Genre: rock
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Abyss
Company: Tumbleweed
Catalog: TWS 111
Year: 1973
Country/State: --
Grade (cover/record): NM / NM
Comments: quad pressing; textured cover; small cut out hole along top right corner; still in shrink wrap
Available: SOLD
GEMM catalog ID: 4333
Price: SOLD
Cost: $17.45
This was one of those mystery albums I picked up at a flea market. About all I remember is not knowing anything about the artist (thinking he might be related to bassist Russ Kunkel), or even the label, but thinking the cover (looking like something out of a bad 1980s sci-fi film) was too weird to pass up. It was even more intriguing given the LP was apparently recorded in 1973. That said, the LP sat in my 'to listen to' pile for over a year.
Can't say I know
much about Robb Kunkel. He was apparently a former promo man for ABC Records
who somehow hooked up with producer Ed Michell. Their collaboration
saw the release of 1973's "Abyss"
on the small Colorado-based Tumbleweed label. Musically the set's not
bad. In spite of the small label pressing, the set sports good sound
quality and some interesting production effects. Nine of the ten
tracks are credited to Kunkel; the one exception being the atmospheric
leadoff ballad 'You Were the Morning' which is credited to a 'T. Stockwell'.
Having listened to the album a dozen times it's still hard to slap it with a
label. Much of the set' has a laidback acoustic feel to it, but the
songs are often punctuated by Howard Robert's jazzy lead guitar and/or
Kunkel's percussive keyboards. 'Whispermuse' is a perfect
example. For the first couple of moments in flows along as a pretty
acoustic ballad before Kunkel and Roberts kick in at the tale end. In
contrast, the title track and 'Turn of the Century' (the latter being the
standout effort) are fairly conventional (and enjoyable) rock numbers.
Full of pretty melodies and some nice harmony vocals (courtesy of Diana Lee
and Willy Selzer), I can see why it's becoming somewhat of a sought after
collectable. The only real missteps are a couple of country-flavored
throwaways including the forgettable ''Country Blues''.
"Abyss" track listing:
(side
1)
1.) You Were the Morning (T. Stockwell) -
2.) Whispermuse (Robb Kunkel) -
3.) Country Blues (Robb Kunkel) -
4.) O Light (Robb Kunkel) -
5.)
Abyss (Robb Kunkel) -
(side 1)
1.) Monterey Parable (Robb Kunkel) -
2.) Ten Summers (Robb Kunkel) -
3.) Airhammer Eddie (Robb Kunkel) -
4.) Playa de Bagdad (Robb Kunkel) -
5.) Turn of the Century (Robb Kunkel) -
Turns out that Kunkel is still in the music business and is on-line at: