- Lofton Kline -- vocals

- Susan Taylor (aka Taylor Pie) -- vocals

- Donnie Williams -- vocals

- Taylor Pie (Susan Taylor) (solo efforts)

- Don Williams (solo efforts)

Genre: folk-rock

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Shades of Time

Company: Columbia

Catalog: CS-9656

Year: 1968

Country/State: Corpus Christi, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: minor edge wear; cut top right corner

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4822

Price: $15.00

Cost: $1.00

Lofton Klein and Donnie Williams apparently met each other while living in Portland, Oregon.  Discovering a common appreciation for folk music, they began singing together as The Strangers Two.  By the mid-1960s the two were attending Corpus Christi's Del Mar College.  One of their practice sessions attracted the attention of fellow student Susan Taylor who promptly joined the line-up.  

You'll note that the for 1968's "Shades of Time" Williams had headed off in pursuit of a successful career as a country singer, leaving Kline and Taylor to continue on as a duo.  They quickly abbreviated the name to Pozo Seco (say goodbye to the always irritating 'Singers').  In spite of Williams' departure, the basic sound remains largely unchanged - attractive Peter, Paul and Mary-styled folk (okay, call it Peter and Mary-styled folk).  The good news is that Lofton and Taylor both had great voices and their harmony work was nothing short of wonderful (Taylor was also quite a hottie).  The bad news is that socially conscientious material such as 'You Better Sit Down Kids' and 'Renegade' sounds about four years behind popular tastes.  There were a couple of exceptions where producer Elliot Mazer managed to subtly update their sound.  Side two numbers such as 'Spanish Harlem Incident', 'Gotta Come Up with Something' and 'Keep On Keeping ' come off as tasteful folk-rock thanks to The Paupers making their instrumental presence felt.  All those criticisms aside, there's something fascinating about this lost timepiece. Columbia pulled a pair of instantly obscure singles from the album:

- 1968's 'Gotta Come Up With Something' b/w 'Renegade' (Columbia catalog number 4-44598)

- 1968's 'Good Morning Today' b/w 'Remember Suzie (Love Me So)' (Columbia catalog number 4-44690) 

'Shades of Time" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Good Morning Today

2.) You Ain't Goin' Nowhere

3.) You've Got To Hide Your Love Away  (John Lennon - Paul McCartney) - 

4.) Green, Green Grass of Home

5.) Hey Babe Open Your Mind

6.) You Better Sit Down Kids

(side 2)
1.) Spanish Harlem Incident

2.) Bye Bye Love

3.) The Renegade

4.) Gotta Come Up with Something

5.) Keep On Keeping On