what Frank is listening to #57- BREWER & SHIPLEY – Down in L.A. (A&M) – 1968
Brewer & Shipley are mainly known for their #10 1971 hit "One Toke Over the Line", and also for the fact that the song was banned in places due to its marijuana references.
Brewer & Shipley were both folkies from the Midwest, living in LA, who decided to join up and "electrify". The music was, perhaps, a more "harder", more counter culture version of "Simon & Garfunkel" rooted in the west-coast folk rock boom. So, they really bridged the gap between gentle folk (Simon & Garfunkel, The Mamas and the Papas) and electric folk (The Byrds, The Youngbloods, Buffalo Springfield).
And, they were certainly respected by their peers as they have been covered quite a bit:
Bio:
This album is their first and is a product of its times but if you don't mind the "times" then it is pleasant enough. Luckily, the utopian hippie aspects have been played down and the "cynical" folk rock has been brought forward. Perhaps, because of their folk backgrounds, the songs are more questioning of their times though certainly not pointed like Phil Ochs etc. The album is certainly well played as tBrewer & Shipley are backed by stellar L.A. session men (most of them from the group loosely known as "The Wrecking Crew"):
- Hal Blaine – drums – played with everyone including Elvis.
- Nick DeCaro – strings & horns – Johnny Cash, Gordon Lightfoot, James Taylor, etc .
- Jim Gordon – drums – Derek & The Dominos and session musician for The Byrds, The Beach Boys, Eric Clapton, Joe Cocker, Traffic, Frank Zappa etc.
- Milt Holland – percussion – Loggins & Messina, Poco, Little Feet, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Ringo, Art Garfunkel & others.
- Mike Melvoin – organ – The Beach Boys (Pet Sounds & Good Vibrations), Frank Sinatra, The Jackson Five, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles, Lou Rawls, Bonnie Raitt, Peggy Lee, Joe Williams, Billy Ekstine, Barry Manilow, Pat Boone, The Four Freshmen, Jon Davidson, The Partridge Family, Tom Waits, Jim Messina – bass – Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Loggins & Messina.
- Joe Osborn – bass – Rick Nelson, Johnny Rivers and far too many other artists to list.
- Lyle Ritz – bass – session musician for far too many artists to list.
- Leon Russell – electric piano & organ – Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, Edgar Winter, George Harrison, Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, John Lennon, J.J. Cale, Bruce Hornsby, B.B. King, Freddie King, Rita Coolidge, Gram Parsons, Barbra Streisand, Ike & Tina Turner, Ricky Nelson, Herb Alpert, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Dean Martin, Marvin Gaye, Dave Mason, Steve Winwood, Delaney & Bonnie and Friends, The Monkees, The Ventures, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Jan & Dean, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Paul Revere & The Raiders, The Rolling Stones, The Ronettes, The Crystals, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Everly Brothers, The Righteous Brothers, The Flying Burrito Brothers, and others.
- Lance Wakely – electric guitar & harp.
Any number of these songs could have appeared on a Byrds album (circa 1966). The instrumentation is certainly lush as well and there is little trace of the country influences that appears in their later music. This album fits in well with "Circus Maximus" and even some "Electric Prunes". The only problem is that over the course of an album the music is a bit samey … but hey, like I said that's not a problem if you are in tune (sic) with Brewer & Shipley, or the late 60s generally.
The best tracks:
- Truly Right
- She Thinks She is a Woman
- Green Bamboo
- Dreamin in the Shade (Down in L.A)
I think I may tape a few songs and chuck this (literally – the record barely made it to the turntable as it is that scratched) but it also actually grows on me … the maybe pile (again – groan – that pile is getting way to big)
Cultural references – from wikipedia: "In the first chapter of Hunter S. Thompson's novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream, Raoul Duke's attorney, Dr. Gonzo, sings the line "One toke over the line, sweet Jesus, one toke over the line" while the two of them drive from Barstow to Las Vegas".
Sound:
the record is really scratchy
Green Bamboo
Dreamin in the Shade (Down in L.A)
"one toke over the line" was covered early on – on the Lawrence Welk show – it was assumed it was a "gospel/spiritual" song
original:
cover:
Website: (one of the most thorough fan sites I have seen)
(originally posted: 4/07/2009)
