The early '70s were intriguing times to be plying your trade amid the fauna and flora of Hawaii, if you happened to be a
rock
band. It might've had something to do with the exotic climes and locales of the islands melding perfectly with the chemically enhanced strangeness and surreal vibes of the era (or maybe there was just something in the water?), but Hawaii played home to fiercely unique bands like
Mu
and expatriate
psychedelic
trailblazers like
John Cippolina
, as well as serving as an important pit-stop for
Jimi Hendrix
and other heavy, heady artists.
Sweet Marie
was yet another Hollywood combo who emigrated to the isle, and they quickly became one of the hottest bands on Oahu after having a nationally successful first album, buying a nightclub there, and packing it nightly. The trio continued their popularity and success with a second album,
, reissued here on
Gear Fab
in its original form. And it's not a bad album at all; in fact, it's a pretty strong, occasionally exciting effort.
's music was close in many ways to the bottom-heavy, groove-laden
blues
and
amalgam of
Buddy Miles Express
(even
Band of Gypsys
on the version of
Phil Ochs
'
"Changes"
) but with a cooler, more languid pace and darkly mystical undertones that closely recall their contemporary,
Spirit
, particularly in the harmonies. The album features some really superb melodic moments, as with
"It Ain't Easy"
"I Want Your Woman,"
while
"Do Do (Find Me a Way)"
is fine,
soul
-tinged
hard rock
"Stella's Candy Store"
amusingly innuendo-laden and jazzy. But
didn't have that distinctive spark that allowed their music to stand out or that ultimately separates them from their era. It certainly suffers in comparison to the extravagant, alien hybrid arrived at by
Merrell Fankhauser
Jeff Cotton
. And some of the ideas --
"Hortense the Hippie"
(a rewrite of
"Octopus' Garden"
), in particular, and
"Drum Solo"
-- have aged less than gracefully. Nevertheless, it's a fine recording, and one that would be well worth grabbing for fans of off-the-beaten path '70s
. ~ Stanton Swihart