Saturday, May 02, 2015

Cross Country - Selftitled (Great and Hard to Find Rock Album US 1973)



Size: 77 MB
Bitrate: 256
mp3
Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Artwork Included
Source: Japan 24-Bit Remaster

 Cross Country is a band formed in 1973 by three fourths of the musical group The Tokens- Jay Siegel, Mitch Margo and Phil Margo. The group released one self-titled album.

 Compared to those who know about Intercourse by The Tokens, only few will know about this hidden gem. Somehow hidden away by Atlantic Records, this may be the most incredible effort ever by Phil and Mitch Margo, and Jay Siegel of the original "The Tokens" who helped create the smash hit The Lion Sleeps Tonight in 1961. 

If you can find a Cross Country CD consider yourself lucky! If you can find a vinyl you might want to check it into a museum. There are very few originally issued. These are gorgeous, haunting and original songs mostly by Mitch Margo, the mastermind behind Intercourse.

 Fantastic album. Harmony vocals are very reminiscient of the Beach Boys but with a subtle touch of country music. Don't know anything about these guys, but it's a shame they didn't make any more records.

The song titles may lack imagination, but the music more than makes up for it. I'm a huge 70s country rock fan, & though I wouldn't call this country rock, it gets regular plays @ my house right between the Band, Byrds & Burritos.

 Cross Country are a bit like Crosby Stills Nash & Young, at least in the tight harmonies and rural folky hippie rock they produce. 

 Nice laid back sip on iced tea and smoke some herb type o' stuff. Every now and then they do give rocking out a shot so it's not all mellow. This was released in 1973 on Atco records and is their only LP. 

 01. Today - 2:52
02. Just A Thought - 3:22
03. Cross Country - 3:49
04. In The Midnight Hour - 3:16
05. Thing With Wings - 4:35
06. Tastes So Good To Me - 3:13
07. A Fall Song - 2:48
08. Choirboy - 3:18
09. A Ball Song - 2:52
10. A Smile Song - 4:26

1. Link
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2. Link
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German Single 1973

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12 comments:

  1. DougSaturday, 2 May 2015 at 20:27:00 CEST

    Not familiar with these guys.Will give a listen.Thanks.

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  2. AnonymousSaturday, 2 May 2015 at 21:18:00 CEST

    For some reason or other the cover looks familiar but I don't remember ever having listened to this, so thanks very much for the opportunity!

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  3. AnonymousSunday, 3 May 2015 at 02:45:00 CEST

    Thank you Chris. I had always been curious about this one.

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  4. kobilicaSunday, 3 May 2015 at 08:00:00 CEST

    Thank you.Never heard this one before...

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  5. AnonymousMonday, 4 May 2015 at 20:40:00 CEST

    Thanx a lot!

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  6. Travis ClayFriday, 8 May 2015 at 23:01:00 CEST

    Wow! Thanks!

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  7. AnonymousSaturday, 9 May 2015 at 12:10:00 CEST

    This is great. Yes, it´s a minor classic. There´s even a countrified version of Midning Hour! Yes, that´s the very same soul song made famous by mighty Wilson Pickett. Great musicianship, great vocals, great songs. Shame that this is their only release. A bit like Heron in the Old Blighty. Henry

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  8. AnonymousWednesday, 13 May 2015 at 17:16:00 CEST

    I actually bought this album when it was originally issued. Kept it for a couple of years and sold it to a used record shop. Thanks for posting!

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  9. Jimmy58Friday, 15 May 2015 at 00:00:00 CEST

    I will try it, thanks

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  10. AnonymousSaturday, 26 December 2015 at 19:15:00 CET

    Thanks for this wonderful unknown pearl. A real discovery! Any chance anyone could post The Token's Intercourse album? Would be appreciated.
    dan-the-man

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  11. teamsterSunday, 31 January 2016 at 03:14:00 CET

    I love the vocal harmonies, and the cover art by Richard Mantell. Nice artwork scanning.

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  12. UnknownFriday, 5 May 2017 at 04:41:00 CEST

    I have an original copy of the vinyl given to me by a friend who was one of the band members back in 73. About wore it out back in the day full of scratches and badly worn. Would love to locate a new copy.

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