West Coast Revival -

The West Coast Revival was an American soul trio from California that cut three early Seventies singles for United Artists, compiled with additional cuts on their 1977 album.

Members: Dean Robinson, Luther Rabb, Patrick Taylor

Background

West Coast Revival formed in Los Angeles by 1971 as a California vocal trio with singers Dean Robinson, Luther James Rabb, and Patrick Taylor. Rabb came from Seattle, where he played saxophone in the Velvetones around the early Jimi Hendrix circle, then played bass and sang in Ballin’ Jack. Robinson and Taylor first appear in the available record with West Coast Revival’s 1971 United Artists single.

West Coast Revival reached United Artists through the War and Far Out circle. Howard Scott and Lonnie Jordan produced “Stop, Think, Get It Together” / “Beautiful Girl,” which United Artists issued in September 1971. The trio followed with “So Far Away” / “Beautiful Girl” in 1972, with Jerry Goldstein and Joe Falsia on the Carole King side and Scott and Jordan again tied to the B-side. United Artists issued “It’s Gonna Be Hard” in 1973, with “Free” on the stock single. LAX later gathered the group’s early-seventies material for the 1977 album West Coast Revival.

West Coast Revival

West Coast Revival released their self-titled album in 1977 on LAX Records.

The album presents vocal-harmony soul with bass-forward funk passages, performed by singers Dean Robinson, Luther Rabb, and Patrick Taylor. West Coast Revival recorded the material in 1972–73, during the period when United Artists issued “So Far Away” and “It’s Gonna Be Hard” as singles.

“It’s Gonna Be Hard” clips through close-harmony leads and answering lines. “So Far Away” glides on softened vocal placement and a measured backbeat. “Feelin’ Alright” pivots on a low bassline and clipped break accents. “Love of My Life” settles into sustained lead phrases and string-lined cushion. “Talkin’ Bout Love” lopes through group response and plainspoken refrain repeats. “The Family Was Right” keeps the vocal blend tight against a firm mid-tempo pulse. “My Mind Is at Ease” clips its breaks under short lead phrases. “Familiar Places” extends the slow cadence with cushioned vocal entries and late-arriving arrangement color.

A1. “It’s Gonna Be Hard” (2:56) – Goldstein
A2. “So Far Away” (3:40) – King
A3. “Feelin’ Alright” (3:50) – Mason
A4. “Love of My Life” (3:14) – Robinson, James, Taylor
A5. “Talkin’ ’Bout Love” (3:43) – Goldstein

B1. “The Family Was Right” (3:15) – Robinson, James, Taylor
B2. “Free” (3:10) – Robinson, James, Taylor
B3. “My Mind Is at Ease” (3:54) – Robinson, James, Taylor
B4. “Familiar Places” (5:45) – Robinson, James, Taylor

Jerry Goldstein and Joe Falsia produced and arranged the album. Chris Huston engineered the sessions. Gribbitt! designed the sleeve.

United Artists issued “Stop, Think, Get It Together” in September 1971 (b/w “Beautiful Girl”). “So Far Away” followed in 1972 (b/w “Beautiful Girl”), and “It’s Gonna Be Hard” appeared in 1973 (b/w “Free”).

Big Pink reissued West Coast Revival on CD in 2010 with “Beautiful Girl” and “Stop, Think, Get It Together” as bonus tracks. Survival Research reissued the album on LP in 2021 with “Beautiful Girl” as a bonus track.

Discography: