"Sitting on McKenzie river...
listening to McKendree Spring.
Trying to get into heaven...
Trying to get into almost everything"
Pure Prairie League - You're Between Me
You're Between Me is one of my favorite PPL songs. It is off their 1st album, which I've owned since the mid 70's. Somewhere way back then, I came to understand that McKendree Spring wasn't a nature feature, it was a band. Which makes a lot more sense, because I can see listening to a waterfall, but a spring?
Anyway, I never had occasion to hear McKendree Spring back then, and for some reason it never really came to my mind in today's era of internet. So... not too long ago, I was at a used record store with my son, just browsing around on a rainy day, and flipping through the M's, I came across a McKendree Springs album. Well, I just had to pick it up.
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Artist: McKendree Spring
Album: 3
Released: 1972
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McKendree Spring is described on Wikipedia as "a progressive folk-rock band". Their web site says: "Experimental and innovative, McKendree Spring mixed blues, folk and country with a progressive musical vision."
It's pretty cool, not really like Pure Prairie League, but that wasn't exactly expected. Over 1/2 the album is covers, which is a little surprising for a band's 3rd album. It's not stunning, and not really shocked it wasn't huge. But it is solidly good, and I enjoy it..
It starts with a version of Neil Young's Down By The River... Mostly acoustic guitar and fiddle, built over strings. With some electric guitar soloing... Very different, but it works.
Fading Lady is a slow, sad song, which reminds me of The Eagles' Lying Eyes, more in tone than style... a song about a lady who marries for security, but ends up dissatisfied. Without the whole aduktry thing the Eagles used.... Again, it works...
Flying Dutchman is probably my favorite song on the record. A lot more "electric". Actually a fair bit more electric. We're not talking Deep Purple though.
These are my favorite 3 songs on the album, but it is all good. There's an interesting version of "Heart Like A Wheel", which was the Anna McGarrigle track better known by Linda Ronstadt's. And an Arlo Guthrie tune "Oh In The Morning".
The album closes with a 9 minute exposition, "God Bless The Conspiracy", which certainy fits the progrssive, experimental and innovative" category. Unfortunately, it's also my least favorite song on the album. To me, it seems a lot too random, incoherent. But hey, that's just me.
All in all, a solid 3.5 or 4 stars out of 5. Certainly worth picking up if you see it!
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