Rating: **** (4 stars)
Title: Harbor
Company: Eleventh Hour
Catalog: 1001-S
Year: 1971
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG+
Comments: cover shows some ring wear; slight staining and a couple of creases at the top; there's also a small name written in ink on the back cover; includes the rare insert
Available: 1
Price: $100.00
A couple of music references show this trio as being from Ohio. Given they were a big early-'70s concert draw throughout mid-Atlantic clubs and their self-titled album was recorded at Virginia Beach's Crescent City Studios (the LP's cover art shows some
Virginia-associated themes), we'd suggest they were from the Old Dominion.
While most private press projects are little more than vanity releases, these guys were a talented outfit that should have enjoyed major commercial success. That talent's reflected in the fact their sole album's been bootlegged multiple times. There's also a recent legitimate Gear Fab reissue that includes two previously unreleased selections.
So you want to know about their album ???
With a line up consisting of singer/keyboardist Steve Acrese, guitarist/bassist Jim Galyon and drummer Morgan Hampton , Mason spent several years touring throughout the mid-Atlantic before making their recording debut with 1971's
"Harbour". Released on their own Eleventh Hour label, the album offered up a surprisingly accomplished set of early-'70s heavy metal. Acrese had a voice that was well suited for the genre; Hampton was a first-rate drummer and as a trio these guys generated considerable intensity. Largely written by Galyon, material such as the driving opener"Let It Burn" (imagine Deep Purple having borrowed Ian Anderson for a flute solo), "Tell Me" and the cool instrumental "Electric Sox and All" were all impressive. Great songs and great performances (geez, Grand Funk sold millions and these guys couldn't get arrested). Elsewhere, "Golden Sails" was a substantial change of pace, opting for a progressive song structure (it may be out favorite song). (The album was originally released with a multi-page insert. Yes, our copy includes the insert.) While they retained a large and enthusiastic regional following, they were unable to catch a national break and in 1974 they formally called it quits.
"Harbour" track listing:
1.) Let It Burn (Jim Galyon) - 7:09
2.) Tell Me (Jim Galyon) - 4:46
3.) Electric Sox and All (instrumental) (Jim Galyon - Steve Acrese - Morgan Hampton) - 4:50
4.) Golden Sails (Jim Galyon) - 4:08
5.) Travelin' (Jim Galyon - Steve Acrese) - 4:05
6.) Harbour (Jim Galyon) - 8:05
7.) Goin' Home (Jim Galyon) - 2:17
8.) Charlotte (Jim Galyon) - 2:07
For you collecting snobs who are guided by outside ratings, this one's included in Hans Pokora's
2,001 Record Collector Dreams.