- Stephen Spano --vocals, guitar, recorder

  backing musicians: 

- Skip Adams -- guitar

- Larry Bailey -- flute

- Rob Cherney -- bass

- Hampton Childress -- bass
- Jackie Gordon -- harmony vocals

- Charlie Hastings -- flute

- Michael May -- bass

- Ken McGetterick -- sax

- Larry Ochfield -- piano

- David Poe -- vocals

- Victor Spano -- drums, percussion
- Joey Watson (RIP 1992) -- keyboards, bells

- none known

Genre: pop

Rating: 4 stars ****

Title:  Eye To Eye

Company: Adelphi

Catalog: AD 4103
Year: 1975

Country/State: Chevy Chase, Maryland

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: textured cover; includes insert

Available: 1

Catalog ID: 1031

Price: $150.00

Hum, it  only took me five years to actually get around to listening to this album ...  I found a copy at a local swam meet and bought it for the local record label, rather than knowing anything about the artist.  With that background, I'll admit namesake Stephen Spano is largely a mystery to me.   Given his 1975 album came out on the Maryland based Adelphi label, I'm guessing he was a local boy, but who knows.  [Turns out he was born and raised in Chevy Chase Maryland.]   

Spano was apparently a good lookin' guy; a decent singer, and an excellent guitar player who attracted some regional attention on the local club scene.  That was apparently enough to capture the attention of Adelphi Records owner Gene Rosenthal, who signed Spano to Adelphi Records. 

Only 18 at the time, Spano's 1975 debut  "Eye To Eye"  was co-produced by Rodney Eng and brothers Gene and Howard Rosenthal. If you've heard other stuff on Adelphi, you'll quickly discover this set is a little different than the blues and blues-rock the Rosenthals typically released.  Spano's genre was best described as falling into the '70s folky-cum-hippy groove.   I'm thinking along the lines of an East Coast Merrell Fankhauser (without some of the sci-fi tangents).  Like Fankhauser, he had a voice that was pretty, if occasionally a touch fragile.  Similarly, he was clearly a talented guitarist, comfortable on both acoustic and electric instruments.   Anyhow, exemplified by material like 'Love Is the Sound', 'The Best Part of Me' and 'It's a Celebration' it was one of those rare albums that captured that goofy '70s vibe without becoming preachy and obnoxious.  A little different than most of the album, but the title track demonstrated Spano could rock out. 'Pilgrim's Pride' and a touch of progressive influence to the mix, while 'Celebration' was even radio-friendly. Shame there wasn't a little more of those genre on display here.  Still, the overall album was quite impressive (again, remember the guy was 19 when he recorded this).  I could list a dozen high priced production sets that don't come close to this one.   Well worth checking out, though it won't come cheap.  Adelphi reportedly only pressed 1,500 copies making it fairly difficult to track down and original copy.

"Eye To Eye" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Love Is the Sound   (Stephen Spano) - 3:57

'Love Is the Sound' was a perfect example of why I've always been confused by this album.   Musically it melded a nice enough John Denver country-pop melody with touches off jazz (there was even a flute solo), and some unexpected fuzz guitar.  Completely schizophrenic and fascinating in an aural train wreck kind of way.  rating: **** stars

2.) The Best Part of Me   (Stephen Spano) - 3:55

With a nice, breezy melody that showcased some pretty acoustic guitar, some multi-tracked vocals, and light percussion, 'The Best Part of Me' just exuded that unique '70s hippy vibe.  Ah, life with a pretty woman and that carefree, easy-going lifestyle - another Corona anyone ?   Hum, this one wouldn't have sounded out of place amongst Merrell Fankhauser's best solo work.  rating: **** stars

3.) ... and Dream   (Stephen Spano) - 6:33

With a vocal that's always reminded me a bit of a young Graham Nash, I kept waiting for '... and Dream' to kick into gear and it just didn't happen.   It's like Spano forgot to add a hook to the tune.  I will admit the song got better about two thirds of the way through when it switched into a rock song with some tasty Allman Brothers styled electric guitars.  Sadly the changes came too late to save the track.  rating: *** stars

4.) Pam's Song   (Stephen Spano) - 3:20 

Folkies dedicating songs to women usually turn out to be pretty lame musically, so I didn't have high hopes for 'Pam's Song'.   Much to my surprise, the song wasn't bad.  Yes, it was an acoustic ballad, but from a YouTube clip Spano posted,  I learned the song was dedicated to Pam Coleaini whom I guess was a close friend.  Pretty dedication to the late Coleaini and I'm sure that wherever she is, she's enjoyed the tune.  Hard to imagine a nicer remembrance than this.   rating: *** stars

(side 2)
1.) Eye To Eye    (Stephen Spano) - 5:00

Featuring fuzz guitar, meltdown synthesizer, and full rock instrumentation, the title track was quite different from the rest of the album.  Rock, progressive moves, and even jazzy chords ...  it was all here.  One of my picks for standout performance.  My only complaint is the tune faded out just as Spano's was beginning to showcase his tuneful lead guitar moves.   rating: **** stars

2.) It's a Celebration   (Stephen Spano) - 4:00

'It's a Celebration' was another tune that found Spano blending musical idioms into a charming '70s vibe.  I could've done without the honky sax, but it wasn't a big deal.  Jackie Gordon on vocals along with Spano.    rating: **** stars

3.) Rainy Skies   (Stephen Spano) - 3:25

Pretty, but forgettable acoustic ballad ...  rating: ** stars

4.) Pilgrim's Pride   (Stephen Spano) -  4:45

Another standout performance with full rock instrumentation and even a touch of progressive moves embedded in it (the opening sounded like Spano had been listening to his share of Jethro Tull).   Lyrically the song sounded like Spano was awake during those high school American history lessons.  rating: **** stars

As far as I know, this was Spano's only recording, but he has continued on in the entertainment field.  I found his brief bio while poking around online:

I was born in Washington,.D.C. in the black and white fifties. In high school and college I was in all the plays, but at fourteen, in the late sixties, I found out that learning to play the guitar was a great way to meet cute hippy girls. Then at nineteen I got signed to Adelphi Records for one album (Eye to Eye). Acting had to take a back seat mostly for the next few years while I embraced music. In 1980 I packed up my van and with my starry eyed girl friend and drove to San Francisco where we both got work as extras (The Right Stuff). That was fine for a while. Then I was offered a few principal roles in some adult films (Purely Physical). God has a strange sense of humor. Music has always kept me floating since then. So you see, singing, acting, it's all performing. It's what I live for.

I'm an "artist" and I love to entertain, but what I do best is sing and play a mean guitar. From the seventies through the nineties I was either writing songs, playing one night stands, recording or making women happy. I love to act for the crowd or the camera. I've been an extra in a few movies (Eye for an Eye The Right Stuff), and it was really cool. I love to get in front of that camera and that's when I come alive. Okay, I'm in my fifties now but my Greek/Italian blood is serving me well and I think the best times are yet to come.

I didn't want to disturb their privacy, but for anyone interested, both of the Spanos brothers have Facebook presences.