Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Waiting for the Dawn
Company: Hippopotamus
Catalog: HLP 97202
Year: 1976
Country/State: Canada
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: still in shrink wrap
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: not yet listed
Price: $150.00
Cost: $1.00
Mid-1970s Canadian
hard rock bands aren't exactly a novel concept. So, on the surface there
wouldn't appear to be much to distinguish Emerald City from a slew
competitors. The fact that today the band (singer/guitarist Matthew Enright,
bassist George Gardos and drummer Patrick Saraceno), is hopelessly obscure
would seem to reinforce the contention these guys didn't have much to offer.
Wrong, wrong, wrong !!!
Released by the small Canadian Hippopotamus Records, the trio's 1976's debut
"Waiting for the Dawn"
was recorded in Quebec with Joey Perno and Enright producing. With Enright
credited with penning all ten selections, tracks such as the instrumental 'Guiding',
'Hold Of My Soul' and the pseudo-funky 'Rythmn Highway' (sic) offered up an
intriguing blend of surprisingly commercial moves and Hendrix-styled guitar.
At the risk of scaring some of you off, mid-'70s Frank Marino and Robin
Trower come to mind, though it isn't an exact comparison. While Marino and
Trower worshipped at the Hendrix alter, these guys kept a respective
distance. Among the few complaints, the female backing chorus was
occasionally disconcerting ('Hold of My Soul'). One if the biggest surprised
I've discovered the last year and an album that regularly visits our
turntable (well actually the CDR I burned).
"Waiting for the Dawn" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Opening Lines
(Matthew Enright) - 0:53
2.) Rythmn Highway (Matthew Enright) - 3:16
3.) Hold Of My Soul (Matthew Enright) - 2:10
4.) Sass (Matthew Enright) - 2:20
5.) Guiding (instrumental) (Matthew Enright) - 3:22
(side 2)
1.) Lonely Lady
(Matthew Enright) - 3:03
2.) Walk On (Matthew Enright) - 3:22
3.) Waiting for the Dawn (Matthew Enright) - 2:22
4.) Expressions (Matthew Enright) - 3:42
5.) Little Red (Matthew Enright) - 4:48
Also note that the LP was booted in the mid-1990s. No idea how you
distinguish originals from counterfeits. Anyone out there know?