Genre: progressive
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Seven Deadly Sins
Company: Probe
Catalog: CPLP 4513
Year: 1969
Country/State: US
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: small cut out hole; gatefold sleeve
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4
Price: $50.00
Cost: $66.00
Hum ... This is
easily one of the odder major label efforts we've stumbled across.
As Plus, brothers Mike (drums) and Tony (guitar) Newman and bassist Max
Simms found an impressive mentor in the form of ex-Yardbirds
bassist/producer Simon Napier-Bell. Napier-Bell was apparently instrumental
in getting the trio a recording deal with ABC's short-lived Probe
subsidiary.
In addition to co-producing 1969's "The
Seven Deadly Sings", Napier-Bell and Ray Singer were
credited with co-writing roughly half the album. A goofy concept piece (any
guesses on the plotline), the set seemed to be a clumsy effort to cash in on
the public's renewed interest in religion (aka "Jesus Christ
Superstar", or "Mass In F Minor" Electric Prunes).
Thematically and lyrically the album was clearly linked via brief spoken
intros and instrumental interludes, which makes it even funnier to discover
that musically the set's all over the spectrum. Material such as the
instrumental "Gloria In Excelsis: Toccata" and "The Secrets:
Devil's Hymn" mixed classical moves with chuch choirs and progressive
moves. Elsewhere "Pride: Pride" and "Envy: I'm Talking As a
Friend" offered up a startling pair of Badfinger-styled pop jewels,
while "Avarice: Daddy's Thing" was surprisingly funky and
"Wrath: Gemegemera" was standard hard rock. Needless to say, sales
were far and few. (The album was originally released with an embossed,
gatefold cover.)
"The Seven Deadly Sins" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Introit:
Twenty Thousand People (Simon Napier Bell - Ray Singer) - 3:20
2.) Gloria In Excelsis: Toccata (instrumental) (Simon Napier Bell - Ray
Singer) -
3.) Avarice: Daddy's Thing (Mike Newman - Tony Newman) -
4.) Pride: Pride (Simon Napier Bell - Ray Singer) -
5.) Sloth: Open Up Your Eyes (Mike Newman - Tony Newman) -
6.) Wrath: Gemegemera (Simon Napier Bell - Ray Singer) -
(side 2)
1.) The Secrets:
Devil's Hymn (instrumental) (Simon Napier Bell - Ray Singer) -
2.) Lust: Maybe You're The Same (Mike Newman - Tony Newman) -
3.) Envy: I'm Talking As a Friend" (Mike Newman - Tony Newman) -
4.) Gluttony: Something To Threaten Your Family (Mike Newman - Tony Newman)
-
5.) The Dismissal: Twenty Thousand People (Simon Napier Bell - Ray Singer) -
1999 saw the set reissued in CD format by the small Free label (catalog
number FRC 9903).