Rock Festival / Ride The Wind / Good & Dusty

"Their music, based on a melodic sense of adventure, perfectly suited the open-ended enthusiasm of folk-rock."It's been some time, but this set follows the BGO 2 CD set of The Youngbloods' first three albums. "Ride The Wind" is available as a stand alone album, but both "Rock Festival" and "Good and Dusty" are expensive, making this BGO set the way to add these albums to your Youngbloods collection. The sound has been "mastered in high definition for 2017" and is clean and open from the low end to the high end. The ten page booklet has an essay on the band and their music with photos from the original album jackets, plus lyrics for the "Ride..." album. With a three "star" rating I'm being brutally harsh--the best performances here sneak into four "star" territory--especially if you remember that era and the band's jazzy instrumental playing. Oh yes.The Youngbloods' sound was a combination of good time, rootsy, country, folk-rock mixed with a tinge of jazz and some late '60s S.F. hippie strains they absorbed. Always known for the hippie anthem "Get Together" (included here in a different arrangement), the three albums included here see the band stretching out instrumentally on the live "Rock..." and "Ride..." albums. The "Good..." album has more blues/r&b covers along with some traditional/country-ish songs and is probably the weakest of the three albums."Rock Festival" is a trio of Jesse Colin Young, Banana, and Joe Bauer with Richard Anderson-harmonica on "Peepin' and Hidin"". The "Ride The Wind" set is the same core trio with Young-bass/rhythm guitar/piano/kazoo/vocals, Bauer-drums, and Banana-guitar/piano. The "Good and Dusty album is the trio (with Young also on tenor saxophone) plus new member Michael Kane-bass/french horn/cornet/tuned drinking glasses/ vocals, plus Anderson again-harmonica. Incidentally Kane's solo album (also on Racoon Records) has become some kind of a collectors item over the years.A good example of how the band stretches out is "Prelude" and "On Beautiful Lake Spenard" from the "Rock Festival" album, with light jazzy drumming, Young's nimble bass, and Banana's electric piano. But "Peepin' and Hidin'" and "Fiddler A Dram" show the different sides of the band. And check out "Ice Bag" for more proof of the band's versatility. The "Ride The Wind" album has some nice things like the title track (from the "Elephant Mountain" album), "Sugar Babe" (from "Earth Music"),, "Sunlight" ("Elephant Mountain"), "The Dolphin" (a Fred Neil classic never recorded in the studio by The Youngbloods), and "Get Together" is here with a sound different from the original version. The "Good and Dusty" album has a number of cover tunes like "Stagger Lee", "That's How Strong My Love Is", "Willie and the Hand Jive", "Let the Good Times Roll", and (reminiscent of the Grateful Dead's "Workingman's Dead" album) the traditional "Will The Circle be Unbroken".This three album reissue is a welcome addition to the earlier reissue set for fans (like me who were lucky enough to hear the band live back in the late '60s/early '70s) looking to find these albums at a good price. The band was always a nice respite from all the acid-tinged electric guitars so prevalent in that period. This is easy-going, down home, good time music that also swung at times with a jazzy sound. I only wish the band's last album, "High On A Ridge Top" could've been included. Oh well. The Youngbloods somehow, for me, summed up what the S.F. music scene was all about--a band that moved to S.F., fit nicely into the scene, yet continued to expand musically--yet never giving up that certain late '60s/early'70s vibe.Also check out the reissue of Banana's '71/'72 album "Mid-Mountain Ranch", by Banana and the Bunch. With Banana, Kane, and Bauer playing a variety of songs different styles. This is one of those albums that never really received it's due because it's a bit off center from the music of the day. I also have hope that Jesse Colin Young's two early albums, "Soul of a City Boy", and "Youngblood" will see reissue soon. "Soul..." has been a favorite of mine since I bought the album way back when I was much younger. His beautiful voice and guitar fit the songs wonderfully.

Their hit song Get Together is live and not as smooth and full bodied as a studio recording. That song is why the set was purchased. Bought another CD and the song was a studio recording, love that one. Their time not my time but I do love that song and rest of music is better as background music. I can't say that about music on the other CD.

There was no one like the Youngbloods. It's been a long time since I've heard these recordings. The live stuff is the best. Ride the Wind. I wish they'd stayed around a little longer and kept releasing live albums. I'm very happy that these have been re-released.

