- Aaron Lightman (RIP) -- vocals

- none known

Genre: pop

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Aaron Lightman

Company: Poppy

Catalog: PYS-40,010

Year: 1970

Country/State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: includes lyric insert; '9' written on top right corner; name tag 'D. Ferguson' on back cover

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 5118

Price: $100.00

This early-1970s album is pretty obscure (good luck finding anything about the artist on the web), though it seems to be picking up some buzz among collectors.  Part of that posthumous recognition may be a result of the fact singer Toby Lightman is Aaron Lightman's niece and in tribute to her late uncle named one of her albums "Bird On a Wire".

In terms of biographical information about all I can tell you is that Lightman was from the Philadelphia area and was apparently fairly diminitive (the LP liner notes included the following quote: 'Although in his twenties, his child-like appearance and slight build (100 pounds soaking wet on a good day) tend to make people think he is much younger ..." Now for a word of warning.   Some high priced dealers have slapped the album with a 'psych' label.  It ain't.  Co-produced by Neal Ceppos, Dean Christopher and Ronald Frangipane, 1980's cleverly titled "Aaron Lightman" featured heavily orchestrated, but melodic baroque-pop.  Lightman had a nice, if fey voice which to my ears recalled a weird cross between Donovan and The Bee Gees. Yeah, he may have been from Philly, but the collection had a distinctively English feel.  While that may be a major disincentive to some folks, in spite of the occasionally clunky orchestration, original material like 'On Monday Me', 'I Have a Little Friend' and 'Little Girl' was melodic, but goofy enough to be entertaining.  Too bad about the instrumental interludes since those segments merely distracted you from the fact Lightman was a good tunesmith (check out the should've-been-a-hit 'Morning After'). Elsewhere Poppy actually tapped the album for a single: 'Down To the Sea' b/w 'Now Is the Time' (Poppy catalog number 0106 45)

"Aaron Lightman" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Interlude   (Aaron Lightman) - 

2.) Out of the Morning   (Aaron Lightman) - 

3.) They Call Me Traveler   (Aaron Lighman) - 

4.) None For Me   (Aaron Lightman) - 

5.) On Monday Me   (Aaron Lightman) - 

6.) I Have a Little Friend 

7.) Take 74 Interlude (instrumental)   (Aaron Lightman) - 

8.) Little Girl    (Aaron Lightman) - 3:18

(side 2)
1.) Morning After   (Aaron Lightman) -  

2.) Down to the Sea   (Aaron Lightman) - 

3.) Something Simple   (Aaron Lightman) - 

4.) Fragrances   (Aaron Lightman) - 

5.) Now is the Time   (Aaron Lightman) -  2:11