Rock Archeologia

Gunhill Road - Gunhill Road (1972 Kama Sutra) 

Artist: Gunhill Road
Album: Gunhill Road
Label: Kama Sutra
Catalog#: KSBS 2061
Format: Vinyl, LP
Country: US
Released: 1972
Genre: Rock, Pop Rock
Duration: 00:35:03

• Gunhill Road - американское поп-роковое трио, продюсером второго альбома которого был мистер Kenny Rogers. В оригинальный состав трио входили Glenn Leopold (гитара, ведущий вокал), Steve Goldrich (фортепиано, подпевки) и Paul Reisch (бас-гитара). Последнего в 1973 г. сменил Gil Roman. Первый альбом "First Stop" они записали в 1971 г. Единственным хитом группы стала песня "Back When My Hair Was Short" со второго альбома, достойная однократного ознакомления. Но в общем-то некоторые помнят песню до сих пор и особенно ценят её лирику. Миньон с этим национальным хитом был выпущен в 1972 г. лейблом "Kama Sutra" в США и во Франции. Запись была очень редкой и труднодоступной, пока в 2011 г. альбом не был переиздан на CD лейблом "Wounded Bird Records" с пятью бонус-треками. По-видимому, трио просуществовало до 1976 г. В ноябре 2011 г. музыканты собрались вместе и дали концерт в память о своём бывшем менеджере Поле Колби.

• The people who bought the Gunhill Road album for the novelty hit "Back When My Hair Was Short" probably got quite a surprise when they got home and slapped the thing on the turntable. Instead of a collection of comic tunes, they were now the proud owners of a collection of mellow, introspective pop songs -- and of course, one lightly comic number. They probably got their money's worth, because the material and performances here are really good. Lead singer Glenn Leopold had a warm baritone voice and a distinctive singing style, and the rest of the band supported him with tasteful backup vocals. Cuts like "Sag Harbor" and "Callin' Atlanta" have gorgeous harmonies and hook-laden, acoustic-tinged backups. Producer Kenny Rogers brought out crack session musicians for support on this job, and the resulting recording is many-layered and interesting without being overly slick. Those who did buy the album because they liked the single got another kind of surprise: the album version of the song has drug references in the lyrics that were cut out of the single in order to get more radio airplay. The single version of "Back When My Hair Was Short" squeaked into the Top 40 in 1973 and continued to receive occasional rotation on oldies radio stations and on the Dr. Demento show. Two other singles were released, but to no purpose, and the band never followed up the album. - Richard Foss

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 • Side One:
A1. Sailing 03:51
A2. She Made A Man Out Of Me 03:15
A3. Madness 03:01
A4. We're Almost Going Home 02:26
A5. Waiting 03:07
 • Side Two:
B1. 42nd Street 03:23
B2. Back When My Hair Was Short 03:07
B3. Sag Harbor 03:58
B4. My Antoinette 03:15
B5. Callin' Atlanta 05:33

Members:
Achmed Ben-Mansel - Maracas, Percussion
Larry Brown - Drums, Percussion
Paul Cotton - Electric Guitar
Steven Goldrich - Calliope, Harpsichord, Organ, Piano, Vocals
Glenn Leopold - 6-String Guitar, Composer, Vocals
Gene Lorenzo - Organ
Steve Love, Dennis Lepri - Electric Guitar
Bryan Madey - Drums, Percussion, Tambourine
Andy Newmark, George Grantham - Drums
Michael O'Neill - Congas
Paul Reisch, Bill Perry, Reinie Press - Bass
Kenny Rogers - Bass, Producer, Vocals (Background)
Gil Roman - Bass, 12 String Guitar, Vocals, Vocals (Background)
Jim Ryan - Bass

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