Glad


Band members                             Related acts

  line up 1 (1962) as Tim, Tom and Ron

- Ron Flogel -- vocals, guitar

- Tom Phillips -- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Tim Schmit (aka Timothy B. Schmit) -- vocals, bass

 

  line up 2 (1962-65) as The Contenders

- Ron Flogel -- vocals, guitar

- George Hullin --drums, vocals

- Tom Phillips -- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Tim Schmit (aka Timothy B. Schmit) -- vocals, bass

 

  line up 3 (1965-68) as The New Breed

- Ron Flogel -- vocals, guitar

- George Hullin --drums, vocals

- Tom Phillips -- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Tim Schmit (aka Timothy B. Schmit) -- vocals, bass

 

  line up 4 (1968-69) as Glad

- Ron Flogel -- vocals, guitar

- George Hullin --drums, vocals

- Tom Phillips -- vocals, guitar, keyboards

- Tim Schmit (aka Timothy B. Schmit) -- vocals, bass

 

 

 

- The Eagles (Tim Schmit)

- The New Breed (Ron Flogel, George Hullin, Tom Philips and 

  Tim Schmit)

- Poco (Tom Schmit)

- Redwing (Ron Flogel and George Hullen)

- Timothy B. Schmit (solo efforts)

 

 

 

 


 

Genre: pop

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Feelin' Glad

Company: ABC

Catalog: ABC S-655
Year:
 1969

Country/State: Sacramento, California

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments:--

Available: SOLD

Catalog ID: SOLD 941

Price: SOLD $40.00

 

Interesting little bit of musical history that might by of interest to Poco, or Eagles fans ...

 

Buddies Ron Flogel, Tom Phillips, and Tim Schmit formed their first band while attending high school in Sacramento, California.  Initially known as Tim, Tom and Ron, the trio took their musical cues from the early-'60s folk revival.   By 1962 they'd added drummer George Hullin to the line-up and as the optimistically named The Contenders, shifted their focus to then-popular surf instrumentals.  In 1965 they changed their focus again, this time to a more  Beatles-influenced pop orientation, dropping the old name in favor of The New Breed.  The New Breed released a series of four singles, including a couple on their own label, and even recorded an album of material that was shelved.

 

Signed to Terry Melcher's Equinox Records, in 1968 the group underwent yet another image update; this time emerging as the pop/country-rock band Glad (the group members unanimously turned down the label's suggestion they call themselves 'Never Mind').  Released by Melcher's ABC-affiliated Equinox label, the band made their debut with a couple of 1968 singles:

  

- 'See What You Mean' b/w 'Bedtime Story' (Equinox catalog number E 70004)

- 'A New Tomorrow' b/w 'Pickin' Up the Pieces' (Equinox catalog number E 70006)

 

While the singles did little commercially, ABC management elected to release a supporting album.  The Erik Wangberg-produced "Feelin' Glad" wasn't exactly bad, mixing the band's folky roots with occasional stabs at country-rock ('Sweet Melinda') and straight-ahead rock ('Pickin' Up the Pieces').  Featuring a largely original collection of material, Flogel was responsible for most of the creative heavy-lifting, though Phillips co-wrote three tunes and Schmit worked on one track.  With Schmit handling most of the lead vocals the performances were never less than pleasant, but the biggest problem here was that in trying to cover so many musical genres, the band never established a clear image.  While understandable from a marketing perspective, the over abundance of orchestrated ballads ('Love Needs the World', 'Two Worlds', and 'Silly Girl')  certainly didn't help the band's credentials with the FM crowd.  That was unfortunate since their country-rock forays ('Let's Play Make Believe') and more up-tempo tracks like the scathing anti music business 'Johnny Silver's Ride' and 'Pickin' Up the Pieces' aptly displayed their considerable talents.  Given a little more focus (all four members were still in college and the recording sessions were done on weekends), and a little less of Wangberg's seeming fixation on Beatles-styled orchestration, this could have been really good.  Releasing it in 1968 would also have helped.  For some odd reason ABC management waited almost a year to issue the set by which time popular tastes had already moved on past much of this set.

