Robert Lester Folsom / Music and Dreams (USA, 1976) +2
01. Music And Dreams
02. Ginger
03. Biding My Time
04. April Suzanne
05. Weeping Willow Tree
06. My Stove's On Fire
07. Untitled
08. Spanish Lady/Brown Eyed Lady With Blonde Hair
09. A New Way
10. Show Me To the Window
11. Jericho
12. Please Don't Forget Me
13. Blues Stay Away (bonus track)
14. Warm Horizons (bonus track)
- First authorized CD reissue
- Includes two bonus tracks
- Superior 24-bit/96kHz original remaster
- Liner notes and lyrics
Recorded in '76, this private press LP came to be after Robert Lester Folsom went into a studio in Atlanta to record a demo for one song. The producer was so impressed with Folsom's tune that he encouraged him to come back and record more tracks, which resulted in Music and Dreams. Stylistically, it's straight outta the mellow gold school of '70s folk rock. CS&N, Todd Rundgren and Steve Miller are all good references, but there's also a mysterious vibe to the tunes (a la Merrell Fankhauser) and a healthy dose of yacht rock thrown in as well. Highlights include the lovely title track and the earnest ballad "Please Don't Forget Me." There's a lot of stylistic variety here, including a couple of jazzy instrumentals and a full on blast of Tom Petty-esque power pop ("Blues Stay Away"). All in all, Music and Dreams is a pretty solid and lovely album that'll appeal to fans of the aforementioned. It ain't avant/savant rock by any means, it's simply a great record that is "outside" simply by default...and that's just fine with us.
-Duane Harriott, Other Music
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For our second release, we present the 1976 AM radio classic Music and Dreams by Robert Lester Folsom. Lester, as he's known by friends and family, is about the sweetest person I've ever encountered, and that sweetness is apparent from each cool, laid back, sometimes goofy, but always unassumingly brilliant song on this album. The description from Other Music Digital is worth quoting:
Stylistically, it's straight outta the mellow gold school of '70s folk rock. CS&N, Todd Rundgren and Steve Miller are all good references, but there's also a mysterious vibe to the tunes (a la Merrell Fankhauser) and a healthy dose of yacht rock thrown in as well.
This is a private press release that sounds like it came out of a Hollywood studio; the production is crystal clear and every note sings with incredible vibrancy. In particular lead guitarist Hans VanBrackle kills it. Check out 'Jericho' and try not to be moved by the guitar solo on this track. Beautiful. Friends, this album is not available on CD and has never been reissued until now. An original LP copy sells for $300 on the rare occasions that one comes available. Have a listen and find out why.
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