Yer' Album
Yer' Album is the debut studio album by American rock band James Gang. The album was released in early 1969 on the Bluesway label. This is the James Gang's only album to feature their bassist Tom Kriss. He was replaced by Dale Peters for their next album. The album is the first to feature guitarist Joe Walsh, who would later achieve success as a solo artist and with the Eagles.
| Yer' Album | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 1969 | |||
| Recorded | January 1969 | |||
| Studio | The Hit Factory, New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 49:40 | |||
| Label | Bluesway | |||
| Producer | Bill Szymczyk | |||
| The James Gang chronology | ||||
| ||||
Of the eleven tracks featured, three are covers — Buffalo Springfield's "Bluebird", "Lost Woman" by the Yardbirds, and "Stop" by Jerry Ragovoy and Mort Shuman, recorded a year earlier by Howard Tate, as well as a version by Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield for the Super Session album (albeit without vocals).
In the locked groove at the end of side 1 of the LP version of the album (which is normally silent on most phonograph records), the spoken phrase "Turn me over" repeats in a loop, while the locked groove at the end of side 2 repeats the phrase "Play me again". Both phrases were spoken by Walsh. A 'producers note' in the gatefold warns listeners not to spoil these endings to friends who have turntables with automatic return. These messages are removed from CD pressings, but are included on the 8-Track & cassette tape versions.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Robert Christgau | B[2] |
Critic William Ruhlman wrote in AllMusic that "Yer' Album contained much to suggest that the James Gang, in particular its guitarist, had a great future, even if it was more an album of performances than compositions."[1]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Tuning Part One" | Bert DeCoteaux, Jim Fox, Bill Szymczyk | 0:40 |
| 2. | "Take a Look Around" | Joe Walsh | 6:18 |
| 3. | "Funk #48" | Fox, Tom Kriss, Walsh | 2:46 |
| 4. | "Bluebird" | Stephen Stills | 6:02 |
| 5. | "Lost Woman" | Jeff Beck, Chris Dreja, Jim McCarty, Keith Relf, Paul Samwell-Smith | 9:06 |
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Stone Rap" | Fox, Kriss, Szymczyk, Walsh | 1:00 |
| 2. | "Collage" | Patrick Cullie, Walsh | 4:02 |
| 3. | "I Don't Have the Time" | Fox, Walsh | 2:49 |
| 4. | "Wrapcity in English" | Walsh | 0:57 |
| 5. | "Fred" | Walsh | 4:09 |
| 6. | "Stop" | Jerry Ragovoy, Mort Shuman | 12:04 |
Personnel
James Gang
- Joe Walsh – vocals, guitars, keyboards, piano
- Tom Kriss – bass guitar; vocals (tracks 10, 11) (also credited with "good vibes" and "cheek flute")
- Jim Fox – drums; vocals (tracks 3, 10, 11), acoustic guitar (track 1), piano (track 4)
- Bill Szymczyk – organ (track 4), tambourine (track 3), maracas (track 7), vocals (tracks (10, 11)
- Jerry Ragavoy – piano (track 11)
Production
- Bill Szymczyk – producer, engineer, photography
- James Gang, Bill Szymczyk, Bert de Coteaux – arrangers
- Denis Minervini – assistant engineer
- Henry Epstein – cover design
- Ladimir Jeric – cover art
References
- Ruhlman, William. "Yer' Album > Review". Allmusic. Retrieved July 9, 2011.
- Christgau, Robert (January 29, 1970). "Consumer Guide (7)". The Village Voice. New York. Retrieved April 29, 2013.