Here's a great Gift Idea! Milkwood How's The Weather    

For many, Ric Ocasek and Ben Orr are new wave personified, and it is nearly impossible to picture either doing any other style of music. But before the duo rose to prominence with the hit-making machine the Cars, they were members of an obscure folk outfit called Milkwood. Ocasek and Orr (who at the time went by their original last names, Otcasek and Orzechowski) had been in bands together since the '60s, but it wasn't until the early '70s that they were in a band that achieved any substantial recognition, resulting in Milkwood signing to the Paramount record label. Judging by the sound of their one and only release together, 1972's How's the Weather, the group (which featured a third member, Jas Goodkind) was heavily influenced by such outfits as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and America. When the album sunk without a trace shortly after release, Milkwood disbanded, as Ocasek and Orr decided to return to their original love, rock & roll, and subsequently formed one of the most successful rock bands of the late '70s/early '80s. Although there has been talk over the years of How's the Weather being reissued, the long out of print album has yet to have ever been released as a CD. (Artist Biography by Greg Prato, AMG)

    Songs include:

Side A:

With You With Me - 3:18 Dream Trader -4:00 Lincoln Park -2:50 Bring Me Back -4:18 Timetrain Wonderwheel -6:02

Side B:

Makeshift Pawn -3:03 The Light Won’t Burn -4:53 Along The Way -4:30 We’ve Been All Through -4:11 Winter Song -2:40

 

AllMusic Review by Joe Viglione
  For fans of the Cars this release pre-dates Rick & the Rabbits -- the name that Modern Lover Jonathan Richman gave Richard Ocasek and Ben Orzechowski prior to their becoming Captain Swing, the band that evolved into the Cars. Recorded at Aengus Studios in Fayville, MA, where Andy Pratt created his classic "Avenging Annie," the trio includes Jas Goodkind on lead acoustic and electric guitars, supplemented by various friends. Track three is the only non-Ocasek original, written by the late Ben Orr, and "Lincoln Park" is an example of why Cars fans have called this Ocasek and Orr's Crosby, Stills & Nash phase. Greg Hawks was working with Martin Mull and his Fabulous Furniture, but he appears on this album playing baritone, soprano sax, and doing the horn arrangements. Jeff Lass plays the keyboards here, although Hawks would join the Cars and create a sound so admired that Paul McCartney would fly Greg to England to perform on his "Motor of Love" on the Flowers in the Dirt album. "Bring Me Back" is a wonderful early Ocasek essay, and this album shows the '80s pop ensemble in a delicate and charming light. Only "Timetrain Wonderwheel" hints at the direction Ocasek would eventually take. The vibe is like America's "Sandman," and this is as close to Panorama as you are going to find here. The experimental sounds and jams make it the strongest track on How's the Weather. Hawks' horns are nothing short of brilliant, and they play like his innovative keyboards that were so essential to the Cars' eventual success. The vocal phrasings on this song are significant, and "Timetrain Wonderwheel"'s importance as an artifact of a band prior to its greatness cannot be ignored. "Makeshift Pawn" opens side two and sounds like a low-key David Gates or England Dan/John Ford Coley. Hearing the material is astounding when one thinks of the sci-fi overtones of "Moving in Stereo." These guys had the chops and passion in "The Light Won't Burn" as well as "Winter Song," but there's no denying that there's little hint of the change in direction that would bring Ocasek, Orr, and Hawks to superstardom during the '80s. "Along the Way" truly sounds like Crosby, Stills, Ocasek & Orr.  

 

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Details:

Genre: Soft Rock, Folk Rock

Catalog Number & Year:   Paramount Records #PAS 6046, 1972 Release, made in USA

Speed: 33 RPM, Approximately 12" diameter (30 cm) (standard size)   

Record Condition: Very good condition, no noticeable scratches. Occasional light pops

Jacket Condition: Good, cutout (corner cut, see image above) Bumped and slightly bent corners. 

UPC# (none)

Special Attributes? Guaranteed as represented.  *****************

This would make a great gift!

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