The 31st of February made an obscure album for Vanguard in the late 1960s that was typical of many LPs of the time that didn't make an impression. There was a little bit of folk-rock, a little bit of psychedelia, and a little bit of pop. Ultimately it didn't have a lot of significance, without memorable original material or a consistent or interesting style, though the playing and singing is competent, and the mood usually reflective. All of their members, though, went on to projects that made a more lasting commercial impact. Butch Trucksbecame drummer for the Allman Brothers; Scott Boyer played inCowboy; and bassist David Brown went to Santana.
While there's nothing particularly objectionable about the 31st of February's sole album, there's nothing exciting or memorable about it either. It's average late-'60s pop-psychedelic/folk-rock, dominated by the songs of either Scott Boyer or David Brown, though they also cover Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Cod'ine," Jackie DeShannon's obscure "The Greener Isle," and the Dan Penn-Spooner Oldham-Chips Moman collaboration "Sandcastles." Light, reflective folk-rock is the primary color, slightly more downbeat than upbeat (heard to its best effect on "Porcelain Mirrors" and the lugubrious "Cries of Treason"), with a faint Baroque tinge to some of the arrangements and the occasional orchestration. There's a bit of California psychedelic freakout as well on "A Nickel's Worth of Benny's Help," though again this doesn't get too far out or interesting.
Tracks:
1 Sand Castles Moman, Oldham, Penn 2:44
2 Porcelain Mirrors Boyer 2:55
3 Broken Day Brown 2:56
4 Wrong Brown 2:11
5 The Greener Isle DeShannon 2:45
6 Codeine Sainte-Marie 6:17
7 A Different Kind of Head Brown 2:46
8 Pedestals Boyer 2:25
9 Free Boyer 2:29
10 A Nickel's Worth of Benny's Help Boyer 4:22
11 Pick a Gripe Boyer, Trucks 2:06
12 Cries of Treason Boyer 3:09
Artwork Included ( home made back cover )
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