B

Kennelmus

Band members Related acts

- Randy Bell - vocals
- Karen Gardner - vocals

- Tom Gilmore - bass (1970-72)
- Bob Narloch - vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica (1970-72)
- Mike Shipp - drums, percussion (1970-72)
- Jerry Smith - vocals
- Ken E. Walker (aka Kennelmus Edward Walkiewicz) - vocals, guitar, zither (1970-72)
- Phil Quroz -

- Rob Zelmer -

- none known

Rating: **** (4 stars) Title: Folkstone Prism Company: Phoenix International Catalog: Year: 1971 Grade (cover/record): -- Comments: -- Available: -- Price: $ --	The mid-'60s found singer/guitarist Ken Walker playing in a string of local Phoenix Arizona-based garage and cover bands, including The Shi-Reeves. An accomplished guitarist, by the later-'60 Walker was working as a Phoenix-based sessions player/arranger. Having worked for Phoenix International Records owner/producer Chuck Haukes, Walker was given an opportunity to use Haukes' studio to record some of his own material. Recruiting long time buddy/musical partner Bob Narloch, bassist Tom Gilmore and drummer Mike Shipp, the foursome began recording material under the name Kennelmus (in case you were wondering about the name, Walker's given name was actually Kennelmus Edward Walkiewicz). Released by Haukes' Phoenix International label, 1971's "Folkstone Prism" was definitely different. Written by Walker, largely instrumental material such as "I Don't Know", "Goodbye Pamela Ann" and "The Raven" made for a hard to describe mix of surf band, over-the-edge psychedelic and surprisingly commercial genres. The fact the album was heavy on instrumentals was a probably a good thing given none of the participants had much of a voice ("" was about as good as it got in that department). Equally interesting, while the credits listed 15 individual tracks, the set was structured as a unified piece which blended together into one strangely fascinating set piece. Originally released in two separate 500 copy pressings, the LP benefited from surprisingly sharp production and sound quality. Sound strange? It was. Well worth checking out, though an original copy will set your savings account back by up to $1,000. (There have been a couple of reissues. In 1994 Rockadelic released a limited edition 300 pressing (catalog number RRLP 16). An exact copy of the original, save the label design, the reissue has become almost as sought after as the original. In the late-90s Sundazed reissued the album in CD format under catalog number SC 6129.) "Folkstone Prism" track listing: 1.) I Don't Know (Ken E. Walker) - 2.) Patti's Dream (Ken E. Walker) - 3.) Dancing Doris (Ken E. Walker) - 4.) Goodbye Pamela Ann (Ken E. Walker) - 5.) Monologue (Ken E. Walker) - 6.) Black Sunshine (Ken E. Walker) - 7.) Think for Yourself (Ken E. Walker) - 8.) The Bug, The Goat & the Hearse (Ken E. Walker) - 9.) Shapes of Sleep (Ken E. Walker) - 10.) Cloud of Lead (Ken E. Walker) - 11.) Mother of My Children (Ken E. Walker) - 12.) 1001 Twice (Ken E. Walker) - 13.) Sylvan Shores (Ken E. Walker) - 14.) Bulletin!!! (Ken E. Walker) - 15.) The Raven (Ken E. Walker) -

Rating: *** (3 stars) Title: Beyond Folkstone Prism Company: RD Catalog: RD1 Year: 1995 Grade (cover/record): VG+/VG+ Comments: test pressing including multiple inserts - see narrative for description Available: 1 Price: $60.00	Released a quarter century after their debut, 1995's "Beyond Folkstone Prism" gathered up 14 tracks recorded during the initial 1970-72 sessions undertaken at Chuck Haukes' studio. Compiled by Haukes, the retrospective reflected a mixture of previously released material - the band's four previous singles ("Alligator" b/w "A Song for Her", "Black Sunshine" b/w "Plastic Shadow", "No Way To Treat Your Man" b/w "No Reply" and "The Fool" b/w "Bumble Bee") and six previously unreleased selections. If you wanted to be technical about it, you could probably make the argument it wasn't a true Kennelmus efforts since Walker was largely absent. Unlike the debut which was largely written by Walker, the album contained a mix of covers (two Dylan numbers), as well as material from Haukes and Walker buddies/sidekicks Narloch and Randy Bell. While not as impressive as the debut, the retrospective has more than it's share of glories, including the bluesy "Alligator", the campy psych-tinged vamp "Black Sunshine" (Jerry Smith sounded like he was having a distinctively bad hair day), and the oddly fascinating country-ish "Picken On a Guitar" (love the goofy "oh ah haha" chorus). Also worth mentioning, Bell was a far better singer than Narloch or Walker. Limited to a pressing of 400 copies, our copy appears to be a test pressing sporting a white inner label that reads "Test Press" one one side and has Narloch's name written on the other side. Our copy also includes five inserts; a sample of what the inner label should look like; typed and printed sheets with writing credits and playing times and typed and printed copies of a brief band bio. "Beyond Folkstone Prism" track listing: 1.) I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (Bob Dylan) - 2:44 2.) The Fool (Ford - Lee Hazelwood) - 2:26 3.) No Reply (Bob Narloch) - 3:10 4.) No Way To Treat Your Man (Bob Narloch) - 2:40 5.) Bumble Bee (Fullylove) - 2:42 6.) On the Road Again (Bob Dylan) - 3:00 7.) A Song for Her (Randy Bell) - 2:57 8.) Alligator (Randy Bell) - 3:15 9.) Ice Woman (Randy Bell) - 3:26 10.) Plastic Shadow (Chuck Hauke) - 2:35 11.) Picken On a Guitar (Chuck Hauke) - 2:05 12.) Come Sit Next To Me (Bob Narloch) - 3:05 13.) Black Sunshine (Chuck Hauke) - 2:50 14.) What a Way To End (Bob Narloch) - 2:28

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