Description
The self-titled, sole album by the American power rock trio The Exkursions was independently released by the band in 1971. The album was engineered by band member Fyl Jonnzen.
The Exkursions was a Chicago based psychedelic blues band with heavy fuzz guitar sound, featuring Mike Johnson on guitar and vocals, backed by a rhythm section consisting of Leon Wilson on bass and Fyl Jonnzen on drums. The band was led by Johnson, considered one of the true father of what we now call contemporary Christian music, who later went on to record solo projects and even earn a Songwriter of the Year award.
High-octane power rock trio of Mike Johnson, Fyl Jonnzen and Leon Wilson, their custom album absolutely blitzing through eight tunes of heavy blues-influenced material in the vein of Hendrix and Cream. No muffled sounds here – the production is top-notch and the guitars shine forth loud and mean, heavily imbrued with ‘60s psych effects (originally released in 1971). Singer/lead guitarist Johnson gives an exceptional performance; he contributed a number of fine solo albums in the ‘70s, but none of them cook with near the intensity of this baby. «Third Eye» is a good example; after starting with some bizarre psycho-babble, the piece breaks into a fierce minute-and-a-half electric guitar jam (recalling Stu Heiss’ opening solo in Rez Band’s «White Noise»). «Dry Ground» is another standout, its fast-driving Hendrix groove outfitted with a killer searing guitar lead. «Baby You Lied», a love-gone-bad slow blues rocker sounds like one of those lengthy Derek & the Dominoes tracks, with wild stereo separation that I’m sure made many a hippie smile back then. Dual rhythm guitar and leads give the band a fuller sound than most trios. Wah-wah and fuzz effects abound, sometimes together as on the opening CCR-ish «Picture Woman». Good solid drum work throughout, too, including a solo opportunity at the beginning of the heavily fuzzed «Would You Believe», a smooth piece of soft jazz that Mike also included on his Velvet Prince album. Great psychedelic cover art to match. Says on the back they formed in Chicago in 1968, their sound “spawned out of Chicago’s own particular blend of jazz, blues and rock.” This one delivers in everyway! [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
The Exkursions Legends Remastered 2011, Born Twice Records Promo
On the 2011 Born Twice Records: Legends Remastered Volume Three you can hear this legendary release in digital format, remastered by specialist J Powell of Steinhaus. Everything is packaged in a beautiful 6 panel digipak that even includes a band biography that is helpful for new fans! For fans of Hendrix, Cream, early Resurrection Band! Collect all of the Legends Remastered special series that resurrects classic Jesus Music and Christian rock releases from the 70’s! See also Amaziah & Bill Mason Band for Volumes 1 & 2 of this collectible series.
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-exkursions-legends-remastered-vol-3/500093622)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Picture Woman” – 5:25
A2. “Dry Ground” – 3:49
A3. “Baby You Lied” – 6:03
A4. “What Happened To Me” – 2:37
Side Two
B1. “Third Eye” – 4:50
B2. “You & Me” – 2:37
B3. “It’s Been Set Down” – 4:47
B4. “Would You Believe” – 4:17
Note: Remastered by J Powell of Steinhaus and re-issued on CD by Retroactive Records’ sub-label Born Twice Records in 2011.
Mike Johnson (Michael Craig Johnson: October 11, 1946 – February 9, 2013) was born in Chicago so he was born into the blues. In the early 1960s he performed with Michael Bloomfield and was a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band.
After attending Bible college for a year, Mike joined forces with John Ankerberg and would take his blues-rock style of guitar playing to twenty-eight campuses in the Chicago area through Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. Mike’s band The Exkursions would play at hundreds of college campuses and coffee houses across the country for the next two years including an outreach through the Billy Graham organization.
After The Exkursions, Mike took to the road as a solo artist, traveling the country with his family and self-producing three albums, signing with major CCM label NewPax records and recording three highly popular albums, became a staff song writer for Gary Paxton‘s company with over 135 published songs appearing on fourteen albums by artists including the Oak Ridge Boys and Vern Gosdin.
Johnson’s also known as the first contemporary Christian artist to use concerts for Compassion International to present the needs of Third World children. Thanks to his help and vision, there are over one million children in twenty-six countries being sponsored today.
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