Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: 20/20 Music
Company: Deram
Catalog: DS-51004
Year: 1968
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+
Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear; gimmick sleeve; no poster
Available: 1
Price: $50.00
This one's odd. Having listened to the LP without paying much attention to it, the combination of the label (Deram) and the overall sound left us with the impression they were English ... wrong !!!
In one of the odder artistic transformations we're aware of, the late-'60s found former Kingsmen and Don and the Goodtimes keyboardist Don Gallucci, vocalist Jeff Hawkes and guitarist Joey Newman elected to continue their collaboration in the band Touch. Rounding out the line up with drummer John Bordonare and bassist Bruce Hauser, the group's self-titled 1969 debut was released by London Record's short-lived Coliseum label. Musically the set found the band clearly trying to shed their earlier "bubble gum". Imagine a hybrid combining Traffic-styled jazz jams and ELP-styled art-rock crescendos and you'll get a feel for much of
"20/20 Sound". A true sign of the times, the collection found the band trying to churn out serious music. Unfortunately, material such as "We Feel Fine", "Friendly Birds" and "Alesha and Others" was often overblown, pretentious, somewhat atonal and frequently just plain dull ... It wasn't a total wipe out and to be totally honest the album rewards someone willing to listen to it a couple of times. Not sure this'll make much sense, but the set has a really dense sound (lots of stuff going on in the mix), so it makes for a pretty cool headphone experience. Also, tracks such as the rocker "Miss Teach" and "The Spiritual Death of Howard Greer" had a couple of interesting passages. As you'd expect, critics raved, but the buying public ignored the set in droves. (Original copies of the album were released with an odd three part fold-out album sleeve and included a bonus poster.) (The album was reissued in CD format by the Renaissance label. The reissued included a couple of previously unreleased numbers.)
"20/20 Sound" track listing:
1.) We Feel Fine
2.) Friendly Birds
3.) Miss Teach
4.) The Spiritual Death of Howard Greer
5.) Down At Circus Place
6.) Alesha and Others
7.) Seventy Five