Omnivore Records Archive
Vince Guaraldi – Oh Good Grief! – Omnivore Records/Warner Bros
Reinterpreted “Peanuts” themes stand the test of time on Vince Guaraldi’s 1st Warner Bros album (1968)… Vince Guaraldi – Oh Good Grief! – Omnivore Records/Warner Bros ORLP-287 – stereo LP – 1968 – 27 min. – ****1/2 (Vince Guaraldi – piano, electric harpsichord; Eddie Duran – electric guitar; Stanley Gilbert – bass; Carl Burnett – drums) Vince Guaraldi’s career took off in 1960 after the single “Cast Your Fate to the Wind” caught the public’s fancy and climbed the pop music charts. However, what cemented Vince’s place in popular culture were his compositions written for the seasonal “Peanuts” cartoon TV specials. There was a charm and jauntiness to the catchy melodies that set off the witty dialogue written for Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus, Schroeder, “Pig-Pen,” and the inimitable beagle, Snoopy. The specials were hits with children, and the hip musical accompaniment appealed to their parents. Vince Guaraldi was a San Francisco based jazz pianist, who was also well known as a member of vibraphonist Cal Tjader’s combo. Vince was a creative musician, who also had a strong interest in Bossa Nova music. He recorded several albums with guitarist, Bola Sete, for the Fantasy Record label. For his first album for […]
Gene Clark – Gene Clark Sings for You – Omnivore Records
Early unreleased Gene Clark session for your consideration… Gene Clark – Gene Clark Sings for You – Omnivore Records OVCD 280 – 1967 – 53:12 ***½: (Gene Clark – guitar and vocals; Alex del Zoppo – electric piano; other other musicians are unknown) For many fans of the early Byrds catalog, Gene Clark was the songwriter whose lyrics were most intriguing. His tenure with the group was only two years long but for rabid fans, his influence greatly exceeded that time period. He is credited with having a major influence on the merging of rock with country, bluegrass, and baroque orchestral motifs. Before joining the Byrds he was a member of the New Christy Minstrels for two albums. The pressures of touring and rifts between band members caused Clark to leave The Byrds in 1966. Over the next year, Gene concentrated on writing songs and reportedly built up 200-300 unrecorded tracks. It was during this time period that he went into the studios at Larrabee, and Gold Star, in Los Angeles, and laid down eight new tracks, mostly with minimal accompaniment. Clark also privately recorded additional material for his own use. The eight tracks on acetate laid dormant in Liberty […]
The Rose Garden – A Trip Through the Garden/ The Rose Garden Collection – Omnivore Records
A brief time in the limelight, revisited… The Rose Garden – A Trip Through the Garden/ The Rose Garden Collection – Omnivore Records OVCD 281 – 1968 – 78:24 ***1/2: (Diana De Rose – vocals and acoustic guitar; John Noreen – lead guitar (Rickenbacker 12 string electric), vocals; James Groshong – vocals and guitar; William Fleming – bass; Bruce Bowdin – drums) Rock and pop bands that have just one hit record or album usually are just a brief footnote in music history. However, there are often times an interesting story in how they caught the public’s fancy. The Rose Garden, an LA folk rock band, in 1967, were in the right place at the right time. They were talented, especially for a largely high school age group. Their mentor was the great Gene Clark, a founding member of The Byrds, who wrote many of the the super group’s iconic songs during his tenure from 1964 to 1966. Clark heard the youthful band, then called The Blokes, at an afternoon club audition and was moved by their vocal talents, and the 12 string electric guitar prowess of John Noreen. He introduced them to talent managers and provided them with a […]
Dennis Coffey – One Night at Morey’s: 1968 – Omnivore Records
Master of the groove… Dennis Coffey – One Night at Morey’s: 1968 – Omnivore Records OVCD 284 – 60:31 (Dennis Coffey – electric guitar; Lyman Woodard – organ; Melvin Davis – drums) Fans of funky guitar, in the know, are well aware of the legacy of guitar ace, Dennis Coffey. From the 1950s well into the 1970s, Coffey was everywhere. He was active all over Detroit, and was featured in the Funk Brothers sessions, backing on many of the Motown hits, such as “Just My Imagination,” “Ball of Confusion,” “Cloud Nine,” and numerous others. Just like the Wrecking Crew in California, who provided the rhythm section for southern California recorded hits, the Funk Brothers provided the catchy hooks for the Motown vocalists. Dennis Coffey was right in the middle providing the guitar groove. When Coffey was not in the recording studios, he had a weekly trio gig for several years with organist, Lyman Woodard, and drummer, Melvin Davis. Much like Booker T and the MGs in Memphis, this trio could lay into the groove on pop and soul classics. Psychedelic riffs were also part of their repertoire. The trio had a once weekly residency at Morey Baker’s Showplace Lounge in […]
Art Pepper – Neon Art Vols. 1 – 3 – Omnivore Records/ Widow’s Taste OVLP 26, 48, 49 (3 LPs)
Art Pepper – Another (healthy) Art attack on vinyl.
Stereotypes Audio
Cembal d’amour
Pure Pleasure / Speakers Corner
Cedille
