The Five Man Electrical Band were from Canada and formed in the late 60's. They had a few songs that made the Canadian charts then in 1971 the song, "Signs" went gold, selling over a million copies. In 1990 the band, Tesla, released a live acoustic version that made Billboards top 10.
Good-byes and Butterflies is Five Man's second album under that moniker, before that they were the Staccatos and had a minor hit in Canada. This album opens with a rocking intro to "Signs". I find their version much better than Tesla's remake, the vocals, lead guitar and bass are superb. Track 2, "Safe & Sound" is a rock and roll evangelistic sermon complete with a choir background. Unless you got something against Jesus it is a good song. "Swamp Woman" is the third track and starts with a good lead riff entwined with the organ. The story is reminiscent of the legend of Marie Laveau and CCR's tales of the swamps. It is well contrived and is musically pleasing. The next song, "(You and I) Butterfly" starts with acoustic guitar then they add two electric guitars, one playing lead and the other replicating the vocals. The song picks up after the chorus then slides back down for the verse only to end strong after the final chorus. Side one finishes with "Hello Melinda Goodbye" and it has that pop song sound. It was on the "B" side of the "Signs" single.
Side 2 starts with "Moonshine" and it has that FM radio sound, something that you would here late at night on a classic rock station, it's good listening but nothing special. The second track, "Forever Together", reminds me of a top 40 song, no lead guitar just strings and layered vocals. This is followed by "Mama's Wrathchild" which is not rock and roll but a sentimental song about a mother and her son. Track 5 "Man with the Horse and Wagon" continues with the sentimental journey about a person's influence in a young man's life. This is followed by "All Is Right" and it is more upbeat that the previous tracks but still has a gospel feel to it. They then segue into the the final tune "Variations on a Theme of Lepidoptera" it is a rocking instrumental that ends this album in a fine manner.
In summary I will enjoy listening to side one again but the second side is on my, maybe next time list.
The Five Man Electrical Band is good enough to warrant adding their other albums to my collection and I would like to hear their earlier works as the Staccatos.
