Genre: folk
Rating: 4 stars ****
Title:  The Magic Spell of Mother's Wrath
Company: CBS
Catalog: S 64979
Year: 1972
Country/State: Urbana, Illinois
Grade (cover/record): VG+ / VG
Comments: French pressing; thin cover
Available: 1
Catalog ID: 6333
Price: $350.00

So the first Mormos LP is tough to find, but their sophomore release - 1972's "The Magic Spell of Mother's Wrath" is big time obscure ... I've seen two copies in thirty years of collecting. If you liked the debut's blend of European folk influences, then there was no reason to doubt the second set was going to be up your aural alley. At least to my ears musically the album sounded very much like the debut, which meant it was full of dreamy, occasionally acid-tinged numbers that ranged from deeply sincere, to outright goofy. That's not to imply this was a lark. I'm pretty sure that James Cuomo and company were serious in all of their efforts, but the album's very sense of self-importance was enough to make you break down and giggle from time to time. There were also a couple of minor differences from the debut. Lyricist Daniel Hanks and cello player Sandy Spencer were seemingly no longer full time members, though both played throughout the album. The other notably changed came via the inclusion of some jazzy moves - check out the great sax solo on the opener 'Homeside' and the centerpiece composition 'Rit Yellow'. I won't tell you this one appealed to me as much as the debut, due in part to the fact it didn't sound as together. Tracks like 'October Song' and 'Doves are White' came across as little more than song fragments - sounding almost as if the band hadn't been given sufficient time to come up with coherent set of material for the LP. Still, the album was quirky enough to warrant checking out and Williams had a fantastic voice, even if it was frequently wasted on the album.

- If taken at literal value, apparently about a child's fear of swimming lessons (?), 'Homeside' started out as a bouncy, recorder and piano propelled folk tune before abruptly morphing into a stark ballad showcasing Annie Williams' haunting voice and courtesy of Jim Cuomo one of the prettiest and most intriguing sax solos I've ever encountered. rating: **** stars
- 'Walk in the Light of the Lord' offered up a slice of good-timey US folk that would have made the likes of Dan Hicks proud. Williams and Cuomo shared lead vocals and while the song was pleasant, it didn't make all that much of an impression. I'll admit I smile every time I hear the lyric "I'll love my woman till the day I die because she lets me dip into that honey pie ..." rating: ** stars
- 'October Song' was nothing more than a song fragment with a truly irritating Williams lead vocal - it almost sounded like she was trying to mimic the sound of chalk on a blackboard ... Less than a minute long, there wasn't enough here to make much of an impression. rating: ** star
- Another short interlude, 'Plastered In Paris' was a frollicking acoustic blues-tinged throwaway tune, but at least displayed a touch of humor. Another very short selection. rating: *** stars
- Opening up with a clarinet solo and some pretty Flamenco-styled acoustic guitar, 'Doves Are White' was a bit short in the lyric department - the entire lyric consisted of "pigeons grey, what a sad day ..." Still, it was quite a mesmerizing number. rating: *** stars
- Starting out almost an acapella piece showcasing Williams and Sandy Spencer on backing vocals (there was some piano in the background), 'Cows In My Colorbook' showcased one of the band's prettiest compositions. To my ears it has always reminded me of something The Roches might have recorded. rating: **** stars
- Thirty second of acapella voices, 'Hush (For Lynn's Picture)' was just plain strange. rating: ** stars
- Stark acoustic guitar and Williams aching voice gave 'No 5 in the Book' a dark, haunting vibe and made it one of the album's standout performances. rating: **** stars
- originally recorded by Cuomo and The Spoils of War, 'Rit Yellow' was seemingly intended as the album's center piece. Starting out with some classical Flamenco guitar, the track proceeded to bounce all over the musical spectrum including stabs at folk, jazz, what almost sounded like Jewish klezmer music. Kicked along by Williams bass, the track was full of woodwind solos that gave it kind of an intriguing airy feel. Rock fans need not apply ... rating: *** stars
- While the song wasn't particularly impressive, 'Lady of Night' served to showcase Williams wonderful voice. She had the kind of power and class that Grace Slick would have gladly sacrificed Marty Balin to obtain. rating: *** stars


"The Magic of Mother's Wrath" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Homeside (Daniel Hanks - Ernest Mansfield) - 5:32
2.) Walk in the Light of the Lord (Elliott Delman) - 3:02
3.) October Song (Daniel Hanks - Elliott Delman) - 0:37
4.) Plastered in Paris (Elliott Delman) - 1:21
5.) Doves are White (James Cuomo - Elliott Delman) - 1:50
6.) Cows In My Colorbook (Daniel Hanks - Ernest Mansfield) - 3:53

(side 2)

1.) Hush (For Lynn's Picture) (Daniel Hanks - Jim Cupmo) - 0:34
2.) No 5 in the Book (Daneil Hanks - Mormos) - 4:34
3.) Rit Yellow (D. Cuomo - Jim Cuomo) - 9:38
4.) Lady of Night (Elliott Delman) - 3:18