The Family Tree - Miss Butters

1968 pop-psych classic

The main men here, Bob Segarini and Kootch Trochim, are probably better known for their work with The Wackers on Electra, but this is their late 60s thematic album, cut with The Family Tree. It’s hard to believe this is the first CD outing for this ambitious project, but the album initially ended up as a cut-out in the old Tandy store bins. The album, here with four single release bonuses, is derivative and draws heavily from the Beatles circa ’67/’68. It’s so ambitious in its execution, however, that it remains one of the best late 60s artefacts. The story of the melancholic life of a teacher, Miss Butters, is told in tracks that run together with many wide-ranging harmonic vocal lines. The extensive orchestrations vary from plaintive hanging strings on Simple Life, to driving guitar leads on Nine To Three and the happy jog-along pop of Nickelodeon Music. Recorded by exactly the same team as Nilsson’s Aerial Ballet, this story is told with input from key members and is a classic of the era that is deserving of wide attention.

Rev-Ola | CRREV 185

Reviewed by Kingsley Abbott
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