RHINOCEROS / Better times are coming (1970)

"Rhinoceros was a rock band established in 1967 by Elektra Records as that label's intended supergroup. The band, while well respected in many circles, did not live up to the record label's expectations. As one reviewer commented, "Despite the fact that the band could not live up to the expectations that were raised by Elektra Records' publicity machine, Rhinoceros' contributions to rock still deserve more credit than subsequent rock histories give it. 

Frazier Mohawk had been instrumental in forming Buffalo Springfield through coordinating band membership, though the establishment of Rhinoceros involved a more formal third party role. 

Producers Paul Rothchild and Frazier Mohawk initially invited twelve musicians to audition in September, 1967, at Frazier Mohawk's house in Laurel Canyon. Included in this initial group were Douglas Hastings and Alan Gerber. A second audition was held at a Los Angeles motel in November, 1967, where approximately twenty musicians were reviewed. After this meeting, John Finley (vocals) and Danny Weis (guitar) were chosen to work with Doug Hastings (guitar) and Alan Gerber (keyboards and vocals). Peter Hodgson, who attended the second audition, was not initially selected. Finley and Hodgson were all former Checkmates, which had broken up in September, 1967. Throughout its existence, the core membership of Rhinoceros, despite numerous changes in personnel, were ex-members of the Checkmates. Rothchild had expressed an interest in signing Jon and Lee & The Checkmates as early as 1965.

Weis was an original member of Iron Butterfly, with whom he recorded their first album, prior to being replaced by Eric Braun. Hastings had been a member of Seattle's renowned Daily Flash, prior to spending a period of time as Neil Young's replacement in Buffalo Springfield, during one of Young's departures from the group. 

Weis then suggested former Iron Butterfly bandmate Jerry Penrod as the bass player for Rhinoceros; his suggestion was accepted. Former Checkmate keyboard player Michael Fonfara was then invited to join the initial lineup. Fonfara had joined The Electric Flag in mid-November, 1967, for sessions and a brief tour of the US northeast and California. During mid-December, he ran into Finley and Hodgson at the Tropicana Motel in Los Angeles, and was encouraged by Finley to sign on to the Rhinoceros project. Based on Finley's recommendation, Fonfara was brought into Rhinoceros, following the completion of his obligations to The Electric Flag. The final member chosen, in early 1968, was Billy Mundi, former drummer for The Mothers of Invention." [Wikipedia]

1. BETTER TIMES (Edwards/Fonfara/Finley)
2. OLD AGE (Leishman/Edwards)
3. SWEET, NICE ‘N’ HIGH (Leishman/Edwards)
4. JUST ME (Draper)
5. HAPPINESS (Draper)
6. SOMEWHERE (Weis/Finlay)
7. IT’S A GROOVY WORLD (Draper)
8. INSANITY (Draper)
9. LADY OF FORTUNE (Edwards/Leishman)
10 LET’S PARTY (Draper)
11.RAIN CHILD (Leishman/Edwards)
Produced By GUY DRAPER

JOHN FINLEY lead vocal
MICHAEL FONFARA organ
DANNY WEIS lead and rhythm guitars
DUKE EDWARDS drums and vocal
LARRY LEISHMAN rhythm and lead guitars
PETER HODGSON bass

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