Reformation

Description

Reformation is an album by the American rock/R&B band The California Earthquake feat. Roy Smith, released on United Artists Records in 1971. The album was recorded at T.T.G. Studios in Hollywood, California; with Tommy Oliver and Tony Scotti producing for Red Balloon Production. (T.T.G. was a well-known studio used by legendary recording artists such as Jimi Hendrix, Frank Zappa, The Doors and Velvet Underground.) Arranged by Brian Griffin, Jimmy Langford, Tommy Oliver, and Tony Scotti. Orchestrated by Brian Griffin and Jimmy Langford.

Away back when God’s popularity was occasionally leaking over into major labels, California Earthquake took the brass rock bull by the horns, combining the fervent soul of Blood, Sweat & Tears with some of the progressive hard rock crunch of Chicago’s debut. The end results are indeed commendable and quite professional sounding. The organ is hot, the lead guitar bristles with excitement and Roy Smith’s vocals burn with passion. From the thunderous «Let There Be Light» (which includes some cool psychy vocal echoes) to the symphonic art-rock instrumental «In The Beginning» to the funk-groovin’ «Reformation ’71», California Earthquake proudly shows that they got da power. As with some other big-label spiritual projects of the day like the God Squad and The Electric Prunes’ Mass In F Minor, the overall vibe here seems more a mainstream Christian-themed experiment rather than a grassroots expression of the Jesus People. Includes covers of «Put Your Hand In The Hand», Billy Vera’s «The Bible Salesman» and Leonard Cohen’s «Suzanne». [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “In The Beginning” – 5:16
A2. “Let There Be Light” – 4:13
A3. “Who Is That Man” – 2:11
A4. “Friday: 3 P.M.” – 0:56
A5. “Put Your Hand In The Hand” – 2:46
A6. “My God And I” – 4:06

Side Two
B1. “Have You Read The Word” – 1:08
B2. “The Bible Salesman” – 3:08
B3. “Sally Go Down” – 3:23
B4. “Prelude To Suzanne” – 2:48
B5. “Suzanne” – 3:57
B6. “Reformation ’71” – 3:32

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CREDITS. Produced by Tommy Oliver and Tony Scotti. Arranged by Brian Griffin, Jimmy Langford, Tommy Oliver, and Tony Scotti. Orchestrated by Brian Griffin and Jimmy Langford. Recorded at T.T.G. Studios in Hollywood, CA. Art Direction and Design by Norman Seeff.

Musicians: Roy Smith (Vocals), Brian Griffin (Organ, Leader), Bill Connors (Guitar), Dennis Parker (Bass), Jim Gordon (Drums), John Guerin (Drums). Horns: Mike Barrowman, Jon Clarke, Joel Porter, Don Roberts, Mayo Tiana.