Head East featuring John Schlitt vocals re-release

[sue d.]

For those of you who are collectors or interested in John's past with Head East, here is an update on the CD release that John sang on.

There's also some news on a commemorative "Flat as a Pancake" t-shirt, which hits the 30th anniversary of the album's release this year.

The following is taken from the Head East newsletter, written by Drew Willis, webmaster of head-east.com

Hip-O Select, a division of Universal Music Enterprises, has announced that they will be re-issuing Head East's 3rd and 4th albums, Gettin' Lucky and Head East (self-titled) in CD format on 1 April 2005. The albums will be re-issued as a "Twofer" with both albums being on one CD . The CD will be sold exclusively through the Hip-O Select website at:
http://www.hip-oselect.com

Once on the Hip-O Select site, click on the Head East link found in the
new release section. A direct link to the Hip-O Select site can also be
found on the bulletin board page of the Head East site at:
http://www.head-east.com/bulletin.html

The CD will not be available through other online music retail sites and
you will not be able to buy it through your local music or department
store. This is a limited edition release so be sure to order your copies
now from Hip-O Select.

The CD is nicely packaged and contains all the images and lyrics that
were included with the original albums, plus a couple previously unseen bonus images from the photo shoot used to promote the self-titled album in
1978.

Be sure to pass the word around to all your friends about this release.
Hip-O Select has indicated that if this re-issue sells well they will
consider re-issuing more of the Head East albums in CD format. Hip-O
Select is now taking advance orders for the CD so don't delay, order
your copy today.

****************************************************

New Head East T-Shirts commemorating the 30th anniversary of Flat as a
Pancake are now available through the merchandise page of the Head East
site at: http://www.head-east.com/merchandise.html

The T-Shirts which sell for $25 (includes all shipping and handling
charges), are available in white in sizes large and extra large. The
back of the new "30 Years of Flat" shirts feature the new logo found on the
main page of the Head East site and the front of the shirts have a small
"heartcrest" size variation of the same logo. Currently the shirts are
only available through the Head East website but may be sold at Head
East concerts in the future.

[calicowriter]

A re-issue date of April Fools Day...Hmmm.

[GLF78]

I just got my confirmation for my Head East CD order. I've been waiting for years to get their stuff on CD. I was happy to see it was not only the Gettin' Lucky album but also the Self Titled (Street Sign) album. The latter is especially good.

[sue d.]

I've been waiting a long time to hear a complete album - period!

I have some homemade compilations, two pro compilations and of course the Pancake album - but nothing else.

I'm looking forward to hearing it.

BTW, John was surprised that they picked 'Gettin' Lucky' as a release... he says you could fall asleep to that one! It certainly wasn't his favorite.

[calicowriter]

John was surprised that they picked 'Gettin' Lucky' as a release... he says you could fall asleep to that one! It certainly wasn't his favorite.

I don't think it had anything to do with artistic quality. Those are the only 2 albums that had never been put on CD either here or abroad.

[GLF78]

Gettin' Lucky certainly had a different feel to it. The producer must have been going for a little slicker studio production to get some radio airplay. The next Album - the self titled one - has a little more raw feel that was a better reflection of them. I can still recall seeing them after that LP was released and even remember the song they opened with - "Pictures". They were a great live band.
I thought "Get Yourself Up", the followup to Flat as A Pancake was good too. No sign of that going to CD yet.
I have a couple of the compilations. John signed one for me a few years back at a Petra concert. I also have a Live CD they released but it was a hacked up version of the double live LP they put out. They cut some songs and even re-arranged the order of the songs.
Lastly was "A Different Kind of Crazy". A few good songs, but the weekest in my opinion. I believe John was gone right after that album. I think an import version of that may be available.
I know there are only a few of here interested in this, so my apologies to the rest of you.

[Shell]

It's fun to hear about Head East; that's how John got his start in music. The Lord did some wonderful work in his life after he left the band, even though it was rough going for awhile. It's a miracle he's alive today.

I personally think "Flat As A Pancake" is their best album by far.

[sue d.]

I have Pancake, and honestly - I didn't really care for it! It's a bit slow for me. Just not quite my style.

And I agree - to appreciate what God has done in John's life - you have to know about his past.

[Shell]

Hehe. It's worth it just to hear John wail on "Never Been Any Reason."

[BriGuyPEI]

I've got John's 5 studio albums from Head East on vinyl, except Pancake which is on cassette. I was never able to find the live album though.

For those of you looking to get Head East on CD, there is a compilation CD. A&M released it in their 20th Century Masters series in 2001. I've got it as well and it's pretty good. Here is the track listing:

1. Never Been Any Reason
2. Jefftown Creek
3. City of Gold (might be able to fool someone into thinking this is old Petra or something)
4. Love Me Tonight (weird to hear John singing this one)
5. Monkey Shine
6. Gettin' Lucky (ditto last comment)
7. Every Little Bit of My Heart (I really like this song)
8. Get Up And Enjoy Yourself
9. Man I Wanna Be
10. Since You've Been Gone
11. Keep A Secret
12. Take A Hand (Live)

[calicowriter]

I got my copy of the Head East CD and I can understand why John said that the Gettin' Lucky album would put you to sleep...it is a lot more pop than rock. It's pleasant enough. During one of the songs, "Show Me I'm Alive" I kept thinking about the Partridge Family (I can't explain why!). I will have to say that I really, really love "Sands Of Time." It IS a rocker, with that powerful vocal we all know and love. And although it isn't a rocker, "Every Little Bit of My Heart" is excellent. I've heard the other album before (Head East, aka the road sign album) and I think it is one of their best. So, if you are a fan of John's singing ability, it is worth the price.

[sue d.]

Bri, I have that Masters CD too... I really like it. There also is a LIVE CD compilation out there, which takes many of the songs calico writes about - but you hear them live... and they DO rock live!

... but the Partridge Family? lololol! it's a bit of a stretch, but I guess I can see where you're getting that from.

[calicowriter]

Yep, Head East really DID rock live! I was at a concert they performed at in the late 70's but I really don't remember much about them (because I went to see another band), except that they were much better than the other couple of acts on the bill, and because I loved "Never Been Any Reason" -- still do in fact.

I have their Live album, but haven't had a turntable for over 12 years now. I did buy the Live CD that was taken from the Live album, and it's great. However, I got another Live CD (Concert Classics 7 or something like that) for $5 on ebay, and well, it ain't pretty. The lineup that included John performs the first 5 songs (and he should be plenty embarrassed about a couple of those tracks), and the next incarnation of Head East performs the remaining 7 songs. To say they were terrible would be kind. What they did to "Never Been Any Reason" should be a crime. I know they still perform; I have to assume they've gotten better.

[Shell]

John was so out of it with drugs and alcohol he may not even remember doing those songs. I've heard him say he doesn't really remember a lot from those days.

[sue d.]

He doesn't remember a lot that you tell him THESE days either! lol!!!

......... j/k