line up 1  (1967-)

- Click Horning -- vocals, guitar

- Night Kitchen (Click Horning)

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Click

Company: ABC

Catalog:  ABCS-677
Year: 1970

Country/State: New Hampshire

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: pro sticker on cover; gatefold sleeve

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 30006

Price: $50.00

You couldn't be blamed for thinking Click was a band.  I certainly did.  And as is so often is the case, I was wrong.  Click was in fact singer/songwriter Click Horning.

Raised in New Hampshire, at seventeen Horning left school, joining two older sisters living in New York City.  Through his sisters he scored a job as a music publisher staff writer, followed by a recording deal with Robert and Gene Schwart's Laurie Records.  Horning made his recording debut in 1967 with a pairs of obscure singles for Laurie.  To my ears the 45s recalled something between The Cowsills and an America version of Donovan's slightly lysergic take on folk rock.  Nice enough, but not exactly the most original sides you've ever heard.

- 1967's 'Fat Lady In the Wicker Chair' b/w 'Dancing Babies'  (Laurie catalog number LR 3402)

- 1967's 'Girl with a Mind' b/w 'Rainmaker' (Laurie catalog number LR 3419)

It's interesting how many obscure acts ABC signed during the late '60s and early '70.  On the list was the young Mr. Horning.  1969's "Click" teamed Horning with producer Tom Wilson and was mildly  interesting for several reasons including the fact Horning was allowed to record a collection of all original material - quite rare for a newly signed act.  Judging by the eleven selections, while Horning wasn't the most impressive singer you've ever encountered, he had a decent enough voice and was quite versatile.  The same was true for his songwriting which spanned the spectrum from top-40ish pop 'Find It For Yourself', to heavy psych ('Many Times Jimbo'), with side trips into jazz ('My Pet') , jazz-rock fusion (the instrumental 'Theme Too'), Donovan-styled folk-rock ('See That My Children Got Warm Clothes') and singer/songwriter territory ('To Paris (Handle with Care)')  Admittedly his lyrics were occasionally entertaining ('Crazy Hannah' and 'ManyTimes Jimbo').  And I guess that was my big problem with the album.  It just didn't have much of a personality.  Horning was certainly a talented guy, but producer Wilson seemingly tried on all sorts of genres in an effort to find one that fit Horning.  While there were no performance credits on the album, it seemed clear that Horning was supported by a cast of faceless studio musicians (including an annoying flautist), giving the album a professional sheen, but also a certain corporate anonymity. The end result was a collection that was seldom all that memorable.   As far as a I can tell ABC didn't even bother floating a single.

"Click" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) I Never Said She Was  (Click Horning) - 2:39  rating: *** stars

As reflected on 'I Never Said She Was' Horning didn't have the greatest voice you've ever encountered - his performances were kind of flat (or perhaps merely stoned).  That said, he made the most of his talents' in this case melding a jazzy vibe with a nifty melody and a wonderful bass line.

2.) Many Times Jimbo  (Click Horning) - 3:37  rating: **** stars

Complete with heavy sitar and trippy lyrics ("hey you there in the garden, what was that you ate .."), the ballad 'Many Times Jimbo' found Horning diving headlong into lysergic territory.

3.) My Precious  (Click Horning) - 4:17   rating: ** stars

Maybe it was the prominent flute arrangement, but the ballad 'My Precious' found Click stepping into jazzy territory.  Not particularly enjoyable.  

4.) Crazy Hannah  (Click Horning) - 2:36  rating: *** stars

In spite of having a bucketful of lyrics, 'Crazy Hannah' was probably the album's most pop-oriented tune.  It would have been even better had producer Wilson not added another irritating flute solo to the arrangement.

5.) My Pet  (Click Horning) - 2:17   rating: ** stars

Old timey, jazz arrangement with lots of clarinet ...   Did nothing for me.

6.) Theme Too (instrumental)  (Click Horning) - 3:02  rating: **** stars

And when it seemed like Horning had tried virtually every genre known to radio audiences, along came the instrumental 'Theme Too'.   Surprisingly tuneful with violin and whistling, it really would not have been out of place on a jazz-rock fusion album.  

(side 2)

1.) Find It For Yourself  (Click Horning) - 2:30  rating: *** stars

Another one of the album's more commercial performances, 'Find It For Yourself' paired "happening" lyrics with a fairly MOR melody.  

2.) For Judith  (Click Horning) - 2:21  rating: *** stars

The prominent violin that powered the ballad 'For Judith' bore more than a passing resemblance to David LaFlamme and It's a Beautiful Day.  Not a big fan of that band so this one escaped me as well.

3.) Girl On My Mind  (Click Horning) - 3:07   rating: ** stars

Imagine Donovan trying to do a Jethro Tull cover ...  Yeah, you really don't want to go there.  Way too much flute.

4.) To Paris (Handle with Care) - 4:06  rating: *** stars

Sensitive singer-songwriter territory ...  Pretty acoustic guitar accompaniment.

5.) See That My Children Got Warm Clothes  (Click Horning) - 3:23  rating: *** stars

The closer 'See That My Children Got Warm Clothes' again brought out the Donovan comparison.

Dropped by ABC, Horning stayed active on the New York music scene, forming the band Moonshine, followed by Henry J and the Rollers.  He played in a series of local bands including the Cosmic Hasbeens and The Too Old To Practice Band.  In the late-'70s he returned to New Hampshire and splitting his time between a solo career and the band Night Kitchen.