Pamela Polland - Pamela Polland (1972/2020)

Pamela Polland had shown promise as a singer/songwriter in the mid-'60s as part of the folk-rock group Gentle Soul, but it wasn't until 1972 that she was able to release a solo album. There's nothing seriously flawed about the record, but it's a somewhat underwhelming, low-energy period, singer/songwriter effort, very much in the laid-back style of the early '70s. Her vocals are strong and earthier than those of the average confessional singer/songwriter of the period, and her compositions are competent statements of both reflective romanticism and uplifting optimism, with occasional traces of gospel and blues. The songs include both piano-anchored ballads and rootsier rockers, and are graced with guest appearances by a number of notable figures, including Taj Mahal, Nicky Hopkins, David Briggs, Eddie Hinton, and the Rowan Brothers. But the material just isn't that interesting, and though it's amiable enough, its impact fades pretty quickly after the music's over.