line up 1 (1968-69) as Blue Buffalo and The New 

  Buffalo Springfield

- Randy Fuller -- vocals, bass, guitar  
- Bob Jones -- vocals, guitar  

- Dewey Martin (RIP) -- drums, percussion

- Joey Newman (aka Vern Kjellberg) -- vocals, lead guitar,

  keyboards
- David Price -- vocals, rhythm guitar (1969-70)

  line up 2 (1969) as Blue Mountain Eagle

- Randy Fuller --  bass, guitar, backing vocals
- Bob Jones -- vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals
- Joey Newman (aka Vern Kjellberg) -- vocals, lead guitar,  keyboards
NEW - Don Poncher -- vocals, drums, percussion, backing vocals

  (replaced Dewey Martin)
- David Price -- vocals, rhythm guitar, backing vocals

  line up 3 (1969-70) 

NEW - David Johnson -- bass, vocals (replaced randy Fuller)
- Bob Jones -- vocals, lead guitar, backing vocals
- Joey Newman (aka Vern Kjellberg) -- vocals, lead guitar,

  keyboards
- Don Poncher -- vocals, drums, percussion, backing vocals
- David Price -- vocals, rhythm guitar, backing vocals

- Armadillo

- Bandit (Joey Newman)

- Blue Rose (Don Poncher)

- Brothers Keepers (Don Poncher)

- The Buffalo Springfield (Dewey Martin)

- The Chelsea (David Price)

- Danny and the Saints (Bob Jones)

- The Demons (Bob Jones)

- Don and the Good Times (Joey Newman and Don Poncher)
- Bobby Fuller Four (Randy Fuller)
- Randy Fuller (solo efforts)

- Funzone (Don Poncher)

- The Liberty Party (Joey Newman)
- Love (Don Poncher)
- Dewey Martin & the Medicine Ball (Randy Fuller)

- The Persuaders (David L. Johnson)

- Jimmy Rabbit and Renegade (David Johnson)

- Merilee Rush & The Turnabouts.(Joey Newman) 
- The Shindigs

- Stepson (Joey Newman)

- Sweathog (David Johnson and Bob Jones)

- Touch (Joey Newman)

Genre: rock

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Blue Mountain Eagle

Company: ATCO

Catalog: SD-33- 324

Year: 1970

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 6302

Price: $70.00

One of the first "collectable" albums I ever bought and still a favorite ...

Following the collapse of The Buffalo Springfield, drummer Dewey Martin formed The New Buffalo Springfield.  The original line up included bassist Bob Apperson, guitarist David Price, drummer Don Poncher, horn-man Jim Price, and guitarist Gary Rowles.  While the band became an in-demand live act, they collapsed in the face of legal action by the other former Buffalo Springfield members.  The threat of legal action didn't keep Martin from forming another band, though this time around he was careful to name them Blue Buffalo.  With the second line up rounded out by former Bobby Fuller Four bassist/guitarist Randy Fuller (Randy was the late Bobby's younger brother), guitarist Bob Jones, former Touch keyboardist Joey Newman, and guitarist David Price, they quickly scored a recording contract with Atlantic's ATCO subsidiary.  Certainly just coincidence, but ATCO had been Buffalo Springfield's label.  Unfortunately, before heading into the studio the ever volatile Martin bailed from the project leaving the rest of the band to continue on their own.

Still under contract to ATCO, the surviving members opted for a quick name change and as Blue Mountain Eagle recruited former Don and the Good Times drummer drummer Don Poncher as Martin's replacement.  Produced by Bill Halverson, "Blue Mountain Eagle" displayed a band that certainly had more than their share of talent.  While Newman and David Price were responsible for the majority of material (five of the set's ten tracks) all of  the other members contributed to the writing chores, with all five members also taking individual shots at lead vocals.. Musically the collection bounced between conventional hard rock (the fuzz guitar propelled opener 'Love Is Here'), psychedelia ('Dreams'), and Buffalo Springfield styled folk rock ('Feel Like a Bandit').  The entire line-up acquitted themselves well with Jones deserving a special shout out for his wonderful lead guitar fuzz effects and to Jones and Price for having the best of the band's lead voices.  It's hard to put your finger on the album's overall charm.  It was far from the most original set you've ever heard and I'm not going to tell you they came close to the original Springfield, but the tunes were virtually all worth hearing and the performances had a distinct sense of energy that's missing from most of the competition ...   I know it sounds like meaningless hyperbole so you'll have to listen for yourself.  The results are even more impressive if you believe the rumor the album was recorded in one extended session !!!

Shame they weren't given another shot as they had more than enough talent to make it and with a little more focus they could have been a fantastic band.

"Blue Mountain Eagle" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Love Is Here (Joey Newman) - 4:25  rating: **** stars

A straight-ahead rocker that showcased some great double lead fuzz guitar from Jones and Newman, 'Love Is Here' was a nice way to start off the album.  With a pounding beat and some excellent lead vocals from Newman (the rest of the band provided first rate harmony vocals), the track had a highly commercial early-70s vibe that I find highly appealing.  My only complaint was the abrupt ending.

2.) Yellow's Dream (Joey Newman)  -2:42   rating: *** stars

Abruptly shifting gears, 'Yellow's Dream' started out as slightly lysergic flavored ballad\ before shifting gears into a mid-tempo, acoustic guitar powered number that sported what was almost a Gospel flavor.  This time around Newman's keyboards were showcased.   

3.) Feel Like a Bandit (David Price) - 3:03   rating: **** stars

Showcasing Price on lead vocals (he also wrote the song), 'Feel Like a Bandit" was a likeable rollicking pop number.  Jones added another nice lead fuzz guitar and the harmony vocals were priceless, but the song's highlight came in the form of a guitar riff that should have sounded very familiar to many listeners - they were luck that Robbie van Leeuwen and the band Shocking Blue didn't sue the crap out of them for having stolen it.  Sheer coincidence, but Joey Newman subsequently played in a band named Bandit.

4.) Troubles (Carol Myles - Bob Jones) - 3:07   rating: *** stars

Hardly the album's most original track, 'Troubles' was a pretty country-rocker with a catchy refrain that sounded like something Poco might have recorded.   Jones co-wrote the song and handled the lead vocals.  Listing to the song after a couple of years I was fascinated to discover the opening sounded a bit like a slowed down version of Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama.'

5.) Loveless Lives (Don Poncher - Bob Jones - Joey Newman) - 3:25 rating: **** stars
Side one's standout performance, 'Loveless Lives' was a killer rocker - fantastic melody with sterling fuzz lead guitar from Jones, a great lead vocal from Poncher and some of the band's best harmony vocals.  Hard to believe this one wasn't a massive hit.   

(side 2)

1.) No Regrets (Don Poncher - David Price) - 4:08  rating: **** stars

The album's best country-rocker (emphasis on rocker), 'No Regrets' was the kind of song that would have made The Buffalo Springfield proud.  First-rate melody with slashing guitars and more of those gorgeous harmony vocals.      

2.) Winding Your String (Joey Newman) - 2:55  rating: **** stars

With a cool, staggering guitar-powered melody and what's probably Newman's best vocal, 'Winding Your String' showcased the band at their most radio-friendly. Fuller's fluid bass provided the song's secret sauce.

3.) Sweet Mama (Randy Fuller) - 4:18  rating: **** stars

Though it was Randy Fuller's only contribution to the album and his lone lead vocal, 'Sweet Mama' was one of the album highlights. To my ears Fuller's gruff voice may have been the best of the lot. Kicked along by Jones and Newman's twin lead guitars, the results were a crushing, take-no-prisoners rocker (okay the percussion-heavy ending actually got a bit funky).  Shame Fuller didn't contribute more to the album.  ATCO didn't do a great deal to promote the set in the States, though a German single was release:

- 1970's 'Sweet Mama' b/w Loveless Lives'' (Atlantic catalog number 70 444)

4.) Promise of Love (Joey Newman) - 3:00  rating: *** stars

'Promise of Love' sounded a but like something Jim Messina might have recorded and served as the album's prettiest ballad.  Nice group harmonies on the song, though it wasn't nearly as good as some of the more up-tempo material.

5.) Trivial Sum (Terry Furlong - Richard Bowen) - 3:08  rating: **** stars

The lone non-original, 'Trivial Sum' didn't sound anything like the rest of the album.  In fact, it's always reminded me of something out of The Grand Fund catalog.   That said, Jones and Newman turned in fabulous  guitar solos on this one.  

Talent also proved the end of the band.  With the release of the album egos began to clash.  Fuller dropped out to join Dewey Martin & the Medicine Ball and was briefly replaced by David Johnson.   Actively touring opening for a slew of headliners ranging from Jimi Hendrix to Pink Floyd, the band wrote and apparently recorded at least some material for a planned follow up which ATCO management subsequently shelved.  They also managed to record one non-LP single; ironically a cover of Stephen Stills 'Marianne':

- 1970's ' Marianne' b/w 'Yellow's Dream'  (ATCO catalog number 45-6770)

Shortly thereafter the rest of the band called it quits.   Johnson and Jones formed Sweathog.  Jones subsequently played with Demon.   Newman helped form Bandit before joining Stepson. Poncher briefly hooked up with Arthur Lee and Love (Blue Mountain Eagle had previously opened for Love), before recording an album with the band Blue Rose.