Genre: progressive
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Friendliness
Company: MCA
Catalog: MCA-308
Year: 1972
Country/State: Bristol, UK
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: minor ring wear on cover
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4879
Price: $20.00
I've always found it interesting that this talented English outfit couldn't even get arrested in the States. This is probably way simplistic, but my take on their lack of American success (not that they sold zillions in the UK), was that they were simply too talented and too eclectic (in a very British fashion) for major labels to deal with. Makes you wonder how the Fab Four would have done had they come to the forefront in the early 1970s.
Released by MCA, 1972's "Friendliness" served as the band's American debut. Co-produced by the band and Vic Gamm, the resulting 11 tracks were reportedly recorded and mixed over the course of about 100 studio hours. Musically it may not have been their creative zenith, but to my ears it's their most consistent and rewarding album. With singer/multi-instrumentalist Andy Davis and singer/guitarist James Warren responsible for the majority of the material, the album showcased the band's unique mixture of commercial sensibilities, British humor and willingness to experiment with diverse musical genres. On tracks like the lead off instrumental 'Lummy Days' multiple styles were often incorporated into a single composition. Certainly an overused comparison, but in some ways this one really did stand up to comparisons with The Beatles' "White Album". The dual version title track offered up a near-perfect angelic ballad that should have provided the band with an enormous hit. 'Anyone for Tennis' perfectly captured Paul McCartney's affection for 1920s English musical hall stylings. Clocking in at over eight minutes the melotron-propelled 'Syracuse the Elephant' was either an early animal rights track, or an English joke that didn't translate very well. Regardless, it included a nice little sitar-propelled section. Want an early touch of reggae? Got it - even though 'Amazingly Agnes' is apparently a love song to a cow. Admittedly it sounded completely disjointed, but somehow holds together. Not that it mattered in the States. With MCA proving itself clueless as to how to market the band to an American audience, the album was released with little promotion or support, quickly ending up in US cutout bins.
"Friendliness" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Lummy Days (instrumental) (Andy Davis) -
2.) Friendliness 1 (James Warren) -
3.) Anyone for Tennis (James Warren) -
4.) Oh
5.) There Is No Refuge (James Warren) -
6.) Syracuse the Elephant (James Warren - Andy Davis) -
(side
2)
1.) Amazingly Agnes (James Warren) -
2.) Father Frankenstein Is Behind Your Pillow (James Warren) -
3.) Story of My Heart (instrumental) (Mutter Slater) -
4.) Keep On Clucking (James Warren - Andy Davis) -
5.) Friendliness 2 (James Warren) -
6.)
Teatime (James Warren - Andy Davis) -