Genre: rock
Rating: 3 stars ***
Title: Electric Holy Man
Company: Mainstream
Catalog: S/6129
Year: 1969
Country/State: Cleveland, Ohio
Grade (cover/record): VG / VG
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: not yet listed
Price: $75.00
This one tends to get slammed by the critics, which may be one of the reasons I was willing to give it a chance. I'll readily admit that this Cleveland-based trio won't knock your socks off, but by the same token drummer Carmen Castaldi, singer/guitarist Leroy Markish and bass player Charles McLaughlin turned in an album that's quite diverse and entertaining and in some ways better than other higher priced and better known releases on the Mainstream label.
Produced by Bob Shad, 1970's "Electric Holy Man" differed from a lot of other early-1970s Mainstream releases in that it showcased a progressive streak rather than the popsike sound that was common to the label. Moreover, for a trio these guys sported a surprisingly full sound, helped in no small measure by Markish's impressive voice. Not being a big jazz fan, I'll be among the first to admit that I was surprised at how entertaining the group's jazzy forays were. 'Mr. Fear', their Traffic cover and the extended title track showcase that interesting jazzy streak with some stunning work from un-credited jazz guitarist Bill DeArango. Mind you there was still plenty of fuzz driven guitar (check out the second half of the title track), but it didn't come close to these other highlights and the group's most commercial effort; the ballad 'Lady Of Day' was also the album's most disposable offering.
"Electric
Holy Man" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Country Son (D Kleinman - Leroy Markish) - 5:55
2.) Mr. Fear (D Kleinman) - 5:20
3.) Electric Holy Man (D Kleinman) - 8:30
(side
2)
1.) Dear Mr. Fantasy (Jim Capaldi - Steve Winwood - Chris Wood) -
7:30
2.) Lady Of Day (D Kleinman) - 3:50
3.) Penfield Town (Charles McLaughin) - 2:55
As of early 2006 both Markish and Castaladi remain active in the music business. Markish is a member of the Ohio-based Tony Koussa, Jr. Band. Castaldi still lives in the Cleveland area, supporting jazz sax player Joe Lovano and fronting his own jazz oriented band The Carmen Castaldi Quartet.