Podipto
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1969-70) - John Calder -- drums, percussion - John Collins (RIP 1995) -- rhythm guitar, vocals - Dan Lund -- lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, fiddle - Karen Lund (aka Karen Lovering, aka Karen Regnier) (RIP 2017) -- piano, vocals - Steve Rundquist (RIP 2014) -- drums, percussion (replaced - Jack Sundrud -- bass, backing vocals
line up 2 (1970) - Dan Lund -- lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, fiddle NEW - Mike Hedlund (RIP 1993) -- drums, percussion (replaced John Calder) - Karen Lund (aka Karen Lovering, aka Karen Regnier) (RIP 2017) -- piano, vocals - Steve Rundquist (RIP 2014) -- drums, percussion - Jack Sundrud -- bass, backing vocals
line up 3 (1970-73) - John Collins (RIP 1995) -- rhythm guitar, vocals - Dan Lund -- lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, fiddle - Karen Lund (aka Karen Lovering, aka Karen Regnier) (RIP 2017) -- piano, vocals NEW - Steve Rundquist (RIP 2014) -- drums, percussion (replaced Mike Hedlund) - Jack Sundrud -- bass, backing vocals
line up 4 (1973) NEW - Chester Ellingson -- drums, percussion (replaced Steve Rundquist) NEW - Ron Kelly -- bass, vocals (replaced Jack Sundrud) - Dan Lund -- lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, fiddle - Karen Lund (aka Karen Regnier) (RIP 2017) -- piano, vocals NEW - Wilson Roberts -- bass, guitar, vocals
line up 5 (1973-75) NEW - Chester Ellingson -- drums, percussion (replaced Steve Rundquist) NEW - Ron Kelly -- bass, vocals (replaced Jack Sundrud) - Dan Lund -- lead guitar, pedal steel guitar, fiddle - Karen Lund (aka Karen Regnier) (RIP 2017) -- piano, vocals
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- Canyon (Karen Lund, Steve Runquist and Jack Sundrud) - John Collins (solo efforts) - The Crows (Jack Sundrud) - Great Plains (Jack Sundrud) - Idlewood (Jack Sundrud) - Dan Lund (solo efforts) - Poco (Jack Sundrud) - Jack Sundrud (solo efforts) - Sweetwater (Dan Lund)
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Genre: country-rock Rating: 3 stars *** Title: Podipto Company: GRT Catalog: GRT
30002 Country/State: Minnesota Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: unipack sleeve Available: 1 Catalog ID: -- Price: $40.00
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Formed in 1969, Podipto (the non-existent word has no meaning), attracted some attention performing dances, churchs, clubs and resorts throughout their native Minnesota. The original line-up featured drummer John Calder, rhythm guitarist John Collins, lead guitarist Dan Lund, keyboard player Karen Lund and bassist Jack Sundrud. By the time they attracted the attention of the California-based General Recorded Tape (GRT) label, drummer Calder had been drafted into the military and replaced by Steve Rundquist.
Recorded
at Chicago's Audio Finishers Studio with Elliott Abbott producing, "Podipto"
featured a collection of eleven band originals. Gawd only knows why,
but GRT decided to take the group's original demos such as 'Karen's Song'
and 'Mississippi
Woman', wipe the original instrumentation
and replaced it with new instrumentation from L.A.'s famed Wrecking Crew
studio musicians. That must have been a gut-punch for the band.
With Collins and Sundrund sharin
GRT sent the band on the road, opening for a broad spectrum of headliners including The Carpenters, The Guess Who, Elton John, Linda Ronstadt and James Taylor. Unfortunately, GRT ran into financial difficulties, essentially abandoning the band.
