Search - Bluethings :: The Bluethings Story, Vol. 2: 1963-1968

Part two of the most comprehensive collection

Byron Arnold | Baltimore, MD | 02/11/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD fills in many of the blanks from the Volume one CD, (see my review on that disc for more info). This disc lends particular attention to The group's official RCA album release as most of the album is represented here. In addition the disc has some RCA period tracks which did not appear on the original album but are none the less very impressive, (the electric track of Desert Wind & Weep No More My Lady being the best examples). These unreleased tracks did not appear on The 2001 re-release of the RCA album on the Unwind label.



There are also some great demo tracks from the group's main songwriter & lead vocalist Val Stecklien. Two of these tracks are very early folk recordings which are fabulous, (the acoustic version of Desert Wind & Nancy Whiskey, the later being an unknown classic). There are also two later solo tracks from 1968 which are very good, but were taken from a scratched source. Considering the rarity of these recordings, I consider these tracks as pieces of the missing Dead Sea scrolls!



Also included are many of the groups Damon studio rordings which were done when the group was known as The Blue Boys. Some of these tracks really rock, (P's & Q's being the best example).



One of the most impressive parts of this collection is not on the actual disc, but in the liner notes. As I mentioned in the review for volume 1, these discs were taken from a 3 volume vinyl collection which was issued in the mid-late 80's. That collection was compiled by a gentleman named Michael Griesman & by original group member Val Stecklien. Michael also worked on the CD collection, so in it he related how the vinyl collection came about. This is memoralized through a series of response letters to ones that Michael wrote to Val expressing interest in the band. It is ironic that Val's initial response letter was not very enthusiastic about any kind of Bluethings project. However through about the third or forth response presented, Val was warming up to the idea of the three record compilation and eventually began recording new tracks for a proposed album of new recordings. The liner notes end on a sad note as they relate that Val past away before this disc was released. The package is somewhat of an epitaph to one of the great unsung heroes of the folk & rock genre, who now resides in the Rock-n-Roll heaven the Righteous Brothers sung about.



I obviously recommend this collection to any fan of this fantastic but under rated band.







"