Frank Pahl - The Cowboy Disciple Released - 1991 Transmogrification
Frank Pahl's first solo album, The Cowboy Disciple, gave the composer a chance to stretch and develop his very personal style when it comes to childish yet freakishly warped instrumental tunes. Friends from his band Only a Mother (Marko Novachcoff, Bobbi Benson, Doug Gourlay, Mary Richards) sit in on a handful of tracks, either separately to bring their own touch to a piece, or as a group, performing a few as yet unrecorded songs Pahl had written for the outfit. Elsewhere the composer gets moodier ("Dirge #14") and experiments with multi-tracking (the two "Ode to Euphonium" tracks, "Ode to Ocarina," and "Ode to Harmonium"). More introspective and exploratory, the music on this CD foretells some of his works for dance and theater (like his music for a production of The Tempest, released on the Scavenger Quartet's Whistling for Leftovers CD), but also his other solo albums of the 1990s, especially Remove the Cork. His virtuosity on a wide array of unusual instruments like euphonium, harmonium, banjo, and a plethora of home-built instruments impresses but never gets in the way of the writing. More personal than the group's songs, the music on this CD requires more attention from the listener. If Pahl's art had not yet reached the heights found in subsequent releases, it still had the power to captivate and surprise.  — François Couture  All Music Guide

Tracks
1	The Cowboy Disciple (Pahl) - 4:06
2	Matthew (Pahl) - 2:32
3	Ode to Harmonium (Pahl) - 2:01
4	Ode to Ocarina (Pahl) - 1:49
5	Joy Puppies  performed by Pahl / Only a Mother - 3:48
6	Ode to Euponium #6 (Pahl) - 2:53
7	Mark (Pahl) - 2:19
8	Piano Fragment (Pahl) - :49
9	The Romantic Side of Beef, Pt. 1 (Pahl) - 2:11
10	Warped #15  performed by Pahl / Only a Mother - 3:18
11	Luke (Pahl) - 2:09
12	Ode to Euphonium #3 (Pahl) - 2:17
13	Ode to a Banjo (Pahl) - 2:03
14	Warped #19 (Pahl) - 2:11
15	Ode to a Balalaika (Pahl) - 2:50
16	Dirge #14 (Pahl) - 4:25
17	The Romantic Side of Beef, Pt. 2 (Pahl) - 2:03
18	Warped #18  performed by Pahl / Only a Mother - 2:15
19	John (Pahl) - 3:44
20	Falsify (Pahl) - 3:37
21	The Romantic Side of Brutus Lee  performed by Pahl / Only a Mother - 4:41
22	Fragments (Pahl) - 1:21
23	One Man Band (Pahl) - 7:32
the Players Mary Richards   Violin Bobbi Benson   Bass, Bass (Upright) Doug Gourlay   Banjo, Percussion, Balalaika, Cymbals, Drums (Bass), Tom-Tom, Clay Pot Marko Novachcoff   Cello Frank Pahl   Banjo, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Accordion, Chimes, Harmonium, Ocarina, Tapes, Prepared Piano Only a Mother     Don Gutz   Triangle

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