Lou Antonucci with the Borrow What You Can Band
Band members Related acts
|
line up 1 (1977) - Lou Antonucci -- vocals, acoustic guitar
supporting musicians: - Jegg Bell -- banjo - Kevin Bell -- bass - Nancy Edwards -- keyboards, backing vocals - Rob Hassen -- drums, percussion - Darren Lazzari -- lead guitar
|
- none known
|
|
Genre: folk, pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Fantasies Company: Marjon International Records Catalog: MJCS
25A Country/State: Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened) Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $100.00
|
I don't remember much about finding this one - must have been a flea market, or a yard sale. I vaguely remember buying it for the "vanity project" packaging and thinking the band members looked like they were having fun. Anyhow, the album sat in my to-listen-to pile for a couple of years and when I finally got around to it, the results didn't exactly rock my socks.
And then as a Christmas present I was given a copy of Hans Pokora's 9001 Record Collector Dreams. As I was flipping through the book (imagine crack cocaine for vinyl collectors) guess what I found listed in the book ... "Fantasies" by Lou Antonucci with the Borrow What You Can Band. Yeah, time to go back and check out the album again. After all, my first impressions are frequently wrong.
Antonucci has a small FaceBook site and he shows up on Drooble which seems to be a music "booking" site (as of 2023 he was still playing dates throughout New England). Here's what his biography has to say:
"Born and raised just outside of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Lou began his professional career at the age of 13, and has been performing in one fashion or another for many, many years. A well-seasoned, personable entertainer, with a style reminiscent of the late Harry Chapin, Lou possesses the uncanny ability to draw an audience into his music. Whether performing for a handful of college students in an intimate coffee house, or entertaining hundreds as the opening act in a night club setting, Lou magically transforms his story-songs into real life emotion, allowing his audience to become an integral part of each performance."
There's next to nothing on the web about Antonucci 's debut album so this is largely speculation on my part. From the album liner notes I can tell you the collection was recorded at Johnny Krizancic's Sharon, Pennsylvania-based Marjon Studios and coincidently released on the Marjon International label. Antonucci produced the set (along with his band mates); he wrote all eleven tracks and provided lead vocals and acoustic guitar. Engineered by Krizancic the collection's sound was surprisingly good for a quick, low-budget project.
Musically this wasn't anything special. One of thousands of 1970's of forgotten albums by singer/songwriters, "Fantasies" had the same strengths and weaknesses as many of those other albums. Judging by these tunes Antonucci has a nice voice; sweet and vulnerable. Certainly better than Harry Chapin. Exemplified by songs like the title track and 'Love Is Kind' he had a knack for crafting pretty and catchy melodies. Backing from The Borrow What You Can Band was sympathetic, if occasionally a little subdued. You got the feeling these guys were probably fun to hear on a cold winter night in a small New England bar. The downside was this was a singer/songwriter album and the focus was clearly on broken hearts and lost romances. Individual tunes like the ballads '725', 'Song For Kathy' and 'Thoughts Of Me And You' were each quite pretty, but stacked up across the album you started to get overloaded by these tales of personal despair. Geez folks, a couple more rockin' tracks like the opener 'Goin' Down' and the bouncy 'Let That Jukebox Go' would not have hurt the album.
Which brings me back to Pokora's series of Record Collector Dreams. Don't get me wrong; his books are wonderful and open the door to a universe of music most folks have never heard. For goodness sakes, I own all nine volumes of the set. Just remember the books focus on an album's rarity. Collectors frequently forget that rarity and being enjoyable are totally different factors. There are lots of rare and expensive albums that suck.
