Genre: pop
Rating: 2 stars **
Title: Blue Notes
Company: Olivia
Catalog: B005
Year: 1983
Country/State: Germany
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: double LP set; gatefold sleeve; original lyric inner sleeves
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 5119
Price: $80.00
I've seen this one listed various times as folk rock, krautrock, and even psych. Not to demeaned the collection since it has quite a but going for it, but a word of warning - those descriptions are completely incorrect.
Maybug's a German out fit built around the talents of singer/songwriter/keyboardist Walter F. Diet and rounded out by bassist
Immo Dehnert, lead guitarist Ralph Gotzel, and drummer Horsch Steinmayer. Fronting Maybug and as a solo act, Diet's been recording since the 1970s, though he doesn't seem to have generated a great deal of attention outside of Germany. Produced by Diet, 1989's "Blue Notes" was a 23 track, double LP set. As the lead singer Diet had an okay if occasionally quivery voice that was only slightly accented. All of the performances were in English and Diet's lyrics were no worse than anything you'd hear from an American or UK singer/songwriter. With Diet responsible for writing most of the material, musically the album featured a straightforward collection focusing on pop and folk material. Tracks like 'Don't Leave Your Children' had some radio potential, while 'Here's To You', 'Not the True Love' and 'Halls of Your Mind' were the kind of stuff you'd hear at your local Irish bar. Certainly listenable, though for what's it was worth, these guys were actually at their worst when trying to rock out - check out 'Mama Took Care' or 'One Road' though Gotzel deserved credit forrepeatedly turned in some nice lead guitar work. Supposedly only 500 copies were pressed, though quite a few copies seem to have hit the market in the 2006 - 2007 timeframe.
"Blue
Notes" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Ten Minutes Time (Walter F. Diet) - 1:24
2.) A Little Stays with You (Walter F. Diet) - 4:26
3.) Carry-On Dancing (Walter F. Diet) - 3:26
4.) Morningwind (Walter F. Diet) - 3:16
5.) He Is the Reason (Walter F. Diet) - 4:11
6.) Here's To You
(Walter F. Diet) - 4:34
(side
2)
1.) Mama Took Care (Walter F. Diet) - 3:50
2.) Not the True Love (Walter F. Diet) - 4:00
3.) Halls of Your Mind (Walter F. Diet) - 3:32
4.) One Road (Walter F. Diet) - 2:14
5.) Categorized (Walter F. Diet) - 2:43
6.) Don't Leave Your Children (Walter F. Diet) - 4:40
(side 3)
1.) Good Company (Walter F. Diet) - 0:29
2.) It's Only Monday (Walter F. Diet) - 3:24
3.) Long Time Ago (Walter F. Diet) - 2:16
4.) Blackbirds (Walter F. Diet) - 4:26
5.) We Got All the Education (Walter F. Diet) - 5:00
(side 4)
1.) Comes Along My Way (Walter F. Diet) - 2:19
2.) That's the Time (Walter F. Diet) - 2:44
3.) I Came To You (Walter F. Diet) - 3:25
4.) No More Reasons (Walter F. Diet) - 3:37
5.) Blue Notes (Walter F. Diet) - 7:28
6.) Ten Minutes Times (reprise) (Walter F. Diet) - 1:15
The band has a website (in German) located at: