HOYT AXTON OG '78 LP FREE SAILIN' BLUEBIRD THEM DOWNERS

HOYT AXTON FREE SAILIN' LPCategory / Style / Moods: Country Traditional Country, Country-Pop / 12 S1978 MCA LPTITLE: FREE SAILIN'ARTIST: HOYT AXTONCONDITIONVINYL: VG+COVER: VG+ OR BETTERClick here for info on grading and abbreviations TRACKS: Disc: 11.BluebirdBlakley 2:512.Honky Tonk MusicHawke 3:223.The Way of the WorldDawson 2:244.The Heart You Break May Be Your OwnDawson 3:055.Jive ManAxton, Dawson 2:286.Free SailingDawson 2:497.Them DownersAxton, Lee 2:098.Left My Gal in the MountainsRobison 2:379.Darrell & JudyAxton 2:2910.Endless RoadPhoenix 2:19Review by Greg Adams Although it produced no hits and has only a few originals, it's a strong album that touches on Country anthems ("Honky Tonk Music"), vintage Country (Carson Robison's "Left My Gal in the Mountains"), and another of Axton's many drug-related songs ("Them Downers"). Biography by Jason Ankeny First rising to prominence as a songwriter, Hoyt Axton carved out successful careers as a singer and actor as well; rooted equally in country, folk and pop, his gravelly baritone and wry, earthy songs projected an uncommon wit, warmth, and optimism, yielding a consistently engaging body of work extending across four decades. Axton was born March 25, 1938 in Duncan, OK, the son of a naval officer and his English teacher wife. Raised primarily in Jacksonville, FL, he studied classical piano as a child before switching to guitar, writing his first songs at 15. Despite the musical impact of his mother, Mae Boren Axton -- the co-author of Elvis Presley's landmark 1956 chart-topper "Heartbreak Hotel" -- he initially pursued a career in athletics, attending Oklahoma State University on a football scholarship before serving a stint in the navy. From there Axton relocated to San Francisco, performing at local folk clubs and in 1962 writing his first hit, the Kingston Trio's "Greenback Dollar." Later that year he issued his first album, The Balladeer, a live effort recorded at the Hollywood nightspot the Troubadour; a concurrent appearance on the television western Bonanza also launched his acting career. Axton resurfaced in 1963 with Thunder 'N Lightnin', followed later that year by Saturday's Child; around that same time one of his best friends suffered a fatal drug overdose, inspiring his song "The Pusher," a hit for the rock band Steppenwolf subsequently included on the soundtrack to the film Easy Rider. Despite his success as a songwriter, Axton's performing career failed to catch fire, and after 1965's Sings Bessie Smith he was without a recording contract for several years before signing to Columbia in 1969 to issue My Griffin Is Gone. While opening for Three Dog Night in support of the album, the band heard his composition "Joy to the World" -- their recording of the song topped the pop charts in the spring of 1971 -- and early the following year they returned to the Top Ten with Axton's "Never Been to Spain." He signed to A&M to release 1973's Less Than the Song; the follow-up, Life Machine, launched two of his biggest solo hits, the lovely "When the Morning Comes" (a duet with Linda Ronstadt) and "Boney Fingers." In 1975, Ringo Starr also notched a Top Three smash with Axton's "The No No Song."This exquisite piece of retro music history is a vinyl sound recording (not a CD). Visit the A Sound Deal store for information on grading, shipping, abbreviations and general info.Add me to your favorites for red hot sales bulletins and sneak previews of upcoming products. Click here for more info on grading and abbreviationsCombine Items to Save $$$! Click here to check the store for more!©A Sound Deal