Sumeria

Apologies. Reference to 'Sphinx' and 'Simon Peter' in the preceding commentary is incorrect. The U.S. release of the Sphinx LP (1977) obviously predates "Return To Casablanca" (1978).

For 'Sumeria', Sphinx, Alec Costandinos, Frankie Crocker or Casablanca 12" or artwork buffs, Casablanca, using its 12" rather than LP numbering system, issued a 2-disc promotional compilation (NBD 20114-2) in early 1978 entitled "Return to Casablanca". It was the first appearance in the U.S. of the Sumeria tracks "Dance and Leave It All Behind You" and "Cosmic Traveller" (and Sphinx's 'Simon Peter'). The package, which joined the LP. cassette tape, 8-track tape and brochure covering each of the songs, came in an orange cardboard mailer, boldly lettered "Return to Casablanca" which was DHL/UPS-couriered to intended recipients, likely reviewers, radio stations and perhaps DJs. Each blend is voiced over in sales pitch fashion by Frankie Crocker, the famous New York radio DJ using an AOR-type format. Finding this set with all items present and sealed can be a difficult task. Strictly in a musical sense, it probably isn't worth trying. Casablanca issued two additional volumes of "Return To Casablanca" compilations, numbered NBD 20131 and NBD 20135 later that year, without the periphery.

Casablanca issued a one-sided promotional 12" (NBD 20130) of selected cuts from the Sumeria LP in the summer of 1978. It blends "The man From The Stars" (0:34), the dancer-unfriendly "Why Must There Be An End" (3:24) and the LP title track "Golden Tears" into a condensed 10:09 offering. Aside from its superior fidelity to that of the LP, the shorter 6:09 version of 'Tears..' is very DJ manageable and tends to hold attention better than its 8:56 LP counterpart. The 12" should have been limited to this track only, in our opinion.

This is another great disco LP by the master Alec Costandinos. The spoken intro with the main character Eve sarcastic argueing with her boy friend is funny, the music runs in the background, and suddenly the first track kicks, the excellent, dramatic "Dance And Leave It All Behind You", before Eve meets the man from space, Nezet. "Cosmic Traveller" is space disco, "Somewhere, Elsewhere" a dreamy instrumental sequence. Side 2 runs non-stop, opening with the romantic "Love Me Now". The last three songs were released on a Casablanca 12" single, the melancholic "Man From The Stars" which suddenly turns into the excellent, funky "Why Must There Be An End" which segues into the final track "Golden Tears". The music is fabulously arranged by the one and only Don Ray (Cerrone, Santa Esmeralda), the sound is excellent. Highly recommended!