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- Dennis Linde (RIP 2026) --vocals, bass, drums, guitar, keyboards,

  synthesizers

  supporting musicians (1973)

- Randy Cullers-- drums, percussion

- Terry Dearmore -- guitar, backing vocals

- Rob Galbraith -- rhythm guitar, backing vocals

- Lloyd Green - pedal steel guitar

- John Harris -- piano

- Russ Hicks -- orchestral effects

- Kenny Malone -- drums, percussion

- Bus Maxwell - drums, percussion

- Farrel Morris -- percussion

- Wayne Moss -- bass

- Robin Ogdin -- keyboards, flute, horn effects, fiddle

- Alan Rush -- bass, guitar, banjo

- Buddy Spicher -- orchesteral effects

- Benny Whithead -- synthesizers, backing vocals

- Fat Sow singer (Terry Dearmore)

- Jubal (Dennis Linde)

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

Genre: country-rock

Rating: 2 stars **

Title:  Dennis Linde

Company: Elektra

Catalog: EKS-75062
Year: 1973

Country/State: Abilene, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: promo copy with insert

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $25.00

Released in 1973, Dennis Linde's second album found him moving on from the small Mercury-affiliated Intrepid label to the big time via Elektra.  No doubt influenced by the success Elvis Presley had recording Linde's 'Burning Love', Elektra certainly had faith signing Linde, allowing him to self-produce his label debut "Dennis Linde."  

So I might as well quote Billy Swann's liner notes run on sentences and all): "It took Dennis about a year and a half working in between songwriting (he wrote all of the songs on this album), playing guitar, or bass on different recording sessions (he played organ, piano, clavinet, drums and percussion on some of this album, but most of all guitar and bass - he combines these different instruments sometimes for some interesting effects (producing (Kris Kristofferson and Mickey Newbury) and 2 or 3 other things )(for on he and his beautiful wide Pam became the parents of a little Taurian girl Lisa), to finish this album, musically and technically, the way he felt it should be (rhythm tracks - overdubs - arrangements - his vocals - the final mixes - 2 or 3 test pressings - etc.).  Dennis, besides being one of the most unusual and finest people I know, is the most talented.  He's worked hard (as usual) and long for this one.  It's remarkable and important."

Linde was clearly a talented guy, but unlike Billy Swann's comments, I'd argue the album wasn't remarkable, or important.  To my ears the set sounded like sort of demonstration album - Linde stretching out into a wide array of musical genres in order to show Jac Holzman and the Elektra marketing folks how diverse he was - "hey look guys, I'm multi-talented".  The set was certainly all over the musical spectrum including stabs at pop (the single 'Hello, I Am Your Heart'), country ('The Longer You're Gone'), blues (the instrumental 'East St. Louis Nights'); and conventional top-40 rock ('Don't Leave Me Here All Alone') -  it was all here.  Among the more interesting tracks was Linde's version of 'Burning Love' and the strange, sci-fi themed 'DR-31.'   The album also served as a reunion with former former Jubal members Randy Cullers (drums), guitarist Terry Dearmore, rhythm guitarist Rob Galbraith and bassist Alan Rush. Certainly nobody wants to hear an album of ten, or eleven sound-alike performance, but this one just never gave you a feel for who Linde really was.  Frustrating to my ears and a real puzzle.  Hard to rate it more than listenable, if not fascinating.

"Dennis Linde" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Hello, I Am Your Heart (Dennis Linde) - 2:58 rating: **** stars

Recorded at Linde's home studio and literally a one-man show; Linde playing all of the instruments, 'Hello, I Am Your Heart' started the album off with a bouncy, slightly Latin-tinged flavor.  Linde's voice sounded a bit strained and nasally, but it grew on me.  The song certainly benefited from Linde's thunderclap percussion, tasty fuzz guitar refrain, cheesy '70s synthesizers and a great bass line.  to my ears it's one of his best efforts.  The Manfred Mann Earth Band recorded an interesting, slowed down version in the early-'80s.  The song was tapped as the album's lead-off single.

- 1973's 'Hello, I Am Your Heart' b/w 'East St. Louis Night' (Elektra catalog number EK-45865)

2.) Ridin' High (Dennis Linde) - 3:33 rating: ** stars

I have a special disdain for "life is tough as a musician" themed songs.  That put 'Ridin' High' at an instant disadvantage.  Radio friendly, but in the same way a Bertie Higgins, or Chris DeBurgh song would be considered commercial.

3.) I Had a Dream (Dennis Linde) - 3:14 rating: * star

A heavy orchestrated and sappy ballad (dreams of returning home), about all I can say is this one sounded like something by the late Roger Whitaker.

4.) The Longer You're Gone  (Dennis Linde) - 3:25  rating: * star

Lloyd Green's pedal steel guitar and Bobby Ogdin's fiddle shoved this one down the cheesy country hole.  Skip it.

5.) East St. Louis Nights (instrumental) (Dennis Linde) - 3:59  rating: * star

Hum, blues instrumental done as a plodding, MOR tune.  Linde's lead guitar was fluid and sweet, but there just wasn't anything special here.

(side 2)
1.) DR-31 (Dennis Linde) - 2:57 rating: **** stars

Hum, anyone who remembers Zager and Evans 'In the Year 2525' was likely to smile at the sci-fi tune 'DR-31.'  It started out bouncy enough with a plotline seemingly about some guys building a spaceship and leaving earth before the apocalypse.  Not exactly what you'd expect from a Nashville-based country-oriented artist, but nowhere nears as pretentious as Zager and Evans; the end of song alien brps and bleeps always make me smile.

2.) Don't Leave Me Here All Alone (Dennis Linde) - 2:36  rating: *** stars

The album's most conventional rocker, 'Don't Leave Me Here All Alone' was anonymous, but would not have sounded out of place on mid-'70s top-40 radio.  

3.) Some Songs (Dennis Linde) - 2:26 rating: ** stars

Hey, anyone want to hear Linde's Dylan impression?  Admittedly, Dylan would not have been able to pull off the song's pounding Gosepl ending.

4.) All I Want to Do Is Be Your Man (Dennis Linde) - 2:36 rating: *** stars

Another of the album's more commercial efforts, the bouncy, radio-friendly 'All I Want to Do Is Be Your Man' actually reminded me of the opener 'Hello, I Am Your Heart.'  The lyrics were funny given Linde's reputation as a recluse who did not like live performances.

5.) Burning Love (Dennis Linde) - 3:00  rating: *** stars

According to Wikipedia, Linde claimed to have written the song "on a lark". He was practicing on a set of drums he'd recently purchased and the song just appeared, finishing a complete demo of the song in about twenty minutes.  He credits the inspiration in part to the fact that he was a newlywed at the time and said " 'Burning Love' was a great newlywed title". 

Soul artist Arthur Alexander was the first to cover 'Burning Love', including it on his 1972 self-titled album and releasing it as a single.  Obviously Elvis' 1972 version (which included Linde on rhythm guitar) was the one that scored the massive sales.  Musically his version differed little from Alexander's take.  How about Linde's take?  Very similar to both Alexander and Presley's versions.  The vocal did sound a little distant and pinched, but still a great song.  The song was released as a British promotional 45:

- 1973's 'Burning Love' b/w 'Don't Leave Me Here Alone' (Elektra catalog number K-12140)

6.) Just a Song (Dennis Linde) - 3:40 rating: * star

Forgettable country-tinged singer-songwriter tune.  Docked a start for the pedal steel guitar arrangement.