We continue our look back at the music of 50 years ago…..
In 1972 the LA based hit machine known as the Grass Roots was nearing the end of their run. The LP “Move Along” was the last LP to contain what could be called hit singles.
The band, which began in the mid 60’s as a studio creation of PF Sloan and Steve Barri, with the studio music played by the session musicians of the Wrecking Crew, did eventually become a group that could write and play their own songs led by Rob Grill, Warren Entner, Dennis Provisor and a rotating cast of members.
This LP was the last for keyboard man Provisor who had left to pursue a solo career. He actually wrote six of the songs on this album and sang lead on three including the hit “Two Divided By Love” but wasn’t credited in the liner notes and did not appear in the cover photo. He later settled in Stevens Point, Wi where he still lives. For many years he fronted a successful band called The Hits that played around Wisconsin.
The album is full of the stuff that made the Grass Roots sound so good on the radio. Hooky love songs with excellent arrangements featuring horns (arranged by Jimmie Haskell) Entner guitar breaks, Grill’s rubbery bass and Provisor’s tasty keys.
Along with “Two Divided By Love”, the album also included the hits “The Runway” and “Glory Bound”.
Unfortunately, the band’s glory days were behind them although Grill kept touring with the group as part of oldies packages for decades. Entner became a rock band manager for groups like Quiet Riot and Rage Against The Machine.
I liked this band’s ability to write and produce hits. There is something to be said for songs, that while not particulary deep, sound good on the radio, which was a big deal back in those days.
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