Description
Fred Field and Friends is the sole studio album by the American singer and songwriter Fred Field, released on Maranatha! Music in 1976. The album was recorded by Neal Rieffanaugh at Buddy King Studios in Huntington Beach, California; and was produced and arranged by the band. Mixed by Bill Schnee at Producers Workshop in Hollywood, California. All songs written by Fred Field, except “He Lives” co-written with Henry Cutrona of Gentle Faith fame. The album track “Falling” was also included on Maranatha! Music’s multi-artist compilation Maranatha! 5 released the same year.
Featuring Fred Field on lead vocals as well as guitar, mandolin, banjo, and fiddle, backed by Dave Garland on piano, clavinet, and saxophone, Virgil Beckham on guitar, and a rhythm section consisting of Jay Truax on bass and John Mehler on drums (a.k.a. the rhythm section of Love Song), with the legendary Al Perkins sitting in on steel guitar (who actually also played on Love Songs’ sophomore and final studio album, Final Touch). Labelmate Erick Nelson provides piano on one track, “Falling”.
Fred Field was playing violin from a young age and it would always influence the music he created or took part in. In the 1960s Field’s earliest group, the Starfires, opened up for the likes of the Byrds, the Turtles, the Temptations and host of other luminaries. As well, Field was a founding member of Love Song and was responsible for much of their early material though left the band before their debut album was recorded. (Drummer John Mehler, who had joined Love Song in its infancy, also left with Field though rejoined the band in time to play on the band’s sophomore studio album Final Touch as well as their live album Feel the Love.) In 1984 a double live album was released by The Mehler-Field-Band, featuring Fred Field and John Mehler, as well as Tony Sena and Bud Nuanez.
One of umpteen country-influenced efforts on the Maranatha label. Fred plays guitar, fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and piano, joined by Maranatha stand-bys Jay Truax, John Mehler, Al Perkins, Erick Nelson and others. Less Eagles-ish than other albums on the label, with occasional pickin’ and grinnin’ («The Last Train To Heaven» and «Country Life»), plus some slow stuff with steel guitar («Suffer The Little Ones», «Home»). Saxophone tones down the rural edge on a couple tracks – in fact several of the songs have a light rock or MOR sound without any real country vibes. Two of the titles were originally written for films: «He Lives» for My Witnesses and «Country Life» for Five Summer Stories. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/fred-field-and-friends/724698731)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Warms Away The Coldest Night” – 3:05
A2. “The Last Train To Heaven” – 2:50
A3. “Falling” – 3:10
A4. “Building A House” – 2:50
A5. “He Lives” – 3:17
Side Two
B1. “Good Old California” – 4:01
B2. “Suffer The Little Ones” – 3:25
B3. “Country Life” – 1:54
B4. “That Morning” – 1:55
B5. “Home” – 4:00
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape and 12-inch vinyl LP by Maranatha! Music.
The first video shows Fred Field, one of the founding members of Love Song, playing with his new band Noah in Amsterdam, 1974, with Love Song’s “Front Seat, Back Seat” on the set list. The latter video shows Fred Field Band live in Hannover, Germany; 1976 – featuring Tommy Coomes of Love Song fame as well as Erick Nelson.
CREDITS. Produced and arranged by pals. Recorded by Neal Rieffanaugh at Buddy King’s. Mixed by Bill Schnee at Producers Workshop. Mastered at Mastering Lab. Cover illustration and art direction by Neal Buchanan. Photography by Scott Lockwood. All songs written by Fred Field, except “He Lives” co-written with Henry Cutrona.
Musicians: Fred Field (Vocals, Guitar, Fiddle, Mandolin, Banjo, Piano on track B1), Virgil Beckham (Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica), Al Perkins (Steel Guitar), Dave Garland (Saxophone, Clavinet, Electric Piano, Piano on tracks: A5, B2, B5), Erick Nelson (Piano on A3), Jay Truax (Bass, Vocals), John Mehler (Drums).
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