Gnosis Ratings

Reviews:

Tom Hayes 19-Oct-2006 Jeff St. John's Copperwine - Joint Effort

The band’s namesake, Jeff St. John, is a legendary singer in his native Australia. He’s overcome enormous physical disabilities (most notably spinal bifida) to carve out quite a solo career in the 1960s/1970s, and still occasionally sings, wheelchair bound and all. For psych collectors, “Joint Effort” remains his most known work. Collecting an impressive ensemble of guitar, organ, bass, drums plus many guests on flute, sitar, harmonica (Billy Thorpe!) and many others – Copperwine was quite the talented bunch. The album mixes soul funk covers from The Temptations and Sly & the Family Stone to the rambling rock of Blind Faith, with original tunes in pretty much the same style. Typical of the era, “Joint Effort” is a mixed bag of psychedelic, hard rock, rural, jazz, soul, blues, funk and pop. St. John’s soulful voice along with the crunchy Hammond and searing electric guitar work highlights an otherwise normal “kitchen sink” recording, at least in terms of musical inventiveness. A slice of Australian rock history.

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Jeffrey St.John & The Embers

Tom Hayes	19-Oct-2006	Jeff St. John's Copperwine - Joint Effort
The band’s namesake, Jeff St. John, is a legendary singer in his native Australia. He’s overcome enormous physical disabilities (most notably spinal bifida) to carve out quite a solo career in the 1960s/1970s, and still occasionally sings, wheelchair bound and all. For psych collectors, “Joint Effort” remains his most known work. Collecting an impressive ensemble of guitar, organ, bass, drums plus many guests on flute, sitar, harmonica (Billy Thorpe!) and many others – Copperwine was quite the talented bunch. The album mixes soul funk covers from The Temptations and Sly & the Family Stone to the rambling rock of Blind Faith, with original tunes in pretty much the same style. Typical of the era, “Joint Effort” is a mixed bag of psychedelic, hard rock, rural, jazz, soul, blues, funk and pop. St. John’s soulful voice along with the crunchy Hammond and searing electric guitar work highlights an otherwise normal “kitchen sink” recording, at least in terms of musical inventiveness. A slice of Australian rock history.
Links for further information
Jeffrey St.John & The Embers