Circus Of Mirth
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Terry Carolan’s (Blue Cartoon/True Hearts) latest hook-filled project is a tribute to a long lost friend and supporter. He explains the story behind “Circus Of Mirth” – “In 1974-75, Ralph Smith, Robert Watkins and Gary Heslin were the core of the band Amnesia in Tampa, Florida. I joined the band for about six months. Later, in 1976, Robert Woodrich, Gary Heslin, and I formed Just Boys. While in Amnesia, I met Gary Littleton, and our friendship, association and collaboration spanned decades. Gary became a fan of Amnesia, especially Ralph Smith’s songwriting, and it was at an Amnesia show that I first met him. Later, when I formed Just Boys, he became a spokesperson, sometimes benefactor and general cheerleader for the band, as he had with Amnesia. But in 1977, Littleton upped the ante by instigating and funding the recording sessions for the Just Boys single, and working with me to form Counterfeit Records for its release. From that time on, Gary became a key figure in many of my musical endeavors, as well as a close friend and a music fan who shared an essentially religious devotion to pop music with me, Ralph Smith and other like-minded people. Gary's interest and support for the music Ralph and I created never wavered. It is those years, and events within them, that are the inspiration for the ‘Circus Of Mirth’ album. In 2015 Ralph and I decided to collaborate on some recordings, and this collaboration brought Gary back into our thoughts, and reminded us of how supportive he had been to both Ralph and myself as songwriters. As our collaboration grew from the few songs we originally intended, to a full album, both of us knew the album should tell the story of Littleton's role in our musical lives, in a quiet and subtle way. We were joined by Robert Woodrich and Robert Watkins, and Heirs Of Fortune was born. It is intentional that the album's first song is ‘Invited’, an Amnesia recording from 1974 that has never before been released. Likewise, that the album is closed by an excerpt from Blue Cartoon's ‘If I Could Do It All Over Again’, the first song I recorded with the band while I was a member. These songs bookend the span of time and events that Gary was so much a part of. Gary Littleton was, in many ways, a contributor to our collective musical endeavors spanning more than thirty years. We were very fortunate for Gary’s help and friendship. We were indeed, Heirs Of Fortune, and Gary really was The Ringmaster of the ‘Circus Of Mirth’.”“A striking debut that couples heritage pop rock inspirations with modern strokes, resulting in a collection of tunes smacking of a timeless quality. Songs dripping with catchy melodies and hummable choruses will never date, and the band delivers these gripping elements in spades. Smooth and polished, but salted with an organic feel stemming straight from the heart and gut, tracks like the sweeping flourishes of ‘Aster Street Days’ and the poignant pulsations of ‘Goodbye My Friend’ twinkle and sparkle with a sense of longing surrounded by bracing George Harrison styled riffs. Bolstered by a curtain of gospel flavored harmonies, ‘Shine’ and the infectious pull of ‘How Can I Resist’ step in as further highlights, as well as a faithful cover of Big Star’s Chris Bell’s ‘I Am The Cosmos’ and the jaunty vaudeville romp of ‘Invited’. Layers of gorgeous keyboard passages, incorporated with tugging guitar dynamics and crisp and fresh vocals pierce every cut on this impeccably executed recording. Aside from doing a great job of keeping the power popping soul of celebrated bands such as Badfinger, Raspberries, Pilot and the aforementioned Big Star alive, Heirs Of Fortune streak their material with their own star-studded strengths. Flowing and fizzing with expressive emotions and sonic beauty, ‘Circus Of Mirth’ checks in as an album primed for repeated spins!” – ItsPsychedelicBaby.com GREAT!!