The MG Album Club #36: Gypsy: Gypsy

[axolotl]

I was assigned the year 1970, one of the more momentous years in recording history.

I select the debut album of the band Gypsy.



See, there it is. It truly exists. It is not Band of Gypsies, not Gypsy Rose Lee, not Gypsy featuring Natalie Wood, not the Gipsy Kings, not "Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves." If you know any of the others, but not Gypsy, you are forgiven, if barely. Gypsy is one of those black hole bands that few ever heard in their time and in their prime, but it's high time to remedy that. At the height of hubris, their debut is a <GASP> double-set; Chicago was the only other band to pull off that shit.

If you don't believe me as to what an outstanding album this is, for some reason (but probably known to all of us), read the first few RYM reviews, or the dozens of effusive entries under the Amazon listing, or even this more middle-of-the-road review, which still gives : https://www.allmusic.com/album/gypsy-mw0000667224

Another reviewer sez:

I'm sure most of those who have heard this record regard it as one of the most spectacular debuts ever. It's the trifecta - great songwriting, strong singing and first-rate playing. Gypsy had a hint of Santana, a touch of Chicago , but ultimately a sound all its own, with a vocal blend that's sometimes R&B, sometimes folk-rock, all churning relentlessly forward. Great, great stuff.

I will always wonder why this band wasn't huge.

Some of these reviews might seem over-the-top, but... are they all that way?

I cannot find the debut album on Spotify, so I'll save Sam from the trouble of looking for it. Instead, it can be heard in all its splendiferousness, here:

If you want to know the names of the songs, go to the Youtube link, and they can be found, there.

If you want to learn a little more about the band, then looky here:

Gypsy Band Information

P.S. I can finally die with a big old smile on my face. You're welcome.

 

[Old Uncle Toe]

Bravo!

I just listened to this via the Youtube link. What a delightful album! I heard Chicago, Santana, Doobie Brothers, Blood, Sweat and Tears, mucho prog rock and more that I probably forgot. The dual guitars in track... uh, in one of the tracks - remind me of Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells, but I'm sure he wasn't the first to use those tones together.

This was just a delight to listen to. The band sounds really tight in their vocals, in the dual guitars and the arrangements in general. The organist is great.

And the production seems pretty decent. Of course, I'm listening on good, crappy headphones (i.e. "The fastest fat kid on the playground" as one of my kids would say). Even when they over-use the stereo separation it sounds fine. It's time-appropriate but not overdone.

I like how they drift from prog to R&B, to rock, and back around to start over again. They seem very comfortable in all of those genres and it didn't seem contrived when they shifted from one to another. And in that, I can't imagine the songwriting chops these guys must have had to hit all those styles and produce a double LP for their debut.

I really enjoyed listening to this. I'm sorry the band didn't get more exposure at the time. They seem to deserve it.

I'd like to listen to more of these guys. In The Garden just followed the debut on Youtube so I guess that's my opportunity.

Great pic Axo. Thanks!

 

[axolotl]

^ Save for the extended drum solo within In the Garden, which was de rigueur back-in-the-day, it is almost, barely up-to-par with the debut album.

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

^ Save for the extended drum solo within In the Garden, which was de rigueur back-in-the-day, it is almost, barely up-to-par with the debut album.

There was a "Toad" "In the Garden"?

 

[axolotl]

There was a "Toad" "In the Garden"?

Yes, that's it!

It was Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida!

 

[Zeeba Neighba]

Yes, that's it!

It was Inna-Gadda-Da-Vida!

Hey, livin' da-Vida loca

 

[Unsomnambulist]

I was already familiar, @axolotl having turned me on to this work back in the MG 1.0 days.

Excellent album that I don't listen to enough.

 

[Nickyboy]

This is just what the doctor ordered.

 

[Ojai Sam]

Not on Spotify.

But here it is for your listening pleasure:

View album 23

 

[Ojai Sam]

I was already familiar, @axolotl having turned me on to this work back in the MG 1.0 days.

Excellent album that I don't listen to enough.

Not much I can add to the accumulated wisdom above. Gypsy somehow managed to reflect the creative vibe of their time without getting lost in excess or imitation.

on the Sam-O-Meter.