Cambridge - Share A Song - Green Dolphin ?– 6024N3 - Orig. Vinyl LP -1977 Rare

$

60

Cambridge "Share a Song' LP Record - Green Dolphin Label - 6024N3 - Stereo Covrs Has Some Edge Wear and Disc Wear The Record has minimal scratches or wear I am not a Record Collector nor do I know how to Grade Records. I will describe the Record & Cover as best as I can and Include many Photos. Please Ask Questions via Ebay Messages
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Cambridge is one of those mid-1970s acts that record collectors seem love, or totally despise.  There just doesn't seem to be a great deal of middle-ground feeling for this one.   

The band was built around the talents of bassist Lonny Bowersox, keyboardist Charles Fischer, singer/guitarist Chas Gunther, drummer Tom Stine, and multi-instrumentalist Dan Vogan.  They made some mid-1970s headway playing clubs throughout Western Pennsylvania and Ohio, eventually signing with the Pittsburgh-based Green Dolphin label (a subsidiary of Jeree Records).  Their recording debut came with the release of 1977's "Share a Song".  With Gunther and Vogan splitting songwriting chores nothing here was particularly original, or earth-shattering.  That said, as far as country-rock went these guys were quite good.  The band certainly wore their musical influences out in the open, including nods to mid-career Byrds, Firefall, Flying Burritto Brothers, Poco, etc.  It made for an interesting game of spot-the-influences which occasionally struck out in unexpected directions - witness a bit of Allman Brothers guitar on 'Highs & Lows'.  Beyond having good taste in their influences, they were blessed with a couple of strong singers, a talent for strong harmony vocals, and a couple of good guitarists in Gunter and Vogan.  For what it was worth I found up-tempo numbers like Highs & Lows'' and 'Faithless Lady' far stronger than the more country oriented numbers.  

 - Aptly displaying the band's country-rock roots, 'Share a Song' made for a great game of spot-the-influences (this time out including The Burritos and, Poco).  The song had a nice, comfy uplifting feel, but was simply way too country for my taste.  Still, it'll have considerable appeal to genre fans.

- The sound was still distinctively country-rock, but this time out 'Highs & Lows' put the emphasis on a West Coast-flavored rock component.  Kicked along by one of the album's best melodies, a tasty lead guitar solo (not sure who played it), and a great Bowersox bass line, this one actually had considerable commercial potential.  If The New Riders of the Purple Sage could garner radio play, you had to wonder how this one was overlooked.  

- 'Goin' Back Home' was a rollicking good-time rocker with a twin lead guitar solo that would have made he Allman Brothers proud,  Come to think of it, Poco would have done well to write something as good.

- With Gunther handling lead vocals, side one's most country-flavored effort, 'Goodnight Sweet Lady' was a pretty acoustic ballad showcasing some of the album's most gorgeous harmony vocals.   Stanley Barton provided the nice mandolin solo.

- Complete with pedal steel guitar, 'I Was Born (To Love You Like I Do) ' was another straight forward country effort that left me cold.

- Ever wondered what Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys would have sounded like had hey recorded a country-rock number ?  Check out the glistening 'Cowboy On The Trail'.  Complete with shimmering acoustic guitars, Tom Stine's rock steady drums and wonderful Beach Boys-styled harmony vocals, this one was simply great. 

- As a live act these guys apparently jammed quite a bit and that shows on 'Faithless Lady' (the longest track on the album).  Another up tempo number, this one featured a fantastic banjo (?) solo from Vogan.  The album's hardest rocker and another standout performance. 

- 'Passin' By; ended the album with a bland and predictable bluegrass-tinged number. 

 Dropping a couple of the country numbers would have made all the difference in the world, but the album still had more than its share of treasures.

 "Share a Song" track listing:?(side 1)

1.) Share A Song   (Chris Gunther) - 3:50?2.) Highs & Lows   (Chris Gunther) - 3:57?3.) Goin' Back Home   (Dan Vogan) - 4:34?4.) Goodnight Sweet Lady   (Chris Gunther) - 5:47

 (side 2)?1.) I Was Born (To Love You Like I Do)   (Chris Gunther) - 3:25?2.) Cowboy On The Trail   (Dan Vogan) - 3:40?3.) Faithless Lady   (Chris Gunther) - 7:32?4.) Passin' By   (Dan Vogan) - 2:45