Time Changes

Ford Theatre presents
TIME CHANGES
A New Musical
ABCS-681 Fall 1969

   PROLOGUE
   TIME CHANGES, is the story of a young man named
   Clifford Smothergill (known to his friends as Clifford) and his
   search for meaning and significance in life. This musical tale is
   based on the life of a very real person, whose true identity is
   a matter for very careful consideration, significant as it is.

ACT I
01. INTRODUCTION (1:00) Being as it is, an introduction.
02. TIME CHANGES (3:09) and so it does. The Chorus (consisting of our main character) discusses our theme.
03. INTERLUDE ONE (1:14) Enter Puck, wandering minstrel, who will introduce the characters in our play, and reappear from time to time to tie together the loose ends of our plot.
04. THAT'S MY GIRL (2:12) a significant scene, wherein, we find Clifford in the midst of his first meaningful love affair.
05. WAKE UP IN THE MORNING (3:08) And upon doing so, Clifford finds himsef a victim of man's eternal adversaries––doubt and insecurity. In short, Clifford panics.
06. I'VE GOT THE FEVER (5:17) Finding his doubt and insecurity to be justified as the result of Mary Jane's leaving him in his hour of need, our hero sinks into the lowest depths of despair and experiences frantic moments that severely shake his faith in humanity.
07. CRASH (1:06) Which he did.
08. AT THE STATION (3:51) The possibility of finding some meaningful answers at home occurs to Clifford which prompts him to leave New York and return to Philadelphia.

End of Act I
ACT II
09. BACK TO PHILADELPHIA (3:58) Bringing it all back home proves to be a futile attempt at solving his problems, and so poor Clifford is left with the realization that his search for meaning must go on.
10. CLIFFORD'S DILEMMA (1:58) A choice must be made, and Clifford considers the two possibilities––a return to New York and to Mary Jane or an aimless wandering.
11. JEFFERSON AIRPLANE (2:59) Our hero decides to wander aimlessly for a while, and in doing so he loses touch with most of the world around him. Clifford Smothergill experiences a journey that few minds can endure. (ed. note––Heavens to Mergatroid!)
12. I FEEL UNCERTAIN (2:26) Who can survive too long a journey such as this?!!? Our hero can take it only so long, and eventually he decides to return to Mary Jane and to resume the love affair. Mary Jane receives him gladly (after having gone through some pretty heavy changes herself), and now Clifford is left once again with haunting feelings of insecurity.
13. INTERLUDE TWO (1:18) Re-enter Puck, who will now enlighten us somewhat concerning a few of the more subtle aspects of our plot.
14. GOOD THING (2:17) Oh, glorious day for Clifford!! Finally, he is convinced that he has found meaning and significance in life. Let us only hope that herein lies the end to our noble hero's desperate search.
15. OUTRODUCTION (1:13) Wherein Puck sums up our story in a most lucid fashion, bringing to mind the philosophical significance of all that has transpired.

