Gorgoni Martin & Taylor
Album: Gotta Get Back To Cisco/Gorgoni, Martin & Taylor
Label: Floating World
Tracks: 22
Website: http://www.trainwreckrecords.com/artists/chip_taylor.html

Originally released back in 1971, Cisco marked the first album appearance by Chip Taylor, already an established songwriter with covers of his songs Wild Thing and Angel of the Morning having been massive hits for The Troggs and Merrilee Rush, respectively, while The Troggs had also had another hit with Any Way That You Want Me and Janis Joplin had recorded Try. Although he'd released a few singles, both as Taylor and under his real name of Wes Voight, none had done well and this was an attempt to broaden his audience by teaming with noted session guitarist Al Gorgoni (who'd played on the likes of The Name Game, Cherry Cherry, At Seventeen and Walk Like A Man) and jobbing songwriter Trade Martin. The trio stated together for just two years, releasing the two albums brought together here, neither of which set th

e world alight.

Although often sounding very much of their time, they're far better than their lack of sales would suggest, all save Martin's That's When I Walk Down, on the second album, either written or co-written by Taylor, although its Martin who takes the lion's share of the lead vocals. The rootiser of the two, the debut is by far the stronger collection, containing several of Taylor's songs that have stood the test of time, including harmonica wailing bluesy opener slow stomp Carolina Timber and, featuring Taylor's trademark hushed intimate delivery, the harmony rich rippling Sweet Dream Woman (later a hit for Waylon Jennings), Dirty Matthew and Gorgoni co-write Country Song. The album's last track Was The Baby, a Taylor number (though sung by Martin) that would go on to prove a hit for The Hollies the following year.

The second album also included a Hollies hit, this time a Taylor number from 1966, the poppy I Can't Let Go (though, it must be said the cover was the better version), but the album has the feel of being rushed and is stylistically uneven, ranging from the twee folksy pop of Fuzzy and, sounding like some kids country number, Toly Toly Guyluesha to Taylor's late delivery smoky blues club of the You Crazy Girl and the sax and organ driven freak out psychedelia funk of Martin's solo contribution,a Neil Diamond clone I Can Make You Cry and the over-orchestrated Help Yourself. The album closed with Somethin About The Sunshine, a most instrumental piece that sounds like it was something that didn't make the final list for the Hair musical.

Following the failure of the two albums, Gorgoni returned to session work, Martin fell off the radar (though he did discover successful funk outfit BT Express) while Taylor went on to make assorted solo albums before temporarily dropping out of the music business to become a professional gambler. These two albums may only be a footnote to his career, but they're more than mere curios and should be welcomed by those (myself included) whose vinyl copies are showing the ravages of age.

Mike Davies