Sum Pear - Sum Pear (Radioactive Records) 1971

A Long Island New York-based (?) duo consisting of guitarist/keyboard player Sonny Hahn and singer/keyboard player Doug Miller, this is an outfit I don't know much about, nor have I ever been able to dig up much on the pair. Released by the small Euphoria label (apparently a short lived Jubilee offshoot), their sole release 1971's "Sum Pear" was well worth looking for (though it's relative rare and increasingly costly - I've seen two original copies in twenty years). Produced by Bob Gallo, the set offered up a great mix of psych-influenced rockers ('Better Get Down'), straight ahead rock ('Bring Me Home America'), and more conventional folk rock ('I Can See').  Miller had a nifty voice and Hahn's penchant for feedback drenched guitar (check out the blazing 'Got Me Tragedy'), were both strong selling points.  Some interesting lyrics (yes I actually occasionally actually listen to the words) and the presence of a full backing band with a kick ass rhythm section in the form of bass player Bob Dorsa and drummer John Scaduto certainly didn't hurt the proceedings.  With the pair writing virtually all of the material (a killer cover of Mickey Newbury's 'Down On Saturday' being the lone non-original), highlights included 'Hey Sun', the wah-wah guitar propelled 'What's So Bad About Feelin' Good', the hyper-speed 'I Need Lovin'"' and the horn-propelled 'Thoughts of Slumber'. But that's not the end of the story.  Five years later the album reappeared on the Guinness tax scam label.  This time around it was credited to 'Sonny & Doug'. and carried the title "Sum Pair".  Same track listing, but different song sequence - I actually like the revamped order better.  As you can see the album also featured new artwork. In 2004 the notorious Radioactive label reissued a bootleg copy of the collection in CD format (Radioactive catalog number RR CD-067). allmusic.com

Tracklist:

01.What's So Bad About Feelin' Good - 4:56

02.Better Get Down - 3:10

03.Save the Children - 3:31

04.Hey Sun - 3:35

05.Thoughts of Slumber - 3:31

06.Bring Me Home America - 3:18

07.I Need Lovin' - 2:17

08.Down On Saturday - 4:17

09.I Can See - 3:32

10.Got Me Tragedy - 3:08

11.On My Way/Forget Yesterday Medley - 6:46

Sum Pear:

Doug Miller - Guitarist, Keyboard

Sonny Hahn - Vocals, Keyboards

Backing Musicians:

Kathy Alison - backing vocals

Tommy Castagnaro - drums

John Cavalea - trombone

Richie Cruz - trumpet

Bob Dorsa - bass

Steve Harber - sax

Randy Ragano - guitar

Billy Resvanis - drums

John Scaduto - drums

Mike Segall - backing vocals

Barry Taylor - keyboards