Bo Grumpus — Before The War 1968 (USA, Psychedelic/Folk Rock)

Bo Grumpus were a trippy, sometimes edgy folk-based psychedelic band that came out of Boston in 1967. Their story goes back to the mid-'60s and guitarists Eddie Mottau and Joe Hutchinson, who had been performing as Two Guys from Boston. In the latter guise, they had crossed paths in the mid-'60s with Noel "Paul" Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary, who ended up producing their one and only single, which was released on the Scepter label. They had performed as far away as Dayton, OH, which was where drummer N.D. Smart heard them. They later asked him in, to form a trio, and he agreed and brought Jim Colegrove in on bass, the two Ohioans relocating to Boston. The quartet, initially working as the Bait Shop, made their debut at a bistro called the Loft on Charles Street. Mottau and Hutchinson knew Felix Pappalardi, a New York-based musician who had played bass on their duo recordings, and who had lately moved up to producing, most notably the work of the Youngbloods.

This is a long lost gem from 1968 by a little know, somewhat psychedelic group called Bo Grumpus. Nothing special about this album, originally issued on Atco Records, other than it has never been issued on CD before and fans from this era have been asking for it

Tracks:
01. Sparrow Tune (Joe Hutchinson) - 2:56
02. Think Twice (Ed Mottau, Joe Hutchinson) - 2:19
03. Yesterday's Streets (Jim Colegrove, Felix Pappalardi) - 4:11
04. The Breath O' Love (Joe Hutchinson) - 3:03
05. A Knowing Young Touch (Jim Colegrove) - 2:42
06. Ragtimely Love (Joe Hutchinson, Ed Mottau) - 2:08
07. Travelin' In The Dark (Felix Pappalardi, Gail Collins) - 2:40
08. Brooklyn (Jim Colegrove) - 2:41
09. The Moon Will Rise (Joe Hutchinson) - 5:21
10. If I Came To You (Ed Mottau, Felix Pappalardi, Gail Collins) - 2:57

Personnel:
- Joe Hutchinson - guitar, bass, piano (06), vocals
- Ed Mottau - guitar , vocals
- Jim Colegrove - bass, guitar, vocals
- Ronnie Blake - drums
+
- Herb Lovelle, ND Smart II - drums
- Felix Pappalardi - keyboards, guitar, trumpet, bass, percussion, arranger, producer