Post by Laura--I wuv u all :) on Oct 3, 2003 12:27:19 GMT -5
Pacific Gas & Electric-"The Best of Pacific Gas & Electric"
Year: 1984 (compilation of songs from '60s & '70s)
Genre: classic rock/soul
This is a tape, not a CD, so I don't know if it's available on CD or if the CD has more songs on it. Unfortunately the tape sleeve gives me very little info to work with. But I was able to find out some stuff on the 'net about this band.
Pacific Gas & Electric--PG&E for short--was a rock/soul band from the '60s and early '70s that was mainly centered around the great R&B vocals of the late Charlie Allen. The tape shows 5 guys on the cover, but there were a lot of personnel changes, so I don't know if it's the same 5 guys on all these songs (one picture I saw online showed about 9 or 10 guys in the band).
Now for the songs:
Side 1
1. "(Love is Like a)Heat Wave"-From the moment the drums and handclaps kick off the song, you know this is going to be FUN! This is the old Motown classic, but this is the only version I've heard that had a man singing. It's a great rendition, with lively vocals and a guitar solo that defines the word "electric" in their name.
2. "Thank God For You Baby"-This sweet ballad sets the mood for slow dancin' and romancin'!
3."Rock and Roller Lament"-Another ballad, this time with a different mood, in which Charlie Allen sings from the point of view of a musician who is giving up the music biz. That apparently didn't happen in real life, at least not for a while. But he sounds convincingly downtrodden--you can tell his heart has been broken by those "rock and roll women" he sings about! One minor complaint with this song is that it ends too soon--there are several verses (no bridge or chorus) with just a piano, strings & a little bit of guitar, then the drums kick in, the mood grows a little more intense, there's one more verse--and it's over. Huh? (Note: Some listings I found on line said "Rock and Roller's Lament", but my cassette just says "Rock and Roller Lament", without the 's.)
4. "Bluesbuster"-This is a fast song--and I do mean fast! There's energy to burn here! The lyrics are very obviously a product of their time ("big natural dude"? "honeysuckle weed"?), but the song is still a lot of fun today. Like the previous one, it ends in a rather odd place--there's a few lines with just drums and ad-lib singing, and then it fades out, leaving me to wonder if there perhaps is a longer version out there somewhere.
Side 2
1. "Are You Ready"-If you've heard any of PG&E's songs, this is probably the one you've heard, as it was a hit single in the early '70s. (As far as I know, this is the complete version, not a radio edit--I don't have a stopwatch but I figured it to be about 5 minutes.) This was one of a whole spate of inspirational-themed songs around that time (e.g. "Put Your Hand in the Hand", "Spirit in the Sky"), but this is one of the best of the bunch; terrific gospel background vocals by the Blackberries help to make this the genuine article. (I think the Blackberries are also the backup singers on some of the other songs on this tape--darn, I wish there was more info!) Since "there's rumors of wars" and "if you breathe the air you'll die" even today (or so it seems), songs like this help to remind us that "a new day is dawning."
2."One More River to Cross"-A very catchy song somewhat reminiscent of CCR's "Fortunate Son". The lyrics in the 2nd verse are a little hard to figure out (at least they were for me--no lyric sheet either, darn), but from what I could pick up, the basic plot is: boy loves girl, boy leaves girl and heads for the big city.
3."Father Come On Home"-PG&E take us back to church with a song that is even more gospel-sounding than "Are You Ready". A very powerful and prayerful ballad.
4. "The Time Has Come (To Make Your Peace)"-A punchy, hand-clapping rocker that showcases Charlie Allen's vocal versatility. A sample of the lyrics: "It's the thing to do, peace for me and you, and we'll have no more trouble."
If anyone knows if this is available on CD, or if it has more tracks on CD (since there are only 8 here), please let us know here!
Year: 1984 (compilation of songs from '60s & '70s)
Genre: classic rock/soul
This is a tape, not a CD, so I don't know if it's available on CD or if the CD has more songs on it. Unfortunately the tape sleeve gives me very little info to work with. But I was able to find out some stuff on the 'net about this band.
Pacific Gas & Electric--PG&E for short--was a rock/soul band from the '60s and early '70s that was mainly centered around the great R&B vocals of the late Charlie Allen. The tape shows 5 guys on the cover, but there were a lot of personnel changes, so I don't know if it's the same 5 guys on all these songs (one picture I saw online showed about 9 or 10 guys in the band).
Now for the songs:
Side 1
1. "(Love is Like a)Heat Wave"-From the moment the drums and handclaps kick off the song, you know this is going to be FUN! This is the old Motown classic, but this is the only version I've heard that had a man singing. It's a great rendition, with lively vocals and a guitar solo that defines the word "electric" in their name.
2. "Thank God For You Baby"-This sweet ballad sets the mood for slow dancin' and romancin'!
3."Rock and Roller Lament"-Another ballad, this time with a different mood, in which Charlie Allen sings from the point of view of a musician who is giving up the music biz. That apparently didn't happen in real life, at least not for a while. But he sounds convincingly downtrodden--you can tell his heart has been broken by those "rock and roll women" he sings about! One minor complaint with this song is that it ends too soon--there are several verses (no bridge or chorus) with just a piano, strings & a little bit of guitar, then the drums kick in, the mood grows a little more intense, there's one more verse--and it's over. Huh? (Note: Some listings I found on line said "Rock and Roller's Lament", but my cassette just says "Rock and Roller Lament", without the 's.)
4. "Bluesbuster"-This is a fast song--and I do mean fast! There's energy to burn here! The lyrics are very obviously a product of their time ("big natural dude"? "honeysuckle weed"?), but the song is still a lot of fun today. Like the previous one, it ends in a rather odd place--there's a few lines with just drums and ad-lib singing, and then it fades out, leaving me to wonder if there perhaps is a longer version out there somewhere.
Side 2
1. "Are You Ready"-If you've heard any of PG&E's songs, this is probably the one you've heard, as it was a hit single in the early '70s. (As far as I know, this is the complete version, not a radio edit--I don't have a stopwatch but I figured it to be about 5 minutes.) This was one of a whole spate of inspirational-themed songs around that time (e.g. "Put Your Hand in the Hand", "Spirit in the Sky"), but this is one of the best of the bunch; terrific gospel background vocals by the Blackberries help to make this the genuine article. (I think the Blackberries are also the backup singers on some of the other songs on this tape--darn, I wish there was more info!) Since "there's rumors of wars" and "if you breathe the air you'll die" even today (or so it seems), songs like this help to remind us that "a new day is dawning."
2."One More River to Cross"-A very catchy song somewhat reminiscent of CCR's "Fortunate Son". The lyrics in the 2nd verse are a little hard to figure out (at least they were for me--no lyric sheet either, darn), but from what I could pick up, the basic plot is: boy loves girl, boy leaves girl and heads for the big city.
3."Father Come On Home"-PG&E take us back to church with a song that is even more gospel-sounding than "Are You Ready". A very powerful and prayerful ballad.
4. "The Time Has Come (To Make Your Peace)"-A punchy, hand-clapping rocker that showcases Charlie Allen's vocal versatility. A sample of the lyrics: "It's the thing to do, peace for me and you, and we'll have no more trouble."
If anyone knows if this is available on CD, or if it has more tracks on CD (since there are only 8 here), please let us know here!
), so I sold it to a used record store. 
