Anonymous - Inside the Shadow & No Longer Anonymous (2 LP's On 1 CD) (1976 & 1977)

Year: 1976 & 1977 (CD 2000)
Label: Aether Records (U.S.), #0009
Style: Pop Rock, Folk Rock
Country: Indianapolis, Indiana (U.S.)
Time: 73:55
Format: Flac Tracks 16/44,1 kHz
Size: 509 Mb

Anonymous were an American folk-rock, psychedelic band from Indianapolis. The musical group originally consisted of Ron Matelic on vocals, and guitar; Marsha Rollings on vocals; Glenn Weaver on vocals, guitar, and bass, and John Medvescek on drums.

The band's origins lay in the psychedelic roots of singer/guitarist Ron Matelic and drummer John Medvescek, who were formerly members of the mid-1960s garage band Sir Winston and the Commons. Following the band's breakup they continued to performed on weekends, with assistance from songwriter Jim Spencer. In the 1970s, they informally recruited a pair of friends in the form of singer Marsha Rollings, and second guitarist and bass player Glenn Weaver, to participate in those weekend jam sessions.

In 1976 the Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based A Major Label offered Matelic a solo recording contract. Matelic accepted the offer, but insisted on bringing along his friends, ultimately electing to release the resulting material Inside the Shadow, under the randomly chosen name 'Anonymous'. The album was recorded in under two weeks using The Music Factory's 8-track facility. After the album was released they began practising for live performances, by adding another guitarist, Justin Garriot, and Greg Reynolds joining, replacing departing bass player Weaver. However Rollings and Garriot eventually decided to leave, leaving the rest of the band to form a new band called J. Rider, named after one of the songs on the album Inside the Shadow.

Only 300 copies of that album were ever pressed, and is now considered a prized collectors item. It was reissued by A Major Label in 1981 but with different cover art.

(en.citizendium.org/wiki/Anonymous_(band)

In the last 10 years, a lot of "lost" albums have been re-discovered through CD re-issues. Consequently, albums that once came and went, with little notice, are being hailed as "highly influential" and "forgotten classics". With their Marin County style psychedelic guitar sounds, soaring vocal harmonies, and music that ranges from heavy rockers to folksy ballads, these two albums could have been mislaid Jefferson Airplane albums. A perfect soundtrack to the Summer of Love. So why have they not taken their place amongst classics like Surrealistic Pillow? It probably had a lot to due to the fact that they were first released 9 and 12 years after the Summer of Love. In an age of Kiss, the Bay City Rollers, and disco, this kind of music just did not cut it with the masses. Listening to these albums now, some 25 years later, we can forget about the context and times in which they first came out, and appreciate them for what they are: some fine, psychedelic folk rock.

Formed from the ashes of the late 60's garage-psych band Sir Winston and the Commons, Anonymous were a four-piece studio band from Indianapolis. Adding a fifth member, Justin Garriot on guitars, they prepped for live performance, but when Garriot left, along with singer Marsha Rollings, the remaining three members, Ron Matelic on vocals and guitars, Glenn Weaver on guitar and bass, and John Medvescek on drums continued under the new name, J-Rider. Both units recorded a single album, both of which are now available on one CD.

Inside the Shadow is the lighter, and better, of the two; a nice blend of vocal harmonies, guitar hooks, heavy psych and acoustic, Byrds style guitar work. No Longer Anonymous continues the tradition, eschewing mellower moments for a harder edged sound. The song writing here isn't quite a strong as on the Anonymous album, and Marsha Rollings harmony vocals are missed.

I would hardly call these albums "highly influential". They were too past their time to have any impact on contemporary or subsequent music. But are they "lost classics"? Lost, yes. Classics? Perhaps not. They are, however, an enjoyable listen for fans of this brand of music, and certainly worth picking up if you've grown overly familiar with your old Jefferson Airplane albums and want something new to listen to.

(aural-innovations.com/issues/issue17/anonmous.html)

01. Who's Been Foolin' (03:17)
02. J. Rider (04:27)
03. Up to You (03:18)
04. Shadow Lady (05:56)
05. Pick Up and Run (04:55)
06. We Got More (05:06)
07. Sweet Lilac (04:19)
08. Baby Come Risin (09:09)
09. We Got More (J. Rider) (07:37)
10. One Sided Lover (J. Rider) (04:49)
11. Pike River (J. Rider) (04:51)
12. Kiss of Your Soul (J. Rider) (06:05)
13. High Roller (J. Rider) (02:48)
14. Sunday's Hero (J. Rider) (07:12)

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