Head East featuring John Schlitt vocals re-release

[Shell]

HAHAHAHA. That is a good one Sue.

Is it possible it has something to do with him being past 50 now?

[calicowriter]

Is it possible it has something to do with him being past 50 now?

Count on it.

I suppose I shouldn't think that is as funny as I do. I can remember when I thought my need for reading glasses and bifocals was funny too!

[Shell]

Well, I don't need bifocals. I am nearsighted though and wear glasses and contacts, that started when I was in junior high. Everything else has started falling apart since I turned 40 though, LOL.

[LexingtonPethead]

Yeah, tell me about it. I just turned 40 myself and already I'm noticing new wrinkles and sunspots.

[sue d.]

I got my copy already.... ordered, shipped & received in less than a week! I'm impressed!

It's definitely fun listening to the past, and comparing John's vocals and style back then vs. now.

You know, I've caught some flack for publicizing with the newsletter and posting info about H.E. because it's viewed as 'promoting' mainstream music with questionable lyrics.

I haven't heard anything about that here on the Zone... I'm curious if anyone here feels this is a wrong thing to do.

[calicowriter]

Sue, I am sure the main reason you haven't heard any flack about promoting the Head East stuff here on the Zone is because we seem to discuss almost everything. As for John's website, I think the only opinion that really matters is John's (and the webmasters' of course) because you are never going to please everybody. Virtually anyone who visits his site and is interested in purchasing or listening to Head East is already familiar with John and his beliefs today. With that perspective, listening to the Head East songs gives you an even greater appreciation for what God accomplished in his life. I'll admit, it is a bit strange to hear him singing about having a" bottle in hand and some good gold in your pocket", or to hear him ask the audience (on the Live CD), who all is "planning on getting lucky later on", but I think it makes his testimony that much more real. Hopefully most of the people who visit his website are mature enough to be able to listen to the old Head East songs and appreciate the musical, vocal and harmonic talent the band had. It would be a whole different issue if John was planning on reuniting with Head East or doing the songs in concert.

In the years I have been following John's career, I've seen him shift his views a bit from not wanting to talk about his time with Head East at all, to admitting that he/they did some good work during those years. (Now, by 'good' I mean as in talented.) It gives me a greater appreciation of what he gave up to straighten his life out.

You know, when I listen to most of Head East's music, I am just astounded that they managed to somehow avoid massive national success. Especially when you compare their albums with those of REO, Cheap Trick, and Styx from the same time period. Although I'm sure the rest of Head East would offer a differing opinion, it is a good thing that they didn't achieve that kind of success, because if they had, John very well might not be with us today.

[Shell]

Some of the lyrics are suggestive, but I actually unfortunately have heard worse. It's part of John's history; I agree with Bridget that it can help you appreciate what God has done in John's life more.

I agree too, John should be the one to say so if he doesn't want stuff about Head East on the web site, and you can't please everyone. There will likely be someone who disagrees no matter what you do.

[brothertom]

Hi gang. Glad to see the topic of HE here in this forum. Got mine today, on my first day back from vacation. Needless to say - I LOVE THIS CD!! I've copied all 9 albums from vinyl to CD (with and w/out John), and really enjoyed hearing this without all the 'pops' in it. Check out head-east.com if you want the complete discography. My understanding is that if this one sells well, there would be more to follow. I think they put the best one out, the self titled CD, and picked the one that fit the time available to fill out the CD, but that's only my opinion.

While I agree with many of the comments about some of the lyrics in HE songs, I've actually found items in these songs that are more positive. On this CD, Back in My Own Hands, Time Has a Way, Man I Wanna Be, and Pictures, while vastly different, of course, from Petra or John's solo work, always kinda spoke to me. I hope in a positive way. I've got it playing in the background right now, and parts of 'Sands of Time' just struck me as being slightly prophetic for John. "For the days have passed, and I've come at last to really see". I'm taking it out of the context of the whole song, of course, but I think it would apply. Don't give up on the 'Gettin' Lucky' part of the CD. I think it'll grow on you if you give it a few listens. The self titled album is the stronger of the two.

