Rock Archeologia

J.F. Murphy & Salt - Live (1972 Radio Station Copy) 

Artist: J.F. Murphy & Salt
Album: J.F. Murphy & Salt Live
Label: Elektra
Catalog#:75024
Release Date: 1972
Country: US
Genre: Pop/Rock
Duration: 00:43:32

• Концертный альбом J.F. Murphy вышел на лейбле - Elektra, продюсером его выступил Eddie Kramer. Пластинка содержала записи тех самых концертных выступлений группы в ряде университетов и колледжей, лишь последний трек "If Wishes Were Horses" был студийной работой. Музыкально диск представлял собой странную смесь блюза ("Kansas City" длительностью более 12-ти минут), кантри ("Country Jam"), джаз-рока / фьюжна, традиционных ирландских мелодий, классического рока с текстами социальной и политической направленности. Автором большинства песен альбома, как и других релизов, явился сам J.F. Murphy, его вокал, временами напоминающий Бертона Каммингса, здесь также хорош, да и все остальные, хоть и никогда не были впечатляющими музыкантами, вполне под стать своему лидеру.

•  Dropped by MGM the band signed with Elektra. Produced by Eddie Kramer, 1972's "JF Murphy & Salt" was a mostly live set capturing the band at a series of college performances including dates at The University of Hartford, Nassau Community College, and Trent State College. The closing country-flavored track ' If Wishes Were Horses' was clearly a studio effort. Musically the set showcased the band's weird mixture of blues ('Kansas City'), country ('Country Jam'), jazz-rock fusion, traditional Irish tunes, straight-ahead rock, and social and political activism (the anti-war 'Waiting Hymn of the Republic'). It was definitely different and occasionally a bit disconcerting; particularly when they mixed all the genres together in one song - check out 'First Born', or 'Silver Horn' - the latter having a plotline about young guy trying to pass himself off as a Leprechaun at an Irish dance). Muphy was an okay singer who occasionally reminded me a bit of a bluesier Burton Cummings. All six members were impressive musicians (guitarist Joe Parrino deserved special notice), and there was no denying their professionalism, but there just wasn't much here that caught my ear. The need to stretch out musically also didn't do the band any favors. Their cover of the blues classic 'Kansas City' went on for over 12 minutes and was basically unlistenable. Guess you had to be in the audience to get the full effect.

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 • Side One:
A1. Example 05:40
A2. First Born 04:04
A3. Waiting Hymn of the Republic 02:46
A4. Silver Horn 08:55
 • Side Two:
B1. Country Jam 02:41
B2. Soft September 04:15
B3. Kansas City 12:06
B4. If Wishes Were Horses 03:05

Members:
Ron Allard - Bagpipes, Flute, Horn, Saxophone, Tambourine, Vocals (Background)
George Christ - Congas, Harmonica, Marimba, Percussion, Vibraphone, Vocals (Background)
Zenobia Conkerite, Delores Hall - Vocals (Background)
Dolores Hall - Vocals
Victoria Medlin, Allan Nicholls, Dennis Cooley, Gloria Goldman - Vocals (Background)
J.F. Murphy - Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Vocals
Bob Paiva, Bob Pavia - Drums
Joe Parrino - Flute, Guitar, Horn, Trombone, Vocals (Background)
Al Perkins - Guitar (Steel)
Russell Warmolts - Bass, Vocals (Background)

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