Essra Mohawk
Band members Related acts
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- Essra Mohawk (aka Jamie Carter, Sandy Hurvitz) -- vocals, keyboards, guitar
backing musicians (1970) - Mel Graves -- bass - Jerry Hahn -- guitar - Doug Hastings -- guitar - Joe Keefe -- vibes - George Marsh -- drums - Jerry Penrod -- bass - George St. John -- oboe - Dallas Taylor -- drums - Lee Underwood -- guitar
backing musicians (1974) - Larry Carlton -- guitar - Eric Errison -- congas - Gene Estes -- percussion, vibes - Wilton Felder -- bass - Ed Green - drums - Tony Hensley -- piano - Keny Jenkins -- flute - Dave Kempton -- piano - Dennis Parker -- bass - Dena Parks -- guitar - Geno Pello -- drums - Joe Sample -- piano - Tom Sellers -- piano, bass, guitar - Skip Switzer -- drums - Bert Wilson -- sax - Zitro -- drums, African talking drums
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- Jamie Carter (solo efforts) - Sandy Hurvitz (solo efforts) - Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Primordial Lovers Company: Reprise Catalog: RS
6377 Country/State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Grade (cover/record): VG/VG Comments: gatefold sleeve; minor cover and edge wear' minor hissing in soft parts; no skips Available: 1 Catalog ID: 280 Price: $20.00
Best time to play: Sunday mornings
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Urban legend has it that Warner Brothers vice president Mo Ostin discovered Mohawk (still Sandy Hurvitz at the time), playing at Steve Paul's New York City club The Scene and signed her to Warner Brothers' Reprise label right there. I have no idea if that's true, but I can tell you that before she'd finished the album, she'd married producer Mohawk, hence the album was released under her new surname.
The resulting project, 1970's "Primordial Lovers" is the album that's garnered Essra Mohawk her reputation amongst critics and the recording collecting elite. Produced by then-husband Frazier Mohawk, the album is a perennial on "best of" and "critics choice" lists, though relatively few folks have every heard it. With backing from an impressive cast of known and lesser known L.A. based musicians, the album's far more accomplished than her 1969 debut "Sandy's Album Is Here At Last". While it wasn't particularly commercial, the album showcased Mohawk's nifty voice (hearing a track like 'Spiral' you were left to wonder how a small Philly-born white chick could sound so soulful) and her willingness to experiment with different genres, oddball timings, and a wide array of out of the ordinary subject matter including the life of Austrian psychoanalysts Wilhelm Reich who was supposedly the inspiration for the song 'Spiral'.
- Prime early-'70s singer/songwriter material, ' I Am the Breeze' should carry significant appeal for anyone into Janis, Ian, Carole King, or Laura Nyro. Curiously lots of folks have labeled this one as having jazzy overtones. I don't hear it. To my ears it's a pretty, but stark ballad - just Mohawk accompanying herself on piano with some tasteful oboe from George St. John. Yeah, pretty and a nice introduction to Mohawk's enchanting (yes, I'll say it), sexy voice. rating: **** stars - Backed by a restrained rock arrangement (Mel Graves turned in a dazzling bass line), the dark and ominous 'Spiral' was the perfect vehicle for Mohawk's unique, multi-tracked voice. One of the album highlights which probably explains why it was tapped as the second single. rating: **** stars - 'I'll Give It To You Anyway' incorporated touches of country, jazz, and gospel along with her singer/songwriter moves. A bit on the schizophrenic side, but interesting. rating: *** stars - Folks have accused David Crosby of having based 'Deja Vu' on Mohawk's 'I Have Been Here Before'. Guess you'd have to ask Crosby about it, though he apparently knew Mohawk and was familiar with the song. Mohawk has discussed playing the song for Crosby on several occasions). I guess I can hear a certain degree of similarity given both tracks share a weird, non-traditional song structure (doesn't ever Crosby song?); they both exhibit some jazzy textures, and both seem to have been inspired by reincarnation. I'd argue 'Deja Vu' is the better track, but what do I know ... rating: **** stars - Another Mohawk and piano ballad, 'Looking Forward To the Dawn' was pretty, but nothing particularly memorable. rating: *** stars - I read somewhere that the ballad 'Thunder In the Morning' was inspired by Stephen Stills. It might well be true given Mohwak and Stills were apparently briefly an item and Mohawk and CSN&Y shared the same manager. Add to thatt husband Mohawk had managed The Buffalo Springfield and was a close friend of Stills. Regardless of the inspiration, this one was pretty painful. The musical key was just way out of whack for Mohawk's voice and when she tried to hit the high notes, it made your fillings rattle. rating: ** stars - The album's most experimental composition, 'Lion On the Wing' somehow managed to blend Carole King-styled confessionals with a quirky jazz arrangement that wasn't a complete bore. rating: *** stars - The album's more commercial number, ' It's Up To Me' had a breezy, likeable melody and was actually quite commercial; probably explaining why it was tapped as the lead-off single. rating: *** stars - My pick for standout performance, 'It's Been a Beautiful Day' was quirky, but catchy. rating: **** stars
As mentioned, the album spun off two instantly obscure singles:
- 1970's 'It's Up To Me' b/w 'Jabberwock' (reprise catalog number 0913) - 1970's 'Spiral' b/w 'Image of You'' (Reprise catalog number 0948)
The album attracted strong reviews among critics, but did little commercially.
