Smith’s Comfort (otherwise known as the Australian duo of Ian & Sue Smith) had previously appeared on the live album Bennelong Session, where they performed four songs in the acoustic folksinger mode. This excellent lp from the same label has them recording in the studio with a band, turning out a decided rock/folk-rock edge. ‘The Bitter And The Sweet’ opens the lp on a folksy guitar/harmonica/dobro Dylan note, followed by a slow stately classic-rock number ala Fairport Convention called ‘If I Go Down’ featuring strong interaction of electric guitar, piano and organ. Harmonica and electric guitar trade licks on the mid-tempo boogie piece ‘Proverbial Blues’. ‘The Bring Back Song’ is a live humorous perversion of ‘My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean’ that recalls their Bennelong Session performance. The minor-key ballad ‘Is There Anybody Here’ supplies a soft dreamy mood, followed by ‘Turning Over’, a great jazz-laced progressive instrumental that fades out and then continues on side two. Next up is the album’s loudest cut ‘Do You Believe’, with hardy fuzz guitar action. Some charming acoustic-oriented songs finish out the side, including ‘What Do You Do, What Do You Say’, ‘The Carpenter’, ‘Winter-Spring’ and ‘Best I Can Do’ (beautiful flute accompaniment on a couple of these). Fifty plus minutes of top-shelf Australian Jesus music, housed in a handsome gatefold cover. (Ken Scott - Archivist)
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