San Francisco Girls

by Fever Tree

Overview

This CD not only contains Fever Tree's 1968 self-titled debut long-player, but also an additional seven previously unreleased sides, including a live version of the group's sole charting effort (it reached number 94), "San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)." The initial incarnation featured Rob Landes (keyboards/woodwind), Dennis Keller (vocals), John Tuttle (percussion), E.E. Wolfe (bass), and Michael Knust (guitar), as well as their patrons Scott Holtzman -- who was one of Houston's top pop DJs -- and his wife Vivian Holtzman. The pair were no strangers to music publishing, either, having worked with the likes of Tex Ritter and even Walt Disney during the 1930s and '40s. Not only did they provide promotional and presumably financial assistance, they also wrote several of the band's best tunes, including the aforementioned "hit" "San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)." In addition to strong originals, Fever Tree also chose exemplary covers. Among them are Buffalo Springfield's "Nowadays, Clancy Can't Even Sing," Wilson Pickett's "Ninety-Nine and a Half (Won't Do)'," and an intriguing medley of the Beatles' "Day Tripper" and "We Can Work It Out." This particular coupling is worth mentioning as the songs in question were the respective "A" and "B" sides of the same 45 rpm single. Contrasting the psychedelic pop leanings are the introspective "The Sun Also Rises," as well as the brilliantly noir and surreptitious "Unlock My Door." Internal conflict began a history of perpetual personnel alterations for Fever Tree, with both Landes and Tuttle leaving prior to the second outing, Another Time, Another Place (1969). No specifics on the bonus material are given; however, the inclusion of Al Jarreau's "You Don't See Me" -- which wasn't issued by the jazz vocalist until the late '70s -- leads to the conclusion that the supplementary sides are from subsequent incarnations. Although the liner info could be considered skimpy at best, the sound quality is thoroughly excellent. Since the band's first two LPs are available on the two-fer title Fever Tree/Another Time Another Place (1997), San Francisco Girls (2003) is more for the hardcore collector and enthusiast rather than the casual listener. ~ Lindsay Planer

Product Details

Release Date:	07/29/2003
Label:	GEAR FAB RECORDS
UPC:	0645270019927

Tracks

1. San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)
2. The Sun Also Rises
3. Come With Me (Rainsong)
4. Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing
5. Unlock My Door
6. Nintey-Nine and One Half
7. Man Who Paints the Pictures
8. Imitation Situation (Tocatta Fugue)
9. Filigree & Shadow
10. Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out
11. Grand Candy, Young Sweet
12. Puppet Master
13. Don't Come Crying to Me
14. You Don't See Me
15. Party Anytime
16. San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)
17. Houston Post Radio Commercial

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Fever Tree   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Johann Sebastian Bach   Composer
Fever Tree   Composer
John Lennon   Composer
Roger Maglio   Liner Notes
Al Jarreau   Composer
Rob Landes   Composer
Scott Holtzman   Composer
Vivian Holtzman   Composer
Michael Knust   Composer
Paul McCartney   Composer
Neil Young   Composer