Description
The self-titled, sole album by the Amercian alternative pop/rockabilly band Wild Blue Yonder was released on Frontline Records in May 1986, distributed by The Benson Company. (It is considered a new incarnation of Wild Blue Yonder member Chris Brigandi’s earlier band, a rockabilly combo known as The Lifters.) The album was recorded by Doug Doyle and was produced by Terry Taylor of Daniel Amos fame. Mixed by Gene Eugene of Adam Again and band member Chris Brigandi.
Featuring a cover of “Only One”, an unreleased song written by Terry Taylor and originally recorded by his band Daniel Amos. (The Daniel Amos recording was finally released as a bonus track on the 2CD Deluxe Edition of ¡Alarma! released on Stunt Records in 2013.) Re-issued on CD by Metro One Music in March 1995 featuring new cover artwork as well as two extra tracks; “Where Can I Go” and “Every Day”. The CD edition also includes a bonus track; a duet with Crystal Lewis was “created” using Taylor’s Telethon of Love version of “Only One” and the original Wild Blue Yonder version.
Lead vocalist Crystal Lewis (who – alongside Chris Brigandi – had been part of the Hi-Tops cast) released her solo debut album Beyond the Charade the following year. (A final rockabilly album featuring some of the same musicians as featured on Wild Blue Yonder – this time under the moniker The Screamin’ Rays – was released on Metro One in 1999, entitled The Attack of the Screamin’ Rays.)
Wild Blue Yonder, Frontline Records 1986, LP/cassette
I was a big fan of Lone Justice when I was attending Greenbelt ’87 and I remember that the singer with this Californian band was touted as having a voice similar to Maria McKee. Their one and only album, released in that year, introduced the world to the stunning vocals of the diminutive Crystal Lewis whose energetic performance and big voice in a small frame took my breath away. Produced by Terry Taylor, this slab of jangling garage pop songs could certainly be filed alongside some of the country influenced indie acts of the time on songs like «Revival Meeting» and «Cryin’ Eyes». She can also swing on «Heart Beat» and kick back on «This Love’s For Real» and let her voice really capture the listener. And perhaps that’s one of the reasons the band didn’t last beyond this one album. The backing, from a bunch of musicians who had previously recorded as The Lifters, is okay but nothing amazing while the voice stands out streets ahead of everything else. The closing version of «Over The Rainbow» is a cute way to bring everything to a close!
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Wild Blue Yonder, Metro One Music 1995, CD reissue
A re-mastered version of the only Wild Blue Yonder album originally put out by Frontline Records in 1987 this short lived group of Californian teenagers featured members of The Lifters and the precocious new talent Crystal Lewis. This reissue on Crystal’s own MetroOne Records, sees Gene Eugene taking Terry Taylor‘s original master tapes and give them a remix. Along the way, he’s re-jigged the running order from an 11 song two sided vinyl album into a 13 song CD. The late ’80s country indie sound still shines through here and there and the couple of songs that extend the album really work really well so «Where Can I Go» and «Every Day» with their cow punk grooves are a welcome addition. The voice of Crystal Lewis still makes an ordinary band sound even better and this CD, put out in 1995, is definitely worth chasing up on eBay if you like that late ’80s sound or you’re a Lewis fan! [Mike Rimmer, Cross Rhythms, March 2010]
> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/wild-blue-yonder/1607923110)
LP tracklist:
Side One
A1. “Theme” – 1:11
A2. “You And Me” – 3:07
A3. “Just One Look” – 3:33
A4. “This Love’s For Real” – 4:10
A5. “Heart Beat” – 2:34
A6. “Only One” – 3:40
Side Two
B1. “Revival Meeting” – 2:37
B2. “You’re My Love” – 3:20
B3. “Only You (Can Fill This Heart Of Mine)” – 2:44
B4. “Cryin’ Eyes” – 3:05
B5. “If I Could Write A Poem” – 4:30
B6. “Over The Rainbow” – 3:54
Note: Simultaneously released on cassette and 12-inch vinyl LP by Frontline Records. Re-issued on CD by Metro One Music in March 1995 featuring new cover artwork as well as two extra tracks; “Where Can I Go” and “Every Day”. The Frontline Records version of “Only One” was as well replaced by a duet featuring Crystal Lewis and Terry Taylor “created” using Taylor’s Telethon of Love version of “Only One” and the original Wild Blue Yonder version.
CRYSTAL LEWIS + Wild Blue Yonder ft. The Screamin Rays Live at Campus JAX is a JAXblast Network Production. Streamed Live on August 9, 2024.
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