Mike & Pam Martin: Fernwood Pacific
Before giving in completely to my soft side a couple years ago I often felt seriously conflicted about records like this. I’d sit listening with an odd mixture of emotions; somewhere between “Well this is nice” & “Jesus Christ where the fuck have my balls gone?!?”. I just hadn’t quite fully ascended to the higher plain of pure soft occupied mostly by high rolling Japanese & South Koreans. It’s nice up here. Like a room made of pillows.
But anyhow, personal neurotic hangups aside, this is an undeniably pretty record. All anxieties over having been tricked into buying yet another scorched honkytonk loser or new grass turd are quickly put to rest by the opener “Do It Right”. It’s like stumbling upon a clear mountain stream housed inside a somewhat unassuming package. The same pure, refreshing quality, tempered by a melancholy note of the lonesome highway, turns up again on the best tracks. And the somewhat darker “Lonesome Entertainer” has a pretty killer faux-CSNY thing going. An overall strong listen marred only slightly by a couple of weaker tracks & something I’d recommend to anyone seeking the softer side of rustic.
“Do It Right”
[audio:fernpac3.mp3]“Stay As Sweet As You Are Now”
[audio:fernpac.mp3]“Lonely Entertainer”
[audio:fernpac2.mp3]
29 Comments
Hi,, My daughter found your site and forwarded it to me. I was more than surprised and touched by having the album in your possession and your comments. I am going to look further into your site to see what else you have. Pam (Martin) Friedman
I just found this record in a NJ thrift Store just 2 days after Pam Martin left her comment-It looked intriguing.I didnt even know about this Lp & not much info except on this site. – It is a nice mellow West Coast styled country rock Lp- I really like it- very pro sounding & solid songs that stick to you. More people should hear this. Any chance we can get some more info on this recording ? What year is it from? any other insight/history would be great! Thanks!
Is this the Pam and Mike I knew in Vail when I was playing there with my brother Steve and the band Dakota Morning/?? And then with Dale and Marilyn Barcellos in Great Wizard Band?
We wondered where you were!
Love ya!
Comet Haraldson Sioux Falls South Dakota
We just found an autographed copy of the LP in my sister in laws belongings. Difficult to research. This copy originally came from NJ.
Hi,
Yes this was the Pam and Mike you knew in Vail. A long time has passed and not doing much singing now and living near Sedona, AZ. Mike is near our daughter in Scottsdale. Great to see your comment. What are you doing?
To Jeff,
Thanks so much for your comments. This album was recorded on 1975 in Denver. Mike and I were married at the time and were a duo called Fernwood Pacific. Jim Ibbotson from the Dirt Band was in town at the time and was able bring the musicians together for the sessions. The album was financed by our daughter’s godfather, Truman Anderson. I hope this info helped.
To My Own:
I am very curious to know who your sister is. We played near my home town and sold quite a few copies in the mid 70’s.
Pam
and
Mike;
would love to hear from you.
i am in south dakota.
dale and marilyn in california, still playing.
i still play and sing some
as does my brother Steve, in Denver.
could you write?
could you call?
i am at 366-0660 in south dakota.
thanks
comet
Pam, I wondered what happened to you guys. I was in Denver some years ago and asked David (the music store guy) about you and he had no idea.
Also, I met Wilie Nelson one time and dropped Bob Arthur’s name and had a pretty good conversation with him.
From your name, it seems you have remarried. I married a second time. Never again.
I now live in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and I still have your album.
ciao
charlie mcdonald
Unbelievable! I told my daughters about your album tonight in the car. When we got home, they asked again, so I ran a Google search. Lo and behold, I found this site.
I haven’t heard these songs since I reluctantly gave up my record player some 20 years ago. Sounds as sweet as I remember.
Hi Charlie and what a pleasant surprise! I am and have been living and working in AZ (near Sedona) as a speech-language pathologist. Erin, our daughter, her husband and son (5 yrs old) and Michael live in Phoenix. Yes, I am happily remarried to a very old sweetheart, thanks to an
old school friend.
Where are Liz and your kids? I hope all of you are doing well. Are you still doing music? As I got older I went back to school and got my degree in Communication Disorders and moved to AZ to work in the Sedona School Dist. in 2001.
My daughter Erin has a beautiful voice and once in a great while we will sing together.
Michael continues to delve in music and comedy.
Hope this message finds you well. Thanks again. Pam:)
Hi Danny! Great to see your message and the sweet words. Thank you. How in the heck are you and everyone else? I can’t believe you have children of your own. I still remember you at Grummy and Grumpy’s when you were young. I hope everyone is well. Please give my love to all. Love, Aunt Pam
Happy birthday, Pam. Give Erin, Brad, and Luke a hug for us.
