Wooden Horse II
Re-issue of mega rare folk rock rarity from '73. Featuring the haunting vocals of Susan Traynor aka Noosha, later of FOX fame.
WOODEN HORSE - II
(Elegy-UK) Their second mega rare folk rock album from 1973, featuring the haunting vocals of Susan Traynor later of Mr. Fox fame. English pastoral folk with a certain dreamy west coast vibe.
Albums with Wooden Horse:
Wooden horse (1972)
Wooden horse II (1973)
Noosha Fox / Susan Traynor (vocalist)
A very interesting singer, it's a pity she hasn't remained too active in music business. Her real name is Susan Traynor.
WOODEN HORSE were one of the BEST folk bands of all time, allthough not many have heard these 2 lps as they are rather obscure, the music ranges in sound mostly from PETER, PAUL, and MARY, also the VELVET UNDERGROUND, GORDON LIGHTFOOT, FAIRPORT CONVENTION, LEONARD COHEN, etc. ........the lps are straight ahead acoustic folk with variations here and there if u are a fan of FOX then we'd say these lps are essential to see the kind of SUSAN aka NOOSHA sang in before FOX....see our page on FOX in the bottom link of page 21, and reviews alos on page 4 of the 70s invasion....
1st lp - Noosha Fox (vocals) Graham Vick () ( not sure of the rest of the lineup for the 1st lp )
' WOODEN HORSE' '72
1 'CRAZY THOUGHTS'
NOOSHA's vioce sings beautifully along with the guys in this C,S, and N, type folk song which opens the lp, our copy had the first 20 seconds or so missing so here are some lyrics after that time period ' WHEN YOUR GONE THINK OF ME AND THIS ROOM WE KNEW U WELL', and 'IM LEAVING TO GO FIND MY FRIENDS TO PLAY AND TALK WITH THEM AGAIN, AND TURN YOUR LEAF TOWARDS THE DOOR, I'D KNOW I'D SEEN THIS FILM BEFORE'......
2 ' WAKE ME '
soothing number, GREAT guitar playing 'WAKE ME IN THE MORNING YOU WILL FIND ME THOUGHJ OUR LOVE's LOST IT's BEAUTY COMING TRUE, I CAN SEE THE WINTER's SUN TELLING ME THAT OUR TIME IS DONE, ASKING ME WHAT I COULD FIND IF II LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND, WANNA COME BACK, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW TO CHANGE MY MIND...MMMM MMMMMM
3 ' TREES'
GREAT PETER, PAUL, and MARY flower child sound with chiming guitars,'THE TREES ARE SO TALL AND I CAN'T SEE THEM AT ALL, AND I CAN'T FEEL MY FEET ON THE GROUND, PEOPLE THAT I MEET WALKING IN THE STREET, THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE I'M BOUND'.....
4 'NORTHERN BEACHES'
NOOSHA begins this one solo, the bands backs her up on backing vocals later, this one is dark and atmospheric, beginning very quietly NOOSHA sings 'DRIFTING THRU A CLOUD OF SMOKE AND MUSIC, KNOWING THAT IT's SLOWLY GETTING TO ME, HOLDING ONTO TEA I THINK ANOTHER YEAR I NEED', and 'ON THE NORTHERN BEACH AS WE HAD TIME TO SING, GRASS GREW TALL AND ALL AROUND US', and ' AND NOW I'M HERE I'LL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN, IN THE MIDDAY SUN, THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO DO BUT RUN'.....
'THIS IS A SONG'
this one is in a PETER, PAUL, and MARY, FAIRPORT CONVENTION style.......'THIS IS A SONG HOPING WE CAN LOVE ONE ANOTHER, HOPING WE CAN LOVE ONE ANOTHER, TO LET U KNOW I'VE BEEN WITHOUT A DAY, WHY I LET U KNOW I FEEL A DAY', and 'THIS IS A SONG TO GREET THE DAY'
'BROKEN BOTTLES'
this song closes the lp side 1, the band decides to play a lively blues, almost country sound with piano playing, sings NOOSHA and the male singer - 'NEVER HAD MY FORTUNE TOLD I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY, THE LADY TELLS IT LIKE IT IS SHE'S NEVER SEEN ME CRY', and 'IT's 2.a.m. AND I HAVE NO TEA TO EASE MY SORRY HEAD ' the song gets livelier as it goes along 'THE LORD HE MUST BE PUNISHIN' ME FOR THE CRAZY THINGS I'VE SAID', and 'I CAN BE GLAD CASUE HE's A CHRISTIAN'.............later NOOSHA says 'I'VE MADE A FRIEND HE's ALWAYS DOWN, I OFTEN BRING HIM THE NEWS, HE ALWAYS FEELS MUCH BETTER WHEN I SING HIM THE BLUES'..........piano keeps playing ( fades)....
- lp side 2 -
'EASTBOUND TRAIN'
traditional folk C, S, and N, type tune, NOOSHA and male singer begin - 'PASSING TIME ON AN EASTBOUND TRAIN, WATCHING THE SKIES FOR A SIGN OF RAIN, MY FEET ON THE ARMREST'....., and ' LOOKING AT THE LADIES FROM 1 TOWN TO THE NEXT RIDING ON A CREST OF A WAVE, and 'SIGN ON THE WALL SAYS JESUS SAVES'......
