Main » 2008 » June » 21 » Virgil Caine - 1971 - Virgil Caine
Virgil Caine - 1971 - Virgil Caine
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This LP from 1971, escaped until today any reissue, and remains in many collectors wishlists. No info is available for this except from from a couple of words in rateyourmusic. The first reviewer (which provided the cover, an image we used in this post) praises it and gives the Holy Modal Rounders as the closest reference while the second almost dismiss it as very much influenced from Dylan.
I would say that the more I'm listening to it, the more I tend to agree with the first reviewer: although we're not talking about a masterpiece, it's true that there are not many records you can bring in your mind while listening Vigril Caine. Surely there's Dylan here (like in the opening track or in "Buiscuit High") but after that we have "There's an X in Nixon" a true masterpiece, which I think will be played a lot by our visitors who will decide to listen to this album.
Virgil Cane was the fictional character of Robbie Robertson's "The Night they Drove Old Dixie Down" from the Band's second LP from 1969, telling us about the defeat of the South in the Civil War. The three men on the cover are apparently showing Virgil Caine's image today (white collar, worker, student). The music doesn't have anything to do with the Band, but imagine jug-band music played from countrified Soapwith Camel, Nick Drake with southern accent, Country Joe McDonald in his 70s phase, echoes of Beau Brummel and the sound of an era that was between the 60s that were already gone by the time these songs we recorded and the singer-songwriter era which was just starting.
The band doesn't sound too experienced, nor the production is professional, but these, as we all know, never stopped the good music from being appreciated by those who want to listen to something different.
music provided by Opa-Loka, review by Rainy Day Sponge.
We received an e-mail from someone called Matvei, claiming he has the rights for a reissue of this LP and asking to remove the d/l links. We did so in good faith, although he didn't mention any label or any specific site, to prove he's not an e-bay seller of rarities.
It would be nice if Matvei could provide some info on the band though.
That review makes this album sound like an also-ran semi-pro singer-songwriter joint. I'd say it is more a shambolic, free folk style, very similar to Virgin Insanity, but with all male singing. Maybe the second Godz album, but the shaky singing makes this a tough go from top to bottom.
With the "singer-songwriter" remark I just wanted to make clear that VC doesn't have the full band sound but a more acoustic approach. Your references to Virgin Insanity and Godz are interesting and helpful, but I think you'll agree that it's difficult to find something quite similar to this album. Thank you for your comment. I wish that we had more visitors' views/comments/opinions like this.
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