1 Well, Well, Well - John Sebastian,
2 Black Snake Blues - John Sebastian, Chenier, Clifton
3 I Don't Want Nobody Else
4 Apple Hill
5 Black Satin Kid
6 We'll See
7 Sweet Muse
8 The Four of Us

From Amazon.com

Strange...VERY strange

 Album Rating: (2 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: John B. Sebastian QUITE occasionally the John Sebastian that I know and love and emulate surfaces, once, I think, even playing Harp. Otherwise this is just an attempt at something I certainly don't understand. Almost EVERYTHING else he's done is in my collection and there's not much disappointment. I'll probably play this once in a while to figure out what I'm missing. If you're particularly enamored of his harp playing check out Welcome Back, Tar Beach, Daydream and Do you Believe... with the Spoonful. His J Band stuff features a lot of his harp and Annie Raines, with a distinctly different style, also harmonicasizing. His voice, they tell me, has gone the way of Polyps, so the older stuff features that lovely voice.

Wonderful album

 Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: The title track to this album got me through a business trip to Poland that included a visit to a former concentration camp. After that horrendous experience, to hear John tell the stories about his cross-USA trip with his wife and another couple was what I needed to regain a sense of equilibrium. The other tracks on this album are terrific, too.

Finally on CD!

 Album Rating: (4 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: I had this LP, purchased from a record club, when it was first released. I really like the story telling and acoustical guitar that made me feel like I was part of the adventure. So, over 30 years later, having long since lost the album, I've tried to tell my wife about it, but there is no way to explain it without listening to it. When we found it was available on Amazon, I ordered it, and when it arrived, we put it on our outdoor stereo as we did some yard work. While my wife heard the Four of Us for the first time, I enjoyed pleasant memories. It was nice to have John sharing his adventure with us in our Alaskan gardens.

+ 1/2 stars...A Worthy Addition to the Sebastian Canon

 Album Rating: (3 of 5 stars)

Review Comments: Kudos to Collectors' Choice Music for re-releasing John Sebastian's Warner/Reprise Sventies' albums. THE FOUR OF US was originally released in late 1972, some 20 months after his 1970 solo debut JOHN B. SEBASTIAN. For this album Sebastian's band consisted of Paul Harris on piano, Kenny Altman on bass (except "Apple Hill" which featured Felix Pappalardi and "Well, Well, Well" which featured Greg Reeves), and Dallas Taylor on drums (except for the song suite "The Four of Us" which featured John Barbata).

The only non-original songs are the blues/rock opening track "Well, Well, Well" and a blistering cover of Clifton Chenier's "Black Snake Blues." Several tracks would not have been out of place on a Lovin' Spoonful album (Sebastian's former band). "I Don't Want Nobody Else" is a tender paean to his wife. "Apple Hill" and "We'll See" are characteristic of the goodtime music the Spoonful churned out in the Sixties. "Black Satin Kid" rocks out and "Sweet Muse" features some funky barrelhouse piano.

The final track, "The Four of Us," is actually four separate songs linked together and chronicling a cross-country journey. The title track is a wonderful acoustic number. "Domenica" is a Caribbean-influenced number featuring the Esso Trinidad Steel Band. The hard-driving "Lashes LaRue" includes Mac Rebennak (aka Dr. John) on piano. The song cycle concludes with the lovely "Red Wing, Colorado."

"Well, Well, Well" with "I Don't Want Nobody Else" was released as a single, but failed to chart. In fact, the album peaked at a disappointing No. 93. [And his follow-up TARZANA KID wouldn't even crack the Top 200 album charts.] But despite Sebastian's lack of chart success, this is a worthy addition to this gifted singer/songwriter's canon. [Running Time - 35:58] RECOMMENDED