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Like Fohhoh Bohob, a number of international collector catalogs have listed Phonography over the years. Some of the historical information (initial numbers pressed, year released, worth, etc.) is inaccurate in some cases; here are a few: As part of Eric Bergman's exhaustive overview of his gentle but continual ramble through rock and roll life over the decades, the double-CD package of his two solo albums from the late seventies and early eighties lives up to the extensive work he did for various eras of the Patron Saints, not to mention Garrison. Garrison features throughout the first solo album, Modern Phonography, released in 1978 and including the song that would be Garrison's own sole release during its lifetime, "It's In De Blood." Bergman's ear for playful arrangements is evident throughout Modern Phonography, a brisk folk rock album that Dan Fogelberg fans of the time might have found too spiky and most incipient new wavers too mellow, a record that finds its own logic. Sending Out Signals, surfacing four years later, embraced said new wave in its own understated way — graphics feature computer typography and punch cards — and is definitely a crisper, punchier album all around, as reflective of an older generation's embrace of newer possibilities as everything from the Police (a definite role model for songs like "You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too") to Steve Miller showed around the same time. A slightly thin sound throughout betrays the low-budget circumstances but Bergman and his collaborators give it all a fair bash and he sounds in fine voice. Each disc on the reissue contains a variety of bonus tracks, with the Modern Phonography cuts reaching back almost five years previously to include otherwise unheard songs via solo demos like "Borrowed Time" and "Fish Out of Water." The Sending Out Signals extras similarly reach back a touch, with a Garrison version of the title track recorded in 1979. Ned Raggett
ERIC BERGMAN-Modern Phonography (Private '78) Superb eccentric folk/folk rock LP from the Patron Saints leader, who plays a magical 6 a & 12 string and slide guitars. All original material with that offbeat, quirky edge that made the Patron Saints LP so unique and sought-after. Some cuts with him solo, others with various backing combinations of drums, bass and vocals. Comes in a fragile fold-open beige cvr with "old time"-looking photos front, back and inside, an an informational insert. Only 100 [500 copies, actually] pressed, so you know this is impossibly rare, and almost never offered! $250.
ERIC BERGMAN, Modern Phonography, Patron Saint-1, US '78, ultra rare lp by Patron Saint member, in the same vein as the P.S. lp. $145.
ERIC BERGMAN, Modern Phonography, Patron Saint, US '78, ex-Patron Saint ($1000+ lp) mainman's first solo Lp! Folky rock housed in homemade g/f folder pocket cover! Don't see many like this! Rare item this is! $250.
ERIC BERGMAN, Modern Phonography (Patron Saint '78) Patron Saints brainchild 1st solo LP with magical 6 and 12 string guitars and those moody, eccentric songs and vocals which are his trademark. The solo acoustic tunes are the cream for me, but the group stuff is "there" as well. Comes in an obscure-looking fragile fold-open cover with an old-timey feel, plus an insert. $75. |
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