Description
Albrecht and Roley is the sole album by the American duo consisting of singers/songwriters Mike Albrecht and Scott Roley, released on Airborn Records in 1975. The album was recorded through the Sound Laboratory Of Airborn Records, Buckingham Studios in Birmingham, Michigan; with Scott Roley producing.
The duo soon added Alan Moore (who actually also played bass on this album) and expended into a trio simply named Albrecht, Roley & Moore which released three studio albums between 1977 and 1980. Scott Roley was as well a founding member of the Michigan based band Aslan that released a self-titled album on Airborn Records in 1973 (re-issued on Hartsong Records in 1979).
Saw a copy of this one in Goldmine collector’s magazine once where the dealer described it as having a “good stoned feel”. Huh? Well, I don’t think I woulda used quite the same words, but at least they adequately suggested that this ain’t no sappy Christian radio thingy. Albrecht & Roley is Mike Albrecht and Scott Roley – the latter’s name graces pert near every album on this tiny label. Actually Alan Moore is in here, too, playing bass and banjo on several songs. This is light acoustic folk. Picture an un-orchestrated Jim Croce or perhaps a demo tape by America and you’ll get the idea. Albrecht and Roley’s acoustic guitars complement each other well giving a nice basement sound that’s hard not to like. Perhaps that “stoned feel” comment was inspired by more basement sounding electric cuts like «Frieze» or the watery psych-ish phase-shifted guitars on «The Good Life». Re-issued on Hartsong in the late 70’s with a different cover. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]
This album is full of fresh, crisp acoustic music without frills or fancy packaging. Albrecht & Roley demonstrate their sensitive songwriting talents on this LP, along with their ability to produce country/folk music in a pure and simple way. The A & R sound is about halfway between that of Loggins & Messina and America – in fact, their version of America’s «Lonely People» at a recent concert was a virtual replica of the original.
The record is short on spiritual edification – their Christian message is non-existent in a few songs, and hidden in most of the others, However, God has blessed these two artists with a great deal of musical skill, and the result is a refreshingly pleasant album. (By the way, since the completion on this disc, A & R have added a bass player and now perform as Albrecht, Roley, & Moore.) [Russ Proctor, Harmony, Vol. 1, No. 6, March/April 1976]
Mike Albrecht and Scott Roley formed their acoustic duet in September of 1974. After the breakup of Aslan and Stillwaters, Scott Roley joined forces with Mike Albrecht, his musical partner from high school days. Together they traveled on the mid-west and east coast coffee house circuits and began to lay the foundation for the nationally known group Albrecht, Roley and Moore. The ten songs written and sung by Mike and Scott were recorded through the various facilities of Airborn Records in Michigan during 1974 and 1975. Appearing in the recordings are Jeff Roley on drums, Ted Kallman on guitar, Linda Kendall on recorder, Martin Vipon on bass, Mike Albrecht on guitar, piano, and vocals, Scott Roley on guitar and vocals, and Alan Moore on banjo and bass. The opening song was composed by Jeff Trautman, a former Aslan player. [Note on the back of the re-issue LP sleeve]
Mike Albrecht and Scott Roley were Andover High School friends living in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan in the summer of 1974. They reconnected after college and decided to form a band playing their original music in local clubs. Scott’s connection with Aslan and Airborn Records provided the musicians and recording opportunities needed to produce an album of their work. Former Aslan member, Linda Roley, performed on the record and created the original cover art.
The songs were written by Mike and Scott (with the exception of Jenny, a song written by Jeff Troutman) and recorded mostly in the basement of the Roley’s home in Birmingham, Michigan in the fall of 1974. Some of the sessions were off site in order to find better piano and drum sounds. Aslan’s Jeff Roley and Ted Kallman played on the recording, as well as Ron Moore’s younger brother Alan, who would eventually join the band.
Again the machine used was a TEAC 3340 and Airborn Records manufactured and released one thousand copies. There was an additional thousand pieces cut by Spirit Records, which were made available at the same time as the Aslan re-release.
[Scott Roley]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Jenny” – 1:55
A2. “Freedom” – 2:45
A3. “Lynda” – 3:00
A4. “Unseen Friend” – 3:10
A5. “Frieze” – 3:45
Side Two
B1. “Further Up And Further In” – 4:35
B2. “Down By The Bay” – 2:20
B3. “Virginia Melody” – 3:50
B4. “Gently Flowing Feeling” – 2:15
B5. “The Good Life” – 3:45
Note: The album was re-issued by Airborn Records in 1979, featuring new cover artwork, manufactured and distributed by Hartsong Corporation. Available on CD and as download at scottroley.com
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