Genre: rock
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Time Loop
Company: Kama Sutra
Catalog: KSBS 2057
Year: 1972
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): NM/NM
Comments: was sealed; opened and played once, includes lyric insert
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4526
Price: $30.00
Cost: $66.00
I'd never heard of Chet Nichols, but this album caught my attention for some of the supporting cast, including Nick Gravenites (who produced one of the songs), keyboardist Nicky Hopkins and bass player Pete Sears. Unfortunately, those guys only play on the title track ...
1972's "Time Loop" is kind of interesting in that it isn't what you'd expect to hear released by Kama Sutra. With the exception of the title track, the album is co-produced by Steven Barncard and Nichols. In spite of what some dealers would have you believe this isn't a lost acid folk (gag me) classic, rather the predominant sound is sensitive singer/songwriter fair. (I've seen one catalog that describes him as an Anglo Roy Harper - hardly.) Nichols had an attractive, if lightweight voice and exemplified by material such as 'Electra' and 'Who Stole the Ivy' he had a knack for penning attractive melodies. His deep and thoughtful lyrics probably drove scores of female college English majors crazy ("the separation is cut and clear what has been said could have been left unsaid ..."), but to my pedestrian ears it sounds rather dated and pompous ('course what the hell do I know). Probably due to the fact they sport electric backing, the two standout tracks are 'The Ballad of Diamond Joe' (the ominious lyric and stoned fuzz guitar reminded me of something out of the David Crosby songbook), while the Nicky Hopkins-propelled title track could have been an early Elton John effort. Certainly not the worst LP you've ever heard and there are a couple of nice moments here, but all told probably something most folks can live without.
"Time Loop" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Electra (Chet Nichols) -
2.) Water Sand Castles (Chet Nichols) -
3.) Who Stole the Ivy (Chet Nichols) -
4.) The Ballad of Diamond Joe (Chet Nichols) -
(side 2)
1.) (Spinning On the) Time Loop (Chet Nichols) -
2.) Tell Me What the Count Is (Chet Nichols) -
3.) The Offing (Chet Nichols) -
4.) The Beetles Are Coming (Chet Nichols) -
5.) Quasar Sleeper (instrumental) (Chet Nichols) -