Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Salloom, Sinclair and the Mother Bear
Company: Cadet Concept
Catalog: LPS 316
Year: 1969
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: original inner sleeve
Available: 1
Price: $35.00
Born and raised in Worchester, Massachusetts, the mid-60s found Roger Salloom attending Indiana University. Originally a literature major, like half of the under-20 population, 1968 found Salloom living in San Francisco, determined to make it as a musician. In San Francisco he teamed up with singer Robin Sinclair and the band The Mother Bear (bassist John Bolling, lead guitarist Tom Davis, drummer Phil Montgomery and keyboardist Dick Orvis). As Salloom, Sinclair and the Mother Bear, the group quickly became staples on the city's club circuit, opening for a wide range of acts at The Avalon, The Carousal and The Fillmore West. The resulting publicity caught the attention of Chess Records which was interested in entering the rock market. The first rock band signed by Chess' rock-oriented Cadet Concept subsidiary, in July 1968 the band went into Ter Mar Studios with producers Marshall Chess and Abner Spector.
So what's "Salloom, Sinclair and the Mother Bear" like? Well, the first time we listened to it the set didn't make much of an impression. Luckily we gave it a couple of follow on spins, allowing the LP to display some of it's subtle charms. Largely penned by Salloom and Sinclair, tracks such as "Be Born Again" recall The Jefferson Airplane, had Grace Slick and Paul Kantner had a long-term interest in the blues. Both Salloom and Sinclair had decent voices, though the Sinclair was occasionally screechy (check out the Yoko Ono-ish howls on the extended freak out "She Kicked Me Out of the House After This One"), while Salloom's penchant for talking his way through lyrically pompous songs ("Conversation with Gentility") was an acquired taste. At least to our ears, the band are at their best when downplaying the philosophical commentary and simply rocking out - "Steals". "Griffin" and the bluesy instrumental "Florida Blues".
"Salloom, Sinclair and the Mother Bear" track listing:
1.) Be Born Again (Roger Salloom) - 4:07
2.) Conversation with Gentility (Roger Salloom) - 5:11
3.) Steals (Roger Salloom) - 4:09
4.) Griffin (Roger Salloom - Robin Sinclair) - 3:32
5.) She Kicked Me Out of the House After This One (Roger Salloom) - 4:12
6.) Florida Blues (instrumental) (Roger Salloom) - 6:27
7.) Sitting On a fFnger (Roger Salloom) - 3:41
8.) Marie La Peau (Roger Salloom) - 8:28
Dropping the rest of the band, Salloom and Sinclair continued their partnership as a duet. Pulling a page out of the Bob Dylan career planner, the pair moved to Nashville where they recorded 1969's "Salloom-Sinclair". Co-produced by Norman Dayron, Charlie McCoy and Wayne Moss with backing from the band Area Code 615, the LP opted for distinctive country flavor. The band's handful of psych fans weren't impressed and country fans failed to step forward and embrace the group.
Salloom subsequently returned to San Francisco where he formed Roger Salloom and the Vest Pocket Players. The 1980s found him returning to Massachusetts where he released a 1983 solo album. For her part, Sinclair spent several years with the band Gold.
Sinclair has a modestly interesting website at: http://www.rogersalloom.com