'GENTLE MIND'
a GORDON LIGHFOOT style folk song, slow and soft acoustics, -'HERE I HAVE A GENTLE MIND AND WHEN I WALK I TAKE MY TIME A ROOM TO MYSELF AND TRY TO KEEP IN GOOD HEALTH TO PASS THE DAYS IN SIMPLE WAYS......
'COME AROUND'
this one reminded us of JAMES TAYLOR, .....'YOUR HOME AGAIN , I KNOW I'M WELL, TWAS A YEAR FOR MAKING CHANGES, I HAD BEEN DOWN FOR QUITE A WHILE', and 'AND SAY HELLO, I'D LIKE TO SEE U 1 MORE TIME AND IT SEEMS LIKE EVERYDAY I'M FALLING
'FEEL'
after those 2 quiet numbers comes a much more experimental folk song close in sound to C, S, and N, but probably closer to NEIL YOUNG......dark and atmospheric with some GREAT rythme playing, 'HEY BABY STAY WITH ME, LIKE WWWWINE, SO FAST IT WILL NEVER LAST, SO FAST IT WILL NEVER LAST RRRRED ROSE........REMEMBER NOW I'M FEELING HOW IT USED TO BE , NOW THERE's a LIFE FOR U AND A LIFE FOR ME', and 'WE CAN SMILE TOGETHER AGAIN'.....
'LETTER'
this one is more a VELVET UNDERGROUND folk-pop song NOOSHA singing lead once again ' 2 MORE DAYS AND I'LL BE THERE TO SEE U WITH YOUR TORN DOWN HAIR, U LEFT YOUR CHANGE AND ALL YOUR STRANGE EASTERN BEADS ON MY CHAIR', and 'I SPENT THE DAY ALONE TO WRITE, BUT THERE's NO MORE TO DO'........
'LOVING MAN'
the closing song to the first WOODEN HORSE lp sounds like PETER, PAUL, and MARY musically, and kinda like the VELVET UNDERGROUND stylistically, '2 PEOPLE IN THE DOORWAY WATCHING THE EVENING SUN GO DOWN AND THE CONCRETE PATH TO THE WATER IS STILL WET FROM THE MORNING RAIN', and 'WITH TIME ON MY HANDS I COULD BE A REAL LOVING MAN'............the band sings in unison and closes the lp with a comforting folk sound.......
Their first album was a self-titled, Wooden Horse. It was followed by Wooden Horse II, recorded with this lineup:
Noosha Fox (vocals) Dave Mateer (guitar, vocals) Malcolm Harrison (guitar, vocals) Steve Marwood (guitar) Neil Brockbank (bass) Dave Young (flute, sax) Bob Irwin (drums)
'Wooden Horse II' (73)
on the 2nd lp the lineup changed a bit, and we'll say it's slightly better than the 1st with the same style acoustic folk straight thru with a little variation........
1 'CELEBRATION SONG'
WOW ! what a GREAT folk-rock song somewhere between PETER, PAUL, and MARY's folk enthusiasm and the VELVET UNDERGROUND's flair for songwriting comes this number with GLORIOUS vocals from NOOSHA and the guys singing background vocals..........'ALL ALONG THE STREET I SEE THE DANCERS, A CELEBRATION SONG IS ALL IN HARMONY, AND THE BLUE BOY HOLDS THE HAND OF THE GIRL HE USED TO KNOW BACK IN MAINE, AND THE LOVE GOES ROLLING ON THRU THE SOUL OF EVERYONE, AND THE LOVE GOES ROLLING ON THRU THE SOUL OF EVERYONE, AND I SWEAR THAT HE TOOK MY HAND, AND TURNED THE STONE OF THE FINEST HAND'.........organ solo comes in unexpectedly with zippy enthusiasm, then begins again 'all along the st. i see the dancers......'.........one of their very BEST compositions, and a tune you'll never forget....
2 'WOODEN HORSES'
acoustic guitars play a slow tune,........ NOOSHA comes in 'ba, ba, ba, ba, ba baaaaaa' flute comes into play , GLOOMY atmosphere sets in.....the male singer - '15 YEARS AIN'T SO LONG WHEN YOUR LIVIN' BY THE RIVER, U AND YOUR BRIDE OF 17 EVERYDAY SPENT WITH HER, AND THINKING OF WOODEN HORSES PLAYING....'...peaceful sound.......
3 'AMERICA'
some really GOOD lyrics for an EXCELLENT tune !, NOOSHA again shines out here, it's a song about leaving london and traveling thru states in the us such as washington and virginia............the approach the male singer takes reminded us of LOGGINS and MESSINA he begins 'ALEX AND I ARE GONNA LEAVE LONDON TOWN'...the pace gets faster here NOOSHA comes in and sings a few lines very lovely such as 'DWON IN WASHINGTON I WISH THERE WAS SOMEPLACE TO GO, I COULDN'T FIND MUCH HAPPINESS, AND EVERYONE WAS DOING THEIR BEST TO STEAL THE WHOLE SHOW'.....
