line up 1 (1978)

- Rick Saucedo -- vocals, guitar, bass, drums, percussion,

  keyboards

  supporting musicians:

- Peggy Counsell -- backing vocals

- Jim Johnson -- piano 

- Joe Lentino -- drums, percussion

- Satan -- barking dog

- Redwing

- Rick Saucedo and the Ambassadors

Genre: psych

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Heaven was Blue

Company: Orange Doubledome

Catalog: OD 3004
Year: 2003

Country/State: Chicago, Illinois

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $50.00

Ah, one of rock's grails ...  

The hype surrounding Rick Saucedo's "Heaven was Blue" is intense. As an example, this one shows up in one of the Hans Pokora "Record Collector Dreams" where it's described as "a masterpiece of music."  It's certainly rare, but a masterpiece of music?  In  the late Patrick Lundbourg's reference book "Acid Archives" the album is  described collection as "...  two misplaced roots rockers away from being one of the greatest psychedelic LPs ever made."  I agree with a lot of Lundborg's reviews and even contributed some reviews to his book, but wow, that's going to an extreme.  

What are people thinking?  This is a great example of the disconnect between rarity and quality.  This one routinely shows up on "best of" lists.  Reportedly only 300 copies were pressed so an original 1978 pressing on the small Chicago-based Realty label (catalog number RS-55-DGP) in good shape is likely to set you back $1,200 +.  That's a little over my vinyl budget (half of my monthly mortgage payment), so I opted to buy a reissue when I stumbled across one at a local used record store.

The background on this one is widely available.  For anyone curious, a good place to start is the really long, fawning Wikipedia entry for the man: Rick Saucedo - Wikipedia.  If that isn't enough information, you can always go to Saucedos' own  website (though it doesn't seem to mention this album: Rick Saucedo: The Official Website   I'll spare most of you the effort.  Here are the highlights.  By the early-'70s Saucedo was making a living as a Chicago-based Elvis impersonator.  I believe the term he would use is "Elvis tribute artist".  In 1978 Saucedo financed and recorded "Heaven was Blue."  Urban legend has it the inspiration for the album was a bad acid trip. I've also read the inspiration had something to do with his despair over Elvis' August, 1977 death.  Somebody will have the true story.   With lyrics that repeatedly nodded to death, the album was certainly quirky (check out the back cover that listed the album participants names on tombstones) and the collection had  a unique charm, but before you shell out a grand, you might want to buy a legitimate reissue, or at least listen to it on YouTube.

Giving Saucedo credit, the album is a true one-man-show.  The then 23-year old Saucedo wrote the material; handled the vocals, played most of the instruments and produced.  For a recording done at a small, independent studio the sound quality was pretty good.  The main thing is I don't find the album nearly as psychedelic as reviews would have you believe.  I actually hear a lot of folk-rock influences across the two sides.  Fading into one another the first two tracks 'Reality' and 'In My Mind' were actually really good folk-rock with a touch of psych influenced performances.  Both songs sported pretty, lysergic-tinged melodies which showcased Saucedo's true voice (thankfully there were no efforts to sound like Elvis on here).  That came to an abrupt stop with 'Country Shakin' - History Makin'.'   With it's efforts at energetic roots rock, the song was as bad as the title inferred.   Powered by some of the worst use of fuzz guitar I've ever encountered, 'Ka Mon We're Gonna Rock All Night Long' was at least fascinating, though for all the wrong reasons.  Whatever energy the first two songs generated was completely dissipated by the those two performances.  So that left the side long title track to repair the damage and rescue the album.  While I won't go as overboard as Lundbourg did in praising the side line title track, it marked a nice return to a psych-oriented sound.  Composed of eight segments, 'Heaven was Blue' showcases many of Saucedo's strengths including a knack for strong melodies; and interesting voice and surprising agility on a wide range of instruments.  Yeah, the lyrics aren't going to give you new insights into life, but the eighteen minutes fly by quickly.

"Heaven was Blue" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Reality (Rick Saucedo) - 4:25 rating: **** stars

You can certainly snicker about Saucedo's Elvis background, but I have to admit the opening ballad 'Reality' was quite impressive.  Featuring a sweet, folk-rock melody and his slightly stoned vocals, I found the tune charming.  The background, in-studio chatter was distracting (with the mock English accents was he trying to sound like Ringo Starr?), but overall it was a lovely, low-keyed start.

