Contenido de esta entrada:
Siguiente artículo de Pavlov's Dog:
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| Portada del álbum Pampered Menial de Pavlov's Dog |
Pagina web oficial: Pavlov’s Dog | Progressive Rock Band In Missouri (davidsurkamp.com)
En este artículo traemos los comienzos y primer álbum de la banda estadounidense de rock progresivo y jazz fusión, Pavlov's Dog.
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| Imagen de la edición en CD de 2009 |
Pavlov's Dog es una banda de rock progresivo de la década de 1970 formada en St. Louis, Missouri en 1972, llamada así por el principal animal experimental de Ivan Pavlov en su trabajo del condicionamiento clásico.
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| Ivan Pavlov |
Hay dos versiones sobre el nacimiento de la banda, según Mike Safron, él y Siegfried Carver decidieron crearla, pero la versión más conocida es que partieron de las cenizas de una pequeña banda llamada High On A Small Hill donde tocaban David Surkamp y Rick Stockton.
Pavlov's Dog originalmente estaba compuesto por el vocalista David Surkamp, el guitarrista Steve Levin, los teclistas David Hamilton y Doug Rayburn, el bajista Rick Stockton, el baterista Mike Safron y el violinista Siegfried Carver (nacido Richard Nadler). Levin dejó la banda durante el primer año y fue reemplazado por Steve Scorfina (anteriormente de REO Speedwagon).
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| Steve Scorfina |
La banda grabó algunas pistas en un estudio de Pekin Illinois que en opinión de los miembros de la banda eran realmente buenas, solo unas pocas pistas llegaron a su primer álbum pero llamaron la atención de los ejecutivos de ABC Dunhill Records quienes les dieron un increíble adelanto de 650,000 dólares en 1974.
Las pistas fueron grabadas en octubre de 1973 en solo tres días y producido por la propia banda. Las grabaciones originales permanecieron inéditas y se creyeron destruidas en 1977 cuando Golden Voice Studios se quemó, pero en 2014 se descubrió una copia bien conservada en una colección privada. Rockville Music restauró la cinta lo mejor que pudo. El álbum Pekin Tapes fue publicado el 28 de noviembre de 2014 con Rockville Music. Los bonus tracks del álbum son demos grabados en marzo de 1973, y son las primeras grabaciones conocidas de Pavlov's Dog.
Lista de temas
Bonus tracks:
Enlace a la lista de reproducción del álbum completo: The Pekin Tapes
Grabación
Su álbum debut, Pampered Menial, cuenta con una formación compuesta por David Surkamp, Steve Scorfina, Mike Safron, Rick Stockton, David Hamilton, Doug Rayburn y Siegfried Carver.
La compañía discográfica decidió que necesitaban refinar el material grabado en Pekin antes de lanzarlo. Cinco de las canciones fueron regrabadas y para el álbum se añadieron cuatro nuevas composiciones.
El álbum fue grabado entre 1973 y 1974 en los estudios CBS de Nueva York con el ingeniero Tim Geelan con la ayuda de Lou Schlossberg.
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| Tim Geelan |
El álbum fue mezclado en el estudio Record Plant de Nueva York con los ingenieros Howie Lindeman y Ed Sprigg. La producción corrió a cargo de Murray Krugman y Sandy Pearlman, quienes habían encontrado el éxito a principios de la década produciendo Blue Öyster Cult.
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| Murray Krugman |
La música es simplemente increíble, ya que como la mayoría de las bandas de rock progresivo en Estados Unidos mezclaron progresivo sinfónico con rock duro, con excelentes temas como el instrumental Preludin, Julia y Late November.
Lanzamiento
El álbum debut fue lanzado en febrero de 1975 con ABC Records en Estados Unidos. El álbum entró en las listas en abril.
También fue publicado en Canadá, Argentina, Reino Unido, Australia, Nueva Zelanda, Malasia, Sudáfrica y Grecia.
El álbum alcanzó el puesto 181 en la lista Billboard de Estados Unidos y el 23 en el Kent Music Report de Australia.
Lo primero que llamó la atención fue la increíble portada que presentaba grabados de Sir Edwin Landseer, quien había muerto casi 100 años antes de que se formara la banda. La pintura de la portada se titula Low Life. Los retratos de los componentes de la banda son de Bobby Jentis.
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| Contraportada del álbum |
En el Q & Mojo Classic Special Edition Pink Floyd & the Story of Prog Rock, el álbum llegó al número 26 en su lista de "40 álbumes de rock cósmico".
Lista de temas
Todas las canciones acreditadas a David Surkamp, excepto donde se indique.
Lado 1
Lado 2
Enlace al álbum completo: P̤a̤v̤l̤o̤v̤ ̤'̤s̤ ̤D̤o̤g̤-̤-Pampered M̤e̤n̤i̤a̤l̤- Full Album 1976
Créditos
- David Surkamp: voz, guitarra rítmica
- Steve Scorfina: guitarra solista
- David Hamilton: órgano, piano, sintetizador
- Doug Rayburn: melotrón, flauta
- Siegfried Carver: violín, viola, Vitar
- Rick Stockton: bajo
- Mike Safron: batería, percusión
Videos
Reediciones
En algún momento después de la grabación del álbum, la banda firmó con Columbia Records. El LP pronto fue reeditado por Columbia, cuya versión (con una portada ligeramente diferente) entró en las listas a mediados de junio, justo después de que la edición de ABC hubiera caído de las listas. Tener ambas versiones a la venta en las tiendas casi al mismo tiempo puede haber confundido a los compradores.
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| Edición con Columbia con distinta portada |
Fue publicado por primera vez en CD en 1988. Fue publicado remasterizado en CD en 2007. En 2010 fue publicado con 4 bonus tracks adicionales.
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| Contraportada de la edición de 2010 |
11. "Preludin" (Original 10 minutes version rec. live Ambassador Theatre St. Louis '75) (Siegfried Carver) 9:58
12. "I Wish it Would Rain" (Live Ambassador Theatre St. Louis '75) 5:48
13. "Rainbow" (From the album Street Suite by Touch (orig. released 1969) feat. David Surkamp on vocals)
En 2020 se publicó en vinilo de 180g de color negro transparente con manchas.
Opinión personal
Para mí es un gran álbum de rock progresivo. Es muy roquero con gran uso del melotrón que le da el tono sinfónico. El álbum comienza con la bonita balada roquera Julia aderezada de mucho melotrón. Le sigue Late November en el mismo tono que la anterior pero más roquera si cabe gracias a los solo de guitarra. Entre la voz y música me recuerda a Fleetwood Mac. Le sigue Song Dance todavía más roquera gracias a las guitarras y un bonito riff. El violín, con un magnifico solo y el melotrón pone el punto sinfónico. Fast Gun es muy animada. Y cierra la cara uno Natchez Trace con muchos cambios de ritmo. Lo más destacado de la cara dos es el épico final Of Once And Future Kings introducido por el instrumental Preludin. Un buen cierre del álbum. En resumen, un álbum típico de como los estadounidenses concibieron el rock progresivo añadiendo su personal forma de interpretarlo.
Letras
Julia
Julia, you've set the standards for me
Walk to your door
Beggin' for it just to be more
And Julia, I couldn't do much better than you
You said so yourself
I wouldn't want anyone else
And I can't live without your love
And I can't live without your love
Well I can't live without you
Julia, oh you're drivin' me crazy
But I'm... I'm a part of your plans
Oh just a man while your dreams be
You're just a part of me
Oh please see how much
Well, how much you mean to me
Oh please see how much
Well, how much you mean to me
Julia
And Julia, straight away you've had me
And I know I've had you
All a part of me too
And I can't live without your love
And I can't live without your love
Well I can't live without you
Julia
And I can't live without your love
And I can't live without your love
Well I can't live without you
Julia
Late November
Oh, and she wants, she wants it badly
And I can't believe all she said
'Cause she's cool, yes she's cool
She's just like lightning
Take her home, keep her warm in late November
And I can't say why she's so strange now
Nor can I always believe all she said
She came down, held me close
Came down from night skies
Take her home, keep her warm in late November
She just goes to show you never know
What's in your heart, what's in your soul
She just goes to show you never know
What's in your heart, what's in your soul
She's home now, but far away she flies
But she don't know how she came or how she believes
'Cause she's cool, yes she's cool
She's just like lightning
Take her home, keep her warm in late November
She just goes to show you never know
What's in your heart, what's in your soul
She just goes to show you never know
What's in your heart, what's in your soul
She just goes to show you never know
Song Dance
Teach me a song and I'll dance for you
And I won't mind what you're playing
I must get right for a song dance tonight
Oh, and when it's, it's morning now
I want to show you how
Got to keep on moving, running to the sounds
Well, I might not want you on my troubled times
Strange things passing far behind you – no, no, no, no
'Cause all your rhythm and blues
But I would never play a tune for you
And when it's, it's morning now
I want to show you how
You got to keep on moving, running to the sounds
Rhythm is a song dance
Rhythm is a song dance
Rocking to a song dance
Teach me a song, I'll dance for you
And I won't mind what you're playing for me
I must get right for a song
It's morning now
I want to show you how
Got to keep on moving, running to the sounds
Rhythm is a song dance
Rocking to a song dance
Rhythm is a song dance
Rocking to a song dance
Fast Gun
Well, and you wear the fast gun
You try and make me run
When the whole town turns its troubles down on you
Well, and you wear your gun down low
And you kiss her when you go
Would a half-breed cowboy lose her?
You never know
When you shot them dressed in black
And you pulled this trigger back
When it happens there's a time when you brought 'em down
Oh, when you're leaving here, let's go
Hey, don't you let your feelings show
'Cause the fast gun's got troubles of his own
Well, and you wear the fast gun
You gonna try and make me run
You think you're going to shoot me down
Well you never will
Because they say you've got no soul
You got a halo without a glow
Would a half-breed cowboy lose her?
Oh you know, you know, you must never know
When you shot them dressed in black
And you pulled this trigger back
When it happens there's a time when you brought 'em down
Oh, when you're leaving here, let's go
Hey, don't you let your feelings show
'Cause the fast gun's got troubles of his own
You wear the fast gun, wear it low
You like to kiss her when you go
You wear the fast gun, wear it low
You like to kiss her when you go
(Repeat to end)
Natchez Trace
All I can hear is the wind shouting though the forest
All I can hear is the song as she's shining
I wish I was home but I'm lost
They say she's waiting by the Natchez Trace
In all her silver thread and coal black lace
When she put you in your resting place
Would you take my gold or leave my soul unscathed
All I can hear is the howling wind and a haunting woman I know
'Cause all the angels in heaven and the devils in hell
I think I'm caught in this rock and roll
When she's waiting by the Natchez Trace
In all her silver thread and coal black lace
When she put you in your resting place
Would you take my gold or leave my soul unscathed
You got to leave me alone
You got to leave me alone
You got to leave me alone
Oh no, no, no
If the woman don't get ya the snakes will
And this road is so long and so dark and so cool
She's one bad woman, one mad woman
Waiting for me, get your hands off me
And she's waiting by the Natchez Trace
In all her silver thread and coal black lace
When she put you in your resting home
No, no, no, no
Oh no, she's one bad woman
You got to leave me alone
You got to leave me alone
She's one bad woman
Theme from Subway Sue
Watch the mountains and take off down the river
Take off twice from where you are
'Cause someday soon we'll take off down the river
And I'll see nothing of you at all
Tell the birds not to show which way I'm going
And tell the leaves to try and hide the way
Well give 'em gold – 'cause gold is nothing special
Tell 'em all to try and hide the way
And someday soon we'll find out where we're going
And someday soon we'll find the way
And if the love that you have for me is going
Well I'll see nothing of you at all
And it's a long road
A very, very, very long road
A very, very, very long road
And I'm doing fine
And I'm wishing you were mine
Take me back to mornings, mornings when she calls me
And take me back to days of brighter springs
Well if you take me back and I don't care
Oh, all your springtimes don't possess me
And I'll see nothing of you at all again
And someday soon we'll find out where we're going
And someday soon we'll find the way
Well if the love that you have for me is going
Well I'll see nothing of you at all
Nothing at all
She's a woman (She's a woman)
That left me nothing at all (Left me nothing at all)
She's a woman (Such a lady)
I've nothing at all (Left me nothing at all)
Well I'm leaving... I'll leave soon
Well I'm leaving now
Nothing at all
And I got nothing at all
I've nothing, nothing at all
No, I have nothing, got nothing at all
I've got nothing, nothing at all
(repeat to end)
Episode
I caught you walking on a rainy day
And tossing petals into a pool
So keep your mind off passing hours
'Cause I'll be coming for you soon
Make believe you are a dancer
Though perhaps you'd make a better queen
And before you leave you better count roses
And a mad, mad way you want to scream
Or if you want, he'll give you slippers
Or shoot an arrow on past the sun
Or be the keeper always of my mind and heart
Or is it best you go unseen?
Once you were star-struck and now twice you're not
And things go badly as they do
But I want the rainbows out of heaven
I'll only steal them when I can
And me I'm just your head soldier
An heirloom to a basket queen
And all the blisters, and I'm fevered
And only silence killed my dreams
If you want he'll give you slippers
Or shoot an arrow on past the sun
Or be the keeper always of my mind and heart
You think you got control
You don't, you'll never know, you'll never know
You'll be the keeper of the Holy Grail
You seize it quick, you dare not fail
You're the only survivor of your holy quest
Or is it best you go unseen?
Preludin
[Instrumental]
Of Once and Future Kings
All the ladies of court gather round
And join in in heavenly fair
You're gathering promises of future heroes
Showing faith in a song as we go
Red light and green light and men in their armor
And fight for the queen if you dare
It's a long way to go to test out your mettle
Well, a long way to go to go down
We go round and round
We go down
Go down
Courier says we lost our battle
There's 21 left, that's all
We were given no quarter because of thy archers
Leaving us nothing at all
Tell me what will we do, what will we say
They'll be killing us all in a while
Taking our homes, killing wives and children
Leaving us nothing at all
And I'll write them a letter
I'll say, forgive all we've done
But please, first grant this favor, sirs
Forgive us quick all the wrong
All the wrong, all the wrong, all the wrong
Oh, we're wrong
All the ladies of court gather round me
And you're joining in heavenly fair
You're gathering promises of future heroes
Showing faith in a song as we go
Oh, red light and green light and men in their armor
And fight for the queen if you dare
It's a long way to go to test out your mettle
A long way to go to go down, go down
You better go down, down, down
You better go down again, my friend
Oh, you better go down, down, down
Better go down again, my friend
(repeat to end)
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