STORM BIRD

Lynn Carey is like the airplane that allows you to look smugly down at the sun-brightened top side of a layer of clouds and think laughingly about its ominous grey bottom side, spewing rain and misery on all the pitiful people stuck to the earth. Lynn Carey is the bird above the storm who will take you soaring before the needle of your record player has time to dig into the fifth groove of the opening track, "Stormbird."

When Miss Carey first met lead guitarist Jeff Kewley and formed the nucleus of a then-nameless combo, their initials gave them the first part of their handle, C.K. When they finally emerged as the most electrifying new rock group in the business, the "strong" tag was not only apropos, but inevitable.

C.K. Strong first flexed its mellifluous musical muscles in the latter part of 1968. Cashbox critic Harvey Geller, among the first to feat his ears on the new-formed fivesome, completely flipped out and wrote:

"Miss Carey is worth the price of admission, even if she didn't sing. A radiating, well-endowed blonde, her pyromagnetic caroling scans three octaves. To these ears she's at least the equal of Janis Joplin. Our guess is that C.K. Strong will be one of the major chart acts of '69. No label affiliation at this writing."

Immediately following "this writing" then, the group's mentor-manager, the uncanny Bob Fitzpatrick, was flooded with calls from practically every major record label in waxdom. Epic was "firstest with the mostest" (as they say in fisticuffdom) and C.K. Strong promptly was off the ground and flyingÑstraight up.

Geoff Westen was next to join the group in the heat of their ascent and immediately proved himself a genuine triple-threat musician. Brilliant on rhythm guitar and composition, he surprised everyone with his unusual and infectious brand of vocalizing.

Ron Grinel on drums and Chris Brooks on bass rounded out the group to make it about the most instrumentally erudite rock ensemble extant. With the exception of "Rolling Down the Highway," "Been So Long" and "Affairs," written by Westen, Lynn Carey and Jeff Kewley penned words and music to everything else here.

Everything here? Dig:

Side 1

1. "Stormbird"...Lynn unleashes her three-octave reach, winding this haunting piece on a whistle-like note too shrill for dogs.
2. "Baby Let Me Out"...A straight blues composition in which Lynn wails in traditional vein, only to pull out all stops for a brilliant surprise a capella ending.
3. "Affairs"...Ditty about the "wicked women" of the world in which Geoff Westen and the group come on for the first time with a thoroughly engaging collective sound.
4. "Trilogy"...Again Lynn takes charge and runs the gamut from torture to ecstasy, rage to passion, ethereal to earthy, in an incredibly difficult spiritual-flavored composition.

Side 2

1. "Been So Long"...Song of sheer lust, Geoff Westen depicting the love-starved man in pursuit of his woman in straight, old-style blues genre.
2. "Mean Hearted Man"...It's Lynn again, singing about "My man, he treats me so bad," woefully, while interjecting humor throughout, yet retaining the seriousness of the lyric, leaving you limp, man, limp and exhausted!
3. "Rolling Down The Highway"...Upbeat number in which Geoff and the whole group, including Lynn who adds the proper punch of spice, tells about a sentimental journey back to his love.
4. "Daddy"...Lynn puts the capper on entire proceedings with this hilarious female-viewpointed piece, asking her man, "Why donÕt you buy me pretty things?"

Pithy and incomplete as these capsule reviews are, they're the most anyone can do with words when describing the sounds herein. Hearing is believing but, even then, you'll come away shaking your head in disbelief. It's truly a great album of contemporary music, containing everything original, everything ebullient and everything "strong" in modern-day record production.

--Joe X. Price

Here is another set of tracks from Geoff's early band days with CK STRONG on Epic Records. .

Click on the player below to get the music going. Then sit back and enjoy!

