Hal Paris is one of the more unsung fathers of the cosmic American music genre through his work with the cult favorite Country Funk. The good folks at Slipstream Records and Torn & Frayed have collected here for the first time a wealth of lost demoes Paris recorded after the dissolution of Country Funk, revealing that his excellent songwriting chops extended far beyond the short lifespan of his legendary group.

Recorded between 1971 and 1972, these tracks are all lo-fi country-flavored folk rock tunes with a slightly fried psychedelic haze. This vibe is very evident on the New Riders of the Purple Sage-like “One Lonesome Cowboy,” which opens the record and immediately also recalls Paris’ work in Country Funk. This and all of the other songs on this record are so smooth, with sweet Byrdsian harmonies, rolling rhythms and ear-catching melodies. It’s a shame how much Paris’ songwriting was and continues to be vastly underrated, as all of these songs could have easily been dusty AM radio hits in the 70s.

There’s a sunbaked crispness to these recordings that make them feel like they were harvested right out of the country dirt in rural California. They’re warm, bright and cheer you upon every listen. However, there is a slight undercurrent of melancholia that flows just below the surface throughout many of these tracks, which only makes them even more attractive interesting. This complexity coupled with its roughened DIY sound quality immediately enters this album into the great private press loner folk lexicon that also features the likes of Robert Lester Folsom, F.J. McMahon and Ted Lucas. Yet, there are other moments on this release that also recall the 70s denim-clad folk of Arlo Guthrie, while others, like “The Way I Like to Be,” with its unhinged electric fuzz, venture into the more acid-tinged territories of somebody like the commune-dwelling Farm Band. One thing you could say about this album is that it displays the absolute vastness of Paris’ talents.

From quiet cowpoke trots to dirt-flecked instrumentals that would have been right at home in Dylan’s Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid sessions, Until Loving Finds Me is a revelation for any fan of the original Country Funk album or any 70s stoned Americana. Check it out from Torn & Frayed today.

-KH