One of the more unsung musicians of the 1960s and 1970s is Florida’s Tommy Talton, a guiding force behind influential bands such as We The People and Cowboy. I grew up in Central Florida during those years and heard a lot about those bands, but I am ashamed to admit that until earlier this year I had never heard a full album by either one of Talton’s famous groups.

Cowboy, a band that Talton formed with Scott Boyer after We The People broke up, were signed to the Capricorn label (label mates and friends with the Allman Brothers) released Reach For the Sky in 1970 and 5’ll Get You Ten in 1971. Both albums (re-released last year by Real Gone Records) were laidback country-rock gems, focusing on melodic songs and soaring harmonies more than the “guitar army” slant of many other southern rock bands of that era. After the other band members left following 5’ll Get You T Boyer and Talton continued making music as Cowboy and later as a duo for the rest of the decade. They reunited in 2010 for a live album and reports have it that they are writing songs for a new studio album. Meanwhile, Talton continues to play live shows, mostly near his home in Atlanta and around Florida.

Talton cut his musical teen as a teenager when he formed We The People in late 1965 with other Orlando area musicians such as guitarist Wayne Proctor, David Duff, and Randy Boyte. They played a lot of shows in the Orlando area and around the Southeast, and were briefly signed to the RCA label (releasing a few singles but not a full album), but never managed to break big nationally. Blame that on poor marketing and record distribution more than talent. Like Cowboy, this was a band that had an arsenal of great songs. To immerse myself in the music of We The People I recently bought Mirror of Our Minds a 2-CD collection that includes everything the band recorded during their brief existence, including tracks that the members made under earlier band-names such as The Trademarks, The Nonchalants, and the Offbeets. Most people categorize We The People as a psychedelic rock band, or garage band, but their songs also had a strong melodic foundation and sometimes exuded an R&B and soul vibe. Even at this young age it was clear that Tommy Talton was a songwriting talent. It’s not a stretch to say the songs of We The People were every bit as good as those of their more famous British contemporaries such as The Yardbirds or the Pretty Things.

Meanwhile, here are the other albums — all legally purchased CDs — that I have been enjoying and singing to during the recent rainy days and stormy nights in Bangkok.

Verckys et L’Orchestre Veve – Congolese Funk, Afrobeat, & Psychedelic Rumba 1968-78
Cut Copy – Fabric Live 29
Bobby Lance – First Peace/Rollin’ Man
Lightspeed Champion – Falling Off the Lavender Bridge
Dwight Yoakam – Second Hand Heart

Todd Rundgren – Global
TV on the Radio – Seeds
Paul Collins – Feel the Noise
Various Artists – Bonobo: Late Night Tales
Dawes – All Your Favorite Bands

Various Artists – Jazz Meets Africa
Sloan – Commonwealth
Mongo Santamaria – Up From Roots
Various Artists – Masterpieces of Modern Soul
The Grip Weeds – How I Won the War

Barbara Massey & Ernie Calabria – Prelude to …
Mark Knopfler – Tracker
Blur – The Magic Whip
Phillip Upchurch – Darkness, Darkness
Dexy’s Midnight Runners – Don’t Stand Me Down

Various Artists – Studio One Scorcher: Instrumentals
Rasputin’s Stash – Rasputin’s Stash
The James Taylor Quartet – Hammond-ology
Ron Nagle – Bad Rice
Bobbi Humphrey – Fancy Dancer

Larry Jon Wilson – New Beginnings/Let Me Sing My Song To You
Various Artists – Next Stop Soweto
The Pazant Brothers – The Brothers Funk: 1969-1975
Various Artists – Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo
Wendy Rene – After the Laughter Comes Tears: Complete Stax & Volt Single & Rarities 1964-65

Various Artists – Can’t Be Satisfied: The XL and Sounds of Memphis Story
Orchestre Super Borgou de Parakou – The Bariba Sound: 1970-1976
Belle and Sebastian – Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance
Roscoe Gordon – Bootin’: Best of the RPM Years
Chris Spheeris – Eros