Rudy Romero - To The World

Rudy Romero - To The World - 1973

from BadCatRecordings
What little attention this album seems to get stems from George Harrison's supposed appearance on four of tracks (the performance credits don't list Harrison).  If true, that's not a bad claim to fame, but the album actually has much more going for it.

Rudy Romeo's initial claim to fame came as a member of San Diego's The Hardtimes.  When that band and a one-shot follow-up (NB The your unique album you find HERE) The New Phoenix called it quits Romero struck out in pursuit of a solo career and in the early 1970s was signed to the Colorado-based Tumbleweed imprint.  Produced by former Hardtimes singer Lee Keifer, 1973's "To the World" found Romero working with an impressive list of musicians.  In addition to the supposed Harrison appearance, the line up included Clear Light keyboardist Ralph Schuckett, Things To Come bassist Bryan Garofalo, and former Undertakers drummer Warren Pemerton.  To my ears Romero had a highly commercial voice that was well suited to the pop and softer rock materials he wrote.  In fact most of the ten Romero-penned tracks had at least some degree of commercial potential, with 'If I Had the Time' and '' being two of the two highlights.  So back to Harrison for a moment: if you believe the story he played on four tracks -  ‘Lovely Lady,' ‘Nothin' Gonna Get You Down,' ‘Doing The Right Thing,' and ‘If I Had Time'.  To be honest about it, I've got my doubts, due in part to the fact Harrison's mid-1970s playing style with a heavy emphasis on slide guitar was very unique and easy to spot.  With the exception of the title track, none of the guitar work on the collection reminded me of that style.  Who knows ...  In an interview with Patrick 'The Lama' Lundborg, fellow Tumbleweed artist Robb Kunkle was clear in saying Harrison played on the album.  

01.Simple Thing
02.To The World
03.Anyway We Can
04.Lovely Lady
05.If I Find The Time
06.Notihing Gonna Get You Down
07.Level Out
08.You Used to Be So Light
09.Love Comes (When It Wants to Anyway)
10.Doing The Right Thing

Rudy Romero - Guitar, Guitar (Rhythm), Vocals
John Ussery - Guitar
Bryan Garofalo - Bass
Warren "Bugs" Pemberton - Drums
Peggy Sanding, Ralph Schuckett - Keyboards
Lee Kiefer - Percussion, Vocals (Background)
James M. McGee, William Hinshaw, Arthur Maebe - French Horn
Dalton Smith, Ollie Mitchell - Trumpet
William Hurasch, Sid Sharp, Ralph Schaeffer - Violin
Harold Diner, Robert Knight - Trombone
Venetta Fields, Clydie King - Vocals (Background)
Joey Deaguero - Vibraphone, Vocals (Background)
Jesse Ehrlich -  Cello







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