Discographical Accounts Part 1 (1968-1969)

      

Jobriath Salisbury promo photo

Pidgeon (1969)

 After leaving the Los Angeles cast of Hair, Jobriath went on to lead the shortly lived psychedelic pop group, Pidgeon. With songs co-written by the lyricist, Richard T. Marshall, the band (which included singer Cheri Gage and teenage drummer, Bill Strong Smith,) were assembled and signed to Decca Records by veteran session musician, Stan Farber (Farber's credits also include providing backup vocals for the American glam band, Sparks, on their 1977 album, 'Introducing Sparks.') Farber also served as producer for the album, and negotiated with the fledgling outfit for their stay in a house, where they would commit themselves to rehearse, six months prior to the album's scheduled recording sessions.

Recording sessions for the album commenced in December 1968, and the final product was mixed and finalized within a month. The album was originally dubbed, 'Pidgeon: First Flight From The Forest,' until Decca shortened the title, to the eponymous, 'Pidgeon.' The album's psychedelic avian cover art was created by Gene Brownwell, a noted art director, who issued album art and photography for record labels such as Uni and Decca.

 Just days after the December 1968 sessions had been wrapped up, Pidgeon began work on a proposed follow-up project. On January 21, the demo tracks, "How Should I Love You," "My Old Lady Is A City Freak," "Tasting of the Caramel," "What Good Then Are," and "Life At The First National," were laid down in the studio, followed by an April 22 recording of "Rubber Bricks," and "Prison Walls." The latter two demo recordings were released as a 45" single. In spite of the group's efforts to follow through with a sophomore release, Decca dropped Pidgeon from their roster due to dismal album sales. The other three songs have remained shelved, along with any other material that may survive.