Good God

Good God - Good God - 1972 - Atlantic

"Perhaps the greatest of all "one-shot" progressive / fusion bands in the US (the Dallas-based Master Cylinder might give them a run for their money), Good God recorded a tremendous major label (Atlantic) album and then sunk without a trace. As far as I know, none of these guys (Zeno Sparkles, guitar & vocals; Cotton Kent, keys, sax & vocals; Greg Scott, saxes; John Ransome, bass; Hank Ransome, drums & vocals; plus various guests on additional horns and percussion) subsequently appeared on any later prog or fusion recordings, though Kent pops up as a session man on numerous local R&B dates. Given their instrumental virtuosity and imaginative approach to fusion and progressive rock this is hard to believe, but stranger things have happened. Stylistically, they are more a jazz-rock band (a bit like If or Zzebra, but with some Mahavishnu influence as well) rather than a Progressive rock band. The album contains 4 fine originals, and two covers: Zappa's "King Kong" and McLaughlin's "Dragon Song". One minor quibble: the rather weak vocals on 2 or 3 tracks" © Dave Wayne, GEPR © http://prognotfrog.blogspot.ie/2007/08/good-god-good-god-usa-1972-jazz-fusion.html

A short-lived Philly-based jazz-rock outfit, Good God featured the talents of lead guitarist Larry Cardarelli (billed as 'Zeno Sparkles'), singer/keyboardist Cotton Kent, former Elizabeth drummer Hank Ransome, bassist John Ransome, and sax player Greg Scott. (If you believe the story, they got their name courtesy of Captain Beefheart. Enormous Beefheart fans, the band supposedly called him up out of the blue, ask what they should call themselves. Beefheart's spontaneous response provided the name.) Signed by Atlantic, the band's self-titled 1972 debut teamed them with the production team of Skip Drinkwater, Jay Mark, and Dennis Wilen. Featuring a mixture of band originals and covers, "Good God" was quite different than your standard Philadelphia-based band. Exemplified by instrumental-heavy tracks like '' and ''. these guys were clearly influenced by early 1970s jazz-rock/progressive outfits like Beefheart, Miles Davis (okay jazz-rock may not be an apt description for Davis), King Crimson, John McLaughlin, and Frank Zappa (the album included covers of the latter two acts), set of jazz-rock. I'm not a big fan of the genre, so that clearly colors my appreciation for the collection..The early 1970's was a fertile period for the fusion of jazz and rock. Stanley Clarke, Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea along with "The Prince of Darkness" Miles Davis himself were making ground breaking albums. Good God certainly fits that description even though it did not get much attention at the time. Featuring the keyboards of Cotton Kent along with Zeno Sparkles, guitar and vocals, Greg Scott, saxophones, John Ransome, bass and Hank Ransome drums, this album really cooks with a selection of tracks that still sound fresh almost forty years later. Mainly instrumental with some vocal accents and one actual song the tight arrangements are inventive and hold your interest after repeated listening. Good God has a sound all their own. Standout tracks include "Glaorna Gavorna", featuring the British tenor man from John Mayall's band Johnny Almond, "King Kong", the Frank Zappa Classic, and a killer version of John McLaughlin's "Dragon Song" - Highly recommended......FULL ALBUM IN dailymotion...........http://www.dailymotion.com/playlist/x33anb_John_Dug_good-god/1#video=x1fgv77 © 2015 Discogs http://www.discogs.com/Good-God-Good-God/release/2110516

Obscure but outstanding album from Good God, an early 70's Philadelphia based jazz rock band with Canterbury Rock and instrumental Zappa influences. Essential listening if you like jazzy prog-rock bands like Soft Machine, King Crimson, Frank Zappa and many more. Progbear on rateyourmusic.com called this album "Superb fusion with a full brass section, like a more progressive-minded Blood, Sweat & Tears. Cover versions of Frank Zappa’s “King Kong” and John McLaughlin’s “Dragon Song” give you an idea where these guys’ heads were at, their originals are in a similar style. Johnny Almond of Mark-Almond makes a guest appearance on tenor sax." Superb musiciansip, great compositional skills, and tight arrangements make this an album HR by A.O.O.F.C [All tracks @ 320 Kbps: File size = 101 Mb]

TRACKS / COMPOSERS

A1 A Murder Of Crows - Larry Cardarelli 6:24
A2 Galorna Gavorna - Cotton Kent 5:11
A3 King Kong - Frank Zappa 8:53

B1 Dragon Song - John McLaughlin 4:20
B2 Zaragoza - Cotton Kent 6:31
B3 Fish Eye - Larry Cardarelli 8:37

MUSICIANS

Guitar, Vocals – Zeno Sparkles
Bass – John Ransome
Piano, Electric Piano, Clavinet, Soprano Saxophone, Marimba, Vocals – Cotton Kent
Drums, Vocals – Hank Ransome
Congas – Larry Washington
Soprano Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone – Greg Scott
Trumpet – Bob Shemenek
Tenor Saxophone – Johnny Almond on "Galorna Gavorna"
Trombone – Bruce Solomon on "Fish Eye"
French Horn – Bob Martin