Various Artists – EARLY LA
Surfing on the net on a rainy sunday… checking the Spotnet to see if there ‘s anything interested posted. Among dozens of hard core / dub step / popular titles i’ve noticed a “Early LA” title. Much to my surprise it’s a posting of an album with early recordings of some of my most favourites West-Coast rockers.
Dino Valenti is well known as frontman of the legendary Quicksilver Messenger Service and his song “Gone Again” is my all-time favourite love song. David Crosby is still performing today. He has one of the most beautiful voices on this planet. His first solo album didn’t get any positive review by the critics at the time of release but is now considered a masterpiece. The Byrds & Dillards are true originals and the two live tracks of Canned Heat are steaming!!!
This album, an odds-and-sods “before they were famous” sorta deal, is a rarity, and while this material has turned up elsewhere for the most part, I figure some curious soul might be looking for this particular configuration. Most of these tracks were cut in 1964, with the Canned Heat ones dating from (probably) ’66. Due to its title, this LP is sometimes confused with the Gene Clark LP “Collector’s Series: Early L.A. Sessions”. So, to clarify this is two different albums entirely!
The back cover credits read “selections and artists”, but the artists are not listed – instead the songwriters are! The artists are actually not credited anywhere in the packaging to indicate which songs they appear on!
“You Movin” is a different take than the one on the Preflyte LP (the Together one, anyway). The Canned Heat cuts are live recordings.
Artwork included
Tracks:
1. Dino Valenti – Black Betty (2:07)
2. Dino Valenti – Life Is Like That (2:31)
3. David Crosby – Willie Jean (2:05)
4. David Crosby – Come Back Baby (2:21)
5. The Byrds – The Only Girl (2:23)
6. The Byrds – You Movin’ (2:08)
7. The Dillards – Each Season Changes You (3:28)
8. The Dillards – Don’t You Cry (2:09)
9. Canned Heat – You Know I Love You (6:36)
10. Canned Heat – First Time Around (10:38)
Musicians:
1&2 – Dino Valenti: guitar, vocal / Leon Russell: harpsichord / Larry Knetchel: bass / Hal Blaine: drums
3&4 – David Crosby: rhythm guitar / Tommy Tedesco: lead guitar / Ray Puhlman: bass / Earl Palmer: drums
5&6 – Gene Clark: lead vocal, guitar / David Crosby: vocal / Roger McGuinn: vocal
7&8 – Rodney Dillard: guitar, lead vocals / Douglas Dillard: electric banjo / Dean Webb: mandolin / Chris Hillman: bass / Michael Clarke: drums
9&10 – Bob (The Bear) Hite: vocals, harp / Al (Blind Owl) Wilson: guitar, harp, vocals / Henry (Sunflower) Vestine: guitar / Mark Andes: bass / Frank Cook: drums
1-8 produced by Jim Dickson
9-10 produced by Richard Moore
See “comments” for getting this rare gem. Thanks to the original poster!
