Goose Creek Symphony
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1968-69) - Dave Birkett -- bass vocals
line up 2 (1970-71) - Charlie Gearheart (aka Ritchie Hart) -- lead vocals, guitar NEW
- Doug Haywood -- bass (replaced Davd Birkett) vocals NEW-
Mickey McGee -- drums, percussion NEW - Fred Weize -- fiddle
line up 3 (1971-73) NEW - Randall Bramblett -- horns - Charlie Gearheart
(aka Ritchie Hart) -- lead vocals, guitar vocals NEW- Chris Lockheart -- drums, percussion (replaced Mickey McGee) NEW
- Pat Moore -- bass (replaced Doug Haywood) NEW - Jim "Cactus Jim" Tolles -- fiddle (replaced Fred Weize) NEW - Harold Williams -- horns
line up 3 (1973-76) - Charlie Gearheart
(aka Ritchie Hart) -- lead vocals, guitar vocals NEW - Dennis Kenmore -- drums, percussion (replaced Chris Lockhart) - Pat Moore -- bass (replaced Doug Haywood) - Chris Mastert
-- sax NEW- Ellis Schweid -- fiddle (replaced JIm Tolles)
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- Blue Steel (Mickey McGee) - Dr. Hook (Bob Henke) - The Flying Burrito Brothers (Mickey McGee) - Ritchie Hart (solo efforts) - Richie Hart and the Hartbeats (Charlie Gearheart) - Doug Haywood (solo efforts) - Red and White Blues Band (Bob Henke) - Sierra (Mickey McGee) - Paul Spradlin (solo efforts) - Superfine Dandelion (Mike McFadden) |
Genre: country-rock Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Goose Creek Symphony - est. 1970 Company: Capitol Catalog: ST-444 Year: 1970 Country/State: Goose Creek, Kentucky Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring, edge and corner wear; little noise on start of first track Available: SOLD Catalog ID: SOLD Price: SOLD
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Having bought three of the band's LPs at a
yard sale, I made the mistake of listening to them out of chronological sequence. That's unfortunate since the third LP (the one I listened to first), featured the band's most country-oriented material. Naturally, I assumed the other two albums offered more of the same so I shelved them for 10 years, Dumb, dumb, dumb ... 1.) I'll Fly Away (Albert Brumley) - 1:15 (side 2) 1.) Talk About Goose Creek and Other Important Places (Charles Gearheart) - 8:19
As you'd probably expect, the band reunited in the '90s and continue to tour throughout the South and Appalachian area. They've also established a website for their Goosehead fans: http://www.goosecreeksymphony.com
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Genre: country-rock Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Words of Earnest Company: Capitol Catalog: ST-11044 Year: 1972 Country/State: Goose Creek, Kentucky Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: minor ring wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: 21 Price: $15.00
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Self-produced 1972 's "Words of
Earnest" appeared in the wake of a personnel shake up that saw bassist
Dave Birkett replaced by Pat Moore. Guitarist Mike McFadden was also gone.
Featuring largely original material, writing chores were divided across lead
singer/guitarist Charles Gearhe 1.) Gearheart & God (Charles Gearheart) - 2:43 rating: *** stars Were
it not for the horns, the Americana-flavored ballad 'Gearheart &
God' could easily have passed for something out of The Band's catalog.
As a band fan, I always felt Gearheart's voice bore more than a passing
resemblance to the late Levon Helm. Hopefully neither would mind the
comparison. The lyric was funny enough with Gearheart offering to
split songwriting royalties for a little help from those on-high. The
guitar opening was simply beautiful, though once again the horns were a
little distracting. One of their prettiest ballads, the harmonies sweet; the
refrain catchy and radio-friendly. Once again, I heard a bit of Robbie
Robertson and company in the mix. The
fiddle opening had me thinking the title track was too country for my
tastes. That was reinforced by Gearheart's twangy voice and the song's
"polka" section. And in spite of all those characteristics
(and the horns), there was still something about the tune's easygoing
hoedown vibe. (If you listened hard enough you could hear Paul
Spradlin playing a little wah-wah guitar. 'Rush
On Love' had some funny lyrics, but this time out was too country for my
tastes. Pass. I guess it makes me a music outcast, but I've never been a big fan of the Joplin original so their countrified cover didn't capture my fancy. I'm guessing the fact it was a known quantity explains why Capitol released it as a single (with the complete original title). That was a disservice to Goose Creek given several of the band originals were so much better. Even odder, the single was released in the Japanese and Spanish markets.
