- Sean Bonniwell - vocals, rhythm guitar
 

- The Bonniwell Music Machine
- The Friendly Torpedos
- The Music Machine 

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Close

Company: Capitol

Catalog: 

Year: 1969

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Price: $40.00

Following the break up of The Music Machine and the posthumous Bonniwell Music Machine (see separate entries), singer/guitarist Sean Bonniwell embarked on an abbreviated solo career. Signed by Capitol, anyone expecting another collection of garage rockers was bound to have been disappointed by Bonniwell's 1969 debut "Close". Exemplified by tracks such as "Where Am I To Go", "Love Is Such a Simple Word" and "Who Remembers" the collection found Bonniwell opting for a sensitive singer/songwriter stance. While you couldn't blame Bonniwell for wanting to try something else and had to admire his willingness to take a creative risk, the overall results were disappointing. "Continue" at least sported some nice classical guitar, while "Something To Be" boasted a discordant melody. Complete with extensive orchestral arrangements, the album was simply too lame to generate much excitement. A commercial disappointment, the LP failed to chart; Bonniwell disappearing from the music scene for the next decade.

"Close" track listing:
1.) Where Am I To Go (Sean Bonniwell) - 
2.) Love Is Such a Simple Word (Sean Bonniwell) - 
3.) Who Remembers (Sean Bonniwell) - 
4.) Something To Be (Sean Bonniwell) - 
5.) Black Snow (Sean Bonniwell) - 
6.) She Is (Sean Bonniwell) - 
7.) Temporary Knife (Sean Bonniwell) - 
8.) Continue (Sean Bonniwell) - 
9.) Where It Belongs (Sean Bonniwell) - 
10.) But Not with My Heart (Sean Bonniwell) - 
11.) Sleep (Sean Bonniwell) - 

Having undergone a spiritual reawakening, in the early-'80s Bonniwell briefly reappeared as a member of the Christian band Heaven Sent.