Description
Label Review.
Four albums 1968-1976. Morello.
Our Overview.
Born Stuart David Cohen in the US in 1941, he became an integral part of the New York Greenwich Village scene and in the early 1960s and was present when Bob Dylan was writing the song that would become the great folk anthem “Blowin’ In The Wind”. Bob asked David to play the chords while he would create the verses. It was performed that night at Gerde’s Folk City. Once Bob Dylan made it, record companies came looking around Greenwich Village for potential artists. However, there was already a Dave Cohen performing in the village, who later joined Country Joe and the Fish. Our Dave Cohen told folk singer Eric Andersen that he would have to change his name and Eric said, “You’ve got such blue eyes. You should be David Blue”.
David was finally picked up by the fledging Elektra label who issued his first album in 1966 (not present here). After that album failed commercially he moved to Reprise and ‘These 23 Days In September’ was released in 1968. Skipping his third record (where he attempted to revert to his real name), he switched labels again and his first album for the newly-formed Asylum label – ‘Stories’ (1972) – had a self-portrait on its cover. The album featured some magical slide guitar from Ry Cooder while other guests included Rita Coolidge, Chris Ethridge, Milt Holland and Russ Kunkel.
Graham Nash, then a superstar with Crosby, Stills and Nash, produced the album ‘Nice Baby And The Angel’ in 1973. Background vocals included Graham Nash, Dave Mason, Glenn Frey and Jennifer Warren. Glenn Frey was so taken with the track “Outlaw Man” that he took it to The Eagles and it was featured on their album ‘Desperado’ and became Blue’s best known song. Jumping another album (1975’s ‘Com’n Back For More’) this collection ends with David’s seventh and final album ‘Cupid’s Arrow’ released in 1976. Blue moved towards acting after this and sadly died suddenly while jogging in 1982. Despite his extensive catalogue and connections he has never been more than a footnote in rock’s annals but this 2CD set from Morello Records should help bring his attractive take on folk rock to a wider audience.
Tracklisting:
These 23 Days In September: These 23 Days In September / Ambitious Anna / You Need A Change / The Grand Hotel / The Sailor’s Lament / You Will Come Back Again / Scales For A Window Thief / Slow And Easy / The Fifth One
Stories: Looking For A Friend / Sister Rose / Another One Like Me / House Of Changing Faces / Marianne / Fire In The Morning / Come On John / The Blues (All Night Long)
Nice Baby And The Angel : Outlaw Man / Lady O’lady / True To You / On Sunday, Any Sunday / Darlin’ Jenny / Dancing Girl / Yesterdays Lady / Nice Baby And The Angel / Troubadour Song / Train To Anaheim
Cupid’s Arrow: Run, Run, Run / The Ballad Of Jennifer Lee / Tom’s Song / I Feel Bad / Cordelia / Maria, Maria / Cupid’s Arrow / Primeval Tune / She’s Got You