“Moonshot” by Buffy Saint-Marie - album review

features in: Album Chart of 1972Album Chart of the Decade: 1970s

TJR says

Buffy's battle with the Vanguard label continues, and the ongoing pop concessions in “Moonshot” leave her in no man's land; the music too pop for hipsters, her core messages too rad for norms. It all starts so well too; “Not The Lovin' Kind” gets a sexy groove on as it deals with personal politics of the heart: “I think I've learned your secret, That keeps from getting BURNED, Love for you is a matter of low deposit, And NO returns! Yeahhh! I know you're not the lovin' kind, oh, oh,oh ,oh, oh, ohhh, yes! You're so heavy on my mind”. With an incessant bass, a killer vocal from our gal, and some exceptionally cool accompaniment from the Memphis Horns section, it's a SHARP introduction. I find it thoroughly ridiculous that this was out as the b-side to “He’s An Indian Cowboy In The Rodeo”, a complete embarrassment in her catalogue which comes over all Daniel Boone “Beautiful Sunday” like. What's all that about? This suggests to me that Buffy's not in full artistic control. The uneasy sound of 1972 pop puts me off from lending too much of an ear to her lyrics, although many great snippets jump out here and there. On the strings-embellished title-track, she doesn't seem too impressed with the space programme: “I know a boy from a tribe so primitive, he can call me up without no telephone”. The song is a big favourite of Buffy's and she gives much of the credit to her new producer, Norbert Putnam, who played bass and pulled in friends to his studio to assist, for example Glen Spreen who handled the string arrangements. The album finishes in pure pop fashion with a breezy and upbeat cover of “Mister Can't You See” (Mickey Newbury, 1968) which even flirts with some Northern Soul dance action. It was the second single from the LP, and gave Buffy her only hit in the Billboard 100 pop charts. An awkward album, but not necessarily a bad one.

The Jukebox Rebel
22–Aug–2018

Tracklist
A1 [03:53] 8.9.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - Not The Lovin’ Kind (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
A2 [02:05] 6.1.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - You Know How To Turn On Those Lights (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Pop
A3 [02:59] 3.4.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - I Wanna Hold Your Hand Forever (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Pop Ballad
A4 [02:09] 1.5.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - He’s An Indian Cowboy In The Rodeo (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Pop
A5 [02:47] 5.0.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - Lay It Down (Gene Thomasson) Pop
A6 [03:49] 5.2.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - Moonshot (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Pop Ballad
B1 [02:14] 5.0.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - Native North American Child (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B2 [03:01] 5.2.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - My Baby Left Me (Arthur Crudup) Country
B3 [03:19] 6.0.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - Sweet Memories (Mickey Newbury) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B4 [03:08] 5.5.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - Jeremiah (Beverly Sainte-Marie) Blues Rock / Soul Rock
B5 [03:17] 6.7.png Buffy Sainte-Marie - Mister Can’t You See (Mickey Newbury, Townes Van Zandt) Pop

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