Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: The Exkursions
Company: private press
Catalog: # 811G-2984
Year: 1971
Country/State: Chicago, Illiinois
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4480
Price: $100.00
Cost: $66.00
This one was kind of a mystery to me in that it was widely described as a Christian rock album with many critics knocking it for those leanings.
The first couple of times I spun 1971's "The Exkursions" I heard what was a pretty entertaining set of blues-rock. The band's Christian leanings largely escaped me and it wasn't until I sat down and read the brief liner notes that I made the connection - "The most critical factor in their music today is a relationship to Jesus, the Messiah. Their commitment to him has brought a new sound,a new hope, and a new way." While those comments would normally send me packing, this is one of those rare cases where the music overwhelms the theology. Mind you, singer/guitarist Mike Johnson, drummer Fyl Jonnzen and bassist Leon Wilson aren't exactly the most original musicians you'll ever hear, but on tracks such as 'Picture Woman' and 'It's Been Set Down' they churn out some quite accomplished Cream-styled blues-rock. Johnson's also quite an accomplished guitarist. Not quite the Jimi Hendrix clone some reviewers would have you believe, but quite impressive - check out his work on 'Third Eye'. The trio also deserve some credit for largely controlling their desires to preach their new found faith With the exception of 'What Happened To Me', 'You & Me' and the jazzy 'Would You Believe' the religious messages are kept fairly subtle. Be sure to check out 'Baby You Lied' with a pair of headphones on ... great stereo engineering from Jonnzen.
"The Exkursions" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Picture Woman (Mike Johnson) - 5:25
2.) Dry Ground (Fyl Jonnzen - Mike Johnson) - 3:49
3.) Baby You Lied (Mike Johnson) - 6:03
4.) What Happened To Me (Fyl Jonnzen - Mike Johnson) - 2:27
(side 2)
1.) Third Eye (Fyl Jonnzen - Mike Johnson) - 4:50
2.) You & Me (Fyl Jonnzen - Mike Johnson) - 4:55
3.) It's Been Set Down (Mike Johnson) - 4:47
4.) Would You Believe (Mike Johnson) - 4:17
I'm not sure
it's still good, but at one time this was Johnson's email address:
mjmusic1@msn.com