J.D. Blackfoot - The Song Of Crazy Horse (1974)
Personnel:
J.D. BLACKFOOT ld vcls, gtr A B C D E
KENNY MAY bs A B
DAN WALDRON drms, perc A B C D
JEFF WHITLOCK gtr A B
CRAIG FULLER gtr B C
STERLING SMITH keyb'ds C D
PHIL STOKES bs C
TONY BAKER keyb'ds, sax D
FRANK GIBSON Jr. drms, perc D
BOB JACKSON gtr D
BILLY KRISTIAN bs D
SONNY MANAHERA steel gtr D
JIMMY SLOGGET sax D
MIKE WALKER keyb'ds D
BILLY CARROLL drms, backing vcls E
BUDD FOWLER bs, piano, backing vcls E
GEORGE MOBLEY lead gtr, acoustic gtr E
(JOHN DURZO bs D)
(J. HUFF violin D)
(SUE MOORE vcls D)
ALBUMS:
(up to 1976)
1(B) THE ULTIMATE PROPHECY (Mercury 61288) 1970 R2
2(D) SONG OF CRAZY HORSE (Fantasy 9468) 1974
3(E) SOUTHBOUND AND GONE (Fantasy 9487) 1975
NB: (1) original copies with insert. Also issued in Canada, UK and Holland. The UK and Dutch pressings have a completely different cover and the Dutch version is gatefold. (1) Reissued on CD (Tokala 5947-2). (2) reissued on CD (Sisapa Record Co. 5945-2). (4) reissued on dble CD (Tokala ). There's also a double CD compilation, Footprints ( ).
45s:
(up to 1976)
1(A) Who's Nuts Alfred?/Epitaph For A Head (Philips 40625) 1969
2(B) I've Never Seen You/One Time Woman (Philips 40679) 1970
3 Wonderin' Where You Are / It Don't Mean A Thing (Peace 50944) 197?
4 Savage/Almost Another Day (Peace 61776) 197?
5 Every Day Every Night/Save This World Today (Peace 82941) 197?
6(D) Twilight/Dove On The Ocean (Fantasy 741) 1975
NB: (1) some promo copies with picture sleeves. (4) 'B' side was included on Song Of Crazy Horse LP, dating 45 as 1974 or earlier. (3) as J.D. Blackfoot with Uncle Billy.
[quote]This group was originally from Columbus, Ohio. They started out as a combination of two local groups, The Ebb Tides and Tree. They continued as Tree and won a recording deal from Mercury as a prize in a local band competition. The resulting 45 (which has become a collectors item due to the burning hard rock of Epitaph For A Head) generated enough interest that the label optioned an album from the band.
The Ultimate Prophecy is arguably the best rock album ever from Ohio. Craig Fuller was added to the line-up just before recording and his country/folk influence dominates the music on Side One of the album. Angel and We Can Try are particularly good, the latter being one of the earliest heavy-rock-meets-country songs extant; a style that later dominated the American music scene when groups like The Eagles and Linda Rondstadt homogenised and neutered it. These tracks have edge and power, though - and should not be overlooked. Side two of the album was taken up with the Ultimate Prophecy suite, an engaging life-cycle mini-opera that plays out its theme of birth-death-reincarnation against a backdrop of some truly stunning hard rock music. Despite its 20 minute plus running time, the whole of this side became an instant FM underground classic across the midwest and its popularity stretched into the eighties. Most of the music on this side was composed by guitarist and original Tree member Jeff Whitlock, with lyrics by J.D. Blackfoot and drummer Dan Waldron. The album itself has always been scarce, but it was fetching serious money even in the seventies in places like Chicago, Detroit, and St Louis where it was a late-night FM staple. It remains an essential American rock record with wide appeal, and is highly recommended.
The album credits two people who don't actually play on it - Phil Stokes on bass (the actual bass player was Kenny May - he was replaced after the recording), and Sterling Smith (ex-Grayps) on keyboards (also joining after the recording, there are no keyboards on the album!). The line-up with Phil and Sterling did however record some unreleased material.
In September 1970, J.D. Blackfoot left the group and most of the rest of the band continued to play as Osiris. (Osiris in turn would later metamorphosise into two other groups, one being the Load, who recorded a keyboard driven progressive rock album Praise The Load in '77.)
In 1972, J.D. and his wife went to New Zealand for a month's holiday and liked it so much they spent most of the next two years there! Indeed, his The Song Of Crazy Horse album was assembled largely from recordings made at Auckland's Stebbing Studio with local luminaries such as Billy Kristian and Frank Gibson. The disc won New Zealand's 'Best Album Of The Year Award' in 1974 and the original New Zealand pressing with booklet and poster are highly sought-after. The eighteen minute title track was inspired by the Indian story of "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee".
Back in the US, J.D. assembled a new group with some of the musicians from other sixties Columbus area bands like The Four O'Clock Balloon and The Myrchents. They recorded Southbound And Gone at Fantasy's Studios in Berkeley, California. The title cut Southbound And Gone was co-written by Blackfoot and Mobley, and the album also included We Can Try, an old Blackfoot/Fuller collaboration. Four tracks are mentioned as being taken from the obscure rock opera "Space And Mary Jane" and two songs were released as a single.
In 1982, J.D. Blackfoot released the double LP Live In St. Louis (Bison ) and in 1984 an EP, Nobody's Business/Let Her Go/Stay The Night Away/He Walks On Past (Bison B-77), 1984.
After leaving the band Craig Fuller and Phil Stokes co-founded Pure Prairie League. Fuller was later a member of American Flyer together with Doug Yule (Velvet Underground), Eric Kaz (Blue Magoos) and Steve Katz (Blues Project). They released two albums for United Artists in 1975 and 1976 of average country rock produced by George Martin. Later still, Craig Fuller became lead singer for the reformed Little Feat in the early nineties.
Blackfoot, who changed his name to Van Dervort in 1970, sold the worldwide rights to Fantasy Records some years ago, but retained exclusive rights to the New Zealand market. Currently living in Columbus, Ohio, he still makes recordings.
Compilation appearances have included: Epitaph For A Head on Songs We Taught The Fuzztones (LP & CD), Trash Box (5-CD) and High All The Time, [/quote]
Tracks:
J.D. Blackfoot / The Song Of Crazy Horse
Year: 1974
Track Title
1. The Song Of Crazy Horse
2. I've Been Waitin'
3. Miss Sally
4. One Man's Story
5. Almost Another Day
6. Hey Johnny D.J.
7. Flushed You From The Toilets Of My Heart
8. Comin' Down
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