Thursday, January 27, 2022

Courtial With Errol Knowles - Don't You Think It's Time (February 22, 2022 MAD ABOUT RECORDS)

Killer Soul/Jazz-Funk highly collectible LP recorded in 1976 in San Francisco Bay Area

Cult LP including Rare Groove classics like “Losing you”, “Don’t you think it’s time” or “Love Nevermore”

They are named after their mentor, Bill Courtial, a highly respected session guitarist. Co-founder is reputed to be Pete ‘Coke’ Escovedo. They had both worked together as part of the Santana spin-off group Azteca, a Latin jazz fusion outfit; most notably on 1973’s ‘Pyramid of the Moon’ LP. During these sessions, they were introduced to vocalist Errol Knowles, who has a pleasant if limited vocal approach. Together, the three of them form the core of Courtial. Meanwhile, the remainder of Courtial was forming in San Francisco. Originally scheduled to perform in a play that was cancelled on opening night, the assembled group were given an alternative venue at a local club, Butterfields. This was to be an important break for them as the club owner was friends with Bill Courtial, and it had come to light that Bill was looking to form a band.

Released in 1976 on Pipeline, a small label from Woodside, California

1. Don't You Think It's Time 03:47
2. Thank You Baby 03:44
3. Time To Explain 03:24
4. Best of Friends 03:59
5. Poem for Helen 04:01
6. Losing You 03:21
7. Nevermore 04:28
8. Take the Time 03:42
9. Corn of the Cob 06:13

Guitar, Co-producer, Arranged By – Bill Courtial
Vocals – Errol Knowles
Keyboards, Strings [Elka String Choir], Synthesizer – David Kempton
Percussion – Jose Najera
Bass – Edward Williams III
Drums – Geoffrey Whyte
Congas – Errol Knowles (tracks: A2, A3, B2), Pete Escovedo (tracks: A1, A4, B3, B4)

Co-producer – Steve Whiting
Design Concept, Photography By – Herbie Greene
Engineer – Ken Hopkins
Executive-Producer – Madjid Panahpour
Recorded At – Wally Heider Studios 1976

Under exclusive license from Steve Whiting , Whiting & Co. Entertainment