ADOPTED ALBUMS #1 Posted by G147

L.A. Carnival: Blind Man L.A. Carnival: Seven Steps To Nowhere From: Would Like To Pose A Question, Now-Again Records, 2003. Adoptee #1 Album: L.A. Carnival's, Would Like To Pose A Question, Now-Again Records, 2003. Cost: $7.49 (CND), used. A decent supplier will have L.A. Carnival in stock, but catching this disc for $7.49 is Pat Robertson crazy. The value in the liner notes written by Stones Throw's Egon, who heads Now-Again Records, is incalculable. Lamping with soul musicians helps Egon's research, which naturally lines up projects like The Funky 16 Corners. All songs on Would Like To Pose A Question were recorded between `69 and `71. Racial divides were big in Omaha making L.A. Carnival's music civil rights movement anthems - bangers? They're comprised of a multi-ethnic blend and that makes a wave out of a splash if living in 1960 Omaha. The roster: Lester Abrams: drums, vocals, organ, acoustic piano and percussion. Arno Lucas: vocals and percussion. Leslie Smith: vocals. Rick Chudacoff: electric bass and backup vocals. Ron Cooley: electric and acoustic guitar. Geno DeVaughn: trumpet. Percy Marion: tenor saxophone and flute. Michael Patterson: alto saxophone. "Blind Man" is an instant replay with a formula that sounds like a Northern Soul song. Lester Abrams supplies tear jerking vocals on this track that get grown men open like Dorando's "Didn't I." Abrams carries lead on the organ with a solid drum beat in the background and the song explodes with horns. This song would speak for itself, but it is too busy staying cool - cop it. "Seven Steps To Nowhere" starts off in a generic funky tone, but still catches the ear. Wait, not yet, yeah right there eleven seconds past the minute mark. Who is on that horn? Either it is Patterson, or Marion - sounds like an alto so Patterson it is - that lays down the saxophone like a `93 horn loop. Through one minute at a time tempo changes, this song blows the mind. Adopting this album for $7.49 is spending smart money. undressing the cash register. *Note RIP on Lou Rawls, he was 72 when he died - this is how I found out.