what Frank is listening to #211 – COMPTON & BATTEAU – in California – (Columbia) – 1970
I didn't know anything about this band when I bought this album. The pastoral setting on the back and front and the year it came out persuaded me to part with my money.
As it turns out there is precious little of Messrs Compton & Batteau. They were however in the 60s group Appaloosa, and I have at least one of their albums in the pile behind me (unlistened to).
The entire allmusic entry for Compton & Batteau is: Guitarist John Parker Compton and violinist Robin Batteau were playing the coffeehouse circuit together in Cambridge during the late '60s before forming the band Appaloosa. Also including bassist David Reiser and cellist Eugene Rosov, Appaloosa was signed to Columbia Records in 1969, and had an LP on the shelves before the year was out. The Cambridge folk-influenced founding duo followed up their band's self-titled album with the 1970 recording, Compton & Batteau in California, before going their separate ways; Compton recorded a solo album, To Luna, the following year, and resurfaced in the '90s with some new recordings, while Batteau went on to play in a duo with his brother David Batteau, before joining the late-'70s band Pierce Arrow, then working as a studio musician.
This album has taken the obvious folk rock influences, added a few spoons of baroque pop, a dash of country, a pinch of rock, a touch of classical and a whole lot of singer–songwriter. This type of stew succeeds or fails on the strength of the song writing and here it is certainly above average, even memorable. Clearly the record executives entertained a project like this because of the success of other similar duos: "Simon & Garfunkel" and "Brewer & Shipley". Those comparisons will always exist but Compton & Batteau have written some disarmingly emotionally naked songs. The baroque pop songs sit nicely together with the pastoral themed songs. If you are looking for a pigeon hole… "folk baroque" is apt. (Folk Baroque – is a mix of folk and classical music or instruments normally used in classical music….see: Donovan, The Beatles, Gordon Lightfoot, Tom Rush, Nick Drake, Bobbie Gentry, and Tim Hardin)
What strikes me most about this album is that it sounds so contemporary though I acknowledge the contemporary music it sounds like is quite retro at times. This music could have been created by any number of alt country / Americana artists around today. Perhaps its not cynical enough and some of the rockier sounds and in-between track snippets are a little "1970" but the rest certainly fits in with todays sound. At least to my ears.
Robin Batteau plays guitar, violin and provides vocals and John Parker Compton provides guitar and lead vocals. The LP also features appearances from Jim Messina of Loggins & Messina on electric lead guitar, Rusty Young of Poco on pedal steel guitar and Randy Meisner of The Eagles on bass, King Errisson (Conga), Robin Lane (Vocals), Bill Elliott (Keyboards), John London (Bass), Patrick Shanahan (Drums), John Ware (Drums). The album is produced efficiently by Abner Spector.
Tracks (best in italics)
- Laughter Turns to Blue – a magnificent track and very contemporary. A slight "Lou Reed goes country" feel to it.
- Silk on Steel – nice …with effective violin ….
- Honeysuckle – wacka wacka Tony Joe White guitar with groovy lyrics very much like Simon and Garfunkel when they tackled uptempo rock tunes. Nothing wrong with that, though very much of it's time.
- Elevator – magnificent melancholy song reminiscent of (my favourite) David Ackles.
- Homesick Kid – another good song though not as good as the ones preceding it.
- Proposition – again …Lou Reed goes folk or country. It's not the pitch or the tone of the voice but the phrasing.
- Grotto Farm – nice piano and violin, elegant and understated …perfect with a wine.
- Essa Vanessa – nice harpsichord, tempo shifts, piano and organ …. you're not likely to hear anything like this today … the attention to detail is no doubt a result of Brian Wilson and The Beatles mini symphonies.
- Zephyr – a pleasant ballad.
- California – a big ballad by Compton and Batteau standards and fairly standard …. a narrative song rather than a personal lament or exposition. It is pleasant but doesn't really fit in with the rest of the album.
And…
This is top shelf quirky folk rock ….. I'm a keepin'.
Chart Action
nothing anywhere
Sounds
Laughter Turns to Blue
Honeysuckle
Elevator
attached
Grotto Farm
attached
Others
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Review
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Bio
Abner Spector
Website
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Trivia
- Robyn's brother David Batteau wrote many hit songs like Robert Palmer’s “Addicted to Love”
Other Comments
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Picture
back sleeve
(originally posted: 29/05/2011)
