Goose Creek Symphony - Music

Music

In the 70s they fit into a country rock mode, but they were more esoteric and versatile than many of their contemporaries and had more grit and a rugged, less commercial sound. They were/are a good time band that love to jam and stretch out regardless of the genre. They recorded three eclectic albums for Capitol, Est 1970, (1970) Welcome to Goose Creek (1971) and Words of Earnest (1972). All were moderately successful with the last boasting a hit single cover of Janis Joplin’s “Mercedes Benz.” Re-mastered versions of these discs are available on the group’s website (http://www.GooseCreekSymphony.com). In 1974 the band moved over to Columbia Records and recorded Do Your Thing But Don’t Touch Mine, which was perhaps the weakest to date, but its still a solid, if misguided set (as the label decided they needed a producer, which they clearly did not). Shortly thereafter the band took a hiatus which lasted almost 17 years. Then, out of nowhere, they came back (and musically it sounds like they never went away), and lo and behold they sound almost contemporary.

In the years since they resurfaced, they’ve played many festivals and released a slew of albums, including the superb live set The Goose Is Loose in 1995, which highlights their extended jamming, witness the meandering 20 minutes or so of “Talk About Goose Creek and Other Important Places.” They’ve done the Acoustic Goose, as well as excellent studio albums, such as Going Home (1998) and I Don’t Know (2003). They’ve also released a couple of lost albums, such as Head For the Hills (recorded in 1975-76 and released in 1997) and recently The Same Thing Again (one music CD and a bonus DVD). The latter was recorded in the mid-70s and essentially forgotten about for three decades. Ironically the title cut has Gearheart singing, “If I could live my life over I’d do the same thing again, for 20 long years I’ve picked and I’ve sung.” Well, the band has gotten a new lease on life and while one could say they are doing the same thing again, it's only in that they are playing great music that’s outside the norm and remarkably refreshing, and more than that, they simply exude good vibes.