Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Thank You Very Much
Company: International Artists
Catalog: IA LP #12
Year: 1970
Grade (cover/record): NM/NM
Comments: still in shrink wrap; warp, doesn't impact play
Available: 1
Price: $40.00
Signed by the Texas-based International Artists label (home of The Lost and Found), the band (credited as Endle St. Cloud In the Rain) debuted with the single "Tell Me One More Time" b/w "Quest for Beauty". While the single vanished without a trace, for some reason (after a two year delay), International Artistss elected to finance an album. Produced by Fred Carrol, 1970's "Thank You Very Much" offered up one of the year's odder releases. Written by St. Cloud and Potter, the album almost served as a concept piece; each of the eight tracks tied together by a series of weird monologues and piano-based instrumental snippets ("Piano Scherzo", "Piano Agitato" etc.). Musically the set found the quartet taking stabs at a variety of genres; C&W influence ("Who Would You Like To Be Today"), marginally commercial pop ("Like a Badge") and psychedelia ("Laughter" and "Jessica"). Among the highlights were "Professor Black" and "Come Through" - both previously recorded and released by Potter and the Lost and Found. St. Cloud wasn't much of a presence. As frontman, St. Cloud wasn't much of a presence. A competent, if largely anonymous vocalist, he was probably at his best on the leadoff track "" where his distant and measured delivery bore a passing resemblance to Bryan Ferry (yeah, we did a double take when the comparison struck us). Question we've always wondered about - if these guys were a quartet, how come only three guys were shown on the flipside cover?
"Thank You Very Much" track listing:
1.) Piano A Tempo / Street Corner Preacher (Dave F. Potter - Endle St. Cloud) - 4:42
2.) Piano Scherzo / Who Would You Like To Be Today (Dave F. Potter - Endle St. Cloud) - 2:36
3.) Piano Tranquillo / This Is Love (Dave F. Potter - Endle St. Cloud) - 3:54
4.) Piano Allegretto / Professor Black (Dave F. Potter - Endle St. Cloud) -
5.) Piano Agitato / Laughter (Dave F. Potter - Endle St. Cloud) - 3:27
6.) Piano Adagio / Jessica (Dave F. Potter - Endle St. Cloud) - 2:52
7.) Piano Con Brio / Come Through (Dave F. Potter - Endle St. Cloud) - 2:01
8.) Piano Andante / Like a Badge (Dave F. Potter - Endle St. Cloud) - 3:43
9.) Piano Teneramente - 0:31
Having shortened the name to Endle, the band survived long enough to release a follow-up single ("Like a Badge" b/w "Laughter"), before calling it quits. St. Cloud and Potter subsequently formed the cleverly-titled Potter-St. Cloud (see separate entry).