Genre: rock
Rating: ** (2 stars)
Title: Smooth As Raw Silk
Company: ABC
Catalog: ABCS-694
Year: 1969
Country/State: Cleveland, Ohio
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: gatefold sleeve
Available: SOLD
GEMM Catalog ID: 4927
Price: SOLD $35.00
This short-lived Cleveland-based outfit is probably best known for having served as a springboard for singer/guitarist Michael Stanley Gee of future Michael Stanley band fame.
Like half of the teenagers in the United States, by 1965 the combination of girls and money proved irresistible to the teenaged Gee, who started his career playing in a number of local groups including The Scepters. By 1968 Gee was attending Hiram University and joined a late-inning version of Clevelabd's Beatles-inspired The Tree Stumps showcasing the talents of Gee, guitarist Chris Johns, drummer Courtney Johns and keyboardist Randy Sabo. Playing dances and local clubs won the band a cult following and released a couple of singles, but met with little financial reward and by 1969 the Stumps had morphed into Silk. Silk did little and o the verge of calling it quits, a performance at a Cleveland club attracted the attention of producer Bill Szymczyk who'd been sent on the road by ABC Records to look for talent. (The same trip saw him sign Joe Walsh and the James Gang to a contract.)
Signed to ABC, the band were teamed with producer Szymczyk (who also
co-wrote several tracks). The group's 1969 debut "Smooth As Raw Silk"
served to showcase the band's broad and versatile repertoire. Gee
and Sabo split vocal duties and while both were professional, neither was
overwhelming (Sabo actually struck me as the better of the two). With
all four members contributed the writing chores (a cover of Tim Rose's 'Long Haired Boy' was the lone
non-original), the results found the band touching base on a wide array of
genres ranging from country ('Custody'), to sensitive singer/songwriter
moves, and even horn rock ('Not a Whole Lot I Can Do'). The results
were never less than professional, but the lack of focus left you kind of
wondering who these guys really were - t times it almost came off as a demo
intended to show they could do it all. The collection got off to a
nice start with the effects laden 'Introduction' (dedicated to airline
pilots everywhere) and the psych-rocker 'Foreign Trip'. From that
point on things became very hit or miss. Sporting some nice twin lead guitar
work from Johns and guest Harry Porter 'Skito Blues' was an excellent
rocker. Almost as good was the raucous 'Come On Down Girl'. At
the other end of the spectrum taking on the then-taboo issue of divorce and
children the C&W-flavored
'Custody' was easily the strangest song. Coming in a close second, 'Scottish
Thing' somehow managing to meld a trance feel with bagpipes. The song
was also interesting in that it was dedicated to Elektra's Jac
Holtzman (even though the band was signed to ABC). It's a set
I've listened to dozens of times over the years and while the collection had
flashes of real talent, ultimately it wasn't consistent or original to make
the cut. The album actually managed to hit the top-200 charts (peaking
at # 191) but the quartet subsequently called it quits.
"Smooth As Raw Silk" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Introduction - 1:12
2.) Foreign Trip (Chris Johns - Bill Szymczyk) - 4:07
3.) Long Haired Boy (Tim Rose) - 3:38
4.) Not a Whole Lot I Can Do (Michael Gee) - 3:07
5.) Custody (Steve Karliski - Larry Kolber) - 2:19
6.) Scottish Thing (Michael Gee - Richard Sabo) - 4:47
(side 2)
1.) Skito Blues
(Michael Gee - Richard Sabo - Chris Johns - Bill Szymczyk) -
4:34
2.) Hours (Michael Gee - Richard Sabo) - 2:48
3.) Walk In My Mind (Michael Gee) - 4:18
4.) Come On Down Girl (Michael Gee - Richard Sabo - Bill Szymczyk) - 3:45
5.) For All Time (Michael Gee) - 4:23
Sabo was briefly a member of the Cleveland band Frenz.
Gee went on to considerable success under the name Michael Stanley (aka The Michael Stanley Band). For anyone interested, he has an extensive website at:
http://www.michaelstanley.com/Home_Page.html