Rating: ***** (5 stars)
Title: Tripsichord
Company: Janus
Catalog: JLS-3016
Year: 1971
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: small drill hole through middle of the LP; Janus/San Francisco Sound inner label
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4176
Price: $300.00
Cost: $255.00
Cost: $1.00
Cherished by hardcore collectors, today Tripsichord Music Box (aka Tripsichord) is one of those all but forgotten exponents of West Coast psychedelia. What makes them interesting to us is the fact they were contemporaries of outfits such as The Dead, Jefferson Airplane, It's a Beautiful Day and Moby Grape (sharing the same management as the latter two). Not only did they play in the same San Francisco ballrooms as their better known competitors, but judging by their slender recording catalog, they were as talent, if not better than many of those better known groups. All hyperbole aside, these guys were good and their sole album is a must own !!!
Singer/drummer Randy Guzman and keyboardist Oliver McKinney started their musical collaboration in 1965 as members of The Ban. Together with guitarist Tony McGuire and bassist Frank Straight the band generated considerable buzz playing local parties and talent contests. With Guzman's parents serving as their managers, the quartet eventually attracted the attention of the small Brent label which signed them to a one-shot contract, releasing the instantly obscure single "Bye-Bye" b/w "Now That I'm Hoping" (Brent catalog number 7049). Replacing the recently drafted McGuire with guitarist David Zandonatti, the group changed their name to 'The Now' and relocated to Los Angeles. Some success on the Hollywood club circuit captured the attention of Milton Berle's Embassy Records, leading to another 45 - 1967's "I Want" b/w "Like a Flying Bird" (Embassy catalog number 1968). Their second single also tanked and over the next two years they band had little luck attracting the attention of another label.
The group's break (we use that term loosely), came when they caught the eye of producer/manager Matthew Katz. Katz signed them to his San Francisco Sounds label, renamed them 'Tripsichord Music Box' and convincing them to move to the windy city where they quickly became regulars on the city's ballroom circuit. Over the next year the band recorded a series of demos for Katz, as well as serving as an ersatz Moby Grape following the former's falling out with Katz. Unfortunately, before they could start recording their official debut keyboardist Oliver quit. He was quickly replaced by guitarist Bill Carr, with longtime Zandotnatti buddy Ron McNeeley also brought in to help with vocals.
With their revised lineup in place, the band went into the studio with Katz handling production chores. Released in 1970, "Tripsichord" deserves it's praise as a lost classic and more ... With Carr and Zandotnatti separately handling the writing chores, material such as "We Have Passed Away" and "The Narrow Gate" served to effortlessly capture that unique sound that characterizes the best of late-1960s San Francisco music. Laidback vocals (courtesy of McNeeley), coupled with great melodies and snazzy twin guitars (courtesy of Carr and Straight), made material such "We Have Passed Away" and "The New World" nearly irresistible. Elsewhere, the leadoff rocker "On the Last Ride" and "Fly Baby" demonstrated a nice balance between the era's penchant for extended jams and more commercial moves. Anyone know who the woman sharing lead vocals on "Son of the Morning" and a couple of other tracks was? Sure, some of the hippy-trippy lyrics haven't aged all that well (but then what does), but with the possible exception of "Short Order Steward", every one of these nine tracks is worth hearing.
"Tripsichord" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) On the Last Ride ( Dave Zandotnatti - Bill Carr) - 4:50
2.) We Have Passed Away (Bill Carr) - 2:45
3.) Black Door (Bill Carr) - 2:55
4.) The New World ( Dave Zandotnatti) - 4:36
5.) Son of the Morning ( Dave Zandotnatti) - 5:30
(side 2)
1.) Short Order Steward ( Dave Zandotnatti) - 3:04
2.) The Narrow Gate ( Dave Zandotnatti) - 3:46
3.) Fly Baby (Bill Carr) - 6:22
4.) Everlasting Joy ( Dave Zandotnatti) - 4:14
With the album vanishing into cutout bins, the band called it quits. The following year album was reissued by Janus Records. In the meantime McNeeley and Zandonatti had relocated to Utah where they ended up in the traveling Mormon musical outfit 'The Sons of Mosiah'. Gordon ended up playing drums for a 1990's edition of Moby Grape.
For completists, there are also a pair of non-LP 45s:
- 1969's "Times and Seasons" b/w "Sunday the Third" (San Francisco Sound catalog number 115)
- 1970's "She Has Passed Away" b/w "Fly baby" (San Francisco Sound catalog number 127)