70's Pop, Folk, Rock, Soul by... Mac Gayden - Skyboat & Hymn To The Seeker 1976 (2008 Big Beat)

As you might expect from a member of Nashville supersessioners Area Code 615, the two mid-70s albums here are characterised by fine playing and production that sits easily on the ear. Skyboat kicks off attractively with Gayden’s own Morning Glory, and then takes an immediate left turn into the voice/banjo/thunderstorm outing Gettsburg.

 His original of Everlasting Love was apparently a late addition to a session that Mac insisted on, but it’s with songs such as Don’t Look Back, his cover of It’s All Right and the bonus Sunfall, where the easy country-ish rock starts to let a little soul in. Gayden’s enjoyable interplay between guitar and tenor sax pops up effectively in several places.

Hymn To The Seeker adds more woodwind and tightens arrangements with distinct echoes of Steely Dan in places, as evidenced on Someone Whispered. Steppin’ Stone is bolder and more vocally upfront than others, while To Our Ancestors is a delicate and atmospheric instrumental.

This set offers variety and class at every oblique turn it takes. One only wonders what Gayden might have gone on to achieve had these albums sold well and had he not returned to session work.(recordcollectorsmag.com)

 Certainly a great compilation of these two albums by Mac Gayden, in the seventies Nashville Session hero. Here you get great pop music of the seventies and with such albums you ask yourself why the artist did not make the breakthrough. It is not necessary to highlight individual songs, because the collection is peppered with highlights.

Country, Rock, Soul, Pop and everything mixed together brings great songs to the ears of the listener. Music with feeling and soul. I don't feel the songs are overproduced either. Which was sometimes exaggerated in session musicians circles. A nice collection. Enjoy(Frank)

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