It's a Beautiful Day - It's a Beautiful Day
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Music CD Cover
Artist: It's a Beautiful DayEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 2001-11-13
Music Label: San Francisco Sound
Soundtracks:
- White Bird
- Hot Summer Day
- Wasted Union Blues
- Girl With No Eyes
- Bombay Calling
- Bulgaria
- Time Is
Free Music Notes for It's a Beautiful Day
Free Music Review: it's awesome indeed
Hit: 5 Stars
I have to be honest about something though- I'm REALLY surprised over 140 people have reviewed It's a Beautiful Day here on amazon.
Where did this sudden shot of popularity come from? I always considered It's a Beautiful Day to be one of the more forgotten bands of the late 60's. Well it's a good album but it's not *that* good. In other words, I can think of a few Blues Image, Sugarloaf, and High Tide albums that would definitely rival it in terms of overall "underrated" quality.
Anyway "White Bird" is a GREAT song because I simply adore the way the female and male lead singers deliver their lines in an *almost* simultaneous way. They both have really great voices- the female reminds me of Grace Slick, and... even the songwriting reminds me of Jefferson Airplane come to think of it. The dude reminds me of... well, nobody really. Perhaps a slight similarity to Frank Zappa and his amazing vocal range, though that's a BIG stretch I admit. The violins are terrific in this song, but it's the passionate vocal melody that immediately takes many people back to the late 60's period where the "peaceful easy vibes" reigned supreme.
I do recall hearing "Hot Summer Days" sometime ago. I can't remember when or where exactly. I'm not sure if FM radio stations were actually playing it. Maybe at one time but certainly not lately. The song succeeds by having great back and forth work by the female and male lead singers once again. An obvious highlight.
"Bombay Calling" is I believe a major influence for Deep Purple's "Child In Time" intro, and well... I believe Deep Purple used it to much greater effect. Still, this song has something going for it as well. After the first minute it drifts into a dreamy jam with violins, and it sounds absolutely gorgeous. "Wasted Union Blues" has a fast-as-lightning violin solo in the middle and it's just wonderful. The heavy metal-like riff in the beginning is quite ahead of its time as well.
I absolutely HAVE to mention "Girl With No Eyes". Similar to any number of Moody Blues songs (along with Sugarloaf's "Music Box") this song is the *true* definition of haunting. It's a ballad sure, but it's one of those dramatic kind of ballads that makes you feel like your emotional state of mind is falling apart right before your eyes. The harpsichord is beautiful, and I could have sworn I've heard identical guitar notes during some other song released around the same time in rock history, but I simply can't recall the name of the song I'm thinking of. Who cares- it's done better here anyway.
The album does have one weak point however- "Bulgaria". Those vocals contain an eerie mysterious atmosphere and they do eventually grow on you with repeated listens, but it's still a pretty weak effort compared to the rest of the material here. They plod for over 4 minutes and by that point, it's too much for me to handle. At least the violin solo at the end is marvelous- *this* is what should have taken place for 4 minutes.
I have to be completely honest though- I've heard countless jams over the years, and "Time Is" comes up a bit short in comparison to most of them. Perhaps it's the speedy vocal delivery that fails to win me over, or maybe it's the way the instrumental chops feel really tacked on and never flow beautifully, so it ends up sounding rather sloppy and never really builds into a solid, enjoyable jam. Or perhaps it's just that I have to sit through yet ANOTHER drum solo (at least this one is pretty good, but remember *everyone* used to lay down drum solos back in the day). Whatever it is, well, let's just say I can think of several forgotten jams over the years that deserve more attention than this one. How about -to name a couple- "Ain't No Rules in California" by the Blues Image or Sugarloaf's ultra-exciting and rockin' party jam called "Toungue in Cheek?" You simply MUST hear these two songs!
Overall, it's good but I can honestly think of several forgotten late 60's albums that deserve just as much attention but unfortunately never received it like this one has. I guess my final verdict is that since I'm such a huge fan of the violin and always believed it was underrated in the world of rock & roll, *that* will be my main reason for giving this album 5 stars. The songwriting however, isn't really any better than any number of other forgotten late 60's rock artists.
It's a Beautiful Day Poster
Yes, the original version of that FM oldie "White Bird" is included on this CD. Formed in 1967 by former symphony violinist David LaFlamme, this popular group plowed through all of the San Francisco Sound's clichés at once: organ, fiddle and drum solos; epigrammatic sayings about love, time, and dreams that are so cheesy they would make a Hallmark hack blush; the soft-part-that-heads-steadily-toward-the-crescendo part; incongruously pieced-together prog-rock songs that plod on for way too long; off-kilter male and female singing; and a near-total lack of soul. This 1969 recording, then, is a clear blueprint of what not to do in psychedelic rock--with the exception of "White Bird," which retains a sheen of innocence and melodic oomph despite its daft, repeated utterance that "she must fly!" This reissue has a bright, clear sound and excellent separation; it will more than please fans of the original LP. However, those looking for an equal to the best works of Moby Grape, Quicksilver, and the Dead are encouraged to seek elsewhere. --Mike McGonigalClassic Rock Music CDs
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