Tracks : 1 Gypsy Queen (Part 1) 4:21 2 Gypsy Queen (Part 2)2:33 3 Man of Reason 2:59 4 Dream If You Can 2:48 5 Late December 4:12 6 The Third Eye 4:55 7 Decisions 8:16 8 I Was So Young 4:00 9 Here In My Loneliness 3:10 10 More Time 5:35 11 The Vision 7:30 12 Dead And Gone 11:07 13 Tomorrow is The Last To Be Heard 5:48
Personnel : Jame Walsh - vocals, keyboards, percussion, Enrico Rosenbaum - vocals, guitars, percussion, Jay Epstein - drums, James C. Johnson - vocals, lead guitar, Doni Larson - bass
Review : Though
nothing else on Gypsy's debut album came quite up to the standard of
the opening number, the whole album is enjoyable for connoisseurs of
jazzy progressive rock. That opening number, "Gypsy Queen," was the
band's musical and commercial highlight, an organ-driven and
harmony-laden blast of great progressive pop. Elsewhere on this album,
the band blends Santana-like guitar and organ riffs with vocals and
arrangements reminiscent of early Chicago in their better moments. Much
of this is first-rate, and if "Gypsy Queen" weren't on this album, cuts
like "The Vision" or "Standing in My Loneliness" would still make it
worth having. The ensemble work is so impressive that it's hard to
single out a particular player for praise, though James "Owl" Walsh's
keyboard playing is particularly inventive. In retrospect, it's hard to
believe that this debut didn't make a bigger splash when it was first
released. Gypsy's work has held up very well compared to most albums
from this era, and is still a delightful listen. ~by Richard Foss
Bio : Progressive
rock outfit Gypsy began its existence as the Minneapolis-based pop band
the Underbeats, formed in 1964 by guitarist James Johnson, bassist Doni
Larson, and drummer Tom Green. With the subsequent addition of
singer/guitarist Enrico Rosenbaum, the group regularly performed
throughout the Twin Cities circuit, scoring a handful of local hits
including "Footstompin'," "Annie Do the Dog" and "Book of Love."
Keyboardist James "Owl" Walsh was recruited after Johnson was drafted
for military service in 1969; upon his discharge, Johnson returned to
the Underbeats lineup, and the quintet relocated to Los Angeles soon
after, where they landed a gig as the house band at the famed
Whiskey-a-Go-Go. Rechristened Gypsy, they began pursuing a heavier,
more complex sound inspired by the rise of British progressive rock,
though often compared to the music of Santana. After replacing Green
with drummer Jay Epstein, the band signed to the Metromedia label,
issuing their self-titled double-album debut in 1970 and earned
considerable FM airplay with the tracks "Gypsy Queen" and "Dead and
Gone." Larson and Epstein exited Gypsy prior to recording the
follow-up, 1971's In the Garden, cut with bassist Willie Weeks -- who
later resurfaced in the Doobie Brothers -- and drummer Bill Lordan.
Randy Cates assumed bass duties for 1972's Antithesis, Gypsy's first
album for new label RCA; however, upon releasing 1973's Unlock the
Gates, the group dissolved, reforming just long enough to play the
Super Jam '77 concert at St. Louis' Busch Stadium. A year later Walsh
formed a new Gypsy lineup, issuing The James Walsh Gypsy Band on RCA to
little notice; in 1996 -- once again the sole original member -- he
assembled another Gypsy unit, releasing 20 Years Ago Today. While
Lordan went on to play with Robin Trower, Rosenbaum died September 10,
1979 after a long battle with drug abuse; he was just 36 years old. ~by Jason Ankeny
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