John Parker Compton was just a teenager when in the fall of 1968, he walked into Columbia Records and Al Kooper's office hoping to show the producer his songs. Uninterested, Mr. Kooper told him to come back some other time. A little later, he came in on Compton and his band mate, violinist Robin Batteau, performing their songs for the office secretaries. Al Kooper was won over and within a year the newly young, signed musicians had an album on a major record label. The
The music, described as Folk Baroque, was a stark contrast to the electric sounds of Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, The Who, and Ten Years After. Al Kooper produced, arranged and conducted the album Appaloosa, a style of music that combined rock with classical. Among other artists who were all arranging folk-oriented material with classical-influenced orchestration were Judy Collins, Donovan, and Tim Hardin who influenced Compton and was the subject of one of his later songs. The band Appaloosa was a group of Boston musicians John Parker Compton (19), singer and acoustic guitarist, Robin Batteau(21) on violin, Eugene Rosov on cello, and David Reiser (17) on electric bass. In addition to producing, Al Kooper played on several songs adding harpicord, organ, vibraphone, electric guitar, and temple blocks. Also contributing to the album were saxophonist Fred Lipsius and Blood, Sweat and Tears' drummer Bobby Columby. In my opinion it was the best chill you could get in 1969, and it still holds up 50 plus years later.
Compton and Batteau recorded one more album before going their separate ways. "In California" an album characterized as lazy West Coast sunshine. The album was recorded in 1971 and promptly fell into the abyss of wonderful, but overlooked recordings. Many of the tracks lean towards the cowboy balladry. The line-up a of guest artists included Randy Meisner (The Eagles, Poco) and Jim Messina (Loggins and Messina, Buffalo Springfield).
Appaloosa (1969)
Tulu Rogers
Thoughts of Polly
Feathers
Bi-Weekly
Glossolalia
Rivers Run to the Sea
Pascal's Paradox
Yesterday's Roads
Now That I Want You
Georgia Street
Rosalie
The Extras:
Elevator (Compton and Batteau 1970)
Laughter Turns to Blue(Unplugged 2005)
Act 60 Blues (Unplugged 2005)
Tim Harding Song (Never Gone 2005)
We hope you enjoy this mystery train.
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