Style: prog
Country: us
Audio: lossles (ape, cue, log, scans)
Size: 219 mb
Formed in 1964, this quintet began as a Minneapolis-based pop band called The UNDERBEATS. They eventually relocated to Los Angeles and, changing their name to GYPSY, began pursuing a heavier, more complex sound, blending SANTANA-like guitar and organ riffs with vocals and arrangements reminiscent of early CHICAGO. They released two excellent albums on a small label in the early 70’s then switched to RCA who (it is said) pushed the band in a more commercial direction. Consequently, they lost their progressive edge and the subsequent two releases are no more than a collection of average, mid-70’s radio-friendly pop.
Their eponymous first album (70) was a double LP made up of jazz, prog rock and pop elements, featuring fantastic harmonies with vocalist/keyboardist James Walsh in the lead. The more polished "In the Garden”, released a year later, is in the same vein with Walsh really cooking at the keyboards. With the release of "Antithesis” (72) and "Unlock the Gates” (73), however, the band took a downslide into bubble-gum pop. Sole member of the original line-up, Walsh gathered some musicians in 1996 and tried to revive the GYPSY sound with an album called "20 Years Ago Today”; an average-to-good album mostly made up of new compositions plus a couple of nicely reworked classics.
Fans of SANTANA, CHICAGO, PABLO CRUISE, SPIRIT or SUGAR LOAF should definitely check out the first two albums.
01. Around You 5:35
02. Reach Out Your Hand 2:45
03. As Far As You Can See (As Much As You Can Feel) 12:11
04. Here (In The Garden) Part One 6:44
05. Here (In The Garden) Part Two 3:10
06. Blind Man 4:10
07. Time Will Make It Better 2:57
Enrico Rosenbaum - gtr, vcls
James Walsh - kbrds, vcls
James Johbson - gtr, vcls
Bill Lordan - drms
Willie Weeks - bss
Joe Lala - prcssn
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