These albums make a great compliment to the three studio albums.

Ok

Good mudic

Price and shipping was right on

Been waiting for these remaster so. Wonderful!

Despite releasing seven quality albums between 1967 and 1972 on two huge record labels - RCA Victor and Warner Brothers - New York's 'The Youngbloods' and their principal songwriter Jesse Colin Young never really meant diddlysquat in the UK (where I live). The live albums "Rock Festival" and "Ride The Wind" were both given limited British releases in 1970 and 1971 on those tasty-looking WB Tan labels with the Raccoon Records logo up in the corner – but they elicited no real interest amongst the Blighty buying public. Following their failure the third studio album offered us here - "Good And Dusty" from late 1971 – was consequently as a US-only release on original vinyl...But this rather fabulous and timely reissue by England's Beat Goes On Records seems determined to correct the error of our frankly callous and musically myopic ways. What you get here are the first three of four albums they did with Warner Brothers/Raccoon Records – that trio issued in 1970 and 1971 (two in the same year). The first and second platters are live sets as already mentioned (the third is studio) with the 2nd LP "Ride The Wind" actually recorded late November 1969 in New York - but not released until July 1971.The opening duo showcase the band in very different styles of play – bopping and ready to boogie like the audience shown on the rear sleeve of "Rock Festival" - while the second is stripped back and more Richie Havens Rock-Soulful Folk-Soul than standard Rock. And stylistically different or not (anyone looking for the 1969 pop hit "Get Together" should look elsewhere) - given the crude technology of the time - both records were expertly recorded even though they are largely live. Their final and fourth album "High On A Ridge Top" on Warner Brothers BS 2653/Raccoon No. 15 from December 1972 is unfortunately outside the remit of this release.Beautifully remastered onto 2CDs and amped up with a classy card slipcase and expanded booklet - here are the rocky raccoons...UK and USA released 14 April 2017 - "Rock Festival/Ride The Wind/Good And Dusty" by THE YOUNGBLOODS on Beat Goes On BGOCD 1284 (Barcode 5017261212849) offers 3LPs from 1970 and 1971 Remastered onto 2CDs and plays out as follows:Disc 1 (57:57 minutes):1. It's A Lovely Day [Side 1]2. Faster All The Time3. Prelude4. On Beautiful Lake Spenard5. Josiane6. Sea Cow Boogie [Side 2]7. Fiddler A Dram8. Misty Roses9. Interlude10. Peepin' 'N' Hidin' (Baby What You Want Me To Do)11. Ice BagTracks 1 to 11 are their fourth album "Rock Festival" – recorded live between March and July 1970 - it was released October 1970 in the USA and December 1970 in the UK - both on Warner Brothers WS 1878/Raccoon No. 1. Produced by BOB MATTHEWS (Engineered by Betty Cantor of Grateful Dead fame) - it peaked at No. 80 in the USA (didn't chart UK).12. Ride The Wind [Side 1]13. Sugar Babe14. SunlightTracks 12 to 14 are Side 1 of their fifth album "Ride The Wind" - released July 1971 (recorded live November 1969) in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2563/Raccoon No. 4 and December 1971 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46100. Produced by CHARLIE DANIELS - it peaked at No. 157 in the USA (didn't chart UK).Disc 2 (63:24 minutes):1. The Dolphin [Side 2]2. Get Together3. BeautifulTracks 1 to 3 are Side 2 of their fifth album "Ride The Wind" - released July 1971 (recorded live November 1969) in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2563/Racoon No. 4 and December 1971 in the UK on Warner Brothers K 46100. Produced by CHARLIE DANIELS - it peaked at No. 157 in the USA (didn't chart UK).4. Stagger Lee [Side 1]5. That's How Strong My Love Is6. Willie And The Hand Jive7. Circus Face8. Hippie From Olema No. 59. Good And Dusty10. Let The Good Times Roll11. Drifting And Drifting [Side 2]12. Pontiac Blues13. Moonshine In The Sunshine14. Will The Circle Be Unbroken15. I'm A Hog For You Baby16. Light ShineTracks 4 to 16 are their sixth (fifth studio) album "Good And Dusty" - released December 1971 in the USA on Warner Brothers BS 2566/Raccoon No. 9. No producer listed - it peaked at No. 160 in the USA (no UK release).THE YOUNGBLOODS on all three albums were:JESSIE COLIN YOUNG - Lead Vocals, Guitars, Bass and KazooLOWELL 'Banana' LEVINGER - Guitars and PianoJOE BAUER - DrumsEARTHQUAKE ANDERSON - Harmonica (only on "Good And Dusty")MICHAEL KANE - Bass, French Horn, Vocals, Cornet (only on "Good And Dusty")The card-slipcase adds a classy feel to the release (standard these last few years with BGO reissues) and the 12-page booklet features original album credits and a new appraisal of their legacy by noted Music Historian JOHN O'REGAN. He discusses their '67 to '72 recordings - post 80's and 90's reunions and Jessie Colin Young's subsequent solo career in Country Music - there's even the lyrics to the brilliant "Ride The Wind" live set and some black and white photos of the three and four-piece line-ups looking young, cheerful and waving enthusiastically at their adoring audience.But the really big news here is superlative new Audio Transfers from licensed WEA tapes by BGO's resident Engineer ANDREW THOMPSON. I'm always wary of live sets especially from the Sixties and