Appaloosa by Appaloosa (CD, Dec-2005, Collectors' Choice Music)

I bought this album in 1970 on the recommendation of a friend who took lessons from the 'cellist. Another 'cellist friend of mine stole it in 1983. In 25 intervening years I had forgotten how good it really was. The songs have been running through my mind for weeks.

Appaloosa is a guitarist, bass guitarist, violinist and 'cellist, sweetened by genius producer Al Kooper with keyboards, of course, but also sax trumpet and oboe. The uniqueness of the lyrics is matched by the orchestration. It is the only "pop" band where the strings ARE the sound, and one of the few where the volume is not set by percussion.

The sound is even better than Kooper's more famous projects (Blood, Sweat & Tears, Super Session) with the acoustic instruments approaching the clarity of "audiophile" recordings; but all the technique is just a means to the emotional power of this sublime understatement.

I still want to find a good LP copy, but the CD transfer is remarkably good - perhaps Al had something to do with it.