2.) In My Mind  (Rick Saucedo) - 4:12 rating: **** stars

Flowing directly from the opener, 'In My Mind' had a stronger melody, sweeter harmonies, and a heavier lysergic edge.  In addition to the breezy melody, the mix added Peggy Counsell's slightly operatic backing vocals, some nice Saucedo fuzz guitar and a dollop of cheesy '70s synthesizers. I'm a sucker cheesy '70s synthesizers.

3.) Country Shakin' - History Makin'  (Rick Saucedo) - 2:48 rating: * star

Crap ... what happened here?  Talk about a bad trip ... Apparently an autobiographical rememberance of his musical journey, 'Country Shakin' - History Makin'' was a track Saucedo had previously recorded as "RIck Saucedo and the Ambassadors."  To my ears it sounded like Saucedo trotting out his best John Lennon impression and then having him cover Elvis doing a rockabilly song.  Simply dreadful.

4.) Ka Mon We're Gonna Rock All Night Long (Rick Saucedo) - 3:52  rating: **** stars

The fuzz guitar propelled 'Ka Mon We're Gonna Rock All Night Long' is so bad, it warrants a couple of spins.  Imagine Wayne Newton (yes, Mr. Las Vegas), deciding he wanted to record a heavy metal tune.  The melody was non-existent.  The sophomoric lyrics were apparently inspired by his back band.  The vocals were tuneless.  Every seen a zombie film like "Dawn of the Dead"?  Imagine those zombies deciding to record a rock song.  Same effect.  LOL  So bad it needs to be heard.

(side 2)

i) Heaven was Blue (Rick Saucedo) - 2:36  rating: **** stars

The first section of the seven-part suite opened up with a catchy slice of folk-rock.  Saucedo's pinched vocals have always reminded me of someone else, but after all these years I still have made the connection.  The end-of-song sudden shift in tempo and melody also shows you where the "Abbey Road" comparisons come from.

(ii) Graveyard (Rick Saucedo) - 2:33 rating: *** stars

Opening with howling wind and rain sound effects, the echoey spoken word introduction to 'Graveyard' was an apt title for the darker segment of the suite.

(iii) Set Us Free (Rick Saucedo) - 3:37  rating: *** stars

Showcasing some nice strumming twelve string guitar, 'Set Us Free' brought back Saucedo's likeable, effects covered vocals.  Lyrically it wasn't going to win any prizes.  It sure sounded like he was singing "you're free" rather than "set us free".  Oh, the wind and rain sound effects returned to close the section out.

(iv) Empty Pillow (Rick Saucedo) - 2:26  rating: *** stars

'Empty Pillow' couldn't decided whether it wanted to be a commercial ballad, or a slice of cocktail jazz.  Liked Saucedo's electric guitar work.

(v) Angels March Into Hell (instrumental) (Rick Saucedo) - 3:00 rating: **** stars

The instrumental section 'Angels March Into Hell' has a title that always makes me smile and again underscores the side two structure of "Abbey Road."

(vi) Some Call It Magic (Rick Saucedo) - 1:36 rating: *** stars

With kind of a faux-English delivery and some martial drumming, 'Some Call It Magic' found Saucedo heading back to acid-tinged ballad territory with some pretty backing vocals.  Badfinger-via-Chicago ...

(vii) Angels March Out Of Hell (instrumental) (Rick Saucedo) -  0:45 rating: *** stars

Quick detour back to the instrumental section.

(viii) Heaven Was Blue (Reprise) (Rick Saucedo) - 1:58 rating: **** stars

Since the title track was the album's strongest tune, I didn't have any objections to a brief reprise.

The album's been reissued multiple times, but the only legitimate package is the 2015 package on Guerssen (catalog number GUESS 139).  Released as a double album set, in addition to the original album, the package included six bonus tracks and a four page booklet with an interview with Saucedo and detailed liner notes:

1.) Oh My God  (Rick Saucedo) -

2.) Baby In The Sand  /  It Burns Again Today (Rick Saucedo) -

3.) Reality ( A-side single Version)  (Rick Saucedo) -

4.) Country Shakin’ – History Makin’ (B-side single version)  (Rick Saucedo) -

5.) Reality (radio mix) (Rick Saucedo) -

One mystery I haven't been able to figure out - there are lots of references to a follow-on single:  'Reality' b/w History Makin' - Country Shakin''.  I've never been able to find evidence the 45 exists.  Anyone actually seen a copy?  Got a picture of one?