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Blackwood Apology

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House Of Leather

                 



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Format: LP Gatefold     Want this on CD also?

Condition: VG+ COVER / VG+ LP (cover/media)    More Info
Label: Fontana SRF 67591
Country: Us
Released: 1968
Genre: psych
Num In Set: 1
Quantity: 1 in stock
Seller Ref:   2435

uni pack cover
You couldn't be blamed if you didn't believe the backstory on this one ...
Blackwood Apology was the product of Minnesota-based guitarist Dale Menten.   Menten had been a member of The Gesture who scored a big hit with their first single:
- 1964's 'Run, Run, Run' b/w 'It Seems To Me' (Soma catalog number 1417)
Somewhere in the ensuing long dark Minnesota nights Merten came up with the idea of a rock opera set in a Civil War era house of ill repute.   As if that concept wasn't strange enough, the whorehouse just happened to have a munitions plant in the basement, with the product being used to support Union war efforts.    To record his concept Menten recruited former Castaways members Dennis Caswell and Dennis Libby, along with bassist Ron Beckman and guitarist Tom Hustin, and keyboardist Bruce Pedalty.
second line-up
Menten and company somehow attracted the attention of Fontana Records which green-lighted the project.   Teamed with producer Skeet Bushor, "House of Leather" is definitely an acquired taste.   As mentioned, the album was intended as a concept, though having listened to it dozens of times over the years, I still don't have a clear understanding of the plotline, or the underlying themes.   I'll readily admit to my intellectual shallowness ...    Against that backdrop, I've been forced to enjoy the album for the musical content which bounced between Association-styled pop ('Sarah’s On Her Knees'), to acid-tinged hard rock moves ('Here I Am').   With Menten responsible for penning virtually the entire set, the song structure was too fragmented to make this a great album, but there were quite a few selections that stood on their own and were memorable.   One of the most interesting tunes, 'Time Marches On' sounded like a mash-up of The Association and Queen.   As mentioned, 'Here I Am' was the album's most conventional rocker and would have sounded good on an FM play list.   Kicked along by a melody Ron Beckman bass line, 'Death And Reality'   underscored Menten's knack for penning catchy melodies.
Be forewarned, this was one of those albums that didn't have an immediate impact on me.   I remember giving it a couple of spins; not thinking much of it, and actually selling two copies I had.   It wasn't until a couple of years later when I stumbled on a copy at a yard sale and decided to give it another shot that the album registered with me.   
"House of Leather" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Medley:      (Dale Menten) - 2:06
       i.) Swanee River Overture    rating: ** stars
Hum, The Association take on an American classic ...   What did I buy?
       ii.) House Of Leather Theme    rating: **** stars
And just when you started to wonder why you'd plunked down your hard earned cash for this obscurity, 'House of Leather' kicked in with a nifty dose of fuzz guitar, organ, and lysergic harmony vocals.    Much more like it.
2.) Do You Recall The House Of Leather?    (Dale Menten) - 2:47    rating: *** stars
Opening up with dome church organ and pretty acoustic guitar moves,, about a minute in the tune shifted into a distinctive Beach Boys direction.   Nice Menten lead guitar solo and wonderful harmony vocals which were apparently intended to clure you in that this was happening in a bordello..
3.) Recess With Mrs. Grim    (Dale Menten) - 1:03    rating: *** stars
Know idea how this fit into the plotline and the playground sound effects were a bit off-putting, but this one literally dripped with lysergic influences.
4.) Graduates Of Mrs. Grim’s Learning      (Dale Menten) - 3:10    rating: **** stars
Opening up with some surprisingly engaging jazzy guitar and organ moves, 'Graduates Of Mrs. Grim’s Learning' shifted into a fuzz powered ballad.   Once again, the lyrics didn't do much to clarify the plotline for me (I'm guessing the namesake was the bordello owner), but the tune was pretty rockiing.
5.) There Is Love In The Country (On The Donny Brooks Farm)    (Dale Menten) - 2:03    ratin

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Bad Cat Records

Bad Cat Records (Virginia, United States)

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