Another underrated gem to get its first digital release courtesy of Radioactive Records.
This time it's the turn of the bizarrely-named Federal Duck, which made its
appearance on the Musicor label (MM 2162) in 1968.
Formed by banjo exponent George Stavis, Federal Duck (named after the Federal
Duck Stamp Program which was enacted by conservationist Jay "Ding" Darling and
US President Franklin D Roosevelt in 1934), produced this lone musical effort which,
once you get past the absurd cover, contains a consistently-good album which is
mildly jazzy, has some fine bass and an ever-present darkish vibe. There are a few
upbeat mold-breaking songs (one even sounds like the Holy Modal Rounders) but
generally a soft-psych feel pervades throughout.
It is interesting to speculate as to how Federal Duck ended up on the Musicor label,
whose other acts included far more illustrious artists such as Gene Pitney, The Platters
and George Jones. However, the relationship was destined to last for just the one
album, with Stavis departing soon after to form the Californian communal rock band
Oganookie and then to record an eponymous album for Vanguard.
Although there really isn't that much information about Federal Duck out there, the
general consensus is that this is an album that deserves greater recognition than it has
hitherto received Track Listing
1. Knowing That I Loved You So
2. Easy Virtue Blues
3. Tomorrow Waits For Today
4. Just Like The Snow
5. Bird
6. Hello
7. While You're Away
8. Peace In My Mind
9. Just A Band
10. Friday Morning
11. Dawn Comes Slow
12. Ain't Gonna Be Nobody To Sing
The Blues
13. Circus In The Sea
