Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: A Far Cry
Company: Vanguard Apostolic
Catalog: VSD-6510
Year: 1969
Country/State: Boston, Mass
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: still in shrink wrap; original inner sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 639
Price: $70.00
Cost: $1.00
Geez, ever heard
the phrase something is "an acquired taste"? Well, it's
certainly an applicable description for the Boston-based Far Cry.
An early entry to the horn-rock sweepstakes, this seven piece outfit
featured the talents of bassist Sean Hutchinson, guitarist Paul Lenart,
keyboard player Larry Luddecke, sax player Dick Martin, drummer Victor
McGill, guitarist David Perry and singer Jere Whitting. Signed by the
short-lived New York-based Vanguard Apostolic Records, the band's
self-titled debut teamed them with producer Daniel Weiss. So what's 1969's
"Far Cry" sound like?
Imagine Blood, Sweat and Tears locked into a closet with Captain Beefheart
and Quicksilver Messenger Service's John Cipollina... Largely original (the
lone exception being a cover of Riley King's 'Sweet Little Angel'), the
album featured a strange blend of jazz, fusion and psychedelic rock moves.
While it may not have sounded particularly promising, the combination of
styles was actually intriguing. Whiting's bizarre and wild voice (on tracks
such as 'Shapes' and 'Hellhound' it sounded as if he were about to suffer a
terminal stoke), Martin's free form sax (sometime it sounded as if he were
reading the charts for a different song) and Lenart's fluid guitar (check
out the introduction to 'Earthlight') made for an album we play on a regular
basis.
"A Far Cry" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Shapes (David
Perry) - 4:30
2.) Midnight Juice (Larry Luddecke - Jere Whiting) - 7:21
3.) Dream? (Grossman - Victor McGill) - 9:53
4.) Hellhound (Jere Whiting) - 3:44
(side 1)
1.) Earthlight
(instrumental) (Paul Lenart - David Perry) - 3:40
2.) Sweet Little Angel (Riley King - Jules Taub) - 8:05
3.) Listen to the Walls (Friedel - David Perry) - 6:50
With the exception of a single ('Shapes' b/w 'Hellbound' Vanguard catalog
number 35085), this seems to be the extent of their recording career.