OK, I said I would give some intense listening to Tendaberry & Christmas, based on the fact that I found them to be so similar and Billy found them to be so separately unique.
I listened to each disc twice, uninterrupted striaght through, and for good measure spun 'Angel In The Dark' a couple of times too. I must say FWIW I still stand by my original statement. The records came out in 1969 & 1970, so there was not a major time lapse as far as Laura's artistic growth is concerned. Both records are piano driven (duh!) and both have some stark sounding songs, some complex songs with shifting rhythms and melodic patterns, both have some songs that feature a fuller band sound, and both are peppered with Laura's catchy and more accessible songs. CATBOS has 'brown earth', 'blackpatch', and 'freeport', NYT has 'Save the Country' & 'Time & Love'. I DID learn that the guitar part on the majestic 'Beads of Sweat' is played by Duane Allman...no wonder I liked it so much! Anyway, still sounds to me like the same sessions could have produced these two records, both in terms of composition, lyrical passages, instrumentation, and production. An over-analysis probably, but an enjoyable exercise to plunge into such lovely and timeless music. Bob NP: Dave Matthews/Tim Reynolds, "Jimi Thing" 3/14/99
