Biscuit Davis
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1973-76) - Robert Anthoine -- drums, percussion - Tom Bailen -- vocals, guitar - Derrik Hoitsma -- vocals, guitar, bouzouki, violin - Bob Thiele Jr. -- vocals, guitar, keyboards - Todd Zimmerman
-- bass backing musicians (1973) - George Koutzen -- celli - Jesse Levy -- cello - Richard Pablo Landrum -- percussion - Sue Maskaleris -- piano - JImmy Owens -- flugelhorn - Bruce Wofasft -- piano
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- Earth Crisis (Todd Zimmerman) - The Forest Rangers (Bob Thiele Jr.) - Give Me Love (Tom Bailen) - The Low Budgets (Todd Zimmerman) - The Royal Macadamians (Bob Thiele Jr.)
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Playing On the Moon Company: Flying Dutchman/Amsterdam Catalog: AM
12014 Country/State: New York, New York Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $40.00
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I've had this album for about a decade and listened to it perhaps four, or five times. It's not particularly impressive, or enjoyable. At best it's a curiosity. Imagine a bunch of young (judging by the inner sleeve, very young), urban white guys deciding they want to play country music ... Maybe something along the lines of The Grateful Dead dabbling in the genre, but not as jam-oriented, or as stoned.
One of the things I've always been puzzled about is the "relationship" with famed banjo player Gary "Biscuit" Davis. Davis is a three time National Banjo Champion and perhaps even better known for producing and working with Dolly Parton. In spite of a slew of reviews that link Davis to this outfit, there is no connection.
Produced
by Bob Thiele Jr.
and released on his father's Flying Dutchman/Amsterdam subsidiary, 1973's
"Playing On the Moon" featured the talents of
singer/multi-instrumentalist Thiele, drummer Robert Anthoine,
singer/guitarist Tom Bailen, multi-instrumentalist Derrik Hoitsma and
bassist Todd Zimmerman. Aside a cover of The Faces "Gasoline
Alley" and Sam Cooke's "Anot
With various line-up changes the group seemingly played throughout the Northeast, breaking up by 1976.
"Playing
On the Moon" track listing: 1.) Playing On The Moon (Bob Thiele Jr - Derrik Hoitsma - Robert Anthoine) - 4:35 rating: * star The title track was a great example of the truth-in-advertising concept. Forget all the reviews you may have read about this album's psych and country-rock flavors. This is straight ahead country. Not even good country, rather country as a bunch of snotty music snobs thought country music should sound. I guess the title was intended to elicit smiles, but it was simply irritating. Odd choice to release as a single:
- 1974's "Playing On The Moon" b/w "Susan" (Flying Dutchman catalog number AM 85030)
2.) Stand Up Suite (Derrik Hoitsma) - 5:06 rating: *** stars One of three Hoitsma solo compositions, "Stand Up Suite" was more jazzy than county-ish. The first half plowed along at a nice pace, before abruptly morphing into a nice ballad. While it wasn't instantly appealing, Hoitsma's voice grew on me. The track also sported some tasty guitar work from Hoitsma. 3.) Home Is Where I'll Be (Bob Thiele Jr.) - 3:12 rating: **** stars "Home Is Where I'll Be" was one of the tracks where they got the mix right - country-rock, with the emphasis on country. The song showcased a lilting melody powered by nice group harmonies. I didn't even mind Hoitsma's violin. Imagine an early Firefall, or Flying Burrito Brothers performance. 4.) Another Saturday Night (Sam Cooke) - 3:18 rating: *** stars I was prepared to detest their Sam Cooke cover. Certainly wasn't as bad as it could have been. It actually wasn't all that bad with a nice trumpet solo. 5.) Susan (Bob Thiele Jr - Derrik Hoitsma - Robert Anthoine - Tom Bailen) - 3:18 rating: *** stars With a pastoral melody and some sweet vocals, the ballad "Susan" offered up one of the album's more conventional pop songs. The song also appeared as the "B" side on their "Playing On the Moon" 45.
(side
2) Like the album's earlier Sam Cooke cover, their instrumental arrangement of The Faces "Gasoline Alley" wasn't going to make you forget the original performance. That said, the instrumental was really good; supplementing the original melody with some Allman Brothers'-styled twin lead guitar moves and a touch of jazzy influences. The result was perhaps the album's standout performance. 2.) One Night Girl (Derrik Hoitsma) - 2:22 rating: *** stars Ah. the heartbreak of dating ... Lovely ballad with a sweet cello solo. 3.) Address (Derrik Hoitsma) - 3:00 rating: *** stars The bouncy "Address" bore more than a passing Grateful Dead feel. 4.) Farewell Lover (Thomas Bailen) - 2:25 rating: ** stars Written and sung by guitarist Bailen, "Farewell Lover" was a pretty, but fragile ballad. Very mid-'60s balladeer feel. 5.) La Boeuf Sur La Toit (Za Be, Za Bon) (instrumental) (Thomas Bailen) - 2:25 rating: **** stars I think the French title translates roughly as "The Beef on the Roof" ... Hell if I have a clue what it means and ultimately it didn't matter since "La Boeuf Sur La Toit (Za Be, Za Bon)" was an interesting jazzy instrumental.
© Scott R. Blackerby July 2025
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her
Saturday Night" the album featured original material with all the
members but Zimmerman contributing to writing chores. So let me warn
you the album's extremely diverse and inconsistent. The title track
offered up a slice of "cutesy" country (a band living and playing
on the moon) - a genre I hate. Thiele's "Home
Is Where I'll Be" was a far better slice of country-rock, with the
emphasis on country. "Susan" and "One Night Girl"
leaned to more conventional pop. The bouncy "Address"
sounded like the band had been listening to their share of The Grateful
Dead. The instrumental "La Boeuf Sur La Toit (Za Be, Za
Bon)" showcased an affection for jazzy moves. Their extended
instrumental remake of The Faces' "Gasoline Alley" came off as a
mash-up of Allman Brothers and jazz influences and while that may not sound
groundbreaking, it was the album's standout performance. Quirky at
best, but ultimately unfocused and hardly memorable.