Insert inappropriate “hung” joke here
Silent Partner — Hung By a Thread
(from the LP Hung By A Thread, Lucky Boy Records 1975)
I have spent the last several years listening to and writing about rare privately pressed records. While many of the bad ones have some charm, the fact is that most are pretty dire, some are interesting and inspired but deeply flawed, a few are extremely pleasurable despite (or, in part, because of) their flaws, and a very, very small number are both enjoyably unique AND legitimately good. This 1975 album is one of the most pleasant surprises I encountered during my quest. The title tune is as good a song as I’ve heard from that era by anyone. Looking at it now, it easily could pass for a new wave or indiepop song from several years hence, but when you know it’s 1975 it makes perfect sense. Only that time period could have produced an album that includes Beatlesque pop, quasi-prog metal and a 10 minute jazz-rock instrumental. Though most of the album is very good, this song stands head and shoulders above the rest: Two — count-em, two — lovely melodies, the buildup, that killer (and, for once, subtle) synth bit that introduces the guitar solo, and the (long) solo itself, one of my all time faves. Silent Partner were from Athens, Georgia, and I have to think that R.E.M., Mitch Easter, the dBs, et al, must have seen them at some point and been influenced by them. “Hung By A Thread” most definitely sounds like the precursor to the whole melodic/jangly guitar 80s wave of southern rock.
– Aaron Milenski
Fusion 101 Radio said,
January 8, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
Long live 70s jazz-rock! I’m not familiar with this record. Thanks for posting, Music Man.
JubilationTCornpone said,
January 8, 2009 @ 3:01 pm
I like this a lot. Sounds kind of like Shoes. Like if Shoes didn’t vacuum the life out of their songs with their production, but sat around and jammed, it might sound like this.
Ken said,
January 23, 2009 @ 4:29 pm
I get a Pezband buzz off of it myself.
David James said,
March 26, 2009 @ 9:25 pm
Somewhere along the line, the dates on this one got mixed up. I was in Silent Partner (drums, keys, etc.) from 1978-1980. We recorded most of Hung by a Thread in 1978 and finished up the mixing in 1979. That’s just for the record. Appreciate you guys’ comments though!
Robert Pally said,
October 6, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
Hi David
I heard some of the songs at http://www.thestrangeexperienceofmusic.com/. And i really love them. Do you have a copy of “Hung by a Thread” for sale?
Best
Robert
Switzerland
Jeff Ohlrich said,
February 5, 2010 @ 10:58 pm
1978 Florida State University, this album ended up in my collection, I seem to remenber a very nice young lady left it in my apartment. She said that she went to a show, or new someone in the band. Anyway, Hung by a Thread was way ahead of it’s time. (the song). though other songs pulled from other artist.. who cares . Perhaps I’m feeling a little meloncoly for the times when this record was left behind in my care. David Shew, Don Porterfield,Kemp Jones, David James,Ben Bickerstaff, nice job. I just finished listening to it. and it’s not for sale.
“it’s alright here” one nice self produced album.
Jeff Ohlrich said,
February 5, 2010 @ 11:02 pm
sorry David , she left in 1979 or early 1980 , 1977 to 1981 was a good 4 years
Mark said,
March 9, 2010 @ 5:30 pm
Great band. I just picked up their 1981 self titled EP on Lucky-Boy records. The songs are prog based but has a new wave tilt to them. Maybe even a little AOR. The songs are “A Blanket Statement, Blank Page, Radio Activity, The Second It Surrounds You.