Climax

Climax was a band formed in 1970 in Los Angeles, California, most noted for their 1972 hit song "Precious and Few," which peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. This disc sold over one million copies, and received a gold disc awarded by the R.I.A.A. on 21 February 1972.

Career

Climax consisted of Gordon MacKinnon (Horn), Wilt Nims (Guitar), Joe Osbourne (Bass), Earl Palmer (Drums), Reinie Press (Bass), John Raines (Drumes), John Stevenson (Keyboards), Joe Bellamy (Bass), Larry Cox (Percussion), Nick D'Amico (keyboards), Alan Estes (Percussion), Sonny Geraci (Vocals), John Guttman (Percussion, Drums), Larry Knechtel (Keyboards) and Steve La Fever (Bass). The band is often considered a one-hit wonder because no other releases gained much widespread success. Climax was together from 1970 to 1976. They recorded one album, many singles and unreleased sides. Nims was their principal songwriter and guitarist and his younger sister Debbie Nims toured, played violin, and sang backing vocals with Garth Brooks.

Climax came out of the ashes of The Outsiders. A few sides were released under the Outsiders name, but when Tom King of the original band threatened legal action, they changed the name of the band to Climax. Released under The Outsiders name were "Lovin' You" / "Think I'm Fallin'" and "Changes" / "Lost In My World". The name change followed and they released the album Climax Featuring Sonny Geraci.

Album information

Their lone album came out in 1972 on Rocky Road Records. The album had twelve cuts and many were used as B-sides for subsequent singles. It has never been released on CD.

Side 1

1 "Life & Breath" (3:17)
2 "I've Got Everything" (3:16)
3 "Postlude" (:38) (instrumental - orchestral version of "I've Got Everything")
4 "Picnic In The Rain" (3:29)
5 "Face The Music" (3:00)
6 "Precious and Few" (2:43)

Side 2

1 "It's Coming Today" (3:02)
2 "Rainbow Rides Are Free" (3:06)
3 "If It Feels Good - Do It" (3:33)
4 "Merlin" (4:18)
5 "Prelude" (:48) (instrumental - orchestral version of "Life & Breath")
6 "Child Of December" (3:15)

Single releases

"Lovin' You" / "Think I'm Fallin'" (under The Outsiders name)
"Changes" / "Lost In My World" (also under The Outsiders name)
"Hard Rock Group" / Waiting For The End To Come
"Precious and Few" (#3 Billboard Hot 100) / "Park Preserve"
"Life and Breath" (#52 Billboard Hot 100) / "If It Feels Good Do It" (B-side later covered by The Stories)
"Caroline This Time" / "Rainbow Rides Are Free"
"Walking In The Georgia Rain" / "Picnic In The Rain"
"Rock & Roll Heaven" / "Face The Music"
"It's Gonna Get Better" / (B-Side Unknown)

Unreleased songs

"Hand Me Down My Rock & Roll Shoes"
"Droopy Shoulders"
"Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
"Young Boy"
"Rosemary Blue"
"Searchin'" (a cover of The Coasters track)
"Wait For You" (a cover of the Neil Young track)
"The War" (Lee Michaels' tune)

CD issues

There have been three official CDs released. All by budget labels and none have been remastered.

The first was in 1997 and had ten tracks listed but actually included eleven:

1- "Precious And Few"
2- "Life And Breath"
3- "Merlin"
4- "Picnic In The Rain" ("Postlude" is here prior to "Picnic...", but not listed)
5- "Rock And Roll Heaven"
6- "Park Preserve (Long Version)"
7- "Rainbow Rides Are Free"
8- "Waiting For The End To Come"
9- "It's Coming Today"
10- "If It Feels Good-Do It"

The second was in 1998 and had fifteen songs (actually sixteen with another "hidden" song); many were in the "unreleased" category above:

"Precious And Few", "Life & Breath", "Merlin", "Picnic In The Rain" (without "Postlude"), "Rainbow Rides Are Free", "It's Coming Today", "If It Feels Good-Do It", "Child Of December" (with an unlisted "Prelude" before it), "Caroline This Time" (longer version than on the single), "Walking In The Georgia Rain", "Searchin'", "Love Doesn't Live Here Anymore", "Droopy Shoulders", "Rosemary Blue" and "Young Boy".

The third was in 2002 and is available on ITunes:

1- "Precious And Few"
2- "Life And Breath"
3- "Merlin"
4- "Park Preserve"
5- "Picnic In The Rain"
6- "Rainbow Rides Are Free"
7- "Waitin For The End To Come"
8- "It's Coming Today"
9- "If It Feels Good Do It"
10- "I've Got Everything"
11- "Child Of December"
12- "Searchin'" (Shorter single version)
13- "The War"

With these three releases, only "Changes", "Hard Rock Group", "Lost In My World", "It's Gonna Get Better", "Wait For You", "Face The Music" & "Hand Me Down My Rock & Roll Shoes" are unreleased on CD.