GREAT SPECKLED BIRD
Great Speckled Bird
Stony Plain 1200
visit the band's website
also available on amazon
Historically this is one of those albums that should have been re-released years ago on disc, as should bands like the Amazing Rhythm Aces, (hooray to Stony Plain for finally doing it!). This is just as ground breaking as the Byrds and stands up as a good album. It is not the perfect album, but when you realize it was made in 1969, and the great courage it took for these two Canadian folk-singers, Ian and Sylvia Tyson, to follow their instinct and to go electric and make this album, you appreciate it even more. There is good and intelligent story line to the lyrics, and some damn good music come from the speakers. Listen to the interplay between Amos Garrett's (yes the same as went on to fame with Paul Butterfield's Better Days and Maria Muldaur, and is still causing big guitar ripples) multiple string bending guitar tones and Buddy Cage's (your memory is correct - New Riders Of The Purple Sage) steel guitar. The solid rhythm section provides a solid rock bastion from which to leap about and playfully take chances. It is a solid effort all the way through. Most of all it should be listened to because it is an excellent album.
Songs and the Song Writers -
1 - LOVE WHAT YOU'RE DOING CHILD - Ian Tyson
2 - CALGARY - Ian Tyson
3 - TRUCKER'S CAFE - Sylvia Tyson
4 - LONG LONG TIME TO GET OLD - Ian Tyson
5 - FLIES IN THE BOTTLE - Ian Tyson
6 - BLOODSHOT BEHOLDER - Ian Tyson
7 - CRAZY ARMS - Chuck Seals - Ralph Mooney
8 - THIS DREAM - Ian Tyson
9 - SMILING WINE - Sylvia Tyson
10 - RIO GRANDE - Ian Tyson - Amos Garrett
11 - DISAPPEARING WOMAN - Sylvia Tyson
12 - WE SAIL - Sylvia Tyson
PLUS NEW BONUS TRACK
13 - NEW TRUCKERS CAFE (live version) - Sylvia Tyson
MUSICIANS
Ian Tyson - Vocals and Rhythm Guitar
Sylvia Tyson - Vocals
Amos Garrett - Lead Guitar
Buddy Cage - Steel Guitar
N.D.Smart II - Drums
Ken Kalmusky - Bass
Special Thanks to David Briggs on Piano
Background Vocals - N.D. Smart II and Amos Garrett on "SMILING WINE" and "WE SAIL." Amos Garrett on "LONG LONG TIME TO GET OLD."