Yanoska - Yanoska (1969)

The 1st, eponymous record from Michael Yanoska was released on the Epic label on 1969 and has remained out-of-print since that initial edition. It's a fine record of period folk-rock with some nice melodies played well and pleasing (if not ground-breaking) lyrics sung with conviction and, at times, good humor.

Yanoska had previously recorded an lp as part of the Towne Hall Trio and has released a number of other records since the mid-90s. You can get his newest release from CD Baby here.

Here's the tracklist for this one:
Side A
1.May First
2.23 Years and Back
3.Somethin' I Can't Explain
4.California Sundown Queen
5.Song
6.To the Castle of Lord Tim
Side B
7.Don't Say Goodbye
8.Annette's Song
9.Go Down East
10.Today I Wrote a Song
11.Charlotte

Listen to this record here.

IN OTHER BLOG-RELATED NEWS:
For those of you who don't read through the comments...

John Campos, St. George from St. George & Tana, has posted some of his newer musical compositions on Youtube accompanying some bike racing footage.

Sundazed Records has released the first, previously unissued record from Smokey & His Sister--an excellent set of songs as good as the one posted here.

Stay tuned for at least 1 (maybe 2) new posts in January--next up is John Wood's Turn of the Century record released on Ranwood Records.

Cook E. Jarr - Pledging My Love (1969)

I had intended to rip and post this some time ago but just recently found another, quality rip (thanks to the great Tamara from the 1960s binaries news group) and decided I would post that rather than going another week without a post.

Cook E. Jarr's first album is a pleasant and at times soulful slice of pop music with full orchestral arrangments and occasional choruses. It may sound a bit overproduced to contemporary ears but Mr. Jarr sings it with feeling and generally has fun with the material. He also makes a fine selection of songs to cover including FOUR Tim Hardin compositions (his version of Red Balloon is my favorite track on the album) and versions of Knock on Wood, Pledging My Love, Do You Believe in Magic, and the title cut.

Cook E. Jarr currently resides in Las Vegas where he has a popular lounge act and the same haircut he featured on the cover of this album. He has two more recent CDs available on his Web site. Next time you're in Vegas you should check him out and if you like this give his new CDs Almost Grown & Old School, New School a listen.

You can hear this album here.

I will be back with one more post this month (the self-titled Epic records release from Yanoska) to keep up the new twice a month schedule. I'm also making an attempt to update the links list & have tracked down a number of great, new blogs to add there.