by Richard Skelly » Mon Oct 09, 2017 4:34 am
Ronnie Hawkins was robbed when his version of Home From The Forest (written by Gordon Lightfoot) failed to click in the US. Don't know if Yorkville had it picked up by any US label. If so, said American label blew a chance for Ronnie to enjoy a much deserved comeback in his ex-homeland. The Arkansas expat came closer a few years later when Down In The Alley actually charted on Billboard. (Duane Allman played slide on Alley).
As for Forest, thanks Radiowest for presenting the mix I remember from the '60s. Somewhere along the line, a different mix started getting oldies rotation. It was okay, but lacked the majesty of this original which has a great violins riffs, elegiac organ and memorable flute (perhaps played by Moe Koffman?).
As for Yorkville, the Toronto indie label fared better with Ocean. That gospel-inflected band went Top 5 in the US when Kama Sutra distributed Put Your Hand In The Hand...written by Gene "Snowbird" MacLellan.