Genre: garage
Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Breakthrough
Company: Sentar
Catalog: LP 101
Year: 1966
Counry/State: Chicago, Illinois
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG+
Comments: minor ring wear on cover
Available: 1
GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed
Price: $450.00
Formed in Chicago in 1964 and originally known
as The Patsmen, singer Ray Graffia, drummer Chick James, keyboardist Craig
Kemp, bassist Wally Kemp, guitarist Jerry Van Kollenberg and
multi-instrumentalist Patrick McBride found their original inspiration in
English Invasion bands such as Eric Burdon and the Aniimals, Van Morrison
and Them (okay they were Irish), The Rolling Stones and The Yardbirds. By
1965 the band had decamped to California where their efforts were greeted
with complete indifference. Within a year they were back in their native
Chicago having taken the audacious step of forming their own Centaur label.
Over the next year the band became exceptionally popular on the Chicago club
scene, even enjoying a modest national hit with their 1966 debut 'I Confess'
b/w 'Dawn Is Breaking' (Centuar catalog number 1201). As was standard
marketing procedure, with the single selling well the band rushed into the
studio to record a supporting album. Unlike most such efforts, 1966's "Breakthrough"
stands as a classic (and highly sought after) slice of mid-1960s garage
rock. Self-produced with five of the members contributing material,
the album offered up a great mixture of mid-western garage ('I Confess' and
'Last Nite'), British Invasion moves and occasional dollops of early psych
('At the River's Edge' and 'Dawn Is Breaking'). Full of great guitar
and organ-propelled melodies, covered with sweet harmony vocals ('The Time
of the Year Is Sunset'), it's one of those albums that's simply hard to
dislike. Easily one of my top-10 all time favorites. Anyone know
if 'Sloopy' was really live? As an added note, by the time the album
was released the Centaur label had morphed into Sentar Records.
"Breakthrough" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) I Confess (Ray Graffia - Gerry Van Kollenburg) - 2:37
2.) Heart Is Made of Many Things (Patrick McBride) - 1:57
3.) Don't You Think It's Time You Stopped Your Crying (Ray
Graffia - Wally Kemp) - 2:16
4.) Last Nite (Wally Kemp) - 2:34
5.) I and You (Patrick McBride) - 2:11
6.) At the River's Edge (Wally Kemp) - 2:38
(side
2)
1.) I Lie Awake (Ray Graffia - Gerry Van Kollenburg) - 2:00
2.) Dawn Is Breaking (Patrick McBride) - 2:39
3.) Time of the Year Is Sunset (Ray Graffia) - 2:43
4.) Mister You're a Better Man Than I (Mike Hugg) - 3:00
5.) Some People Think I'm a Playboy (Craig Kemp) - 2:52
6.) Sloopy (Burns - Farrell) - 5:45
