The Growing Concern "The Growing Concern" 1968****

Mainstream Records was a small independent label that specialised in jazz and soundtrack music. Sensing in 1967 that the real money was in rock (until recently restricted to 7' singles rather than albums), they began looking for exciting new and unknown bands to sign. Among others, they signed two bands playing psychedelic rock and alternating male and female lead vocals. The first one was Big Brother and The Holding Company with Janis Joplin. The second one was The Growing Concern with Bonnie MacDonald and Mary Garstski. Their respective fates would take them to opposite directions. Growing Concern only recorded one album and finally disintegrated with various members shipped off to Vietnam to "make the world safe for democracy". Ironically they lived longer than Big Brother's star, Janis Joplin, who was destined to join the cursed "27 Club" along with Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain. Their music is variously described as West Coast psychedelia (i.e. Jefferson Airplane) or Sunshine pop (i.e. Mamas and Papas). The former comparison would be accurate if it wasn't for the vocal harmonies that remind of the latter group. The band had one male and two female vocalists that could harmonise very successfully. Bonnie MacDonald in particular had a sweet, melodic style better suited to folk rather than rock. The first track "Hard Hard Year" is a strong start, showcasing the beautiful female vocals and Dan Passaglia's talent on the keyboard (some great Doors/Iron Butterfly style organ). Guitarist Ralph Toms shines on the second track "Edge of Time", which has apparently been sampled by electronic music wizard DJ Shadow. Toms often skillfully combines the heavier style of The Yardbirds with the oriental scales that Roger McGuinn introduced in "8 Miles High". Another group composition follows, with the melancholic message "Due to lack of interest, tomorrow has been cancelled". Rather prophetic when you think about the future of the "flower power" generation which was then still on the rise. Melancholic "A Boy I Once Knew" and garagey "What Kind Of Life" are two more original compositions that are at least equal to the contemporary hits covered here -songs by Buffalo Springfield, Fred Neil/Jefferson Airplane and The Yardbirds ("Mister You're A Better Man Than I" is, incidentally, a cry for tolerance that remains relevant today).

**** for Hard Hard Year, Edge of Time, Tomorrow Has Been Cancelled, A Boy I Once Knew, What Kind of Life

*** for All I Really Want, Mister You're a Better Man Than , Other Side of Life

** for I Know a Girl, Sit Down I Think I Love You