TCCDM Pulls One Out..."Time Changes A New Musical" - Ford Theatre (1969)

"Time Changes A New Musical" - Ford Theatre (1969)

Ford Theatre's second and last album is a folkish psych-pop spin that has a cool darker vibe than I expected.  A few songs are tasty good and the rest are just...average.  The kind of songs that go by before your mind catches up with the needle.

The album is supposed to be a loose concept about a fellow named Clifford Smothergill with several musical ideas to further the story along.  A grand idea on paper, I'm sure, but the album just doesn't deliver.  And it's another testament that reminds us how hard a concept square truly is.  AMG gives "Time Changes" a 3 out of 5-star rating and that's about right.  "Time Changes" is a pleasant enough spin with a few good psych-dusted tracks to make it interesting.  Had they left the concept on the floor, this might've been stronger.  Out of Boston, Ford Theatre's first album is considered the band's better offering, but "Time Changes" isn't a bad pick-up. 

"Time Changes A New Musical" - Ford Theatre (back)

Favorites include the west-coast flavored..."Jefferson Airplane."  The title track..."Time Changes"...is a mostly gentle, floaty seat for the mind.  The longest song..."I’ve Got The Fever" starts out like an average garage rocker, but grows into an amazing guitar psych jam.  "Wake Up In The Morning" is a darkish, keyboard-driven ballad that sounds very much of its time, and is quite good.

This album falls under the broad net of psych-rock and is very affordable for the genre.  I found my copy in the wild with a $9 price tag.  The vinyl comes in a heavy gatefold cover and looks and plays a strong VG-VG+.  So seldom do I ever stumble on any psych albums, I have to remind myself to temper my billfold reach.  I thought this was a fair price, though.  I've yet to come across their first square. 

"Time Changes A New Musical" - Ford Theatre (inside gatefold)

ABC Records label

CAT #

ABCS-681

SIDE A  DEADWAX

ABCS  681  A  LW  SS

SIDE B  DEADWAX

ABCS  681  B  LW  SS

"Jefferson Airplane" - Ford Theatre / "Time Changes A New Musical" (1969)

TRACKS:

A1  "Introduction" 1:00

A2  "Time Changes" 3:09

A3  "Interlude One" 1:14

A4  "That's My Girl" 2:12

A5  "Wake Up In The Morning" 3:08

A6  "I've Got The Fever" 5:17

A7  "Crash" 1:08

A8  "At The Station" 3:51

B1  "Back To Philadelphia" 3:58

B2  "Clifford's Dilemma" 1:58

B3  "Jefferson Airplane" 2:59

B4  "I Feel Uncertain" 2:26

B5  "Interlude Two" 1:18

B6  "Good Thing" 2:17

B7  "Outroduction" 1:13

PERSONNEL:

Joey Scott - vocals

Harry Palmer - guitar

John Mazzarelli - keyboards, vocals

Butch Webster - lead guitar

Jimmy Altieri - bass, vocals

Robert Tamagni - drums, vocals

Good stuff.

Casey Chambers

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