Lost Chapter In Folk-Rock History Lovingly Restored
Frank M. Young III | Seattle, WA USA | 12/08/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm an admirer of the many guises of Paul Johnson. From his pioneering surf with The Belairs and PJ & The Galaxies to his more recent material, Johnson has always operated with integrity and modesty.
This CD collects all the surviving recordings by his answer to The Lovin' Spoonful, Turtles, et al. The Everpresent Fullness (hereafter, EPF) were signed to the Turtles' label, White Whale Records. They were the victims of classic label indifference. The anticipated hit single, a Spoonful-esque refitting of the 1930 standard "Fine And Dandy," didn't happen, due to the horror expressed by the song's co-author, Paul James. In retrospect, this number is one of the group's weakest sides. It could've been a hit, as it was indeed commercial.
With their ace in the hole foiled, the band made a handful of other recordings, none of them catching fire on the national charts. And then, as a final bizarre coda, the label issued their four-year-old LP in 1970, long after the group was history.
The full story of the band, complete with Paul Johnson's recollections, is told in this disc's lavish foldout booklet.
The music itself is continually pleasant, more country than rock, with a strong hint of pre-electric Dylan and Kingston Trio-era commercial folk. While it's not groundbreaking, it's enjoyable, solid material.
Some goodies include a very Beatlesque early Warren Zevon composition, "The Way She Is," and some good originals from Paul Johnson, the choicest item being the minor-keyed, driving "The Rovin' Kind," which strikes me as a perfect meeting ground of folk music and rock 'n' roll.
The EPF do well with '60s folk staples like "Sometimes I Don't Know Where I'm Bound" (Tom Paxton) and "Leavin' California (Richard Farina). A version of Buddy Holly's "Lonesome Tears" manages to sound old-fashioned and au courant at the same time. Its blend of Everly-esque harmony vocals and spacey-strummy backing (with the pre-requisite electric 12-string solo) is charming and oddly moving.
With the original LP among the rarest rock 'n' roll artifacts, this long-overdue reissue is more than welcome. It's no masterpiece, but, as said, it's solid and pleasing. It doesn't have to be PET SOUNDS, nor does it want to. The EPF are a strong missing link in California rock of the '60s."
Track Listings (16) - Disc #1