I was intending on posting the soundtrack to the 1969 exploitation flick, Angel, Angel Down We Go. A great soundtrack that I had just ripped. But on investigating further I found it was alread up at the 7 Black Notes blog (a great blog with many cool soundtracks for your entertainment). My philosophy is that there's no point duplicating efforts so I dug up this obscure folk-pop gem instead.
I can't tell you much about St. George or Tana or their sole lp release. They did but out a great record that reminds me of Jim & Jean (hopefully that reference isn't too obscure to be of help) or Smokey & His Sister (and even more obscure duo, who's album I may post sometime). Just listen & enjoy some pleasant vocal harmonies, slightly psychedelic moods, and some jangly guitars all right here at an updated link.
Comments, as always are welcome. I don't want to sound desperate here but I haven't gotten one yet. I was happy to see though that my Harry Matusow rip got a repost at the WFMU blog.
P.S., Got a better cover image. The cover (still) isn't included in the file I posted.
42 comments:
good to see you fixed the comments setting and nice one on getting spotted by wfmu..never heard this one though jim /jean and smokey resting on the shelves somewhere, nice to see them mentioned
finally comments :
great blog ! delectable music !
i added you in my links section
baron samedi
[http://new-blog-order.blogspot.com]
Thanks for all the positive feedback. And I'll reciprocate on the links (if I don't have you linked already).
This is one of the great coed duo LPs in my opinion. Their Daddy Rolling Stone kicks ass. Up there with Smokey and Sis, Blackburn and Snow, Leon and Malia, Jim and Jean, Friend and Lover, Good and Plenty.... Thanks!
The St George & Tana share is excellent. But forgive me for asking: what happened while ripping side one on this album? A cable mishap, I assume. Big pity because this is fine music. Many thanks for side 2 though. Cheers :)
Not sure I understand what the problem is with side one?
Side two has full sound and is a very good rip. Side one appears to have been ripped without proper amplification and hence has a flat and undeveloped/poor sound. This can happen when cables are wrongly connected etc. I don't know what happened.
It's a wonderful album though :)
Thank you so much you guy,
I'm John Campolongo aka St George.
Any questions?
We did kick ass, I wrote Big Daddy's Blues, although it might sound something like other tunes of the era.
I really liked Without your Heart - So Tenderly - and 313 Crabtree.
I could have done without the singers,
Richard and Mimi had just passed and I thought I could fill a void. I love his sound and wanted it for my own but Producers Huey and Kapp records saw Sonny and Cher. Chris aka Tana had a great voice and we really had a blend.
So Tenderly made it to #7 on the charts, and we were on the MTV of the day. Toured with 5th dimention, BJ thomas, Everly Bros, and such. A lot of free shows. Kapp wanted the rights to Big Daddys blues but I said 'No'. So I got back-shelved. We recorded in Columbia's studio A in Nashville with Wayne Moss and Charlie McCoy right after Blond on Blond & Simon and Garfunkle's PS&T.
My manager got to put his name on my tunes for food money. We broke up and I formed a band with guys from Blood Sweat and Tears - played the Filmore and Woodstock.
I am now a professional guitarist with an extensive original tune book that goes back 4 decades. I have played with everyone from Michael Brecker to Miles Davis. Look for me out there. I shortened my name to
John Campo, You might have seen me playing around town.
Thanks for the nice comments.
Hi John (aka St. George),
Glad you liked the post. And thanks for giving us some more background on the project. I know a lot of people have enjoyed the St. George & Tana album. I'm curious who owns the rights to the music now and whether there's been any attempts to reissue the record. Also, was there any more material recorded? What was the band with the Blood, Sweat & Tears members called? Did you record anything with them? Glad to hear that you're still involved in music. Are you a bassoon played--because I see a number of records with John Campo on bassoon?
Take care and thanks for a wonderful record.
Max
No I'm not the bassoon player.
I'm a writer, www.amazon.com/john Campo/Mysteries/on good days/missing tiger/ things dreams are made of/ Invitation...
