BREATHE AWHILE

Originally released in 1969, "Breathe Awhile", the only album from "Arcadium", was once a very rare item on many a collector's list. This LP is the most recent of many reissues over the years. The appeal is that it comes in a vinyl LP format with original artwork and two bonus tracks.

This was a band on the cusp of bigger and better things; unfortunately, you wait for that to happen from start to finish on this LP. They certainly had talent, but on their first and final outing, they get into a musical rut. They never break out of sameness in sound on the entire album. "I'm On My Way" (11:50) and "Birth, Life and Death" (10:18) serve as their pre-prog rock magnum opuses. "Birth, Life and Death" is the best track on the album. It has a distinctive psychedelic-hippy-San Francisco sound that holds steady throughout. It gave the band's listeners a lot of promise and hope that more of the same could be possible on their next album. Regrettably, it never happened.

I find this music very interesting to listen to because of its meaning in reference to what we listen to now. That can apply with anything in life but it is never more prevalent than in music. You will not wear this album out on your turntable but I am sure you would be able to find a place for it in your collection. Its historical significance cannot be understated and the album artwork is a real keeper, plus the fact that it was this band's only recording and it was a sought after collector's item should be enough ammunition for you to open your wallet and snag up this platter.