Banana And The Bunch - Mid-Mountain Ranch (1972, 2015)

Artist: Banana And The Bunch
Title: Mid-Mountain Ranch
Year Of Release: 1972 (2015)
Country: US
Label: Real Gone
Genre: Roots 'n' roll blues psych rock
Quality: FLAC | lossless

Recorded right after the Youngbloods broke up, and released on their own Raccoon label, 1972 s Mid-Mountain Ranch was the sole solo album from the band s multi-instrumentalist Banana a.k.a. Lowell Levinger. Except that it wasn t really a solo album, because the Bunch included Joe Bauer and Michael Kane from Banana s former outfit! So, Mid-Mountain Ranch really was a Youngbloods album sans Jesse Colin Young; and the absence of their former front man allows Banana and his Bunch to stretch out with some bluegrass and jazz licks alongside their patented folk rock sound. It s something of an early alt-country cult classic, reissued here on CD for the first time ever in a limited-edition mini LP sleeve that re-creates the original packaging right down to the label on the CD.

Tracklist:
1. Back In The U.S.A (Chuck Berry) - 2:54
2. My True Life Blues (Lowell Levinger) - 3:48
3. Vanderbilt's Lament (Joe Bauer, Richard Anderson, Lowell Levinger, Michael Kane) - 2:49
4. Interlude (Lowell Levinger) - 2:49
5. Double Interlude (Lowell Levinger, Joe Bauer, Steve Swallow) - 0:57
6. Sittin' Alone In The Moonlight (Bill Monroe) - 2:16
7. In Foggy Old London (Al Robinson) - 1:45
8. Before The Sun Goes Down (Jerry Organ, Vernon Claud) - 2:03
9. New Sail Away Ladies (Lowell Levinger) - 2:31
10.Ocean Of Diamonds (Cliff Carnahan) - 3:51
11.Familiar Patterns (Michael Kane) - 3:38
12.Great Blue Heron (Lowell Levinger) - 3:29
13.Honky Tonk Blues (Hank Williams) - 2:09
14.Lucas Valley Breakdown (Lowell Levinger) - 1:37
15.The Rights Of Man (Peter Golden) - 2:00

Personnel:
Lowell Levinger "Banana" - Banjo, Bass, Claves, Guitar, Mandola, Mandolin, Pedal Steel, Piano
Michael Kane - Bass, Mandolin, Piano, Vocals
Joe Bauer - Drums, Percussion
Steve Swallow - Bass
Richard Earthquake Anderson - Harp