William Truckaway Breakaway CD

Singer-songwriter William Truckaway released BREAKAWAY in 1971. This reissue marks the album's first appearance on CD.

After leaving the Sopwith Camel singer/songwriter William Truckaway recorded one of the great lost singles of the early '70s, "Bluegreens." It is an insanely catchy ditty built around a chunky synthesizer and simple hippy-dippy sentiments with a multi-tracked Truckaway and the Stovall Sisters providing some truly blissed-out vocals. It was enough of a hit that Taco Bell used it for an ad campaign and it got Truckaway an album deal with Reprise. Breakaway, which contains "Bluegreens," was released in 1971 and it is a wonderfully sweet and mellow album from a guy who sings like he could charm the leaves off the trees in the summertime. The album has a relaxed and easygoing sound with plenty of gentle strumming and tender vocalizing but also inventive arrangements (synths, sitars, congas, flutes, strings, backing vocals) that give his thoughts about getting out of the city ("Hard," "Cold City Life"), going slow ("I Go Slow"), finding Jesus ("Leave It There") and love lost ("Where's My Baby") and found ("Way to My Heart," "Be the One") -- an extra punch that many of his contemporaries lacked. You could compare Truckaway without much of a stretch to John Sebastian, since the Sopwith Camel and the Lovin' Spoonful shared a sound and a producer (Erik Jacobsen, who also fulfills those duties with Truckaway here). Breakaway isn't a lost classic by any means but it is a satisfying and interesting listen that deserves to be reissued outside of Japan. ~ Tim Sendra

The only album from William Truckaway, the former singer/songwriter from the band Sopwith Camel. Originally released in 1976. Limited edition Japanese pressing is available for the first time on CD and features the original 11 tracks and comes packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. Includes the track 'Bluegreens'. Vivid. 2005.

CD comes in Jpn LP Sleeve.

Adapter: William Truckaway.

Personnel: William Truckaway (vocals, guitar, harp, piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer); Dallas Williams (vocals, autoharp, percussion); Edward Bogas (vocals, mandolin, violin, vibraphone); Norman Mayell (vocals, sitar, tamboura, drums, percussion); John Rodriguez, Victor Quiñones, John L. Watson , Frank Mestropasqua, Doc Storch, Arcello Garcia, Stovall Sisters (vocals); Russell DaShiell (guitar, electric guitar); Terry Dolan (guitar, 12-string guitar); Russ Gary (guitar); Buddy Emmons (steel guitar); Walt Koken (banjo, violin, fiddle); Richard Green (violin, viola); Richard Greene (violin); Charles Lloyd (flute); Jerry Hunt (piano); David Hayes, Doug Killmer (electric bass); Bobby Castro (congas, percussion); John Nonziato (congas); Larry Hanks (Jew's harp).

Audio Remixer: Russ Gary.

Recording information: Wally Heider's And Coast, San Francisco, CA.