Something Strange Is Showing

Heaven & Earth - Refuge (1973)


I bought this album at a record fair in Austin last year. I picked it up out of the bin and the guy says, "You know that record, right?". I didn't. Or didn't think I did. Or didn't want to know it because I didn't want to think this random record dude had me pinned right from the gate. Turns out I did, though. Life's like that. He says, "that's a 50 dollar record." He was offering it for 15. That's a 35 dollar savings - how could I refuse? But it turns out I knew the track "Jenny" from the Finders Keeper's Folk is A Four Letter Word comp. I was happy when I put it on when I got back home. The two babes on the cover blend their vocals together nicely for a combo of witchy woman sassitude and little girl innocence. They were apparently based out of Chicago and the album features a lot of early 70s Chicago session men and production from feted percussive/stereo sounds pioneer Dick Schory. In addition to songs by Stephen Stills and Elton John, they cover Dylan's "Tomorrow is a Long Time" which had only come out two years before on Greatest Hits Vol. 2. It's solid stuff with nothing too psych-y about it, it's more just post-hippie folk with a funky session band. Which is all fine and occasionally, as on "Jenny", insanely awesome.

Heaven & Earth "Jenny"