line up 1 (1968-69)

- Will Betz --bass, guitar

- Al Camardo -- percussion

- Anya Cohen -- vocals, tambourine, percussion

- Tom Champion -- drums, percussion

- Michael Lynne -- guitar, bass, vocals

- John Williamson -- guitar, bass, vocals

- Anya's Street (Will Betz, Al Camardo, Anya Cohen, 

  Tom Champion, Michael Lynne and John Williamson)

Genre: psych

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Street

Company: Verve Forecast
Catalog: FTS-3057

Year: 1968

Country/State: New York, New York

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available: 1

Catalog ID: --

Price: $40.00

The late singer/songwriter/producer Rick Shorter supposedly discovered singer Anya Cohen running  the Wee Spot Coffee Shop in Rochester, New York.  Cohen had attended the Eastman School of Music and spent some time playing local Rochester clubs like Duffy's Tavern and the El Echo Restauran as a folkie.  Impressed with her voice, Shorter brought her together with  bassist Will Betz, percussionist Al Camardo, drummer Tom Champion, guitarists Michael Lynne and John Williamson.  With Shorter's help, under the name Anya's Street  they signed with Verve Forecast, making their debut with a 1968 single:

- 'There's One Kind Favor' b/w 'Boeing 707' (Verve Forecast catalog number KF 5084)

Even though the single wasn't a major hit, Verve Forecast moved forward with an album - 1968's "Street.".  Produced by Shorter, who also wrote, or co-wrote six of the eight tracks, it's a weird album.  These guys had clearly been listening to a lot of West Coast psych which underscored the Jefferson Airplane comparisons.  While many reviews draw a comparison between Cohen's vocals and Grace Slick, I think she sounds more like Slick's predecessor the late Signe Toly Anderson, or perhaps a young Buffy Sainte-Marie.  Psychedlia wasn't the only music influence in these grooves.  Blues, folk, horn-rock, sensitive singer-songwriter were all scattered across the eight selections.  Exemplified by tracks like the opener 'Multilevular Conversational Tightrope Walkin' Shoes' and the single 'There's One Kind Favor', Cohen certainly had a big and powerful voice. At the same time her delivery was kind of stilted and her vibrato could be irritating.  With Cohen grabbing most of the spotlight there wasn't a great deal to be said about the rest of the band.  They were certainly competent, but producer Shorter didn't take much advantage of their talents, frequently adding horns, percussion and strings to the tracks.  It was also funny that with three guitarists in Betz, Lynne and Williamson, there wasn't a great deal of fret board fireworks to be heard. Too inconsistent to be highly recommended, but worth a spin for anyone who can find a cheap copy.

"Street" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Multilevular Conversational Tightrope Walkin' Shoes (Judy Fine) - 3:19 rating: *** stars

Penned by folk singer Judy Fine, you'd be hard pressed to find a song title that screamed '60s more than this one.  It wasn't the most tuneful track you've ever encountered, but it was fun hearing Cohen fight her way through the title refrain.  Opening up with some nifty guitar chords, 'Multilevular Conversational Tightrope Walkin' Shoes' served to highlight Cohen's powerful wail of a voice.  She certainly had the power of Janis Joplin, but without some of Joplin's excesses. Nice opener.

2.) Boeing 707 (Rick Shorter) - 3:15  rating: *** stars

Penned by producer Shorter, 'Boeing 707' was one of the album's most commercial performances.  Funny hearing a New York band singing about traveling from San Francisco.  The song would have been even better without the distracting horn arrangement and the random percussion.

3.) Some Thoughts Of A Young Man's Girl (Rick Shorter) -  2:53 rating; ** stars

Opening up with some pretty acoustic guitar, the ballad 'Some Thoughts Of A Young Man's Girl' deserved notice for Shorter's not-so-subtle anti-war lyrics.  Yeah, it was a bit on the fey side.

4.) Medley - 5:55

The opening segment sounded like a Gregorian chant recorded for a B movie slasher flick.

  a.)  If I Needed Someone (George Harrison)  rating: *** stars

You had to wait a minute for the Harrison tune to emerge.  The melody was there, but cloaked in a folk-rock arrangement and Cohen's floating voice, it took a little effort to acclimate to their version of the song.  Different, but fascinating. 

  b.) Tomorrow's A Long, Long Time (Bob Dylan) rating; ** stars

About two and a half minutes in Dylan's tune took center stage.  Perhaps because Cohen's vibrato was center stage on this one, it didn't do a lot for me.  The Harrison tune reappears for the final minute.

(side 2)
1.) See See Rider (John Williamson  - Michael Lynne  - Rick Shorter) -  2:56  rating: **** stars

Seeing 'See See Rider' on the track listing I was expecting to hear a cover of the Ma Rainey blues classic.  Something along the Mitch Ryder version ...  Even though it was listed as a band original, the Ryder comparison was quite apt since this appears to be a cover of the Rainey tune.   Quite funky and it's nice to hear Cohen without the vibrato in her voice.

2.) What A Strange Town (Rick Shorter) - 6:04   rating: *** stars

'What a Strange Town' had the album's prettiest melody, but the lyrics, extended spoken word segments and sound effects (snoring, flushing toilets, babies, barking dogs, traffic, etc.) made this the album's weirdest performance.  

3.) It's Hard To Live On Promises (Rick Shorter) - 3:10  rating; * star

A heavily orchestrated folk number with group vocals, 'It's Hard To Live On Promises' sounded like something The Seekers, or The We Three might have recorded.  Dull and forgettable it sounded out of place on  the album.

4.) There's One Kind Favor (Anya Cohen - Rick Shorter) - 2:58 rating: **** stars

Previously released as a single, in spite of the horns, 'There's One Kind Favor' frequently draws comparisons to The Jefferson Airplane and in particular Grace Slick.  I certainly hear the Airplane comparison, but Cohen's arch voice actually reminds me of Grace Slick's predecessor the late Signe Toly Anderson.  Funny to hear a band sounding more like the Airplane than the Airplane.  LOL

5.) High Heel Sneakers (Robert Higginbotham) - 2:53 rating: **** stars

I have no idea how many acts have covered this song - The Faces, Tom Petty, The Rolling Stones, The Searchers, Stevie Wonder, etc.  So Street's rendition had plenty of competition and my expectations were pretty low.  SURPRISE !!!  They play it straight on this one and sound surprisingly strong - even the guitars (not sure who plays lead) sounded good on this one.  

The band continued playing New York city clubs like The Bitter End, Steve Paul's Scene, Wheels, etc. but album ales proved poor.  Dropped by Verve Forecast Shorter signed them to his own Traffic label, resulting in their second and final single:

- 1969's 'Apollo... Amen' b/w 'Why Concern Yourself' (Traffic catalog number TR-1001)

I'm not completely certain, but I believe Cohen passed on in September, 2022.  I found a brief online obituary that referenced The Wee Spot Coffee Shop, but nothing about her time with Street:: Obituary of Anna Cohen | Jennings Nulton & Mattle Funeral Home Inc ... (jenningsnultonmattlefh.com)

© Scott R. Blackerby September, 2024