Mint Tattoo

[FeedbackLourde]

Continuing from where I left off on the "Future of BC" thread, how many people here are familiar with the sole Mint Tattoo album? This is Bruce Stephens at his heaviest & most psychedelic (and Ralph played a mean bass too). I haven't played it in awhile but I found that it does get better & better with each listen. And the cool thing is, not only is BC 3 a continuation from where OutsideInside left off, it's also a continuation of this album (not to mention BC4 & Pop 2 continue from this, each with a member of KAK). I really all advise all you BC newbies to pick this one up. And note: if you order it from Amazon, the track "Wrong Way Girl" is actually a cut from the ultra rare Bruce solo album "Watch That First Step."

[56buzz]

hmmmm...Mint Tatoo
I still think the best thing about M/T was the cover art. The music is tight and well played but the songs aren't very interesting. The production is solid and it would have been nice to hear a second recording by these guys - with some better songs...who knows.
Bruce Stephens is a decent musician but certainly didn't have the chops of Duck - Leigh or Randy so the excitement level for the band during his tenure is kinda low key (esp compared to Duck and Leigh)

[festoonedpiglips]

Aug 12, 2010 12:44:52 GMT -5 56buzz said:

hmmmm...Mint Tatoo
I still think the best thing about M/T was the cover art. The music is tight and well played but the songs aren't very interesting. The production is solid and it would have been nice to hear a second recording by these guys - with some better songs...who knows.
Bruce Stephens is a decent musician but certainly didn't have the chops of Duck - Leigh or Randy so the excitement level for the band during his tenure is kinda low key (esp compared to Duck and Leigh)

And especially compared to Randy Holden`s tenure with the band!!

[56buzz]

festooned...you crack me up. You're always pimpin' your boy Randy. Trying to put words in my mouth. I don't consider Randy's tenure in the band much more than a blip on the screen. 3 songs and out...tell me something.. how could he blow that that gig? It should have been a good outlet for him. I mean the heavy lifting of establishing the band was already done by Leigh/Paul & Dickie so all he had to do was write & play. I've heard all the stories and back and forth and drugs this and money that...but at some point he's just got to shut up and play and you - 41 frickin YEARS later still trying to get someone to listen...if his songs and his playing were better maybe he would have stuck...and truth be told - Duck schooled everybody on who the best guitar player in BC is was and will ever be...
out

[bluecheerphobe]

Buzz, You're going to pop a blood vessel - settle down. True, Randy not lasting for another side on BC3 is unfortunate. Those 13 minutes were far ahead of anything in '69, and he did tour with them, too. Chops? They are all incredible and should be in the studio together right now!!!!!!!!!!

[56buzz]

phobe...
you too!!! my god...I guess Randy needs all his fanboys to keep his diminished BC legacy afloat. Good luck with all that..
1969 was a great year for guitar bands Hendrix Sabbath Stooges Grand Funk Blind Faith hell even Leigh Stephens "Red Weather" was better than BC.

Anyway, way to go hyjacking a thread that is titled Mint Tatoo, ya know everything isn't always about RH

[gypsyball]

To me Bruce Stephens was at his best one side 1 of Blue Cheer’s “New! Improved!” album. Also I really liked his singing on “Wrong Way Girl” I wonder what the rest of Bruce's solo album "Watch That First Step." sounds like?

[barbaricus]

I owned "Watch That First Step" in the early 1980's and unfortunately I was not too impressed with it. Average session player rock, mostly cover versions, and his voice was shot to heck. Dickie once described Bruce as a diamond on the rough, and that he was. He needed the right producer to bring out his best, and to me that has only occurred once, on BC's wonderful fourth album, where he really shines.

[eio]

YEAH FBL...Awesome stuff Bruce layed down 69-70 on vinyl. I'll never forget Side 1 of BC3 the first time I heard it, and then the follow up #4 real nice stuff plus the MT stuff you sent. Very refreshing. Too bad alot of our fellow BC freakies weren't there when it was happening.....

[ericalbronda]

I recently met with Bruce again at a get together held by Marilyn--now wife to Bruce and former wife of Dickie and mother of Corrina, Dickie's Daughter . It was a get together to honor Dickie held on the Russian River on June 26, Th.
Bruce played me two recent songs he had written one was an instrumental called Dark Sand about the pollution in Hawaii where he now lives with Marilyn. I have always thought Bruce was and remains a great song writer and I must agree he does better with someone that can deal with his genius and has loads f patience and musical talent. Bruce has always been the musicians musician for the group from Davis and Sacramento for as long as I can remember being respected by all of the musicians that worked with him. Ralph remained loyal to Bruce until his death and Greg Thomas , longtime drummer for Bruce is one of my favorite people ever -----last I herd he was playing with Etta James --not a bad gig for a professional drummer.
I was lucky to have worked with Bruce and was largely responsible for securing him a contract with RCA records in New York which resulted in the "Pilot " Album . Fillmore Schuffel remain one of my favorite all time songs and perhaps the heaviest dope song ever---next to Doctor Please, by BC and Heroin by Velvet Underground. Bruce seemed to gather every bit of hard Karma from his life and therefore had a bucket of material to call upon for his songs . His song to lady friend Sandy called Miss sandy is also one of my favorites.
Bruce is a hard one when it comes to personal relationships and has a difficult time working with anybody else that even has one idea in their head . Bruce wants the music done his way or nothing as such even working with the strongest of producers was difficult for him--I found the best way to work with him was to wind him up and turn him loose to create what he wanted . seems easy enough but you must also be a first class baby sitter ready to catch him from falling out a window or be good and ready to administer CPR at a moments notice to keep him around until the end of the session. Seems to go hand and hand with the super creative types like George Michalski and Paul and Dickie for that matter although Dickie was not so difficult when it came to music production as he knew the value of another good set of ears.
Bruce has a home digital studio in his home on Maui and aside from being underwater his life appears charmed at every corner . Most of Bruce's best music has never been herd by most people as he keeps it locked away for some future time when he will feel good about releasing it on the public.
One great and obvious problem for Bruce is for him to play live as this requires much patience and tolerance of others and their musical abilities.
Obviously Bruce is into servival and I am glad for it as I am assured of being amazed each time I see him as he will present me with some new recordings he has made and I am always amazed at the talent he has as a song writer.
Just thought I would add my current thoughts.
Cheers,
Eric

[gypsyball]

I know this video has been posted else where here. I what topic I don't know. It was posted by the same person that posted the Blue Cheer 1979 videos.

[barbaricus]

Than you Eric for the comments about Bruce. Valuable perspective and history, as always. Thank you Gypsyball for the video. I wish Bruce could do at least one great, well-produced solo album. His four songs/performances on BC #4 are outstanding. Hey, let's get him back together with Michael Sunday!

[riffraff]

I have seen "Watch that First Step" on line. Not on Amazon or anything, something more indie.
Interesting video...thanks gb!