Sugarloaf - Sugarloaf (1970)

Sugarloaf was a psychedelic, jam band from Colorado fronted by leader, singer, guitarist and composer Jerry Corbetta.

Corbetta co-wrote five of the six tracks on the quartet's eponymous, debut, LP that featured a 9:00 medley combining an original organ piece he helped compose with an instrumental cover of The Band's "Chest Fever." A second cover tune was also an instrumental - The Yardbirds "Train Kept a Rollin'."

The album's highlight is easily the opening track, "Green-Eyed Lady," a perfect example of the psychedelic influences that embellished the records of so many bands during the highly experimental late 60s and early 70s. The song was written about Corbetta's girlfriend who his bandmates referred to as their leader's "green eyed lady."

The 3:33 single was a big hit. It reached #3 on the Hot 100 while the longer, more psychedelic album track ran to 6:49. Bob Raymond's bass work and Corbetta's organ solo are highlights. The group also possessed some jazz chops because "Things Gonna Change Some" has a 5/4 time signature written by guitarist Bob Webber, Corbetta, and Raymond who admit they were influenced by the Dave Brubeck/Johnny Desmond classic "Take Five."

I've read reviews that say too much of the album is loaded with instrumental noodling, but I found the combination of Corbetta's organ work, light prog-rock and psychedelia quite listenable. I don't believe Sugarloaf is a great LP, but it's fine for anyone looking for something a little on the experimental side.

Sugarloaf is not a one-hit wonder although many people have probably forgotten "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" (#9 in 1974), a scathing but humorous treatise about trying to make it in the record business featuring a Wolfman Jack impression, a riff from Stevie Wonder's "Superstition" and the famous guitar lick from The Beatles' "I Feel Fine."