line up 1 (1980)

- Andy Barone -- bass

- Larry Calabrese -- vocals, guitar

- Jeff Gaer -- keyboards

- Jerry Joly -- drums, vocals

- none

Genre: rock

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Homegrown

Company: New York

Catalog: private press

Year: 1980

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink (opened)

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 4994

Price: $90.00

Were it not for a couple of the topical lyrics (not exactly the band's strength) and an occasional period-synthesizer, you'd be hard pressed to peg this New York-based quartet for an early-1980s outfit.  

Produced by guitarist Larry Calabrese (who also wrote most of the material), their sound was definitely influenced by late-1960s/early-1970s era rock rather than early-1980s AOR.  While there's little chance that conventional rocker numbers like 'Key To My Heart', 'Rock & Ride' or the instrumental 'Today' would change your outlook on life, "Homegrown" was never less than fun.  Calabrese and drummer Jerry Joly both had okay voices and the quartet (rounded out by bassist Andy Barone and keyboard player Jeff Gaer) played with considerable energy and enthusiasm.  On the down side, ballads like  'State of Mind' and 'Today' were horrible and in general Calabrese' lyrics were pretty lame.  Stuff like 'Hard Day', 'What's Going On' (bet Republicans loved this band) and 'Party Party' hardly put the band in contention for a Pulitzer.  Still, goofy enough to make it better than 95% of private press releases ...

"Homegrown" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Key To My Heart   (Andy Barone) - 4:15

2.) Rock & Ride   (Larry Calabrese - Jerry Joly) - 3:33

3.) Hard Day   (Larry Calabrese) - 2:46

4.) What's Going On   (Larry Calabrese) - 3:20

5.) State of Mind   (Larry Calabrese) - 4:14

6.) Today (instrumental)   (Larry Calabrese) - 4:10

(side 2)
1.) Couragous (sic) Cat   (Larry Calabrese) - 5:06

2.) Today   (Larry Calabrese) - 4:04

3.) Movin' On Down   (Larry Calabrese) - 5:19

4.) Party Party   (Larry Calabrese) - 5:03

5.) Young and Angry   (Larry Calabrese) - 1:20