John Campo the pro track cyclist www.Kissena.info/track www.fixedgearfever.com page27 and Campocat www.cyclehawk.com or www.nyvelocity.com www.flicker.com/kissenavelodrome.
My latest book addresses this subject of attempts to reissue the record. It will be called 'Ghost Dancer' and I'm planning it to be my last. So it will be a must read, to be released sometime next year. The first book -'Good Days' takes place at Seventh Ave. South the club that I built for the Brecker Bros. Michael's passed last week and he will be missed.
In my books I try to explain the whole ball of wax, about the music business and what it takes to live the life.
I had a lot of very famous people in the business in my corner over the years. Sidney Sidenburg,Sam Rivers,Dave Holland, Michael,Jaco,and many,many others. A reissue is possible and I for one hope it happens.
After Woodstock BS&T guys including myself formed a band called 666, I'm ashamed to say. You have to realize this was before heavy metal. We went of tour with the Stooges/MC5/LouReed but no recordings. After that I cut some really good sides for a production house here in NY. I still love those cuts.
We cut four more sides for Kapp and it was released as a singles. Buddy Holly's Everyday. I can't remember the others. You see I had a vision of something more exotic, and I devised a tuning basied on the Oud like Sandy Bull did. But I wrote songs and music for the tuning. That is the direction I wanted to go like the Books of Rythum and Rhyme cut on the album. It was great but Kapp wanted Bubblegum. We got somewhere in between with Huey Meaux, who I liked very much, but Kapp killed his mix. Took out all the bass and drums, and brought up the back up singers.
My Sister lives in Maryland and sent me stuff that has been curculating on the net about the album. That is what gave me the idea for the book. It seemed a perfect fit to my career and the roads I've traveled.
One of my side ventures is to teach and build guitars at Kelly Custom Guitars. www.carminestreetguitars.com
As you can see I'm really busy but music in the most important thing in my life, always has been,and alway will be. It is what make everything else possible.
Hey thanks again Max
Don't stop the music...
Sorry Max I could not post my name for some reason
john campo
As a mystery fan, I'll be sure to check out your books. I've found it suprising that there aren't more mysteries about the music industry (given what a cuthroat business it is)--I did read a good one recently, Blues for the Prince by Bart Spicer (written back in 1950 and about the death of a sort of Duke Ellingtonesque character). It is a shame that the other mix of St. George & Tana didn't make it to record or that you couldn't do some Sandy Bull tunings. I guess Kapp is not the label I would have expected a lot of experimentation from.
And, thank you again,
Max
Hey thanks I'm going to get that book.
You are spot on about the business, the best musicians in the world never get heard. That is why I write these books. I feel it is my calling, considering with I have seen, and the fact that I'm still relatively invisible. It is a place I can live with. My business partner is a very famous film maker and he can't walk out the door without getting hassled. I can remember what it felt like being a quazi rock star, and it wasn't my cup of tea.
There is a online company that puts old recordings on CD. I might look into it. Kapp and his Brother, Decca were top companies in their day. Things get fuzzy when too many people look at you as a big paycheck and have no feeling for what is current. That is how they saw us, not as having anything to do with music, but just a face they could mould into what they wanted. Once my tunes weren't an immediate success, they started pulling out stock stuff for us to sing that they had the rights too.... I can remember their A&R man telling me to just sing and put my guitar down. Things haven't changed much today. I only see faces out there now, without much substance, except for one or two. For an Artist it is hard walking around with a bag full of tunes trying to get someone to hear them. And it is a funny thing but the better you are as a soloist the more no one wants to have anything to do with you. It scares people I think.
I knew Debby Harry when she was in Wind in the Willows. We shared a summer home years ago. I'm happy for her, and one of my students plays lead guitar for her. Maybe if I gave Kapp the rights to Big Daddys Blues I could be playing it today too.
That is a scary thought...
