Looking for the Sun

As a songwriter, producer, or vocalist, Curt Boettcher had a hand in some of the most unique and memorable songs of the late 60s, whether it was the bubblegum of Tommy Roes Sweet Pea, the baroque pop of the Associations Along Comes Mary, or the psychedelic weirdness of Sagittarius My World Fell Down. He was also behind the scenes on lots of songs and albums that didnt crack the public consciousness at the time but later became treasures to lovers of delicate and harmonious pop, the main example being the Millenniums Begin. Looking for the Sun focuses on a period just after his successes with the Association and Tommy Roe when he was set up with a production company and unlimited studio time. It gave the 22-year-old fledgling producer and talent scout plenty of opportunity to work on perfecting his sound while also looking for pop hits. With a talented cadre of cohorts, including his partner in Our Productions Victoria Wilson, Boettcher worked with a wide array of artists from different segments of the pop spectrum. Gathered up here are cuts from girl groups (the Bootiques,) Roy Orbison-style crooners (Keith Whitley), British folk-rockers (Jonathan Moore), and garage bands (Action Unlimited), along with a few cuts featuring Boettcher himself (both sides of an early Sagittarius single Another Time and a song from Summers Children, an avant-pop duo with Wilson). The main thing all the artists had in common is that none of them had any hits despite Boettchers best efforts. It does make for a fine collection of left-field pop, hidden gems, and weird moments though. The best tracks are where his lush and echoey production techniques meet up with first-rate songs and interesting singers to create magic. Cindy Malones You Were Near Me is a haunting slice of bouffant pop made special by the wooly production that makes the song sound like a train barreling through a tunnel, Summers Childrens Milk and Honey gets spooky thanks to the way Boettchers and Wilsons vocals blend like demon-eyed twins, Action Unlimiteds minor-key garage rock ballad My Heart Cries Out features some disembodied, swirling echo, and Another Time is otherworldly baroque pop sung by Boettcher with elfin charm. His more straightforward songs and productions are just as satisfying; the Spector-sized sound of Ray Whitleys Take Back Your Mind is powerfully huge, I Didnt Ever Know by Jonathan Moore is a jangling slice of heartbreak folk, and the Bootiques Did You Get Your Fun is a frothy bit of innocent girl pop. Confusingly, there are a few songs that dont have a tangible connection to Boettcher, but they are mostly in the same vein as his work (Eddie Hodges Shadows & Reflections) or by friends of his (both sides of an early Sandy Salisbury single), so it doesnt disrupt the flow sonically. Despite that bit of archival weirdness, Looking for the Sun is a fascinating, quite listenable, and often brilliant survey of an undocumented section of Boettchers career thats well worth investigating. ~ Tim Sendra