Game
Band members Related acts
line up 1 (1969-70) - Eddie Keating -- vocals, bass, guitar - Chuck Kirkpatrick (aka Chuck Crane)- vocals, guitar, bass - Scott Kirkpatrick -- drums, percussion - Les Lurhing -- keyboards - George Terry -- vocals, guitar, bass
line up 2 (1970-72) - Eddie Keating -- vocals, bass, guitar - Chuck Kirkpatrick (aka Chuck Crane) -- vocals, guitar, bass - Les Lurhing -- keyboards NEW - David Robinson -- drums, percussion (replaced Scott Kirkpatrick) - George Terry -- vocals, guitar, bass
line up 3 (1972-74) - Denny Freidkin -- drums (replaced David Robinson) - Eddie Keating -- vocals, bass, guitar - Chuck Kirkpatrick (aka Chuck Crane) -- vocals, guitar, bass -- Les Lurhing -- keyboards
line up 4 (1974-76) NEW - Phil Jones - drums, percussion (replaced Denny Freidkin) - Eddie Keating - vocals, guitar, bass - Chuck Kirkpatrick - vocals, guitar, bass - Les Lurhing - keyboards
line up 5 (1976-78) - Eddie Keating - vocals, guitar, bass - Chuck Kirkpatrick - vocals, guitar, bass - Les Lurhing - keyboards
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- The Aerovons (Chuck Kirkpatrick) - Bridge (Eddie Keating and Les Luhring) - Crabby Appleton (Phil Jones) - Crane (Eddie Keating) - Firefall (Scott Kirkpatrick) - Chuck Kirkpatrick (solo efforts) - Life (George Terry) - McGuinn/Hillman/Clark Band (Scott Kirkpatrick) - People (Denny Freidkin) - Proctor Amusement Company (Chuck Kirkpatrick and George Terry) - The Vandals (George Terry)
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Genre: rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Game Company: Faithful Virtue Catalog: FVS 2003 Year: 1969 Country/State: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: DJ sticker on back cover Available: 1 Catalog ID: 4580 Price: $35.00 Cost: $66.00
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When I bought this album about the only thing I knew about the group was that singer/guitarist George Terry (of Eric Clapton fame) was one of the members. At least that was the case until I stumbled across singer/guitarist Chuck Kirkpatrick's exhaustive on-line band history (which I've kind of condensed for purposes of brevity).
Singer/bassist Eddie Keating, singer/guitarist Chuck Kirkpatrick, drummer Scott Kirkpatrick, keyboard player Les Luhring and singer/guitarist George Terry had all been members of the Southern Florida based Proctor Amusement Company. The band had become quite popular throughout the region, even recording a couple of singles and an unreleased LP for the New York based Faithful Virtue label before calling it quits. While Proctor Amusement Company had come to an end, by 1969 the five were playing Southern Florida clubs as Game.
- 1969's 'When Love Begins To Look Like You' b/w 'Julie (The Song I Sing Is You)' (Commonwealth United catalog number C-3009)
Subsequently
offered a recording contract by the New York-based Faithful-Virtue label, 1969's "Game"
was an interesting debut. Co-produc
(Wonder if there's a master list reflecting rock album covers featuring the work of Peter Breughel The Elder?)
"Game"
track listing:
1.) Entrance (Eddie Keating - Tom Quick) - 0:48 rating: *** stars 'Entrance' surprised me given it sounded like something out of the Styx catalog - mildly progressive, but with a pop edge. Admittedly the track was too short to make much of an impression. 2.) What's Going Through My Head (Eddie Keating) - 3:19 rating: *** stars Throwing me into a state of complete confusion, Keating's 'What's Going Through My Head' started out with a blue-eyed soul vibe before abruptly shifting into a mildly jazzy swing tune compete with scatting segments. 3.) Discovering You (Les Luhring) - 4:11 rating: *** stars A smooth ballad with a nice melody and some sweet harmony vocals, 'Discovering You' could easily have been mistaken for a slice of mid-'70s yacht rock by a band like Ambrosia, or Pablo Cruise. I guess that was a nice way of saying the track sounded somewhat anonymous. 4.) Fat Mama (Eddie Keating) - 2:44 rating: *** stars I won't deny it's a fun track, but if you wanted to hear a tune lacking a single original note or thought, then 'Fat Mama' was the tune for you. Guess they felt the need to showcase their bar band credentials ... The track also appeared as the "B" side on their 'Stop, Look & Listen' 45. 5.) Make Some Music (Eddie Keating) - 7:48 rating: *** stars Starting out as a big, anthem styled ballad, 'Make Some Music' slowly built up steam and energy. And when it finally got there showcasing a pretty melody and some lovely group vocals, the song abruptly shifted into an ever changing series of rock segments, complete with a brief Kirkpatrick drum solo and even some Latin percussion. This was another one that wouldn't have sounded out of place on a mid-'70s yacht rock album.
(side
2) Sporting some "social commentary" lyrics 'Stop, Look & Listen' was another track that had a mild Styx-styled progressive edge. The melody was pleasant enough with a nice George guitar solo and some sweet Beach Boys influenced harmonies. The song was tapped as a promotional single:
- 1969's 'Stop, Look & Listen' b/w 'Fat Mama' (Faithful Virtue catalog number FV 7005)
2.) Disturbance (instrumental) / We Turn to You (Les Luhring - Eddie Keating) - 6:20 rating: *** stars Opening up with some Lurhing electric piano, the instrumental 'Disturbance' had a distinctive jazzy flavor with interesting time signatures. Segueing into 'We Turn to You' the tune too a more conventional direction. It was still jazzy, but the vocals were bathed in a breezy melody powered by some of the collection's best lead guitar work 3.) Sermon (Eddie Keating) - 2:19 rating: *** stars Keating's 'Sermon' featured a pretty acoustic guitar powered melody. The lyrics were clearly heartfelt and sincere. In fact the track's always reminded me of something you might have heard on a Christian rock album by a band like Joshua. 4.) Girl Next Door (Eddie Keating) - 3:19 rating: *** stars From heartfelt to horny ... LOL Opening up with some nice Les Lurhing Hammond B-3,Keating's jazzy 'Girl Next Door' gave each member an opportunity to stretch out and show their chops. Docked a star for Keating's scat singing segment. 5.) Exit (Chuck Kirkpatrick) - 4:06 rating: *** stars 'Exit' was the album's most conventional and enjoyable rocker, the opening guitar riff has always reminded me of something off an early Doobie Brothers album ('Long Train Running'?). The fadeout and refrain probably wasn't necessary. Actually, wonder if the Doobies nicked it since this album came out several years before "Toulouse Street."
In 1970 the band relocated to Southern California. Original drummer Scott Kirkpatrick dropped out before the move, replaced by Dave Robinson. Over the next two years the band recorded a considerable amount of material, but found no takers. Forced to start playing local clubs when their long time financial benefactor threatened to cut off support, Robinson and Terry called it quits, returning to Florida. Terry subsequently hit the big time as a member of Eric Clapton's band. Enduring a series of personnel changes, the band continued to play through 1978. Chuck Kirkpatrick recorded an instantly obscure album for Capitol before returning to Miami where he spent some time recording and touring with Firefall, eventually starting his own business.
Kirkpatrick has an interesting website at: http://members.aol.com/JINGLEBOY2/FRONT6.HTML
It was a nice to
surprise to hear band member Chuck
Kirkpatrick:
George has a small website at: https://www.georgeterry.com/
© Scott R. Blackerby May, 2022
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