Albrecht & Roley (& Moore)

Albrecht & Roley Airborn 1975
Saw a copy of this one listed in Goldmine collector's magazine once where the dealer described it as having a "good stoned feel." Huh? Well, don't think I woulda used quite those same words, but at least they adequately suggest that this ain't no sappy Christian radio thingy. Albrecht and Roley is Mike Albrecht and Scott Roley, the latter whose name graces pert near every album on this tiny label. Actually Alan Moore is in here, too, playing bass and banjo on several songs. This is light acoustic folk. Picture an un-orchestrated Jim Croce or perhaps a demo tape by America and you'll get the idea. Albrecht and Roley's acoustic guitars complement each other well giving a nice wholesome sound that's hard not to like. Perhaps that 'stoned feel' comment was inspired by more basement sounding electric cuts like 'Frieze' or the watery psych-ish phase-shifted guitars on 'The Good Life'. Re-issued on in the late 70's with a different cover. KS

Gently Flowing Feeling White Horse 1978
Bigger budget this go around which translates into STRINGS! - on the ballads anyway. Ok, I'll look past my pet peeve (only a handful of the album's 12 songs get the orchestrated treatment anyway) and admit that this ain't a bad album. Certainly more polished than Albrecht & Roley and rockier at times ('Shotgun' and 'Drink In The Soft Sound') though overall the sound is best described by the album title. Lotta names familiar here: Bob Hartman (Petra) contributes lead electric guitar, Al Perkins on pedal steel, and John Michael Talbot helps on acoustic guitar, banjo, and dobro. Fancy fiddle courtesy Tim Briggs. Followed by two lps on the Spirit label which seem more directed toward mellow Christian radio. Pressed on white vinyl. KS

Starlighter Spirit 1979