Genre: psych
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Gypsy People
Company: ABC
Catalog: ABCS-691
Year: 1969
Country/State: unknown
Grade (cover/record): NM / NM
Comments: small drill hole top right corner
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4925
Price: $150.00
Cost: $97.51
Can't say I've uncovered much about this short-lived duo composed of singer/guitarists Jan Hendin and Lorraine LeFevre. What little information out there is contradictory. Even the basic facts are hazy with some references saying they were American, others indicating they were British and still other works saying they were Canadian.
Regardless, their sole album 1969's "Gypsy" was recorded in London's IBC Studios with Anthony Browne producing and with backing from a rather impressive collection of UK musicians. With both Hendin and LeFevre contributing material the album offered up an engaging mix of folk, psych and world music moves. Dealers continually drop the term 'acid-folk when trying to unload lame folk crap on unsuspecting collectors, but if you want to hear a true acid-folk LP, then this may well set the benchmark for such comparisons. By themselves Hendin and LeFevre both had attractive voices and on material such as 'Bird of Passage', the title track and '' they turned in some gorgeous harmony work that had a distinctive English folk-rock feel which occasionally recalled the likes of Sandy Denny, June Tabor, etc.. Actually, because of the distinctive middle eastern flavors found throughout the album, a better comparison might be to Magic Carpet's Alisha Sufit (interesting to note that tabla player Kaeshav Sathe played with Magic Carpet). The pair also had pretty interesting tastes in outside music with the album including a pair of Perth County Conspiracy covers (Richard Keelan's rocking 'Break Out the Wine' and 'Don't You Feel Fine'). While there wasn't anything particularly commercial here (which is one of the attractions for me), the duo's willingness to experiment and take some substantial risks gave the set a unique appeal that should be of interest to a wide spectrum of collectors. Personal favorites included the funky raga-influenced title track, the extended 'The Assignmnet Song-Sequence' and ''. Perhaps intended as their stab at commerciality, to my ears the only real mis-steps were 'Snow Roses' which was a little too operatic for my ears, 'Space 33' which featured a young girl on lead vocals, and the goofy music hall-styled 'Old Tyme Move'. Ray Davies and Paul McCartney could get away with it on occasion, but not this pair. Excluding those couple of minor let downs, it's surprising that this album isn't commanding much more attraction for collectors (and similar prices).
"Gypsy People" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Break Out the Wine (Richard Keelan) -
2.) Bird of Passage (Lorraine LeFevre) -
3.) Gypsy People (Douglas Graham - M. Chapman) -
4.) Foolin' Myself (Jan Hendin) -
5.) Old Tyme Movie (Lorraine LeFevre) -
(side
2)
1.) Life's Parade (Lorraine LeFevre) -
2.) Snow Roses (Lorraine LeFevre) -
3.) The Assignment Song-Sequence (Jan Hendin) -
4.) Number 33 (Jan Hendin) -
5.) Don't You Feel Fine (Richard Keelan) -