Description
The self-titled debut album by the American power rock trio Glass Harp featuring guitarist Phil Keaggy was released on Decca Records in 1970, a division of MCA. The album was recorded in September 1970 in about a week at Electric Lady Studios in New York’s Greenwich Village with Lewis Merenstein producing. Strings arranged by Larry Fallon (who also did the arrangements on Van Morrison‘s classic album Astral Weeks, which was produced by Merenstein).
Glass Harp is Phil Keaggy on guitar with a rhythm section featuring Dan Pecchio on bass and John Sferra on drums.
Glass Harp is Phil Keaggy, John Sferra and Dan Pecchio, and their name is accurately descriptive of their smooth and mellow rock sound. Producer Lewis Merenstein provides the high polish necessary to present the group’s positive, gently philosophical songs, and with Larry Fallon arranging the strings, the rock trio breeze rhythmically through «Can You See Me», «Village Queen» and «On Our Own». Plenty of strength in these solid lyrics. [Billboard Magazine, February 27, 1971]
The debut of Glass Harp is undeniably their strongest work, with a more unified sound and a more polished overall feel than the other records. The group is not pulling apart so much on the first record. The group’s strongest songs appear here: «Changes», «Can You See Me», «Look in the Sky». Much here in the vein of Cream and Jimi Hendrix. Gentle «Black Horse» is a nice touch. Keaggy is an amazing guitarist with innovative playing techniques and an ear for texture and tone color. Sferra stands out as the strongest writer of the group at this time. For fans of late-’60s classic rock, this is an excellent addition to your collection. [Mark Allender, AMG]
Fans of Phil Keaggy will need no introduction to his early ‘70s progressive rock band Glass Harp. Phil of course has many fine solo LPs to his credit, but it is the Glass Harp LPs that the Keaggy-phile keeps coming back to for sheer guitar virtuosity and to experience the pyrotechnics that often decorate his live performances. And while Keaggy’s presence brings the Christian angle to the group, by all means don’t leave out the contributions of fellow band members John Sferra (drums) and Dan Pecchio (bass). The band clearly had a chemistry going, with each member playing a critical role in developing the group’s sound. Pecchio and Sferra’s songs may not technically be classifiable as “Jesus music”, but their songwriting happens to comprise some of the group’s best moments and you’d do well to give it an ear. Unlike Keaggy’s later solo work, the Glass Harp albmns are more rooted in the psych-edged classic rock style of the early ‘70s. Not to imply that they’re all flash and loud jams. In fact some of Keaggy’s most moody and atmospheric passages can be found etched in these grooves. The self-titled debut captures the band at their peak, including such classics as «Can You See Me» and the eight-minute «Look To The Sky». Additional textures are brought to the recording through ethereal string arrangements, flute passages from Pecchio, and electric viola from Velvet Underground’s John Cale. Rumors of a fourth LP have been confirmed – it actually pre-dates this one and exists in acetate form only (though bootleg tapes are floating around). Incredible stuff – really. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
Folks, what you have here is pretty much the holy grail of early Christian rock (and a mighty important relic of mainstream “classic” rock for that matter)! After a 30-year domestic out of print status Glass Harp first three masterpieces – the self titled Glass Harp, Synergy, and It Makes Me Glad – are available again in excellent reissues from Music Mill Entertainment. The impressive Glass Harp reissues all feature original cover art, newly penned liner notes, and a bonus track from the band’s own vault on each release to cap them off in fine form. The albums are all digitally remastered and sound better (and louder) than the hard to find, expensive German issued versions that came out in the early ’90s.
These three albums are an essential time capsule to classic rock and Christian rock aficionados. Glass Harp was/is a progressive rock power trio featuring Phil Keaggy on guitars/vocals, Dan Pecchio on bass/flute/vocals, and John Sferra on drums/vocals. These three fantastic performers rode to the top of an Ohio music scene that produced groups like The Raspberries & The James Gang (with Joe Walsh). After attaining solid regional success in touring, Glass Harp was signed to Decca Records. These albums were each produced by Grammy award winner Lewis Merenstein (Van Morrison, Spencer Davis Group, Gladys Knight, John Cale) in the legendary Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios.
Like many LPs created during this creatively fertile time, Glass Harp’s albums feature a wide variety of musical styles: hard rock, jazz, progressive sounding tunes, gentle folks harmonies, psychedelic rock, and even a dash of soul – all wrapped around a tasty pop-rock center. The lyrics are buoyantly optimistic for the most part, and Keaggy speaks much about his newfound faith. Keaggy contributes (surprise!) incredible guitar (love that Ebow) and solid vocals, but Pecchio’s solid bass work/haunting flute pieces and Sferra’s driving drum backbeat can’t be overlooked. Each band member makes solid contributions, and Glass Harp’s legendary live performances chock full of jaw-dropping improvisation were evidence of this (and thankfully several live albums by Glass Harp are now available). Fans of Cream, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, The Moody Blues, early Electric Light Orchestra, Roy Wood, and The Move (and just about any late ’60s/early ’70s rock groups) will find much to love in these three albums.
An editorial aside: The self-titled first CD Glass Harp should have been on the list of the top 100 Christian albums of all time that was released by CCM magazine. Take your book out and write this one in folks, it ougtta’ be there!
If you have not delved into Glass Harp before, there has never been a better time. Start with these three CDs and then check out their recently released reunion Hourglass. If you like what you hear you’ll need to get the live reunion on Strings Attached and compare it to the classic Live! At Carnegie Hall set. If you want to go really deep dive into the classy three CD live rarity set Stark Raving Jams. If you are already a fan, then you need no introduction to these three classics, just order them. [Barry Nothstine, The Phantom Tollbooth, 10/23/2005]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Can You See Me” – 6:25
A2. “Children’s Fantasy” – 4:10
A3. “Changes (In The Heart Of My Own True Love)” – 6:00
A4. “Village Queen” – 4:00
A5. “Black Horse” – 2:50
Side Two
B1. “Southbound” – 3:50
B2. “Whatever Life Demands” – 6:30
B3. “Look In The Sky” – 8:10
B4. “Garden” – 5:15
B5. “On Our Own” – 2:30
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape, cassette, and 12-inch vinyl LP by Decca Records. Re-issued on CD by Lineca in 1993, a sub-label of the German label Line Music GmbH. Remastered in 2005 and released on CD by Music Mill Entertainment. Glass Harp released a two-sided single on United Audio in 1969 featuring two non-LP tracks written by Phil Keaggy; “Where Did My World Come From?” and “She Told Me”. Available at Bandcamp: https://glassharp.bandcamp.com/album/glass-harp
The Man & His Music – A Very Special Radio Show (1981), a Sparrow Records promotional item hosted by Paul Baker in 1981, is available at Bandcamp: https://philkeaggy.bandcamp.com/album/the-man-his-music-a-very-special-radio-show-1981
AREA 312 Rock & Metal Vodcast, 18 Feb 2023: Phil Keaggy Interview
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