P.kantner, G.slick & D.freiberg Baron Von Tollbooth & The Chrome Nun (1973) [reissue 1997]

Credited to Paul Kantner, Grace Slick, and David Freiberg, Baron von Tollbooth & The Chrome Nun was the first album made by these erstwhile members of Jefferson Airplane since the breakup of that group. Like such other spin-off projects as Blows Against the Empire and Sunfighter, this one featured a supporting cast of San Francisco Bay Area musicians including present and former members of a variety of groups, such as the Grateful Dead (lead guitarist Jerry Garcia, percussionist Mickey Hart, and lyricist Robert Hunter, who wrote the words to "Harp Tree Lament"), Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (singer David Crosby), and the Flying Burrito Brothers (bassist Chris Ethridge), as well as other former members of the Airplane and future members of Jefferson Starship…

Esoteric Recordings are pleased to announce the release of a new re-mastered edition of the legendary 1973 album by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE members Paul Kantner, Grace Slick and David Freiberg; Baron von Tollbooth and the Chrome Nun.

The Spencer Davis Group reunited in 1973 and recorded Gluggo, its title referring to obscure slang for alcohol. In an attempt to keep with the times, the group chose a harder-rocking sound, which didn't sit well with their fondness for jazz and blues. Songs such as "Catch You on the Rebop", "Mr. Operator", and "Tumble Down Tenement Row" are characteristic of the group's 1960s sound, featuring precise drumbeats, loosely played organ, and hollered singing. Other songs include the instrumental "Today Gluggo, Tomorrow the World", a cover of the old blues "Trouble in Mind" (performed in the style of Nashville sound and twang vocals), and the country pop song "Legal Eagle Shuffle", which follows the genre's typical storyline of divorce and truck driving.

The Spencer Davis Group reunited in 1973 and recorded Gluggo, its title referring to obscure slang for alcohol. In an attempt to keep with the times, the group chose a harder-rocking sound, which didn't sit well with their fondness for jazz and blues. Songs such as "Catch You on the Rebop", "Mr. Operator", and "Tumble Down Tenement Row" are characteristic of the group's 1960s sound, featuring precise drumbeats, loosely played organ, and hollered singing. Other songs include the instrumental "Today Gluggo, Tomorrow the World", a cover of the old blues "Trouble in Mind" (performed in the style of Nashville sound and twang vocals), and the country pop song "Legal Eagle Shuffle", which follows the genre's typical storyline of divorce and truck driving.

The Spencer Davis Group reunited in 1973 and recorded Gluggo, its title referring to obscure slang for alcohol. In an attempt to keep with the times, the group chose a harder-rocking sound, which didn't sit well with their fondness for jazz and blues. Songs such as "Catch You on the Rebop", "Mr. Operator", and "Tumble Down Tenement Row" are characteristic of the group's 1960s sound, featuring precise drumbeats, loosely played organ, and hollered singing. Other songs include the instrumental "Today Gluggo, Tomorrow the World", a cover of the old blues "Trouble in Mind" (performed in the style of Nashville sound and twang vocals), and the country pop song "Legal Eagle Shuffle", which follows the genre's typical storyline of divorce and truck driving.

Recorded live at the Roxy, Scratch was one of the Crusaders' best recordings, an extravaganza of jazz and funk with great soloing from the group on top of a set of excellent grooves. From the loose-limbed funk of "Scratch" to a restless, understated version of their live standard "Eleanor Rigby" (which they'd been performing live for over six years), the Crusaders displayed a command of R&B forms in a jazz context. Another cover, Carole King's "So Far Away," is betrayed by a muddy '70s arrangement and sound, but nothing else here fails to illustrate the excellence of the best R&B group in the jazz world.

First-ever reissue on CD from the master tapes of the second album by this improvisational/folk/world music, formed in 1970 by Peter Michael Hamel on keyboards, and also featuring guitar, oboe, guitar, percussion, electronics and bamboo flute. Definitely of its time, but also something ahead of its time in how it blended a lot of musics that had never been blended before in 1973! This album was released some two years after the debut and leader P-M Hamel had spent much time in India (and worked with Agitation Free), while Eliscu played with Popol Vuh and percussionist Black with Niagara.

The Fabulous Ventures (1964). Originally issued on Dolton in 1964, The Fabulous Ventures combined six original compositions including the single "Journey to the Stars" and "Walking with Pluto," which sound like outtakes from The Ventures in Space LP released a few months earlier. Also included are six cover versions of popular songs from the era including "Needles and Pins," "The Cruel Sea," "Tall Cool One," "Only the Young," "Fugitive," and "The Pink Panther Theme." In general the Ventures' albums have stood the test of time and hold together well, especially the ones that follow a particular theme. While the playing time on this disc is only 28 minutes in length, in the case of many Ventures' albums, less is more…

The Fabulous Ventures (1964). Originally issued on Dolton in 1964, The Fabulous Ventures combined six original compositions including the single "Journey to the Stars" and "Walking with Pluto," which sound like outtakes from The Ventures in Space LP released a few months earlier. Also included are six cover versions of popular songs from the era including "Needles and Pins," "The Cruel Sea," "Tall Cool One," "Only the Young," "Fugitive," and "The Pink Panther Theme." In general the Ventures' albums have stood the test of time and hold together well, especially the ones that follow a particular theme. While the playing time on this disc is only 28 minutes in length, in the case of many Ventures' albums, less is more…

The Fabulous Ventures (1964). Originally issued on Dolton in 1964, The Fabulous Ventures combined six original compositions including the single "Journey to the Stars" and "Walking with Pluto," which sound like outtakes from The Ventures in Space LP released a few months earlier. Also included are six cover versions of popular songs from the era including "Needles and Pins," "The Cruel Sea," "Tall Cool One," "Only the Young," "Fugitive," and "The Pink Panther Theme." In general the Ventures' albums have stood the test of time and hold together well, especially the ones that follow a particular theme. While the playing time on this disc is only 28 minutes in length, in the case of many Ventures' albums, less is more…