Thanks for letting me ramble.
john campo
Hi John,
Thanks--I appreciate your rambles. Kapp put out some fine records--no doubt--but I sill think of them as very pop-oriented. They were not like ESP or even Elektra in giving artists wide range to experiment. What's sad is that major labels today are even more conservative in that regard. If you are interested and can get rights to your recording there are a number of labels out there that would probably be interested in reissuing the record, such as Rev-Ola (http://www.cherryred.co.uk/revola/index.htm) and Sundazed (http://www.sundazed.com/) come to mind.
Take care,
Max
Electra back in the day was the label
Or Vangard, Prestiege, or the old Blue Note. Kapp was sold to MCA. I think MCA is in the Sony package now. It is a great idea and I would love to do something, lets see what happens. Right now I have so much stuff I have writen and arranged.
check it out, everyone is a monster.
Eldorado-1969
It starts with a rif-1998
If you believe-1970
Don't look for trouble-1996
Timpennys tale-1968
Kiss my assets-1999
I'd rather be here-1997
Rain-1968-revised-1977
Slow spin-1977
Birds on wheels-1982
Up the clock-1983
Flibbertigibbet-1984
Cat melodian-1984
Truth or Verisimilitude-1990
Doodle-y-Squat-1986
Chyrtal Sunsets-1987
Rainbowology-1989
Carry a big stick-1973
Princess-1976
Black cycle-1975
Tchachmecaloon-1988
The colors of Jade-2000
Fancy Nancy-2001
One-L-Michele-1980
Up a rope-2002
The squirt-2003
Take a pull-2000
The sky is falling-2007
Hangin' with the Rick-2005
Just be nice-2000
Tuti Exotica-2007
Moe's clothes-1972
New cycle sumba-1980
Calypso for the man-1989
Down time-1980
Los Hombre's-1970
At least the album was out there.
This stuff is just another world learning and growing with your craft.
Ramond Chandler said 'In everything that can be called art there is a quality of redemption'.
Yeats - Truth doesn't exist unless sought after.
I'm hoping there is a plan in the universe for my lookning?
Best Campocat
I REALLY love this album! It's fantastic.....
thanks Micheal
I still have a Stereo copy and a few singles. I'm going to transfer them to CD eventually.
jcampo
Max, Your site is so extensive it is incredible. I just wanted to hip you to a group I loved back in the day. 'Fear Itself' I knew them and worked with them. My Tana had a great voice but Ellen was scary strong. I loved women that had that quality in their voice. Judy Hensky comes to mind. Check it out if you can, I still have their album. jcampo
Hi John,
I'm very happy you like the blog. I've heard the Fear Itself record and it is excellent--it was reissued on CD last year by a German label. Some of Ellen McIlwaine's solo stuff is also very good although more straight-ahead blues. Also a big fan of Judy Henske (especially the stuff she did with Jerry Yester).
Can I once again express how much I love this album ? I LOVE YOUR SITE! It is right up there with soul-sides.com for me.. You guys are excellent!!!
Hi Michael,
It is a great record & I'm glad you're enjoying the blog.
Max - John Campo here I read Prince is Dead - It was very nice.
Although it was written 50 years ago it was not dated too heavily
in the Detective style and could have been written today. I liked the references to music and lifestyle. His observations on the issues of the day as far as who was playing the real stuff and who was faking it were right on. It was very similar to my books.
thanks jc aka st george
hi
John
Just saw Neil and Mark about 3 weeks ago at Aunt Tut's house I'm your Uncle Albert's son, Al, just wanted to drop in and say hello.
Is this little Phillip? call me...
those bone heads got my number...
send my love to my Aunt's and Uncle's and your sister - especially Tootsy.
