Vincen Poag sends THANK YOU to Rock Journalist Joe Vig

 

Thank you for taking the time to listen to and review my album For The Girls. Your kind words are most rewarding. After working so hard on something quite personal, your experienced appreciation of my work is validating. 

-Vincent Poag

June 19, 2014

_________________________________

 
  The title track to Vincent Poag’s For The Girls has a neo-reggae calypso-drenched pop dressing as the platform to the singer’s reflections and perspective on life and love.  Mexican horns blend in with the heavy rhythms and vibes, kind of like Elton John’s “Island Girl” taking a visit to Jimmy Buffet’s “Margaritaville.”      

   While Lou Reed was “Waiting for the Man” Poag responds with a dark, cascading “Waiting for Me” that could easily slip into an Evening of Kurt Weill.  Poag blends multiple styles that at first glance seem incongruous to the formula, but somehow it all makes sense and in doing so the stylist comes up with a unique blend.     

   “Forever” is a more traditional, lilting piece with acoustic guitars, strings, piano and subdued percussion while sprinkling some Dylan/Ian Hunter flourishes in the vocals.  Opening track, “45 Mile and Hour Girl” is cheeky in its clever - but silly - sincerity.  It might have worked better as track three with “For The Girls” opening the disc, but perhaps they can do that for the vinyl in the days of iPad. Does Track selection even matter in the digital realm??? (I say it does.)       

The CD album is solid Americana which could get some country crossover on adventurous stations. “Once Upon A Time” would be fascinating in the aforementioned hands of Ian Hunter. Poag reads the essay while limiting the vocal range over sweet violin and piano.      Diana Hope’s vocal on “Wonder” is reminiscent of Fairport Convention with a  touch of Sandy Denny or perhaps Judy Collins with Celtic leanings with the formidable Mark Newman accompanying the band.  Hope and Newman were also on Poag’s previous cd, Circling Back.     

The music on For the Girls touches upon a wide array of genres.  It’s an appealing something different offering a change of pace for traditional playlists looking for a little fun to shake things up.

http://dedham.patch.com/groups/rock-journalist-joe-vig/p/vincent-poag--for-the-girls-cd-review 

GOODBYE CAPTAIN AND TENILLE

  BEACH BOY DARYL DRAGON UNSURE WHY TONI TENNILLE HAS FILED FOR DIVORCE

    In January of 1998 I received the first e mail informing me that a friend had passed away.  Nik Venet produced the Beach Boys, Jim Croce, Linda Ronstadt, Harriet Schock (author of "Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady" for Helen Reddy) and many, many others.    Read about Nik here: http://www.allmusic.com/album/more-than-you-know-mw0000196059

   About six months ago I began corresponding with Nik's wife, who appeared on the Monkees TV show, on TV's Batman, filming for movies like Easy Rider, Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte and Myra Breckinridge (I promptly recited the entire first chapter of the Gore Vidal novel to her last night on the phone...which I know by heart...including part of Chapter 2...) we discussed doing a remake! HA!)... the key element here for this story, of course, is the Beach Boys which today feature Daryl Dragon of The Captain and Tennille.

   Captain & Tennille wrote me back in the 1990s thanking me for my critiques of their albums.  Today it is sad to hear that the two musicians - now in their seventies - are going their separate ways.  Here are some of my reviews of the albums the duo created:

POR AMOR VIVIREMOS
(Love Will Keep Us Together en Espanol)
http://www.allmusic.com/album/por-amor-viviremos-mw0000837480

Song of Joy (1976)
http://www.allmusic.com/album/song-of-joy-mw0000356926
Come In From The Rain (1977)
http://www.allmusic.com/album/come-in-from-the-rain-mw0000703707
DREAM (1978)
last album on A & M Records
http://www.allmusic.com/album/dream-mw0000349442
MAKE YOUR MOVE
first lp on Casablanca Records
http://www.allmusic.com/album/make-your-move-mw0000350103

KEEPING OUR LOVE WARM
(1980; 2nd and final disc for Casablanca)
http://www.allmusic.com/album/keeping-our-love-warm-mw0000703727

MORE THAN DANCING...MUCH MORE
http://www.allmusic.com/album/more-than-dancingmuch-more-mw0000222620


MORE THAN YOU KNOW (1984)
Toni Tennille solo
http://www.allmusic.com/album/more-than-you-know-mw0000196059

________________________________________________________
SONG REVIEWS
Do That To Me One More Time
http://www.allmusic.com/song/do-that-to-me-one-more-time-mt0006519775

LONELY NIGHT (Angel Face)
http://www.allmusic.com/song/lonely-night-angel-face-mt0005342467

MUSKRAT LOVE
http://www.allmusic.com/song/muskrat-love-mt0015592462

WEDDING SONG (There is Love)
http://www.allmusic.com/song/wedding-song-there-is-love-mt0010660683


Here's the article on the breakup

Love Won't Keep Them Together — Captain & Tennille Are Divorcing!

http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/music-news/love-won-t-keep-them-together-%E2%80%94-captain---tennille-a...