Before founding progressive folk group Amazing Blondel, John Gladwin and Terry Wincott played in various musical units and styles.  After honing their skills in beat, blues, R&B, soul, and even California-inspired psychedelic harmony pop, the British duo turned their sights to harder rock and changed their band's name from The Gospel Garden (inspired by both The 5th Dimension's Jimmy Webb-penned opus The Magic Garden and the 1963 recording of the Langston Hughes stage adaptation Black Nativity: Gospel on Broadway) to Methuselah.  Gladwin (lead vocals/percussion), Wincott (guitar/vocals), Les Nicol (guitar/vocals), Mick Bradley (drums), and Craig Austin (bass/vocals) were signed to the U.S. Elektra label and recorded one album, 1969's Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  Cherry Red's Grapefruit label has recently given the LP its first-ever authorized CD reissue as newly remastered by Oli Hemingway and expanded with seven previously unreleased bonus tracks.

Jac Holzman, having experienced success with The Incredible String Band, was seeking other British bands to add to the venerable label roster when he signed Methuselah.  Holzman enlisted Brill Building veteran Kenny Young (co-writer of "Under the Boardwalk," "Just a Little Bit Better," "Arizona") to co-produce Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John with Steve Rowland (The Herd; The Family Dogg; Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich).  John Gladwin was the band's primary songwriter and much of the material selected for the album had already been tried out in the band's live gigs.  As the band's moniker might indicate, the first four tracks - named after the writers of the gospels - all had religious-themed lyrics, in essence forming a song suite.  The lyrical themes continued on "My Poor Mary" ("My poor Mary, what's the matter/Born Jerusalem in the morning") and the heavy title track.  "High in the Tower of Coombe," with its medieval flavor, augured for Amazing Blondel.  "Fairy Tale" and "Fireball Woman" both emphasized their hard rock sound, with the latter in a particularly driving vein.  The closing jam on the French nursery rhyme "Freres Jacques" (or "Brother John," first published around 1780) veered into jazz-rock territory.

Curiously, Elektra only chose to release Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the U.S., foregoing a release in the band's own country.  While Elektra was prepping the release, the band started work on a second LP and continued to play together.  But they'd begun to splinter, dividing their live show into three sets. Gladwin and Wincott leaned into their mellow, acoustic tendencies for a set, and Nicol, Bradley, and Austin performed another set as a power trio in the style of Cream.  The third set was the basic band configuration.  Both the mellow and harder-rocking sensibilities shine through on Methuselah's only LP, as well as haunting, baroque flourishes that set them apart from many of their contemporaries.  By the time of the LP's release, Gladwin and Wincott had already begun performing as Blondel (later to gain the Amazing), a duo of acoustic folk troubadours.  Steve Rowland would produce their first LP.

Grapefruit's definitive reissue includes three outtakes (including one penned by Kenny Young, "Don't Ask Me and I Won't Lie," in both stereo and mono mixes), an alternative mix of "Fireball Woman," and mono versions of "Fairy Tale" and "Freres Jacques."  It's housed in a digipak with a thick 28-page booklet offering David Wells' comprehensive liner notes and band history (featuring quotes from John Gladwin and Craig Austin) plus photos, master tape scans, album lyrics, and memorabilia images.  It's a superb package well worth the wait.  You'll find the track listing and order links below.  As an Amazon affiliate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

Methuselah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John (Elektra LP EKS 74052, 1969 - reissued Grapefruit CRSEG144, 2024) (Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada)

1. Matthew
2. Mark
3. Luke
4. John
5. High in the Tower of Coombe
6. Methuselah
7. My Poor Mary
8. Fireball Woman
9. Fairy Tale
10. Frere Jacques

Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks

11. Don't Ask Me and I Won't Lie
12. You Are My Sunshine
13. Put Me Down Easy
14. Fireball Woman (Alternative Mix)
15. Fairy Tale (Mono Mix)
16. Frere Jaques (Mono Mix)
17. Don't Ask Me and I Won't Lie (Mono Mix)