King Harvest
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1970-71) - Didier Alexandre -- bass - Ron Altbach (RIP 2023) -- keyboards - Paul Harris -- saxophone, flute, keyboards - Wells Kelly (RIP 1984) -- drums, percussion - Rod Novak -- tenor sax - Ed Tuleja -- guitar
line up 2 (1971-72) - Didier Alexandre -- bass - Ron Altbach (RIP 2023) -- keyboards NEW - Steve Cutler - drums, percussion (replaced Wells Kelly) - Paul Harris -- saxophone, flute, keyboards - Rod Novak -- tenor sax - Ed Tuleja -- guitar
line up 3 (1972-73) - Ron Altbach (RIP 2023) -- keyboards NEW - Tony Cahill -- bass (replaced Didlier Alexandre) NEW - David Montgomery -- drums. percussion (replaced Steve Cutler) - Rod Novak -- tenor sax - Ed Tuleja -- guitar
line up 4 (1972-73) - Ron Altbach (RIP 2023) -- keyboards - Tony Cahill -- bass NEW - Sherman Kelly -- vocals, keyboards - David Montgomery -- drums. percussion - Rod Novak -- tenor sax - Ed Tuleja -- guitar
line up 5 (1973-75) - Ron Altbach (RIP 2023) -- keyboards - Tony Cahill -- bass - Sherman Kelly -- vocals, keyboards - Rod Novak -- tenor sax NEW- Richie Pidanick - drums, percussion (replaced David Montgomery) - Ed Tuleja -- guitar
line up 6 (1975-76) - Ron Altbach (RIP 2023) -- keyboards - Tony Cahill -- bass NEW - Bobby Figueroa-- drums, percussion (replaced Richie Pidanick) - Sherman Kelly -- vocals, keyboards - Rod Novak -- tenor sax - Ed Tuleja -- guitar
supporting musicians: (1975) Tony Cahill -- bass - Peter Cetera -- backing vocals - Billy Hinsche -- backing vocals - Charles Lloyd -- sax - Mike Love -- backing vocals - David Montgomery -- drums, percussion - Carl Wilson - backing vocals
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- Ron Altbach (solo effort) - ARC (David Montgomery) - Boffalongo (Dave Robinson and Wells Kelly) - Celebration (Rod Altbach and Dave Robinson) - The Easybeats (Tom Cahill) - Julio Finn Blues Band (Ed Tuleja) - E. Rodney Jones and the Prairie Dogs - Orleans (Wells Kelly) - Python Lee Jackson (Tom Cahill and David Montgomery) - Rough Bark (Ed Tuleja) - Thunderfrog (Wells Kelly) - Ed Tuleja (solo efforts)
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Genre: rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: King Harvest Company: A&M Catalog: SP-4540 Country/State: Ithica, New York Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: -- Available: SOLD Catalog ID: -- Price: $20.00 SOLD
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By 1975 A&M had lost all interest in King Harvest (not that they had much to start with). That kade it a minor miracle the Jeff Barry produced "King Harvest" saw a release. A&M may have released the collection, but they put little energy into promoting it, not even bothering to float a single. To be honest, the album wasn't bad, but just didn't have a lot of personality. That was somewhat of a surprise given Jeff Barry had been brought in to provide the band. He was clearly on the payroll with the aim of delivering a collection with a commercial, pop edge, I would have expected far more than these pedestrian moves. With ,most of the members contributing to the songwriting chores, the ten songs were all professional and modestly commercial. Material like 'Borderline', 'As Soon As We Can Get It Together' and 'Vaea-Vy-Ya' was best described as mid-'70s corporate rock; not all that different than the product being spewed out by the likes of Orleans, or Pablo Cruise. As lead singer the late Dave Robinson had a likeable and commercial voice, though with the exception of 'Jumbee' the funky edge heard on 'Dancing In the Moonlight' was absent. Coincidently, sounding like an attempt to recreate the magic of 'Dancing In the Moonlight'; the previously released single 'Little Bit Like Magic' was probably the most commercial effort on the album, while 'Jumbee' was the standout performance.
