The Brass Ring - Only Love (1968)

With this dozen-song musical tribute to amoré, the Brass Ring conclude their run of seven long-players in less than three years. In many ways, the East Coast-based (New York City, actually) ensemble saved their most modern project for last. Phil Bodner looked no further than concurrent pop charts and silver screen soundtracks for his inspiration. As with all Brass Ring releases, of primary consideration are the sonic choices made for their easy listening interpretations. While Bodner and company weren't exactly drawing from the likes of Jefferson Airplane or the MC5, their reworkings are definitely distinct from the originals. Replete with twanging electric guitars added for background ambience, "Mrs. Robinson [From the Motion Picture 'The Graduate']" kicks off Only Love (1968) for a peppy romp with a bright horn section trading licks with an equally eager Hammond organ. A pair of Burt Bacharach/Hal David tunes follow with perfectly prototypical, light, relaxing readings of "This Guy's in Love with You" -- complete with airy "doo-doo-doo-doot" vocals from an ethereal sounding chorus -- and "Do You Know the Way to San Jose?." Neither drift very far, which could be thought of as a testament to the versatility of the two distinct compositions. The latter title's chipper disposition isn't lost as the horns and organ riff over the melody. "Love Is Blue" loses a bit of the dark, Baroque qualities inherent in the harpsichord-driven hit instrumental version by Paul Mauriat. Instead, the comparatively ineffective acoustic guitar isn't as well defined as the more successful original. Entries of note to interested parties include the delicate "For the Love of Ivy" from the film of the same name -- or, on the other side of the spectrum -- the conversely catchy Mediterranean feel of the Engelbert Humperdinck swooner "Man Without Love." And fans of so-called space age bachelor pad music should direct their ears to the deliciously dated wah-wah fretwork that literally takes the "The Odd Couple" theme to formerly uncharted funky territories. In 2007, Collectors' Choice Music issued Only Love along with its long-playing predecessor, the Latin-flavored Gazpacho (1968) onto CD -- making both available for the first time in decades.~Lindsay Planer