 

"Feelin' Glad" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) A New Tomorrow   (Ron Flogel) - 2:43

Previously released as a single, 'A New Tomorrow' featured Schmit on lead vocals.  Musically the track reflected some of the groups folk roots, though the arrangement was dressed up in heavy strings and a couple of pop-psych touches, including sweet group harmonies and what sounded like a speeded up trumpet at the end of the song.  Pleasant, but nothing special..   rating: *** stars

2.) Say What You Mean   (Ron Flogel) - 2:06

'Say What You Mean' showcased some Mamas and the Papas-styled multi-part harmonies over a fairly commercial melody.   The nonsensical chorus was hysterical as was the manic end-of-song laughter.   Wonder if Schmit has ever felt the urge to sing it during an Eagles concert ...   rating: *** stars

3.) Bedtime Story   (Ron Flogel - Tom Phillips) - 2:21

Standard mid-'60s pop-psych, 'Bedtime Story' underscored Schmit's sweet voice.  Unfortunately, I'd argue the song was a touch too fey for most folks' tastes.   rating: *** stars

4.) Pickin’ Up The Pieces   (Ron Flogel) - 2:51

A propulsive, straight-ahead rocker, 'Pickin' Up the Pieces' demonstrated these guys were more than a producer's tool and was easily one of the album's standout performances.   rating: **** stars

5.) Shape of Things To Come   (Barry Mann - Cynthia Weil) - 2:43

The band's cover of 'Shape of Things To Come' was another highlight.  Avoiding the usual hard rock arrangement, they covered the song in a wonderful folk-rock arrangement, complete with what sounded like an early synthesizer.  One of the best versions of the song I've ever heard.  Ironically Schmit may have been the only band member actually featured on the track.   rating: **** stars

6.) Love Needs The World   (Erik Wangberg) - 3:33

Penned by producer Wangberg, 'Love Needs the World' was a horribly overly sentimental ballad made even worse by a hyper-sensitive string arrangement.   Imagine 'Eleanor Rigby' for wimps.   rating: ** stars

 

(side 2)
1.)  Sweet Melinda
   (Ron Flogel - Tom Phillips) - Tim Schmit) - 2:30

As a true slice of country-rock, the group-penned 'Sweet Melinda' was another highlight and also stood as a precursor to Schmit's forthcoming work with Poco.   I'm usually not a big fan of the genre, but with a nice melody and wonderful group harmonies, this one was quite good.   rating: **** stars

2.) Let's Play Make Believe   (Ron Flogel - Tom Phillips) - 2:25

More country-rock, but in spite of some nice shared lead vocals, not quite as impressive, though still quite catchy and commercial.   Schmit turned in a nice bass performance on this one..  rating: *** stars

3.) No Ma, It Can't Be   (Ron Flogel) - 3:27

More country than anything else on the album, 'No Ma, It Can't Be' was still interesting for the topical lyrics and those nice harmonies.   rating: *** stars

4.) Two Worlds   (Ron Flogel) - 2:53

Another anonymous, over-orchestrated ballad that sounded like it took it's cues from The Beatles' Baroque pop moves.  Forgettable.   rating: ** stars

4.) Johnny Silver's Ride    (Ron Flogel --Tom Phillips) - 3:21

A strong Monkees knockoff ?   Complete with fuzz guitars, shimmering vocals, fake live audience sounds and a scathing lyric aimed squarely at music business executives, 'Johnny's Silver Ride' was one of the album's most commercial offerings, probably explaining why ABC tapped it as a single.  rating: **** stars

6.) Silly Girl   (Ron Flogel - Tom Phillips) - 4:16

The country-rock tinged ballad 'Silly Girl' was another track that sounded like a Poco precursor.   Yes it was pretty, showcasing Schmit's nice voice, but it was also kind of bland.   rating: *** stars

 

The album saw two singles released:

- 1969's 'Johnny Silver's Ride' b/w 'A New Tomorrow' (ABC catalog number 11653)

- 1969's 'No Ma, It Can't Be' b/w 'Let's Play Make Believe' (ABC catalog number 11199)

 

 

One album and the four singles was all the band had in them.  Unhappy with the album's delayed release and the heavily produced sound, shortly after the set was released the band called it quits.

 

 

Flogel, Hullen, and Phillips went on to record several albums as Redwing.

 

Schmit joined Poco as a replacement for Randy Meisner, before replacing Meisner in The Eagles.  He's also released some solo material which I'll admit to never having bother to track down.  By the way, folks have frequently wondered which guy on the cover was Schmit.   He's the one with the long dark hair that has the hand directly over his head.

 

 

 

 

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