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Rhinoceros - 1970 - Better Times Are Coming
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. Rhinoceros was conceived in August 1967 by Elektra Records producers Frazier Mohawk (Barry Friedman) and Paul Rothchild as a means to create a 'Supergroup' similar to Mohawk's earlier co-creation, Buffalo Springfield, with Stephen Stills. The duo had a short list of potential enlistees including guitarist Doug Hastings (ex-Buffalo Springfield/Daily Flash). In September 1967 the first formal meeting of 12 potential players took place at Mohawk's Laurel Canyon home. Hastings was present as was his former Daily Flash associate and drummer John Keliehor, bassist Kerry Magness (ex-Kingsmen), pianist/singer/songwriter Alan Gerber, and guitarist Danny Kortchmar. However, neither Rothchild nor Mohawk were content with this line-up and continued their search. In November 1967 Mohawk and Rothchild held a second meeting with nearly 20 players in attendance at a Los Angeles motel and from this meeting decide to run with Gerber and Hastings plus guitarist Danny Weis (ex-Iron Butterfly) and singer John Finley (ex-Jon And Lee And The Checkmates). As the fall progresses Weis recommends his former Iron Butterfly bandmate Jerry 'The Bear' Penrod as bassist, while Finley calls on his old keyboardist from Jon & Lee Michael Fonfara to round out the line-up. Better Times Are Coming, their third and last album, appeared in 1970. 01 - Better Times 02 - Old Age 03 - Sweet, Nice 'n' High 04 - Just Me 05 - Happiness 06 - Somewhere 07 - It's A Groovy World 08 - Insanity 09 - Lady Of Fortune 10 - Let's Party 11 - Rain Child LINK
