Quah
Studio album by Jorma Kaukonen with Tom Hobson
Released 1974
Recorded October, 1972; February-May, 1973; May, 1974 at Wally Heider Studios, San Francisco
Genre Blues
Length 38:29
Label Grunt
Producer Jack Casady
Quah is the first solo album by Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna and Jefferson Airplane. The album was recorded with Tom Hobson. The initial plan was to have side-A be Kaukonen and side-B be Hobson. However, RCA felt that Hobson's recordings would not be accepted by the public. Initially the record was planned to be released in mid-1973, but because of the issues with Hobson, Kaukonen returned to the studio to record new tracks for side B in May 1974. Only "Blue Prelude" and "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine" of the original 1974 release feature Hobson's lead vocal, although he also plays guitar on "I'll Let You Know Before I Leave." On the CD reissue, Hobson is featured on all bonus tracks except for "Lord Have Mercy."
In 1980, Grunt Records reissued the album with a different cover that used the photographs that were originally used inside the gatefold. In 1987, Relix Records released the album under license from RCA. It was released on vinyl and was one of the first CDs released by an independent record label in the USA. The first Relix version was pressed in Switzerland, then Japan and finally manufactured in the USA. Relix also released a remastered and graphically revised version in the late 1990s with computer improved tracks from the original masters. BMG (incorporating the former RCA) re-released the original album on CD in 2003, along with the bonus tracks featuring Hobson.
Professional ratings:
allmusic 4.5/5 stars
Review by Lindsay Planer of allmusic:
Quah -- Jorma Kaukonen's (guitar/vocal) solo debut effort -- was recorded and issued shortly after the dissolution of Jefferson Airplane in 1974. In contrast to the sonic indulgences of Grace Slick's Manhole or Paul Kantner and Jefferson Starship's Blows Against the Empire, Kaukonen retreated back to his folk-blues roots along with vocalist Tom Hobson -- who contributes to "Blue Prelude" and "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine" -- to create this intricate acoustic masterwork. From the highly original artwork -- courtesy of Kaukonen's then-wife Margareta -- to the stark and beautiful melodies within the grooves, Quah is unlike any other recording from the era. Much of the album's vibe is strikingly similar to the final contributions that Kaukonen made to Jefferson Airplane. The most obvious and direct correlation being "Third Week at the Chelsea," which maintains much of the same intimacy as the tracks "Genesis," "Flying Clouds," and "Song for the North Star." Likewise, his admiration for folk, blues, and gospel -- which had first surfaced on the self-titled Hot Tuna debut release -- informs the content of this disc on his cover of Rev. Gary Davis' "I Am the Light of This World" as well as the haunting traditional blues "Another Man Done Gone"and Blind Boy Blake's understatedly ribald "Police Dog Blues." Tom Hobson's inimitable vocal delivery stands apart from Kaukonen's in a somewhat theatrical manner. His take on the noir torch song "Blue Prelude" could not be more dissimilar to the practically giddy "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine." Yet both are equally functional in the context of the rest of the album. In 1987 Relix magazine issued a very limited pressing of Quah on CD. Tragically, it was not re-pressed and remains near the top of want lists from enthusiasts eager to retire worn vinyl copies. This disc is a timeless and highly underrated statement from one of the world's premier guitarists. It is worthy -- if not quietly demanding -- of repeated listening.
LP track listing
Side One
1. "Genesis" (Jorma Kaukonen) Ð 4:19
2. "I'll Be All Right" (traditional, arranged by Rev. Gary Davis, Jorma Kaukonen) Ð 3:08
3. "Song for the North Star" (Jorma Kaukonen) Ð 2:52
4. "I'll Let You Know Before I Leave" (Jorma Kaukonen) Ð 2:17
5. "Flying Clouds" (Jorma Kaukonen) Ð 4:07
6. "Another Man Done Gone" (Ruby Pickens Tartt, Vera Hall, John Lomax, Alan Lomax) Ð 2:54
Side Two
7. "I Am The Light Of This World" (Rev. Gary Davis) Ð 3:46
8. "Police Dog Blues" (Blind Arthur Blake, arranged by Jorma Kaukonen) Ð 3:45
9. "Blue Prelude" (Gordon Jenkins) Ð 4:05
10. "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine " (Tom Hobson) Ð 2:42
11. "Hamar Promenade" (Jorma Kaukonen) Ð 4:34
Personnel
* Jorma Kaukonen Ð vocals on all tracks except Tom Hobson tracks, "I'll Let You Know Before I Leave", acoustic guitar on all tracks except "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine", 12-string slide guitar on "Another Man Done Gone"
* Tom Hobson Ð vocals on "Blue Prelude", "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine", acoustic guitar on "I'll Let You Know Before I Leave", "Blue Prelude", "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine"
Additional Personnel
* Edward Neff Ð fiddle on "Flying Clouds"
* Teressa Adams, Melinda Ross Ð celli on "Genesis", "Song for the North Star", and "Flying Clouds"
* Nancy Ellis, Miriam Dye, Don Ehrlich, Mary Jo Ahlborn Ð violas on "Genesis", "Song for the North Star", and "Flying Clouds"
* Thomas Heimberg Ð viola on "Flying Clouds"
* Nathan Rubin, Thomas Halpin, Daniel Kobialka, Carl Pederson, Eva Karasik, Anne Kish Ð violins on "Genesis", "Song for the North Star", and "Flying Clouds"
* Mischa Myers Ð violin on "Flying Clouds"
* Arthur Krehbiel Ð french horn on "Flying Clouds"
* Gene Tortora Ð dobro on "Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine"
* Tom Salisubry Ð strings arranger, strings conductor