early Seventies where sound was problematical to say the least. Yet both of these sets and especially the Charlie Daniels Produced "Ride The Wind" LP have a clarity that defies their age big time. The studio album "Good And Dusty" is superb too and on tracks like the beautiful "Light Shine" (a return to the glory of the "Get Together" melody) – it’s spectacular. Let's get to the music...Although "Rock Festival" is supposedly a 'live' LP of new material recorded at various venues like 'The Family Dog' in San Francisco and 'Barn' in Santa Clara - it's clear to me that the lead-off song "It's A Lovely Day" is a studio cut provided by Jessie Colin Young. Warner Brothers tried its pretty melody as a 45 in May 1971 with the LP finisher "Ice Bag" on the flipside - but Warner Brothers 7499/Raccoon S 4 didn't trouble too many charts (its UK equivalent on Warner Brothers K 16098 fared the same). While "Faster All The Time" is a good Levinger bopper - the one-minute "Prelude" and the near six-minutes of the keyboard instrumental "On Beautiful Lake Spenade" both feel like ambling wastes of time. Things improve with Colin Young's "Josiane" – another warm melody that I can’t help but feel should have been a studio cut. "Sea Cow Boogie" turns out to be 20-seconds of Bass-playing nonsense leading into a leery version of the Traditional boozing shanty "Fiddler A Dram". Saving the day comes a warmly recorded cover of Tim Hardin's "Misty Roses" - sung by Colin Young - it's a tiny bit hissy but incredibly intimate and touching in a way that none of the prior tracks do (first decent crown response too). Banjos ahoy for Banana’s "Interlude" – a two-minute instrumental that actually works. As if arriving from another album or a boisterous Chicken Shack gig over in London – they then offer us a Harmonica-warbling cover of Jimmy Reed’s "Peepin..." – great fun but wildly out of place with the rest of the record. We then go discordant Trout Mask Replica Captain Beefheart with two minutes of strained nonsense called "Ice Bag".After the ragbag that is "Rock Festival" – the six long workouts of "Ride the Wind" come as a welcome relief. As I’ve already said – the second live record is more Rock-Soulful than standard Rock. Young singing, Banana hitting the keys, Bass solos that Funk with the drums – it feels like Richie Havens scatting in front of an appreciative crowd with a hip band of likeminded musicians backing him up. They deconstruct their own songs and offer them up in Funky new incarnations - the Fred Neil masterpiece "Dolphins" gets a moody work over too as does their sunshine slice of Sixties gloriana "Get Together". In my mind the album is the very definition of lost classic - and that Charlie Daniels Production is incredible - each keyboard note and cymbal tap leaping out of your speakers with clarity that defies its age. And Young's singing enters another place - Soulful as well as melodious. Hell - there are times when the finisher "Beautiful" feels like Phil Upchurch live on funky guitar with Al Kooper singing out front - Young urging the people to feel beautiful and reach out (yeah baby).Excepting four originals - "Hippie From Olema No. 5" by Lowell 'Banana' Levinger (it's actually a close re-write of Merle Haggard's "Okie From Muskogee"), "Good And Dusty" by all four members of the band and two Jessie Collin Young entries in "Drifting And Drifting" and the lovely single "Light Shine" - the other nine tracks on the "Good And Dusty" studio album are all cover versions. Most are old Blues & R&B Classics - Lloyd Price's rabble-rouser "Stagger Lee" - the gorgeous pleading Soul of Roosevelt Jamison's "That's How Strong My Love Is" made famous by O.V. Wright and Otis Redding (a genuine highlight on here) - the Coasters Leiber & Stoller winner "I'm A Hog For You Baby" - Sonny Boy Williamson's Chess brawler "Pontiac Blues" - Leonard Lee's "Let The Good Times Roll" made famous by Louis Jordan - the spiritual "Will The Circle Be Unbroken" in shimmering Staple Singers style - all rounded off with a sneaky take on the saucy "Willie And The Hand Jive" made infamous by Johnny Otis.On top of all that is "Moonshine Is The Sunshine" - a Jeffery Cain song that initially turned up on his debut LP "For You" in 1970 on Warner Brothers WS 1880. All three of The Youngbloods had played on that album - only the second LP on the Raccoon Label imprint - and they repaid him by covering his song here. The other goodun on here is Carol Miller's lovely ballad "Circus Face" - Banana playing that Mandola so sweetly (I'm amazed this hasn't been covered more). The album's best moment comes last with Colin Young's lovely "Light Shine". Warner Brothers tried it as a 45 in March 1972 with the equally Soulful "Will The Circle Ever Be Broken" on the flipside - but despite the French horns, sweet guitar picking melody and the overall strength of both sides - Warner Brothers WB 7563 did no business.As "Light Shine" plays out this gorgeous-sounding twofer - you're left with an abiding impression that even though some of the material isn't blazing and brilliant like the sun (that first album is not great and the third has some clunkers too) - there's enough musical sunshine across the three to warrant a revisit in 2017.Well done to BGO for getting this wee lysergic Rock-Soulful nugget out there. "Good And Dusty" indeed...