END

FORD THEATRE Presents "TIME CHANGES"––A New Musical Starring––(in alphabetical order) John Mazzarelli––organ, piano, vocals ??• Harry Palmer––guitars, percussion • Joey Scott––bass, vocals • Robert Tamagni––drums, percussion, vocals • Arthur "Butch" Webster––guitars, sleigh bells also Starring Joe Zagarino • Amy Coffman • Buddy Bruno • Bob Lifton • Chet Gierlach • Bill Szymczyk • Harriett Calandrillo and a cast of thousands. Produced, Directed & Narrated by: Bill Szymczyk • Arranged by: Ford Theatre & Bill Szymczyk • Additional Instrumentation Arranged & Conducted by: Bert DeCoteaux––except on "TIME CHANGES"––Strings Arranged & Coducted by: Johnny Pate. And presenting THE FORD THEATRE Rock & Roll Concert Orchestra • Violins Irving Spice––Concert Master • Herbert Sorkin • Louis Haber • Gene Orloff • Matthew Raimondi • Elliot Rosoff • Louis Stone Chelli Seymour Barab • Alan Shulman • Maurice Bialkin Viola Jean DuPouy Trumpets Joseph D. Newman • Burt Collins Trombone Benny Powell • Tenor Sax & Flute Seldon Powell • Baritone Sax Joe Grimm • Harpist Sally Goodwin (and special thanks to Sally for performing her "Jam in "C" for Harp" under extremely difficult conditions.) Stage Crew Sound Engineering––Bill Szymczyk––with the very able assistance of Joe Zagarino & Buddy Bruno of the Hit Factory and Bob Lifton & Wayne Kent of Regent Sound Studios. Mastering by: Lee Hulko of Sterling Sound. Executive Producer: Buddy "The K" Katzel • Advertising––Moe Preskell & Barry Lane • Box Office––Otis Smith • Press Representative––Ken Kendall • General Overseer––Larry Newton • Stage Managers–– Bonnie Love and Jerry & Marcy Ragovoy • Prompter––Lillian Seyfert • Cover & Inside Photos––Ellen McNeilly • Back Cover Photos––Ed Judice • Cover Design––Byron Goto & Henry Epstein • Hassles by––Mel Cheren •
Credits Where Credits Are Due Accomodations by: Taft Hotel • Food by: Gaiety West Deli • Wardrobe by: Michael Arle of New Guttenberg • Makeup by: Fazio Neddlepoint • Hair Styles by: Mother Nature • Discounts by: All Sound Audio • Orders by: Arthur Jorden & Ronnie Pagnini • Additional Equipment by: Chuck Bean, Jr. • House Physician: Mary Jane Szymczyk, R. N. • Un-official Fan Club by: Nancy Dahlgren • Patience & Understanding by: Sue & Jessica Lee • This Album has been awarded The "Rickity Richard Top Shelf Award."

Composed by Palmer, except 6 (Palmer/Marsden)

LYRICS

All Music Guide:

Ford Theatre's second and final album is more subdued and song-oriented than their debut. There's still a downbeat tone to the tunes, but they're more reflective and wistful, and less filled with psychedelic angst. The assaultive organ of the debut is definitely toned down. There's still a San Francisco influence in the squiggly tones of the guitar and the minor-shaded harmonies and melodies, particularly on (what a surprise) "Jefferson Airplane," the track with the best balance between the pop harmonies and into-the-abyss guitar-organ breaks. Some strings push the record more toward pop, but not to its disadvantage. The words often take the sentiments of someone growing older and more disillusioned with passing time; "I Feel Uncertain" is pretty reminiscent of Tim Hardin's early compositions. "Good Thing," by contrast, could have almost fit on an early Youngbloods album with its buoyant optimism. Oddly, one of the songs from their first album, "Back to Philadelphia," is reprised in a different version. The insertion of several brief instrumental interludes, in common with quite a few other records of the era, give rise to conceptual pretensions which really aren't supported by the album's proper songs, though they have their uses in maintaining the period mood of the record.

~Richie Unterberger

They call themselves Ford Theatre.
They travel from the inside out.

A
Ford Theatre
Presentation
on

They break fast and heavy with
"WAKE UP IN THE MORNING"
b/w "Time Changes" ABC -11192

RARE MEXICAN E.P.

CD-R BONUS TRACKS:

16. Who You Belong To (live WBZ-FM Boston/
Dick Summer Subway)

PROOF OF THE PUDDIN'
(Indiana band)
Produced by Danny Davis
17. Flying High (Palmer)/
18. Color Wheel RCA-45 9332 9/66

"An intriguing name and titles to whet psychedelic collectors' appetites. However, Color Wheel is a rambling melodic pop ditty in the 'baroque' style. Flyin' High is a much better upbeat melodic power-popper - beware the 'psych' tag on collector lists!" from Fuzz Acid and Flowers

HARRY PALMER
19. Pomp and Circumstance/
20. Bouree RCA-45 7/74

FORD THEATRE
21. Wake Up In The Morning/
22. Time Changes (single versions)

Original gig poster
"New England Life Hall, Jan 21-24" (1969)

Newsflash Dec 2007: original promo film unearthed! "Wake Up In The Morning" (thanks to Mike Dugo)

Download 'Time Changes' at Bandcamp

also at iTunes