Genre: rock
Rating: 2 stars **
Title: Michael Rabon & Choctaw
Company: Abnak/Uni
Catalog: 73102
Year: 1971
Country/State: Oaklahoma
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: gatefold sleeve; bullet hole bottom right corner
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5499
Price: $15.00
Namesake Michael Rabon and drummer Jim Wright had both been members of The Five Americans. When the band called it quits the pair elected to continue their collaboration in Michael Rabon & Choctaw. Rounding out the lineup with
keyboardist Randy Fouts and bass player Jerry McDonald the quartet was signed by Abnak (which coincidently had been The Five Americans' label).
left to right: Jim Wright - Michael Rabon
While this LP isn't exactly rare, it took me a couple of years to actually track down a copy at a yard sale. Since I'm a big Five Americans fan (see my write ups on their catalog) I had high hopes for this effort. Probably a big mistake since high expectations are frequently dashed ... Produced and largely written by Rabon, 1971's "Michael Rabon & Choctaw" wasn't exactly The Five Americans Part II. To some extent that's probably a good thing. On the other had Rabon's decision to head off in a country-rock direction made for what's best described as an acquired taste. While there wasn't anything wrong with country-rock material like 'Heaven Knows', 'Sad Jamboree' and 'Texas Sparrow', few of the tracks made a lasting impression. An added problem; at least to my ears Rabon's voice just wasn't well suited for the country rock genre. He sounded far more comfortable on the isolated up tempo rockers like 'Country Music', 'California, Hollywood', and 'I Need You'. Uni also tapped the LP for the single 'California Hollywood' b/w ' Mary Miles' (Uni catalog number 55289).
"Michael
Rabon & Choctaw" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Heaven Knows (Michael Rabon) - 3:18
2.) Sad Jamboree (Michael Rabon) - 2:45
3.) Musical Apparition (Michael Rabon) - 3:58
4.) Country Music (Michael Rabon) - 2:36
5.) Mary Miles (Michael Rabon) - 1:35
(side
2)
1.) California, Hollywood (Michael Rabon) - 2:05
2.) Texas Sparrow (Michael Rabon) - 3:20
3.) Down Past The Road (Michael Rabon) - 3:10
4.) I Need You (Michael Rabon) - 2:29
5.) Comin' Home (Michael Rabon) - 3:00
The group released at least one non-LP single before calling it quits:
- 1972's 'Let Your Light Shine On' b/w 'Texas Sparrow' (Uni catalog number 55305).
Rabon's musical career then shifted into downgear. He apparently recorded some material with former Five Americans John Durrill and released an instantly obscure 1975 LP "Texas Till I Die" (Knifewing catalog number KRLP441). I've never heard it, but judging by the song titles I'm guessing it had a country flavor to it.
"Texas Till I Die" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Let the Music Play
2.) Try a Little Hard
3.) Just for a Memory
4.) Two Sided Man
5.) Texas Till I Die
(side 2)
1.) Free
2.) Loose and Handsome
3.) Straight Brothers
4.) Dixie Rain
5.) Country Weddin'
There's also at least one solo 45: 'Love is Just A Word' b/w 'Two In One' (Zodiac catalog number Z5-1012).
He then moved on to work as an administrator in the Oklahoma school system and is a member of the Southeastern University Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Wright became a professional photographer living and working in Dennison, Texas.