Short Cross - Arising (us 1971) Psychedelic Rock "We haven't been able to dig up much about Short Cross, though we know they were based in
Sandston, Virginia (a suburb of Richmond). Originally known as The Hustlers, by the late-'60s
drummer Gray McCalley, keyboard player Butch Owens, singer/guitarist Velpo Richardson and
bassist Bird Sharp had metamorphosed into Short Cross. The band made their debut with a little
known single on the small Colpar label - "On My Own" b/w "Marching Off To War" (Colpar catalog
54-1005). The following year they got an opportunity to record an album. Recorded in Richmond's
Alpha Studio Studios and released by the small local Guzley label, 1971's "Arising" teamed the
group with producers Dave Herren and Rhett Riddle. Judging by the liner notes, Richardson was
the band's mainstay. In addition to serving as lead singer and lead guitarist, he was
responsible for penning all eight tracks (drummer McCalley co-wrote one track).
So what about the music? Well, over the years we've seen this one listed on several high priced
psych/progressive sales lists. If you're looking for those genres, don't bother reading the rest
of this. The majority of "Uprising" offers up a surprisingly accomplished set of mainstream
guitar-rock. Overlooking the occasionally irritating horn arrangements ("Nothing But a Woman"),
material such as the organ-propelled "Till We Reach the Sun" (sporting a nice Santana-styled
Latin vibe), the bluesy "Suicide Blues" and "On My Own" was tuneful and rocked, fitting in well
with conventional early-'70s rock. Sporting a modest Allman Brothers feel and a great rhythm
pattern, "Wastin Time" was our personal favorite. While you won't find anything particularly
original or earth shattering here, Richardson had a good voice and was a first-rate guitarist
(check out his solo on "Just Don't Care"). Some of you may not take this as a compliment (it's
meant to be), but we play this LP far more often than anything from Grand Funk Railroad ...
The fact it was released on a small label with limited distribution capabilities spelled instant
obscurity for the album (and apparently the band itself)."
~ by BadCat Records.
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From Sandston, Virginia, this band evolved out of the Hustlers, whose members included, at
various stages, ex-Reactors Steve Hicks and ex-Outlaws Butch Owens alongside core members Velpo
Robertson, Gray McCalley and Ben Luck. The latter left to join the Barracudas, of A Plane View
LP fame.
Their rare album can best be described as heavy psychedelic blues, at its purest on Suicide
Blues. There's plenty of good guitar work throughout, Wastin' Time, Just Don't Care, Till We
Reach The Sun and Hobo Love Song all have their share, whilst Ellen is a slow bluesy ballad.
The album lacks sufficient originality to make it special but if this musical genre is where
you're at you shouldn't be disappointed.
~ by (Max Waller / Roger Maglio).
Tracks:
01. Nothin' but a Woman 0:00
02. Wastin Time 5:31
03. Suicide Blues 9:20
04. Just Don't Care 16:25
05. On My Own 20:57
06. Till We Reach the Sun 25:58
07. Ellen 30:55
08. Hobo Love Song 36:48
Bonus Tracks:
09. On My Own (stereo mix of A-side of 45*) 41:38
10. Marching off to War (stereo mix of B-side of 45*) 44:32
11. That's Her Train (unreleased stereo mix) 47:33
12. Bomb (unfinished demo - mono) 50:30
13. Before It Rains (unfinished demo - mono) 54:38
Members:
* Gray McCalley (drums, percussion, vocals),
* Butch Owens (organ, piano, Moog, Hammond, vocals),
* Velpo Richardson (vocals, lead guitar, piano),
* Steve Hicks (bass),
* Dudley "Byrd" Sharp (bass, backing vocals)
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