p.f. sloan - measure of pleasure (1968)
With famed Atlantic engineer Tom Dowd as producer, Sloan turned his sound in a bluesier, funkier direction on Measure of Pleasure. His songs were less lyrically direct, and less melodically pop-savvy, than his earlier work on Dunhill. While it could be said that his singing was getting better than ever, especially on the upper register twists in songs like "New Design," the material simply wasn't as memorable, although it wasn't bad. On tunes like "How Can I Be Sure" (not the same as the Rascals hit) and "And the Boundaries Inbetween" (one of the best tracks), there's a folk-rock-blues-jazz fusion reminiscent of Tim Hardin, amplified by the touches of vibrating guitar (which Hardin also used in his late '60s arrangements). There's a much more distant similarity to the late '60s country-folk-rock-blues mixture of Tony Joe White. It's not a bad album, and Sloan fans will find it worth picking up. It's just different than, and not on the same level as, his first two LPs.
1. One of a Kind - 3:02
2. New Design - 3:58
3. (What Did She Mean When She Said) Good... - 2:59
4. How Can I Be Sure - 4:45
5. Star Gazin' - 3:10
6. Miss Charlotte - 3:53
7. Champagne - 3:36
8. And the Boundaries Inbetween - 3:15
9. Above and Beyond the Call of Duty - 3:40
10. Country Woman (Can You Dig It All Night) - 4:15
credits
P.F. Sloan - Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
Tom Dowd - Producer
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