C.K. STRONG - READY, SET, LIVE!
Swing Auditorium, San Bernardino, California
June 25, 1969

They were on the bill with Creedence Clearwater and Canned Heat. I wanted to see this band, but I didn't want to drive to San Bernardino on a Saturday night. But as fate would have it, a female compadre called and had nothing to do so she agreed to make the trek with me. Off we went and about an hour and a half later we drove up to the Swing Auditorium.

We were running a bit late and the band was already on stage in the middle of their first song. As we were walking into the venue, walking in the tunnel leading to the main room, I started hearing this wailing guitar. Solid, in control guitar work. The tunnel gave it a wonderful ambience - like singing in the shower. Keep in mind, I haven't seen anything yet, I'm just hearing this as I'm entering the auditorium. I stopped and listened some more. I liked what I was hearing and almost didn't want to move forward. But there were other people in the tunnel and I kind of got pushed along.

As we entered the room, the music got softer and I heard this angel voice way down low, very sensitive, very distinct. This singer sucked me in - I almost tripped as I strained to look in the direction of the stage to see who this was. A stunning female was zeroed in on her front line audience and as she sang to them, they squirmed around in delight. This was my introduction to Lynn Carey and her band, C.K. Strong.

After 4-5 songs, I began to catch on. I was beginning to understand the buzz about them. This band didn't playing smooth cool grooves. CKS gets in your face. There is no way to keep your eyes off of lead singer Lynn Carey as she explodes before your eyes. She is a one-woman wrecking crew, breaking the vocal sound barrier over and over again. She is pretty amazing and a fine front woman to this great sounding band.

Guitar players Jefferson Kewley and Geoff Westen easily handle the string chores as they grunt and grind their way through the band's unique rock, pop and blues blend of music. Kewley is a fine blues guitarist. You can tell his heroes after a few songs. A touch of Freddy King, a dose of Buddy Guy, and a bit of Peter Green comes to mind. It's not only "what" he plays...it's HOW he plays it, the sound of it, the emotion, especially on the blues ballads.

Meanwhile, there is Westen over on the other side of Lynn. Slim, hair streaming down his back, guitar slung low below his hip. He's got that iconic rock and roller look. But it doesn't stop there. He's a player too. He attacks his rhythm parts. He's not lost in the live mix. He's right there in support of what JK is putting down. They are a good one-two guitar punch.

The current rhythm section of Bernie Mysior on Bass and Ron Grinel on drums, rounds out this very tight band. Mysior adds a very soft bottom end and a smooth, calm, melodic sense of space to the live sound. Add to it the clean, spacious style of Grinel, and you have a very controlled energy coming from the center of the stage.

So, my friend and I are thoroughly rocking out, and Jefferson Kewley abruptly stops the show with an announcement. He was excited to inform us that a special segment of the show was about to happen. A special event right before their last song. Time for some magic.

Were these guys going pull a rabbit out of a hat? Actually on this night they poured milk into a newspaper and it disappeared forever. Before this magical event began, Creedance and Canned Heat came out on stage to witness this miracle. They obviously had the heads up on this happening.

So, we all sat spell bound as Jefferson pulled off his illusion. But rather than make the milk re-appear, he made a pact on the spot to for all those witnessing this miracle, including all the different members of the other bands, that we should all re-unite and meet back here in the year 1979. On this exact spot. And he will make the milk re-appear. I don't know about you, but I'll be there.

The set closed out with their classic version of Mean Hearted Man. A song that showcases everyone's talent. A tremendous show stopper/closer. Well worth the price of admission on it's own.

I've got to say (and my date for the night agrees), this is one of those bands that you have to see and hear to appreciate. They've been touring all over the west for the last few months and only good reviews follow them from gig to gig. They will soon take a break and get to work in the studio as they have a new album on Epic Records coming out in the fall. Catch their live show while you can. You won't regret it.