Regarding the concert CDs - I was rather disappointed, and even angry that they would put that drivel out. The 'they' in question here is not the band, however. Somebody dug up the tape, and thought they could make a quick buck on it without consulting the band. The mix is pathetic, and from what appears to be a poor source in the first place. The actual shows, were you fortunate enough to see them, even after Johnn left, were much better than the live CD with the subsequent lineup would indicate. Head East does still perform, and have even started playing a few new tunes. I'm not sure if anything will ever come of it, but they still put on a pretty good show, IMHO. BTW, 'Never Been Any Reason' is apparently going to be part of the soundtrack of the upcoming movie 'Sahara'.

Tom

[GLF78]

Well said, all of you, on the Head East discussion. We all know well enough where John has been and where he is now.
The Head East music brings back a lot of good memories for me. This stuff was on the top of my playlist throughout High School and I was a Christian way back then too. A few suggestive lyrics certainly didn't negatively influence my life.
I got my copy today. Although I have both on vinyl, an absence of a turntable means I haven't heard them in years. It's great to hear these albums again.

[sue d.]

I really like "Gettin' Lucky."

From what John said, I was expecting a real sleeper, but I LIKE it, I really do. It may not rock as hard as others, but it's upbeat, catchy and fun to listen to.

I'm a big '70s music fan and I love all this old stuff.

I really like the way they packaged this double album... with the flip-out cardboard case and a mix of both album covers. Very cool.

Tom, I've been trying to find lyrics for "Pictures" without any luck. I'm SURE you must have them... could you fling them my way?

[ctwomn]

LOL!!

This such a funny thread!

Last week I was listening to KMOD and I heard this song and I was like...that sounds like our friend John! I thought there is no way it could be because we only play 3 Headeast songs here "Never been a Reason" "Fly by Night Lady" and another song i can't remember. All I heard of this puzzlin little ditty went... "Out of my head cant take it"...du duudit doo...and i was like that's kinda cute! Ayways..I had to call MJ cause i was laughing so hard! He acted like he did not believe me and so we when we got off the phone he must have looked up and ordred it for my b-day. So anyways, he started playing the song "since you been gone" and I was like..." that's the song!!!" LOL

I should have known it was Head east cause I am familiar w/ some of the the older albums. My parents were given a BUNCH of vinyls back in the 90's and there were some HE thrown in! Like Head east live...which my brother has! I ended up w/ "Flat as a pancake" and another one that has a picture of a truck loaded w/ a bundle of tree limbs ...that's all I know about that one!

I must say that I understand why Headeast was so big in Tulsa in the 70's and 80's. My dad says that he catered for them in the late 70's. He thinks that they were w/ kansas or REO. Anyways...From what I have heard of the Cd...I like it. I think they did and awesome job remastering it. I really like "Open up the Door", "Sand of Time" and of course "Since you Been Gone" I think any headeasthead would be proud to have it..cause it rocks!! Hey ....i am just a pethead and I glad to have it!

[sue d.]

The album you're talking about would be "Get Yourself Up"

see: http://head-east.com/gyu.html

I have that on vinyl too.... too bad I have nothing to play it with.

Now if I had it on8-track - I could play it! Really, I could!

I want to know the story behind the truck with all the trees/leaves/branches on it.... it's kinda bizarre.

Brother Tom? Drew? Can you fill us in on this one?

[ctwomn]

You have an 8 track!!! LOL! I haven't seen one of those since I was like 5!! I remember how clunky they were! Atleast you could carry it around...unlike a record player! HEHE...that would be a site!

Mj was saying that he thinks that some of the songs sound like "The Monkees". They do have a bubble gum flavor.

[charl]

Atleast you could carry it around...unlike a record player! HEHE...that would be a site!

You should have met me about 10 years ago then...I have a portable record player (about 13" square) that I carried around everywhere in my backpack, heheh. I had an attache one before that which was even smaller, perhaps the size of a binder.
At the time I had no tape or CD player and I listened to one heck of a lot of Cream and Tommy Dorsey.

[Shell]

Hey! Watch out what you say about the Monkees, Davey Jones was my heart throb when I was like 7 or 8, LOL.

My taste has improved since then. Yep, I remember 8 tracks also.