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Valenti, Dino: Get Together

Chester W. Powers, aka Dino Valenti, and Jessie Orris Farrow, grew up in the midst of the Jimmy Straits Carnival Show circuit with his parents, who were entertainers in these vaudeville travelling shows. He was exposed to life's mysteries early and that exposure helped inspire him to compose some unique folk music. He was active in the Greenwich Village art and pop scene of the early 60s. His greatest achievement was probably the 60's anthem, "Get Together", which he sold the rights to pay for his defense against a drug charge. He was also the lead singer of the Quicksilver Messenger Service and worked with many of the San Francisco Bay area's best folk and rock bands of the 60's and 70s. Chester passed away in 1994, and this is the first time some of these classic songs and mixes have been available.

This is a great collection of raw tracks. It sounds so good in its stripped down honesty. Refreshing to hear these songs full of history and imagery from a time gone by. It is a wonderful collection of songs that should have been released long ago, while the artist was alive. But 'Dino' can still be celebrated forever with this CD set.

"Get Together" is one of the most famous rock anthems of the 1960s peace culture. Here 'Dino" presents his original version of the song. Although it doesn't have the power and instrumentation we have come to expect, you can hear in the lyrics the gritty desire to bring everyone together, despite their origins. The song was inspired by the kind of sideshow experience 'Dino' was used to experiencing from the vaudeville environment which he grew up in and later experienced as part of that 60s culture. The promise and hope, despite the despair, can be heard powerfully from his vocals and the rhythm in his acoustic guitar. You get to hear both his vocal and his acoustic guitar in its most original stripped down form. So wonderful and powerful to finally hear this classic and learn of its origin. 'Dino" has a very early Dylanesque voice, mixed with Marty Balin of the Jefferson Airplane. The sincerity with which he delivers this song can be felt as well as heard.

Beautiful acoustic guitar opens "One Thousand Miles an Hour", as a melody similar to Traffic's "Forty Thousand Headmen" takes over the room. The lyrics reflect the journeys 'Dino" experienced, "I come to your city with my guitar in my hands. There's so very many things I did not understand. People are the strangest things and they talk in funny signs. If you let it get to you it's bound to blow your mind". The story in a nutshell. But the acoustic power of the song is wonderful. No way to count the many artists who were influenced by 'Dino's" music. But you can hear allot of great classics which have drawn inspiration from this song.

Piano, acoustic and that 60s acid, whining electric guitar open "Ain't That a Shame". "Dino" gets backing support from singers as the lyrics unfold, "Sometimes it gets crazy. And you don't know right from wrong". A 9:31 throw back to another time and place. The piano is wonderful tapping out the melody with 'Dino's" vocals delivering the desire to provide a different life for his family. His screams are made with feeling and they really capture the need to change the path he seems to have been on at the time. A deep long journey with serious instrumentation. "I'm going to tell you one more story". "I'm gonna take my family…take them to a place where they can breathe, where the air is still fresh and clean…softer than sunlight". Somewhere we'd all like to be.

A Rod Stewart sounding acoustic guitar melody opens "Silver Dagger". This is another song full of 'Dino's" vocals and that wonderful acoustic guitar.

"Strange World", is set to a nice piano, acoustic guitar and conga drums with some great supporting percussion. The guitar work is excellent and at times is reminiscent of Roger McGuinn or Richie Havens, who were good friends of 'Dino's'. The acoustic chords which close the piece are wonderful.

Slow strummed, bluesy guitar opens Smokey Robinson's classic, "I'll Try Something New". There is an almost mandolin sound to the guitar on this track. Promises to a loved one to escape the realities of the Age of Revolution to a place of safety and dreams. The acoustic guitar solos are wonderful. "If that don't due, I'll try something new".

"Star Rider", opens quiet differently than the rest of the tracks. This is a dreamy song delivered with soft guitar, slow conga and violin. "10 billion light years from anyone, lost in the sky. Traveling wide. Daydreamer no one could understand". I bet during the time in between shows and tour stops 'Dino" was probably a dreamy star gazer himself. Wishing for something or to be somewhere else.

"County Fair" is probably closest to 'Dino's' heart and experience. He lived this first hand and the vocals transfer the experience and feeling to us perfectly. This is definitely full on Dylan vocal power. "County fair…and if it don't rain, and the cops don't come", a constant fear, for loss of revenue and the loneliness of no visitors and no fun. "Learning how things grow". From Dylan to Mellancamp, a constant theme and presence in Middle America. No doubt in the authenticity of the feeling in his voice. The piano, heavy bass, congas and violins are wonderful and create the perfect fairground soundscape. 'Dino's' vocals do the rest.

"Crossroads" is not a cover of the famous Robert Johnson, southern blues classic. This is 'Dino' at the crossroads of his life, expressing all that he feels, set to acoustic guitar. "Everybody Knows" starts with another wonderful acoustic guitar and 'Dino's' vocals, "You could have had everything you had ever asked for". "I gave my love and my heart to you". But the love was not returned and 'Dino' almost cries as he sings this one. Full of power and feeling. "You just left me crying in the rain".

