Cool Living Water

Description

Cool Living Water is an album by the Australian psychedelic folk-rock band Flock, independently released on EMI Australia Custom in 1975 (on the inlay credited “Melchizedec Records, distributed i Australia by Tempo Records Sales”). The album was recorded by Graham Owens at Bill Armstrong Studios in Melbourne, Australia; with Chris Knight and David Hughes producing. All songs written and arranged by David Diprose for Living Vibes Music.

Flock features Dave Diprose on guitar, dobro, mouth harp, and vocals; Kay Fitzgerald on organ, guitar, and vocals; Bill Younes on banjo and mandolin; Kevin Albrecht on bass; and Rod Vandersluys on percussion, congas, and washboard. Assisted on the album by Ray Dick on percussion and Garry Shepherd on piano and blues harp.

Marvelous folkrock private press from longhaired Australian band of Jesus freaks (four guys, one girl). Mostly an acoustic rock format (rhythm guitars, lead guitar, piano, bass, drums), often with folksy instrumentation that includes dobro, mandolin, banjo, honky-tonk saloon piano, congas, mouth harp, washboard and blues harp. Organ fills out and amplifies the sound on cuts like the title track, «Jesus Is My Friend» and «Spirit Move Within Me». Psychsters will immediately be drawn to the standout track «Broken Arrow», a first-rate minor-key mindbender clocking in at 6:36 with psychedelic organ, lengthy electric guitar jamming, and lyrics about letting God be your shield “so the devil’s dart is just a broken arrow”. Also attractive phased guitar decorating «We Can Make It With Jesus». «Hear My Cry», «Natural Man» and «Help Me Get Back On My Feet Again» are all suffused with unplugged rustic blues influences (and a faint glimmer of All Saved Freak Band). The band was part of Truth and Liberation Concern, a group that sought to break out of traditional Christian cultural containment into a New Testament, compassionate, Christ-like life style – like an Australian version of Jesus People USA. A very rare record from Australia’s EMI Custom label, also home to Kindekrist’s excellent Father Songs. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Hear My Cry” – 4:01
A2. “I’d Rather Have My Lord” – 2:07
A3. “Cool Living Water” – 3:28
A4. “Natural Man” – 4:00
A5. “On The Eve Of Returning Home” – 3:52
A6. “We Can Make It With Jesus” – 3:42

Side Two
B1. “Jesus Is My Friend” – 3:16
B2. “My Brother’s Keeper” – 3:11
B3. “Broken Arrow” – 6:36
B4. “Help Me Get Back On My Feet Again” – 3:40
B5. “Spirit Move Within Me” – 5:00