by Anonymous
"Lazarus" 1971
Anonymous said...
Thanks for all the music I've discovered here. Maybe someone else will enjoy this one.
Lazarus were discovered (if the sleevenote is to be believed) when the trio approached Peter Yarrow after a Peter, Paul and Mary concert in 1969. At the time they were calling themselves Shiloh. Yarrow engaged PP&M's producer Phil Ramone to supervise the renamed band's self-titled release. It appeared on Albert Grossman's new Bearsville label in 1971.
This was just 3 years after Lonnie Frisbee had launched the Jesus Freak movement and religion was making a mark on folk and rock. (The Doobie Brothers were to have a hit 2 years later with "Jesus is Just All Right With Me.") Lazarus were overtly religious and their Christian attitude must have made for some interesting times with Yarrow's fairly strong Judaism. This is not the ethereal mystical religion of Judee Sill. However Lazarus don't seem to have been bible bangers and when the songs speak of faith matters it is in storytelling rather than in preaching. The sound is gently acoustic, occasionally to a fault, with soaring vocal harmonies.
The band's demo under the name Shiloh was reportedly released in 2006 via Itunes, but I don't do Itunes so I have no corroboration of this. Perhaps someone else can check. Their second album, "A Fool's Paradise," was released on CD in the mid-90s by the Japanese Pony Canyon label. Noel Paul Stookey covered "Blessed" on his 1973 album "One Night Stand." As far as I know, "Lazarus" has never been released on CD.
This edition intercuts two copies, one on somewhat noisy open reel tape but made from a nearly-pristine LP in the mid-70s, and a vinyl rip from a more recently acquired but noisier LP. Sleeve and liner scans are included in the archive.
Bill (Billie) Hughes plays guitar and violin, Carl Keesee is bassist, Gary Dye is handling keyboard duties (piano and organ - no synthesizer here).
Lazarus reportedly recorded a jingle for a Life Savers commercial in 1976 but after "A Fool's Paradise" they never released another record as a band.
On "Lazarus," Bill (Billie) Hughes plays guitar and violin, Carl Keesee is bassist, and Gary Dye is handling keyboard duties (piano and organ - no synthesizer here).
Hughes began a solo career in 1978. He played for some years in Canada with Keesee and David Bradstreet, and made at least 3 more records, the last in 1991. Hughes died in Los Angeles in 1998.
Keesee made 4 records with Bradstreet. He has played for Jane Siberry and many others. Having left the frozen north Keesee now lives and gigs in Austin.
I don't know what's happened to Dye - anyone?
LAME 1.30, 192kbps
rapidshare.de or
rapidshare.com
Anonymous said...Thanks for all the music I've discovered here. Maybe someone else will enjoy this one.
Lazarus were discovered (if the sleevenote is to be believed) when the trio approached Peter Yarrow after a Peter, Paul and Mary concert in 1969. At the time they were calling themselves Shiloh. Yarrow engaged PP&M's producer Phil Ramone to supervise the renamed band's self-titled release. It appeared on Albert Grossman's new Bearsville label in 1971.
This was just 3 years after Lonnie Frisbee had launched the Jesus Freak movement and religion was making a mark on folk and rock. (The Doobie Brothers were to have a hit 2 years later with "Jesus is Just All Right With Me.") Lazarus were overtly religious and their Christian attitude must have made for some interesting times with Yarrow's fairly strong Judaism. This is not the ethereal mystical religion of Judee Sill. However Lazarus don't seem to have been bible bangers and when the songs speak of faith matters it is in storytelling rather than in preaching. The sound is gently acoustic, occasionally to a fault, with soaring vocal harmonies.
The band's demo under the name Shiloh was reportedly released in 2006 via Itunes, but I don't do Itunes so I have no corroboration of this. Perhaps someone else can check. Their second album, "A Fool's Paradise," was released on CD in the mid-90s by the Japanese Pony Canyon label. Noel Paul Stookey covered "Blessed" on his 1973 album "One Night Stand." As far as I know, "Lazarus" has never been released on CD.
This edition intercuts two copies, one on somewhat noisy open reel tape but made from a nearly-pristine LP in the mid-70s, and a vinyl rip from a more recently acquired but noisier LP. Sleeve and liner scans are included in the archive.
Bill (Billie) Hughes plays guitar and violin, Carl Keesee is bassist, Gary Dye is handling keyboard duties (piano and organ - no synthesizer here).
