It Makes Me Glad - Glass Harp

It Makes Me Glad (Glass Harp, 1972)

1. See Saw - 2:16
2. Sailing On a River - 3:40
3. La De Da - 5:48
4. Colt - 3:24
5. Sea and You - 4:14
6. David and Goliath - 2:51
7. I'm Going Home - 2:41
8. Do Lord - 4:24
9. Song In The Air - 2:41
10. Let's Live Together - 3:53

Glass Harp's third and final album sees the band still very much in the vein of happy 70's rock with a folk acoustic basis. The rough edges of Synergy have been honed off, and the songs provide a solid melodic framework for John Sferra's tasteful percussion, Dan Pecchio's muscular bass guitar and reflective flute, and Phil Keaggy's liquid guitar solos. More cohesive as an album, this overall strength detracts a bit from individual song spontaneity, especially in the first half, but the second half has some of the band's best rock, classical, and progressive songs.

On the whole, the band swaps out flashy virtuosity for tasteful arrangement and augmentation. "See Saw" and "Sea and You" are relaxed ballads featuring close harmony vocals, calming flute, and swells of volume-pedal guitar. "Sailing On a River" and "Colt" are good hybrids, marrying acoustic finger-picked chord progressions with more up-tempo rock elements, particularly Pecchio's athletic bass guitar lines and Keaggy's multi-tracked guitar harmonies fluttering over all.  The only weak moment for me on Side A is "La De Da", a laid-back stepchild of "Hey Jude". It still has enjoyable elements, particularly Keaggy's constantly inventive guitar fills, but, like its inspiration, it goes on a little long.

Side B instantly starts on a stronger footing.  "David and Goliath", "I'm Going Home," and "Do Lord" form a delightful progressive rock trilogy. The instrumental "David and Goliath" is a playful bolero with a gorgeous cascading melody on guitar and a little rhythmic play as it shifts effortlessly in and out of 4/4, 5/4 and 6/4. The transition into "I'm Going Home" ushers in a hand-clapping, feel-good rocker with celebratory vocal harmonies and impressive work from the rhythm section (and, of course, more mind-blowing guitar). The band's hard rock adaptation of the old spiritual "Do Lord" provides a stellar outlet for Keaggy's unbridled melodic guitar improvisation, and a satisfying conclusion to the ten-minute musical excursion. Closing numbers "Song In The Air" and "Let's Live Together" are equally strong, the first with its folky melody sung joyfully by Keaggy, and the second with another round of foot-stomping, singalong celebration.

While I do think that Keaggy would release stronger music as a solo artist, his work with Glass Harp provides a fascinating insight into his development as a musician, while still standing proudly on its own merits.

Arbitrary rating: 4 out of 5 playful boleros