My first experience with the music of the Youngbloods dates back to the late 1960s when their song Get Together defined the youth spirit of the age. Then, in 1971 when this album was first issued, AM radio adult contemporary station KDEO in San Diego, bless them, actually gave several cuts from this album some fairly heavy airplay! Would that, could that happen with today's radio? Probably not, but anyhow I was hooked and hurried to buy it as soon as I could.
Ride the Wind is nothing like the Youngbloods' studio albums. It is stripped down and stunning in its simplicity. Just three members of the band play here; Jesse Colin Young with his bass guitar and expressive vocals, Joe Bauer on drums, and the wild-looking Banana on guitar and electric piano.
Two songs, the title cut and Sunlight, alone take this CD into 5-star territory. The piano work is jazzily superb and Young's voice is at its best. Sunlight in particular is an excellent mood-setter for when the lights are low and you are with a lover.
Sugar Babe has a vaguely country feel to it and features a kazoo interlude by Jesse. The Dolphin is my least favorite, the instrumentation is OK but the vocals are weak. I prefer It's A Beautiful Day's version.
The album follows with a serviceable treatment of their hit Get Together and closes with a rousing interpretation of Beautiful.
I never did have the good fortune of seeing the Youngbloods live, but Ride The Wind has to be the next best thing. My old album being pretty scratched up, I have waited for years for this to be reissued on CD. Who knows how long it will be available?
If you are a fan on any level, and particularly if you never heard this album, you are in for a treat. Do your ears a favor and order it soon.