Gary McFarland – Peter Smith – Butterscotch Rum

This is from an old 1971 Buddah recording produced by McFarland for SKYE, a multi-talented label that was doomed as a most artist-owned business when it allows complete artistic control over the potential for net profits.

McFarland, after years with VERVE, put together some very time-inspired cuts, with a couple of self-written gems, like “Jenny’s Path” and my favorite “All My Better Days.” In any case, these tunes are reminiscent of McFarland’s later Verve releases, but more in line with the things he was doing with SKYE, like the readily available DOES THE SUN REALLY SHINE ON THE MOON or a rare classical effort in AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL (SUITE).

Warren Berhardt is my favorite sideman on this album, but also you have to admire the efforts of Peter Smith. It is full of 70’s type reflections as in satire and elegy. But in all, and this is what you probably will admire the most, the melodies are superb and quite memorable.

This is a must-own, and you cannot own more than three McFarland collector’s items and not have this one within the collection.