"Primordial
Lovers" track listing: 1.) I Am the Breeze (Essra Mohawk) - 2.) Spiral (Essra Mohawk) - 3.) I'll Give It To You Anyway (Essra Mohawk) - 4.) I Have Been Here Before (Essra Mohawk) -
(side
2) 2.) Thunder In the Morning (Essra Mohawk) - 3.) Lion On the Wing (Essra Mohawk) - 4.) It's Up To Me (Essra Mohawk) - 5.) It's Been a Beautiful Day (Essra Mohawk) -
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Genre: pop Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Essra Mohawk Company: Asylum Catalog: 7E
1023 Country/State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: still in shrink wrap (opened); includes original lyric inner sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: 276 Price: $20.00
Best time to play: not sure |
1974 saw Essra Mohawk signed to David Geffen's Asylum Records (boy did she ever bounce around record labels - by my count Asylum was her fourth up to that point). I haven't heard everything in Essra Mohawk's lengthy recording catalog, but given what I own and what I've heard, 1974's Tom Sellers produced "Essra Mohawk" was one of her more focused and commercial offerings. I'm guessing this was viewed as her shot at breaking to a mass audience (perhaps explaining the daring cover art). So there's no doubt Mohawk's a seriously talented performer with a craggy, soulful voice (that's always been somewhat of a hit-of-miss instrument to my ears); an accomplish keyboard player, and a writer with a knack for highly personal, frequently enigmatic, but surprisingly enjoyable material. This album brought all of those gifts to the table and surrounded by some heavy hitter sessions players (including most of The Crusaders), for the most part steered her in a more focused and conventional direction. The set was quite diverse including a pair of stark, keyboard powered ballads ('You're Finally Here' and 'I Cannot Forget'), several jazz-tinged numbers ('Back In the Spirit' and 'Magic Pen'), and best of all some unexpectedly funky and commercial numbers ('New Skins for Old' and 'You Make Me Come To Pieces').
- As I said above, Mohawk's voice has always been hit-or-miss to my ears, but on the funk-meets-jazzy 'New Skins for Old' it was a hit. The song brought out a really cool niche in her rough voice and animal cruelty lyrics weren't nearly as blatantly in your face as some of other contemporaries. rating: **** stars - Sounding a bit like Bonnie Raitt after she'd swallowed a can of nails, 'Openin' My Love Doors' (subtle imagery there), was a nice, soul-tinged ballad. Very breezy and commercial, it should have been a hit though the out-there lyrics probably would have made most top-40 radio stations blush. rating: *** stars - Ever wonder what Laura Nyro would have sounded like if she'd decided to get angry ? Well, 'Full Pledged Woman' was probably a pretty good approximation. Based on the lyric, I'm guessing you probably didn't want to tangle with Mohawk when she was in a nasty mood. Nice keyboard-powered rocker. Asylum released the song as a single, though I've only seen promotional copies. rating: *** stars - Just Mohawk on piano, 'You're Finally Here' was a stark ballad. Pretty and quite personal, it was the kind of stuff her longstanding fans crave, but I found it kind of boring. Very Carole King-ish. rating: ** stars - With so many covers of 'Summertime' out there, I simply don't expect much from any of them and while Mohawk's wasn't great, thanks to the Dave Kempton's clattering piano, if was worth hearing. rating: *** stars - Backed by most of The Crusaders, 'Back In the Spirit' counter balanced a funky rhythm line with some soothing soul touches and one of her best vocals. rating: **** stars - With Mohawk trotting out her grittiest voice and Tom Sellars contributing perolating electric piano, 'You Make Me Come To Pieces' was a true slice of hardcore funk which would have made George Clinton proud. rating: **** stars - Another Mohawk and keyboard piece, 'I Cannot Forget' was very pretty and also very cocktail jazz-ish. rating: ** stars - The title left me a bit apprehensive, but showcasing a nice jazz tinge and some excellent Larry Carlton lead guitar, 'Song To An Unborn Soul' was actually one of the standout performances. rating: **** stars - 'If I'm Gonna Go Crazy with Someone It Might As Well Be You' was interesting in that it started out sounding like something you would have heard in the '80s on one of those faceless adult contemporary, lite jazz stations that were always playing on office building lobbies. And then when you'd basically give up on it, the song turned funky. Loved the multi-tracked vocals ... rating: *** stars - 'Magic Pen' was the kind of song that English majors gushed over - deep, thoughtful, and thoroughly enigmatic. It didn't do much for me. rating: ** stars
As mentioned, at least one single was released off the album:
- 1974's 'Full Fledged Woman' b/w 'Full Fledged Woman' (Asylum catalog number E 45232)
I generally like quirky artists and Mohawk certainly fits the bill. Add to that she has a truly interesting voice, but as much as I've tied to love this album, I just can't pull it off.
Asylum did little to promote the album and the collection quickly ended up in cutout bins (I remember seeing stacks of them at my local record store (showing my age here)).
For anyone interested, Mohawk has a nice website at: http://www.essramohawk.com/
"Essra
Mohawk" track listing: 1.) New Skins for Old (Essra Mohawk) - 2:30 2.) Openin' My Love Doors (Essra Mohawk - Tom Sellers) - 2:34 3.) Full Pledged Woman (Essra Mohawk) - 3:10 4.) You're Finally Here (Essra Mohawk) - 2:56 5.) Summertime (George Gershwin - Ira Gershwin - Heyward) - 2:28 6.) Back I n the Spirit (Essra Mohawk) - 2:40
(side
2) 2.) I Cannot Forget (Essra Mohawk) - 4:47 3.) Song To An Unborn Soul (Essra Mohawk) - 2:19 4.) If I'm Gonna Go Crazy with Someone It Might As Well Be You (Essra Mohawk - Tom Sellers) - 3:32 5.) Magic Pen (Essra Mohawk - Tom Sellers) - 2:25
SRB 3/2103
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