Update...
According to web research
one of the musicians listed as A. N. Other on the album sleeve is
none other than Jeff Beck, who was reportedly 'conned' into playing
on the sessions. This has not been officially confirmed, so it could
just be another apocryphal tale from the crazy world of rock... |
The
Beverly Hillbillies
(Hallmark, LP, HMA556, 1965)
 I
know, I know, the Beverly Hillbillies weren’t exactly the cutting
edge of rock ‘n’ roll, but this ‘soundtrack’ from the venerable mid-1960’s
tv sitcom has some unexpected delights. For starters, along with the
tv show’s cast of Buddy Ebsen (Jed Clampett), Irene Ryan (Granny),
Max Baer (Jethro) and Elly May (Donna Douglas) the musical accompaniment
was by Nashville bluegrass legends Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs.
Produced and originally released in
1965, this album was intended to capitalise on the huge international
success of the Beverly Hillbillies. The exploits of the Clampett family
in Bevery Hills entertained millions, especially in the way their
folksy, unsophisticated but savy philosophy was a match for the city
sharks of California. While this album was simply a merchandising
opportunity for the tv production company, the cast and musicians
had a ball recreating the show on vinyl. But the bonus factor was
some prime bluegrass in The Ballad of Jed Clampett (which actually
became a hit single!), Beverly Hills, Vittles and Critters,
while a Broadway show tune backing was attached to the more mundane
Lady Lessons and Birds and Bees.
It seemed a natural ‘fit’ to utilise
country music to give the Clampetts their musical identity. And as
they supposedly came from the backwoods of Tennessee, bluegrass was
the natural choice. Flatt and Scruggs were one of the most popular
country acts of the period, and holders of the flame when it came
to the sound of true country music (the sort played on the cabin porch
with a jug of cider by your foot), rather than the Nashville corporate
version which was slick and sweet. Today, the Beverly Hillbillies
are nothing more than a footnote in tv history, periodically dug out
of the archives for a nostalgic re-run. And the album hasn’t aged
well, some of the tracks sounding downright naive (and yes, naff)
now. But the tracks featuring Flatt & Scruggs and the cast belting
out the bluegrass songs still have the power to get your foot tapping
and your voice singing along to lyrics you didn’t know you still remember.
Music
From Free Creek
(Charisma, 2LP, CADS 101, 1973)
 The
‘super-session’ has long become defunct within the rock world, though
even now there are still a few dying spasms launched onto an unsuspecting
world periodically. Music From Free Creek comes from the early
70’s when such groupings of stellar names still happened just for
the sheer fun of it - before the agents and managers got involved
and started upping the ante in financial and publicity terms.
Free Creek is something of an enigma,
in the twenty-five odd years that I’ve had this double LP I’ve yet
to find any documentation in the rock reference literature regarding
its genesis and aims. It seems to have just appeared in the racks
and indeed vanished again quickly. (If you have any information on
this album please contact me) What I can tell you is that Free
Creek (subtitled ‘The Great Super-Session Rip-Off Chase')
is a fine collaboration by over fifty top rock, country and jazz musicians
and singers.
Here’s just a sample of those involved: Linda
Ronstadt, Dr John, Bernie Leadon, Red Rhodes, Chris Wood, Todd Rundgren,
Keith Emerson, Mitch Mitchell, Valerie Simpson, plus a few anonymous
star names moonlighting from their recording contracts! And along
with these are assorted members of The Byrds, Canned Heat, Buddy Rich
Big Band, Woody Herman Band, Blood, Sweat & Tears, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers,
Traffic, Flying Burrito Brothers, Michael Nesmith & The First National
Band, Three Dog Night, Janis Joplin and Neil Diamond’s bands, plus
many others.
The common factor is that all these musicians
come from cutting edge backgrounds: groups and artists who had reputations
for pushing back the envelope of rock, country-rock and jazz. This
album is a vast masterclass bringing together stellar talent and fusing
musical styles together. The early 70’s was a period of experimentation
and this album is such an experiment. The opening track Cissy Strut
is raunchy and tight r‘n’b instrumental that sets the template for
over half the the album. Then there are the country ballads by Linda
Ronstad: He Darked The Sun and Living Like A Fool, confirming
her as one of the very best country rockers. And there are cool jazz
rock tracks such as Lay Lady Lay featuring the duelling flautists
Chris Wood and Joe Farrell.
Listened to with today’s ears Free Creek
probably wouldn’t sound that groundbreaking, yet in the early 70’s
musicians from differing disciplines were still trying to find common
ground. On this album they found it in spades and it shows in the
high quality musicianship displayed here. I suppose it’s a forlorn
hope but I wish that Charisma would dig this album out of the archives,
dust it down and release it on CD. |
