High Treason - 1969 (full album)

The seeds of High Treason started at Temple University in Philadelphia, circa 1967. Edgar Koshatka started jamming with an assortment of "alternative music types" that were fairly commonplace in those days of sit-ins, protests, and general mayhem. Edgar was a jazz guy-at heart and a by-then-halfhearted classical guy as a music major.

Edgar always kept half-an-ear cocked to some of the innovative new rock radio stations springing up, and was completely "blown-away" (hey, it was the sixties, right?) when the rich textures, modal harmony, and sonic power of the Jefferson Airplane, circa "After Bathing At Baxters". In mid-'68 or so,, Edgar met Marcie Rauer and Saul Goodman, and many musical ideas began to be exchanged.

The eclectic, multi-style musical mix that was to be the band's trademark began to emerge, based around the writing of Edgar and the instrumental and vocal contributions of all. Joe Cleary, a successful top-40 type who had seen "the light" came aboard, and various bass players and drummers came and went with regularity (a problem that was to plague the band; there are also more than one-of-each on the album). The instrumental and vocal nucleus of Edgar, Marcie, Saul, and Joe remained constant, however.

By late '68, the band had become a full-fledged effort, with a manager, a bunch of equipment, roadies, a band house, and lots of record company inquiries. Along with that came many gigs at scores of PA, NY, NJ, DE, and occasionally furtherafield concert halls, coffee houses, and especially at the symbolic late 60's venues that would later be dubbed "psychedelic garages". These, of course, were the arch typical social and music centers of the time for the alternative culture that had wafted from west coast to east.

The band finally signed a record deal in 1969 with, of all things, a label that was best known for recordings of children books (American Flag rolling papers on the front cover must have been an eyeopener for them!) The group spent a good part of 1969 in New York, recording the album, which was produced by Howard Massler, son of the record company founder and owner. By the early 70's, the band found itself with a record out, a hefty spate of gigs like the Electric Factory, Cafe Au Go Go, Electric Circus, and even The Filmore East (back of booklet).

Musicians
*Bobby Blumenthal - Percussion
*Joe Cleary - Vocals
*Marcie Rauer - Vocals
*Saul Goodman - Guitar
*Edgar Koshatka - Keyboards
*Terry Morrissey - Bass (Tracks 4-6)
*R. Margolis - Bass (Tracks 1-3)
*Dennis Greller - Drums
*F. Masica - Drums

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