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| From | "Harris, Will" <wharris1@bcharrispub.com> |
| Subject | Re: Sky |
| Date | Thu, 5 Jun 2003 13:25:29 -0400 |
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According to AllMusic.com, they did three albums...one of them a live album
from 2002...but I don't think the live album is by the same Sky. But here's
the review of their second album, "Sailor's Delight":
The second album by the Knack's Doug Fieger was produced by Jimmy Miller
with Andy Johns, eight years before producer Mike Chapman would unleash "My
Sharona" on the world. Fieger's "Don't Want Nobody" has all the elements
that Miller put into his Stones hits and Traffic classic album cuts - piano
and flute supplement the folk guitar and vocal, giving the singer an
enviable platform. The album is a solid representation of Fieger's song
compositions and pre-Knack efforts; "Let It Lie Low" is a nice bit of
pop/rock that foretells what was to come, a happy-go-lucky drumbeat by Robby
Stawnski exploding when the Rolling Stones' horn section of Bobby Keys and
Jim Price kicks in. Young Fieger's letter to producer Miller not only landed
him the two albums on RCA, it enabled the group to get the great players
here, like guitarist John Uribe and the Stones' pianist Ian Stewart,
continuing the tradition of the stellar guests who showed up for Sky's first
album. "Taking the Long Way Home" definitely sounds like an American version
of Traffic, with conga drums that help the transition from this song to the
piano ballad "Come Back." Again, the Stones' horns come in to add a touch of
class, creating a nice bed for the powerful song-title chorus to emphasize
Feiger's slinky vocal. This track is outstanding, and should have been a
staple on 1971 FM radio. Miller was quite busy in the early '70s with
Locomotiv GT, the Savage Rose, the Rolling Stones, Delaney & Bonnie, George
Harrison, and Ginger Baker's Air Force, among others. Sailor's Delight, with
its beautiful red sunrise/sunset cover, is a lost gem from the major
producer at the peak of his powers as well as from his discovery Fieger, who
went on to create the hit of the summer of 1979, "My Sharona." Inside these
grooves are melodies and performances that verify Miller's genius; "Tooly"
has an island feel while John Coury's "Sing for Me" comes off like the
serious side of Tommy James. "Sing for Me," "Come Back," and "Low Down" from
this disc would be perfect Sky contributions for the inevitable Jimmy Miller
production box set. As entertaining as it is historical, Sailor's Delight is
creative work from the master producer and the musicians he believed in
enough to sign. How many "name" producers on a hot streak would gamble on an
unknown singer, with validation coming years later as the singer went on to
worldwide fame? - Joe Viglione
-----Original Message-----
From: jpgr1960 [mailto:jpgr1960@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 1:22 PM
To: audities@smoe.org
Subject: Sky
What information can anyone give me on the band Sky? I know Doug
Fieger was a member. How many albums did they do?
Also is anyone familiar with Vox acoustic guitars? I know of one that
is made in 1967. It still has the Warranty card with a picture of the
Beatles on it. The guitar is a Country Western. Thanks and God Bless.
Todd
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