line up 1 (1968-69)

- Dennis Croce -- vocals 

- Richard Croce -- guitar

- Kurt -- lights, sound 

- Chuck Maher -- bass

- Ralph Muscatelli -- percussion

- Reggie Wright -- lead guitar

- none known

Genre: rock

Rating: 3 stars ***

Title:  Yesterday's Children

Company: Map City

Catalog: MAP-3012

Year: 1969

Country/State: US

Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+

Comments: --

Available:  SOLD

Catalog ID: SOLD15721

Price: SOLD $200.00

I found this one at a community sale, but until I started seeing some outrageous asking prices on dealer lists and on eBay, it had never advanced past my 'to listen to' pile.  Shame on me since "Yesterday's Children" offers up an above average slice of early-1970s hard rock.

I'd love to know more about these guys.  Fronted by brothers Dennis (vocals) and Richard (guitar) Croce, they were apparently from Connecticut and even though their album was released in 1969, cut their first sides back in 1966.  Signed and released by London's Parrot subsidiary, they debuted with a pair of garage rockers that are supposedly quite good - To Be or Not To Be' b/w 'Baby I Want You' (Parrot catalog number 314).

First a word of warning - if you're looking for musical sophistication and complexity, this ain't the place to start ...  

Three years later the band reappeared on the New York-based Map City label.  Co-produce by Warren Schatz and Stephen Schlaks, I've seen "Yesterday's Children" touted as being a psych masterpiece, but the truth of the matter is that original material like 'Paranoia', 'She's Easy' and 'Providence Bummer' are better described as straight ahead hard rock.  Certainly quality early-1970s hard rock, but nevertheless hard rock.  Dennis Croce's screeching voice certainly packed a wallop and at least to my ears on tracks like 'Sad Born Loser' he occasionally recalled AC/DC's Bon Scott - particularly when he went for the throat tearing high notes.  The hard rock comparison was also underscored by the twin lead guitars (courtesy of Richard Croce and Reggie Wright).  The pair added a nifty melodic edge to tracks like 'Sailing' and the band's surprisingly light cover of Wilkinson Tricycle's 'What of I'.   Interestingly Map City picked the two non-originals as a single: the previously mentioned 'What Of I' b/w a cover of Spooky Tooth's 'Evil Woman' (Map City catalog number 304).  (Elsewhere, Michael Kanarek was credited with the cool cover art.)

"Yesterday's Children" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Paranoia   (Dennis Croce - Richard Croce - Chuck Maher - Reggie Wright - Ralph Muscatelli) - 4:34

2.) Sad Born Loser   (Dennis Croce - Richard Croce - Chuck Maher - Reggie Wright - Ralph Muscatelli) - 4:22

3.) What of I   (Richard Porter) - 3:55

4.) She's Easy   (Dennis Croce - Richard Croce - Chuck Maher - Reggie Wright - Ralph Muscatelli) - 6:36

(side 2)
1.) Sailing   (Dennis Croce - Richard Croce - Chuck Maher - Reggie Wright - Ralph Muscatelli) - 7:30

2.) Providence Bummer   (Dennis Croce - Richard Croce - Chuck Maher - Reggie Wright - Ralph Muscatelli) - 4:03

3.) Evil Woman   (Larry Weiss) - 3:10

4.) Hunter's Moon   (Dennis Croce - Richard Croce - Chuck Maher - Reggie Wright - Ralph Muscatelli) - 6:10