Description
The self-titled debut album by the American country-rock duo The Talbot Brothers featuring John Michael and Terry Talbot of Mason Proffit fame, was released on Warner Bros. Records in 1974. Re-issued in the Christian music market two years later by Sparrow Records, re-titled Reborn and featuring slightly reworked artwork. (One track, “Moline Truckin'”, was as well left off the Sparrow edition.) The album was recorded by Gary Ladinski at the Record Plant in Los Angeles, California; with Bill Halverson producing. Mixed at Wally Heider Recording Studios 1 and 3 in Los Angeles.
The Talbot brothers both established their respective solo careers in 1976, though released three more albums together on Sparrow Records: the musical Firewind featuring artists like Barry McGuire, Keith Green and 2nd Chapter of Acts (1976), as well as the praise and worship albums The Painter with the London Chamber Orchestra (1980) and No Longer Strangers (1983).
High-class country rock album from Mason Proffit graduates John and Terry Talbot. Less electric and kickin’ than bands like the Outlaws, but more rootsy feel than the Eagles and all their imitators thanks to an acoustic emphasis and use of banjo, dobro, steel guitar, and harmonica. Includes a fresh version of Little Feat’s «Easy To Slip», as well as a cover of Clayton’s «Carnival Balloon» – everything else was written by the Talbots. Hawaiian guitar leads grace the beautiful acoustic piece «Trail Of Tears». Fast pickin’ on hoe-down «Comin’ Home To Jesus» and «Moline Truckin», both with Randy Scruggs on guitar. The latter song was deleted when the album was re-issued as Reborn on the Sparrow label (SPR-1008). Several mainstream label musicians assisting to create a consistent professional sound throughout without a hint of fluff. [Ken Scott, The Archivist, 4th Edition]
In 1974, Terry and John Talbot (formerly of Mason Proffitt) went into Record Plant Studios in L.A. with a star-studded entourage of studio musicians. They resurfaced with some of the best sounding Christian music we may ever hear.
The liner notes read like a back-up musician’s hall of fame. Drummer Russ Kunkel and bassist Leland Sklar have accompanied James Taylor for years as well as countless other big name artists. Sneaky Pete plays pedal steel for just about everyone including Ringo Starr and adds a nice touch with the Talbots. Jackson Browne’s own David Lindley puts down a great Hawaiian guitar track on «Trail of Tears». (Lindley’s playing was the icing on the cake of Crosby and Nash’s recent ‘Wind on the Water’-album.) All these fine musicians along with the Talbots’ own respective talents create an album that is a pleasure to the ears.
A testimony song «Comin’ Home to Jesus», show off John Talbot’s un-paralleled banjo picking – smart and crisp. «Trail of Tears» is one of the best cuts sympathizing sensitively with the American Indian. «Come and Gone» paints warm pictures and comes off as one of the best spiritual songs of the album. «Hear You Callin’» is a beautifully written and rendered song of worship.
John and Terry’s lyrics are welcome new energy to the Kingdom’s music. «Comin’ Home to Jesus» is the closest they come to being trite; but in the song’s setting of an old time church revival, this is pardonable.
The album is mixed as immaculately as Chinese food; leaving in just enough of everything and not too much of any one thing. The overall blend and feeling of unity are a great tribute to everyone involved.
For one reason or another, ‘The Talbot Brothers’ didn’t boom with secular commercial music and may be hard to find. This album is, hopefully, just the “tip of the iceberg” of Talbot music. [Blue Samuel Flying (a.k.a. Ron Moore), Harmony, Vol. 1, No. 6, March/April 1976]
> Apple Music (as a part of The Talbot Brothers Collection)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Easy To Slip” – 3:19
A2. “Comin’ Home To Jesus” – 2:42
A3. “In My Dreams” – 3:09
A4. “And The Time” – 2:44
A5. “Trail Of Tears” – 3:47
Side Two
B1. “Over Jordan” – 4:32
B2. “Moline Truckin'” – 2:12
B3. “Come And Gone” – 2:54
B4. “Over Again” – 2:56
B5. “Carnival Balloon” – 3:25
B6. “Hear You Callin'” – 2:06
Note: Simultaneously released on 8-track tape and 12-inch vinyl LP by Warner Records. Six of the album tracks were released on CD by Sparrow Records in 1995 as a part of the double disc compilation, The Talbot Brothers Collection: A Library of 35 Favorite Songs.
The Talbot Brothers – Reborn, Sparrow Records 1976
CREDITS. Produced by Bill Halverson for Jordan Productions. Recorded by Gary Ladinski at Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA. Remixed at Wally Heider Recording Studios 1 and 3, Los Angeles, CA. Photography by Leandro Correa. Art Direction by Ed Thrasher. Design by Rod Dyer, Inc. Liner Notes by Terry N. Talbot. All songs written, or co-written (A4, B1, B4), by Terry N. Talbot (A2, B2) and John Talbot (A3, A5, B3, B6), except track A1 written by Fred Martin and Lowell George and track B5 written by Lee Clayton.
Musicians: John Michael Talbot (Guitar, Banjo, Vocals), Terry Talbot (Guitar, Banjo, Vocals), Leland Sklar (Bass), Drums (Russ Kunkel). Additional musicians: Donney Dakus (Guitar – tracks: A1, B3, B5), John Jarvis (Piano – tracks: A1, B1, B5), Randy Scruggs (Guitar – tracks: A2, B2), Creeper Kurnow (Piano – tracks: A3, A4, Harmonica – tracks: A2, B2, B3, B4, B5), Josh Graves (Dobro Resonator Guitar – tracks: A2, B2), Sneaky Pete Kleinow (Steel Guitar – tracks: A4, B4), David Lindley (Hawaiian Guitar on track A5).
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