The Blue Marble (album)

Infobox Album | Name = The Blue Marble
Type = Album
Artist = Sagittarius


Released = 1969
Recorded = 1969
Genre = Psychedelic pop
Length =
Label = Together Records
Producer = Gary Usher
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|3|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:jpz1z82a3yv6 link] | Last album = "Present Tense" (1968)
This album = "The Blue Marble" (1969)
Next album =
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"The Blue Marble" was the second (and final) Sagittarius album, released in 1969 by the newly-formed Together Records. The title song is by Lee Mallory and Gary Usher. By and large a Gary Usher creation, the album remained in obscurity for most of its post-release, due to the collapse of Usher's Together Records Label. On this album, Usher used the Moog Synthesizer extensively, and left lead vocals relatively bare (in contrast to previous Sagittarius material, on which the vocals were showered with harmonies). Also in contrast to Present Tense, Usher takes the majority of the lead vocals, with collaborator Curt Boettcher singing lead only on "In My Room" and "Will You Ever See Me" and Chuck Girard (whom Gary Usher had known during his days producing the Hondells) singing lead on "Gladys" and "I See In You". Most of the songs were written in the psychedelic pop mold. The album is also notable for its forays in to Country and Western music styles, at many times utilizing pedal steel guitar (played by Red Rhodes). The record spawned a minor hit with the cover of the Beach Boys' "In My Room" (which Usher Co-wrote with Brian Wilson), which featured Curt Boettcher on vocals and reached #86 on the charts.

The album was reissued on CD by Poptones, and features 5 bonus tracks. 4 of the tracks were from singles (two of which weren't included on the original release, the Sandy Salisbury/Gary Usher composition "Navajo Girl", sung by Chuck Girard, and a cover of Harry Nilsson's "I Guess the Lord Must Be In New York City" ), and the fifth track is an alternate version of "Will You Ever See Me". The track listing below is for the original LP.

On October 28th, 2008, Sundazed Records will be reissuing the album on both CD and Vinyl. The new reissue is sourced from the original analog master tapes, unlike previous reissues which were sourced from a vinyl copy. The reissue will include the "Navajo Girl" and "I Guess the Lord Must Be In New York City" singles as bonus tracks.

Track listing

#"In My Room"
#"From You Unto Us"
#"Will You Ever See Me"
#"Gladys"
#"I Sing My Song"
#"The Blue Marble"
#"Lend Me A Smile"
#"I Still Can See Your Face"
#"I See In You"
#"Cloud Talk"