7947 - BOOT - TURN THE OTHER CHEEK! (1977)

BOOT
''TURN THE OTHER CHEEK!''
1976
38:37

1. It's All Comin' Down (Mike Mycz)
2. I've Been Thinkin' (Dan Eliassen)
3. I'll Be Fine Someday (Bruce Knox)
4. Sick and Tired (Dan Eliassen)
5. The Outside World (Bruce Knox, Jim O'Brock)
6. Meaningless Madness of Man (Bruce Knox)
7. A Plea for the Masses (Bruce Knox)
8. For Diana (Bruce Knox)
9. Everyone Come (Bruce Knox, Dan Eliassen)

Dan Eliassen - Vocals, Bass
Bruce Knox - Guitar, Vocals
Mike Mycz - Guitar, Vocals
Jim O'Brock - Drums, Vocals

REVIEW
1977's "Turn the Other Cheek" was apparently released posthumously by the taxscam Guinness label. Produced by Mike Stone and Peter Thomason (though the liner notes misspelled the latter's name as Thomasson)., the nine tracks were seemingly recorded in 1972 during the same sessions that saw the release of their debut album "Boot". As on the debut all four members contributed material, though lead guitarist Bruce Knox was responsible for the bulk of the collection. Musically the first side of the album wasn't all that different from the debut. Not the case with side two.
- Starting out with some sparkling acoustic guitar and then showcasing some of Knox's ever tasteful lead guitar, 'It's All Comin' Down' had everything needed to be a hit - great melody, fantastic vocals from Mycz and band harmonies, great lead guitar ... One of the best things they ever recorded, shame it wasn't released as a single. rating: ***** stars
- Kicked along by a great Eliassen bass line and some excellent twin lead guitar (don't know if it was Knox overdubbing himself), 'I've Been Thinkin'' was the funkiest thing they ever recorded - imagine a really good Redbone song and you'd get a feel for this one. rating: **** stars
- The first Bruce Knox composition, 'I'll Be Fine Someday' had a nice country-rock feel to it - more Buffalo Springfield than Poco. rating: *** stars
- A routine slice of boogie-rock, 'Sick and Tired' was the first disappointment. Professional, but completely forgettable it wasn't really helped by the fact it included a lengthy and needless Jim O'Brock's drum solo. Mind you, O'Brock was one helluva a drummer - I'd tell you he was Boot's secret weapon, but among his strengths was the fact he wasn't showy, instead focusing on keeping the rest of the band focused ... well, except for here. By the way, Knox's screeching solo wasn't much better. Yeah, it showed he could play fast and had a thing for Hendrix, but it seemed pasted on at the end of the song just to lengthen it. rating: ** stars
- 'Even though the track listing showed five songs, side two was actually divided into two long suites and was quite different from the rest of their catalog in that it found the band exploring what sounded like a progressive sound, complete with some synthesizers and fairly complex song structures.
- 'The Outside World' incorporated all of those characteristics along with O'Brock's martial drums and Knox's always tasteful leads - this time lots of wah-wah pedal. It made for one of my favorite performances. rating: **** stars
- 'Meaningless Madness of Man' was easily one of their strangest offerings - imagine a Florida rock band that had been listening to lots of British progressive stuff. The lyrics were actually quite funny. rating: ** stars
- Starting out with some thunderstorm sound effects 'A Plea for the Masses' continued the band's rant against middle class, 9-to-5 lifestyles. rating: ** stars
- Opening up with some nice Knox lead guitar, 'For Diana' was one of their prettiest ballads . The song also showcased some unexpected synthesizer. rating: *** stars
- Even better was the majestic 'Everyone Come'. Co-written by Knox and Eliassen, this one was their prettiest melody with a performance to match. Edited down this one could have easily scored them a hit. Only complaint was that it was too short. rating: **** stars

So how'd it compare to the debut? Even though this one's largely unknown to folks (not like Guinness tried to market the album), song for song I'd give the nod to this one. These may have been castoffs from the debut, but perhaps because they were recorded with less pressure on the band and they were willing to experiment with unusual approaches, it was more entertaining. That was enough to make it one of the better Guinness label releases.

