Genre: psych
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Fields
Company: Uni
Catalog: 73050
Year: 1969
Country/State: Los Angeles, California
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: small cut out hole bottom right corner; gatefold sleeve; minor ring and edge wear
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4293
Price: $100.00
Cost: $45.10
Wish I knew more about this short-lived, late 1960s outfit. Guitarist Richard Fortunato got his start as a member of The Preachers, before joining San Francisco's The Vejtables. Following The Vejtables collapse he moved on to a short lived collaboration with bassist Patrick Burke and drummer Steve Langana.
As Fields, the trio's initial break came when they found a mentor in the form of Mark Slotkin. Slotikin (heir to the Abbey Rents fortune), quickly signed on as the group's manager and used his connections to help the group get signed to Uni Records.
Produced
by former Merry Go Round alumni Bill Rhinehart, 1969's cleverly-titled
"Fields" is kind of an
oddity; especially for a record label that's best known for a more
pop-oriented catalog. With Fortunanto writing most of the six
selections (although Burke and Langana contributed material), the album's
overall feel is very blues-rockish. A number of reviews we've seen
draw comparisons to Cream. In this case the comparison isn't bad, with
tracks such as the leadoff rocker 'Elysian
Fields', 'Take You Home' and 'Jump On It' baring more than a passing
resemblance to Clapton and company. Exemplified by tracks such as
'Bide My Time', the performances are quite raw and if you're tastes run to
top-40 and highly polished performances, then this set won't do much for
you. Personal favorite - the bizarre, sidelong 'Love Is the
Word'. With backing from Motown singer
Brenda Holloway (and the Raylettes), the song offers up a weird blend of
rock, psych and soul influences. Stretched out over nearly 20 minutes,
it has to be heard to be believed.
Elsewhere Uni tapped 'Bide My Time' b/w 'Take You Home' (Uni catalog number
55106) as an instantly forgotten single. The band apparently toured
quite a bit, serving as an opening act for John Mayall and other name
groups, but never broke nationally and collapsed within a year.
"Fields" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Elysian
Fields (Richard Fortunato - L. Bowman - Patrick Burke) - 3:25
2.) Bide My Time (Richard Fortunato - Patrick Burke - Steve Langana) -
5:08
3.) Take You Home (Richard Fortunato) - 3:00
4.) Jump On You (Richard Fortunato) - 3:18
5.) Sun Would Set (Richard Fortunato) - 5:15
(side 2)
1.) Love Is
The Word (Richard Fortunato - Patrick Burke - Steve Langana) -
19:50