Harrison Kennedy - 1972 - Hypnotic Music

Harrison Kennedy

1972

Hypnotic Music

01. Hypnotic Music 5:19

02. Closet Queen 3:22

03. Night Comes Day Goes 6:40

04. Sunday Morning People 3:09

05. Gimme A Glass Of Water 3:07

06. Come Together 3:50

07. You Hurt Your Mother Again 5:51

08. Up-The Organization 3:12

09. Children Of The Day 3:16

"Children Of The Day" is the same track that appeared on the Chairmen Of The Board album IN SESSION as "Children Of Today"; the latter title is the one under which the song is registered with BMI, although Kennedy seems to actually sing "children of the day".

The early 1970s commercial successes enjoyed by The Chairmen of the Board saw individual group members given opportunities to strike out on their own via various solo projects. Canadian singer/guitarist Harrison Kennedy took advantage of the opportunity to record a solo debut - 1972's "Hypnotic Music". Produced by William Weatherspoon (Ronald Dunbar credited as executive producer), the album underscored Kennedy's reputation as The Chairmen of the Board's closet rocker - he'd handled lead vocals on most of the group's rock-oriented catalog including their interesting Beatles and Traffic covers. From a musical standpoint the album's rock orientation and social and political commentary ('You Hurt Your Mother Again') made this a very atypical project for Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland's Invictus label. Material like the pseudo-psychedelic title track, the Kennedy-penned 'Closet Queen' and 'Night Comes Day Goes' (the latter baring a passing resemblance to Joe Cocker), was all impressive, serving to showcase Harrison's nifty voice and gift for crafting commercial material. Highlights included his cover of The Beatles 'Come Together' (which seemed to be the same version as found on The Chairmen of the Board's debut album), and 'Sunday Morning People'.

Was it as good as his Chairmen of the Board catalog ? Nope. Parts of the album would have sounded right at home of FM radio, unfortunately from a commercial standpoint the album was too rock oriented for soul audiences, while Harrison's soul reputation ensured he didn't get a shot at breaking out with a white/rock audience. That marketing dilemma also guaranteed that neither single off the LP did much commercially