Ervin Allen
Moon & Stars
© 2006 Ervin Allen Music (634479327544)
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The "Moon and Stars" CD has a wide range of Ervin Allen's songwriting and performing abilities. You will hear country, rock, folk, and Americana. His unique rhythms and uses of different instruments make this the best CD to listen to.
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Ervin Allen is a singer-songwriter currently based in Linden, Wisconsin. Erv is a baby boomer born in 1949 and has lived the evolution of American music.
Since the early fifties he has listened to the songs that have influenced today’s music.
Raised in Madison, Wisconsin, Erv remembers the local talent, like Bobby Rice and his sister how had a local TV show on Channel 3 in Madison, Wisconsin. “I would never miss their show.” “I realized even back then that they were playing country music.” “A lot of my favorite artists like Roy Orbison and the Everly Brothers, were country folk singers.” During the early sixties Erv started to listen to Roger Miller, Johnny Cash, Johnny Horton and Hank Snow.” Today, some of his favorite folk artists are Sara Pace, John Prine, Gordon Lightfoot, Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie and his son Arlo.”
“It tickles me to here DJ’s referring to the songs I grew up with as oldies! The fifties and sixties were a wild time for music and I feel privileged to have lived that experience."
Erv’s own music career began in 1974 when he taught himself how to play the guitar and began to write songs. “You’re in My Memory,” his first song, was completed in 1976. Between 1976 and 1980 Erv enjoyed being the front man for several bands. “My job was to play rhythm guitar and sing lead vocals. Everyone else I performed with was too shy and someone had to do it!” In 1980, while at Fort Benning Georgia, he met Jody Powers. Erv credits Powers, a staff writer for the House of Cash, for helping him develop his talents. “Jody didn’t realize how much influence he had on me. He taught me a great deal about songwriting.” By 1981 Erv, along with a back-up band known as Stage Dust, had eight songs published and recorded.
In August, 1982 Erv was medically retired from the Army. He found himself attending the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to start a second career in teaching Special Education. It was a decision that was close to his heart as he discovered he was dyslexic during this time of his life. His career as a teacher continued until he retired in June 2004 only to pick up where he left off with songwriting and performing. “I owe this move to my loving wife Kim and good friend Sara Pace.”
Since September 2004 Erv has appeared at over 70 open mic’s in the Madison area to get a feel for the audiences and to establish himself and his music. Because of favorable audiences’ responses and enthusiastic encouragement from Adam Gregory Pergament, Erv has recorded “Moon and Stars,” his first CD.
Erv is excited and looking forward to recording his second CD with Bear Productions and performing in larger venues in Madison and Southwest Wisconsin.
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Beaches, vacations, parties, booze and wild women are all over Ervin Allen's deb
author: Madison Songwriters GroupReview by Madison Songwriters Group Ervin Allen - Moon and Stars Beaches, vacations, parties, booze and wild women are all over Ervin Allen's debut album. Moon and Stars is a summery mix of Americana, rock and rhythmic pop with a definite focus on simple pleasure. Allen cites Roy Orbison as an early influence, and it's apparent in his vocal style, which uses a powerful upper range to good effect. This works especially well on the one cover song here, Sara Pace's "Whiskey" (one of a handful of serious songs on the record.) Where Pace's recording took an uptempo approach and understated the vocal, Allen does a slow build to a heartbreaking, high-pitched conclusion. Allen's falsetto also adds a touch of 1950s style to hook-laden numbers like "Not Like Me" and "What Do You Do?" At the opposite end of Allen's range is CD's opening track, "I Never Saw Her Face," a rocker about a mysterious one-night stand. Set to pounding drums and wailing guitar licks, the vocal is low and full of bluesy undertones. It's a bold choice for an opener, but somewhat deceptive, as it's one of only two tracks in this style on Moon and Stars. More typical is the title song, a country-folk love story set on a beach. Gently romantic and a little silly, the song juxtaposes lines about a cosmic union with exchanges about the lovers' astrological signs. The sweet, plain delivery is just right. I liked the humor and energy of "I Need a Vacation", which fantasizes about beaches and "the perfect hotel where ... I can fall from my barstool into bed." The tropical rhythms, lilting lead guitar part and light backing vocals give the song polish and movement. This has a great sound for the radio, although some of the lyrics may be too risque for some markets. It sounds like it would be a popular performance number, also. I would be remiss if I did not mention that "What Do You Do?" features the best kazoo solo I've ever heard on a recording. The choice of instruments perfectly fits the DIY ethos of the song, which answers the question thus: "It's up to you." Allen shows a more serious side on "Have You Kissed Your Children Today?" The country song has an old-time feel, with ingenuous lyrics and spoken verses about the "love so hard to share" between children and parents. It works well on its own terms, and as an interesting contrast to the other songs on Moon and Stars. A few things didn't work for me. There were too many breakup/betrayal songs for my taste, the enjoyable "Not Like Me" notwithstanding. The Vietnam War references feel out of place in the bouncy "Mad City." "The Other Side of Blue" sounds a bit rushed. But Allen and co-producer Andy LaValley (of StoneFloat Records) get most things right. Moon and Stars is a promising debut that should catch the attention of listeners across several genres. The CD is packaged beautifully, with artwork that mixes wood grains and night skies. The supporting musicians on this record were Bear LaValley on bass, Hugo Reynolds on drums, KC McCrum on lead guitar, and Tate McLane on harmony backup vocals and kazoo.
Takes me back to the glory days of rock n' roll!
author: Robby KI get a kick out of the vintage Strawberry Alarm Clock meets Buffalo Springfield lead guitar playing almost as much as I dig the vibe and vigor of the lead vocals, but most of all, the depth of the songwriting displays a mature and awesome talent!