Nuggets From The Golden State - The Stained Glass - A Scene In-Between (@320)

 

Nuggets From The Golden State - The Stained Glass - A Scene In-Between

Another long-anticipated collection and part of the ongoing

“Nuggets From the Golden State” series is this, an excellent

reappraissal of the works done by San Jose-based mid-sixties outfit The Stained

Glass.

We’re fortunate too that expert compiler and chronicler Alec

Palao saw to it that some of the earlier material – recorded while the group

were still operating under the name The Trolls – has also been included. Two of

the best items from that juncture, the unmissable ‘Walkin’ Shoes’ – a

tough-sounding 1966 garage r&b style original written by prolific bass

player Jim McPherson, and also the chimingly cool tones of ‘No Rhyme Or

Reason’, penned by the group’s rhythm guitarist and early group figurehead,

Roger Hedge, will have you craving more.

There was certainly no shortage of convincingly strong

material available for the group to work up, impress their fanbase within the

live club setting and, ultimately, to then lay down for posterity in the

recording studio. So it really is wholly surprising when, after the group

changed their name to The Stained Glass and inked a record deal with the mighty

RCA empire in the autumn of ’66, they didn’t become the high-charting success

and genuine household name that they ought to have been. In particular, two

selections that I believe would’ve been more than ripe for slaughtering the

national charts with; to go head to head with some of the period’s main

contenders at the very least, are the wonderfully realised ‘My Buddy Sin’, with

its baroque-infected leanings – somewhat reminiscent of what the Left Banke

were doing over on the other coast – tumbling folk-rock encapsulations and

McPherson’s highly imaginative lyrical twists – vocalised too with conviction

and panache by drummer Dennis Carrasco. Surely this here gem deserved to be Top

of the Pops!  The woozily atmospheric

title track, ‘A Scene In-Between’, also showed that the ‘Glass was a group

whose collective ear had been tuned-in to the hip and happening changes afoot

in the pop world, and was capable of producing their own fascinating, highly

effective aural mini-movie akin to some of those amazingly weird-sounding

pre-Pepper Beatles songs!

If you’ve not yet had the pleasure, ladies and gentlemen,

may I suggest that you now pop out and score a copy of this while still

available, and then add to the list of San Jose greats – Count V, Syndicate of

Sound, and the Chocolate Watch Band – The Trolls, and, especially, The Stained

Glass. Listen with open ears and attentive mind, I trust you will not be

disappointed!

Tracklist:

1.1 Walkin' Shoes

1.2 She's Not Right)

1.3 How Do You Expect Me to Trust You

1.4 No Rhyme or Reason

1.5 Sweeter Than Life

1.6 Such Good Friends

1.7 Broken Man

1.8 Lonely Am I

1.9 If I Needed Someone

1.10 My Buddy Sin

1.11 Vanity Fair

1.12 Revenge Is Sweet

1.13 We Got a Long Way to Go

1.14 Inside Ouch

1.15 Too Fit to Be Tied Demo

1.16 Dollar Sign Friends Demo

1.17 Second Day Demo

1.18 Bubble Machine)

1.19 Mediocre Me

1.20 A Scene In-Between

1.21 Mr Martyr

1.22 You Keep Me Hangin' on Live

1.23 My Flash on You Live

1.24 2120 S. Michigan Avenue Live

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