31st of February
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1968-69) - Scott Boyer
(RIP 2018) --
vocals, guitar
supporting musicians: - Benny Latimore -- organ - Robert Pucetti
-- organ
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- Duane and
Gregg Allman Butch Trucks) - Scott Boyer and
NC Thurman (Scott Boyer) - The Decoys (Scott Boyer) - MIstress (David
Brown)
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Genre: psych Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: 31st of February Company: Vanguard Catalog: VSD-6503 Year: 1969 Country/State: Jacksonville, Florida Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor edge and corner wear Available: SOLD Catalog ID: SOLD Price: SOLD $120.00
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It's sad and outright erroneous that when this short-lived outfit is mentioned by collectors, it tends to be as little more than a footnote in a conversation that focuses on The Allman Brothers Band. That's made even more ironic by the fact that while Duane and Greg Allman contributed material to the The 31st of February's planned second LP, they were never formal members of this outfit. That tentative connection to the Allmans also overlooks the band's considerable talent, to say nothing of the members subsequent successes - Scott Boyer going on to the band Cowboy. David Brown serving as bass player for Santana. And yes, yes, Butch Trucks played drums for The Allman Brothers Band ...
- 1967's 'Hands Are Only To See' b/w 'Baby Blue' (ACP catalog number 380)
That 'success' and what was perhaps fear of being sued by the New York City Bitter End nightclub saw the band morphing into The Tiffany System. Under the new name the trio started their recording careers with an instantly obscure single for the Florida-based Minaret label:
- 1968's 'Let's Get Together' b/w 'Wayward One' (Minaret catalog number MIN-128).
While the single did little commercially, by 1968 the trio had generated a large following in their native Jacksonville, Florida. Opting for yet another name change they relocating to Miami and as The 31st of February (anyone know the significance?), signed a recording contract with the Vanguard Records.
Co-produced by Steve Alaimo and Mike Shapiro, 1969's
"The 31st of February"
has always struck me as an undiscovered gem. Performed with considerable enthusiasm,
the collectio 1.) Sandcastles (Dan Penn - Spooner Oldham - Chips Moman) - 2:55 rating: *** stars Showcasing Boyer's sweet voice, 'Sandcastles' was a pretty ballad, though I didn't find it to be particularly psychedelic. I guess the orchestration and background "beach" sound effects might give it a slight lysergic edge, but nothing too serious. Nice melody, but it's unfortunate the faded the song out so early. Vanguard tapped it as the album's one and only single:
- 1969's 'Sandcastles' b/w 'Pick a Gripe' (Vanguard catalog number VSR 35066) 2.) Porcelain Mirrors (Scott Boyer) - 2:55 rating: **** stars Kicked
along by Boyer's 12 string guitar, mournful vocals and pastoral melody, 'Porcelain Mirrors'
found the trio firmly in Byrds-styled folk-rock territory. It may have
been imitative, but as a big Byrds fan, I quite liked the performance. Always
liked the combination of what sounded like harpsichord and Brown's jazzy
upright bass on the ballad 'Broken Days.' Kind of an early Lou Reed
vibe on Brown's sing-talk delivery. Cool song. The
bouncy, slightly stoned 'Wrong' had an infectious beat and some hysterical
lyrics. It was also a nice example of the trio's sweet harmony
vocals. The
first of two covers, their take on Jackie DeShannon's 'The Greener Isle'
(off her "Laurel Canyon" album), didn't stray to far from the
original melody, though it dropped some of the original's AM pop
sensibilities. Loved Brown's bubbly bass line on this one, but I would
have rather have heard another original tune. Buffy
Saint-Marie's stark, original version of 'Cod'ine' has always struck me as
one of rock's most frightening songs. One of the most devasting
anti-drug tunes ever recorded, it's been recorded by score of '60s and '70
bands including The Charlatans, The Litter, Quicksilver Messenger Service
and the Wizards from Kansas. This version was true to the
original and equally frightening. (side 2) 1.) A Different Kind of Head (David Brown) - 2:46 rating: **** stars 'A Different
Kind of Head' found Brown diving back into
Byrds-styled folk-rock, 'A Different
Kind of Head' had it all - great 12-string powered melody; interesting
lyrics; sweet lead vocals and glistening back harmonies. This one
would have given Roger McGuinn and company a run for their money. One of my
favorite performances. 'Pedestals'
was a fragile, harpsichord powered ballad. The hypnotic organ backing
wasn't sophisticated, but gave the tune a nifty acid-tinged. Love the
intricate vocal harmonies on this one. Built
on a neat, jittery riff that the guitar, bass, keyboards and glockenspiel ?
all pounded out, 'Free' was the album's trippiest performance. In
spite of the goofy title, 'A Nickel's Worth of Benny's Help' made it clear
these guys could rock out with considerable vigor. Loved the soul-jazz
organ fills and Boyer's fuzz guitar leads. Trucks'
lone contribution to the songwriting chores, the mildly country-flavored 'Pick a Gripe'
was unlike anything else on the album. I'm not a big country fan, but this
one was tuneful and actually kind of funny. Loved the group
vocals. The song also appeared as the "B" side on their 'Sandcastles'
45.
Complete
with bells, 'Cries of Treason' was a dark and atmospheric ballad.
Another track that reminded me of Roger McGuinn and company and a cool way
to end the album.
Following the collapse of their own band Hour Glass, Duane and Gregg Allman returned to Florida. Having known Trucks for years, they graciously helped The 31st of February record material for what was planned as their sophomore release. Contrary to some references, Greg and Duane were never members of the band. The project never saw the light of day as internal disagreements saw the band fold in 1969 at which time the tapes were shelved. Drummer Trucks then joined the newly formed Allman Brothers Band Following Duane Allman's untimely 1971 death and The Allman Brothers Band's commercial emergence, the Florida based Bold label acquired the tapes and released the material as a Duane and Greg Allman album ("Duane and Greg Allman" Bold catalog number 33-301).
The "Duane and Greg Allman" album saw the release of a single that was for all intents and purposes the 31st of February's second single:
- 1969's 'In the Morning When I'm Real' b/w 'Porcelain Mirrors' (VSR 35087)
© Scott R. Blackerby December, 2023
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n was varied and energetic. Boyer had a great
voice that
occasionally reminded me of a more commercial
Greg Allman. As displayed on tracks like the mournful 'Porcelain Mirrors' and 'A Different Kind of
Head', Boyer's lovelorn voice was perfectly
suited for the band's excursions into Byrds-styled folk-rock. He was
equally impressive on their progressive outings ('Treason') and psyche ('A Nickel's Worth of
Benny's Help'). Elsewhere, the standout tracks may have been Brown's
stomping 'Wrong' and the trio's ghostly cover of Buffy Sainte
Marie's 'Co'dine'. Among the few missteps; Brown's 'Broken
Day' was a little too sensitive singer/songwriter, while the band's
cover of Jackie DeShannon's 'The Greener Isle' (good taste in
outside material), came off as MOR (blame Shelby Singleton's overwhelming
string arrangement). Unfortunately, the set generated little in the way of
sales. Still, it's highly recommended !!! Far better than
what a lot of the reviews would have you believe. This is one of those
albums I
pull out to hear on a regular basis. They really deserved to be remembers by
a bigger crowd.
