WEST s/t V Rare Orig 1968 US Epic Rural Folk Rock Psych LP The Byrds
£
17
$
23
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Description
West
s/t
Very Rare Original US LP released on Epic Records in 1968. 1st US pressing.
One of many rock groups signed to Columbia or its Epic subsidiary that got lost in a shuffle of under-promotion in the 1960s, West played mild folk-rock emphasizing their clean, careful vocal harmonies. Their self-titled 1968 debut was produced by Bob Johnston (who also did Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen, and Johnny Cash in the late 1960s), and comes off as a sort of Byrds-lite with some country and pop influences. Their most famous member, by far, was ex-We Five leader Michael Stewart (brother of singer-songwriter John Stewart), although indeed it's hard to figure out exactly who was in the band. The brief liners for their first LP state that "West is comprised of no less than four and no more than six members--Ron Cornelius, Michael Stewart, Joe Davis, Lloyd Perata, (Bob Claire and Jon Sagen)." The inexactitude was compounded by cover photographs showing five guys. Not that it was much cause for speculation among the public, since few listeners heard the album or its 1969 follow-up.
Although West manage a pleasing, Byrdsy sound on their Bob Johnston-produced debut, overall it sounds rather thin and unoriginal. Half of the LP consists of competent covers of material by contemporaries like Bob Dylan, Fred Neil, Ian & Sylvia, and Dave Dudley ("Six Days on the Road"). To be unkind but accurate, these sound like the sort of cover bands that low-budget movies would employ to play familiar material when the original performers and versions were obviously unavailable for the soundtrack. The few slices of self-penned material are very much in the mold of California folk-rock circa 1967-68, and are pleasant though not outstanding. Occasionally country influences become pronounced (as on Stewart's eccentric "Donald Duck"), and at other points there are odd touches of poppy production that sound like folk-rock with a half an ear cocked toward easy listening airplay.
TRACKS ARE :-
Side One
1. Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues
2. Baby You Been On My Mind
3. Four Strong Winds
4. Summer Flower
5. Step By Step
6. Dolphins
Side Two
1. Six Days On The Road
2. Everybody's Talkin'
3. Donald Duck
4. Settin' the Woods On Fire
5. New England Winter
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Released on 'Epic Records' Records in 1968
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Catalogue Number BN 26380
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Record is in Ex ++ condition
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Sleeve is in Ex ++ condition
***All Items must be paid for within 7 days***
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POSTAGE RATES WITHIN THE UK: -
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FIRST 7" IS £1.50 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL 7" ADD 50p
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FIRST 10" IS £2.00 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL 10" ADD 50p
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FIRST 12" IS £2.00 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL 12" ADD 50p
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FIRST LP IS £2.00 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL LP ADD 50p
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FIRST CD IS £1.00 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL CD ADD 50p
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