line up 1 (1972)

- Joe Bauer (RIP 1982) -- drums, percussion

- Michael Kane -- bass, keyboards

- Lowell "Banana" Levinger III -- vocals, guitar, bass, banjo,

  mandolin, keyboards

  supporting musicians: (1972)

- Richard Earthquake Anderson -- harp

- Steve Swallow -- bass

- Joe Bauer (solo efforts)

- Crab Tunes / Noggins (Joe Bauer and Lowell Levinger)

- Lowell Levinger (solo efforts)

- Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul (Lowell Levinger)

- The Youngbloods (Joe Bauer, Michael Kane and Lowell Levinger)

- Zero (Lowell Levinger

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Mid-Mountain Ranch

Company: Raccoon
Catalog: #13

Year: 1972

Country/State: San Francisco, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $20.00

So here's what the back of the album cover has to say about Banana and the Bunch:

"In 1963 Peter Golden and I, standing around bored at a dress rehearsal of the Boston University production of "On the Town," voted "Harmon N. Banana" the folkiest name of 1936 and started the group Banana and the Bunch and adopted the official Harmon N. Banana handshake which we have both long since forgotten.  He played guitar, I played banjo.  Gradually we expanded tjhe group to include another guitar, a mandolin and Michael Kane on bass.  We played various gigs around the Boston area. We decided Banana and the Bunch was too corny a name so we changed it to The Knights of Pythias Wake The Dead Gospel Four (There were five of us).  This didn't seem to catch on so we changed again to La Passionata String Band.  We never hit it.  When Michael and I decided to quits school to be full time musicians, the other members didn't.  Michael and I drifted through the Proper Bostonians, a folk group, and The Trols, a rock band.  I left Cambridge and The Trols to join The Youngbloods.  Four years later Michael joined The Youngbloods as bass player.  Now, together wth Joe Bauer, drummer of renown, we have decided to resurrect Banana and the Bunch, corny name and all."

Missing in the story is the catalyst for reactivating the band; namely in 1972 Youngbloods front man Jesse Colin Young struck out in pursuit of a solo career.  That "split" apparently left the surviving Youngbloods on the hook to deliver another album to their Warner Brothers affiliated personal imprint - Raccoon Records.  The result - 1972's "Mid Mountain Ranch."  Produced by Stuart Kutchins, the album reflected a mixture of previously recorded Levinger material ('Ocean of Diamonds' and 'Familiar Patterns), a Youngblood remake (the instrumental 'Interlude'), lots of country-bluegrass covers and a couple of  new numbers.  With the exception of the atypically commercial 'New Sail Away Ladies' the results were loose, easy going and not particularly appealing to my ears.  In other words it sounded like what you'd expect from a contractual obligation album.  Others will disagree claiming they enjoy the set's charm and hearing an ersatz Youngbloods album without Jesse Colin Young's participation.  One spin was enough for me.

"Mid-Mountain Ranch" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Back In The U.S.A (Chuck Berry) - 2:54 rating: * star

If you had any doubts this was a "contractual obligation" album their pedestrian, country-rock-ish cover of the Chuck Berry classic 'Back In the U.S.A.' should set you straight.  There are thousands of versions of this song out there.  Few are as lame, or uninspired as this one.  Why it was released as a promotional single is beyond me:

- 1972's 'Back In the U.S.A.' (mono) b/w 'Back In the U.S.A.' (stereo) (Warner Brothers catalog number WB 7626)

2.) My True Life Blues (Lowell Levinger) - 3:48 rating: * star  

I have no idea what the background was, but 'My True Life Blues' was actually a straight remake of The Paul Butterfield Blues Band's 'Born In Chicago'.  Shame on them for peddling it as a Levinger original.  All I can hope is Nick Gravenites sued the hell out of them for stealing his song.  Anyhow their stab at Chicago blues was about as inspired as watching butter melt.  Yeah, life as spoiled Chicago rich kids must have been tough. 

3.) Vanderbilt's Lament (instrumental) (Joe Bauer - Richard Anderson - Lowell Levinger - Michael Kane) - 2:49  rating: * star  

What the world?  A bizarre instrumental full of "jungle" and monkey sounds you had to wonder if perhaps they'd been smoking too much of that LSD.  The fact Raccoon/Warner Brothers released it as a promotional single made you wonder about the label's sanity.

- 1972's 'Vanderbilt's Lament' (mono) b/w 'Vanderbilt's Lament' (Stereo) (Raccoon/Warner Brothers catalog WB 7621)

4.) Interlude (Instrumental) (Lowell Levinger) - 2:49  rating: * star

I'll just quote the liner notes: "This was originally recorded on "The Youngbloods Rock Festival."  In this version I muted the banjo and picked it instead of frailing it.  Steve Swallow plays two basses (one at a time)."

5.) Double Interlude (instrumental) (Lowell Levinger - Joe Bauer - Steve Swallow) - 0:57   rating: * star

"An improvisation with Steve Swallow.  Jim was wise enough to turn on the recorder."  

6.) Sittin' Alone In The Moonlight (Bill Monroe) - 2:16 rating: ** stars

I'm not a big bluegrass fan so this didn't do much for me.  From the liner notes: "This song is on my all-time Top 20.  Written by the father of Bluegrass, Bill Monroe.  I'm playing everything except drums and all the voices are yours truly." 

7.) In Foggy Old London (Al Robinson) - 1:45 

8.) Before The Sun Goes Down (Jerry Organ -Vernon Claud) - 2:03

(side 2)
1.) New Sail Away Ladies (Lowell Levinger) - 2:31 rating: **** stars

Having savaged most of side one, I'll admit that 'New Sail Away Ladies' was a massive improvement in songwriting and performance. Reflecting a catchy country-tinged melody, cute lyrics and some sweet vocals, this is the track that should have been promoted.  

2.) Ocean Of Diamonds (Cliff Carnahan) - 3:51 rating: * star

Faux country bluegrass ...  give me a break.  

3.) Familiar Patterns (Michael Kane) - 3:38  rating: **** stars

Kane's 'Familiar Patterns' started as a pretty, but exceptionally spare ballad - piano and upright bass.  Levinger added some nice jazzy guitar to the mix.  One of those tunes that lowers my blood pressure ten points.  Kane handled the lead vocals.

4.) Great Blue Heron (instrumental) (Lowell Levinger) - 3:29 rating: * star

Showcasing Kane's jazzy keyboards and Steve Swallow on stand-up bass, welcome to the lounge act section of our show.

5.) Honky Tonk Blues (Hank Williams) - 2:09 rating: * star

Another bluegrass number.  Pass.

6.) Lucas Valley Breakdown (Lowell Levinger) - 1:37  rating: * star

Anyone want to hear a bluegrass number?

7.) The Rights Of Man (instrumental) (Peter Golden) - 2:00 rating: *** stars

Levinger didn't showcase a lot of his fretwork on the album, but I'll admit he turned in his best performance on the cover of former bandmate Golden's 'The Rights Of Man.'

Levinger has an extensive website at: Lowell Levinger | "Banana" from the Youngbloods

© Scott R. Blackerby