Collaboration (studio album) by Shawn Phillips

I'm guessing that if Shawn Phillips had ever achieved mainstream success, the comedians of the day would have mocked him relentlessly. He's almost a caricature of the sensitive/mystical hippy-dippy folk-rocker. Kinda like an American Donovan, but with less hooks and even more soy. Suffice to say that if Phillips had tried to warble any of his gentle odes at John Belushi's frat house, his acoustic guitar would not have survived the encounter.

I'm not a fan of Second Contribution, Phillip's prior (and best-known) album. But I kinda like this one. Sure, there's some cringe-worthy lyrics here and there, but for the most part, the album achieves what it sets out to do. Phillips' voice is fairly nondescript but he works up a nice falsetto on a couple tracks. And tasteful orchestration adds an interesting ambience to a few of the others. So the 54 minute running time goes by pleasantly, if not particularly memorably. If you're jonesing for that pastoral and vaguely spiritual early-70's vibe, this will definitely give you your fix.