Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: No Gimmicks Just Music
Company: Genera
Catalog: LPS
GR 5575
Year: 1974
Country/State: West Alexandria, Ohio
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5571
Price: $80.00
Maybe it's an early senior moment, but I have absolutely no recollection of having purchased this album. It just seems to have appeared in the middle of my 'to listen to' pile.
What little biographical info I've come across came from the album liner notes accompanying 1974's "No Gimmicks Just Music" and there wasn't much there. Singer/songwriter Del Buckingham was apparently a native of South West Ohio. That guess is based on the fact his album was recorded in West Alexandria, Ohio. A true private press, Buckingham served as publisher, executive producer, wrote all twelve tracks, and handled vocals and keyboards.
Judging by the cover (I know, never judge a record by it's cover ...), I was expecting to hear a set of singer/songwriter personal pain. The first couple of times I played the collection it was stark ballads like 'Another Drunken Morning' and 'Good-Bye' that stood out. Unfortunately, I'm not big on singer/songwriter ballads so nothing here made much of an impression on me. Luckily I set the LP aside and gave it another shot a couple of months later. Revisiting the album I was surprised to discover those ballads were atypical, the collection actually far more diverse and quirky than I remembered. Buckingham had a lightweight, but likeable voice that occasionally reminded me of a slightly flatter sounding Marc Bolan. That resemblance was underscored on a couple of the funkier tracks - check out the hyper-speed opener 'Your Eyes Do Lie', 'Conversation' and 'Strange Lady'. Elsewhere, complete with flute solo 'Smilin' Lady' sported a jazzy vibe. 'I Can Feel the Day' was the most mainstream rocker (with another nice guitar solo). 'Sweet Rock and Roll' was the weirdest track somehow managing to meld feedback guitar with a lame lyric and fey vocal performance. The album also benefited from full band arrangements with the anonymous lead guitarist turning in some tasteful work (check out his lead work on the jazzy ballad 'Woman (I Can Feel') and 'Everybody'). Weird and diverse enough that it will appeal to some folks out there.
"No
Gimmicks Just Music" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Your Eyes Do Lie (Del Buckingham) - 1:39
2.) Wrong Is Right (Del Buckingham) - 2:17
3.) Conversation (Del Buckingham) - 2:49
4.) Woman (I Can Feel) (Del Buckingham) - 3:03
5.) Another Drunken Morning (Del Buckingham) -- 2:36
6.) Smilin' Lady (Del Buckingham) - 4:07
(side
2)
1.) Strange Lady (Del Buckingham) - 2:36
2.) Sweet Rock and Roll (Del Buckingham) - 3:40
3.) Everybody (Del Buckingham) - 2:46
4.) I Can Feel the Day (Del Buckingham) - 1:54
5.) Good-Bye (Del Buckingham) - 2:22
6.) Look Into the Skies (Del Buckingham) - 3:03
As far as I can tell this was Buckingham's only release ...