Genre: rock
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title: Fresh Air
Company: Amaret
Catalog: ST 5005
Year: 1969
Country/State: Thousand Oaks, California
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: still in shrink wrap
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4952
Price: $200.00
This one's surprisingly hard to find, let alone in good condition. Similarly, finding information on the band is a challenge.
Apparently based in Southern California (Ventura County), the line up consisted of Allen Carey, non-performing member Louie Caridi, Mick Jones, lead vocalist Marc Piscitelli, Peter Plumeri and Tim Whitcanack. Originally known as California Grassfield, they started out playing local clubs and talent contests before being signed by the Minnesota-based Amaret label. Recorded in Hollywood's Sunset Studios, 1969's "Fresh Air" teamed the group with producer Clancy B. Grass. Showcasing a largely original set, the album wasn't exactly the year's most creative offering. That said, the mix of pop, hard rock and psych was actually quite good. Piscitelli had a great voice that was versatile enough to handle everything from blue-eyed soul to straight ahead rock, while the rest of the band played with a nice sense of enthusiasm. Ironically, the album opened with one of the band's worst selections - a horrid speed-of-sound cover of The Buffalo Springfield's 'For What It's Worth' ... From there on things improved markedly. Highlights included the taunt rockers 'Faces In The Fire', 'Get Away Car Car' and the psych-ish ballad 'December'.
"Fresh Air" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) For What It's Worth (Stephen Stills) - 2:40
2.) Faces In The Fire (Lou Caridi) - 3:50
3.) December (Marc Piscitelli) - 4:50
4.) Somewhere A Mountain Is Moving (Lou Caridi) - 2:30
5.)
Get Away Car Car
(Lou Carrdi) - 2:39
(side
2)
1.) I've Lost My
Faith (Lou Caridi) - 3:10
2.) Baby Lady (R. Kutner) - 3:29
3.) Sleeping On Sunshine (Lou Caridi) - 3:20
4.) Sailor Man (Marc Piscitelli - Lou Caridi) - 2:39
5.) I Finally Found A Friend (Lou Caridi) - 2:48
As far as I can tell Whitcanack is still in California and remains an active musician. Piscitelli branched into engineering and also appears to have remained active in the business, working with a wide range of acts including Tommy James, Juice Newton and Spirit.