Donated lovingly by former Swan Fungus benefactor “Viagra Falls,” who has disappeared in recent months because he got angry at me when his user name was picked up by my SPAM filter every time he tried to leave a comment on a blog post. I’ve tried to make amends in the hopes that he would contribute more to the Treasures From The Collector’s Slum series, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. I think I’m capable of digging up some gems and sharing them on my own without any help. As famed TV personality Bill O’Reilly once stated, “FUCK IT, I’LL WRITE IT AND WE’LL DO IT LIVE! FUCKIN’ THING…SUCKS!”
Privately released album from 1975 on the unknown JSR Records lael, Michael Fitzgerald’s Heatbreak is a kind of psychedelic/loner crossover album. Best I can tell, it was recorded and mixed in my home state of New Jersey. Funny, I never saw this in a cut-out bin or thrift store when I was starting to collect records. One look at that amazing, pencil-drawn cover and I would have been sold on it. Fitzgerald must have been a shore native, as Heartbreak was possibly recorded (and definitely mixed) in Long Branch. The airy, warm orchestrations imply a summery vibe that tends to counter the lyrical content of the album, which definitely falls in the “loner” genre. Lots of songs about lost loves and desired women. Hell, the album is called Heartbreak! Listen for the harpsichord, lush strings, woodwinds and more. How an album with a photograph of a guy standing next to a row of garbage cans sounds this beautiful is beyond me.
Not much information exists about Fitzgerald, and by “not much” I mean the Internet is completely void of information about the man. So, as usual, if any of you have intel regarding his whereabouts or the recording of Heartbreak, do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
Enjoy!
Michael Fitzgerald
Heartbreak
JSR Records, 1975
MediaFire DL Link
01. Sunrise
02. Rachel
03. My Guitar
04. Flowers & Friends
05. Olde Belle
06. More Than Dreams
07. Brand New Day
08. Roll In The Sky
09. Heartbreak