Lazarus reportedly recorded a jingle for a Life Savers commercial in 1976 but after "A Fool's Paradise" they never released another record as a band.
On "Lazarus," Bill (Billie) Hughes plays guitar and violin, Carl Keesee is bassist, and Gary Dye is handling keyboard duties (piano and organ - no synthesizer here).
Hughes began a solo career in 1978. He played for some years in Canada with Keesee and David Bradstreet, and made at least 3 more records, the last in 1991. Hughes died in Los Angeles in 1998.
Keesee made 4 records with Bradstreet. He has played for Jane Siberry and many others. Having left the frozen north Keesee now lives and gigs in Austin.
I don't know what's happened to Dye - anyone?
LAME 1.30, 192kbps
rapidshare.de or
rapidshare.com
posted by Lizardson at 7:56 PM
33 Comments:
Great album, thanks for sharing it.
Do you have Fool's Paradise? if you do, would love to see it posted.
thanks
Canada
I conversed with Cark Keesee via email last week requesting a copy of the impossible-to-find A Fool's Paradise. He is going to send me a CD of both Lazarus LPs. He informed that he's seen a lot of interest in Lazarus over the years and I think he's going to make it possible for people to purchase the 2 projects at a future date. Regards to Gary Dye, Carl suggested he still lives in Texas and was planning to see him in a few weeks. Do you want Carl's email address?
Chris McCrea, Chesapeake, VA
Hi
Great stuff!!
Best
Robert
Yes, I have "A Fool's Paradise" on LP but it still needs a bit more audio alchemy. :)
I wonder how long before another CD reissue of AFP could be released. Also I don't want to take $ out of Lazarus's pockets. I think most people here would still buy the CD however, as I would. If it is a remastering its sound should be well above what one can get ripping from vinyl.
I didn't know it was impossible to find. I've seen the LP offered by various used music traders. One needs a bit of patience of course. Never the CD however; maybe that's what you mean.
I have the LP (skips) which I bought in 73 and would gladly buy the CD but there isn't enough profit for Warner who has the Bearcat rights to justify the release of the CD
Believe me, I have been looking for years. That is why I was asking you
Canada
this is a good one, thanks
Thanks so much for this great piece of music!
I sent Carl Keesee an email requesting the original Lazarus album which revolutionized my songwriting in '71. My album is so scratched it's a challenge to listen to. If anyone has a way to tget a copy please let me know. Thanks! Tom
Thanks so much for making this gold mine available. These fellows were ahead of their time. I would very much like to hear "Fool's Paradise". Please keep us updated.
I have copies of both albums and can make copies.
sertw@webtv.net
I have a copy of the original Lazarus album which has been played exactly once, and that was to record it as uncompressed WAV file. I have MP3's of all the songs from "A Fool's Paradise" but don't own a copy of the album anymore. I would gladly shell out whatever it costs to get a copy of them both on CD.
I don't want to infringe anybody's copyright, especially these great guys, but if permission could be obtained, I would be happy to share what I have.
Michael Griffin
Seattle
imagine, i have my fools paradise LP sitting beside my Mac for over a year as a reminder to rip it CD. while finally doing so now, I google it, to see what's out there. I love this LP bought it new in 1974. one on my favourites. Would love to get a copy of their other LP also if anyone would like to trade CD's.
I have an AFP LP. I got it from a friend (in 1975) who thought I'd like Lazarus' style, being as I was a "wannabe" guitarist.
Last year I digitized it from the LP for myself.
Chris:
If Carl Keesee wouldn't mind, would you send me his e-mail addy? I too am interested in obtaining CDs.
Thanks!
Burtin Hart
burtinh@gmail.com
I have an AFP LP. I got it from a friend (in 1975) who thought I'd like Lazarus' style, being as I was a "wannabe" guitarist.
Last year I digitized it from the LP for myself.
Chris:
If Carl Keesee wouldn't mind, would you send me his e-mail addy? I too am interested in obtaining CDs.
Thanks!
Burtin Hart
burtinh@gmail.com
I have an AFP LP. I got it from a friend (in 1975) who thought I'd like Lazarus' style, being as I was a "wannabe" guitarist.
Last year I digitized it from the LP for myself.
Chris:
If Carl Keesee wouldn't mind, would you send me his e-mail addy? I too am interested in obtaining CDs.
