Bob Reidenbach – Come Touch The Air Softly


As interest continues to surge in the softer sounds of yesteryear, it is apparent that a Soft Renaissance is upon us. This is no secret to deep diggers around the globe: rival collectors are frantically scouring the earth, scrambling to Out-Soft each other with unheard obscurities of extreme gentleness. Every now and then, the collecting world is set ablaze when a new record surfaces that is so soft, it literally sets a new standard for softness. Soft, it seems, IS the new Hard.

Presumably Bob Reidenbach had no idea of the power his ode to softness would retain some 30 odd years after recording this album, “a collection of gentle songs.” He and his Kenosha based liturgical choir group released the album through the famed RPC (Recorded Publications Company) sometime in the mid-seventies. It is clear, both from the sounds and the words, that he was a true soft pioneer, with a rare feel for soft music. He sums up his intent nicely in his liner notes, “Please take our music to heart and mind and perhaps it will reveal within you, a newness . . . a gentleness.”

If you have a candle, this would be an opportune time to dim the lights and let it burn.

[audio:reidenbach.mp3]

17 Comments

  • Joe Shlabotnik says:

    Same generic cover as Daybreak on RPC.

  • banana says:

    is the rest this good?

  • yuichi2 says:

    This is very cool. Matter of fact, I was constipated for a whole week, and the sounds on this record helped me clear it out. Thanks Cracker and thanks Waxidermy!

  • cracker says:

    there is one other loner track in a similar vein, the rest is teen folk choir.

  • Lucie says:

    This is wonderful. thank you!

  • Secret Owl says:

    Oh dear! This is rather pretty.

    I don’t have any candles, though.

    (can you lend me one? i’ll give it back when i’m done.)

  • Margiejean says:

    Boy, does this transport me back. You see, I played and sang on this album. Bob Taught many of us to play guitar, from little kids to 80-year-olds. A core group of people, in the 16-25 year ago group got together and recorded this album of original music, written by Bob. We were very proud of our accomplishments, and many of us are still close friends, even though we are scattered around the country. Music, you see, is a wonderful way to connect with others.

  • Schultzie says:

    Wow…
    The bass part sounded great, and added so much.
    Who was that great musician behind that wonderful stand-up instrument?

    ;-)

  • Kathie Wych says:

    To Schultzie…yes, the bass was great on this..especially since the person playing base was new to the instrument! Hi Schultzie wherever you are! this is a beautiful folk/liturgical group with a unique composer named Bob ReidenBach who continues to sing and compose. The group’s name was OGP and we were a large part of the music culture of 70″s and 80″s liturgicaland folk music in the small working class city of Kenosha Wisconsin…time for a revival of of meaningful and heartfelt music!

  • Engie says:

    Bob ReidenBach changed a lot of our lives. Because
    of him we took an interest in learning to play
    guitar and other musical instruments. Being
    a part of OGP was so much fun. It’s great to
    hear this now available on DVD. And Schultzie
    I haven’t forgot, I’ll get that copy to you
    one of these days.

  • Bruce says:

    Time for another OGP reunion. And we can cut some more tracks!

    I actually had a friend burn one of the original LBs on to a CD for me.

  • Barb says:

    Wow, talk about bringing back memories!!!

  • MamaNikon says:

    I listen to this over and over. I love it so much. Thanks for sharing it. Can I get a copy of it somehow?

  • MamaNikon says:

    and now I can add Arian Calandra to waxidermy favourites (Jacqui, check it out!add it to your playlist? ps my cuz plays violin, rock n roll version if you’d like an extra dimension?)

  • THERESA says:

    This really is a blast from my past. … Bob played the music for my wedding in 1980..

  • Sue Schultz says:

    I was in the 6th grade at St James School when Bob Reidenbach was hired to teach 7th grade. Two of my sisters and I learned to sing and play guitar by going to Friday night “hootenanies” organized by Bob. These attracted young and old from several parishes around town. I own this album and still have my tattered OGP song book from those long-ago days. At the oddest times, the old songs pop up from my memory and I sing them. Smiles. Those were good days.

  • Sue Schultz says:

    I am from Kenosha and was in the 6th grade at St James School when Bob Reidenbach was hired to teach 7th grade. Two of my sisters andI learned to sing and play guitar by going to Friday night “hootenanies”. I own this album and still have my tattered song book from those long-ago days. At the oddest times, the old songs pop up from my memory and I sing them.

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