Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Purgatory
Company: VMC
Catalog: VS 135 A/B
Year: 1968
Country/State: unknown
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: promo sticker on back cover
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5113
Price: $70.00
To be honest, I bought this album based on the psych-ish cover and the fact the VMC label released a couple of decent albums including a classic pop-psych set by The David (see separate entry). The fact there were almost no credits or liner notes should have given me caution, but I simply wasn't paying much attention. I didn't even take note of the fact most of the nine tracks were covers.
A trio apparently consisting Toney Carrubba, Tony Harris, and Eddie James, whatever expectations I initially held were rudely shattered the first couple of times I played 1968's self-produced "Purgatory" (the album title doesn't appear on the album sleeve, rather on the inner label).
Anyone expecting something similar to The David's pop-psych moves was in for a rude awakening. Most of the collection featured pop and soul hits that were 'toughened up' for a rock audience. Imagine Vanilla Fudge without the pretence, keyboard overkill and dirge tempos and you'd be in the right neighborhood. (Okay, okay their cover of Wilson Pickett's '9 1/2' sounded like a Fudge track.) By all rights the results shouldn't have been any better than most of the Fudge catalog, but that's where it gets kind of strange. Whoever handled the lead vocals was actually quite good and backed by the band's stabbing guitars and cool keyboards these guys turned in some first-rate covers. Hard to believe it, but their cover of The Miracles 'Tracks of My Tears' was killer. Similarly covers of The Chambers Brothers' 'I Can't Stand It' and The Parliament's 'I Wanna Testify' and Major Lance's 'Mickey's Monkey' were almost as good. Elsewhere, judging by the lone original 'My Shrink', VMC missed out by not insisting the band record more original material. Certainly not life changing, but a pleasant surprise ...
"Purgatory" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) 16 Tons (M. Travis) - 3:15
2.) The Road To Hell (T. Harris) - 2:52
3.) My Shrink (T. Harris - Eddie James - Tony Carrubba) - 2:03
4.) Subterrarrean Homsesick Blues (Bob Dylan) - 2:44
5.) Tracks of My Tears (M Traplin - w. Moore - William Robinson ) - 3:14
(side
2)
1.) I Can't Stand It (L.
Chambers) - 2:30
2.) I Wanna Testify (D. Taylor - George Clinton) - 3:09
3.) 99 1/2 (Wilson Pickett) - 4:10
4.) Mickey's Monkey (Eddie Holland - Brian Holland - Lamont Dozier) - 4:10