Brewer and Shipley - Profile
by Carl Bookstein
published: 16 / 9 / 2017
intro
Carl Bookstein examines four late 1960's/early 1970's albums by the folk rock duo Brewer and Shipley, which have been re-released on a two disc CD set.
The soothing, natural folk rock sounds of American duo Brewer & Shipley, culled from four albums here, are highly appealing. This RetroWorld set compiles 'Weeds', 'Tarkio', 'Shake Off the Demon' and 'Rural Space', all four recorded for the Buddah Records label in the late 1960's and early 1970's. They are known for their hit single 'One Toke Over the Line', included here. This set begins with the 1969 album 'Weeds'. 'Lady Like You' starts with an easy guitar strum, into a beautiful vocal with a rollicking folk rock flavour, pulsing with its gentle momentum. “Been a long time now since I loved a lady like you.” 'Rise Up (Easy Rider)' voices wisdom for the alternative baby boom generation with its beautiful soft tones. “Riding circles around the sun/Can you learn to live with freedom?" 'Boomerang' includes a strong lyric: “Every little thing we’re putting out returns to us again.” It is followed by another fine, evocative number, 'Indian Summer': “Hold back the winter, Indian summer/I’m not sure if I can take the snow.” A light, somewhat unusual take on Dylan’s 'All Along the Watchtower' is appealing. Kicking off the 1970 album 'Tarkio', their hallmark hit 'One Toke Over the Line' starts with its familiar refrain: “One toke over the line, sweet Jesus/Sitting downtown in a railway station…” It is a classic for a reason. It is a great tune with a compelling hook, and not just a novelty number. It still holds up with time. 'Song from the Platte River' is an earthbound early country rock like folk rock tune. “They’ve got my freedom on the run,” Brewer & Shipley sing. 'The Light' possesses a sharp lyric: “For those who felt the hunger and truly longed to see/I’ll sing this song of the kingdom.” 'Can’t Go Home' is evocative, lovely and peaceful. “Singing songs I never sung before/I want to go home again.” 'Tarkio Road' is a highlight here: “If you’re looking for some trouble, you can find it on the Tarkio Road.” “Shake Off the Demon” is the title track from the 1971 third album collected here. “Watch that angel go,” is the lyric, into “Open your window and let that fresh air flow.” 'Rock Me On the Water' is great: “Your walls are burning and your towers are turning/Gonna rock me on the water/I’ll get down to the sea somehow.” Another easy flowing natural organic tune, 'When the Truth Finally Comes' is off the fourth and final album included here, 1972's 'Rural Space'. “You know there ain’t gonna be no prison walls/Everybody hand in hand.” A soul soothing Western tune is 'Crested Butte', capturing the romance of the American landscape. “I just left a place where nobody was running a race/Crested Butte/You got your feet on the ground.” The collected work here of Brewer & Shipley is solid and soothing folk rock, capturing a bit of the innocence of the early 1970s. Their music is soul calming and welcome.
Band Links:-
http://www.brewerandshipley.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brewer_%26_Shipley
Picture Gallery:-
most viewed articles
current edition
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies - Sala Apolo, Barcelona, 29/11/2023 and La Paqui, Madrid, 30/11/2023Anthony Phillips - Interview
Difford and Tilbrook - Difford and Tilbrook
Rain Parade - Interview
Oldfield Youth Club - Interview
Autumn 1904 - Interview
Shaw's Trailer Park - Interview
Cafe No. 9, Sheffield and Grass Roots Venues - Comment
Pete Berwick - ‘Too Wild to Tame’: The story of the Boyzz:
Chris Hludzik - Vinyl Stories
previous editions
Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down the StairsHeavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EP
World Party - Interview
Michael Lindsay Hogg - Interview
Ain't That Always The Way - Alan Horne After The Sound of Young Scotland 2
Joy Division - The Image That Made Me Weep
Dwina Gibb - Interview
World Party - Interview with Karl Wallinger
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Prisoners - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Marika Hackman - Big SighSerious Sam Barrett - A Drop of the Morning Dew
Rod Stewart and Jools Holland - Swing Fever
Loves - True Love: The Most of The Loves
Ian M Bailey - We Live in Strange Times
Paul McCartney and Wings - Band on the Run
Autumn 1904 - Tales of Innocence
Roberta Flack - Lost Takes
Banter - Heroes
Posey Hill - No Clear Place to Fall
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart