Truth – Archimed’s Pad (Squared Room) – (late sixtees)
A nice review from the member of RYM ”heyday2day”
”A bit surprised that nobody has submitted a profile for Truth yet, also surprised that this new vinyl reissue has not been rated or reviewed yet. I have been aware of this vinyl reissue for several months and had patiently looked and waited for a reasonable priced copy to show up amongst the numerous dealers I have bought from before. I was told by most that as soon as they received a supply they pretty much sold out in days. So it was with great glee that I finally found a dealer who had a few new copies come in and didn’t charge a kidney for it.
So was it worth the persistence? Yes. These tracks never received a proper release until 25 years after their original recording and after hearing the quality, all I can do is wonder what folks were smoking to help them determine that this wasn’t worthy. The band had ties to THEM with Jim Armstrong and Kenny McDowell both former members of that band. After Van Morrison left (and before he left) the membership roll call in THEM has to be one of the longest list of members of any band ever. Armstrong being an original of the group, kept THEM alive and McDowell was a member of one of those post Morrison THEM lineups. Encouraged to come to the States to record, THEM left Ireland once again to make a go of it here. As THEM, they recorded several relatively little known albums, some close to classic, including “Now And Them”, “Time Out! Time In For Them” and a self titled release. Unfortunately those albums did very little and by the late 60’s this version of THEM had played out and Henderson and McDowell went back to Ireland.
According to the liners, (tho’ not really explained why) an American by the name of Scott Doneen had met this version of THEM in Chicago and in mid 69, after hearing of their demise, sent a message to Belfast seeking to persuade Henderson and McDowell to return. He sent tickets, provided rent for them and a place to rehearse. So the duo returned to Chicago, eventuall assembling the original foursome of, Curtis Bachman (a founding member of The Buckinghams), Reno Smith and Henderson-McDowell. Eventually the band began gigging and developing a following where an aspiring film maker, Pat Mulcahy, crossed their path. He was in need of a band to provide music for a movie he was making. Alot of the tracks here were intended for the movie, which was released as “College For Fun And Profit”. After that project, the band went back to gigging and looking for a record deal. Ray Eliot, who was also a member of the post Morrison THEM, came over from Ireland to make Truth a five piece. This five piece cut three tracks in a studio, included in this package from acetates.
The band signed a deal with Epic and in early 71 went to Belfast to take a short vacation. This proved to be the impetus for Truth breaking apart. While waiting for September dates to record (7 months in the future), Smith moved to Europe then back to the States, Bachman went to England with a girlfriend and was deported and the bands manager disappeared with the bands advance money from Decca. That is why this is all there is and it’s a pretty good, eclectic set. Ranging from bluesy psych, raga rock, a bit of pop-psych and countryish songs it is broad in scope. As such, it’s difficult to pinpoint points of reference but thats not important because it is all done well, reminding me somewhat of the “Gift From Euphoria” album. Good stuff and recommended.”
Thanks for visiting the channel!
