Rob Price
Gutbrain Records
rob + gutbrain.com = email


2023 June 05 • Monday

We're kind of interested in Fabian around here, as well as Mike Curb. A biography or long article about each of them would be welcome. And here they both are, in the 781st Soundtrack of the Week: Mary Jane!

Mike Curb co-wrote the score with Lawrence Brown, except for the title song by Valjean Johns and Guy Hemric.

The title song starts out promisingly with a kind of trippy wooziness but immediately becomes kind of a cheery, sunny, sort of dippy '60s pop song. It's okay, but it's the rest of the record that really delivers.

Starting with "Ellie's Theme", things get really groovy and interesting, like Mancini on acid. This number has a great groove with accordion in the lead and some unexpected minor chords coming in like storm clouds.

"The Fun Zone" is a short instrumental blast from a nebulous area that's not quite surf or hot rod but isn't far away from those either.

Then things get a little jazzy and messed up for "Grass Party", which has free energy from the rhythm section and vibes soloing throughout.

The first side ends with "Persuit" [sic], which sounds like it might be a Davie Allan track to me. The guitar sound is certainly sick enough. It's a great tune.

Side Two opens with "Jerry's Theme", which sounds like a love song and features flute and piano.

"Bay City Boys" opens with a rock-solid drum track and another astonishing electric guitar sound. Could this be Davie Allan? The sharp reverb and fuzz certainly suggest him. The production on this one is also really sharp.

After that comes "Gas Hassle", hands down the best track on the album and just an extraordinary piece: high energy drums and electric bass guitar getting the momentum going while (electric?) harpsichord wails on top, soon to be joined by wooden flute and percussion.

Then there's a reprise of "Theme from Mary Jane". The first one appears to have been sung by Mike Clifford while this vibrato-heavy rendition is credited to "Mrs. Miller". Still think that this song is only so-so.

The record concludes with "Store Stealing", a cue with a medium tempo jazz swing and electric guitar volume-swelling in and out while piano lightly tinkles away, joined later by flute soloing and an increase in tempo and intensity.

This record is way too short. I could listen to this kind of thing for hours.