NRBQ – Grooves In Orbit – Reissue
For the uninitiated, this Kentucky band, formed in 1965, is miraculously still playing. OK, not with all the original members, but close enough. The spirit is still alive. Like the Grateful Dead, the band was known for its live performances, spontaneity, levity & endurance. It was also highly regarded as a group that touched upon many genres with skill: rock, jazz, pop, blues, balladry, instrumental grooves, & Tin Pan Alley.
This compilation has 18 rollicking tunes originally laid down in 1982 (released in 1983) for Bearsville Records. There are 5 bonus tracks (3) previously unreleased for Grooves In Orbit (Drops Feb 6/Big Nots/Omnivore Records/47:51). The original LP was produced by Terry Adams (keys/harmonica/cornet/marimba/vocals), & Joey Stampinato (bass/vocals) with the set produced by Big Notes.
One nostalgic tune, “Rain at the Drive In,” is wonderfully rendered & the delightfully played “How Can I Make You Love Me,” is still memorable. In the tradition of the Brill Building writers like Neil Sedaka & Carole King, the melody is charged, & radio fodder in another era. A pure pop confection. While the group never achieved the status of the Beach Boys, Beatles, or Rolling Stones, they did get blessed with a rabid following throughout their career.
The raw “When Things Was Cheap” is a more rugged but has its dug in deep rock tendencies. They turn on the pop charm & heavy-handed drive as easily as a kiss in the backseat…or not. There are a few novelty tunes among the choice cuts that are well-played, but are in no way an accurate measure of the ability of this unit. There are bright spots like the rockabilly Blasters style of “12 Bar Blues” that were ear candy for Baby Boomers. The band continues in this tradition with high octane on the classic Johnny Cash tune “Get Rhythm.”
Songs like “A Girl Like That” perk the ears up of any Squeeze fan because that’s what this Maypo cereal tastes like. Upbeat, consistent, sweet, & catchy. Whereas “I Like That Girl” is rooted in a more Dixieland groove & done with plenty of fluency & horns. “Some Kind of Blues” is an excellent piece with wonderful performances that showcase the band in a skillful, more serious manner. Always an interesting, diversified band to hear.
Highlights – “Rain at the Drive In,” “How Can I Make You Love Me,” “When Things Was Cheap,” “12 Bar Blues,” + the alternate take, “A Girl Like That,” “I Like That Girl,” “Get Rhythm,” “Some Kind of Blues,” “Tonight You Belong To Me,” & “Smackeroo.”
Musicians – Al Anderson (guitars/vocals), Tom Ardolino (drums), the Whole Wheat Horns: Donn Adams (trombone), Keith Spring (tenor sax), Gary Windo (tenor sax), with John Sebastian (dobro/banjo), & Phil Collison (chainsaw).
Front cover photos: Mike Ermini, Mike Saporito, & Lili Chilson. Color image courtesy of their website gallery. CD @ Apple & Amazon + https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/grooves-in-orbit/ & http://www.nrbq.com/
Enjoy our interview here: Interview: NRBQ’s Terry Adams Defines Music’s Spiritual Beauty