I'm playing at Paula's Rigoletto
in Weehaukeen on Park Place this Sunday 5/10/07
best
the campocat
John
I'm your cousin Al. We'd like to see you but the next weekends are busy. Hope we can view your schedule to check you out somewhere else another time. would like to catch up with you, if just to hear your music,talk about the family and what we're up to.It's funny I was just telling my wife about when you were on the clay cole show and started going online to check.It was interesting to see all the info on you and we checked out "so tenderly" on youtube.It was good for my kids to see the family they don't know, they really enjoyed hearing about you.. How can we keep up with your schedule? In the meantime, we'll call toot and get your number. You wouldn't believe the food she cooked when we went to see her!!!Let's keep in touch- Al
Well Max I finally got to hear the album through a very kind person in South Carolina who down loaded it for me. I can't believe the work that went into that album and I was just 17 years old. It seems that I had lived several lives up to that point already. I am very proud of the work I did. I think if I would have been given the opportunity to have done it without the big production arrangments maybe it would have gone on to the group it was intended for. Even Shadow of your Smile when done alone as a ballad on acoustic guitar would have had the intended quality. The musicians were wonderful and they had just finished award winning albums for Bob Dylan and Paul Simon so you can't be displeased with their efforts. All and All 40 years later I think it is incredible work.
thanks Max
jc
Hi John,
I didn't realize you weren't able to download this--otherwise I would have sent a CDR with the files--but I'm glad you got to listen. You should certainly be proud of the album. It holds up remarkably well all these years later and certainly sounds like the work of someone more mature than 17. I'm glad I've been able to turn others unto a record that should have gotten a CD release by now.
Max you are the best and you have a remarkable site here.
thanks so much
jc
st george
Okay I finally got something posted on YouTube under Campocat, from Michael Mahesh.
Not originals as of yet but 5 tunes with a student of mine. Hope everyone you like it.
It is played against some of the bike racing I'm involved in but at least it is a start. Hope to be able to post more soon.
jc/st george
Sundaze records in London had contacted me and wanted to release a new CD. But I have not hear again from them after that one phone call.????
I wrote a mystery book with the Album being the catalyst. I am on youtube reading from it - it is called Ghost Dancer. check it out guys...
Please reconsider your post of "
Angel, Angel, Down We Go".
This would be most appreciated by those who have looked anew, and find it nowhere available now.
Thanks again!
Hi Anomia,
Someone already asked for a post of the Angel, Angel soundtrack & I said I would get to it sometime. My recording of it was lost when I had a hard drive fail, so I have to re-record. I'm afraid I have some other posts I want to put up first but in a few months time it will probably be posted.
Hey there, just stumbled onto your site. Tana is my Aunt Christina!! I came across this album, and promo pictures while going through my mothers belongings after she passed. My mother (Marilyn) was Tana's big sister!! I loved these songs as a little girl, and after finding them online, It brought be back to the 1960's!! So cool hearing these songs after all these years!
Try this scan...
http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/Mario59_2007/?action=view¤t=stgeorge002.jpg
here's the back...
http://s206.photobucket.com/albums/bb53/Mario59_2007/?action=view¤t=stgeorge001.jpg
Hi Jackie this is St George I'd like to speak to you if I may email me at bowerystarz@nyc.rr.com please
It is Ok Jackie - Christina called me
Won this LP by calling a Boston radio station mid 60's? It was a promo.
Never knew anything of the Artists or have heard anything since. Great songs ! Glad others remember also
KJ
Hello, it's 2015 and I'm posting from Amsterdam (the Netherlands). St.George & Tana are filling my room. I love the album. I bought it (here in Amsterdam) some 20-25 years ago in a secondhand store. And because I was collecting singles, I later bought Big Daddy's Blues c/w Everyday (Kapp K-852), a single that was 'edited' in The Netherlands by Negram (a Dutch recordlabel). I guess this singles is very rare. My favourite songs: High Flying Bird, Cold Nights and Pepper Soup, Without your Heart, Rocky Road and Sorry 'bout that.
Sharp, mingling voices, very clear guitarplaying, a perfect production and mix.
I love it and I can't hardly understand why the album isn't more appreciated.
Now and then I look for information about them, and that's how I got to this site. Greeting to all you readers and musiclovers !
Eddy Raymann
Thank you Eddy Raymann I am St George I wrote most of the songs on the album. I'm so glad you liked it. It was a big part of my life. I still use the same format in my performances that is I sprinkle a few songs I like in with my own material. You can find what I'm up to on Campocat@youtube.com
I have some tunes on iTunes too under Vagabond velonators John Campo / The one getting the most play is 'The Worm"
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