Stark Raving Jams

Description

Stark Raving Jams is a triple disc live compilation album by the American power rock trio Glass Harp featuring guitarist Phil Keaggy, independently released on Special Friends Productions in 2004. Featuring various tracks recorded live by the band between 1970 and 2003.

When drummer/project compiler John Sferra notified me that Stark Raving Jams was on the way, he suggested that I sample a few tracks here and there, since the whole project was three hours long. When the package arrived Saturday, I happily ignored his advice and listened to the whole thing straight through. This is a unique release, featuring jams culled from board tapes, audience recordings, and live studio tapes of the early Glass Harp days in the 1970s as well as more recent material recorded after the band reunited in the 90s.

My favorite CD is probably the first, thanks to the rowdy «Dit, Dit, Dit» featuring guitarist Phil Keaggy at his rocking best, and «Drum & Plastic Thing», a fine demonstration of Sferra’s skills behind the drum kit. Dan Pecchio’s solid bass playing combines with Sferra’s powerful drumming to create the perfect foundation above which Keaggy weaves his guitar magic throughout this multi-disc feast. There are few complete songs, but who’s complaining when an excerpt runs over 8 minutes, as half a dozen tracks do? (The longest track is over 15 minutes.) There are vocals on some songs, but again, the focus is on the instrumental jams. One marvelous exception is «Nothing But The Blood», a spectacularly moving re-arrangement of the traditional hymn. If you want more full songs with all of the vocals, see Glass Harp’s highly regarded Strings Attached double CD.

Stark Raving Jams will be a mandatory acquisition for fans of Glass Harp and Phil Keaggy. These CDs invite you to sit in as the trio of brilliant musicians work their magic, synergistically feeding off of each other. What better way could you spend three hours? [Randy Brandt, Al Menconi, June 2004]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/stark-raving-jams/445450830)

3CD tracklist:

Disc One

1-01. Sign One – 8:30
1-02. California Jam ’72 – 4:33
1-03. Flying Harp Balero (feat. Jim Richley on percussion) – 5:47
1-04. Miles Beyond (feat. Chris Queen on keys) – 3:48
1-05. My Prayer – 3:11
1-06. Dit Dit Dit – 3:13
1-07. Pint Of Grace – 2:20
1-08. Seperate – 6:53
1-09. Drum & Plastic Thing – 2:12
1-10. Swampy – 1:03
1-11. Voice Of God Call Out – 5:42
1-12. Beachland Changes – 15:38

Disc Two

2-01. Nelson’s Ledges – 3:52
2-02. Never Is A Long Time – 3:23
2-03. Ball Bearing Rain – 1:14
2-04. The Curator – 8:12
2-05. Groove For Spencer – 3:11
2-06. No Place To Go – 3:13
2-07. Special Friends – 3:19
2-08. Nothing But The Blood – 5:54
2-09. Once A Day Dream (feat. Jeff Snauffer on mandolin) – 6:33
2-10. Children’s Fantasy – 4:22
2-11. End Of Change (Changes guitar solo) – 2:58
2-12. The Trilogy – 15:38
2-13. Dateline – 1:01

Disc Three

3-01. Fresh California Jam – 5:24
3-02. Shepherd’s Jam – 6:19
3-03. Cathedral Jamitor – 1:49
3-04. You Can See Me – 7:11
3-05. Cincinnati (Village Queen) – 4:10
3-06. Sign – 8:48
3-07. Halls Of Carnegie – 2:08
3-08. Spare Change – 2:15
3-09. What’s In Your Heart – 4:44
3-10. Eddie’s Blues (feat. Eddie Pecchio on bass) – 3:28
3-11. SAB Jam – 4:46
3-12. Children’s Jazz – 2:15
3-13. Kilts & All – 0:39
3-14. Live Together – 3:33

Note: Available at Bandcamp: https://glassharp.bandcamp.com/album/stark-raving-jams

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