Christbearer - 1977 LP: Songs & Friends - B5 Christbearer

Christbearer
LP: Songs And Friends
Released: 1977

Kay Woodard: Vocals
Chris Hughes: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Jimmy Rea: Vocals, Bass, High String Guitar
Jeff White: Keyboards, Electric Guitar, Saxophone, Vocals, Banjo
Lee Carpenter: Drums, String Arrangement, Horn Arrangement, Engineer
Kenny Burton: Horns
Donald Morris: Horns
Patrick J. Fagan: Engineer
Recorded at: Axent Sound Studios, Biloxi, Mississippi
Engineer – Lee Carpenter, Patrick J. Fagan
Published By – Singing River Pub. Co. Inc.

Tracklist
A1 Melancholy Traveler
A2 Look
A3 Come To The Banquet
A4 Fly
A5 His Call
B1 Songs And Friends
B2 Twilight
B3 Into The Light
B4 Goodbye Song
B5 Christbearer

Like Majesty and Uncle John’s Band, Christbearer is one of a few groups headed up by Chris Hughes in the ‘70s. They also happen to be the heaviest of the bunch. Psych enthusiasts will immediately want to take note of ‘Look’ and ‘Into The Light’, both of which rock slowly with some of the loudest droning fuzz guitar on record – enough that Songs And Friends could easily earn a modest “monster” status. On the softer end of the spectrum is ‘Twilight’, a mesmerizing acoustic ballad with dreamy background synthesizer. A number of the remaining songs appeared on the Majesty album in the acoustic duo format but are re-interpreted here as spirited electric pop/folk, some of the best I’ve heard. Light horn accompaniment on a couple of these blends in perfectly. Several folk-rock tunes as well – airy and jangly on ‘Fly’, blue-grassy with banjo on ‘Come To The Banquet’. Members include Chris Hughes, Kay Woodard, Jimmy Rea, Jeff White and Lee Carpenter. Great album! Custom press from Durham, North Carolina. (The Archivist by Ken Scott, 4th Edition).