Spun #6

The Relations
"The Relations"
(self-released)

The sticker next to the $2.50 price tag does not lie: "Decent early 70s Honky Tonk." What we have here are drinking songs, lonesome broken heart songs, getting older songs, all of them written by group members Bob Crank or Calvin Ott, lots of solid but modest pedal steel playing, an over-all clean, no-frills production. . .no surprises here. But do you really want surprises from a country album?

The back cover reveals just the facts:

"Bob Crank was born and raised in Adams, Indiana. He started playing a guitar and singing when he was sixteen years old. He took over the group called The Relations, in 1973.

Calvin Ott was born and raised in the South Mt. area of Shippensburg, Pa. He started playing a guitar and singing when he was twelve years old. He has been with The Relations for four years.

Denny Ott was born and raised in the South Mt. area of Shippensburg, Pa. He started playing the bass when he was twenty-one years old. He has been with The Relations for five years.

Dave Reed was born and raised in Ellicott City, Maryland. He started playing drums when he was fourteen years old. He also likes to play the banjo. He's been with The Relations for six months.

Kenny Piper was born and raised near Amerson, Pa. He started playing the guitar when he was fifteen years old. He plays lead guitar for The Relations.

The Relations love and enjoy playing and listening to music. In the summer they travel around to all the Bluegrass Festivals they can. They play for parties, festivals, clubs, and other engagements. They have been wanting to cut an album for quite some time. Hope you all enjoy it."

Find it here.