Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Introducing Lobo
Company: Big Tree
Catalog: BTS 2003
Year: 1975
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring wear
Available: 1
Price: $5.00
With a musical career stretching back to the early-'60s, Roland Kent Lavoie (aka Lobo) is an interesting phenomenon. Throughout the years (particularly the mid-'70s), he enjoyed a string of commercial successes, selling some 15 million singles and some three million albums. In spite of the massive sales, Lobo never managed to create much of a personal image - hence today (like Charlie's Angels and the Hustle), he's little more than a minor '70s cultural icon.
Lavoie started his musical career while attending college in Florida. While enrolled in school he earned cash working in a succession of local bar bands such as The Rumours (whose line up briefly included Gram Parsons and Jim Stafford), The Legends and The Sugar Beats (see separate entries). After graduating and a brief stint in the Army, Lavoie returned to Florida; got married and resumed his musical career working in local clubs. Living in Tampa, he hooked up with the little known Me and The Other Guys, where he was discovered by producer/manager Phil Gerhard. While paying his bills on the club circuit, Lobo spent the next three years writing material.
Under Gernhard's tutelage Lavoie opted for a new stage name. As Lobo (wolf in Spanish), in 1970 he was signed to Bell Records newly formed Big Tree subsidiary. Produced by Gernhard,
"Introducing Lobo" showcased the singer's lightweight, pop orientation. The owner of a thin, rather colorless voice, Lobo deserved credit for knowing how to construct melodic (if
inane) power-pop. Exemplified by material such as "The Albatross", "A Little Different" and "We'll Be One By Two Today", the set was full of mild social commentary, back-to-the-country, and I-want -to-keep-it-simple platitudes that were so common in the early-'70s. Imagine John Denver with a touch of top-40 fever thrown in and you'll be close to the mark. Elsewhere, released as a single "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" b/w "Walk Away from It All" (Big Tree catalog BT-112) went top-5. (Unfortunately, we can remember the song plastering the airwaves.) Propelled by the hit single, the parent album proved a minor chart success, peaking at #178.
Re-released in 1973 with a new cover and new catalog number (BTS-2100), the set
re-charted, reaching #163.
"Introducing Lobo" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) Me and You and a Dog Named Boo (Kent Lavoie) - 2:07
2.) The Albatross (Dick Holler) - 3:07
3.) We'll Make It - I Know We Will
4.) A Little Different (Kent Lavoie) - 2:53
5.) Reaching Out for Someone (Dick Holler) - 2:06
(side
2)
1.) She Didn't Do Magic (Kent Lavoie) - 2:52
2.) Little Joe (They're Out To Get Ya') (Dick Holler) - 3:13
3.) I'm the Only One (Kent Lavoie) - 3:17
4.) We'll Be One By Two Today (Kent Lavoie - M. Gately) - 3:20
5.) Another Hill To Climb (Kent Lavoie) - 2:34
By the way, there are several Lobo websites. Among the best is: