TO SAMUEL A SON

Surprising how few reviews the two albums by The GODS have received. This band is best known for its members who later became involved in famous bands: keyboardist-guitarist Ken Hensley and drummer Lee Kerslake in Uriah Heep, bassist John Glascock in Jethro Tull. [Also one Greg Lake played in the Gods, but so briefly that he's not featured on the recordings. Furthermore, original guitarists Mick Taylor and Brian Jones found greater fame with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and Rolling Stones, respectively.] The fourth man in the recording lineup is Joe Konas (guitar, vocals). Heep's main writer Hensley is naturally the most active song writer here, but also the others are credited on several songs. 14 of them in total, and the fresh Esoteric Recordings edition has both sides of the single 'Maria' as bonus tracks. Yeah, the famous song from West Side Story musical! And it works really nice.

The debut "Genesis" (1968) was quite a modest organ-heavy psych pop album with lousy production, and this album is a clear improvement. Harmony vocals, good keyboard parts (as well as cheesy ones), accessible songs of psychedelic pop or proto-prog, and the conceptual feel that harmfully doesn't function very well til the end. At least the fans of Uriah Heep probably wish for something more edgy and powerful. Some songs (e.g. title track, 'Five to Three', 'Autumn') have a nice, shadowy atmosphere but some others are just boring and outdated.

Not a bad album in the late sixties psych/proto-prog field, but not an essential listening unless you give extra value to the historic side of it. In that case the Esoteric Recordings edition (2013) is recommended. Hensley tells in the liner notes that he can still listen to this without being embarrassed. His songs are genreally better than Konas's or Kerslake's, whose 'Lovely Anita' is irritatingly bad way to end the original album.

social review comments | Review Permalink
Posted Tuesday, August 20, 2013 | Review this album | Report (Review #1020757)

The second album of the group is more interesting for me. I felt development after the first one. I could enjoy 4 songs from this album. It's quite a good ratio in comparision with the "Genesis" album. The start of this record is great! The group can be proud of the title song: "To Samuel A So ... (read more)

Report this review (#84955) | Posted by Jaws | Thursday, July 27, 2006 | Review Permanlink

The Gods had a long and complicated history, beginning in Hatfield in the mid 1960s. At one point Greg Lake fronted them, and after his departure the group settled around the line up of Joe Konas, the late John Glascock, Lee Kerslake, and Ken Hensley around 1967. This line up as you may know w ... (read more)

Report this review (#83481) | Posted by | Tuesday, July 11, 2006 | Review Permanlink

Well a few words for an ordinary 60's album.This album does not contain anything new for your ear its a simple 60's pop/psychedelia/proto-prog album.In general this work is feature for his heavy organ, with few good songs and with many ballads, nothing to remember for.Although we can not forge ... (read more)

Report this review (#70324) | Posted by | Thursday, February 23, 2006 | Review Permanlink

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).