Cambridge’s Share a Song has the distinction of being one of the best private press country rock albums ever cut. It was released in 1977 by the Green Dolphin label. Unlike most small press recordings, the sound here is completely professional – this sounds like an early 70s major label country rock LP. The singing, lyrics and guitar playing are all the work of a first rate group, there’s nothing amateur about these guys. I recently picked up a NM vinyl copy of this legendary album (very hard to find) for $150 and after several spins, can confirm that this band was the real thing.

Share a Song is uniformly strong but several songs connect with me in particular. Goodnight Sweet Lady, a wistful acoustic number that recalls Buffalo Springfield’s Kind of Woman, is touching while avoiding the pitfalls of becoming a sappy ballad. The title track, which opens the LP, has strong, spidery guitar solos that hint at psychedelia and a bouncy tempo that recalls early Poco at their best. Cowboy On The Trail, an outstanding cut, is noteworthy for its folk rock guitar chord progressions that recall Gene Clark’s work with the Byrds and Dillard & Clark. They also rock out pretty hard here and the guitar solo is very strong. They save the most experimental cut for later in the album; Faithless Lady, while seven and a half minutes, is a lost masterpiece. This cut begins as a tough bluesy, feedback laden rocker that eventually gives the guitar and banjo players space to solo. The banjo solo is unique and gives the track a special, experimental edge. Given its obscurity, I can recommend this album with confidence, it’s that good. It’s an album of great variety and several “hot” moments that catch the band on fire.

Cowboy On The Trail:

Highs and Lows:

Vinyl | 1977 | Green Dolphin | discogs ]