Description
The self-titled, sole album by the American R&B/funk group The Crimson Bridge was released on Myrrh Records in 1972, a division of Word. The album was engineered by Bruce Swedien with Billy Ray Hearn producing. The Crimson Bridge (catalog number MST-6503-LP) was the fourth album released on Myrrh Records, Word’s first – and at the time brand new – contemporary music label.
The band was formed in 1970 by members of the group The Spurrlows. “Better Times” was covered by First Gear, another Spurrlows-related R&B/funk group signed to Myrrh Records, on their self-titled debut album released on Myrrh later the same year.
When is a musical group no longer “just another group”? When does it achieves its own identity – its own place in the music world?
When it starts putting together sounds the way Crimson Bridge does.
The Crimson Bridge has, beyond all doubt, developed its own sound. It’s rock-jazz-Latin-progressive-blues-acid-folk sound. And it all happens at once.
Incredible? Yes! But not too difficult to understand when you realize that the Crimson Brigde is a group of incredible musicians, with incredible talents in writing and arranging, as well as performing. You’ll hear solid evidence of all these talents on this album.
Sound like something you should be a part of? Well, then … FILL YOUR HEAD WITH THE CRIMSON BRIDGE.
[Note on the back of the album sleeve]
Perhaps the most creative of the early Myrrh releases is this progressive brass-rock endeavor, or as the back cover describes it, a “rock-jazz-Latin-progressive-blues-acid-folk” sound. Several sections feature tempo changer-ups and Chicago/Blood Sweat & Tears-like structures, soulful male lead vocalists alternating with female lead singers and bgvs. Musical passages may include dynamic combination’s of Power horns, propulsive bass lines, rocking electric guitar leads, squealing trumpet solos, vibrant Latin percussion and funky rhythm guitar. The highlight of the album would probably have to be «First Suite», a superb multi-textured twenty-minute artful piece in three movements that takes up the whole of side two (some surging organ and heavy guitar action in there). More high powered grooves can be found energizing titles like «Better Times», «Comin’» and «Birthright». «Easy Ways» and «He’s Alive» show the group equally effective in creating softer ballad moods. Get your groove on with The Crimson Bridge! [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Better Times” – 3:15
A2. “Easy Ways” – 2:34
A3. “Comin'” – 4:07
A4. “He’s Alive” – 4:10
A5. “Birthright” – 3:45
Side Two
First Suite by Gary Rand:
B1.a “1st Movement (Searching In Reality)” – 6:16
B1.b “2nd Movement (Experience)” – 5:26
B1.c “3rd Movement (The Beginning Of Joy)” – 8:26
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Myrrh Records.
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