Genre: pop
Rating: 2 stars **
Title: Fever
Company: Dellwood
Catalog: DLD
56011
Year: 1977
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): NM / NM
Comments: still in shrink
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5694
Price: $100.00
1977's "Fever" is another one of those tax loss mysteries ... Not that anything on the Dellwood label's particularly easy to find, but this is one of the rarer releases on the label. That rarity drives a big chunk if the asking price.
In terms of biographical information there's nothing to be found out there ... in fact good luck even finding a review on this one. The barebones liner notes say the album was produced by Robert Simpson and all seven tracks were credited to Jackie LaBaron. So what's it actually sound like?
Unlike a lot of tax loss LPs which simply repackaged earlier matrial, this one was clearly written and recorded in the mid-1970s. Tracks like '' and '' just had that era feel and vibe. That said, it was hard to tell if this was a true band enterprise, or not. I could swear I'd heard the anonymous male lead singer's voice before, though I've never been able to place him. Regardless, he was quite good, easily transitioning from dance material to more conventional rock.
- With a pseudo-disco beat and incidiously catchy groove, 'How Could You Leave' certainly had commercial appeal and would have sounded great on mid-1970s radio.
- 'Virginia' was a pretty electric keyboard propelled ballad. It would have been even stronger without the irritating female backing vocals.
- Another highly catchy slice of pop, it wouldn't be difficult to picture 'Sunshine' getting airplay had it been given some exposure and promotion. Mindless fun ...
- "We Can Work It Out' started out as a lame ballad before exploding into an up tempo rocker, slowing down for the chorus, and the reving up again. Unfortunately the song was wrecked by the strident and shrill female back chorus. Not a good thing.
- The hyper-urgent 'Sin-Dee' has always reminded me of a Jim Steinman and Meatloaf epic. Buried somewhere in this aural mess there was actually a nice hook, but the thing was simply buried and blugeoned to death under a wall-of-sound arrangement.
- Kind of a jarring change in direction, 'Fairy Tales' was a mid-tempo ballad that sported a different lead singer; an anonymous female this time out. She certainly had a pair of chops, but was kind of on the shrill side, making the mid-section guitar solo the highlight.
- 'AIn't No Use' ended the album on a too-cute throwaway number hat sounded like something the later Peter Allen might have released. Yech.
Wish I could tell you this was a lost tax scam classic, but it ain't ...
"Fever" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) How Could You Leave (Jackie LaBaron) -
2. Virginia (Jackie LaBaron) -
3.) Sunshine (Jackie LaBaron) -
4.) We Can Work It Out (Jackie LaBaron) -
(side
2)
1.) Sin-Dee (Jackie LaBaron) -
2.) Fairy Tales (Jackie LaBaron) -
3.) Ain't No Use (Jackie LaBaron) -