Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Autumn People
Company: Soundtech
Catalog: SO -3020
Year: 1976
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: someone wrote a "321" in magic marker along the top left corner (see cover picture); gatefold sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4157
Price: $250.00
Cost: $157.00
We haven't been able to find a great deal of biographical information on this short-lived quartet. From the album liner notes we know the line up consisted of drummer Steve Barazza, guitarist Larry Clark, keyboard player Danny Poff and bassist Cliff Spiegel. We also know their sole LP, 1976's self-produced "Autumn People" was recorded at Soundtech Studios in Phoenix, Arizona.
To be honest, the first time we cued this up the synthesizer opening to "Rock and Roll Fantasie" left us wondering what kind of hype we'd bought into. Not to be unkind, but visions of warmed over Asia-wannabes started dancing through our heads. Largely original material, selections such as "Feeling" and "Never See the Sun" were quite commercially. Full of nice harmonies and decent melodies the LP showed the band trying to find a musical niche somewhere between top-40 AOR and mid-1970s progressive moves. At least two of the four members handled lead vocals, with one of the two occasionally recalling Elvin Bishop's Mickey Thomas (depending on your mindset that may be a good or bad comparison). Elsewhere, Clark was a pretty good guitarist (check out his performance on "See It Through"). Poff's cheesy synthesizers were less attractive to our ears. On it's own the LP's not bad, but anyone buying into the psych/progressive hype will be sorely disappointed.
"Autumn People" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Rock and Roll Fantasie (Larry Clark - Danny Poff - A. People) - 3:35
2.) Feeling (Steve Barraza - A. People) - 3:49
3.) See It Through (Larry Clark - A. People) - 3:23
4.) Never See the Sun (Larry Clark - A. People) - 2:56
5.) Gabriel (Steve Barraza - A. People) - 6:12
(side 2)
1.) Ovoid and Cubicle (Larry Clark - A. People) - 6:43
2.) Moon's Dancing (Larry Clark - Danny Poff - A. People) - 6:03
3.) Interlude (A. People) - 2:26
4.) Coffin Maker (Larry Clark - A. People) - 5:24