Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Geronimo Black
Company: Uni
Catalog: 73132
Year: 1972
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: gatefold sleeve; lyric sheet insert
Available: 1
Price: $35.00
The little known Geronimo Black sported some heavy musical firepower in the form of former Zappa/Mothers of Invention
sidemen Jimmy Carl Black and Bunk Gardner, ex-Big Mouth guitarist Denny
Walley and Tjay Contrelli (ex-Love) (see separate entries). Signed by Uni, the sextet's 1972 self-titled debut teamed them with producer Keith Olsen. With all six band members contributing material, musically
"Geronimo Black" was all over the spectrum. Hard rock ("Low Ridin' Man"), BS&T horns ("Bullwhip"), jazz-rock fusion (the instrumental "Siesta"), and blues ("L.A. County Jail '59 C/S") were all represented. Unfortunately, the band's versatility was itself a mixed blessing. The constant change of styles met the LP was entertaining. On the other hand, it was hard to figure out what to make of these guys. Personal favorites, the pretty acoustic ballad "Gone" and the bizarre social/political rant "An American National Anthem".
In spite of big hopes by Uni, the collection vanished without a trace.
(The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve and included a lyric sheet insert.)
By the way, in case you were wondering, the band was named after the
youngest of Black's five children.
"Geronimo Black" track listing:
1.) Low Ridin' Man (Jimmy Carl Black - Tjay Contrelli) - 4:16
2.) Siesta (instrumental) (Andy Cahan - Tjay Contrelli - Bunk Gardner) - 4:13
3.) Other Man (Tom Leavey - Denny Walley) - 3:01
4.) L.A. County Jail '59 C/S (Tjay Contrelli) - 4:16
5.) Let Us Live (Andy Cahan) - 4:33
6.) Bullwhip (Tjay Contrelli) - 4:01
7.) Quakers Earthquake (instrumental) (Andy Cahan) - 2:55
8.) Gone (Tom Leavey - Denny Walley) - 3:06
9.) An American National Anthem (Phillip Moreno - Jimmy Carl Black) - 7:07
