Ford Theatre

by Richie UnterbergerFord Theatre made a couple of psychedelic albums for ABC in the late '60s that were average period pieces, but respectable on that modest level. In their use of winding minor-key melodies, hard rock guitar-organ interplay, extended guitar soloing, and earnest, ambitious lyrics, they were similar to other Boston psychedelic bands of the time, but more authentic. They were not one of the bands gathered up and promoted as part of the Bosstown Sound hype, for one thing. Ford Theatre evolved out of the Boston band the Joyful Noise, and were signed by Bob Thiele of ABC Records after Thiele had been contacted on their behalf by a DJ at Boston's WBZ. Thiele produced Ford Theatre's first album, Trilogy for the Masses, which was centered around two lengthy multi-sectioned pieces, "101 Harrison Street (Who to Belong To)" and "From a Back Door Window (The Search)." Their second and final album, Time Changes, was constructed around more conventionally-timed pieces, and was an early production by Bill Szymczyk, who went on to produce the Eagles. Ford Theatre guitarist Harry Palmer is the uncle of underground cult musician R. Stevie Moore.