Steven Hines Band


Band members                             Related acts

  Line up 1 (1976)

- Mike Bowden -- bass

- Steven Hines -- vocals, keyboards

- Ian Hoffman -- drums, percussion

- Mickey McMeel -- drums, percussion

- Randy Mitchell -- lead guitar

 

  supporting musicians:

- Joe Greene -- vocals

- Clydie King -- vocals

- C.M. Lord -- vocals

- Monalisa Young -- vocals

- Terry Young -- vocals

 

 

 

- none known 

 

 

 


 

Genre: rock

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  It Takes So Long, But It's Worth It

Company: Tiger Lily

Catalog: TL 14021
Year:
 1976

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened)

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 5693

Price: $200.00

 

Does an obscure, but mediocre album on an equally obscure record label make it double obscure?  Beats me, but regardless good luck finding a copy of this one.  Good luck finding another review of this one, and good luck finding any kind of biographical information on this one ...  

 

To be honest, this one's notoriety seems to be based on rarity rather than musical quality.  That rarity is largely due to the fact it was released on Morris Levy's infamous Tiger Lily tax scam label.  All Tiger Lily releases are rare, but this release seems to be particular hard to score (this is only the second copy I've ever seen), suggesting either relatively few copies were pressed, or the bulk of the pressing was destroyed.  

 

So what little can I add to the documentation?   Very little.  The barebones liner notes accompanying 1976's "It Takes So Long, But It's Worth It" listed the band as bassist Mike Bowden, namesake Hines on vocals and keyboards, drummer Ian Hoffman, drummer Mickey McMeel (wonder if he was the same guy who played drums with a late-inning version of Three Dog Night), and lead guitarist Randy Mitchell (who seems to have become an in-demand sessions player).  The set was co-produced by Robby Adock and Joe Long and may have been recorded a couple of years earlier when Adcock was working at Long's Hollywood Fat Chance Studios.  Hines was apparently a regular Fat Chance studio musician, writing and playing on a number of projects that came out of the studio.  And that was about it for the liner notes ...   Musically the album featured a series of eight Hines originals; four of the songs co-written with soul singer C.M. Lord who happened to have released her self-titled debut on Capitol the same year.  Exemplified by tracks like 'Jubilee', 'Good Time Feelin'' and 'Nobody Can' Hines had a likeable blue-eyed soul flavored voice.  With backing vocals from Clydie King and C.M. Lord, the album's Southern Gospel flavor occasionally reminded me a little of early Delaney and Bonnie. Not as rocking as anything in their catalog, but the overall vibe was similar - check out 'Hi Steppin'' for a good example of the comparison.  Less impressive were a pair of plodding ballads - 'Holdin' On' and 'I Will Always Treat You Right'.  Even worse - a pair of lame brained discofied selections - You're So Beautiful' and the horrific 'Hines Beans' (though the cheesy synthesizer sound effects were kind of funny).  That description probably won't appeal to a wide demographic, but it you like the genre, you'll appreciate this one.  Otherwise you'll want to pass ...  One last piece of trivia - Hines was credited with keyboards on Clydie King's "Rushing To Meet You" and played on Linda Clarke's "Yes, Indeed!" (both released by Tiger Lily and equally hard to locate).

 

Anyone got more on this one?  Let me know.

 

"It Takes So Long, Bit It's Worth It" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Jubilee   (Steve Hines - C.M. Lord) - 

2.) Holdin' On   (Steve Hines) - 

3.) Hi Steppin'   (Steve Hines - C.M. Lord) - 

4.) I Will Always Treat You Right   (Steve Hines) - 

 

(side 2)
1.) Good Time Feelin'   (Steve Hines - C.M. Lord) - 

2.) You're So Beautiful   (Steve Hines) - 

3.) Nobody Can   (Steve Hines - C.M. Lord) - 

4.) Hines Beans   (Steve Hines) - 

 

 

 

 

 

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