A little proggy & classic rock, with a dash of pop and hauntingly catchy melodies! So, what the hell were they doing on a label with the Allman Brothers, Grinderswitch, and the Marshall Tucker Band?
Just found this write up. Fantastic! Thank you very much. We are engulfaudio a high end audio store in Fairhope AL. I'm playing the album as we speak. They were my favorite in 9th grade and beyond. Again, thank you, much appreciated 👍
Thanks, Robert! Glad you dropped in! They were somethin'! As a high end audio store, I'd love to hear their vinyl on a bitchin' system! Some of the band wanted to grab the first offer that came (hence, Capricorn), the others could see the non-match the label would be for "their kind"! Really a pity. ANY other label, it'd be interesting to see how they'd-a fared with proper promo and true understanding from top to bottom of the company.
Capricorn, at the time, was distributed by Warner Bros. The Bunny shoulda stepped in and saved them from a death worse than fate! Feel free to hop around, Robert! Plenty of other finds (new and familiar), I'm sure, await you, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!--Brad
Oh, the list is long, Jo! Led Zep, live in 1970 kicked it all off! But, White Witch opening for Alice Cooper was an early theatrical rock linchpin! Peter Gabriel fronting Genesis in '74 was another must-see (so I did)! Feel free ('cause it's not behind a paywall!) to see if I got Pete's autograph: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/paper-plate-peter-gabriel-offers
I'm picturing myself as you as a high school junior and it's all a blur cause I'm really stoned. I mean me as you is/are really stoned. First impression is that White Witch can pull off a lot of different styles. The first two songs were a bit too hippie/psychedelic for me. But "Don't Close Your Mind," I really liked. Moments of it made me think of Jack White. And "You're the One" is lovely. I'm playing it now as I type. I like when they layer the vocals and the band sings backup. I love discovering gems like this! I'll give it all a couple more listens and see if other impressions arise. I dig the jazzy elements of "Sleepwalk" and the organ and guitar solos are great.
By the way -- I wrote that post before I heard (or even saw) the song "It's So Nice to be Stoned." Which is a freaking great song. I can't believe it hadn't become a worldwide hit. It's further proof as to how unpigeonholable White Witch was.
Thanks for all this! I'm glad you mentioned "It's So Nice...." Irony of ironies, I spent my entire teen years never smoking....anything! A year or two before, when Sabbath came with "Masters of Reality," their "Sweet Leaf" I thought was incredible....but, it didn't occur to me that it was about marahoochi! I just didn't care (plus, as I think is well-known, now, about me....I rarely focus on a song's lyrics...they're all just part of the sonic experience for me. I don't sit around and try to decipher what any songwriter was trying to "say"!
While I was entranced by the sonic assault of "Sweet Leaf," I imagine other teens, loaded, were just going, "Oh, wow! They're singing about weed, man! Cool!" and "Huh, oh, hey wait, they've got a guitar on this song!"
So, while, needless to say, I care little about the similarly themed WW song, I much prefer, really, just the first side!! But, I'm glad you like it! I'll pass along your Jack White reference; I see one of his remote, Third Man Records A&R cats almost daily!
I was like you, but for alcohol. I didn’t have my first drink until I was over 21. Not because I was a rule follower, but because most of my friends drank beer and I hated the taste. I was turned onto the magic weed at the precocious age of 12. I used to joke that I got high at my bar-mitzvah. I didn’t but only due to me being too busy and surrounded by adults the whole time.
I actually liked the whole album by WW. My favorite songs might be on side A, but the first two songs are my least favorite, so I’m leaning toward side B if forced to choose.
Thanks! This project has, of course, led me to re-listen a few times....the first time in decades, I might add, and a couple Side Two tunes have become new faves after being re-acquainted!
As for booze, again, I couldn't care less...certainly then. Hated the taste of beer, too, and didn't have a cocktail til early 20s (MY early 20s, not the decade a century ago...for new readers!), and even then, I acted a fool at some bar..."So, what's a this, what's a that?" I had no clue how different boozes tasted...I just knew the words: gin, whiskey, etc.
I finally settled on a screwdriver, but ONLY after I discovered it had orange juice! Finally, a drink I recognize!! Man, was I 🔳!
Picture yourself as a junior in high school, what I was when I first heard it, week of release '72! At the time, I was all in on Genesis, Sabbath, Alice (Cooper, not In Chains), Mott, T. Rex, etc. Just trying to help with perspective....thanks. I look forward! I value your opinion, however you lean!
