Fate - Sgt.Death (Shadoks Music Normal Records) 1968

(1) Biography Jay Sneider's first band The Electrons came together in Saco, Maine in 1963. They soon changed their name to The Id and would release two 45s that have become highly prized by moronic record collectors. The second 45 released as Euphoria's Id to differentiate them from several other Ids around at that time. Around 1967 Sneider (now Snyder) and drummer Skip Smith formed Fate.

The album was recorded in 1968 under the guidance of Thomas Jefferson Kaye at Studio 3 in New York, where Billy Joel's Hassles would record their debut LP. Demos were sent out and the popular DJ Roscoe (also the voice on an album by John Berberian) started playing it. It would be picked up by a couple more NYC stations, yet the only record label to show any interest was Musicor. Still the band's production company (Elephant 5) chose to pass on the offer, nothing further happened and a disillusioned band went their separate ways.

Such a shame; this is an accomplished opus and so evocative of its time. The mood is reflective, often sombre, but also confrontational (as in the overtly anti-Vietnam title track). Stylistically it varies from baroque-rock with psychy flashes to hard melodic rock, and a strong hint of The Doors on the more introspective cuts. The latter comparison used to irritate Jay Snyder but the setting, key and timbre of Frank Youngblood's vocals makes this unavoidable. Sexual Fantasy #8 is an immediate stand-out; it has a pealing George Harrison-like guitar motif that'll haunt you for months. Elsewhere they take on the blues and Bo Diddley in a hard-rock setting with searing guitar.

Jay Snyder recounts his musical odyssey and the stories behind his songs in revealing detail on both CD and LP. A very welcome and recommended release. Incidentally, the opening track on the original demo album, Prelude, was omitted from the reissues as it was not recorded by Fate, instead being put together by their producer.

An article in Billboard magazine in October 1968 reported that "Fate's demonstration discs are being played on three radio stations in New York", but the only original copy so far to turn up has a mastering date of February 1969 etched in the vinyl trail-off. It could be that there were different demo discs in circulation at different times. If you actually own one of these original demo FATE records, you could sell it on ebay to a moronic record collector and buy the entire state of Hawaii

By specimen unknown

(2) Biography The roots of the American group Fate dates back to 1963 when Maine was formed group The Electrons, amending later name to The Nomads, The Id (under this name they released even one single), and ultimately on The Euphoria's Id (under which the band released their next single, and years later, in 2003, a compilation collecting all the recordings the group, entitled "Mastering the Art of French Kissing"). The team consisted of keyboardist Jay Snyder (born. Sneider), drummer Skip Smith, singer / guitarist Jimmy Drown, bassist Terry Drown, and saxophonist David Wakefield. In 1967, Snyder and Smith decided to form a new band, which they called Fate. Composition fulfilled vocalist Frank Youngblood, guitarist Steve Dore, and bassist Art Webster.

In 1968, in New York, the musicians recorded their only material. The recordings were sent to radio stations and soon the group received a proposal to release the album on a small label Musicor. However, it was rejected by the production company Elephant 5, with whom the band collaborated. More offers did not come, and disappointed they had decided to go their separate ways and hearing about them missing. At least until 1999, when the American label Rockadelic released album "Sgt. Death" in the limited, red vinyl. It contained all the recordings, which the team has made during that session. In Europe the album was released on compact disc, German label Shadoks. Title and order of the songs was the same as on the album Rockadelic, but was changed to cover.

From the very beginning of the album "Sgt. Death" sounds like a lost work of The Doors - sound bodies Jay Snyder is the same as in Ray Manzarka and vocalist Frank Youngblood, not only sings in the style of Jim Morrison, but the tone of voice is very similar. Some of the songs could easily hit the recorded at the same time, "Waiting for the Sun" (especially "Simone"). The only difference is the presence of bass (very clear indeed), and on a bigger role guitars - if Robby Krieger in some songs of The Doors show his skills as a soloist, as Steve Dore doing it in almost every piece (shapely solos played in catchy "Sergeant Death" and the somewhat dreary ballad "Mannequin"). Sometimes it happens that the keys suffer as a result ("Sexual Fantasy"). On the other hand, here is a song, but rather a miniature, which is actually a solo show of keyboardist ("Having a Cigarette"). Almost any song does not go below a certain level (the exception is dismal "I Need a Woman").

Do not forget the lyrics - songs were created during the war in Vietnam, which is why the opposition against the war, fear and anxiety are the dominant theme of the album. By "Sgt. Death" leaves little to be desired, but no fan of psychedelic rock should not be disappointed with this material. by adamus67

Tracklist

01.Sergeant Death 5:04

02.Simone 3:59

03.Sexual Fantasy 3:39

04.Having a Cigarette 2:11

05.I Need a Woman 4:12

06.Hungry Lovin' Blues 2:44

07.Mannequin 5:43

08.Tribute To The Bo 4:20

09.Smoke & Stone 5:09

Line-up

Steve Dore - Guitar

Skip Smith - Drums

Jay Sneider (Snyder) - Keyboards, Vocals

Art Webster - Bass

Frank Youngblood - Vocals