Twice a year, I come across a copy of "L.A. Getaway," a 1971 release credited to Joel Scott Hill, Chris Ethridge and Johnny Barbata, either in a record store or at a record show, and I always buy it even though I own a copy. I play the newly acquired copy and again think, "This is one of the best records no one knows." And so, I put it up for sale for a very reasonable $15, and then two weeks later reduce it to $11.99, and then two weeks later, $9.99 and then finally $7.99, where it sits for weeks and weeks, until I finally just give it to a customer who spent $100 on other records.
No one buys it because no one knows it!
Hill, Ethridge and Barbata are on hundreds of records, some you most definitely know and love. "L.A. Getaway" is pretty much all of those records. This is Leon Russell, Joe Cocker, Dr. John, "Exile On Main Street," "Otis Blue" and what The Black Crowes might have become if they didn't completely unravel.
Now you know.
9 comments:
I have 2 copies of this record. One I bought and 1 I got as a freebie (possibly from you, lol). A really good album
Never heard of it, till now. I am familar with all but Hill. Sounds like it could have been recorded yesterday. Many, many thanks for the share, Sal.
Now I Know!
Thanks Sal
Agreed!…This is a little gem.
Downloadng this from Youtube now, and I would imagine searching for a vinyl copy soon.
Thanks!
Randy
Thanks for this. Really loving it. Much appreciated.
This is one of my cherished vinyls. Many years ago I transferred to cassette and then CD so that I did not have to play the vinyl so much.
Great album then and now.
I've been listening to Delaney & Bonnie (and Friends!) and Leon Russell and Mad Dogs etc so I was primed for this. I played and enjoyed it. But even before I played it I could tell you why the album never clicked. "Joel Scott Hill, Johnny Barbata and Chris Ethridge" has to be one of the worst names for a group ever. I can't even joke that it sounds like a law firm because it just sounds like three random awkward names strung together. (Heck, it's not even Etheridge, but Ethridge, which looks like it's spelled wrong.) DUDES! What were you thinking? Plus, the cover art is pretty crappy. These things matter. Just using their last names won't help. Neither would the first names. But initials? JJC or HBE? That's better. Hell, the name of the album -- L.A Getaway -- is a far more evocative band name than what they chose. I would NEVER have played it if Sal didn't suggest it. And they could call themselves LA Getaway and keep the song because you get to use your band name in one song, right? But only one!
Received my L.A.GETAWAY album in 1973 from a friend in West Germany. My album a Atlantic Records label, copy right 1971. Made in Germany and printed in Germany. Druckhaus Maack ( Kinney Music ) Hamburg. Atlantic ATL 40310 (SD 33-357).1972
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