[2015-07-17] Continental Drifters "Drifted: In The Beginning & Beyond" 2CD set (Omnivore)

NoPhoneNoPoolNoPets · 17 Jul 2007

Description:
Born in Los Angeles in the early 1990s via a residency of week after week jam sessions at a dive club called Raji’s—then relocating to New Orleans—the band’s trajectory lasted about a decade and ended when Hurricane Katrina demolished their homes and the band members scattered.

Key members included Vicki Peterson (Bangles), Susan Cowsill (The Cowsills), Peter Holsapple (The dBs, R.E.M.), and many more—including the only member who has been with them from the beginning, Mark Walton (Giant Sand, The Dream Syndicate). However, there were also several singer/songwriters (Carlo Nuccio, Gary Eaton, Ray Ganucheau) without an impressive pedigree that shine as brightly as their slightly more famous bandmates. That’s the magic that we’ve captured on Disc One of this set with the band’s earliest recordings—many previously unissued, others that only appeared briefly on a German only album.

The best possible comparison that we can make is that the Continental Drifters had a similar vibe to the classic roots combo Delaney & Bonnie & Friends—more of a “collective’ than a band—in which there were several distinctly original lead singers, blistering sidemen instrumentalists and an inspiring blend of both original and seminal cover songs with a southern fried blue-eyed soul approach that couldn’t be beat.

Disc Two is an incredible treat for not only the band’s handful of hardcore fans, but for fans of classic roots music in general; from live sets, tribute albums (Gram Parsons, The Hollies) and the rare 2001 European only EP Listen Listen, their valentine to Fairport Convention’s Sandy Denny and Richard Thompson, as well as other unheard treasures.

Drifted: In The Beginning & Beyond (re)-introduces the Continental Drifters, explores their influence and magnitude, and fills in the gaps of their expansive career. Informative notes from Scott Schinder help tell the story with interviews from band members. It is a trip well worth taking.

Tracklist
CD1:
1. Who We Are, Where We Live (Early Version)*
2. Side Steppin’ The Fire
3. The Mississippi
4. Match Made In Heaven
5. Karen A (Demo)*
6. The Rain Song (Early Version)*
7. Dallas (Alternate Mix)*
8. Here I Am
9. Mr. Everything (Alternate Mix)*
10. No One Cares
11. Green (Demo)*
12. I Didn’t Want To Lie
13. Invisible Boyfriend
14. New York (Demo)*
15. Let It Ride

CD2:
1. You Don’t Miss Your Water (Live)*
2. Crescent City (Live)*
3. A Song For You
4. Tighter, Tighter (Live)*
5. I Can’t Let Go
6. Some Of Shelley’s Blues (Campfire Mix)*
7. When You Dance I Can Really Love
8. Turn Back The Hands Of Time (Live)*
9. Farmer’s Daughter (Live)*
10. Dedicated To The One I Love (Live)*
11. At The End Of The Day (Live)*
12. Listen, Listen
13. I Want To See The Bright Lights Tonight
14. The Poor Ditching Boy
15. You’re Gonna Need Somebody
16. I’m A Dreamer
17. Matty Groves
18. Meet On The Ledge (Studio Version)

* Previously Unissued.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00YJNQXRS/?tag=imwan-20

NoPhoneNoPoolNoPets · 17 Jul 2007

I am really looking forward to this release, as I followed this band from nearly the beginning. They were terrific live performers, and the band members were down-to-earth, really nice people, for the most part.

However, slight missed opportunity here, as there are a couple of 7-inch vinyl single sides not included in this compilation:

"Johnny Oops" (Live at the Warehouse Cafe, New Orleans 4/25/92) was originally released as the b-side to "The Mississippi" (Singles Only Label SOL 229-7, USA 1992)

"Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway" was the a-side of a single, b/w "Meet On The Ledge" (Black Dog BD-1003-7, USA 1997) -- "Christopher Columbus Transcontinental Highway" is a different version of the song that was released on the Continental Drifters' album Vermillion

To my knowledge, neither of these songs has ever been released on CD, and they would have fit perfectly here.

Having said that, however, this will be a great addition to their recorded legacy, and comes highly recommended

Jay · 12 Jul 2006

I am in.

mikepasqua · **Joined:** 30 Apr 2009 **Posts:** 161

Loved the band and there's enough unreleased stuff that I pre-ordered. Good for Omnivore-they're putting out some great stuff (along with Textones) and I hope they continue.

Linda · **Posted:** Fri Jul 17, 2015 4:32 am

[2015-07-17] Continental Drifters "Drifted: In The Beginning & Beyond" 2CD set (Omnivore)

Who is WANline