T.I.M.E. (Trust In Men Everywhere)
Band members Related acts
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line up 1 (1968) - Larry Byrom -- lead guitar - Bill Richardson -- lead guitar - Steve Rumph -- drums, percussion - Nick St. Nicholas (aka Klaus Karl Kassbaum) -- bass
line up 2 (1968-69) - Larry Byrom -- lead guitar NEW - Pat Couchois -- drums, percussion (replaced Steve Rumph) - Bill Richardson -- lead guitar NEW - Richard Tepp (RIP 2004) -- bass (replaced Nick St. Nicholas)
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- Blue Cheer Nick St. Nicholas) - Couchois (Pat Couchois) - The Emeralds (Richard Tepp) - The Epics (Nick St. Nicholas) - Funky Communications Committee (Larry Bryom) - The Hardtimes (Larry Byrom and Bill Richardson) - Jack London and the Sparrows (Nick St. Nicholas - Lonewolf (Nick St. Nicholas) - The Mynah Birds (Nick St. Nicholas) - The Mystic Soul Bubbas (Larry Bryom) - The Original Kounts (Richard Tepp) - The Precious Few (Larry Byrom and Pat Couchois) - Ratchell (Lee Byrom and Pat Couchois) - Richard and the Young Lions (Richard Tepp) - Roll the Dice (Pat Couchois) - Salt and Pepper (Steve Rumph) - The Shocking Pinks (Larry Bryom) - The Sparrows (Nick St. Nicholas) - Nick St. Nicholas (solo efforts) - Starwolf (Nick St. Nicholas) - Steppenwolf (Bill Richardson and Nick St. Nicholas) - Swampland (Larry Byrom) - Vinyl Kings (Larry Bryom) - World Class Rockers (Nick St. Nicholas)
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Genre: psych Rating: 3 stars *** Title: T.I.M.E. Company: Liberty Catalog: Country/State: San Francisco Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold, die cut cover; plastic cover intact; minor ring wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: 6331 Price: $40.00
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Guitarists Larry Byrom and Bill Richardson had previously been members of San Diego-based The Hardtimes who over the 1966 - 68 timeframe managed to release a series of five singles and one interesting LP (1968's "Blew Mind" World Pacific catalog number WPS 21867), before calling it quits.
Relocating
to Los Angeles, Byrom and Richardson wasted little time forming their next
band - Trust In Men Everywhere (wisely abbreviated to T.I.M.E.).
Recruiting drummer Steve
Rumph and former Jack London and the Sparrows bassist Nick St Nicholas the
quartet was quickly sign
"T.I.M.E." track listing: 1.) Tripping Into Sunshine (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 2:20 rating: **** stars Opening up with some sustained guitar feedback, 'Tripping Into Sunshine' quickly shifted gears into a more commercial direction. Yeah, the track retained had a heavy psychedelic feel, but that edge was balanced out by some unexpectedly sunny harmony vocals. Imagine The Mamas and the Papas having decided to record a truly heavy psych tune. 2.) Label It Love (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 2:28 'Label It Love' sported a totally unexpected Western influence ... seriously. Complete with Spanish-flavored acoustic guitars and percussion, this rollicking rocker was great. Every time I listen to it I think of zonked out cowboys. rating: **** stars 3.) Finders Keepers (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 3:13 rating: **** stars More fuzz guitar and a pounding,, almost soulful beat, gave 'Finders Keepers' a nifty blue-eyed soul feel, though the abrupt time shifts were disconcerting and detracted from the overall feel. The song highlight was the brief Beatles-styled jangle guitar solo. 4.) Love You Cherish You (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 2:32 rating: * star 'Love You Cherish You' found the band shifting gears into lounge act crooner territory. It wasn't much to be excited about, but the highlight came in the form of St. Nicholas' short bass solo. The song was so bad it was almost worth listening to. No idea if these guys played live, but easy to imagine screaming women fans if they played this one. 5.) Make It Alright (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 2:02 rating: **** stars Complete with a Dylan-styled harmonica solo and some Beatles-styled harmony vocals, 'Make It Alright' had a distinctive folk-rock feel. Much more 1965 than 1968, but catchy and fun and easy to see why Liberty tapped it as the leadoff single:
- 1968's 'Make It Alright' b/w 'Take Me Along' (Liberty catalog number 56020)
6.) Let the Colors Keep On (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 2:11 rating: **** stars Again, it sounded more 1965 than 1968, but 'Let the Colors Keep On' offered up a wonderful slice of sunshine pop. Easy to imagine a group like Spanky and Our Gang having covered this one.
(side
2) Side two started with my choice for the set's the best performance - the fuzz guitar propelled rocker 'You Changed It All'. Great tune with nice blend of commercial melody, shiny harmony vocals and a tougher rock edge. Should have been tapped as a single. rating: **** stars 2.) I Really Love You (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 3:38 rating: **** stars A reflective, slightly acid-tinged ballad, showcasing some of the Byrom's prettiest guitar work, 'I Really Love You' was another highpoint. 3.) Make Love To You (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 3:37 rating: **** stars Another personal favorite and the album's hardest rocking performance, 'Make Love To You' probably came the closest to showing some degree of originality. Nice, driving melody with more than a hint of Beatles influences and one of the few tracks with a distinctive lead vocal, though I don't have a clue who handled the lead vocals. 4.) I Can't Find It (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 2:57 rating: ** stars Kicked along by St Nicholas' impressive fuzz bass and some uncredited jazzy electric piano, 'I Can't Find It' was another track that had a Mamas and the Papas feel to it. Pleasant, but a touch on the campy side and not essential. 5.) What Can It Be (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 2:20 rating: ** stars Another folk-rock flavored ballad, 'What Can It Be' had a pretty, acoustic guitar-powered melody and some nice group harmonies. What it lacked was any shred of originality. 6.) Take Me Along (Larry Byrom - Bill Richardson - Steve Rumph - Nick St. Nicholas) - 3:07 rating: ** stars Propelled by some nice electric keyboards, 'Take Me Along' was another decent slice of sunshine-pop. The la-la-la-la chorus almost gave it a bubblegum flavor which may not appeal to some folks.
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Genre: psych Rating: 4 stars **** Title: Smooth Ball Company: Liberty Catalog: LST
7605 Country/State: San Francisco Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: gatefold sleeve; minor ring wear Available: 1 Catalog ID: 1332 Price: $80.00
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Following
the release of their 1968 debut album, the band Trist In Men Everywhere (aka
T.I.M.E.) underwent a major
personal upheaval with founding members
Larry Byrom and Bill Richardson jettisoning drummer Steve Rumph and bassist Nick St. Nicholas
in favor of drummer Pat Couchois and former Richard and the Young Lions
leader Richard Tepp. The revamped band returned to the studio with
producer Al Schmidt releasing their sophomore collection
"Smooth
Ball" track listing: 1.) Preparation G (instrumental) (Larry Byrom - Pat Couchois - William Richardson - Richard Tepp) - 1:53 rating: ** stars 'Preparation G' opened the album opened up with a brief. throwaway instrumental that sounded like someone caught lead guitarist Richardson tuning up for a recording session. Luckily the made the decision 'Preparation H' wasn't a title option .... 2.) Leavin' My Home (Pat Couchois - Richard Tepp) - 3:09 rating: *** stars 'Leavin' My Home' served to encapsulate the band's newer, heavier blues-rock sound. There was plenty of blazing lead guitar (Richardson actually turned in one of the album's better performances here), coupled with a great Richard Tepp bass line and a melody that was catchy and radio friendly, but still hard-assed enough to appeal to hipsters out there. 3.) See Me As I Am (Pat Couchois - Richard Tepp) - 5:49 rating: *** stars Opening up with heavily treated lead vocals 'See Me As I Am ' was an acid-tinged mid-tempo ballad that again showcased Richardson's lead guitar and some stabbing organ. One of their better psych tunes and when the effects were dropped it also had one of their better vocal performances (though I don't know who sang lead). 4.) I Think You'd Cry (Pat Couchois - Richard Tepp) - 4:23 rating: **** stars Hearing 'I Think You'd Cry' my initial thought was Richard Tepp and the band were lucky Motown didn't come after them for ripping off James Jameson's bass line on 'Get Ready'. When the pounding Hammond B-3 washes rolled in, the song sounded like a Vanilla Fudge outtake, evolving into one of the heavier blue-eyed soul numbers I've heard. It was also a nice example of how good their 'group' vocals could be. 5.) I'll Write a Song (William Richardson) - 4:20 rating: **** stars C'mon, more cowbell !!! Kicked along by some nice Richardson lead guitar (the acoustic solo was even better), 'I'll Write a Song' was side one's most commercial offering. It was still a 'heavy' track, but had one of those melodies that snuck into your head and wouldn't leave. I think Tepp handled the lead vocal, but whoever it was turned in one of the album's best performances. The vocals have always reminded me a bit of The Everly Brothers.
