Power of Love (Hour Glass album)
Encyclopedia
Power of Love was the second record by Hour Glass
, issued in March 1968 on Liberty Records
, the final by the group that featured the namesakes of The Allman Brothers Band
. After the failure of their debut album, Liberty Records
allowed a greater independence for the group, who had been virtually shut out of the decision making for their debut by the label and producer Dallas Smith
. However, with the label's decision to retain Smith as producer, the group, especially Duane Allman, once again felt constricted by their label's expectations for the album.
With Smith behind the boards, Gregg Allman was still the focus. The younger Allman, who had seen only one of his compositions grace the debut, ended up contributing seven of the twelve tracks. The remainder came with two from the team of Marlon Greene and Eddie Hinton
and one each from the teams of Spooner Oldham
and Dan Penn
, John Berry
and Don Covay
, and John Lennon
and Paul McCartney
. The group performed all of the instrumentation, with Duane Allman adding electric sitar to their cover of The Beatles
' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
", a staple of their live act.
Neil Young
of Buffalo Springfield
wrote the liner notes, describing his experience sitting in on the session for the album track "To Things Before", watching Gregg Allman leading the group through the number.
After the failure of the album to chart, the Hour Glass traveled to Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in an attempt to further refine their sound. However, Dallas Smith and Liberty Records were displeased with the group-produced blues-fueled rock tracks that the group returned to Los Angeles with, as they were light years away from the pop music Smith envisioned them performing. Additionally, seeing himself cut out of the group's picture was not ideal for Smith, even if his relations with the group had been strained.
Hour Glass disbanded shortly thereafter, with Gregg Allman returning to California in order to satisfy the terms of the group's contract with Liberty. Paired with a studio band, Allman cut roughly an album's worth of material, though it would take nearly a quarter century for it to surface.
The album is currently available on the Hour Glass anthology. The 1992 reissue on EMI, rife with bonus tracks from the aborted sessions for a Gregg Allman solo release, has fallen out of print. The bonus tracks are now available on the 2004 album Southbound
.
Hour Glass (band)
The Hour Glass were a 1960s rhythm and blues band based in Los Angeles, California between 1967 and 1968. Among their members were two future members of the Allman Brothers Band and three future studio musicians at the world-renowned Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama .-History:Formed from the...
, issued in March 1968 on Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
, the final by the group that featured the namesakes of The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band
The Allman Brothers Band is an American rock/blues band once based in Macon, Georgia. The band was formed in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1969 by brothers Duane Allman and Gregg Allman , who were supported by Dickey Betts , Berry Oakley , Butch Trucks , and Jai Johanny "Jaimoe"...
. After the failure of their debut album, Liberty Records
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
allowed a greater independence for the group, who had been virtually shut out of the decision making for their debut by the label and producer Dallas Smith
Dallas Smith
Dallas Earl Smith is a former National Hockey League defenceman who played fifteen seasons for the Boston Bruins.-Playing career:...
. However, with the label's decision to retain Smith as producer, the group, especially Duane Allman, once again felt constricted by their label's expectations for the album.
With Smith behind the boards, Gregg Allman was still the focus. The younger Allman, who had seen only one of his compositions grace the debut, ended up contributing seven of the twelve tracks. The remainder came with two from the team of Marlon Greene and Eddie Hinton
Eddie Hinton
Eddie Hinton was an American songwriter and session musician best known for his work with soul music and R&B singers...
and one each from the teams of Spooner Oldham
Spooner Oldham
Dewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and at FAME Studios on such hit R&B songs as "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett and "I Never Loved a Man" by Aretha...
and Dan Penn
Dan Penn
Dan Penn is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and sometime guitar player who co-wrote many soul hits of the 1960s including "Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and "Out of Left Field" & "Cry Like A Baby"...
, John Berry
John Berry
Sir John Berry was an English naval officer of the Royal Navy, and was in 1675 the captain of the annual convoy to Newfoundland that took place during the years of the colony's founding....
and Don Covay
Don Covay
Don Covay is an American R&B/rock and roll/soul music singer and songwriter most active in the 1950s and 1960s, who received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994...
, and John Lennon
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
and Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
. The group performed all of the instrumentation, with Duane Allman adding electric sitar to their cover of The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
' "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)
"Norwegian Wood " is a song by The Beatles, first released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul....
", a staple of their live act.
Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
of Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield
Buffalo Springfield is a North American folk rock band renown both for its music and as a springboard for the careers of Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Richie Furay and Jim Messina. Among the first wave of North American bands to become popular in the wake of the British invasion, the group combined...
wrote the liner notes, describing his experience sitting in on the session for the album track "To Things Before", watching Gregg Allman leading the group through the number.
