Millennium

Band members               Related acts

- Curt Boettcher (RIP 1987) - vocals
- Ron Edgar - drums, percussion
- Michael Fennelly - vocals, guitar
- Lee Mallory - 
- Keith Olsen - keyboards
- Doug Rhodes - keyboards
- Jim Ryan - guitar
- Sandy Salisbury - 
- Jerry Scheff - 
- Joey Stec - 

 

 - Ballroom (Curt Boettcher)
- California (Curt Boettcher)
- Crabby Appleton (Michael Fennelly)
- The Critters (Jim Ryan)
- Friar Tuck (Curt Boettcher)
- Goldenrod (Jeff Scheff)
- The Music Machine (Ron Edgar,  Keith Olsen and Doug Rhodes)
- Sagittarius (Curt Boettcher)
- Your Gang (Curt Boettcher)

 

 

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Begin

Company: Columbia

Catalog: CS 9663

Year: 1968

Grade (cover/record): G+/VG

Comments: split seam at bottom

Available: 1

Price: $60.00

 

 Envisioned as a corporate super group by Columbia producer Curt Boettcher, the ill-name The Millennium barely survived long enough to release one album. At least on paper the band was gifted with a talented lineup including Boettcher, who had played with The Goldebriars, Summer's Children, The Ball and Ballroom. Rounding out the lineup were former Music Machine alumnus's Ron Edgar on drums, keyboardist Keith Olsen and guitarist Doug Rhodes. Also contributing, newcomer singer/guitarist Michael Fennlley, ex-Critters guitarist Jim Ryan and former Goldenrod member Jerry Scheff (see separate entries) 

Released in 1968, "Begin" effectively served as a showcase for Boettcher. In addition to producing (along with Olsen), he handled most of the lead vocals and wrote roughly half the material. Exemplified by material such as "To Claudia On Thursday", "I Just Want To Be Your Friend" and "It's You" the results made for a gorgeous set of Southern California-styled lite-psychedelia. While occasionally straying a bit too close to Association/Mamas and the Papas-styled MOR pap ("I'm with You" and "The Island"), for the most part the set offered up wonderful melodies, awesome harmonies (" I Won't Always Be the Same") and a resounding commercial tilt. Among the more interesting numbers were a pair of outright psyche pieces: "The Know It All" and "Karmic Dream Sequence #1". Those mixed characteristics ensured the set was ignored by AM and FM radio, as well as the buying public. Reportedly one of the most expensive records ever produced by Columbia, the company was less than thrilled by the collection's commercial failure. Today viewed as a lost era classic, the set deserved a far better fate and is well worth digging around for.

"Begin" track listing:

(side 1)
1.) Prelude (instrumental) (Doug Rhodes - Ron Edgar) - 
2.) To Claudia On Thursday (Joey Stec - Michael Fennelly) - 
3.) I Just Want To Be Your Friend (Curt Boettcher) - 
4.) 5 A.M. (Sandy Salisbury) - 
5.) I'm with You (Lee Mallory) - 
6.) The Island (Curt Boettcher) - 
7.) Sing To Me (Lee Mallory) - 

(side 2)
1.) It's You (Joey Stec - Michael Fennelly) - 
2.) Some Sunny Day (Lee Mallory) - 
3.) I Won't Always Be the Same (Joey Stec - Michael Fennelly) - 
4.) The Know It All (Curt Boettcher) - 
5.) Karmic Dream Sequence #1 (Curt Boettcher - Lee Mallory) - 
6.) There Is Nothing More To Say (Curt Boettcher- Michael Fennelly - Lee Mallory) - 
7.) Anthem (Begin) (Curt Boettcher - Sandy Salisbury - Lee Mallory - Doug Rhodes) 

By the mid-'80s musical tastes had long passed Boettcher by. Barely covering his living expenses, lacking health insurance and suffering from a lung infection, in July 1987 he checked into a Los Angeles hospital. Within a matter of days he was dead. 

Three years later Columbia reissued the band's sole album. The 1990 reissue included two previously unreleased tracks: "Blight" and "Just About the Same".

 

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