line up 1  

- David Anderson --vocals, guitar

  supporting musicians:

- Calvin Arline -- bass

- Sudie Calloway -- backing vocals

- Tommy Goodwin -- keyboards

- Emil Handke -- drums, percussion

- Stanley Kimball -- guitar

- Laverna Moore -- backing vocals

- Julian Sparks -- trumpet

- Sonny Throckmorton -- backing vocals

- none known

Genre: rock

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Children of the Mist

Company: King

Catalog:  KS 1120
Year: 1971

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: gatefold; promo sticker on cover; small punch hole top right corner

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1

Price: $40.00

This one's a true mystery to me.  While there are plenty of on-line references to 1971's "Children of the Mist", as far as I can tell there's not a single review of the album.  AllMusic, Rate Your Music, Amazon, YouTube, etc. - nothing.  Of course having listened to the collection a couple of times, there may be a reason for the dearth of information on the album.  It's just not very good.

From the limited liner notes I can tell you the following things about the album.

- The LP was co-produced by Anderson and Darrell Glenn, with Glenn also credited as the executive producer.

- The album  was recorded during sessions at Starday-King Studios in Nashville, Tennessee.

- The majority of songs were written by the team of Jack Houston and Reagan Harty (unknowns to me).

How this pale, young folkie got signed to King Records (best known for its soul recording roster), is just one of many questions I have.  Featuring eleven cover tunes; most penned by the team of Houston and Harty, none of the songs was particularly memorable.  In spite of album title and occasional attempts to get "hip", the overall sound and feeling featured an odd mixture of  middle of the road folk, country and pop moves.  Those country and pop moves were apparent on tracks like 'Another Way', 'Free from Blame' and 'If'.  Adding to the album's issues, Anderson's voice was an acquired taste.  Dry, brittle and occasionally flat, time after time he struggled to carry the basic melodies.  If any of the songs had included a memorable melody he might have pulled it off, but that wasn't the case here.  Throw in some of the most irritating female backing vocals you'll ever hear and this was truly disappointing.

"Children of the Mist" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Children of the Mist  (Buzz Clifford) - 3:25 rating: ** stars

Showcasing Anderson's fragile, slightly flat voice, the title track was a routine folk tune interspersed with goofy lyrics and some irritating operatic female backing vocals.  At least Stanley Kimball's guitar solo was nice.

2.) Another Way (Jack Houston - Reagan Harty) - 3:07 rating: *** stars

The album's most commercial track, 'Another Way' offered up a bouncy country-pop melody with a full rock band arrangement and patented early-'70s "hope for the future: lyrics.  Once again the bleating female backing vocals were an irritation.  The song was also released as a promotional single on Starday's short-lived Agape label:

- 1971's 'Another Way' b/w 'Songbird' (Agape catalog number 45-9000)

3.) Fourteen Days Ago (John Nitzinger) - 4:17 rating: * stars

Anderson as singer-songwriter ...  Supported by horns and an MOR melody, there was just something about his vocal delivery that was off-putting.  When Anderson tried to power his way through a song those irritating characteristics came to the fore.

4.) When I Go (Jack Houston - Reagan Harty) - 2:35 rating: ** stars

Crappy MOR ballad, made worse by Julian Sparks' MOR trumpet and one of Anderson's worst vocals.  He sounded as if he were struggling to stay in tune throughout the whole performance.

5.) So Much Lovin (Jack Houston - Reagan Harty) - 2:30 rating: ** stars

Another forgettable mid-tempo performance, 'So Much Lovin' sounded like it had been recorded in a large cavern.  Once again Kimball's guitar provided the lone standout component.

6.) If You Believe  (Jack Houston - Reagan Harty) - 2:45 rating: * star

'If You Believe' added a Gospel component to the mess.  It didn't help at all.

(side 2)

1.) I Miss Your Love (Jack Houston - Reagan Harty) - 3:10 rating: ** stars

At least the opening of 'I Miss Your Love' found Anderson trying to deliver a true rocker, but the combination of his flat vocals and a bland melody quickly collapsed the effort.

2.) For a Few Dollars (John Nitzinger) - 4:20 rating: * star

I guess 'For a Few Dollars' was intended as social commentary, but to my years the result were overly sentimental tripe.  Yech.  Imagine a really bad Jimmy Webb song.

3.) If (Jack Houston - Reagan Harty) - 2:42 rating: *** stars

Well, at least it was an upbeat number.  

4.) Free from Blame (Jack Houston - Reagan Harty) - 3:05 rating: * star

Remember mid-'70s singers live Terry Jacks - 'Seasons in the Sun' or Sammy Johns ('Chevy Van')\?  Well, 'Free from Blame' managed to make those guys sound like purveyors of heavy metal.

5.) Step In My Direction (Jack Houston - Reagan Harty) - 3:50 rating: * star

So why not say the worst for the end?  Anderson and the female singer sounded like they were bleating their way through this one.  Horrible, horrible country, complete with pedal steel guitar.  

© Scott Blackerby March, 2025