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This debut 45 from California's Fuller Brothers (Erskin and Major
Fuller) is one of the most fully realized debut recordings I've ever
heard.
Delivered with pure soul and a restrained confidence, the brothers
deliver a sublime, pure harmony vocal that gives me shivers and a big
lump at the back of my throat. This is the type of record that exists in
that upper echelon- a place where music simply does not get any better.
The Cryan' Shames (not to be confused with the English Cryin' Shames)
hailed from the affluent Chicago suburb of Hinsdale. The group was
heavily influenced by the British Invasion, and their biggest national
hit was a cover of the Searchers "Sugar And Spice"; a record which
landed them a contract with Columbia Records. While this group was far too sophisticated to be labelled as a 'garage band', a whole lot of their music had that kind of energy and drive (just listen to the propulsive drums and distorted 12 string electric guitar heard here).
The groups' second LP, A Scratch In The Sky, is a minor masterpiece and found them taking a more ethereal direction undoubtedly influenced by the work of The Beatles Revolver, Brian Wilson c1966 and The Byrds (and contains this track as well). A strong Revolver
influence is felt on this track, which is easily one of my favorite
American records of the era. In fact, it was one of the very first 45's
of the day, at the dawn of this blog TEN years ago.
"The Sailing Ship", with its melodic lift underlined by melancholy
darkness is a masterpiece in every way- a brilliant song, fantastic
vocals, and those DRUMS.
This song was brilliantly adapted by The Brian Jonestown Massacre as "Sailor" in 2001. I could listen to either version a dozen times in a row and still wanna hear it again.