(side
2) An irresistible mix of pop and blues-rock moves complete with a piano solo that would have made Jerry Lee Lewis proud, 'Lazy Day Blues" was my pick for the album's standout performance. My only complaint was that the song was way too short ... 2.) Do You Feel It (Pat Couchois - Richard Tepp) - 2:32 rating: **** stars Opening up with some Allman brothers-styled twin lead guitar, 'Do You Feel It' was another personal favorite. Great hard rock tune that would have sounded fine on FM radio. Again, the song faded out just as it was starting to really kick ! 3.) Flowers (Larry Byrom - William Richardson) - 2:40 rating: **** stars 'Flowers' was a stark, but pretty, lysergic-tinged ballad with some of the album's best group vocals. As good as the fuzz guitar solos were, the song's secret weapon was the pretty keyboard figure intertwined in the background. 4.) Morning Came (Larry Byrom - William Richardson) - 9:59 rating: *** stars Clocking in at almost ten minutes, 'Morning Came' exemplified the band's newly discovered heavier side. Basically a showcase for guitarists Byrom and Richardson, this was one of those rare jam sessions that's actually worth hearing with the pair trotting out their full array of guitar effects while managing to keep it lively and entertaining. The 10 minutes went by quickly ... 5.) Trust In Men Everywhere (Larry Byrom ) - 5:05 rating: ***** stars A fuzz-guitar and effects laden ballad, 'Trust In Men Everywhere' managed to successfully meld their earlier psych-leanings with a heavy metal edge. Yeah, the lyrics left a bit to be desired, though the heavy phasing made much of it unintelligible. Regardless, it made for a track guitar players should appreciate.
For hardcore fans the band's recording catalog is rounded out by one non-LP 45 (that I've never heard)
- 1968's 'What Would Life Be without It' b/w 'Tripping Into Sunshine) (Liberty catalog number 56060).
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BACK TO BADCAT PAYMENT INFORMATION
ed by Liberty Records,. Teamed with producer
Joe Saraceno, they subsequently made their debut with 1968's cleverly-titled
"T.I.M.E.".
A musical timepiece, the album was quite diverse, including competent stabs
at a broad array of genres including blue-eyed soul, folk-rock, psych, and
plenty of sunshine-pop. Unfortunately, nothing here was particularly original,
making for one of those fun spot-the-influence collections. In fact,
driven by tracks like 'Make
It Alright',
'Let the Colors Keep On' and
'What
Can It Be' at times the collection sounded like it had been
recorded in 1965 rather than 1968. The band's other big problem
stemmed from the fact they didn't have a great singer. All four members
apparently sang, with
most of the tracks having kind if a group vocal feel that added to the
album's sense of anonymity. Exemplified by
songs like 'Tripping Into Sunshine' and 'You Changed It All' the results weren't bad, but with
a more distinctive lead vocalist, the results would have been far more
impressive. All of those criticisms aside, it was one of those albums
that's better than the sum of its parts. A truly fun collection that
simply screams 1960s vibe (good, bad, or indifferent)
"Smooth
Ball" in
1969. To my jaded ears the album was still instantly identifiable as a
T.I.M.E. product.
Newcomer Tepp had a strong voice, but he wasn't
consistently featured which meant the band still lacked a distinctive lead
singer. Elsewhere their already somewhat dated psych influenced edges
('See Me As I Am' and 'Trust In Men
Everywhere') would have easily fit on the debut album. At the other
end of the spectrum, largely penned by newcomers Couchois and Tepp, tracks
like 'Leavin' My Home', 'I Think You'd Cry', 'I'll Write a Song' and the
extended 'Morning Came' showcased a far heavier, blues-rock sound that made
it clear these guys had been listening to changing audience tastes.
Showcasing lots of fuzz guitar, including some Allman Brothers-styled moves
('Do You Feel It'), those heavier numbers were actually quite good, but as
was the case with the debut LP, the results often sounded like these guys
were following popular tastes rather than acting as innovators. For
my money the second album beats the crap out of the debut, but I only have
one vote. Sadly, the album failed to sell. The band kept
performing for awhile, but after Tepp was shot and almost killed during a
mugging, they seemingly called it quits.