- Eliassen retired from music and was living in St. Amant, Louisiana
- Sadly Knox had died of pancreatic cancer.
- Mycz had disappeared
- O'Brock opened up a handyman business in Shreveport, Louisiana where he plays drums for his local church.

7946 - BOOT (1972)

BOOT
''BOOT''
1972
33:56

1. Hey Little Girl (Mike Mycz) 4:05
2. Danny's Tune (Dan Eliassen) 5:25
3. Liza Brown (Bruce Knox) 2:47
4. Andromeda (Dan Eliassen) 5:15
5. Destruction Road (Jim O'Brock, Mike Mycz, Bruce Knox, Dan Eliassen) 5:06
6. Reach Out (Mike Mycz) 3:14
7. What Are They Doing To Me (Jim O'Brock, Mike Mycz, Bruce Knox, Dan Eliassen) 3:34
8. What You're Missing (Mike Mycz) 4:03

Dan Eliassen - Vocals, Bass
Bruce Knox - Guitar, Vocals
Mike Mycz - Guitar, Vocals
Jim O'Brock - Drums, Vocals

REVIEW
By RateYourMusic
Released by the Texas-based Agape label, the band debuted with 1972’s cleverly-titled “Boot”. Co-produced by Mike Stone and Peter Thomason, the album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at James Brown’s Starday/King Studio. With all four members contributing material the album offered up a mixture of blues-rock and blues-rock, with an occasional stab at a more commercial tune. The band was blessed with three decent singers. Nothing more than a guess on my part, but judging by the songwriting credits (assuming whoever wrote the track probably handled lead vocals), Mycz seemed to have the tougher-rock voice in the group while Eliassen was gifted with more commercial chops. Knox fell somewhere in the middle with a modest country-rock feel to his voice. Knox also showed himself to be n immensely talented lead guitarist – check out his lead work on ”.

Not the most original blues-rock/boogie album you’ve heard, but these guys played with considerable energy (on-line fan testimonials universally praise their live performances), and Knox was one talented lead guitarist. Worth looking for though copies have become increasingly expensive as folks had discovered the band.
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MORE REVIEW
Now here are four guys who had a true passion for rock - sticking together through for twelve years which included several band name changes, hundreds of concert dates, and precious little commercial success. Hailing from Port Richey, Florida, bassist Dan Eliassen and drummer Jim O'Brock put their first band together in 1972.

Originally known as The Kingsmen, they opted for a name change when the Washington-based Kingsmen scored a hit with 'Louie Louie'. Morphing into The Allusions, Eliassen, O'Brock and a changing cast of players continued to perform at local school dances and teen centers. By 1966 the lineup featured Eliassen, O'Borck, and lead guitarist Bruce Knox and rhythm guitarist Mike Mycz.

They'd also opted for another name change (The Split Ends') as well as moving away from performing largely cover material to penning their own stuff. Signed by the local CPF Records, they also made their recording debut with a 1966 single 'Rich with Nothin' b/w 'Endless Sun'. The 45 proved a regional hit, opening the door to wider exposure including an opening slot on Dick Clark's Happening '67 tour. That in turn saw them offered an opportunity to compete on Clark's 'Happening '68 television band contest.

In 1969 the quartet decided on another image and name change - this time adopting the moniker Blues of Our Time - quickly abbreviated to Boot. With a repertoire of largely original material, the band hit the road playing clubs and concerts nearly non-stop for the next four years.

Released by the Texas-based Agape label, the band debuted with 1972's cleverly-titled "Boot". Co-produced by Mike Stone and Peter Thomason, the album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at James Brown's Starday/King Studio. With all four members contributing material the album offered up a mixture of blues-rock and blues-rock, with an occasional stab at a more commercial tune.

The band was blessed with three decent singers. Nothing more than a guess on my part, but judging by the songwriting credits (assuming whoever wrote the track probably handled lead vocals), Mycz seemed to have the tougher-rock voice in the group while Eliassen was gifted with more commercial chops. Knox fell somewhere in the middle with a modest country-rock feel to his voice. Knox also showed himself to be n immensely talented lead guitarist - check out his lead work on ''.