D. Beaver - Combinations LP, SEALED RARE Power Pop / AOR, David Beaver, 1973

$

26

D. Beaver - Combinations TMI Records, 1973 SEALED!
Amazing sealed copy of this rare power pop / AOR masterpiece. 
The plastic seal is broken in two places: a one inch wide section along the top edge and at the bottom left corner. The bottom left corner has a promo saw mark. Some light ring wear appears through the plastic, but I believe most of it to be limited to the plastic itself. 
Don't sleep on this one. Not too many sealed copies floating around!
All of my records are graded very carefully and described as thoroughly as possible. Bid with confidence!!
Records are shipped in durable 200 lb test mailers with cardboard flats for extra protection!

Some notes on the record (courtesy of Bad Cat Records)
Following the release of  Edgewood's first album, singer/keyboardist David Beaver began writing material for a projected sophomore release.  Unfortunately Edgewood collapsed, leaving Beaver to focus his efforts on a solo project.  While working as a sessions player for Steve Cropper's TMI label, with support from fellow studio musicians Beaver recorded a series of demos that eventually morphed into the band D. Beaver & Combinations and the 1973 album "Combinations".  (Note that the album's frequently mistakenly as a David Beaver solo effort and you'll frequently see it listed as "D. Beaver".  This was a true group effort and the album title is "Combinations" though you have to look at the back panel to find it.)  

LP inner sleeve

Released by Steve Cropper's TMI label with RCA Victor handling national distribution, anyone expecting to hear another Edgewood album was in for a major surprise.  Largely written by keyboardist Beaver (singer/keyboardist David Mayo co-writing two tracks), the album sported a totally unexpected English-influenced progressive sound. Mind you these guys weren't about to challenge Pink Floyd, or The Soft Machine in terms of experimentation, but tracks like their homage to Alexander Graham Bell 'The Wizard Of Menlo Park' were pretty far out there for an early-1970s American band (let alone a Memphis-based outfit).  The funny thing was that the results were really impressive.  Beaver's attractive lead vocals (imagine Emmit Rhodes with a more pronounced Beatles fixation) somehow managed to nail that unique late-1960s/early-1970s British vibe perfectly and tracks like 'I'm Gonna Show You', 'Anthony Beechum' and the title track showcased a winning mixture of strong melodies, creative arrangements, and some great ensemble playing.  Yeah, some of the synthesizers sound a little cheesy three decades along, but so what.  Highlights included the should've-been-hits 'Another Bad Year', 'Anastasia' and the harpsichord-driven 'It's Gonna Take Time' .  Certainly not a perfect comparison, but imagine a cross between early Argent and Badfinger, or an early Ambrosia LP (yeah I know they were American), and you'd be in the right aural neighborhood.  This was easily one of the best album's I've stumbled across over the last year - and you can still pick it up cheap !  TMI also released a single off the LP -  'Its Gonna Take Time' b/w 'Get the Phone' (TMI catalog number TM 0011).  Unfortunately with virtually no promotional support from RCA Victor both the single and parent album vanished into cutout bins. Beaver and company began writing material for a second album, but RCA dropped them from its recording roster.  The band members apparently continued to work as TMI studio musicians, but subsequently called it quits.

"Combinations" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) I'm Gonna Show You  (David Beaver) - 4:34

2.) Don't Give Up  (David Beaver) - 

3.) Come Hear It (instrumental)  (David Beaver) - 

4.) Anthony Beechum  (David Beaver) - 

5.) Here It Comes (instrumental)  (David Beaver) - 7:46

6.) Combinations  (David Beaver) - 

7.) Another Bad Year  (David Beaver) - 3:53

8.) Anastasia  (David Beaver) - 

(side 2)
1.) The Wizard Of Menlo Park  (David Beaver) - 

2.) 4.) Get The Phone  (David Beaver - David Mayo) - 

3.) It's Gonna Take Time  (David Beaver) - 

4.) 42nd All Star Review  (David Beaver - David Mayo) - 2:08

5.) Halfway  (David Beaver) - 2:11

6.) I Wouldn't Bet On You (Dina Divina)  (David Beaver) - 2:45

Jamison went on to record for a host of AOR bands including Target, Cobra, Survivor, and a pair of little heard solo albums 1991's "When Love Comes Down" (Scotti Brothers catalog number 75220-2) and 1999's "Empires" (frontiers catalog number FRCD157)