Mix of bluesy hardrock and folkrock reissued by an early Rockadelic subsidiary. Has a cool basic sound with honest teen vocals and some edgy lyrics. Not the best LP in the genre but pretty interesting, late-1960s/early 1970s heads should try the re if they can find it. The LP was released August 1969. The band were students at USC and decided to stick to college rather than the band. No relation to any other Christopher.
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Quartet led by Frank Smoak. Jammy fuzz blues workouts and warm, flowing westcoast mystic truth telling with a world weary yearning. Bit of Cosmic Michael songspeak 'world is ridiculous' vibe as well. "Holiday" is the highlight, an over-the-top blaster worth of Sainte Anthony's Fyre. [RM]
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I’ll have to admit that I can’t figure out what people see in this one. The first song has a beautiful fuzz guitar sound, but that’s the first and last highlight here. The vocals are really weak, and the songs forgettable. The long jam that ends side one is absolutely endless, one of the dullest I’ve ever heard. The upbeat songs on the album still feel soft, as if the energy vibe was low during the recording session. [AM]
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Most of the songs on this South Carolina band’s LP are great. They’re played with considerable vitality and with cool lyrics about the key concerns in life, such as drugs, death and the passage of time. The highlight has to be “Holiday” with fuzzed up guitar and lots of snarling about their trip being “like a book, a real good book, it’s nice but not quite true”. “The Great Clock” and “Death Song” are superb tracks with weary, wasted vocals lamenting the passage of time. The title track clocking in at over 12 minutes is not the highlight (and it starts the CD). However, it’s good enough not to mar the whole experience. There’s an insert photo on the back of the original sleeve. Extensive, interesting notes and images of posters and band photos are included. [RI]
Christopher
What'cha Gonna Do (1969)
Personnel:
GARY LUCAS drms A
BILL McKEE bs A
STEVE NAGLE gtr A
FRANK SMOAK ld gtr A
ALBUM:
1(A) WHAT'CHA GONNA DO? (Chris-tee PRP 12411) 1970
NB: (1) reissued on Rockadelic subsidiary (Animus Ochlus AOLP 102) 1990 and later on (Atlas 12 411 15) 1999. (1) also reissued officially on CD (Scenescof SCOFCD 1003).
[quote]This is another fine album by an entirely different band, from North Carolina. Only 100 copies were pressed originally making it an ultra rarity, although the recent reissues on Rockadelic/Atlas will bring it to the attention of a wider audience. There's lots of good guitar work on this album, from the fuzz psych of Holiday (with its effective drumming) and Modern Day Oracle to the bluesy guitar on Day Of Sunshine and the title cut and the more melodic and mellow mood of The Great Clock and Fugue. Recommended.
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A different band from the US band with the self titled album, Christopher were also from the US and released this rare record in 1969. An enduring work "Wat'cha Gonna Do?" contains high quality songs (all original) with lysergic lyrics flanged vocals (amongst other effects) some fine vocal harmonies extended jamming and a transcendent quality that is well expressed by the gutsy and creative guitar work. Acid Rock is mixed with Acid Blues and a couple of melodic rock songs for good measure.[/quote]
Tracks:
01 - What'cha Gonna Do?
02 - The Great Clock
03 - Holiday
04 - Death Song
05 - Fugue
06 - Modern day Oracles
07 - Day Of Sunshine
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