Brothers with Marj Snyder

Description

The self-titled, sole album by Brothers (Rick Riso and Tony Sbrana) with Marj Snyder was released on Discovery Records in 1972. Side One features a Rock Musical – Journey of Faith with the flip-side featuring Other Musical Selections. The album was produced and engineered by Paul Weaver. Technical director: Jim Conklin. Arranged by Rick Riso (later of Messenger fame).

All songs on Side One – the rock musical Journey of Faith – were written by Tony Sbrana, or co-written by Sbrana and M. Greenlaw. All songs on Side Two were written by Tony Sbrana except track B3 co-written by Sbrana and Rick Riso and track B5, “Born to Die”, a song written by John Fischer and originally recorded on his 1969-album, The Cold Cathedral.

The “brothers” here are Rick Riso and Tony Sbrana, joined by folk singer Marj Snyder who contributed several fine solo albums in the ‘70s. This project is rockier than those efforts, though the styles here are quite varied. Side one is a “rock musical” about Old Testament characters. Their stories are told in “hip” language with a heavy dose of humor. Noah hopes his wife remembered seasick pills, Jonah sets out to have a “whale” of a time, and the serpent suggests to Eve that she needs some meat on her bones. Even includes a risqué ‘Shaving Cream’-ism (you know, where they almost say the rhyming naughty word). Styles include folk, acoustic, rock, blues (Job’s song of course), and jazz. Vocals are well-harmonized, kinda lazy, kicked back, cool. Colorful gatefold cover. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One – Rock Musical…
A1. “Adam & Eve” – 1:54
A2. “Serpent” – 1:04
A3. “The Right Way” – 2:30
A4. “Noah” – 3:26
A5. “Abraham & Sarah” – 4:30
A6. “The Message Of The Lord” – 0:37
A7. “Job” – 2:23
A8. “Jonah” – 1:58
A9. “Daniel” – 1:43

Side Two – Other Musical Selections
B1. “Living Used To Be My Sin” – 5:20
B2. “Lucky Louie” – 4:38
B3. “Maybe If We Tried A Little Love” – 3:05
B4. “Ripe Old Age” – 2:39
B5. “Born To Die” – 2:17

Note: The LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve.

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Gatefold Cover Artwork

Gatefold Cover, Inside

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CREDITS. Produced and engineered by Paul Weaver. Technical Director: Conklin. Arrangements by Rick Riso. Cover Art by Pete Kasavan. Color Photography by Gene Richert. Graphic Layout by Wendell St. Clair. Special Thanks To: Gospel Sound & Music Company of Monterey Hallelujah and John Catalano.

Rock Musical, Scenes & Characters:
ADAM & EVE: Rick Riso (Adam), Marj Snyder (Eve). SERPENT: Tony Sbrana (Serpent), Marj Snyder (Eve). THE RIGHT WAY: Rick Riso (God), Tony Sbrana (Narrator), Tony Sbrana (Cain). NOAH: Rick Riso (Noah), Tony Sbrana (Narrator), Marj Snyder (Birdie), Everyone who wasn’t doing something else! (Hecklers). ABRAHAM & SARAH: Rick Riso (Abraham), Marj Snyder (Sarah), Tony Sbrana (God). THE MESSAGE OF THE LORD: The Brothers with Marj Snyder (Angel). JOB: Tony Sbrana (Job), Rick Riso (God), The Brothers with Marj Snyder (Group). JONAH: Rick Riso (God), Tony Sbrana (Jonah), The Brothers with Marj Snyder (Group), Marj Snyder (Narrator). DANIEL: Tony Sbrana (Narrator), The Brothers with Marj Snyder & Laurel Offenbach (Back-up and Vocals).

INSTRUMENTATION:
Tony Sbrana and Rick Riso (Acoustic Guitar and Ukulele), Dale Lear (Piano and Harpsichord), Daniel Abrams (Organ), John Catalano (Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone), Ken Lopez (Electric Guitar), Brother George Minerva (Bass), Vito Catalano (Drums and Congas).