- Roy Cox -- bass (1968-69)
- David Fore -- drums (1968-69)
- Todd Potter -- guitar (1968-69)
- Rod Prince -- guitar (1968-69)

- Demian (Roy Cox, David Fore, Tod Potter and

  Rod Prince)
- Sirius (Todd Potter, and Rod Prince)

Genre: psych

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  A Gathering of Promises

Company: International Artists

Catalog: IA-LP 10

Year: 1968

Country/State: Houston, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: --

Available: 1

GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $60.00

Hailing from Corpus Christi, Texas, and originally known as The New Seeds and then Willowdale Handcar, 1967 found bassist Roy Cox, drummer David Fore and guitarists Todd Potter and Rod Prince relocating to Austin where their live act began attracting local interest as Bubble Puppy (the name reportedly chosen while tripping at a Hendrix concert where they happened across a copy of Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World"). In 1968 the group won a recording contract with tiny International Artists Records (home of Texas' own 13th Floor Elevators), relocating to Houston. 

Produced by Ray Rush, their 1968 debut album "A Gathering of Promises" featured a timely mixture of conventional rock and psychedelia. Mixing occasionally incoherent lyrics with attractive guitar-propelled melodies and sweet harmonies, the album wasn't without it's particular charm, particularly, the fluke hit single "Hot Smoke and Sassafrass", the title track and "Hurry Sundown". Still, the overall effect was slightly thin - certainly more commercial than Roky Erickson and company, but not as gratifying. Propelled by the title track and an American tour opening for Steppenwolf, the parent album hit #176. (In 1993 Collectables reissued the set in CD format.)

"A Gathering of Promises" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Hot Smoke and Sassafrass   (Roy Cox - Rod Prince) - 2:30
2.) Todd's Tune   (Todd Potter) - 3:07
3.) I've Got to Reach You   (Roy Cox - Todd Potter) - 7:40
4.) Lonely   (Roy Cox - Rod Prince) - 2:48
5.) Gathering of Promises  (Rod Prince - M. Taylor) - 2:26

(side 2)

6.) Hurry Sundown   (Roy Cox - Rod Prince) - 4:02
7.) Elizabeth   (Roy Cox - Rod Prince) - 2:50
8.) It's Safe to Say   (Mings) - 2:26
9.) Road to St. Stephens   (Roy Cox - Rod Prince) - 4:06
10.) Beginning  (Roy Cox - Rod Prince) - 3:45

Over the next year the group released three unsuccessful follow-on singles ("If I Had a Reason" b/w "Beginning", "Days of Our Time" b/w "Thinkin' About Thinkin'" and "What Do You See?" b/w "Hurry Sundown". Unfortunately, by mid-1970, International Artists was history, leaving the band to sign with ABC's Dnhill subsidiary. Cox, Fore and Potter subsequently continued their collaboration as Demian (see separate entry). In the mid-'70s they reappeared

as Sirius.

Genre: psych

Rating: *** (3 stars)

Title:  Wheels Go Round

Company: One Big Guitar

Catalog: OBGLP-9004

Year: 1986

Country/State: Houston, Texas

Grade (cover/record): VG / VG

Comments: UK import; minor ring and corner wear

Available: 1

GEMM Catalog ID: not yet listed

Price: $35.00

Sixteen years later all four original members reunited to record a live version of their hit "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass". The resulting publicity saw the band release 1987's "Wheels Go Round". Recorded in Austin with producer Stan Cappinger, the album featured a mixture of new ("Because I Want To" and the title track) and rerecorded material ("Hurry Sundown" and "Hot Smoke and Sassafrass"). As to be expected, time had clearly taken it's toll on the quartet, though Prince's voice seemed to have improved with age). On one hand you would have laughed had the band (now in their mid-'40s) turned in "A Gathering of Promises, Part 2". By the same token, most folks probably weren't expecting to hear 38 Special-styled Americana such as "Tell It To Me Straight", "Love Loves (To Rock and Roll)" and "For My Love". The results weren't bad; certainly unexpected, but not bad. In a way it didn't matter since the collection wasn't released domestically.

"Wheels Go Round" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Tell It To Me Straight   (Todd Potter) - 
2.) Love Loves   (To Rock and Roll) (Roy Cox) - 
3.) Hurry Sundown  (Rod Prince - Roy Cox) - 
4.) For My Love   (Roy Cox) - 
5.) Only a Loner   (Rod Prince - Roy Cox) - 

(side 2)

1.) Hot Smoke and Sassafras   (Rod Prince - Roy Cox) - 
2.) Wheels Go Round   (Todd Potter) - 
3.) Because I Want To   (Roy Cox) - 
4.) No More Tenderness   (Roy Cox) - 
5.) My Life   (Todd Potter) -