Barnaby Bye - Room to Grow [7/13]

Artist:

Barnaby Bye

UPC:

664140727328

Description:

Personnel: Peppy Castro, Bobby Alessi (vocals, guitar); Billy Alessi (vocals, keyboards); Michael Ricciardella (vocals, drums, percussion).
Audio Remixer: Gene Paul.
Recording information: Atlantic Recording Studios, New York, NY; The Warehouse, New York, NY.
Photographer: David Gohr.
With the formidable combination of talent, good looks, and a world class producer, it is surprising that Barnaby Bye`s debut album, Room to Grow, wasn`t a runaway smash. The talented twin teen-heartthrobs Bobby and Billy Alessi, together with former Blues Magoos guitarist Peppi Castro (aka, Emil Thielhelm), and ex-Illusion drummer Michael Ricciardella released Room to Grow in 1973 on Atlantic with some success, but without the popularity they probably deserved. Their combination of Beatles-inspired songwriting, Queen-like vocal harmonies, and predilection for camp actually worked because they were talented enough to pull it off without sounding completely derivative. Exemplified by tunes like the wonderfully Brit-sounding "Jessie Girl," and the Marc Bolan-meets-Roy Wood rocker "Marsha Mamaillia," the boys proved that they could pay homage to their heroes without quoting them directly. As a result, the album is surprisingly solid and cohesive, with ballads like Billy Alessi`s "I Feel for You" and Bobby Alessi`s "Laneya" providing just the right amount of breathing room for the more upbeat tracks. Barnaby Bye`s Long Island-take on Brit-pop was probably more of a template for later retro-rock outfits like Jellyfish and the Merrymakers than the original bands themselves. A solid, fun, and enjoyable effort, Room to Grow should find a comfortable spot in any serious collection of `70s pop/rock. ~ J. Scott McClintock

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. Day Came On, The
2. I Feel For You
3. She Was Pleased
4. I Think I`m Gonna Like It
5. Boopa
6. Way, The
7. Laneya
8. Jessie Girl
9. Marsha Mamaillia
10. Dreamer
11. Something Good About Nothing
12. I Won`t Step On Your Shoes
13. She`s Leaving Home

Album Information

Release Date:

07/13/2010

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Rock & Pop

Subgenre:

Glam Rock

Label:

Wounded Bird Records

Producer:

Barnaby Bye; Ahmet Ertegun

Catalog Number:

7273

Original Release Year:

1973

# of Discs:

1

Runtime:

38 : 36

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