Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Child - Child (1977)

I have very little information about this obscure Seattle outfit, which consisted of Lance Baumgartel, Mick Flynn, Tim Turner and John O'Connor. The band formed in 1969 and spent quite a few years playing the club circuit before finally issuing their self-titled LP on Seattle label, Ariel Records. The band enjoyed local success and issued a few singles before dissolving in 1981. Members went on to production and session work, as well as some sporadic musical activities with bands like Cooltones, The Tim Turner Band and The Mick Flynn Band.

This is an obscurity that has often been sought by collectors over the years. Despite the esoteric cover art, this LP is a collection of strictly meat and potatoes rock. No swirling synths, no flashy organs, no acid drenched guitar tones, no wailing vocals. This is straight down the middle rock, folks. For me, this wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing but this batch of songs really just doesn't stand up on its own. Most of the writing seems half-baked and the vocals come across as a little lazy. There's pretty great guitar work but the weak arrangements fail to capitalize on the band's obvious musical prowess. There are a few uninspired ballads, a few blues workouts and a handful of rock/hard rock cuts. The harder material is easily the best here, particularly "I Just Want to Be With You" which beckons Artful Dodger or late period Raspberries.

I suggest you download this artifact and see for yourself. While certainly not bad, Child isn't exactly setting the world on fire either. Check this rip from virgin vinyl and give Child a spin.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I must say i like this piece of art pretty darn much "R", but there you go.. tomato/tomatoe u know lolol.

Anonymous said...

I dunno, I agree with the write up, VERY safe rock

Anonymous said...

could you please put it it on a different link

Anonymous said...

hi,,
damn! - I've been looking for the Strongbow album and I've just found it here...dead... so sad=(
could you possibly -please- renew the link???

so far as your wanted list goes, the 2 albums by Kenny are not far away from me, I'll try to borrow them for a rip if you're still interested

...

Anonymous said...

and I also grabbed this Child album. - although generally slack, I must say it has its moments! particularly in fine guitar work

somehow reminds me of SANTA FE, a bit

thanx!

Anonymous said...

I've just had a severe argument with my friend and, on the wave of it, came round to say a bit more

I'm absolutely sure that groups like Child *needs must* be stored somwhere in art archives & their music be available/acessible, in some form or another. almost every such gang or artist can ignite sparkles - if only on&off - that are *unique* to them (though sometimes in a subtle way maybe). and then, if you're not endowed w/an elephantine ear & you accept the genre, you're likely to get (aesthetically) happy for at least some moments in that every-time-special way. - & that means its worth it!!!

--- blogs like yours are like on-line obsurity encyclopedias, kinda. only trouble is, most of the links are "more dead than not"...(thanx to the fuckers whom I can NEVER really understand..)

best vibes

Nanker Phelge said...

Hi ! Mick Flynn here from Child. This was actually the 2nd Album. The first never came out.. Some of the tunes ended up on the Striker Album. You can get a better idea of the band on You Tube. Check out The Wish, Kinky Message and My Life, all by Child. I will be putting up some more as I get time. I am also working on getting the 1st Album together for all to enjoy.

Anonymous said...

Whoa....Any one from West Seattle knows that Child rocked the local scene for years! Tim, Mick, Lance, and the rest of the band were super cool back then, and were top billing around town for years. Everyone loved the band, and their venues were always jam packed. Too bad they didn't stick together. But, Tim Turner is an amazing guitar player, singer/songwriter, and humanitarian, and is still rocking strong. His latest CD with his band, The Tim Turner Band, "Sunset on Alki" has all the profits going to the Highline Cancer Institute Research Center in Seattle (Burien). He was just featured on the cover of " Bluesletter" magazine, and there is an interesting interview with him as well. He continues to rock Seattle and plays several venues regularly. He can jam like no other local and his music is very danceable. Check him out on timturnerband.com You'll be glad you did!

Anonymous said...

great information, thanks! Lance grew up down the street from me in Sedro-Wolley - is he still performing? the last time i saw him was in the late 70's, i was hitchhiking to clearlake and he gave me a ride. still dressed like a star, still young and beautiful, still totally "Lance". -geff

Stu said...

Tim hosts a jam session every Thursday at the Redline (used to be Legends) at the bridge end of 35th Ave SW. Last time I saw Lance was probably in the early 80s when he and Tim played with Tim's then-girlfriend Cheri in a band called Delta.

IMI said...

This brings back memories! I can't thank you enough for posting it. It's a shame for regional music like this to waste away in obscurity.

Jiff said...

Child was certainly not an "obscure" band, atleast not around Seattle. I first saw them as a student at a dance at Cascade Jr High in Woolley in '69. My second exposure to a proper rock band. The first being Lance's band, Fade To Black, at a street dance in Woolley.

I talked to Lance in '09 at a funeral in Woolley. He's doing well, living in Skagit County, but not active in a band. He had been living in the LA area doing oil refinery work.

Anonymous said...

Hey , West Seattle Native here,(female , and, still hot, FYI) and,, CHILD?? Are you kidding me?? They were, BAR NONE the TOP band in Seattle in the 70s and RULED ALKI BEACH to Bellevue and beyond with KZOK in thier pocket,... ahhh the memories, sneaking into the "Embers" on Alki,underage, with my fake ID, to see Child..! Riding horses under the moonlight.! Hot tubbing (somewhere by 35th),going to church,(repenting?) and dancing in the "stark" dark to the tune of "Mr.Inapropriate"...All this, and more.. and the TIM TURNER Legend LIVES ON>> He is currently seen live at the RIMROCK, Lake City way,Seattle,..and hosts Jams around the Northwest. Stop by Tim Turner on Facebook and give him some love.You can hear his angelic vocals and sexy intense guitar licks all through these old tunes, and seeing him live will blow your mind. Truly a MASTER.., it's always like seeing him for the very first time...!!What are you waiting for?

Anonymous said...

The second (actually the first) Child album featuring Rick Randle is now availble on CD. You can find it on eBay or Amazon. This is a better representation of the band. Buy it and enjoy. Cheers