Fever Tree I bought my first LP at a Woolworth store on Austin Street in Forest Hills, NY over thirty years ago. The neat part about that is the fact that when I listen to that record today, it sounds even better than it did in 1960. This is because the speakers, tuner, turntable, stylus are of higher quality than the old Webcor Record Player I played loudly in room when I was a teenager. Obviously taking good care of the vinyl is of paramount importance if you expect to hear the true quality of the music for many years.

My extensive vinyl collection includes both LP’s and 45’s. The LP’s are simply played on my turntable, while the 45’s are heard through my jukebox. This jukebox was rescued by me from a life of bar abuse and beer soaked frivolity to be resident in my den for my friends, my daughter’s friends and me to hear it crank out my favorite songs. I am continually in the hunt for rare 45’s to be placed in this Seeburg jukebox that was built in the early 1970’s. I continually try to maintain a balance of musical selections in the jukebox that takes into account music from the 1950’s through today. I have a core of favorite songs that seemingly are never removed from the jukebox that transcend all time periods. One of those songs that have remained in the jukebox for quite some time is called "San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)" by Fever Tree.

Fever Tree began their career in Houston, Texas, but quickly was identified with the 1968 Summer of Love in San Francisco. I have three of their albums and quite frankly, I cannot understand what prompted me to buy the first one. I did not know the members of the band. The producers were a husband and wife team that I never heard of. There were no famous session players. The label was UNI, which could only boast of Neil Diamond and young Elton John on their roster of talent at the time.

Fever Tree (UNI # 73024) is an incredible album. I suspect I bought the album after hearing the aforementioned "San Francisco Girls" on a FM station. I would not be out of line by stating that there is not a weak cut on this album. Scott and Vivian Holtzman, the producers of this album have written most of the songs on this offering, but the group also sings some tunes written by Stax Records legend Steve Cropper, Neil Young and a combination of "Day Tripper/We Can Work It Out" by Lennon & McCartney. The lead vocalist, Dennis Keller has that gravel voice that does justice to ballads and uptempo songs as well.

As a result of "San Francisco Girls," the group became synonymous with psychedelia and the West Coast sound. However, what was unique was the addition of strings and baroque style classical arrangements to augment the Holtzman’s songs. The second Fever Tree offering was called Another Time; Another Place (UNI # 73040). The Holtzman’s continued to write and the group continued to sing and this album comes nowhere close to the quality of the first one. An ill-advised version of the Peggy Lee classic "Fever" is regrettable, at best. The majority of this album is introspective, making the mood a bit depressing. If you like depressing, then you may like this album. Nice cover art, but that’s about it.

My third Fever Tree album is called Creation (UNI # 73067) and is mediocre. The Holtzman’s continue to write, but the flair from the first album is lost here. The only point worth mentioning is that future ZZ Top member; Billy Gibbons is featured prominently on this offering. The group disbanded in 1970 with the distinction of having one really cool song contained on really cool album. "San Francisco Girls (Return of the Native)" is worth finding.