CASHMAN VAQUERO BAND “In Memory of Berry Oakley” SEALED

CASHMAN VAQUERO BAND “In Memory of Berry Oakley” (U.S.Private) 1978 Extremely RARE! SEALED so rare SEALED

Rare blues rock album that is terrific and sooooo rare nowadays…Unheard of in SEALED shape.

Vaquero means “cowboy” from its Spanish translation. Band leader Doug Cashman chose the name at whim, with no particular meaning attached to it. He and bass player Ron Sadus were close friends of Ray (Berry) Oakley, and formed a seminal garage band together in Park Forest, IL in 1963. Oakley later took his guitar skills south to Florida in the late 60’s, eventually hooking up with the Allman Bros, and succumbing to head injuries from a motorcycle accident in 1972. Sadus also passed away, he while recording this album, in 1979. Anyone expecting this to be an Allman’s tribute album will be off the mark, though they still shouldn’t be disappointed. It’s musically very diverse and rather light, semi-commercial rock with some light jazz elements included. There are several instrumentals mixed in with the pleasant vocal tracks. Everything is bolstered with solid guitar provided by Cashman and guest guitarists. Though there are numerous styles present, all seem to flow well together, even the somewhat out of place pedal steel driven “Drivin’ Me Crazy”, the only outright country track on here. I don’t think many would consider this essential by any stretch, and it’s reputation among the psychedelic rock set is a mystery. But anyone seeking a solidly entertaining and yet highly obscure offering should dig these grooves. The original vinyl came with a pic sleeve with an image of Oakley’s grave site on one side, and liner notes on the other.

Track listing
A1
California
A2
Down in the Belly
A3
Drivin Me Crazy
A4
Security
A5
Good Days
B1
View From a Mountain Peak
B2
There’s No Tellin
B3
In Memory of Berry Oakley
B4
San Francisco Sunset