Δεν έχω να πω πολλά για αυτό το γκρουπ. Να προσθέσω μόνο ότι δύο μέλη του γκρουπ ήταν στους Sir Douglas Quintet (ο Ορτέγα και ο Παρέδες). Διάβαζα κριτικές και σκάλωσα σε μία πρόταση από ένα Νορβηγικό σαιτ, το
www.rooty.nu , Whatever the reason was that the 45rpm single «Driver Go Slow» didn’t chart is now hard to understand. Μα καλά είναι δυνατόν? Ποιοι ηλίθιοι τότε άκουσαν αυτή την ΑΠΙΣΤΕΥΤΗ κομματάρα και δεν αγόρασαν το δισκάκι του σκοτωμού? Άμα μετά λέω ότι γεννήθηκα σε λάθος εποχή και λάθος μέρος έχω άδικο? Σαφώς το Driver Go Slow δεν είναι το μόνο άριστο κομμάτι. Yπάρχει για παράδειγμα το σπουδαίο It’s the morning, η διασκευή στο If the night ή ακόμα και το Little Georgie Baker.
Βρήκα χνάρια τους στο φατσοβιβλίο… Rio Salinas Vocalists Louie Ortega, Frank Paredes and Randy Pybas will be performing May22 at Chili Peppers in San Luis Obispo, in A Concert to Benefit the Alex DeRivera family. "From the Ashes" will begin at 12:30 pm with a one hour set featuring Rio Salinas.
http://www.facebook.com/RioSalinasMembers:
Louie Ortega – singer, guitar, songwriter
Frank Paredes – singer, guitar
Steve Vargas – bass
Albert Parra – drums
45s
1. 1970 - I Know You Know b/w Driver Go Slow (Epic 5-10616) [US]Produced by Doug Sahm.
2. 1973 - Caribbean (Atlantic 45-2972 / ST-A-26541 SP)The same song is on both sides, one in Mono, the other in Stereo. Produced by Jerry Wexler, Tom Dowd and Doug Sahm.
3. 1973 - El Paso (Atco)A two-sided single, one in Mono, the other in Stereo. Produced by Doug Sahm, Tex Wex (Jerry Wexler), and Tom Mix (Tom Dowd).
A lost and found story. Louie and the Lovers from Salinas, California put out this one record, discovered and produced by the legendary Doug Sahm during his exile from Texas; it barely sold. But Rise was such a strong album, a startling blend of the San Francisco sound, Chicano music, and Tex-Mex country rock, it became an easy target for collectors. Rarer, however, was the fabled follow-up album, lost in a fire save for one cassette and unreleased until Bear Family’s recent offering, Louie and the Lovers, The Complete Recordings.
For a bunch of teenagers recording their first album in one 18-hour session, Rise is a surprisingly solid set of tunes, with a sound as fresh as any of their west coast contemporaries, consistently fine song craft (9 of 11 tracks penned by
Louie Ortega), and fantastic vocal performances throughout. You can hear the Lovers’ innocent enthusiasm chiming through electric rhythm guitars and the band’s raw energy is infectious. The Lovers were admittedly influenced by CCR, an unavoidable comparison, but Louie also name checks Webb Pierce, Lefty Frizzell, and Jorge Negrete as early influences on his songwriting.
Rise takes off with a double guitar hook assault and soaring vocal harmonies on the eponymous opener. But the album’s slower numbers are some of the record’s best: “I’ve Always Got You On My Mind” is a serious earworm and “Driver Go Slow” is a sparse and haunting murder ballad. Upbeat rockers like “Royal Oakie” and “I Know You Know” should have been radio hits, at least in Texas. The album is a powerful grower, its melodies sinking in deep after a few listens, but unfortunately Rise was destined for obscurity.
Regardless of the lack of sales, The Lovers were given another shot at recording an album, this time featuring production from Doug Sahm, Jerry Wexler, and Tom Dowd, along with help from new guitarist John Rendon, steel guitarist Charlie Owens, horn player David ‘Fathead’ Newman, Dr. John on keys, percussionist Joe Lala, and Flaco Jimenez on Conjunto accordion. The selections were more diverse, from Mexican traditionals to sunshine pop and Memphis-powered blues jams (probably Sahm’s ever present musical schizophrenia peeking through). Perhaps the magic from the original sessions had faded, but these tracks are a pleasure to finally hear, with some certain gems in the mix, included in a fine package with excellent liners.
Tracks:
01. Rise
02. I've Always Got You on My Mind
03. Sittin' By Your River
04. Driver Go Slow
05. I Know You Know
06. Royal Oakie
07. I Don't Want to Be Seen With You
08. I Just Met You
09. Rock Me Baby
10. If the Night
11. It's the Morning
12. Little Georgie Baker [*]
13. Tomorrow Just Might Change [*]
14. Michoacan [Mono Version][*]
15. Gulf of Mexico [Mono Version][*]
