Rhinoceros - The Elektra Albums 1968-1970 (2020/Box Set) Esoteric Recordings – QECLEC32741

 

MP3/320Kbs/252MB

Rock

LINK

"This release is a great insight into one of those bands in the late 60s that genuinely underachieved despite producing music that was as good as most of the bigger bands around them at the time".

Rhinoceros was an American rock band established in 1967 through auditions conducted by Elektra Records, rather than organic formation by musicians. The band, while well respected in many circles, did not live up to the record label's expectations. It was also poorly received by fans, producing a slow-selling debut album and two even less successful LPs before breaking up. One reviewer commented, "Despite the fact that the band could not live up to the expectations that were raised by Elektra Records' publicity machine, Rhinoceros' contributions to rock still deserve more credit than subsequent rock histories give it."

In 1971, after the breakup of Rhinoceros, John Finley, Michael Fonfara, Peter Hodgson, Danny Weis and Larry Leishman formed a new group called Blackstone, later referred to by Weis as "an attempt to re-capture some of the fun we had in Rhinoceros". They recorded an album for Canadian label GRT, titled On the Line (1973), produced by Paul Rothchild. The musicians then went their separate ways.

CD One

LP Rhinoceros (1968)

1. When You Say You're Sorry (Gerber) 3:53

2. Same Old Way (Finley) 2:04

3. Apricot Brandy (Weis, Fonfara) 1:59

4. That Time Of The Year (Gerber) 4:13

5. You're My Girl (I Don't Want To Discuss It) (Cooper, Beatty, Shelby) 4:40

6. I Need Love (Williams) 4:25

7. I've Been There (Gerber, Finley) 4:26

8. Belbuekus (Weis, Finley) 2:27

9. Along Comes Tomorrow (Gerber) 4:39

10. I Will Serenade You (Finley) 3:20

CD Two 

LP Satin Chickens (1969)

1. Satin Doll (Ellington) 0:50

2. Monkee Man (Finley) 4:08

3. Find My Hand (Gerber) 3:36

4. Top Of The Ladder (Gerber, Weis) 5:03

5. Sugar Foot Rag (Finley) 0:47

6. Don't Come Crying (Finley) 4:05

7. Chicken (Hastings, Weis) 3:25

8. It's The Same Thing (Gerber) 3:23

9. In A Little Room (Finley) 4:28

10. Funk Butt (Fonfara) 3:23

11. Back Door (Hastings) 3:43

CD Three

LP Better Times Are Coming (1970)

1. Better Times (Edwards, Fonfara, Finley) 2:45

2. Old Age (Leishman, Edwards) 3:02

3. Sweet, Nice 'N' High (Leishman, Edwards) 3:32

4. Just Me (Draper) 2:12

5. Happiness (Draper) 2:34

6. Somewhere (Weis, Finley) 3:42

7. It's A Groovy World (Draper) 2:55

8. Insanity (Draper) 2:22

9. Lady Of Fortune (Edwards, Leishman) 3:05

10. Let's Party (Draper) 3:06

11. Rain Child (Leishman, Edwards) 5:27

Personnel:

John Finley - Vocals (CD One, CD Two), Lead Vocals (CD Three)

Alan Gerber - Vocals, Piano (CD One, CD Two)

Danny Weis - Guitar, Piano (CD One, CD Two), Lead & Rhythm Guitars (CD Three)

Doug Hastings - Guitar (CD One, CD Two)

Michael Fonfara - Organ (CD One, CD Three), Piano (CD Two)

Jerry Penrod - Bass (CD One)

Billy Mundi - Drums, Percussion (CD One, CD Two)

Peter Hodgson - Bass (CD Two, CD Three)

Duke Edwards - Drums (CD Three)

Larry Leishman - Rhythm & Lead Guitars (CD Three)