line up 1 (1972-73)

- Randy Cullers -- drums, percussion, backing vocals

- Terry Dearmore -- vocals, backing vocals

- Rob Galbraith -- keyboards, guitar, backing vocals

- Dennis Linde (RIP 2006) -- bass, guitar, backing vocals

- Alan Rush -- vocals, guitar, bass, backing vocals

  supporting musicians:

- Farrell Morris -- percussion

- Gayle Whitfield -- sax

- Barefoot Jerry (Terry Dearmore)

- The Centuries (Alan Rush)

- Randy Cullers (solo efforts)

- Terry Dearmore (solo efforts)

- Fat Sow (Terry Dearmore)

- Rob Galbraith -- keyboards, guitar

- Bob Kuban and the In-Men (Dennis Linde)

- Dennis Linde (solo efforts)

- Alan Rush and the Stonehouse

Genre: country-rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Jubal

Company: Elektra

Catalog: EKS 75033
Year: 1972

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: still in shrink; opened; cut lower right corner

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $20.00

What's the old saying ...  The sum is more than the individual parts?  The band Jubal might be an argument that the parts are more valuable than the collective.

Formed in 1972, Jubal pulled together the talents of drummer Randy Cullers, former at Fat Sow singer Terry Dearmore, keyboardist Rob Galbraith, bassist Dennis Linde and guitarist Alan Rush.  Signed to Jac Holzman's Elektra Records, their self-titled debut teamed them with producer Bob Beckham and was recorded in Madison, Tennessee's Cinderella Studios..  The set featured all original material with every member except Dearmore contributing the songwriting chores.  Musically the set's uniformly professional with forays into gospel ('Lay Me Down'), country ('Friendly Goodbye') and more rock-oriented tracks ('Courage of Your Convictions').  The band was blessed with two strong lead vocalists in Dearmore and Rush and they were all first-rate musicians.  The thing is they seldom came off as a united entity.  To my ears the album had kind of a "White Album" vibe with each songwriter bring their touch to the set and the rest of the members just providing backing.  As an example, the four Rush compositions tended to a more mainstream sound.  Linde's two songs were suitably different - check out his Elvis-styled 'Ridin''.  Galbraith's five songs were ballad heavy, though he also contributed the rocking 'Rally Not a Rocker.'   The album was better than most of the reviews would have you expect, but it just lacked that gotcha' performance, or something to distinguish it for all of the competition.  

"Jubal" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Lay Me Down   (Dennis Linde) - 3:27  rating: *** stars

One of two Linde compositions, 'Lay Me Down' featured an old-time Gospel sound. It served as a nice introduction to Dearmore's first rate voice and the band's sweet harmonies.  Nice enough if you were into Don Nix and Delaney and Bonnie, but it really wasn't country rock, or rock.  

2.) Friendly Goodbye   (Rob Galbraith - L. Clayton) - 2:39  rating: ** stars

'Friendly Goodbye' was a pretty acoustic ballad.  That said the song had kind of an MOR vibe to it.  Easy for me to imagine the band playing this on some '70s primetime television variety show.

3.) Yesterday (I Threw My Life Away)   (Alan Rush - Randy Cullers) - 2:54  rating: *** stars

The title certainly made me think for a moment - was 'Yesterday (I Threw My Life Away)' a reflection on suicide?  Certainly seemed a little heavy for a country-rock band ...  Perhaps the album's closest brush with radio ready, the song sported a bouncy melody with an upbeat message and another nice Dearmore performance.

4.) Really Not a Rocker   (Rob Galbraith) - 2:52  rating: **** stars

Galbraith's 'Really Not a Rocker' was actually the album's most rock oriented performance.  Bouncy and fun, it would have sounded good as a 45.

5.) Morning of My Life   (Rob Galbraith) - 2:23

Easy to picture Elektra marketing going wild over the ballad 'Morning of My Life.'  Pretty and almost morbidly sappy, it was the perfect composition for marriages, deaths and every celebration in-between.  Imagine a David Gates and Bread ballad and you'll be in the right ballpark. Easy to see why the  track was tapped as the album's leadoff single.  Also easy to see why it didn't sell.

- 1972's Morning of My Life' b/w 'Yesterday (I Threw My Life Away)' (Elektra catalog number EK 45808)

6.) For Becky   (Rob Galbraith - L. Clayton) - 3:15   rating: *** stars

Powered by Galbraith's pretty piano, 'For Becky' stated out as another pretty Yacht Rock ballad before a weird detour into a detour into jazzy scat territory.  Gayle Whitfield featured on sax.

(side 2)
1.) Talk To Me Tonight   (Alan Rush - Randy Cullers) - 3:47   rating: **** stars

While Dearmore handled most of the lead vocals, the harmonica-powered ballad 'Talk To Me Tonight' was an exception, showcasing guitarist Rush.  To be honest, hit deep, rugged voice was every bit as good as Dearmore's.  It was actually one of the album's standout performances.

2.) I'd Hate To Be a Black Man   (Rob Galbraith) - 3:07   rating: *** stars

A breezy acoustic number, I'm not sure the title would fly in today's politically correct environment, but the sentiments remain on target some fifty years later.  Again, the brief scat segment didn't do much for me.

3.) Courage of Your Convictions   (Alan Rush - Randy Cullers) - 3:47   rating: **** stars

As another isolated rocker with Rush on lead vocals, 'Courage of Your Convictions' underscored these guys were quite impressive when they followed a more mainstream sound.  The track benefited from some nice dirty guitar and Cullers sounding drums.  As the album's most commercial rocker, you can see why The Hollies covered it on their 1972 "Romany" album.

4.) Ridin'   (Dennis Linde) - 2:36   rating: **** stars

A nice bluesy-rocker, Ridin' found Dearmore trotting out his best Elvis impression.  It's funny because the same year Presley recorded Linde's 'Burning Love', scoring one of his final radio successes with the song.  Extra 

5.) Castles In the Sand    (Alan Rush - Randy Cullers) - 3:42   rating: *** stars

Opening up with waves sound effects, the closing ballad 'Castles In the Sound' featured a Rush vocal that recalled something Johnny Rivers might have recorded.  Always liked the weird synthesizer sounds on this one. The track was tapped as a  promotional single, but seemingly never released commercially:

- 1972's 'Castles In the Sand' b/w 'Castles In the Sand' (Elektra catalog number EK-45798)

The album did little commercially and after a third promotional single the band called it quits.

- 1973's 'Three Hundred Pounds of Hongry' b/w 'Three Hundred Pounds of Hongry' (Elektra catalog number EK-45839)

As mentioned, them members went on to enjoy significant successes.

- Drummer Cullers focused on session work 

- Vocalist Dearmore joined, Barefoot Jerry, before turning to religion.  He's now a preacher working with Unity Churches in Virginia.

- Galbraith enjoyed success releasing solo material and as a Nashville producer.

- Though he shunned publicity, Linde released a string of solo albums and made a name for himself as a songwriter working for Elvis Presley and a wide array of country stars, including The Dixie Chicks.  Only 63, suffering from pulmonary fibrosis, he passed on in December, 2006

- Rush became an in-demand sessions player and songwriter placing material with everyone from The Hollies to Jerry Lee Lewis and  Robert Palmer.