FORD THEATRE

In many ways FORD THEATRE was a typical psychedelic rock band from the late 60s that co-existed with an infinite number of similar bands. The band was active between 1966 and 1971 and was formed from the ashes of another band called The Continentals where Jimmy Altieri (bass), John Mazzarelli (keyboards), Robert Tamagni (drums), and Butch Webster (lead guitar) played and after they recruited Harry Palmer (guitar) and lead vocalist Joey Scott, changed their name to FORD THEATRE. The band released only two albums in their short career and TRILOGY FOR THE MASSES was the debut.

Although heavily steeped in what was called the Boston sound, the band always eschewed the comparisons and rightly so because FORD THEATRE was a little more forward thinking than the average psych band of the era. FORD THEATRE engaged in a far more Gothic and classically influenced style than the more pop oriented acts of the day. The band found enough popularity to be signed to ABC Records but failed to catch on to a larger audience and was dropped after the second album "Time Changes."

The name alone explains a lot. FORD THEATRE was the venue where Abraham Lincoln was assassinated and they chose their name because it correlates to the music they wanted to create which represented a 1968 USAmerica in total chaos and entropy. The album is steeped in detachment, disillusionment and uncertainty and offers one of the most genuine and fearless musical expressions of the era.

By creating a dark and gloomy atmosphere based on a West Coast style of jangly acid guitar and a heavily drenched organ prominence, FORD THEATRE sounds like they were spawned from the period they did with obvious influences that range from The Kingsmen, The Beatles, The Byrds and even at times in the more sophisticated parts The Doors (particularly on the lengthy and ferocious keyboard attacks on the 18 minute "The Race" which has gained the band a clear foothold in the proto-prog camp.)

While FORD THEATRE would be relegated to the footnotes of history, they definitely deserve to be heard even in a modern day context for aficionados of psychedelic rock of the 60s. There are many unique aspects of this album. For example, the lyrics are in the second person and addressed to the listener. If you like the idea of a jangly band like The Byrds playing with a more symphonic version of The Doors with some West Coast Jefferson Airplane along for the ride, then FORD THEATRE is definitely a band you should investigate and for proggers who are interested in all the prerequisites to the genre, then this is a must.