- Format: MP3
Shadrack - Shadrack Chameleon (us 1973 psych-rock)
Formed: IA, United States
Members:
* Steve Fox (bass, vocals),
* Jon Porter (organ),
* Randy Berka (guitar),
* Dan Dodgen (drums),
* Artie Strutzenberg (drums)
Also Known As: Shadrack Chameleon
Tracks:
01. I Wonder Why - (bonus track)
02. Chameleon (I Love You)
03. Granite Feast
04. Don't Let It Get You Down
05. It Was Me - (bonus track)
06. Long Road to Ole' Miss.
07. That's the Way It's Gotta Be
08. Beyond Eternity
For an album created by a revolving group of friends from three separate bands, Shadrack
Chameleon is quite a cohesive little surprise. Steve Fox is the only constant on each of the
eight songs on the album, and, in a way, could be considered Shadrack Chameleon since his guitar,
bass, songwriting, and vocal talents come to the forefront. Fox's thinnish vocals can be an
acquired taste, but he is a strong, instinctive writer. A Jimmy Page influence (almost
inevitable during the period) is discernible in the interesting, mystical chords and changes on
the album. The band is certainly not a Zeppelin soundalike, though, because the changes that Fox
and sometime-partner Randy Berka conceived are countered by a gentle acoustic feel and a languid
rather than dynamic pulse. The band can employ a beautiful, stomping country-rock style, as on
the opening cut "I Wonder Why," with its ensemble vocal hook (reminiscent of Emerson, Lake &
Palmer's "Lucky Man") and organ, or it can be a heavier progressive rock outfit, as on "Long
Road to Ole' Miss" and "Granite Feast." Mostly, though, Shadrack Chameleon might be termed
progressive folk, and songs like "That's the Way It's Gotta Be" and "Don't Let It Get You Down"
reveal strummed chording that comes out sounding almost claustrophobic and is a good match for
each song's subject matter. The members of Shadrack didn't lack ambition, either; "Chameleon
(I Love You)" is an epic ballad with seemingly two songs combined into one, while the album ends
on the spare acoustic-to-electric drone of "Beyond Eternity." The album ultimately passes by in
an almost lazy haze and is occasionally accomplished, but too often Shadrack Chameleon sounds,
if not uninspired, uninterested or flat.
~ By Evermoreblues.
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One of those "special" albums you'll either get and love or probably find as exciting as rice
pudding. Very Neil Young/Crazy Horse vibe to the music, but there's a sort of garage-y
desperation/enthusiasm thing going on. Very solid, simple songs and melodies with more
straightforward folk elements here and there. "Granite Feast" is definitely tops. Much like
the slightly similar Rayne this definitely could pass for late 80s/early 90s college rock.
Except it doesn't suck.
~ By Gafnerostow.
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Pretty dandy slab from this Iowa band who play a kind of Neil Young style of rock. Two great
songs "Chameleon" and the masterful "Granite Feast" and bunch that don't live up to those pieces.
Kind of amazing how this band has a kind of 80's college rock sound to them. Worth checking out.
~ By Bnoring (RYM).
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here is the album by this legendary garage band from Humbolt, Iowa. Taken from the original
master tapes the one and only self titled album was originally released on IGL in 1970 and only
800 copies were pressed 500 of which were destroyed before it even got released.
All former members of the band worked closely with GEAR FAB to realise this great CD
~ By Miguel Angel (elcamaleongallego6.blogspot.com/).
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Μέρες είχα να πάω σε καμία πειρατεία και τις πεθύμησα. Το ένα και μοναδικό Lp των Shadrack
Chameleon από το Humbolt της Iowa μας απασχολεί, το οποίο κυκλοφόρησε τότε 500 κόπιες και
πουλήθηκε στην τοπική αγορά ή σε συναυλίες. Η ηχογράφηση έγινε σε σπίτι στην Dacota σε ένα reel-
to-reel TEAC 4-track recorder. Ο Steve Fox (ηγέτης του γκρουπ) πήρε τα tapes τα πήγε στη Sonic
Records και πλήρωσε ο ίδιος για να τυπωθεί ο δίσκος.
Σε σχέση με το lp το 45αρι που έβγαλαν ηχογραφήθηκε κανονικά στα στούντιο της τοπικής Sonic
Records στο Milford της Iowa. Οι πληροφορίες αυτές προήλθαν από μια συνέντευξη του 2005 που
έδωσαν οι Ardie Strutzenberg και Randy Berka που ήσαν μέλη των Shadrack Chameleon.
Το γκρουπ βασικά ήταν μία μάζωξη από μουσικούς της Iowa άλλων rock συγκροτημάτων (οι Crosstown
Traffic, οι Lazy River και οι Goo) το 1970 που είχε σαν αποτέλεσμα την γέννηση των Shadrack
Chameleon. Το 1972 ουσιαστικά διέλυσαν (για να κάνουν τις σπουδές τους στα Πανεπιστήμια) αλλά
στο μεταξύ ένα μωσαϊκό μουσικών από τους Lazy Smoke, Crosstown Traffic και Shadrack ηχογράφησαν
το Shadrack Chameleon, με ηγέτη τον Steve Fox (guitar, vocals, bass).
Βρισκόμαστε αρχές 70, οπότε εκτός των ψυχεδελικών στοιχείων, το progressive feeling κάνει την
παρουσία του ωστόσο ο δίσκος δημιουργεί ένα μελωδικό και ταυτόχρονα μελαγχολικό συναίσθημα.
Κατά την ταπεινή μου άποψη ο δίσκος είναι ποιοτικότατος. Σε ένα cd που κυκλοφορεί υπάρχουν δύο
επιπλέον κομμάτια (I Wonder Why και It Was Me).
~ By psych-Spaniolos.