Maffitt/Davies “The Rise and Fall of Honesty”
Maffitt/Davies was a short lived duo who released one album off Capitol in 1968. Judging by the cover you’d expect psychedelic fireworks but The Rise and Fall of Honesty is really an Ameriana folk-rock record. This is another good one that never saw release in the cd era. I found a vinyl copy in the Boston area for only $15 dollars though lately this lp has been somewhat hard to come by. While labelmate lps by the Common People and Food attract more attention I think that Maffitt/Davies was a much, much better group.
The record starts off with a brilliant version of Bob Dylan’s Just Like A Woman. Maffitt/Davies transform this standard into a heartbreaking orchestrated folk track that must surely rank as one of the best versions of this song. Forest Lawn, the album’s failed single, has a distinct Face to Face Kink’s sound though it’s notable for its dobro and freaky church organ. Tom Thumb’s Blues is the other Dylan cover on this record and shows the band taking a Byrds/Everly Brothers vocal harmony approach. The playing is topnotch throughout the record (check out instrumental Lungi Dal Caro Beni) and the duo’s vocal harmonies are tight if a bit unconventional. This is a quiet, tranquil record that never bores and reminds me of prime late 60′s Dillards on their folk-rock outings.
One of my favorite tracks on the album is Landscape Grown Cold. This is a visionary slice of American music that predates the alt. country/folk boom with dark lyrics, strings, phasing towards the end, and a vibe similar to Texas band Euphoria. More noteworthy tracks are Kingswood Manor which is a good folk-rock track that flirts with psychedelia by way of tabla (and drug references within the lyrics) while country-rocker City Sidewalks is very trancey and will appeal to any true Byrds fan. About 3 or 4 tracks on the album include drums though electric guitar fans should note with caution that most of this disc is acoustic.
The music is time worn, ancient and has that lived in feel but always inventive and never short on ideas. What ever happened to these musicians? Does anyone know? Anyway, if Americana or folk-rock is your bag, prepare yourself for a really good one.
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“Landscape Grown Cold”
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Just got mine, and all I can say is WOW!!!!!
Brings back a real raft of memories.
Tom
Got my CDs on Tuesday and, like Tom said, WOW!! Looking back on this I realize that there are probably a LOT fo really talented people who come close but never quite make it. At the risk of waxing maudlin, I am reminded of a line from Thomas Gray’s “Elegy Written In a Country Churchyard”:
“Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark unfathomed caves of ocean bear:
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.”
http://www.blupete.com/Literature/Poetry/Elegy.htm
I am going to try to get all my family and friends to try this CD out. I have already bought several for gifts. I would like to see the talent of these men acknowledged.
It was also kind of flattered to see my name in print, associated with these guys. Perhaps it’s a little silly of me, but it is flattering to me nevertheless.
Just got my copy of the CD and have to say Tim did a great job on the liner notes and photos. Thanks Tim.
Hi I’m sorry to bother you but I was a good friend Of Brian and Selene davies in estes park co. Then we moved to alaska and they to washington. Have lost touch & would love to reestablish. We now live in Nampa ID. Thank you. Legs.
Hey you guys!!
Just caught your message. Great to hear from you! We’re in pearblossom CA in the high desert
listening to the coyotes which I’m sure is no strange song to you. My phone is 626 428 1533.
Would love to find another copy of this on vinyl or cd. Lost mine in a move. One of the greatest duos I’ve had the privilege to see. This album is great.
Hey Guys, It’s good to hear all the interest in you. I always knew you were great. I’m still hoarding my rise and fall copy, didn’t know you had another. I would certainly be interested in a CD of each if (when) they become available. Brian I’ve been meaning to call but keep getting into something else. I’ll do it in the next few days. Legs
Running across this site was a miracle to me. I’ve spent most of the afternoon trying to find a copy of the Rise and Fall of Honesty on vinyl since my original one disappeared many years ago. I’ll definitely order the remixed CD but I still desperately want the original vinyl and they are not easy to find! Anyone who knows where I can get one in good condition, please let me know at the email below.
I was lucky enough when I was just a kid to meet Yonnie Wells who introduced me to both Glen’s music and Maffitt & Davies music. Since my copy of Rise and Fall disappeared in my twenties, I’ve been relying on singing it in my head for at least 35 years!! Trust me, I know most of the words. I was thrilled to hear Landscape Grown Cold on this site and also found Kingswood Manor on YouTube.
Clark & Brian – Yonnie remembers you guys very well and would love to know how you’re doing and how to get in touch.
I can be reached at csumners@acc.org for info on my vinyl search, how to reach Yonnie or just general chatting about how wonderful these guys are!
Got my copy of the CD and it lives up to my memory (one of the very few things that does). Fantastic! I wish they were still preforming together. They had a huge influence on my playing. Did they ever record the Unicorn song? I heard them do it in concert and it was awesome.