I'd been waiting years for the live album Ride the Wind, an old vinyl favourite, to be released on CD at a reasonable price and then three Youngbloods albums come at once. RTW is without doubt the star of the show and worth the price of admission alone. On their studio albums the Youngbloods sometimes came over as a bit 'jokey' (comparisons with The Lovin' Spoonful have been made) but behind the playful exterior were some pretty fine musicians. The extravagantly name Lowell Levinger III (aka Banana, the man's a genius!) plays some superb improvised jazzy piano and guitar while Jesse Colin Young is an appealing singer and more than competent bass player; Joe Bauer completes the trio with crisp jazz induced drumming. Four of the six tracks are extended and improvised workouts while the hippie anthem Get Together, their one big hit, gets a fairly subdued outing which is perhaps appropriate as by the time this was recorded (late 1969) the hippie dream had definitely turned sour. Sugar Babe completes the line up, it's ok but exactly the sort of 'jokey' song they didn't seem able to resist.Rock Festival is also a live album but a more patchy affair, standout tracks are the beautiful 'On Beautiful Lake Spenard', the gorgeous 'Josiane' and a lovely version of Tim Hardin's 'Misty Roses'.Good and Dusty' is their penultimate studio album and a bit of a mish mash, some old standards, some blues covers, some original songs and, you've guessed it, some jokey stuff; it's alright but certainly not indispensable. Probably the best track, the lovely yet serious 'Circus Face' loses all gravitas when Jesse Colin Young has a bit of a giggle in the fade out, shame.One minor quibble; Ride the Wind is split between the CDs so instead of turning the old vinyl over you now have to change CDs to hear it as a . whole. Perhaps a better option would have been to have both live albums, RTW and Rock Festival, together on one CD (I think there would be room) and leave the less than essential Good and Dusty for another day, but then again beggars can't be choosers.In summary Ride the Wind 5*, Rock Festival 3.5*, Good and Dusty 2.5*.WARNING - there are a couple of bass solos on this product but they are fairly short and, surprisingly, pretty good.

Most people likely only know this band because of their hit song Get Together but these later lps proove thet were much more. I mean major labes put out 6 or 7 lps of their stuff and put out a lot of other stuff related to them as well so they obviously recognized them. But the crticss seem to talk about Parsons, Flying Burrito Brothers, NRPS and other bands but largely ignore this band. Many of htese other bands never even had a hit! Its not all sensational but they were good.