The Last Call of Shiloh

Description

The self-titled, sole album by the American folk-rock band The Last Call of Shiloh was independently released on Last Call in 1972. The album was recorded at Sound Recording Co. in Spokane, Washington.

The band features Rick Saylor, John Rosenberry, Jaimie and Vicki Tsapatoris, and John and Diane Murray.

Excruciatingly rare and highly desirable slab of west coast garagy rock rooted in the San Francisco sound. Taking their name from Genesis 49:10, this 4-guy, 2-gal outreach of the Idaho Jesus People Army had an edgy homemade sound that’s been likened to a more laid-back Jefferson Airplane, with spacey female vocals over an electric backdrop of psychy basement guitar. The unusual song composition didn’t hit me over the head at first, but multiple listenings revealed the layers of interesting guitar work going on in the background. «New Jerusalem» has some nice slow dreamy charm at work while «Marriage Supper Of The Lamb» and «Great Day Of The Lord» both approach seven minutes in length, allowing the guitarist opportunity to try out some tremoloed Quicksilver flourishes. Closes with «Call To Brokeness», a beautiful piece of ethereal femme folk psych. Black and white cover features a pencil drawing of the face of Christ overtop a photo montage of the multitudes. A couple members went on to form the band Living Sacrifice, re-interpreting a few of these songs over the course of their three albums. Be aware that some copies without sleeves were obtained from the band a few years ago – these are now being circulated with reproduced covers. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th edition]

LP tracklist:

Side One
A1. “Taste Of The Lord” – 4:18
A2. “Joy Of A Friend” – 2:18
A3. “New Jerusalem” – 4:30
A4. “New Life Arising” – 2:55
A5. “Great Day Of The Lord” – 5:47

Side Two
B1. “Marriage Supper Of The Lamb” – 6:52
B2. “Message Of The Gospel” – 4:20
B3. “The Rapture” – 6:38
B4. “Call Of The Brokeness” – 2:08

Note: Privately pressed in 1972 in tiny quantities (200 or 500 copies as the band recalls). Re-issued by Anazitisi Records ‎in 2010 limited to 400 black and 100 coloured copies on 180gr 12-inch vinyl LP (comes with an insert booklet with song lyrics, photos and accounts from the band describing the move of God in Sandpoint, Idaho in 1971-1972).