Also requested, here is the second and final LP from Americans WHITE WITCH, their 1974’s LP “A Spiritual Greeting“. If this band and their self-titled first album – also featured at plotn08 – are quite unknown and forgotten, this “A Spiritual Greeting” is even more obscure.
This is the remastered Collector’s CD reissue from some time ago, hard to find as well.
While the band’s name and this album title might sound ‘occult metal’, the music inside is far from that: this is American Seventies rock n’ roll with hard rock riffs, rock&pop melodies, proggy & glam touches, moog, mellotron, and more. Think Alice Cooper (WHITE WITCH toured with him), early Aerosmith, some Montrose, etc.
Fronted by capable and versatile vocalist Ronn Goedert, this final album WHITE WITCH is definitely more American sounding than their first LP, which had some European bands influences.
Formed in Tampa, Florida by guitarist Buddy Richardson, a veteran of the late-60s and early-70s Florida scene (The Outsiders, Soul Trippers, Noah’s Ark), White Witch played an eclectic mix of accessible Rock.
They developed a devoted live following around the southeast, and their two albums (on Capricorn Records) are highly rated by some, ignored by others.
Flashy vocalist Ronn Goedert was renowned for his histrionics; he sounded like a more glam version of Robert Plant, with shouts akin Ian Gillian. Axl Rose mention Goedert a one of his influences. Highlights on this second LP include “Showdown”, “Class of 2000”, and “Walk On”.
Regardless of their obscurity, White Witch was versatile, often surprising, and always listenable. Goedert vocals here are like a chameleon, and the band was equally adept at playing heavy and with finesse. The addictive “Showdown” sounds like a gutsier version of Supertramp or a poppier Deep Purple, and the more proggy tracks, “Crystallize and Realize” and “Class of 2000” could almost pass for lightweight early Genesis.
“Walk On,” the album’s best song, is a lilting stroll that would stand out on any of the Kinks’ ’70s concept albums.
While the group’s philosophy is never exactly clear, lyrics referencing the Book of Revelations and Jean Harlow (in a single song) make for interesting listening.
”A Spiritual Greeting” was the band’s farewell – due to some internal friction, as the record label wanted to shoot WHITE WITCH to stardom – a pity, as this was one of the most interesting US bands emerging during the first half of the Seventies. A very good remastering job, not easy to achieve with analog tapes like these.
Highly Recommended
01 – We’ll all Ride High (Money Bags)
02 – Slick Witch
03 – Walk on
04 – Class of 2000
05 – Showdown
06 – Crystallize and Realize
07 – Black Widow Lover
08 – Auntie Christy / Harlow
Vocals – Ronn Goedert
Guitar Vocals – Buddy Richardson
Keyboards, Synths – Buddy Pendergrass
Bass, Percussion – Charlie Souza
Drums – Bill Peterson, Bobby Shea