Genre: pop
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Montage
Company: Liberty
Catalog: LP-12408
Year: 1969
Country/State: California
Grade (cover/record): NM/NM
Comments: still in shrink wrap (though opened and wrap is torn)
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed
Price: $40.00
Wow, talk about an era classic ... hard to believe music could have sounded so young and innocent ... First a truth-in-lending type warning; if you're looking for true '60s psych then you need to run away from this group. On the other hand, if you like Association, The Free Design
(without the mock jazzy influences), The Mamas and the Papas, or Orange Colored Skies-type of harmony rich pop, this'll appeal to you.
Apparently formed in California (a supposition based on the debut LP's liner notes), this outfit consisted of brothers John and Tom Bahler, multi-instrumentalist Mitch Gordon, Marilyn Miller, woodwind player Jim Wasson and keyboardist Ann White. Prior to their collaboration all six members had kicked around the music scene, working as backup singers and touring with various acts (White had actually been a member of The New Christie Minstrels).
For better or for worse, 1969's Tommy Oliver-produced "Montage" wasn't a major change in musical direction. This time around the crew expanded their heart warming (or mind numbing) hip platitudes beyond top-40 pop. Apparently meant to give the group a slightly more controversial edge, tracks such as "The Pill",
"Consciousness Expansion" and "A Touch of Love" (complete with excerpts from John F. Kennedy speeches) saw them wrapping their ever cheerful tight knit harmonies around socially and politically-relevant themes. Before you go running out of the room in terror, we've certainly heard worse in our aural
traveling. Not only that, but the Bahlers and company brought with them a certain cloying enthusiasm; almost
evangelistic fervor in the knowledge that their insights could change the world. Personal favorites include the leadoff song "Montage from How Sweet It Is (I Knew That You Knew)" Jimmy Webb at his most articulate (we knew you knew we knew you knew ...) and they should've-been-a-hit slices of top-40 pop "Let the Good Times In" and "Candy". Almost hate to admit this, but this goofy LP actually grows on you if you give it a chance ...
"Montage" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Montage from How Sweet It Is (I Knew That You Knew)
(Jim Webb) -
2.) Let the Good Times In (Carole Bayer - Neil Sedaka) -
3.) I Keep On Talking (Michael Gordon) -
4.) Love and Sunshine (Tommy Oliver) -
5.) A Touch of Love (Tom Bahler - Dick Ross) -
6.) Candy (R. Wilson Royer - James Griffin) -
(side 2)
1.) Love Is a Rainy Sunday (Ray Chafin) -
2.) The Pill (John Bahler - Tom Bahler - Tommy Oliver - Mitch Gordon) -
3.) Sunrise Highway (Peter Andreoli - Vincent Poncia Jr. - John Linde - Bobby Bloom) -
4.) Magic Land (Tommy Olver - John Bahler) -
5.) You (Dave Mani - Ed Fournier) -
6.) Consciousness Expansion (John Bahler - Jim Wasson) -
Following the group's collapse the Bahlers went on to work with The Partridge Family, writing, arranging and providing background vocals for the majority of their recorded catalog.