After All – After All 1969 (USA, Psych , Proto-Progressive Rock) Full Album

An American proto-prog band that is living proof that this style existed not only in the UK. The band was formed in the late 60s in Tallahassee, Florida. Drummer Mark Ellerbee and keyboardist Alan Gold graduated from the Florida State School of Music. Then their paths diverged: Ellerbee went to Vietnam, Gold began playing in Florida nightclubs. Bassist Bill Moon performed with various bands starting in the 50s, one of which also featured Ellerbee. This band was quite popular in the southeastern United States for 10 years. Guitarist Charles Short played mainly jazz before forming the band. Thus, the band's roots were mainly in jazz and rhythm and blues. Each of the four musicians had solid experience working in clubs and at parties in the state of Florida, which at that time was rich in talented musicians. The group was put together in a hurry to record a concept album that would combine such incompatible things as jazz, blues, classical music, psychedelic rock and surreal poetry. The musicians of “After All” were lucky: they quickly found a producer in Nashville who was ready to record the “unusual” album absolutely for free. The poems for the group were written by a young poetess Linda Hargrove, who later became famous in Nashville, writing songs for other performers. The group recorded the album in 1969 in just a few days, and although they were given unlimited studio time, the musicians were grateful to Lady Luck for giving them such an opportunity. After that, each of the musicians returned home to continue their musical careers. Of course, none of them succeeded, but to this day they remain good friends. Musically, the only album sounds unusually balanced for musicians who got together only to record this particular disc. They play in harmony, as if the band had existed for many years, the musical material is very well written, no throwaway numbers. The band did not exist for long, but left behind a wonderful album of early progressive, which stands out among the records of that time. Tracks: All tracks written by Mark Ellerbee and Linda Hargrove except where noted. 01. Intangible She - 00:00 02. Blue Satin - 07:29 03. Nothing Left To Do - 11:15 04. And I Will Follow - 18:23 05. Let It Fly - 23:14 06. Now What Are You Looking For (Bill Moon) - 27:47 07. A Face That Doesn't Matter - 30:52 08. Waiting - 35:24 Personnel: - Mark Ellerbee - drums, vocals - Bill Moon - bass, vocals - Alan Gold - organ - Charles Short - guitar + - Linda Hargrove - lyrics - Tom Brannon, Rick Powell - producers