Thanks!
Burtin Hart
burtinh@gmail.com
I just found both the first "Lazarus" and "A Fool's Paradise" on Rhapsody.
http://mp3.rhapsody.com/lazarus
My vinyls from the '70s are in surprisingly good shape though I have ripped them to CD for listening.
Had to laugh as they were in the thrash metal category. $9.99 each with previews. Yup they're them. Previews such low quality though can't tell how the downloads will be.
Both of these albums are available as download MP3s on Amazon also! 99 cents per song.
Cindy
My word. You're right!! The album Lazarus is available on Amazon as a download.
First gas prices drop!
Then Obama is elected!!
And now this!!!
Is this a great country or what!!!!
it nice to see all the interest in the albums. my stepdad carl has sent out many cd copies of them to people who have requested them. he keeps track of all the request to remind him how much the music has been and still is enjoyed.
I've been trying to find these albums for 20 years. My originals aren't that playable any more and I'm after CDs. If you are in the states you can download them from amazon.com...alas I am in New Zealand.
this is a great site!!
Best, Min.
So how do I reach Carl? I too woul love to hear these albums on CD. Also, note that on iTunes, you can get some wonderful Billie Hughes albums that were never previously released, including one called Awaiting Lazarus -- the original demos for this first Lazarus album.
I see copies of both albums on Ebay from time to time. Someone was even selling a copy of AFP still in the original shrink wrap.
I have the AFP vinyl. It's one of the most beautifully performed pieces of music I know. I've been looking for CD/mp3 since I got Internet...this rhapsody and amazonmp3 is of US only (what d_mn country is the US???). I'm Swedish...
I want it badly. I might need to buy one of those things to record to wav...
Lazarus rocks and should be boosted at any possible opportunity. Bearsville Records has snipptes of the album which is great,
Cheers
Mat
Thank you so much for sharing Lazarus. Lazarus was introduced to me in 1980 by a close friend of mine in high school. He said,"I want you meet a very close friend of mine..." He showed me the Lazarus LP; and, since then, I have gained a very close friend. Naturally, he let me record it to cassette, and that was the only copy I have...since today. I'm so very happy, very happy to have Lazarus digitized. It's like losing a friend and finding him back again after 29 years. Thanks again for sharing Lazarus.
Gary Dye was a neighbor and very close friend when I lkived in WOodstock. If anyonbe knows where he is plkease email me at bmykitty@yahoo.com. I met Billie also a few times, wonderful guys!
I actually have a copy of Fools Paradinse and one of their studio records that Gary gave me. Good stuff!
Thanks-
Vicki
post to Lizardson. I just added a comment looking for Gary however, I do know that he moved to Texas when he left Woodstock back in the early 70's(which is where he had moved from). I think it was Austin. I bet that was where he went and perhaps might still be there. His son and ex were there (BTW-he had the most beautiful son ever, of course he is very much grown now!). If you find him please let me know. ALso, Gary lived for years on his Lifesavers commercial, I remember him telling me once it was played on one of the space shuttles!!
bmykitty@yahoo.com
Vicki, you might be able to track Gary down through David Bradstreet, who joined Lazarus in 1973, and is a good friend of Carl Keesee. Try contacting him through http://www.davidbradstreet.com/
Also, what do you mean by "one of their studio records that Gary gave me"? Do you have something that wasn't officially released?
Cheers,
Roman
This album afp has been a comfort for me over the years, i still have the original vinyl and just cleaned it yesterday.I dont wax nostalgic over the old days, I just love good music and this piece of music is still relavent..Glad to see other posts
LOVE this album . . can't believe I found it on AMAZON as an MP3 download all these years (almost 40?) later. Great to see it touched other people the same way, thanks.
I believe I have located Gary thru the wonders of FB! Page has Carl as friend and his now grown son and Thatch's mom as well. 99% sure this is him . Have msg'd him. Also email to David Bradstreet thanks to Romans suggestion.
Found Gary on FB. He accepted "friend" then deleted acct within hours. Respectful of his wishes to not communicate but he has my email here (bmykitty@yahoo) and another one on FB should he change his mind. Was hopeful to communicate but respectful of his wishes. Thanks all for your help. I will not reveal where he is now that he's found!!
I've got the 1979 Dream master 33 1/3 still looking for eastward any format?
Phil
That’s awesome ! I just love this band ! 🙏
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