HOLLINS
& STARR
"Sidewalks Talking"
I
love this record. For me, it has a trace or two of Arthur
Lee and Love at their best (‘Krishna Dov’ would
not sound out of place on "Forever Changes," for example),
with dashes of maybe Terry Callier in some of the jazzier
tunes. I also like that Hollins & Starr wrote a gentle
tribute to one of my favorite old-time bluesmen, Mississippi
John Hurt. At times this album is a gorgeous, ethereal blend
of psychedelic folk and offbeat pop; but there are some funk
and avant-garde moves too (where did those crazy orchestrations,
wild guitar, and breakbeats on the fierce anti-war rave-up
‘Hard Headed Woman’ come from?), all supported
by an odd assortment of instruments, including flute, bells
and a generous helping of fuzz guitar. Chicago-based duo Chuck
Hollins and David Starr only made this one album, which originally
appeared in 1970 on the Ovation label. All we know about them
is what the original ads for the album said: "David Starr
learned piano when he was three, began composing when he was
four. At twenty-one he was playing flute with the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra. Chuck Hollins picked up a guitar one day
and just started playing.... by the time he left Northwestern
with his Creative Writing degree he was turning his poetry
into music." Others have said: "Unique blend… with a
lovely dreaming, drifting vibe" – the Acid Archives;
"Many diverse influences from pop-psych, mystical mellow passages,
quasi-classical touches, delightful ethereal flute, trance-like
vocals and fuzz guitar… there is much to appreciate
on this largely undiscovered gem" – Fuzz, Acid &
Flowers. Our deluxe mini-LP sleeve CD edition has four bonus
tracks, including a "hidden track" with some rare sound effects
plucked from the vaults. The CD version is limited to 1,000
copies. Our replica LP version (in production as we speak)
will come in an old style tip-on jacket, and include an insert
with an essay on the album and a little background history
on the Ovation label. It is a 180 gram vinyl pressing, mastered
from the original tapes; the sad news: this LP version is
limited to 750 copies. So, we state that the sole album by
Chuck Hollins and Dave Starr, their only known recordings,
is a treasure trove of strong melodies and dreamy vocal stylings—an
album sure to appeal to fans of acid folk, popsike, and even
those who like jazzy funk. Listening to it is a rich, rewarding
experience. This is a perfectly produced and arranged record,
an ode to the free mind, structured by intelligent considerations.
And as another person has said, "No wonder it has been sampled
by DJ Shadow." Ovation said at the time of its release, "Classical
artistry rock and sidewalk poetry." All true. Very cool. Hip,
mellow, and stoned.
Track List:
1. Talking to Myself (2:58 – 4:22)
2. Krishna Dov (2:35)
3. Cry Baby Cry (3:17)
4. Twin City Prayer (1:36)
5. John Hurt (2:12)
6. Hard Headed Woman (5:21)
7. Home? (3:36)
8. Vivace (2:57)
9. Lovable (3:50)
10. Digress (2:50 – 5:13)
11. Stayin High (2:23)
12. Sidewalks Talkin (3:32)
13. Feelin Good (2:10)
CD only Bonus Tracks:
14. Feelin Good (2:53) single version
15. Lovable (3:16) single version
16. Hard Headed Woman (9:08) outtake
17. Sound Effects (not listed on the OBI card or CD booklet)
CD edition
catalogue number: LION 653
UPC: 778578065324
LP edition
catalogue number: LION LP-115
UPC: 778578311513