Just to reiterate, "Fantasies" may be on the expensive side, but it doesn't suck and actually has a couple of pleasant surprises. = )
"Fantasies" track listing: 1.) Goin' Down (Lou Antonucci) - 3:11 rating: **** stars With a happy, bouncy, old-timey melody 'Goin' Down' was a nice way to start the album. Antonucci and company sounded like they were having fun in the studio, generating quite a bit of energy with a nice guitar solo from Darren Lazzari. Rob Hassen's drum solo wasn't really necessary. 2.) 725 (Lou Antonucci) - 4:05 rating: *** stars Edwards tinkling keyboard opening gave '725' a children's lullaby feeling. The title apparently reflected the time the protagonist woke up to go to work and started his day of missing his partner. Antonucci vocals were nice and full of heartache, as was the song's melodic riff, but you kept waiting for the song to get beyond that riff and it didn't. 930 - think I'll go back to bed. 3.) Let That Jukebox Go (Lou Antonucci) - 1:49 rating: *** stars As the owner of a Seeburg 2100 any song about jukeboxes gets my approval. 4.) Love Is Kind (Lou Antonucci) - 4:27 rating: **** stars 'Love Is Kind' was a pretty acoustic ballad showcasing uplifting lyrics and some sweet harmony vocals. The tune got a little sidetracked during Nancy Edwards brief keyboard solo, but found its footing to bring it on home. 5.) Fantasies (Lou Antonucci) - 3:56 rating: **** stars With a full band arrangement the title track reminded me of a mash-up of early America and perhaps Jim Croce ... (Yeah, I know Antonucci identifies with Harry Chapin.) The melody was pleasant; the lyrics detailing the common man's day-to-day burdens merely depressing. Kudos to Darren Lazzari for the tasty jazzy lead guitar.
(side
2) Nice banjo propelled melody and clearly autobiographical - life is tough as a working musician. 2.) Song For Kathy (Lou Antonucci) - 2:54 rating: *** stars Another sweet ballad. The tune got a little better when the rest of the band kicked in. Kind of a John Denver vibe. Wonder if Kathy got the message? 3.) Life Is What You Make It (Lou Antonucci) - 2:47 rating: *** stars The American Cancer Society and Alcoholics Anonymous should have shown an interest in the country-tinged 'Life Is What You Make It'. In spite of the topics, the song was actually kind of funny. 4.) Touch The Sun (Lou Antonucci - Chris Porucek) - 2:30 rating: *** stars With backing from the full band, 'Touch The Sun' was one of the album's more pop-oriented tunes. The song's bouncy melody and "missed opportunity" lyrics made for an odd experience. 5.) Nancy Ann (Lou Antonucci) - 3:59 rating: **** stars 'Nancy Ann' was my pick for the album's standout performance. Great country-tinged melody with Antonucci's most energetic performance. I liked the banjo riff. Wonder if Kathy was aware of Lou's feelings for Nancy Ann? 6.) Thoughts Of Me And You (Lou Antonucci) - 2:35 rating: ** stars A straight ahead folk number, 'Thoughts Of Me And You' displayed some nice finger-picking moved, but recalled a Peter, Paul and Mary tune. Geez, more women problems for the poor man ...
Antonucci has a small Facebook page at: Lou Antonucci | Facebook
His Drooble site is found at: Lou Antonucci | Drooble
I've only heard online samples, but on the heels of a career in tech, in 2012 Antonucci returned to actively recording and performing. He also released a second self-financed collection "An Almost Perfect Flight."
"An Almost Perfect Flight" track listing: 1.) Touch the Sun (Lou Antonucci) - 3:33 2 I Saw Their Guns (Lou Antonucci) - 4:54 3 Grandfather's Song (Lou Antonucci) - 4:02 4 The Merchant On Market Square (Lou Antonucci) - 4:59 5 The Morning After (Lou Antonucci) - 4:56 6 Time (Lou Antonucci) - 3:59 7 To the Terrorist (Lou Antonucci) - 4:23 8 Reunion (Lou Antonucci) - 6:25 9 Close The Door (Lou Antonucci) - 4:12 10 (Living in My) Fantasies (Lou Antonucci) - 4:23 11 Family Life & Freedom (Lou Antonucci) - 3:56 12 Un'aria Strumentale (Per Mio Nonno) (Lou Antonucci) - 4:04
|
BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
