Providence - Ever Sense The Down (Reissue) (1972/2008)

Providence were the only American band signed to the MOODY BLUES' Threshold label back in the seventies. The group hailed from the Pacific Northwest, and distinguished themselves by their lack of a drummer, featuring instead nothing but various stringed instruments and a keyboardist. The keyboardist played piano, harpsichord, and sometimes organ, rather than ARP or Mellotron like so many of the band's contemporaries.

The band's lone released album was produced by longtime MOODY BLUES producer Tony Clarke, and the band's music, particularly the vocals, reveal the strong influence of that band. The band recorded original compositions that featured languid string arrangements, sometimes psychedelic guitar as well as acoustic, and a bass that pretty much comprised the rhythm section for the band. Their lyrics ranged from fantasy to nature to hippy philosophy, and tended toward naively-positive themes.

Providence would record one more album before breaking up ('Heavenly Harmonies'), but the master tapes were stolen from the studio and never recovered. The album would surface years later as an unauthorized Russian import CD.

Several of the band's members would go on to tour with the Moodies, as well as perform with Mike Pinder on Blue Jays project recordings. All the original members of Providence are still in the music business in one form or another, except for keyboardist Bartholomew Bishop, whose whereabouts are unknown.