You're Only as Pretty as You Feel

by Caroleen Beatty

Overview

You're Only as Pretty as You Feel, by Caroleen Beatty (with Mushroom and Heavy Friends), is something of a sequel to Mushroom's collaboration with Gary Floyd, Mad Dogs and San Franciscans. Both albums feature great songs from the '60s and '70s, but not performed as a retro-homage or with tongue in cheek. Instead, one gets the sense that these are tunes that the musicians really enjoy, and really enjoy playing. The songs may look on paper like they wouldn't necessarily hang together (Bill Withers, Pentangle, Jefferson Airplane, Brian Auger and Julie Driscoll, and Ginger Baker's Air Force), but the band pulls it off like the glory years of free-form FM radio, where just about anything could happen. Beatty has a strong and sultry voice that's versatile enough to handle all this material with equal aplomb and Mushroom have proven time and time again that they can do damn near anything musically and make it seem easy. And who else would have the guts to cover "Toady" and play it straight? The only problem with You're Only as Pretty as You Feel is its relatively brief running time. Let's hope it's just a preview of further collaboration. ~ Sean Westergaard

Product Details

Release Date:	08/23/2005
Label:	BLACK BEAUTY
UPC:	0646315200928

Tracks

1. Use Me
2. Sally Go Round the Roses
3. The Flesh Failures (Let the Sunshine In)
4. Pretty as You Feel
5. Toady

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Caroleen Beatty   Primary Artist,Vocals
Mushroom   Primary Artist
Pat Thomas   Drums
Ralph Carney   Trumpet (Pocket),Trumpet,Clarinet
Alison Levy   Vocals (Background)
Chris Cacavas   Organ
Mike Rinta   Tuba
Matt Henry Cunitz   Harpsichord,Synthesizer,ARP Synthesizer,String Ensemble
Brian Felix   Piano,Clavinet
Erik Pearson   Flute,Guitar,Sax (Tenor)
Tim Plowman   Guitar
Dave Mihaly   Congas,Percussion
Alison Faith Levy   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Ned Doherty   Bass
Quintus Kannegiesser   Shaker,Drums
Rudy Royston   Violin
Mark Zanandrea   Guitar
James Cook   Bass
Bill Groome   Guitar

Technical Credits

Jack Casady   Composer
Graham Bond   Arranger
Galt MacDermot   Composer
Joey Covington   Composer
James Rado   Composer
Julie Driscoll   Arranger
Jorma Kaukonen   Composer
Santana   Arranger
Michael Shrieve   Arranger
Matt Henry Cunitz   Programming
Gerome Ragni   Composer
Zell Sanders   Composer
Brian Auger   Arranger
Ginger Baker   Composer
Bill Withers   Composer
Quintus Kannegiesser   Mixing
Speedy Acquaye   Arranger