The Gordian Knot: Tones (1968) Mono Promo Copy, Verve Records

One of my all time favorite records in the vast ocean of lost pop treasures. This harmony group from the south made an impression at a party thrown by Nancy Sinatra where they had played a set and ended up joining her on a USO tour of Vietnam in 1967.They were signed by Verve Records, (of all labels to sign a harmony pop group, the experimental and jazz focused Verve was an unusual choice and maybe the reason why promotion for this record was minimal), and released one album called Tones in 1968. The group was made up of five members, but most prominent were songwriters and lead vocalists Leland Russell and Jim Weatherly, as they wrote the majority of the tunes on this record, mostly writing individually as opposed to collaborating.

The album bares a heavy resemblance to the Association, both in songwriting and melodies and in the actual studio sound. The album was produced by Clark Burroughs, who had been an engineer working under Bones Howe, who had produced the Association's two best albums Insight Out (1967) and Birthday (1968). I assume many of the same session musicians on those Association records were used on this album, as the bass parts are distinctly Joe Osborn, and the drums are either Jim Gordon or possibly Hal Blaine. And much like the Association's records, the Knot's gorgeous vocal harmony blend is front and center in the mix.

The album's opens with a stunning one-two punch as the songs "It's Gonna Take A Lot" and "We Must Be Doing Something Right" are not only two of the greatest Sunshine Pop songs I've heard, but maybe among the best songs I've ever heard. The band's soaring, windswept harmonies are on full display upon beds of float-y harpsichord and Osborn's prominent bass hooks. Weatherly sings 'It's Gonna..." and his husky, soulful voice fits the song very well, but Russel's hushed, breathy vocal on "Doing Something Right" is in my opinion more suited to the dream-like quality of the material. The Russell penned highlight "Carraway Stream" ends side 1 with a wistful, sunny ode to what must have been a nearby creek. It's gentle folk melody is carried along by soft brushwork on the drums, nice electric piano and more harpsichord and the band's beautiful vocals. The outro is one of the best moments on the record, as the instruments drop out and only the Knot's reverb drenched harmonies remain, striking a melancholy tone as they say good bye to Carraway Stream.

Side 2 is equally impressive. "Year of the Sun" is quite clearly the most psychedelic song on the album, featuring a haunting 12 string guitar melody and the album's most complex and interweaving vocal harmony pattern. The sheer density of the vocals on this track is just amazing. "I Can't Be Hurt Anymore' is a sweet little country-pop number, and probably the album's most stripped down song. The harmonies are absent as Russell delivers an impressive solo vocal over some delicately played piano, harmonica and folky guitar picking all smothered in echo. "Broken Down Ole Merry-Go-Round" is the closing track and finds the band sounding surprisingly like Saucerful era Pink Floyd, with a Gilmour-esque electric guitar line dripping with soft tremolo among a swelling farfisa organ. The band sings a grandiose tribute to a crumbling carnival ride, but the stoned and spaced out harmonies suggest this may be more of a metaphorical merry-go-round, if you know what I mean.

Like I said, one of my personal favorites and one of the first album's I would have someone listen to if they wanted an introduction to Sunshine Pop. Perfect for a breezy spring evening.

The album was re-issued, by Rev-Ola I believe, but I've had no luck in tracking down a copy. I was able to find an extremely rare promo copy, mixed in mono (!), at a local record shop a few years back. I ripped the vinyl to mp3 @ 256 kb/s via EAC's .WAV editor. The sound is mostly excellent, but there are points where the vocals are stacked so high that you can hear a slight clipping in some spots. But those spots are few and far between. Please enjoy my vinyl rip here: http://www.mediafire.com/?yq7lkt3407bkr11, and if you like what you hear I urge you to track down a copy of the Rev-Ola reissue (which is in stereo) or an original vinyl copy.

-Casey