Wednesday, August 5, 2020

Country Rock Melting Permafrost - Claim

Today's offering is Heartsfield, who gigged strongly in support of the biggest acts of the time, released major-label albums, and yet remain just under the radar for most. The problem wasn't chops - these guys could play and sing almost anybody off the stage. The problem was lack of great songs. They wrote their own material, and it never, not even for the space of one song, rises above the level of "very good". Which is good enough, and not enough. Good enough for us to have some fun listening to the albums, not good enough for great.


We don't care, here on Th' Isle O' Foam©. Not everything has to be great all the time, and sometimes good enough is good enough. The great music looks after itself - it's albums like these that need a little encouragement.


Their first three albums in the comments. There's a fourth, and some related releases, which I don't gots.

19 comments:

  1. Hands over money, never sees seller again...........dang it.

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  2. first taste is always free, no?

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  3. I dunno, Farq. People been waxing records for about 150 years now, which leaves precious time for anything but killer, no filler. At least for a coot like myself, well along the sunset trail. No matter the genre, if the song is slight, I usually shuffle on.

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  4. Well, how many albums are really "all killer, no filler"? If we only keep those around, your playlist is gonna run a little short, won't it?

    Me, I'm all for some of these country rock ringers, especially since I went through all the a-listers. Happy to check out the b-listers. These guys I've never heard of, but am happy to change that...

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  5. I actually rely on others to give me the heads up on stuff I've never hear of...or would even consider spending time on. This site is operated by a veteran world traveler and I find that his tastes are in registration with my own no more than any other. I don't need him to jump on any bandwagons for me...but I do appreciate his thoughtful guidance concerning such matters. That is the best way to become aware of NON popular items that ARE worth hearing. I'll admit, the word 'Country' caused me to pass on this one but remember Country music is one of the precursors to rock and roll as much as any other. Furthermore, I don't really come here for the music as much than for the the poetic grace and thought provoking wordage that is heaped upon ever post. Not only are we in the company of some hard core literary wizards, farq has a great way of serving each dish with a side order of fun and a parsley garnish. I can't see why he cares so much about making the site so unique...but that's what it is!!! One of a kind and never any indigestion...so, I appreciate all that goes on here--ESPECIALLY the freedom to say anything we want and get quality feedback from to boot. Keep it up farq...you attract the greatest subset of anything on the internet where cleverness is concerned! Thanks to ALL commenters that make me know that this is fertile soil that could support cultivation of just about ANYTHING. THAT's why I will keep coming back! The music is secondary to the rest of the contents...for me, anyway!
    IRISH STEW?
    (Irish Stew in the name of the law!!!)

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    1. You should check this out, KC, they're definitely more on the rock side of country rock. At times they resemble more of a southern jam band. As Farq said, there's a lot of good playing here, mostly guitar-based.

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    2. Addendum: I specifically refer to the first album. The other two are a lot more country, whining pedal steel and all.

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    3. There nothing finer than praise from a connoisseur!
      Thank you, One Buck Guy! I love guitar finesse.
      Nice assist...

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  6. Excellent playing - sometimes straying into the absurdly thrilling - and topnotch singing make these albums keepers, even without any great songs.

    A lot of the music that washes up on Th' Isle O' Foam© falls short of greatness. That's why we're here. You can get Neil and Bob and [YOUR GROOVY ROCK IDOL HERE] anywhere on the internet mainland.

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    1. Well, we already discussed him, so I don't want to grind that dead ol' crazy horse further into the ground, but if you are going for "no filler", you're definitely at the wrong adress at uncle Neil's. As a matter of fact, is there a "major, important artist" (as annointed by the music press and his fans) that has more half-baked filler stuff than Neil?

      As for these dudes, three songs in, yeah, that's a pretty good groove they got there.

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  7. Okay okay, in for a penny, in for a pound.

    Does anyone have the fourth (and last from their heyday) album, "Collector's Item"?

    The version on Youtube is butchered into randomly cut off bits...

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  8. "Shine On" has the best employment of Mellotron by a country-rock band that I'm aware of. A 5-star song that's been on my frequent play list for the last 20 years or so.

    The local college station played a tune from their first album this week, and it sounded good, but rock and roll songs about rock and roll were pretty passe even when this came out. Songwriters with nothing interesting to say is not exactly a new development, obviously.

    I remember when every forgettable Lou Reed album was reliably worth 5 stars in Rolling Stone, same as Bob and Neil...

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    1. Thanks for the comment. These albums slip down a treat, but your point about singin' songs about singin' songs (or worse, about writin' 'em) is well made.

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  9. to One Buck Guy
    Try to this link https://myzuka.club/Album/806507/Heartsfield-Collectors-Item-1977
    sorry for the delay but holydays was so sweet in those hard times

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  10. Yo Farq and crew,

    Heartsfield finally put the last album from their classic period on Youtube.

    MP 3 album plus a live album from 75, y'all are interested

    https://workupload.com/archive/mSW5DJhQ

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