This is one of two great records I was introduced to at the big record listening party I attended a few months ago. As soon as I heard it I realized that I needed a copy for myself. And since my mother is in town for the weekend and I need to post some quick entries (time is of the essence when you need to drive your mom around town!) I decided I’d share this one with you today. From the magical year of 1971. A few other blogs have been turned onto Nun-Plus, and could probably describe it better than I. Enjoy!
Ponytone wrote:
“Who would’ve thought that the greatest song ever written on the subject of polygamy would come not from the Middle East or even Utah, but from a group of Catholic nuns in Oregon? One Sunday afternoon in 1970, Sister Marianne Misetech invited two accomplished musicians — Cookie Routtu and Jeannie Rey Routtu — to listen to Marianne and her fellow sisters perform her quirky compositions. Cookie and Jeannie Rey had been performing professionally as The Rey Sisters throughout the Pacific Northwest and Europe. They were masters of the piano, marimba, guitar, mandolin, string bass, and drums. When they heard the nuns perform that afternoon they found “a very modern approach to the celebration of life” and they wanted to help them get their songs recorded. At that moment the five nuns and the Rey Sisters became The Nun-Plus. The Croatian titled Ljubimo (“Let Us Love”) was released in 1970 on Amato Records, featuring lyrics and music by Marianne Misetech with arrangements by Jeannie Rey Routtu.”
The Ancient Star-Song wrote:
“Consider the Nun-Plus: five Sisters from Oregon (the ‘Nun’ part), joined by two non-nun Catholic musician gals (the ‘Plus’ part). Ljubimo (Croatian for ‘let us love’) is a well-produced album containing twelve of Sister Marianne Misetich’s songs. You can certainly tell they’re nuns once those harmonies click in. Still there’s something unique in their songwriting and presentation that sets them apart from a lot of the Sister acts. Mostly folk-styled numbers here, some soft and swaying, others cherubic and upbeat. Arabian percussion adorns the sprightlySt. Ives, while flute, marimba and harp take turns in Walk About The Craters Of The Moon, which opens and closes with electronic bleeps and blips. Electric guitar on a few tracks, chuggin’ away ’60s beat style on the catchy I’ll Be There, complete with groovy solo riff and solid drum action. Would have been a worthy addition to the Avant Garde label alongside the Medical Mission Sisters. (Ken Scott – The Archivist).”
Nun-Plus
Ljubimo
Amato, 1971
MediaFire DL Link
01. Ljubimo
02. The Man In Matthew
03. Maura Jean
04. St. Ives
05. Good Old Family Get-Together
06. Listen To Your People
07. Walk About The Craters Of The Moon
08. Los Angeles
09. Dapple Gray
10. What Is The Meaning?
11. I’ll Be There
12. To Lynne