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1972's '(Oh Lord Won't You Buy Me A) Mercedes Benz' b/w 'Rush On Love'
(Capitol catalog number 3246) (side 2) 1.) Guitars Pickin, Fiddles Playin' (Charles Gearheart - traditional) - 4:10 rating: *** stars I have to admit Gearheart's voice has grown on me over the years which might explain why a country tune like the forlorn ballad 'Guitars Pickin, Fiddles Playin'' doesn't send me running for the turntable. Admittedly around the two minute mark the song shifted into an almost poppy feel complete with sax and electric guitar solos. Unfortunately, it closed out with a snippet of 'Orange Blossom Showdown'.
- 1972's 'Guitars Pickin, Fiddles Playin'' b/w 'Broken Creek Goose Down' (Capitol catalog number 3371)
2.) Whuppin' It (Charles Gearheart) - 3:10 rating: * star Both
the title and the scatting opening served up a warning .. 'Whuppin' It' was
going to be old-timey country tune, complete with "cute" lyrics
and little to enjoy. Pass. Probably
my favorite performance, Spradlin's 'Speakin' Of' showcased their lovely
harmonies and added a touch of Marshall Tucker Band guitar interplay and
Celtic influence to the mix. The
lone contribution by fiddler Tolles, 'Broken Goose Creek Down' mixed Irish
bar with hoedown influences. Perhaps not a surprise, the focus was on
Tolles' fiddle, though the song closed with a nice (and surprising) clarinet
solo. The song also appeared as the "B" side to their 'Guitars Pickin, Fiddles Playin''
single Yes, it started out as a Gospel song showcasing horns, martial drumming and barbershop quartet harmonies. The second half of the tune moved into Delaney and Bonnie territory.
© Scott R. Blackerby April, 2020
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Genre: country-rock Rating: ** (2 stars) Title: Welcome Company: Capitol Catalog: ST 690 Year: 1973 Country/State: Goose Creek, Kentucky Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: some ring, edge and corner wear Available: 1 GEMM Catalog ID: not listed yet Price: $8.00
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Hum, bunch of hippies abandon the city for the pastoral life ... Does that sound kind of cold and condescending? It's not meant to be, but provides a pretty good description of 1973's
"Welcome To Goose Creek". Technically there wasn't anything wrong with the album. All ten tracks sported decent country-rock melodies and strong vocal harmonies. Unfortunately, on material such as the title track, "Right Track" and "Saga Neath the Sycamore" there was a little too much emphasis on the country element. What made the set so frustrating was the fact these guys were obviously talented musicians who clearly knew how to rock (check out their weird cover of Bill Monroe's "Uncle Pen"). Instead, they wasted their talents on largely forgettable C&W-influenced fare -
Geez, imagine The Band having spent a month camped at the Grand Ole' Opry ... 1.) Welcome To Goose Creek (Charles
Gearheart) - 3:15
(side 2) 1.) The Corn Won't Grow So Rock 'n' Roll (Charles
Gearheart) - 8:08
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art,
multi-instrumental Paul Spradlin and fiddle player Jim Tolles. Musically
tracks like the title track and 'Broken Goose Creek Down'
found Gearheart and company adding horn arrangements to their sound (courtesy of Randall Bramblett and Harold
Williams). At the same time the collection found them moving in a
distinctive country direction. I'll readily admit to not being a
big country fan and much of the album, including an odd remake of Janis
Joplin's '(Oh Lord Won't
You Buy Me A) Mercedes Benz' (which they abbreviated as 'Mercedes Benz') and
'Whuppin' It' didn't do much for
me. Interestingly, to my old ears material like
'Gearheart & God', 'Me & Him' and the opening section of the single
'Guitars Pickin, Fiddles Playin''
sported an early Americana feel, reminding me of early Robbie Robertson and
the Band. In spite of all those negatives, there was still
something charming about much of the album. You
also couldn't ignore the fact these guys seemed to be enthusiastic and enjoy
the music they were presenting. Hard to describe, but it made a
difference. I just wish they'd steered away from the blatant country
material.
