Goliath
Band members Related acts
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line-up 1 (1969-70 - Ted Barbella -- organ - Norm Conrad -- bass, backing vocals - Jerry Gilbert -- drums, percussion - Dennis Jason -- lead guitar - Steve Jason -- vocals
supporting musician: - Tom Aherns -- special effects, backing vocals
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- Butch Barbella's Streets of the Bronx Band (Ted Barbella) - East Coast (Ted Barbella) - Steve Jason & Ruby J
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Genre: rock Rating: 2 stars ** Title: Goliath Company: ABC Catalog: ABCS-702 Country/State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring wear; gatefold sleeve Available: SOLD Catalog ID: 6116 Price: SOLD $35.00
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ABC released scores and scores of late-1960s/early-1970s albums that generated little or no attention and even fewer sales 'Course most of them weren't particularly memorable, which is the basic story behind Goliath (not to be confused with the Terre Haute, Indiana-based hard rock outfit - also reviewed by BadCatRecords).
Formed
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Goliath showcased
the talents of keyboardist Ted Barbella, bassist Norm Conrad, drummer Jerry Gilbert, lead guitarist Dennis
Jason and his brother/lead singer Steve Jason,. The sessions were
recorded at Sigma Studios with
production from the team of Kal Mann, Segall and Bernie Lowe. Released in 1969,
"Goliath"
has always reminde
"Goliath"
track listing: 1.) Yesterday's Children (Steve D'Amico - Ted Barbella) - 5:55 rating: ** stars One of three tracks co-written by keyboardist Barbella, "Yesterday's Children" had that Fudge-styled heaviness that you either loved, or hated with a passion. This was one where Jason's rugged voice sounded very much like David Clayton-Thomas. It was also seemingly intended to underscore the band's image as a 'serious' outfit. T today the results come off as over-the-top and borderline pompous. The brief highlight came in the form of Dennis Jason's short, stabbing fuzz guitar solo. Should have let him have a little more spotlight time ... The track was released as the album's second and final 45::
- 1970s "Yesterday's Children " b/w " If Johnny Comes Marching" (ABC catalog number 45-11267)
2.) Can't Stop Feeling Lonely (Rusty Richards) - 3:00 rating: ** stars "Can't Stop Feeling Lonely" was a pretty ballad, that would have been even better had Jason been able to handle the vocal with a bit more subtlety. Admittedly the man has some powerful lungs. As it was, this was another one that could have been mistaken for a David Clayton-Thomas solo effort (not a good thing). 3.) Man's Temptation (Curtis Mayfield) - 4:30 rating: ** stars Be interesting to know it Curtis Mayfield ever heard this cover of his song ... I suspect he wouldn't have been all that thrilled with this overwrought, gut wrenching version. I sure wasn't. My suggestion - check out the sublime Mayfield original. 4.) Time and Time Again (Eddie Ray) - 3:15 rating: * star A bit more progressive/jazzy than the earlier performances, I remember listening to the mid-tempo ballad "Time and Time Again" three times in a row and being unable to remember anything about it other than the irritating female backing singers and Barbella's Hammond B-3 washes ... 5.) If Johnny Comes Marching Home (Steve D'Amico - Ted Barbella) - 4:15 rating: ** stars So remember this album was recorded during the height of Vietnam so I'm guessing this was intended as the band's comment on the conflict. Built on the traditional hymn, complete with Jerry Gilbert's martial drums, this one added stabbing organ, war sound effects, a spoken word segment, and kind of a jazzy mid-section to make it mildly entertaining. Imagine Vanilla Fudge doing an anti-war song and you'll have a feel for "If Johnny Comes Marching Home".
(side
2) Hum, all hyperbole aside, side two's extended cover of The Beatles "Eleanor Rigby" may stand as one of the worst Fab Four covers I've ever stumbled across. Is it possible to record something that's uber-heavy? Well, if so, these guys managed to do it, turning what was originally a slightly pompous slice of social commentary into a mind-numbing slice of social commentary. Yeah, this one managed to make Vanilla Fudge sound like a bubblegum pop outfit ... 2.) Come with Me (To My World) (Steve D'Amico - Ted Barbella) - 3:05 rating: *** stars Not that it was a great pop song by any stretch of the imagination, but after some of the earlier efforts "Come with Me (To My World)" at least showed a semblance of a lighter, more radio friendly sound. ABC tapped the song as the lead-off single:
- 1969's "Come With Me (To My World)" b/w "Cross Roads" (ABC catalog number 45-11235) r
3.) Loving You Too Long (Otis Redding) - 6:25 rating: ** stars As a huge Otis Redding fan I've always thought his version of "Loving You Too Long" was a bit on the over-the-top side. The seemingly endless Goliath version made me revisit that contention. Once again, with this arrangement these guys managed to turn a classic soul song into a funeral dirge. Please make him stop woman ... 4.) Are You Lonely For Me Baby? (Bert Berns) - 3:00 rating: ** stars I believe Freddie Scott had the hit. Wow, the soul-tinged "Are You Lonely For Me Baby?" had some of the worst backing vocals I've ever heard. On a positive note Dennis Jason's brief fuzz guitar solo was nice. Wonder why he wasn't given more time in the spotlight ... 5.) Jacksonville Express (Ted Barbella - Norm Conrad - Jerry Gilbert - Dennis Jason - Steve Jason) - 1:00 rating: * star The line group original, 'Jacksonville Express' was little more than a minute's worth of train sound effects. Hardly a song ...
© Scott R. Blackerby October 2025
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d me of a hybrid of
a poor man's Blood, Sweat and Tears and Vanilla
Fudge. That comparison was based on the fact most of these ten tracks
(divided between band originals and covers), wallowed in the same
organ-heavy, molten rock stylings of The Fudge,. Add to that, at least to my ears
Steve
Jason had a deep, growling voice that sounded very much like David Clayton-Thomas.
That meant he had some major vocal chops at his disposal, but also suffered from
the same tendency to shriek and turn histrionic (check out his performances
on the single "Yesterday's Children" and '"Can't Stop
Feeling Lonely"). Those two
characteristics are definitely gonna be a major turnoff to some folks ... The
rest of the band members were proficient, but with the exception of an
occasional stab of Fudge-styled keyboards from Barbella, they were pretty
anonymous. Well,
the bright psychedelic cover and inner sleeve were kind of cool ...
