Seals & Crofts has always gotten a bad rap. Sure they were, briefly, the kings of seventies soft rock with a string of AM radio hits that even your mom thought was cool. But they were were great songwriters, superb musicians and put out some eclectic weird interestingly produced albums.
1973's Diamond Girl album is a perfect example.
My brother owned this 8-Track when I was a kid and, like all 8-tracks, it played on an endless loop. Sure it had a couple big hits, the title track and "We May Never Pass This Way, Again" but also weird mystical hippie cuts ("Intone My Servant" and "Nine Houses"), folkie love tunes, ("Jessica", "Rubie Jean & Billie Lee") and even a Marty Robbinseque cowboy tune ("Dust On My Saddle").
Both musicians really shine instrumentally. Dash Crofts was a gifted mandolinist and he gets a lot of room to stretch out. The real reveal, however, is Jim Seals sax work. I was aware that back in the sixties he played tenor with The Champs but I never knew how good he was. The final cur on the album is an instrumental jazz-rock (ie."Fusion") cut called, "Wisdom" and Seals really cooks. It's worth checking out.
Casey Redmond
02-11-2023
Logan, Ohio
