Formed in 1966 by bluegrass fanatic Thomas
Donaher and multi-instrumentalist Darius Davenport, Autosalvage was one of
the mid-'60s more impressive jug band lineups. Boasting an exceptionally
talented line up, including ex-Ian and Sylvia sideman Rick Turner and bassist
Skip Boone (brother of the Lovin' Spoonful's Steve Boone), the band's sound melded authentic jug
band moves with rock instrumentation, a sense of enthusiasm and a
willingness to expanded into progressive and out of the ordinary directions.
Reportedly dscovered by Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention while on a
visit to New York, with Zappa's support the group was signed
by RCA Victor. Released in 1968, "Autosalvage"
offered up one of the year's odder musical hybrids. Exemplified by original
material such as "Land of Their Dreams," "Burglar Song"
and "Rampant Generalities" the collection featured a weird mixture
of Byrds-styled country rock ("Rampart Generalities"), blues-rock
("Good Morning Blues") psychedelia ("Auto Salvage") and
outright pretense. What made the set truly maddening was the fact that while
all four members were undeniably talented, they seldom brought those talents
together. Among the few tracks worth hearing more than once were the nifty
title effort and the single "Parahighway" b/w "Rampart
Generalities." Not to sound too damning, the band's willingness
to try new things makes it oddly endearing, if not particularly commercial,
or memorable. Unfortunately, it all came to little avail since the band called it
quits shortly thereafter.
"Autosalvage" track listing:
1.) Auto Salvage (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport - Rick
Turner) - 5:37
2.) Burglar Song (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport - Rick
Turner) - 2:20
3.) Rampart Generalities (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport -
Rick Turner) - 3:10
4.) Medley - 6:30
i.) Our Life As We Lived It (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport
- Rick Turner)
ii.) Good Morning Blues (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport -
Rick Turner)
5.) Ancestral Wants (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport - Rick
Turner) - 3:50
6.) A Hundred Dreams (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport - Rick
Turner) - 2:15
7.) Land of Their Dreams (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport -
Rick Turner) - 3:07
8.) Parahighway (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport - Rick
Turner) - 2:35
9.) Medley - 5:18
i.) The Great Brain Robbery (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher - Darius Davenport
- Rick Turner)
ii.) Glimpses of the Next World's World (Skip Boone - Thomas Donaher -
Darius Davenport - Rick Turner)
Boone and Davenport subsequently reappeared supporting the short-lived Bear
(see separate entry) and then as sessions players.