The Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files: Beulah Unearths “Gene Autry”

Brian Raftery | January 25, 2007 12:30 pm

Time for another installment of the Coulda-Shoulda-Woulda Files, where we search through our record collection in search of a lost gem.

Artist: Beulah Song: “Gene Autry,” 2001 What happened: Few albums were as doomed-from-the-start as Beulah’s lovely The Coast Is Never Clear: Not only did songwriter Miles Kurosky undergo treatment for bipolar disorder while the record was being recorded, but the band’s label, Capricorn, was falling apart, forcing the group to shuffle over to the newly formed Velocette Records. And then, just after everything was settled, they were stuck with an ominous Sept. 11, 2001, release date. Why it should have been a hit: “Autry” has gently tumbling piano lines, a short-but-sweet trumpet solo, and even a great video; how this missed out on indie-domination is anyone’s guess, but this song, along with the rest of the Coast album, made our 2001 slightly less traumatic.

Beulah – Gene Autry [MP3, link expired] Beulah – Gene Autry [YouTube]

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