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Dulcimer - And I Turned As I Had Turned As A Boy (1971)

Track listing:
  1. Sonnet To The Fall 3:52
  2. Pilgrim From The City 3:11
  3. Morman's Casket 4:29
  4. Ghost Of The Wondering Minstral Boy 3:13
  5. Glouchester City 2:55
  6. Starlight 2:58
  7. Caravan 8:23
  8. Lisa's Song 3:02
  9. Time In My Life 2:58
  10. Fruit Of The Musical Tree 2:40
  11. While It Lasted 4:23
  12. Suzanne 3:41

Notes

Japan 24-Bit Remaster

Dulcimer consisted of Dave Eaves and Pete Hodges on vocals and guitar, and bassist Jem North. Finding a mentor in the form of producer/manager Larry Page (yes, the guy who was behind The Troggs), 1971 found the trio signed by the small UK Nepentha Records (Mercury acquiring American distribution rights). Produced by Page, the trio debuted with 1970's oddly titled "And I Turned As I Had As a Boy". Best described as acoustic folk-rock, Hodge and Eaves-penned material such as "Pilgrim from the City", "Morman's Casket" and "Fruit of the Musical Tree" is full of pretty melodies and a weird series of mideaval and mythological lyrics (check out the bizarre "Ghost of the Wandering Minstrel Boy").

To give you some frame of reference, to our ears much of the set recalls early Al Stewart. Elsewhere, actor Richard Todd recites some hackneyed poetry on "Sonnett To the Fall" and "Caravan". Highlights include the pretty ballads "Glochester City" and "Starlight" (the latter featuring some nice electric bass from North). All told, the set's pleasant and never less than enjoyable, though nothing here is particularly original. Interestingly, the UK pressing (which is what we're offering), is far rarer and sought after than the US Mercury release. (The album was originally released with a gatefold sleeve.)