4 'KALI'
this one is in the style of GORDON LIGHTFOOT a straight ahead folk tune.....male singer - ' Kali i can't even say i really knew your name, i only know i'd no more time, no one left to blame', also 'WE DON'T BELONG OUTSIDE A SONG, I HEARD WHEN I WAS YOUNG'....
5 'PICK UP THE PIECES'
another GOOD one, the vioces here are prominent over the instruments.....noosha sings along with the male singer eventually the whole band jions in.....'BABY DON'T PLAY AROUND WITH LIVES, THE GIRL HAS BEEN HURT TOO MANY TIME', and 'PICK UP THE PIECES LET THEM KNOW YOUR ON YOUR WAY'
6'JULY MORNING'
side one ends with another GORDON LIGHTFOOT/JOHN DENVER style acoustic number, this one VERY GOOD with very soft vocals from the male singer , short and sweet, - 'THERE ARE DAYS WHEN I'VE FORGOTEN HOW HAVE WE BEEN BLESSED, AND ALL THIS HIGH AND FINE CREATION GIVES ME AIR FOR MY BREATHE', and 'BLUE AND GREEN ARE THE COLORS, AND COUNTLESS MORE WILL GREET MY EYES, STANDING HERE ON THIS MOUNTAIN.........'...
- lp side 2 -
7 'COMING HOME'
side 2 begins with a soft GORDON LIGHFOOT style number ' U CAME NATURALLY WASHED IN BY THE SEA, SIGN IN THE SAND SAID YOUR STRONGER, SO TAKE WHAT U NEED GIVE INTO YOUR GREED, U KNOW IT CANNOT LAST MUCH LONGER, GET IT ALL TOGETHER SO WHEN U FINALLY LEAVE, U WON'T HAVE TO GRIEVE, ......later NOOSHA comes in here - ' U GOT TO LEAVE AND FINALLY LOSE YOUR FEAR'.......ends wonderfully
8 'FOR U'
slow song with piano playing,...male singer - 'U GOT ALL THE LOVE THAT I NEED, MORE THAN ENOUGH TO BELIEVE IN, ITS ALL I TRUST AND I KNOW THAT YOUR EYES SEE WHERE I FAIL', and 'THIS IS THE WAY U HAVE LOVED ME, AND U DON'T KNOW ALL THE JOY THAT U GIVE TO ME LORD I THANK U FOR ALL THE DAYS OF LIGHT U SHOWN MY WAY'....somewhere a sax comes in and plays a melody......NOOSHA comes in 'NOW U ARE STRONG WHEN I NEED, U GIVE YOUR SMILE WHEN I AM CRYING'.....
9'ON THIS DAY'
the male singer and NOOSHA sing this peaceful one together , kinda in the style of FAIRPORT CONVENTION, and the VELVET UNDERGROUND.....'ON THE ROAD AGAIN IT SEEMS TO ME I'M NEVER STANDING STILL, BUT IT's GOOD TO KNOW YOUR GOING TO A PLACE U CAN NEVER FILL ', and 'EVERYWHERE I SEEK COMMUNION I FIND IT IN THE STRANGEST WAYS'......and 'LET IT BE THAT WAY'....( fades)
10 'AFTERNOON'
quiet folk tune, PETER, PAUL, and MARY style......again NOOSHA duets with the male singer 'TAKE OFF ON AN AFTERNOON OF RAIN, EVERYONE's GONE AND I'M DREAMING MY HEAD OFF AGAIN 'I'M JUST A BOY WHO DON'T KNOW WHEN TO SAY HE's HAD ENOUGH I'D LIKE TO MAKE MY WAY OUT WEST' and 'OH JUST TO LIVE OUT ON THE BLUE SKY FEEL THE PEACE OF EVERYONE', and 'SHINE UPON THE SUN'....( ends)
11 ' TYPEWRITER AND GUITAR'
...LOVELY ENDING...very quiet.......closer to LEONARD COHEN's lp of '68 than anyone else, sparse acoustic guitar plays ' WITH YOUR TYPEWRITER AND YOUR GUITAR WITH YOUR LADY IN THE WINGS, AND AN ANGEL INSIDE U, SOMETIMES IT's A SIN, DID U LOVE HER BETTER DID U GIVE HER MORE, WELL MAYBE ALL I WANT TO KNOW NOW IS WHY DID U DO IT ALL ? , WELL MAYBE IT WAS THE TIME OF YEAR THE WAY THE CARDS WERE THROWN, MAYBE WERE PART OF THE SAME MOVIE PLAYING IN SOME OTHER TOWN, AND NOW MY LOVE FOR U IS FINALLY COME BACK HOME, I CAN LAUGH AT THE MANY TIMES I'VE WAITED FOR U TO COME HOME..............I'VE WAITED SO LONG TO WRITE U THIS SONG, FOR I CANNOT BELONG TO A TIME THAT IS FINALLY GONE...MMMMMMMM ( flute comes into play) DA, DA,DA,DA, DA, DA.....(fades)
|