Just found this write up. Fantastic! Thank you very much. We are engulfaudio a high end audio store in Fairhope AL. I'm playing the album as we speak. They were my favorite in 9th grade and beyond. Again, thank you, much appreciated 👍
Thanks, Robert! Glad you dropped in! They were somethin'! As a high end audio store, I'd love to hear their vinyl on a bitchin' system! Some of the band wanted to grab the first offer that came (hence, Capricorn), the others could see the non-match the label would be for "their kind"! Really a pity. ANY other label, it'd be interesting to see how they'd-a fared with proper promo and true understanding from top to bottom of the company.
Capricorn, at the time, was distributed by Warner Bros. The Bunny shoulda stepped in and saved them from a death worse than fate! Feel free to hop around, Robert! Plenty of other finds (new and familiar), I'm sure, await you, FRONT ROW & BACKSTAGE!--Brad
You saw them in '72? How cool is that! Thanks for the write-up on these guys, i learnt something new today.
Oh, the list is long, Jo! Led Zep, live in 1970 kicked it all off! But, White Witch opening for Alice Cooper was an early theatrical rock linchpin! Peter Gabriel fronting Genesis in '74 was another must-see (so I did)! Feel free ('cause it's not behind a paywall!) to see if I got Pete's autograph: https://bradkyle.substack.com/p/paper-plate-peter-gabriel-offers
I'm picturing myself as you as a high school junior and it's all a blur cause I'm really stoned. I mean me as you is/are really stoned. First impression is that White Witch can pull off a lot of different styles. The first two songs were a bit too hippie/psychedelic for me. But "Don't Close Your Mind," I really liked. Moments of it made me think of Jack White. And "You're the One" is lovely. I'm playing it now as I type. I like when they layer the vocals and the band sings backup. I love discovering gems like this! I'll give it all a couple more listens and see if other impressions arise. I dig the jazzy elements of "Sleepwalk" and the organ and guitar solos are great.
By the way -- I wrote that post before I heard (or even saw) the song "It's So Nice to be Stoned." Which is a freaking great song. I can't believe it hadn't become a worldwide hit. It's further proof as to how unpigeonholable White Witch was.
Thanks for all this! I'm glad you mentioned "It's So Nice...." Irony of ironies, I spent my entire teen years never smoking....anything! A year or two before, when Sabbath came with "Masters of Reality," their "Sweet Leaf" I thought was incredible....but, it didn't occur to me that it was about marahoochi! I just didn't care (plus, as I think is well-known, now, about me....I rarely focus on a song's lyrics...they're all just part of the sonic experience for me. I don't sit around and try to decipher what any songwriter was trying to "say"!
While I was entranced by the sonic assault of "Sweet Leaf," I imagine other teens, loaded, were just going, "Oh, wow! They're singing about weed, man! Cool!" and "Huh, oh, hey wait, they've got a guitar on this song!"
So, while, needless to say, I care little about the similarly themed WW song, I much prefer, really, just the first side!! But, I'm glad you like it! I'll pass along your Jack White reference; I see one of his remote, Third Man Records A&R cats almost daily!
I was like you, but for alcohol. I didn’t have my first drink until I was over 21. Not because I was a rule follower, but because most of my friends drank beer and I hated the taste. I was turned onto the magic weed at the precocious age of 12. I used to joke that I got high at my bar-mitzvah. I didn’t but only due to me being too busy and surrounded by adults the whole time.
I actually liked the whole album by WW. My favorite songs might be on side A, but the first two songs are my least favorite, so I’m leaning toward side B if forced to choose.
Thanks! This project has, of course, led me to re-listen a few times....the first time in decades, I might add, and a couple Side Two tunes have become new faves after being re-acquainted!
As for booze, again, I couldn't care less...certainly then. Hated the taste of beer, too, and didn't have a cocktail til early 20s (MY early 20s, not the decade a century ago...for new readers!), and even then, I acted a fool at some bar..."So, what's a this, what's a that?" I had no clue how different boozes tasted...I just knew the words: gin, whiskey, etc.
I finally settled on a screwdriver, but ONLY after I discovered it had orange juice! Finally, a drink I recognize!! Man, was I 🔳!
Excellent and in depth piece! I had never heard of them or any of their affiliate bands. I always learn a lot from these audio autopsies!
Thanks, Steve! If you find the time, after listening, I'd be interested in hearing whatcha think of WW!🧹
I will! I have been out all day without headphones or in places where I can play audio, so expect an opinion tonight or tomorrow...:)
Picture yourself as a junior in high school, what I was when I first heard it, week of release '72! At the time, I was all in on Genesis, Sabbath, Alice (Cooper, not In Chains), Mott, T. Rex, etc. Just trying to help with perspective....thanks. I look forward! I value your opinion, however you lean!
Gotta love that theremin edginess in a band!