line up 1  (1982)

- Mark Pendleton -- vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica

  supporting musicians (1982)

- Scott Heath -- bass

- Richard Heitmann - electric guitar, acoustic guitar

- Worth Phillips - keyboards, backing vocals

- Richard Pollack --- percussion

- Sharen Thomas -- vocals

- Jim Tilson -- electric guitar

- none known

Genre: rock

Rating: *** 3 stars

Title:  U.S. Highway

Company: MPC

Catalog:  MPC-LP-33777
Year: 1982

Country/State: Virginia

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 3376

Price: $40.00

This is one of those album's that's a complete mystery to me.  I haven't been able to find a single review of it on-line, or any of the reference materials I own.  It doesn't even show up in  the PopSyke sales listings site which seems to reflect every album known to mankind.  In fact, the only things I can tell  you about it are lifted from the liner notes and that's largely limited to the support musicians, the fact the album was produced by Pendleton, Jeff Harrison, and Andrew Slater, and the album was recorded in Major Record Studios located in Waynesboro, Virginia.

 I stumbled across "U.S. Highway" at a yard sale and was told it was a folk collection.  In spite of the bland cover art, I bought it out of a combination of curiosity and the fact it was recorded in Virginia.   Yeah, there was a bit of folk here ('Double Edge Game'), but for the most part this was singer/songwriter material that was at its best when  Pendleton was supported by a full backing band ('Stone Chair').  Pendleton wrote all ten tracks, provided acoustic guitar, and was the lead singer.  His voice was kind of interesting - not instantly attractive, but over time I've grown to like his dry and ragged delivery.  Highlights included  the bouncy leadoff rocker 'Astronauts and Boiling Pots', 'Stone Chair', and 'All I Do' (the latter being a guilty pleasure that's always reminded me of Michael Nesmith solo effort).  The only real missteps were the needless country title track and 'All Over You'.  Certainly not an undiscovered classic, but I've heard big ticket sets that were far less enjoyable and  it's an album (showing my age here), that I put on the Rega turntable from time to time. Wherever he is, I hope Pendleton went on to a wonderful life since he's given me some pleasure through a couple of these songs.

"U.S. Highway" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Astronauts and Boiling Pots   (Mark Pendleton) - 4:30    rating: **** stars

As mentioned earlier, dry and raspy,  technically Pendleton didn't have the greatest voice you've ever heard.  That didn't stop the opening rocker 'Astronauts and Boiling Pots' from being mildly entertaining.  Nice Beach Boys- styled boogie rocker with some Dylan-esque vocals and some excellent soloing.

2.) Sharens Song (sic)  (Mark Pendleton) - 3:47  rating: *** stars

The ballad 'Sharens Song' found Pendleton shifting gears into a lounge act, jazzy-vibe.  Once again, the soloing is what saved the song from oblivion - the acoustic and electric guitar work was exceptional.

3.) All Over You   (Mark Pendleton) - 2:29  rating; ** stars

Completely forgettable country ballad.  Just not a genre I know much about, or enjoy much

4.) The Writer   (Mark Pendleton) - 3:07  rating; ** stars

'The Winter' was a breezy ballad that would have been better in a different key. Pendleton sounded uncomfortable trying to get through this one.  

5.) February Song   (Mark Pendleton) - 3:43   rating: *** stars

Back to lounge act ballad ...  Surprisingly, this one has grown on me over time.  I blame it on the sweet harmony vocals and Scott Heath's awesome bass work.

(side 2)

1.) U.S. Highway   (Mark Pendleton) - 3:14  rating; ** stars

Straight forward country tune that just didn't do much for me.

2.) Stone Chair   (Mark Pendleton) - 3:43   rating: **** stars

Powered by some nice Worth Phillips Hammond B3 moves, 'Stone Chair' was easily the album's most commercial tune.  Would have sounded nice on early-'80s FM radio. 

3.) Middle of Now   (Mark Pendleton) - 3:47   rating: *** stars

The ballad 'Middle of Now' was far from my favorite performance, but it was a nice showcase for Pendleton's raspy voice.

4.) All I Do   (Mark Pendleton) - 3:10   rating: **** stars

The country-rock tinged 'All I Do' has always reminded me of a Mike Nesmith tune.  I mean a good Micke Nesmith tune.

5.) Double Edge Game   (Mark Pendleton) - 3:44  rating; ** stars

Competent, but forgettable bluesy singer/songwriter tune.  

One of the true pleasures of this hobby is occasionally hearing from someone associated with one of these albums.  In this care Mark Pendleton's younger sister somehow stumbled across my brief write-up and was nice enough to send me an email.

I stumbled across your website whilst looking up my brother's album, "U.S. Highway," just to see if it would appear anywhere.  I was delighted to read your review.  It is the only review that I know of.  We (I am the "Sharen Thomas" who provided backup vocals on the album) had a lot of energy, but not a lot of money at the time.  Major Recording was a pretty decent studio for gospel and country, but I'm not sure Johnny Major knew quite what to do with the album when it came to mixing it.  The speed of the mix always felt a little off.  That, coupled with the Country being in recession at the time and none of us having the connections or cash to market it, pretty much assured its place in obscurity, which is where you found it, apparently.  

The album really was a potpourri of genres.  Probably world have been really hard to market even if we had the resources to do so.  But, what a great experience!  And I know the stories behind most of the songs....the title cut comes from Mark's observations while hitchhiking, including a hike to Muscle Shoals to promote his music, "February Song," a love song for his wife, Diana, and "Sharen's Song," was named that because he had no title, and I always begged him to play it when I was little.

The "lousy cover art," was done by Mark's wife (Diana Rhode-Campbell), who was actually an amazing artist (she is now deceased), and admittedly, the cover was not necessarily her best work.  She excelled in works of fantasy.    Together, they ran the gallery  "House Pendleton" in Amherst, Virginia.

Mark, now nearly 72, still lives in Amherst and still plays music.  Our other brother, Worth Phillips (Phillip Worth Campbell), passed away in 2015.  Phil was such a kick-ass keyboard player!  My brothers started out playing in "The Rainmakers" in Haymarket, VA in 1967.  Mark attended Osborn HS and Phil graduated from Stonewall Jackson HS in 1971.

And I, being little sister, bring up the rear.  I'm one-half of the duo, "Alchemy's Muse," and so enjoy playing out for the sheer joy of it.   I picked up songwriting and singing harmony from having these incredibly talented older brothers.

This project (U.S. Highway) seems a lifetime ago.  I'm not sure where Rick Pollock, JIm Tillson, or Richard Heitmann got off to, but I'm sure they're out there somewhere in the interwebs.  Scott Heath is still around, and we played with him in Blue Skye, and the Prime Cut Band. 

Again, I really enjoyed your review, and I cannot wait to share it with Mark.  I thought you might like to know a little of the rest of the story behind the album.  Be well and stay safe out there

Sharen Dowdy (April 2020)