Happy Birthday Pam Martin!
I have a friend by the name of Doug Cartwright, he did studio for you back in 1975 on your Fernwood Pacific album. Unfortunately the copy that he had was destroyed in a flood. The album has a lot of sentimental value because he worked on the recording. I was wondering is there any way of getting a copy of that album showing the credits with his name on it. Please get back to me and I will give you his contact information or a mailing address that it can be sent to.
You can google my name Leasa Rosolino to find me or find me on facebook at http://www.facebook.com/themusicianssocialclub
Last week I bought this curious vinyl with a beautiful quote from Emerson and handcrafted design. I knew nothing of the performers. I was pleasantly surprised to hear because I caught her soft melodies. When searching for information I found this series of email. A curious fact is that I bought the vinyl in a second hand market in Malaga Spain. Leo
Hi Pam, Mike and Erin,
Such fun memories of you in Evergreen, CO as we had our 1st babies about the same time. I’ll have to dig up old photos of Erin and our son, Kolt. Memories—-singing at our wedding, lots of fun at the Red Ram and your summer trips to play in Northern Minnesota and visiting us on your way. Happy to hear about you on this site and if on Facebook, let’s connect. Would love to see photos. Jane
HELLO FROM PORTLAND–THIS IS MARGARET FOR GARY LOUDIN WHO IS ASLEEP AT HOME AND ASKED ME TO DO THIS AT THE LIBRARY FOR HIM. I HAVE KNOWN GARY FOR ABOUT TEN YEARS NOW AND I HAVE BEEN RECORDING THE HISTORY OF GARYS GUITAR PLAYING IN OHIO. THAT WAS WITH MIKE MARTIN,LEWIE AND THE MOVE, AND OTHERS. IN THE RECORDING STUDIO I HAVE RESTORED ABOUT 4 SONGS GARY DID WITH MIKE. GARY CAN BE REACHED AT 503 333 2560 IN THE MORNINGS SINCE HE WORKS NIGHTS IF MIKE WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH HIM. THIS WOULD MEAN ALOT TO GARY. PERHAPS MIKE WOULD LIKE US TO MAIL COPIES. i MAY BE SLOW BUT THIS COULD BE ARRANGED.
We have some great songs that may be only recordings of Mike. Could you please contact us ASAP. Thanks Gary and Margaret
Pam and Mike played in our house when I was 12, Bobbie Olin and Howard peppione introduced them to my parents in pompano beach where we lived, in 1972. I still have the two publicity pictures they autographed. They performed that night for us some 43 years ago. I’m now 54, a far leap from my lowly 12 year old days. I played drums and they signed keep it up,
Great album Pam. Just pulled it out of the warehouse while I was searching for a Frank Sinatra record, (another copy found again in NJ), and wondered who you guys were. I love independent releases and this was a decent release. Pam, you have a great voice. Hope you are still making records. It’s never been easier. You should consider rereleasing the tunes on Amazon and ITunes. I can do it for you if you’d like. I’m easy to find.
Scott Neuman – President
Forever Vinyl
hello, any chance to buy/listen to this album?? looks great. thank you, all the best.
I’m presently writing an article on a little known LA club from the late 60s called Artie Fatbuckle’s Cellar. I found an advert in the L A Free Press from July 1970 and Fernwood Pacific are featured in an advert for Artie’s alongside Penny Nichols who was well known in the LA singer songwriter circle and The Smith Brother (a singer or band I’ve never heard of). Artie’s was a springboard for many famous acts including Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey and J D Souther as Longbranch Pennywhistle, Stephen Bishop, Hoyt Axton, Hamilton Camp, Judee Sill, etc, etc
Pam, if you have any memories of playing at Artie’s I’d love to hear them to add to my article.
Thanks
Jason Smith
There is a copy on Amazon for sale.
Pam-
Just ran across this site. You played your first paying gig at “Deercreek Ranch” in Topanga in 1970 or ’71. I owned it at that time. You may not remember Ken and I but I hope we can reconnect. Spend our winters in Arizona.
Barb Carpenter
OMG! What a great surprise. I, too, am living in AZ full time. I’m trying to figure out how to get in touch with you without giving out my personal email. I don’t do Facebook, but do you? I would love to get together. A whole lot has happened since I saw you last. How is Vail? Let’s figure this out on how to get in touch. Pam:)
Mike and Pam, Jimmy I, Bob Arthur, and me..
Aloha from the Mountain of Kona..
Brad Goodman on f.b.
Much Alohz
Michael sent me the recording with Bob Arthur and us at Les Thompson’s (dirt band)..
My land partner threw it out, about 22 years ago.. I wonder if it be digitalized.. Aloha!