Search - Jeffrey Frederick :: Clamtones B.C.

The Magic Lives On!

Roger A. Straus | Portland, OR | 09/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Jeffrey Frederick is probably the most amazing songwriter, singer, guitar master and all-round performer you never heard and never heard of -- unless you live in the Pacific Northwest, Nevada or New England, where folks still expect him to turn up any moment as if his death some eight years ago was just one of his pranks. He was too damn alive to leave us. This double CD, brilliantly remastered from a live 1976 radio broadcast with the full Clamtones band, proves my point. Smokin', spontaneous, hilarious, unforgettable... this performance grabs you by the scruff of your neck in one hand, by your funny bone in the other and never lets go. The material ranges from Jeff's signature songs like Robbin' Banks, Jacknife/Red Newt through covers of his buddy, Michael Hurley's classics like "Sweet Lucy" and "Portland Water," to previously unavailable favorites like "Porky" and "Polar Cave Blues..." Jeff was alt-country before there was such a genre, working that sweet spot between country and rock 'n roll and folk and blues and old time jazz, with Richard Tyler's ragtimey piano, Teddy Deane's kick-ass horns, Dave Reisch and R 'Willy' North's stone rhythm section groove, Robin Remailly's ever-so-cool strings and Jill Gross' out-of-this world harmonies. About the closest thing I can think of to compare this to is the Dead peforming live on a good night, when they were really, really "on." And yes, there's some spacey noodling here, and extended improvisational jams. If you're ever in Portland, Oregon and catch the wildly popular Freak Mountain Ramblers (all of whom were in one or another of Jeff's bands, two on this very recording) you may have some idea of what "Clamtones B,C." can do for your musical soul. And even then, this is the true word, from the Man himself!"

"we're gonna start out by taking a break"

grew up in the 1960s | usa | 02/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"that's how the late jeffrey frederick opens this 2 hour 1976 radio show. in the course of two hours frederick and his band (the clamtones) play almost every song from the great "HAVE MOICY!" album. including the ones others wrote and performed on the record (frederick & the clamtones have 4 out of the 13 songs on "HAVE MOICY!"). they play many other songs as well, 27 in all. the whole show's a party. which seemed to be frederick's and friends prevailing attitude toward life. be that as it may, this show is great. it's a slice of a playful, hippie time long gone. "HAVE MOICY!" fans who haven't heard this cd, don't get TOO excited. if this show is a 5 then "HAVE MOICY!" is a 10. that makes it still pretty good. i'll take it. it seems to be the best solo jeffrey frederick (& clamtones) cd available. that i could find anyway. highly recommened to "HAVE MOICY!" fans, old hippies and the young at heart."

It's New All Over Again!

Richard A. Jackson | Reno, NV | 08/07/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The songs are so "now" and alive. They're from an old radio show in Vancouver over 30 years ago, yet the sound quality is so great you'll swear it was recorded yesterday. Whether you're an old friend or fan of Jeff's, or whether you're hearing him for the first time, this is a "must have" for anyone who loves good music. The songs are from the heart, sung and played with such enthusiasm that you will want to stand up, dance, and cheer.



You might say they don't make music like this any more...but they do! You just have to know where to look!"