“Oar” by Alexander Spence - album review

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TJR says

As the wiki tells us:

Alexander Lee “Skip” Spence (April 18, 1946 – April 16, 1999) was a Canadian-born American musician and singer-songwriter. He was co-founder of Moby Grape, and played guitar with them until 1969. He released one solo album, 1969’s Oar, and then largely withdrew from the music industry. He had started his career as a guitarist in an early line-up of Quicksilver Messenger Service, and was the drummer on Jefferson Airplane’s debut album, Jefferson Airplane Takes Off. He has been described on the Allmusic website as “one of psychedelia’s brightest lights”; however, his career was plagued by drug addictions coupled with mental health problems, and he has been described by a biographer as a man who “neither died young nor had a chance to find his way out.”

Oar was Spence’s only solo album, recorded over seven days in Nashville, on which Spence plays all of the instruments. Described as “one of the most harrowing documents of pain and confusion ever made”, the album was recorded after Spence had spent six months in Bellevue Hospital. Spence had been committed to Bellevue following a delusion-driven attempt to attack Moby Grape bandmates Don Stevenson and Jerry Miller with a fire axe.

When first released, Oar was not promoted by Columbia Records, despite pleadings from producer David Rubinson. It was at the time the lowest-selling album in Columbia Records history, and was deleted from the Columbia catalogue within a year of its release. Despite being so poorly received at the time, the LP has gained a bit of a cult-following in the subsequent decades, with Michael Stipe, Tom Waits and Beck among the notable list of admirers.

Personally, I can’t say I care for much of the album as a whole; I’m willing to embrace lackadaisical and ramshackle but I need something else. Some character, some hooks, some invention, but nah, there’s nothing much doing. Apart, that is, from the fantastic highlight track, “Weighted Down (The Prison Song)”.

Weighted down by the possessions, Weighted down by the gun, Waited down by the river for you to comeMy darlin’, darning my action, Of when three months, I was gone, But whose socks were you darning, darling, While I been gone so long?Weighted down by possession, Weighted down by the gun, Waited down by the river for you to come

What wordplay! If that doesn’t grab you for an opening gambit then I don't know what will. Here, the world-weary ex-con is out. Only to be faced by a betrayal. He’s got a gun and, one suspects, he’s not afraid to use it. Great wordplay and great character – this is right up my street. Seems a shame the boy was unable to make the most of his talent…

The Jukebox Rebel
10–Dec–2015

Tracklist
A1 [03:44] 4.8.png Alexander Spence - Little Hands (Alexander Spence) Folk Rock / Americana
A2 [02:16] 4.1.png Alexander Spence - Cripple Creek (Alexander Spence) Folk Rock / Americana
A3 [03:32] 3.8.png Alexander Spence - Diana (Alexander Spence) Alternative Folk
A4 [02:17] 1.8.png Alexander Spence - Margaret / Tiger Rug (Alexander Spence) Alternative Country
A5 [06:27] 8.2.png Alexander Spence - Weighted Down (The Prison Song) (Alexander Spence) Alternative Country
A6 [04:05] 2.6.png Alexander Spence - War In Peace (Alexander Spence) Psychedelia
B1 [03:29] 4.6.png Alexander Spence - Broken Heart (Alexander Spence) Alternative Country
B2 [02:04] 2.3.png Alexander Spence - All Come To Meet Her (Alexander Spence) Rock
B3 [02:42] 5.8.png Alexander Spence - Books Of Moses (Alexander Spence) Alternative Folk
B4 [02:53] 5.4.png Alexander Spence - Dixie Peach Promenade (Yin For Yang) (Alexander Spence) Alternative Country
B5 [01:31] 6.7.png Alexander Spence - Lawrence Of Euphoria (Alexander Spence) Alternative Folk
B6 [09:38] 5.1.png Alexander Spence - Grey / Afro (Alexander Spence) Avant-Garde

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