Saturday, April 19, 2008

Tax Free


I could start with some terrible puns to go along with that of the band name, but I'll spare us all the indignity. The name Tax Free, of course refers to Wally Tax, leader of one of the best known Dutch Freakbeat outfits, The Outsiders. It's been posited that the Outsiders are the best ESL band of the mid-to-late sixties and I have to say, I can't think of anyone who tops 'em in that department. For God's sake, if you haven't ever heard their self-titled, half-live, half-studio affair, their epic, conceptual masterpiece CQ, or the collecton of their incredible singles that was released a few years ago, they are all worth your immediate and undivided attention. 

Anyway, precious little information exists about the one and only Tax Free recording. According to an interview in Ugly Things some years back, Wally came to the US in '68 to visit some folkies he admired, like Richie Havens, Tim Hardin, Phil Ochs, etc. How the band came together, I don't know, but Outsiders drummer, Leendert "Buzz" Busch was also a member. A couple of head-scratchers are John Cale who turns up on viola and jazz heavyweight Richard Davis on upright bass.  I assume this is THE Richard Davis, who played with everyone from Eric Dolphy, Andrew Hill and Sam Rivers to Johnny Hartman and Sarah Vaughn. Though a visit to the extensive discography on Davis' web page, could not confirm this, it's gotta be him. A bummer that this album is forgotten even to those who played on it. 

No doubt, many Outsiders fans will be skeptical of the jazzy, folk-rock leanings of Tax Free, but I've gotta say, I really like this record a lot. Though Wally only sings four or five songs, the other singer (JW Purpora?) ain't half bad, if not entirely remarkable. Wally doesn't get to take a swing at one until the fourth track, "Day Revealed Her Face". That one has some really nice guitar playing that reminds me of "Maybe the People Would Be the Times..." from Love's Forever Changes

Tax Free doesn't take you to the nosebleed heights of the Outsiders best work, nor is it Wally Tax's crowning acheivement, but it does deserve to be more than a footnote to his career. Sadly, he died in 2005. This is a really moody record, perfect for late-night/early morning. 

1. Yiva
2. Along the Shadowed Quay
3. The Great Lie
4. Day Revealed Your Face
5. Ginny
6. Amsterdam
7. My Lady Truth
8. Evening
9. Back by the Quinnipiac 


(Recording note: Though the first track starts out pretty poppy, it subsides and the transfer actually does sound pretty good.)

3 comments:

sohrab said...

excellent post. looking forward to hearing it. thanks.

Harmonix said...

Just wanted to chime in and let you know this is a great post.

Dale said...

This album has been reissued on CD by Aurora UK and can be found on Amazon!Aurora's sister label Relics UK has Wally's 1967 solo LOVE IN as well. While Tax sings lead less on Tax Free,he is also credited with Acoustic Guitar and Flute throughout and probably wrote the songs - RIP.