tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post3532021174660776650..comments2024-03-02T07:40:22.786+03:00Comments on Only Solitaire blog: The Association: BirthdayUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-80507410825852319452020-04-17T19:22:35.380+03:002020-04-17T19:22:35.380+03:00The six-man band The Association were at their cre...The six-man band The Association were at their creative and commercial peak (and averaging 250 shows a year) when they recorded 1968’s Birthday with producer Bones Howe and members of the Wrecking Crew. The opener, “Come on In” (written by San Francisco folkie Joe Mapes), power pops alongside a pair of Top 40 carefree groove-fests: “Time for Livin’” and “Everything That Touches You” (the band’s last Top 10 hit). From there, the beautifully arranged musical detours are many (and no doubt influenced by Sgt. Pepper). Guitarist Jim Yester, for example, contributes two gentle psych ditties that sound like David Crosby fronting The Mamas & The Papas: "Birthday Morning” and “Barefoot Gentlemen.” (The latter features a lovely, elaborate mix of French horns, flugelhorns, and tubas.) Singer/guitarist Russ Giguere’s self-serious dreamer “The Time It Is Today” sounds like an intellectual folkster taking on Gene Clark. The baroque and reaching “Bus Song” is told in three musical chapters, complete with an imagined audience, a barbershop quartet, and a plethora of experimental studio ideas worthy of Brian Wilson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-60251577252157383902011-02-02T16:14:15.507+03:002011-02-02T16:14:15.507+03:00My you're a thorough reviewer! I'm certain...My you're a thorough reviewer! I'm certainly going to stick to the sentiments of your last paragraph.<br /><br />There are three wonderful songs on Birthday: 'Come on in' has an amazing warmth within its lush harmonies (and, surprisingly, bass to die for). 'Hear in here' has terrific vocal melodies, set to hissing, spitting drums. Finally, compare 'Birthday morning', perhaps the band's most affecting song, which musically (again, wonderful vocal melodies and harmonies) has an atmosphere of sheer gorgeousness I never tire of, with 'Rose petals, incense and a kitten' (what a vomit-inducing title) and you begin to appreciate what a fine line there is between banal, cliched, failure and stunning success, when trying to create gentle, moving music (which most bands don't even attempt). I'm sure the band and producer thought both songs were great.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-89083587185020926482011-02-02T02:06:54.911+03:002011-02-02T02:06:54.911+03:00If the art of answering Sgt. Peppers is obsolete b...If the art of answering Sgt. Peppers is obsolete by 1968, I'll be really curious what you think of Bigelf doing it in 2008Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09803695574665248153noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-660808341284783109.post-61848914242150893862011-02-01T21:17:51.843+03:002011-02-01T21:17:51.843+03:00My favorite song here is "Barefoot Gentleman&...My favorite song here is "Barefoot Gentleman". Really gorgeous song.raistuumumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10947081327684189851noreply@blogger.com