Adolfous Showstopper
Cream Magazine
June 25, 1969

C.K. STRONG
Epic Records

What do Jefferson Kewley, Lynn Carey and Geoff Westen have in common with W.C. Fields? A whole lot of heart, soul, drinking and a million laughs. Oh, and one other thing...they all met and put together their wonderful brand of rock and blues in W.C. Fields mansion in the Hollywood Hills. Why there? That's where Jefferson was holed up for a while in between tours with the legendary Wayne Cochran and the C.C. Riders.

In many respects, all three came from similar music backgrounds but took divergent paths to get here. Hardcore hard knocks, band fights, breakups, sex, drugs, rock and roll blah blah blah. We've all been there one way or another, but we all didn't end up finding musical soulmates and putting a band together, did we?

So the C (Carey) K (Kewley) Strong caravan began in the summer of 1969. GW was a late arrival and the name of the band was locked in before he showed up. Otherwise it might have been CKW Strong. Probably better he was left out of the band naming, if you know what I mean.

This band has traveled through many rehearsal rooms, with a number of different rhythm sections for a couple of years now. Through it all, C, K & W locked musical horns, had brilliant moments, and broke up a thousand times. But the "breakup" never stuck and they've continued to battle the odds while writing terrific songs and playing huge music.

According to the "experts," their live shows are fantastic. There are very few bands in the LA area that have the balls to go with a decidedly San Francisco sound. The critics say they are loud, raucous, thrilling, memorable, more blah blah blah...in their attempt to fuse their brand of rock and blues together. I agree.

Lynn is the quintessential blondized queen, squeezing every ounce of energy out of her throbbing mouth. Jefferson's distinct style has made him an instant legend in the guitar circles of our time. He barely has time for the band because he is in demand for his 6-string bomb blasts on other bands' projects. And Westen diligently pursues his interest in music, design and living the life with a vengeance that everyone steers clear of.

The folks at Epic Records were not gong to let this band be picked up by the competition. They followed the band for months like little puppy dogs, tongues hanging out and hoping for a morsel of commitment to be thrown their way. Finally in the winter of 1970, the trio gave in and decided to give Epic what they wanted.

The new album, C.K. Strong, is a collaboration of the "trio" and their good mate Jackie Mills. Sharing time with Simon & Garfunkel, Neil Diamond and Buffalo Springfield among others at the cavernous CBS studios in mid-town Hollywood, CKS has left their musical imprint in the hallowed halls of that historic studio.

The album is expansive. It covers all the important moments in their short history. These guys don't pigeonhole themselves as writers. They cover all the bases; exuberant at times; excruciating here and there; and always adventurous. You need all these elements to punch out a unique "sound." I can attest to this as I am black and blue after living through this album.

Lynn's talent jumps off the record. She has style and power and is truly a unique one. Her lyrics reflect the misery she finds company with. Some day her prince will come. She has a way of commanding your attention and then sucking you into her world. Her "liveness" is on every track, in every groove. Just when you think she's run out of gas - wham! I love it...can't get enough.

Jefferson's wiggly fingers tell a different story. He has studied the greats and combined their guitar concepts with his own. He plays with his eyes closed. That tells you something. Not only that he is in another world at times, but that this music is coming from his deep down creative soul. We all have this place, but he knows where it is and can access it whenever he plugs in his Les Paul.

Geoff's path to Lynn and Jefferson came after three years playing with a band in San Francisco while living in the Haight. He is a musical sponge, sopping up every note and nuance he runs across. He immerses himself in the music. He thrives on it. You can hear the angst in his vocals; the aggression in his guitar work; and he has that look in his eyes. Is he laughing or crying?

There's not much more blathering I can do until you out there listen to the new album and get back to me. We can pick up our dialog at that time. For now, all I can say is that there's no other band in the world better than C.K. Strong.

Salamander Effington III
LA Free Press

1 to 10 = 10 Must Buy!

Jefferson, Lynn and Geoff

Jefferson, Geoff, Lynn and Chris

Jefferson

Lynn

Geoff

Epic Records Ad