Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: The Boston Tea Party
Company: Flick Disc
Catalog: FLS 45,000
Year: 1968
Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+
Comments: bullet hole
Available: 1
Price: $25.00
Featuring a lineup of brothers Mike (keyboards) and Richard (bass) DePerna, singer Travis Fields, drummer David Novogroski and guitarist Mike Stevens, the group debuted with the 1967 single "Words" b/w "Spinach". Originally released by the small Big Boss label, the single was promptly reissued by Gene Autry's Challenge Records. A pair of follow-ups also did little ("Is It Love?" b/w "Don't Leave Me Alone" and "Free Service" b/w "Rose In the Night").
The first released by the MGM affiliated Flick Disc label, 1968 saw the quintet debut with their first LP - the cleverly-titled "The Boston Tea Party". Co-produced by Jerry Styler and Dave Brooks, original material such as "I'm Telling You", "Straighten Up and Fly Right" and "We Have Already Died" wasn't half bad. Largely penned by Stevens, the results were keyboard-driven rockers that reflected a distinctive psych edge. Fields proved a surprisingly strong voice, capable of salvaging even some of the lamer numbers ("I Found a Way"). Elsewhere the album was worth hearing just for some of the year's lamest guitar solos (check out Stevens' performance on "I'm Telling You"). Among the few complaints, Mike DePerna's stabbing organ (he occasionally sounded as if he were playing a different song from the rest of the band ("Fantasy")).
"The Boston Tea Party" track listing:
1.) I'm Telling You (Mike Stevens - Travis Fields) - 2:50
2.) Straighten Up and Fly Right (Mike Stevens - Travis Fields) - 4:15
3.) I Found a Way (Mike Stevens) - 2:00
4.) Fantasy (Mike Stevens) - 2:43
5.) We Have Already Died (Mike Stevens) - 2:40
6.) Free Service (Mike Stevens - Travis Fields - Richard DePerna) - 2:39
7.) Just Pretend You're Sherry (Mike Stevens - Richard DePerna) - 3:36
8.) In Their Shoes (Mike Stevens) - 2:51
9.) The Time Being (Mike Stevens - Richard DePerna) - 6:46
10.) Please Be Glad (For What You Have In Your Heart) (Mike Stevens) - 2:32
The band survived long enough to undertake a cameo performance in the American International "B" flick Cycle Savages (a couple of their songs were included in the soundtrack), and they were history.
Novogroski reappeared in Edge, while Stevens formed Highway Robbery (see separate entries).