Harvey Mandel – Cristo Redentor
Harvey Mandel – Light’s Out
Harvey Mandel – Wade In The Water
When I’d originally put this on facebook, I’d wanted to post Barry Goldberg’s Reunion LP from the same year, but couldn’t find any of the music from that record online (though I’ll rectify shortly). Harvey Mandel plays guitar on that record and so this record, his debut as a solo artist from 1968 seemed a fitting fill-in. This record from Mandel is one of my all-time favorite psychedelic rock records, I’ve owned it at least three or four different times, traded it with friends, even just given to someone, since first hearing it in the mid-90s.
I hesitate to even call it a “rock” record, cause the sounds are so diverse and drawn from so many sources. It’s virtually all instrumental, save some wordless singing on the title cut, and Mandel showcases every aspect of his playing, gorgeous sustains, wacked out wah-wah, super clean blues/jazz/country/rock lines, overdubs upon overdubs upon overdubs blending together in exceptionally rich and layered music. He’s helped out by good friends from the Chicago scene, including Barry Goldberg (organ), Charlie Musselwhite (harmonica on a seriously wicked “The Lark”) and a monster drummer who rarely got his due, “Fast” Eddie Hoh (he’s also featured on the Goldberg record I mentioned above).
In a similar fashion to David Axelrod’s music, it’s very difficult to describe these sounds, so I’ll direct you to the tracks I’ve posted. First is Mandel’s rendition of the Duke Pearson penned track “Cristo Redentor” which had been performed by Donald Byrd in a similar fashion with voices, and also by Charlie Musselwhite on his debut, which Mandel plays guitar on (somewhere I know there has to be a full-length version that does NOT fade out just when Mandel’s solo begins…), this is really just ethereal, just gorgeous music evoking a sincere spirituality that doesn’t tend to come across often in music from this period.
The second selection is “Lights Out,” maybe my favorite track, with great slow funky insistent drums from “Fast” Eddie Hoh and some truly soaring solos from Mandel that match perfectly with the strings. This one is seriously deep.
The track this record is most famous for is “Wade In the Water,” a bedrock break sampled by MANY and featuring impossibly heavy drums from “Fast” Eddie Hoh, but it’s just one of many things that make this album essential listening for fans of eccentric funky music. You should be able to find this reissued by Mercury, perhaps as part of a two-disc CD set that includes Mandel’s first three solo records or by itself, either way, very necessary.
As an added treat, here’s the video from the Avanlanche’s (who are rumored to finally release their long awaited second record later this year!) “Frontier Psychiatrist” which samples the drums from “Wade In The Water,” and is possibly the strangest video I’ve ever seen…
Cheers,
Michael
I totally agree with your review, it's such a freaking awesome funky stoned spiritual groove that it sounds as though it could have (like Axelrods best work) come from deep within the best parts of the human psyche. If you mix that with Mandels obvious ability to speak through his playing, then you are in for a little taste of heaven!
Sweet review and that Avalanches vid makes me nostalgic for my time in Oz!
Thanx
Before I forget, just wanted to add. Some people might say 'it's not what you say but it's the way you say it', but I disagree. I say 'it's ALL about what you say AND the way the say it' and this album says it all. Peace.
Agreed on all fronts Fflange, while there are a lot of really cool sounds to come out of the 1960s, very few I find unique, Axelrod had one, Mandel also. Glad you appreciated the post and the vid.
Cheers,
Michael