Certainly not the place to start your King Harvest journey, but worth a quick spin.
"King
Harvest" track listing: 1.) Borderline (Tom Cahill - Ron Altbach - Dave Robinson - Ed Tuleja) - 3:56 rating: *** stars I've struggled for years to figure out how to categorize this album and tracks like 'Borderline'. A Bouncy melody with sweet harmony vocals, it's too pop to be Americana, but too Americana to be truly pop. Imagine Robbie Robertson company had they decided to spend a season working as a beach bar band. Nice, commercial chorus ... 2.) Vaea-Vy-Ya (Dave Robinson - Sherman Kelly) - 6:00 rating: ** stars If you were expecting something in the Santana realm of Latin rock, the answer was no. 'Vaea-Vy-Ya' was a sappy, Jimmy Buffett -wanna-be styled ballad. Boring and completely anonymous, this could have been a commercial for a local septic system cleaning company. By the way, you had to wait two minutes for the title part of the song to kick in. I will admit the Beach Boys-styled backing vocals were quite nice. That may have had something to do with the participation of Mike Love, Peter Cetera and Carl Wilson. 4.) Country Pie (Ron Altbach - Ed Tuleja) - 3:55 rating: ** stars Bland mid-'70s pop ... Thank along the lines of Pablo Cruise, Firefall, Orleans, etc. The melody was bouncy and harmless; perfect music for sitting on a beach, or sailboat with a couple of cold beers. 4.) Shine On (Dave Robinson - Ed Tuleja) - 3:58 rating: ** stars I liked the lead vocal on the ballad 'Shone On'. Shame it was wasted on another bland MOR ballad. 5.) Little Bit Like Magic (Ron Altbach - Dave Robinson - Sherman Kelly - Jeff Barry) - 3:16 rating: *** stars 'Little Bit of Magic' had previously appeared as a 1973 non-LP single. Musically it bore more than a passing resemblance to 'Dancing In the Moonlight', though like most retreads, it wasn't nearly as good. Part of the resemblance may have had something to do with the fact Sherman Kelly co-wrote the song. In spite of a June 1973 appearance lip synching the track on NBC's Midnight Special, the single peaked at # 91 on the Billboard pop charts. YouTube has a clip of the NBC performance. It starts around the 52 minute mark: Ep 22 - The Midnight Special | June 29, 1973 - YouTube
- 1973's 'Little Bit Like Magic' b/w 'Elmore Bacon' (Perception PS-527-1/B)
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2) 'As Soon As We Can Get It Together' was a bouncy, shag-ready dance tune that any self-respecting beach band could include in their summer repertoire. 2.) Rue Du Four Rag (instrumental) (Ron Altbach) - 2:10 rating: *** stars The album's lone instrumental, keyboardist Rob Altbach's 'Rue Du Four Rag' appeared to be a reclamation project - the title seemingly referring to the band's initial, Paris-based beginnings. Musically it was unlike anything else on the album, sounding like a mash-up of a Steely Dan song and something off a porn soundtrack. 3.) Fly By (Tony Cahill - Ron Altbach - Rod Novak - Dave Robinson - Ed Tuleja - Jeff Barry) - 2:36 4.) Old Friends (Ron Altbach - Dave Robinson - Ed Tuleja) -3:45 rating: ** stars Another pretty, but dull ballad. No, the harmonica solo didn't help. 5.) Jumbee (Ron Altbach - Dave Robinson - Ed Tuleja) - 4:06 rating: **** stars With the album's most rock oriented sound, 'Jumbee' added a touch of New Orleans-styled funk to the mix. It was \ the only track that brought out the gruff, funky flavor in Robinson's voice while serving as a showcase for Tuleja's best guitar solo.
There appear to be at least two official King Harvest websites though neither has a lot to say about the final studio album: : King Harvest (reverbnation.com)
© Scott R. Blackerby July, 2024
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