The Wackers - 1971 - Wackering Heights

The Wackers

1971

Wackering Heights

01. Travelin' Time

02. Body Go Round

03. Don't Be Cruel

04. Country Queen

05. Strangers

06. Don't Put Down The Singer

07. I Don't Want My Love Refused

08. White House

09. I Like

10. On The Way Up

11. Such A Good Thing

12. No Place For The Children

Clarinet – Jack Schaeffer (2) (tracks: B3)

Drums – Bill Henderson (12) (tracks: A3)

Drums, Percussion – Spencer T. "Ernie" Earnshaw

Saxophone – Jack Schaeffer (2) (tracks: A3, B1)

Tambourine – Bill Henderson (12) (tracks: B5)

Vocals – Barth Bishop (tracks: A6)

Vocals, Bass, Slide Guitar – Kootch

Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Piano – Randy Bishop

Vocals, Guitar, Percussion – Robert Segarini

Vocals, Lead Guitar, Piano – Michael Stull

Wackering Heights is a lovely blend of harmonized folk/country-rock reminiscent of CSN and the Byrds with touches of British pub rock (early Brinsely Schwarz, Help Yourself). (See also Starry Eyed & Laughing.) Despite the band's glammy look on the cover (and, ok, there are some hints of glam and power pop), this is clearly the work of a SoCal (later Montreal) band, proto-yacht rock that stays in the mellow lane with only occasional ventures out into a bit of boogie (their glammy cover of "Don't Be Cruel").

Opener "Travelin' Time" lays down the blueprint, a band that heard what CSN were doing, probably checked out American Beauty a few times, and gave it a shot. If you're a sucker for blissed-out harmonies and jangly acoustic guitars, cue up "Country Queen" and kick back with some tequila and 'ludes. Nice, right? They turn up the amps (just a little) on tunes like "I Don't Want My Love Refused," but then cool back down with the harmony-drenched, very very seventies-sounding "White House."

A charming, sunny debut disc from a group that somehow managed to blend the Byrds and the Monkees into a pop sound that was as intelligent as it was catchy. Alas, things went downhill after this disc. After only two more albums, the Wackers ceased to be.

This is not a bad record, but for the most part, it's just not the kind of thing I'm into all that much. I hear generally soft rock, often with significant rural flavor, and overall not particularly energetic. It is reasonably consistent, but the consistency leads to an underwhelming total. Genre fans should find plenty to like about this, but I'm only partially moved.