"Midnight Rider" is a cover of the Greg Allman classic. It is an excellent version, but lacks the power and instrumentation of the author's version. But 'Dino' pours his heart and soul into the song as if it were his.

"The Letter" is full of 'Dino' singing a song, Dylan – style, about more of his experiences. "That's How it Goes" starts with a faster acoustic guitar strum. Again this has more of that Dylan vocal sound with the acoustic accompanying.

More great acoustic guitar as the final track of the album "To the End of the World" opens. "Till the end of the world. Till the sun is an ember. For as long as I live. I will remember. The love of my life. The love of my youth". What more can you say. The best song on the album, besides "Get Together". Reminiscing about a past love set to acoustic guitar. Perfect ending to this lost classic collection of raw greatest hits.

The rest of these tracks are on a bonus CD included with the release.

"If I Had Money", opens with more great acoustic guitar. "If I had money, I tell you what I'd do. I'd spend it on candy. I'd give it all to you". A happy song dedicated to a loved one. "Star Rider (acoustic)", includes more of that wonderful acoustic and electric guitar, mixed well with plenty of dreamy vocals.

"City of Stone", is a bluesy number full of country – like vocals and plenty of good acoustic and electric guitar. "I dream of sweet California". "County Fair (acoustic)", This is a shorter version of the epic, with some great instrumental segments.

"Sadness of My Mind", is another great song full of emotion and some of the best fast acoustic guitar on either CD. "See the ladies, see them dancing. Feel the changes".

"Play My Guitar" is a great emotional song, showcasing 'Dino's' talent for songwriting and guitar playing.

More beautiful acoustic guitar opens this love song, "So Close to You". Another dreamy, relaxing song full of summer by the ocean.

"If I Had Money (alternate version" is another version with more acoustic guitar at the opening.

This version of "Get Together (alternate version)" has more bass with deeper notes than the original.


Track Listing
1. Get Together (3:02)
2. One Thousand Miles An Hour (4:42)
3. Ain't That A Shame (9:31)
4. Silver Dagger (5:12)
5. Strange World (4:30)
6. I'll Try Something New (3:19)
7. Star Rider (3:38)
8. County Fair (13:09)
9. Crossroads (3:50)
10. Everybody Knows (3:13)
11. Midnight Rider (2:48)
12. The Letter (4:57)
13. That's How It Goes (3:59)
14. To The End Of The World (2:51)
Total Time: 68:32


The bonus tracks on the 2nd disc are:
1. If I Had Money
2. Star Rider (Acoustic)
3. City Of Stone
4. County Fair (Acoustic)
5. Sadness of My Mind
6. Play My Guitar
7. So Close To You
8. If I Had Money (Acoustic)
9. Get Together (Alternate Version)

Added: June 11th 2011
Reviewer: Mark Johnson
Score:
Related Link: ItsAboutMusic.com
Hits: 2170
Language: english

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» SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews:

Valenti, Dino: Get Together
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2011-06-10 16:31:50
My Score:

I always think that it a true testament of how good an album is when music that falls into a category that doesn't usually connect with you, is of such a standard that it sounds vibrant and interesting. I'm no huge fan of folk music, with my personal collection really starting and stopping with a bit of Dylan and the dalliances that the likes of Springsteen and Neil Young have had with the genre. However this collection of vintage tracks that one time Quick Silver Messenger singer and travelling musician Dino Valenti recorded and then put into storage is a simply captivating release.

Taking the decision not to release his music for fear of it, and he, being ripped off, Valenti took to recording his songs, then almost immediately putting those recordings in storage, forgetting about them, or where he'd left them almost straight away. Amazingly after Dino's death, his son Joli was performing some of his father's music at a Summer Fair when he was approached by a gentleman who claimed to have a collection of Dino's recordings that he'd "left" in storage and wondered if Joli would like to have them. Obviously the answer was "Yes!" and that is how Get Together came about.

Sparsely arranged, most of these songs are bare guitar and voice, although sometimes a second guitar and or piano is also in cahoots with Valenti as his young Dylan like voice tells wonderful stories of love and loss and loss and love. This is truly music and performance from the heart and Dino's lived in voice adds a huge weight to lyrics and the melancholy nature of much of the music. That isn't to suggest that this is a maudlin collection of songs, in fact the power and vibrancy of the music adds a real force to these songs that makes them uplifting as well as intentionally introspective. The album also comes with a bonus disc that covers alternate versions and acoustic takes, as well as some exclusive songs. Both discs make for compelling listening and when experienced in a situation where you can really focus on the songs, it makes for a rather moving experience. If folk music is your thing I can't recommend this release highly enough and for those like myself who only have a passing interest in this music, there's a huge amount to enjoy, engross and intrigue.



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