Hello to Clark and Brian!!! Wow it is so great to find that you guys are still around and that there is a remake of your album I can’t wait to get mine. I had to great good fortune to meet you guys the night you played West. Texas State University in Canyon Texas back in the later 60′s as I recall. You were on tour with Yarborough. My musical partner was Danny Palmer from Amarillo and we sat out behind the auditorium and laughed at Yarborough’s white Rolls with daisys pasted all over it and towing an eight foot u-haul trailer ROFL!!!! You told us about your upcoming/or just released album which we purchased at the first opportunity and learned several of the songs. Oddly enough I just asked my oldest daughter earlier tonight if she had ever heard me do Big Time Man!!!! God I wish Palmer was still alive!!! I think Todd Osenbaugh has gone now too. He had asbestiosis really bad. Palmer and I used to do several of the songs from that album. God those were fun years and I only wish I had stuck to music instead of all the other things I did. I would love to hear from you guys Let me know I don’t care if they give out my email to you guys. God Bless!!!
Ken Henry
I second Ken’s comments! I’ve been looking on the web for years to see if I could find anything about “Moffit” & Davies (maybe the mis-spelling messed up my searches) and if they ever put out that album I promised them I’d buy some 44 years ago. So great to hear that M & D are still around I can finally hear some more of their music!
I was a sophomore at Oklahoma State back in ’67 when I took on the task of bringing in some big name entertainment to raise money for the residence halls there. With the help of the OSU business manager I selected and contracted for an appearance by Glenn Yarbrough. That was my introduction to show biz contracts, lighting engineers, ticket sales, safety & security regulations, whatnot.
One snafu putting the program together was that the contract stated that the drummer platform was to be elevated “12′ above the stage”. We contacted Yarbrough’s agent and asked “don’t you mean 12 inches, not 12 feet?”, and got the brushoff response “if it says it in the contract, you have to do it”. School safety officials balked, so the carpenters built a compromise eight foot tall platform instead. When the band arrived that evening the comment was “no way in hell I’m going up there!”, and we hurriedly arranged to have it knocked back down to twelve inches.
I had no prior knowledge of Maffitt & Davies before the show … but instantly came to appreciate their music once they started doing the opening warmups. I was watching in awe through the curtains offstage when this chubby little guy came up to me and said “they’re really very good, aren’t they?”. I agreed, and then realized I was chatting with Yarbrough himself! What a thrill for an Okie teenager! He asked about the stage issue, I explained, he apologized, and muttered something rataher uncomplimentary under his breath about his agent…
Next morning I was returning to my dorm from the Student Union (carrying my just-purchased Yarbrough’s “For Emily” and “Rain Must Fall” albums) when a convertible pulled up beside me and there were Maffitt & Davies themselves, recognizing me from the previous evening. Wanted to know where was the best place in town to go to “pick up chicks”! (Geez, like I would know!!!) I complimented them again on their great music, and thats when they told me they were coming out with an album of their own.
I promised them I would buy it as soon as I could find it. And now … I CAN! Thanks, guys!
One of my all time favorite albums. I wish I knew who was doing the lead vocals and what became of these two. Landscape Grown Cold is devasting. So many of the songs are so moving. It’s incredible that this album didn’t have more impact.
Hey R.B, I’m thinking you should check out the previous comments! After hearing about this record for years I finally went and picked up a copy (the recent Revola reissue) and good lord, am I glad I did. This is one that really deserves its legendary reputation, and the additional unreleased cuts are fantastic – almost a second album. I can understand how Clark and Brian may have been put off by Venet’s elaborate production touches, but I’m going to have to add to the chorus in saying that they really do expand the record’s character and are never overwhelming.
Digging “Forest Lawn” – that one really cracked me and my friends up on first listen.
rb… Thanks for the nice comments. I was the “lead” vocalist and Brian was the lead guitarist. I now live on Martha’s Vineyard and Brian is still in L.A.
For more Maffitt and Davies – and Nik Venet – see my recent post on Dory Previn’s Mythical Kings And Iguanas. Clark and Brian very prevalent on guitars, production/arrangements by NV.
Today I received a copy of Rise & Fall of Honesty on VINYL! My boyfriend sent it to me because he knew how much I wanted it.
To Brian and Clark – Thank you SO much for creating such a wonderful album. I mentioned in an earlier post I knew all the words, which I actually confirmed after singing along with the entire album twice (so far). Did either of you guys ever get in touch with Yonnie Wells? I saw her last week and we were talking about you guys.
Please note I have a new email address.
NEW email address for me is cfsumners@yahoo.com
Time to flip back to side 1 and listen at least one more time!
Heard these guys at Auburn University in the sixties in Alabama and bought the album immediately thereafter. It’s been a favorite for decades. One of the great albums of all time. Glad to hear you guys are still kickin’ it. It was a great concert. Something I’ll never forget…