Kathy McCord

Kathy McCord put out just one album under her own name back in 1970. That record marked the debut offering on Creed Taylor’s CTI Records imprint. Its unusual blend of folk-rock and acid jazz elements set it apart, eventually turning the disc into a prized collector’s item. Rudy Van Gelder handled the recording and engineering duties across sessions held on November 18, 19, 20, and 24, along with December 2, all in 1969 at his studio located in Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey. Contributions included flute playing from Hubert Laws, organ work by Paul Harris, and arrangements crafted by Don Sebesky. The ethereal quality of McCord’s vocals lent an atmosphere reminiscent of a San Francisco session amid flower-adorned participants. Despite that, the final product proved strangely engaging and utterly memorable. Poor sales meant the album saw limited distribution, with copies circulating through secondary markets for an extended period. During the 1990s, a restricted CD reissue appeared in Japan. In 2010, Big Beat UK assembled a double-disc collection titled New Jersey to Woodstock, which incorporated the original LP alongside various tracks McCord had laid down for the Rainy Day label in 1968 and an entire additional disc of previously unreleased material from her 1970s recordings.