Willard's Wormholes

There’s An Innocent Face (1972)
Sunshine Pop With A Country Twist

Hard core pop collectors know Curt Boetcher’s name (sometimes as Boettcher and/or Becher) for his work with 1967′s once impossible-to-find, great pop studio experiment, Sagittarius (as well as his own bands, The Millennium and The Ballroom). Boetcher’s more recognizable credits, however, include his writing, arranging and production for The Association and Tommy Roe, among others… all mining the upbeat, slightly psych, vocally enhanced pop of the late 60s. He finally got around to going solo in the early 70s, releasing this harmony-infected gem, There’s An Innocent Face. Back in the day, this album was viewed as something akin to a pop flame keeper, since radio was turning away from harmony-pop like the plague. Listening back to this for the first time this century, it’s now apparent that Boetcher’s melody-fest is filled with subtle, countrified embellishments – mixed with his trademarked sunshine pop – that should easily find favor with Eagles & Poco fans – a distinctive musical formula that, in 1972, had yet to fully gain a foothold on the public’s consciousness (mine anyway). Regardless, vocal pop fans should find plenty to like in this long ignored slice of sugary sweet country-influenced pop. It’s at Amazon, HERE.

I Love You More Each Day (2:40)
Such A Lady (2:06)
She’ll Stay With You (2:23)
Love You Yes I Do (3:18)
Without Her (1:23)
Bobby California (4:41)
The Choice Is Yours (2:10)
Malachi Star (2:50)
Lay Down (3:25)
I’ve Been Wrong (3:38)
Wufferton Frog (4:09)

BONUSES:

THE BALLROOM - Preparing For The Millennium (1967)
THE MILLENNIUM - Begin (1968)
SAGITTARIUS - Present Tense (1968)
Walking On Sunshine

I’m not much of an expert on these long-cherished permutations of Gary Usher & Curt Boetcher’s unique collaborations of the late 60s. Dubbed Sunshine Pop, the term is shorthand for a particularly sunny and saccharine style of music heavily influenced by the harmonies and styles of The Beach Boys, early psychedelia, Bossa Nova Baroque rock and slick, commercialized folk. On Present Tense, some in The Beach Boys’ pre-psych orbit are involved, including producer Usher and numerous BB session musicians. While The Ballroom and The Millennium traffic in more sugary sweets, even if the projects carry more weight than the not-really-that-similar candy pop of the Kasenetz/Katz bubblegum empire, which shilled the likes of The 1910 Fruitgum Company, The Ohio Express, and others. While FM radio tended to shy away from the overtly shimmering form of sophisto-pop found on these three albums (The Ballroom’s LP remained unreleased until the 90s), a resilient strain would continue to live on in television teeny boppers like The Partridge Family and The Cowsills, as well as manufactured concoctions like The Archies and The Banana Splits. Though… none of these examples displayed any of the heart and soul of the originators found here, who were more focused on stylistic expression than conveyor belt merchandising. I’ll suggest Google for more detailed information about these releases (or any commenters who wish to elaborate), as I came to all this music decades after it happened and have never sorted out the intricacies for myself, beyond being an unabashed lover of pop in almost all its variations. Though, for my money, Present Tense is the hands down gem of the lot. Boetcher’s 1967 version of Harry Nilsson’s TV theme, “Best Friend” (band name: Puppet), was the only full length version of the song ever released. There’s a 3CD Sundazed box that gathers together much of this music in one fell swoop (with additions), entitled Magic Time. Visit Amazon to find The Ballroom (HERE), The Millennium (HERE), Sagittarius (HERE) and Magic Time: The Millennium Ballroom Sessions (HERE).

THE BALLROOM Preparing For The Millennium
Spinning, Spinning, Spinning (2:43)
You Turn Me Around (2:42)
Would You Like To Go (2:41)
Forever (2:25)
Love’s Fatal Way (2:56)
It’s A Sad World (3:53)
Crazy Dreams (2:56)
Magic Time (2:53)
Musty Dusty (3:18)
I’ll Grow Stronger (3:05)
Baby Please Don’t Go (3:13)
Another Time (3:37)
If You Only Knew (2:45)
Keeper Of The Games (1:53)
The Island (3:34)
Believe You (2:52)
It’s A Sad World (3:14)
I’m Not Living Here (3:20)
Sunshine Today (2:22)
Milk And Honey (2:28) – Summers Children
All I Really Have Is A Memory (2:23) – Sandy Salsbury
Best Friend (2:23) – Puppet

THE MILLENNIUM Begin
Prelude (1:22)
To Claudia On Thursday (3:23)
I Just Want To Be Your Friend (2:34)
5 A.M. (2:39)
I’m With You (2:35)
The Island (3:19)
Sing To Me (2:15)
It’s You (3:21)
Some Sunny Day (3:12)
It Won’t Always Be The Same (2:58)
The Know It All (2:45)
Karmic Dream Sequence #1 (5:52)
There Is No More To Say (2:24)
Anthem (Begin) (2:39)

SAGITTARIUS Present Tense
Another Time (2:40)
Song To The Magic Frog (2:49)
You Know I’ve Found A Way (2:01)
The Keeper Of The Games (1:54)
Glass (2:27)
Would You Like To Go (2:38)
My World Fell Down (2:56)
Hotel Indiscreet (2:12)
I’m Not Living Here (2:26)
Musty Dusty (3:12)
The Truth Is Not Real (2:47)
Artificial Light (Of All The Living Lies) (2:50) – Bonus Track
Get The Message (2:49) – Bonus Track
Mass #586 (2:51) – Bonus Track
Love’s Fatal Way (2:52) – Bonus Track
My World Fell Down (Single Version) (3:48) – Bonus Track
Hotel Indiscreet (Single Version) (2:20) – Bonus Track
Lonely Girl (2:33) – Bonus Track
The Keeper Of The Games (Demo) (1:49) – Bonus Track
Sister Marie (Instrumental) (3:20) – Bonus Track