Thirty Days Out - Thirty Days Out-Miracle Lick (1971-72) [2010]

Artist: Thirty Days Out
Album: Thirty Days Out/Miracle Lick
Country: USA
Released: 1971-72 (2010)
Genre: Progressive Rock
Format: MP3 CBR 320

Singer/guitarist John Micallef and former Outcasts guitarist Jack Malken formed the prog rock band Thirty Days Out in New York City in 1971. With the advent of bassist Monte Melnick and drummer Phil Lowe, the nascent group immediately began to practice (that is, to play music), but the constant complaints of neighbors about the noise forced the guys to move to Greenfield, Massachusetts. After signing with Reprise, Thirty Days Out returned to New York to begin work on their self-titled debut album, also recorded in part in California with acclaimed session keyboardists Jim Dickensen and Larry Knechtel. After the release of the album and its sale, there was a slight stir in music stores - instead of a cellophane shell, the album was packaged in a streamlined poster. Sales were promising, and in 1972 Reprise released their next Thirty Days Out album, Miracle Lick. Reviews were poor, revenue dwindled, and the band disbanded shortly thereafter. Melnick later resurfaced as the tour manager for punk legends The Ramones.
The band's second album, recorded at Syncron Studios in Wallingford, Connecticut and mixed in London. This time it was produced by Jack Malken and John Micallef composed most of the original material. Guest appearances on the album include Nicky Harrison (strings), Bing McCoy and Teddy Taylor (keyboards, mellotron), as well as backing vocalists Madeleine Bell, Doris Troy, Lisa Strike and Christine Ohlman. However, here the musicians' ambitious plans to "combine electricity and acoustics into a fresh, tasteful and unified rock sound" ended in complete disaster. Just the lyrics turned out to be overly ambitious, but the songs clearly lacked melody. Nevertheless, Thirty Days Out's albums will be of interest to fans of the emerging prog rock of the early 70s.

Albums:
1971 - Thirty Days Out:
01. Everybody's Looking For Someone - 4:28
02. Mama Come See Me Tonight - 2:55
03. Home On The Road - 4:08
04. Living Like One - 3:09
05. Holy Hannah! – 2:36
06. Survival - 4:55
07. Taking The Chance - 3:31
08. Forever - 3:56
09. Doing The Best That I Can – 5:27

1972 - Miracle Lick:
01. Honey I Do - 3:50
02. I Need You - 3:21
03. Any Other Day - 3:12
04. Tupelo - 2:50
05. The Sun Keeps Right On Shining - 5:36
06. Everybody's Got to Have a Song - 5:24
07. Phoenix - 2:48
08. Never Felt Better - 4:09
09. Take A Look At Yourself - 4:08

Personnel:
Phil Lowe - drums, percussion, vocals
Jack Malken - lead guitar, vocals
Monte Melnick - bass, vocals
John Micallef - lead vocals, guitars

Jim Dickensen, Larry Knechtel - keyboards