After the failure of the album to chart, the Hour Glass traveled to Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama in an attempt to further refine their sound. However, Dallas Smith and Liberty Records were displeased with the group-produced blues-fueled rock tracks that the group returned to Los Angeles with, as they were light years away from the pop music Smith envisioned them performing. Additionally, seeing himself cut out of the group's picture was not ideal for Smith, even if his relations with the group had been strained.
Hour Glass disbanded shortly thereafter, with Gregg Allman returning to California in order to satisfy the terms of the group's contract with Liberty. Paired with a studio band, Allman cut roughly an album's worth of material, though it would take nearly a quarter century for it to surface.
The album is currently available on the Hour Glass anthology. The 1992 reissue on EMI, rife with bonus tracks from the aborted sessions for a Gregg Allman solo release, has fallen out of print. The bonus tracks are now available on the 2004 album Southbound
Southbound (Hour Glass compilation)
Southbound is a compilation record by The Hour Glass, featuring outtakes from each of the group's two albums for Liberty Records, The Hour Glass and Power of Love as well as material recorded by Gregg Allman in 1968 and 1969 with session musicians in order to prevent Liberty Records from suing...
.
Track listing
- "Power of Love" (Spooner OldhamSpooner OldhamDewey Lindon "Spooner" Oldham is an American songwriter and session musician. An organist, he recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama and at FAME Studios on such hit R&B songs as "When a Man Loves a Woman" by Percy Sledge, "Mustang Sally" by Wilson Pickett and "I Never Loved a Man" by Aretha...
, Dan PennDan PennDan Penn is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and sometime guitar player who co-wrote many soul hits of the 1960s including "Dark End of the Street" and "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" and "Out of Left Field" & "Cry Like A Baby"...
) - 2:50 - "Changing of the Guard" - 2:33
- "To Things Before" - 2:33
- "I'm Not Afraid" - 2:41
- "I Can Stand Alone" - 2:13
- "Down in Texas" (Marlon Greene-Eddie Hinton) - 3:07
- "I Still Want Your Love" - 2:20
- "Home for the Summer" (Marlon Greene-Eddie Hinton) - 2:44
- "I'm Hanging Up My Heart For You" (John Berry, Don CovayDon CovayDon Covay is an American R&B/rock and roll/soul music singer and songwriter most active in the 1950s and 1960s, who received a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1994...
) - 3:09 - "Going Nowhere" - 2:43
- "Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)"Norwegian Wood " is a song by The Beatles, first released on the 1965 album Rubber Soul....
" (John LennonJohn LennonJohn Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, Paul McCartneyPaul McCartneySir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
) - 2:59 - "Now Is The Time" - 3:59
- "Down in Texas" (alternate version) (Marlon Greene-Eddie Hinton) - 2:21
- "It's Not My Cross to Bear" - 3:36
- "Southbound" - 3:41
- "God Rest His Soul" (Steve Alaimo) - 4:02
- "February 3rd" (Composer Unknown) - 2:56
- "Apollo 8" (Composer Unknown) - 2:37
- All songs by Gregg Allman, unless noted.
- Tracks 1-12 constitute the original album.
- Tracks 13-18 from the 1969 sessions for Gregg Allman's unreleased first solo album for Liberty (present on 1992 re-release only).
- Tracks 1-12 constitute the original album.
Personnel
- Gregg AllmanGregg AllmanGregory Lenoir Allman , known as Gregg Allman, is a rock and blues singer, keyboardist, guitarist and songwriter, and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band. He was inducted with the band into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995 and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Georgia...
– organ, piano, guitar, vocal (all tracks) - Duane AllmanDuane AllmanHoward Duane Allman was an American guitarist, session musician and the primary co-founder of the southern rock group The Allman Brothers Band...
– guitars, electric sitar (tracks 1-12) - Paul HornsbyPaul HornsbyPaul Hornsby is a musician and record producer who has produced gold and platinum records for artists including the Charlie Daniels Band, the Marshall Tucker Band, and Wet Willie....
– piano, organ, guitar, vocal (tracks 1-12) - Johnny Sandlin – drums, guitar, gong (tracks 1-12)
- Pete CarrPete CarrJesse Willard "Pete" Carr is an American guitarist. Carr has contributed to hit recordings by Joan Baez, Luther Ingram, Bob Seger, Joe Cocker, Boz Scaggs, Paul Simon, The Staple Singers, Rod Stewart, Barbra Streisand, Wilson Pickett, Hank Williams, Jr., and many more over the past four decades...
– bass, guitar, vocal (tracks 1-12) - Several unknown studio musicians on horns, guitars, backing vocals, drums, bass, keyboards and percussion (tracks 13-18)