The sole album from six-man-and-a-woman Canadian band David is one of those wonderful, flawed surprises from the era, an overreaching blend of orchestral, soft pop with light psychedelic and soul touches that doesn't quite come together, but is full of exquisite music nonetheless. The intraband songwriting, the majority of it by Ted Grimes, is a mixed lot of varying caliber, but the finest songs -- and those make up at least half the album -- are truly stellar. The two Francis Webster con...   [ read more ]

CD $14.23

If music fans concerned about Bob Dylan in the wake of his July 29, 1966, motorcycle accident were looking for an immediate replacement, they might have found him the following month when Elektra records released David Blue's self-titled debut LP. Blue, a friend of Dylan's, was heavily influenced by the folk-rock sound Dylan had developed in 1965-1966, with its rock & roll band prominently featuring keyboards and topped by an acoustic guitar. He was also inspired by Dylan to writ...   [ read more ]

CD $15.18

This 22-track compilation is largely drawn from the three albums McWilliams released on Major Minor in 1967-68, tagging on a B-side apiece from 1968 and 1969. Although it's agreeable folk-pop-rock, it's hard to get worked up about it, due both to its rather generic qualities and its obvious inferiority to the obvious comparison, Donovan. "Days of Pearly Spencer," with a more memorable melody and darker, more forceful atmosphere than anything else on the disc, remains the standout in {$McWilliam...   [ read more ]

CD $18.03