Flying Up Through the Sky, Vol. 2

by The Oxfords

Overview

When Gear Fab Records re-released the Oxfords' sole LP from 1970 called Flying Up Through the Sky, fleshing it out with various band ephemera in 2001, it was assumed that it was the last word on the Louisville group, amounting to a complete recorded works. Turns out it wasn't. When the Allen-Martin Recording Studio where the Oxfords tracked their LP (it was called Sambo Recording Studio when the Oxfords worked there) was demolished in 2006, local session musicians Marvin Maxwell and Walker Ed Amick rescued the studio's master tape library from a cruel and forgotten fate at the bottom of the corner dumpster and began the long task of transferring the multi-track masters into the digital domain. One of their discoveries was that the Oxfords had recorded a fair amount of material that hadn't appeared on Flying Up Through the Sky, leading to this second volume of Oxfords tracks from Gear Fab. Although generally remembered as a sunshine pop band with some psychedelic overtones, the Oxfords emerge on this second helping as a much more versatile band than that, touching down at times close to jazz and what could almost be deemed a kind of proto-country-rock. At other times they sound like a southern version of early Jefferson Airplane, thanks in no small part to the strong and often sultry vocals of lead singer Jill DeMarco. That diversity is impressive, and one can't help but wonder what might have developed had the band stayed together and not called it quits in 1972. Among the clear highlights on this addenda volume are a speeded up and rocked out version of Richard & Mimi Farina's "Reno, Nevada," the wonderfully atmospheric "I Can't Remember Your Name," the hard driving "Year of Jubilo" (based on a Civil War-era song by Henry Clay Work), a Mamas & Papas-like cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway," and the very pretty and jazz-inflected backing track called "Underscore" that concludes this collection (and provides a possible clue to what direction the Oxfords may have taken if they had remained together). In all, it makes a nice coda to the first volume and helps paint a larger, clearer picture of what the band was all about. ~ Steve Leggett

Product Details

Release Date:	05/22/2007
Label:	Gear Fab
UPC:	0645270022620
Rank:	123788

Tracks

1. The Harm I Do (By Being Up)
2. Reno, Nevada
3. Lightnin' Sally
4. Dance!
5. I Can't Remember Your Name
6. Goin' Home
7. Year of Jubilo (Intro)
8. Year of Jubilo
9. Sit Down
10. Sunshine Can Still Feel Warm
11. Make Me One of Your People
12. I Gave You My Name
13. When You Decide (To Say Goodbye)
14. Runaway
15. Foolin' Around Waltz
16. Underscore
17. [CD-Rom Track]

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Oxfords   Primary Artist
Larry Holt   Harmonica,Bass
Gary "Gazza" Johnson   Bass
Paul Hoerni   Drums,Congas,Percussion
Jill DeMarco   Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Clavinet
Dill Asher   Bass
Jay Petach   Flute,Organ,Piano,Guitar,Vocals,Harmonica
Donnie Hale   Drums,Percussion
Jerry Canter   Guitar
Bill Tullis   Guitar,Vocals
Jim Guest   Drums,Vocals,Harmonica,Percussion
Keith Spring   Piano

Technical Credits

Keith Spring   Composer,Orchestral Arrangements
Del Shannon   Composer
Jesse Colin Young   Composer
Max Crook   Composer
Richard Farina   Composer
Wayne Young   Engineer
Jill DeMarco   Arranger,Composer,Liner Notes
Wayne Veach   Engineer
Tom Owen   Composer
Jay Petach   Composer,Remixing,Liner Notes
Jerry Canter   Composer
Roger Maglio   Liner Notes
Rick Crampton   Engineer
Jim Guest   Composer
Traditional   Composer