There's a detailed and entertaining website dedicated to the band at: Podipto
"Podipto" track listing: 1.) Morning Song (Jack Sundrud) - 2:47 rating: ** stars Wow, 'Morning Song' sounded like something you'd hear at a polka dance. It wasn't bad, the band vocals were sweet, but the country flavor just wasn't something that was going to excite your average rock fan. 2.) Mr. Robin (John Collins) - 3:42 rating: *** stars A pastoral folk tune powered by Karen Lund's piano, 'Mr. Robin' sported a pretty melody, showcasing Collins and Karen Lund on shared vocals. Certainly an improvement over the opener. 3.) Can't Stand to Beg (John Collins) - 3:47 rating: **** stars Geez, was this the same band ... Complete with horns, some excellent Dan Lund lead guitar and a pounding Sundrund bass line, 'Can't Stand to Beg' was a radio-friendly of blue-eyed soul. Pretty impressive shift and one of the album highlights. 4.) Karen's Song (John Collins) - 2:08 rating: **** stars Showcasing Karen Lund on lead vocals (her crystalline voice reminded me of a young Judy Collins), the ballad 'Karen's Song' introduced a jazzy vibe and a surprisingly blatant anti-war lyric. Extra star for Lund's sweet and poignant delivery of a trying topic. Gawd only knows why, but the song was released as a single in Japan !!!
- 1970's 'Karen's Song' b/w 'Mr. Robin' (GRT catalog number UP-264 G)
5.) Mississippi Woman (John Collins - Jack Sundrund) - 4:15 rating: **** stars Opening up with some blazing Lund lead guitar, 'Mississippi Woman' was a likeable slice of boogie-meets-swamp rock. It's the track that should have been tapped as a single.
(side
2) Featuring Sundrund on lead vocals, 'Three Days Runnin'' found the band moving towards a more pop-oriented sound. Kind of a Partridge Family feel to the melody. Loved the backing vocals on this one. 2.) Love of the One (John Collins) - 3:52 rating: **** stars The album's sleeper, the ballad 'Love of the One' had a beautiful lyric seemingly dedicated to Collin's wife. Surrounding the lyric was an equally pretty melody, showcasing some Allman Brothers' styled guitar and the band's glistening harmonies. 3.) Think I'm Likin' You (John Collins - Jack Sundrund) - 2:08 rating: ** stars The country flavored 'Think I'm Likin' You' again showcased their nice vocals, but just wasn't a musical niche I identified with. 4.) (Lola) You Ease My Achin' Heart (John Collins - Jack Sundrund) - 4:01 rating: *** stars Another
quasi-commercial performance, ' (Lola) You Ease My Achin' Heart' trotted out
the horns again and gave Karen Lund another opportunity to showcase her
keyboard prowess. Yeah, kind of a BS&T vibe on this one. It
was released as the US single: - 1970's ' (Lola) You Ease My Achin' Heart' b/w 'Karen's Song' (GRT catalog number 36) 5.) Misty Morning (Jack Sundrud) - 2:25 rating: *** stars Another track putting Karen Lund in the spotlight, 'Misty Morning' had some radio potential. 6.) Good Morning Blues (John Collins - Jack Sundrund) - 2:04 rating: **** stars Again, was this the same band? Opening up with some blazing Dan Lund guitar, 'Good Morning Blues' showed these folks could actually handle a hard rockin' tune. Easily the album's best rocker and the standout performance.
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g
the writing chores, the album spanned a bunch of musical genres, including
country (the opener 'Morning
Song'), country-rock ('Three Days Runnin''), folk ('Mr. Robin') and even
hard rock (the closer 'Good Morning Blues').
The band was gifted with three decent singers in Collins, Karen Lund and
Sundrud. Sundrud was probably the best of the three (check out his
blue-eyed soul delivery on 'Can't
Stand to Beg'), but all were good and
their harmonies were excellent. Still, due in part to the album's
varied catalog, initially precious little on the album made a lasting
impression. Musically it was so diverse it reminding me of a demo tape
recorded to impress a wedding coordinator with their virtuosity. That
made it difficult to get a handle on their sound. But like many
things, sometimes it takes time to discover and appreciate things. I'm
not saying this is a great album, but it certainly had some hidden treasures
and once your expectations were adjusted about half the set was worth
hearing. Those highlights included 'Can't
Stand to Beg', the anti-war tract 'Karen's Song', the ballad 'Love of the
One' (which should be a staple at every wedding), and the album's most
conventional rocker 'Good Morning Blues.' Better than the lukewarm
reviews would have you believe.
