Search - Tim Dawe :: Penrod

"smothered by the mega record companies and a paranoid gover

Jo Anne Harrison | San Diego, CA | 12/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I came upon Tim Dawe and Penrod by accident. I grew up in the 60's, being spoon-fed by top-40 radio stations, which was, in itself, ok as there were some excellent songs out then. One evening in 1969, as I was listening to the radio (on AM), my brother-in law brought in a radio with FM and shortwave on it. I had never heard of these types of wavebands. He set up the radio, then tuned into an underground radio station, playing experimental music. The first song I heard was Meagan's Gypsy Eyes" by Blood, sweat and Tears. I was stunned! This was a new universe to me, to explore a music genre that AM wouldn't (or couldn't play). As I lay listening that night, a song played that blew me away, called "Junkie John". After the song was over, I wanted to find out who did the music. A few months later, I happened to be walking past the radio station (it was just a hole in the wall in downtown San Diego), and decided to stop in. I asked the DJ about the song, and he showed me an album, "Penrod" by Tim Dawe. I eventually was able to find and buy the album, and fell in love with the music on the entire album.



Unfortunately, Tim Dawe produced the album right around the time the Government became paranoid about songs with drug themes. Until then, "Junkie John" was given some National air time.



The album was originally published by Straight Records, a Frank Zappa company, and Dawe praises Zappa as his mentor. Dawe went on to release one other album, which is even rarer to find than Penrod. Dawe also went on to work with other bands It's A Beautiful Day, and Iron Butterfly (he was a member of the band) among them.



Four masterpieces are included - Nite Train Home, Junkie John, Sometimes Alone (with strong percussion) and Didn't We Love. He has been compared to another same-era alternative rocker, Timothy Buckley, well-deservedly so. Consider this CD re-release a time warp to a time of rebellion and innovation, where the music companies didn't produce and over-hype young thin blond girls with litle talent, right about the time the Brady's tried to get some radio time, and the Beatles were finding transcendental meditation."

Never thought I'd see this re-released

Hudson Birden | Byron Bay Australia | 09/13/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I bought the only copy of this LP I ever saw, after searching for it for years, in a drug store remainder bin for 25 cents. I was never able to find out much about Dawe- he was never listed in any of the collectable record guides.



The highlight of this is the seven plus minute Junkie John. A great, understated Fender bass line introduces a wonderfully low key blues musing that builds up to some furious soloing (too bad Tim didn't hire a better guitarist, though). The rest of the album consists of lightweight but happy pop music.



the album title refers to a childrens' book, published in the 1930s by Booth Tarkington, that would be considered extremely politically incorrect today. Get it and read it to your kids anyway, then talk about it. It'll do 'em good."