Nolan - No Apologies

Review by Chuck Spidell

No Apologies by Nolan: A Funky, Soulful Trip Down Memory Lane (1970) Let’s cut to the chase: No Apologies is one of those albums that feels like it was beamed straight outta some cosmic jukebox stuck between rock, funk, soul, and even a splash of children’s music. Yeah, you heard me right. Children's music. Released in 1970 on Lizard Records (cool name, huh?), this gem from Nolan Porter straddles genres like a musical tightrope walker with a sense of humor. And trust me, it’s worth your time. First off, let’s talk about the dream team behind this record. You’ve got Lowell George shredding guitar like he just invented coolness itself, Roy Estrada laying down basslines smoother than butter on a hot biscuit, and Jimmy Carl Black keeping the beat so groovy you might forget where you are for a sec. Oh, and props to producer Gabriel Mekler, who clearly had his morning coffee before stepping into the studio because everything sounds crisp yet delightfully unhinged. Now, onto the tracks. If I had to pick two standouts, they’d be “Crazy Love” and “Let’s Burn Down the Cornfield.” Why? Well, buckle up, buttercup—here’s why these tunes burrowed their way into my brain. “Crazy Love” hits you like a warm hug from an old friend who smells faintly of patchouli. It’s got that soft rock vibe but with enough soul to make Clydie King and Sherlie Matthews’ backing vocals feel like church choir magic. The melody worms its way into your ears and sets up camp. Days later, you’ll catch yourself humming it while brushing your teeth or arguing with your cat. Don’t ask how I know. Then there’s “Let’s Burn Down the Cornfield,” which is basically what happens when someone says, “Hey, let’s mix fire metaphors with funky horns and see what sticks.” Tony Elisalda’s congas slap harder than your grandma’s famous biscuits, and the whole thing builds into this glorious mess of sound that makes you wanna grab a lighter and… well, maybe not burn anything down, but definitely dance like nobody’s watching. This track has more layers than my winter coat collection, and every single one works. The rest of the album? Solid gold weirdness. Tracks like “Don’t Make Me Color My Black Face Blue” hit hard—not just musically but emotionally too. It’s raw, real, and kinda uncomfortable in the best possible way. Meanwhile, songs like “Fe Fi Fo Fum” remind you that yes, this album does have a hint of kiddie whimsy sprinkled throughout. Go figure. Here’s the kicker though—the design and photography by Kira and Tom Gundelfinger give the whole package a trippy, artsy vibe that screams early '70s experimentation. Like, you can practically smell the incense wafting off the cover art. So, what’s the takeaway here? No Apologies isn’t perfect—it’s messy, quirky, and occasionally baffling—but dang if it doesn’t leave a mark. Listening to it feels like flipping through someone’s photo album from a wild road trip across the U.S. and Canada. Sure, some pictures are blurry, and others don’t quite fit, but together? They tell a story you won’t soon forget. And hey, if nothing else, now you’ve got something fun to play at your next dinner party when everyone’s had too much wine and needs a conversation starter. Just don’t blame me if someone starts trying to burn down actual cornfields.

Artist: Nolan
Album: No Apologies

1971

Rating: 4.0

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Catalog Numbers
Labels
Listen online
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Notes
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About Artist
Interesting fact
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Download

Filename: nolan-no-apologies.zip

MP3 size: 100 mb
FLAC size: 992 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Travelin' Song
Gwendolyn	5:09
Fifth One
Travelin' Song	4:40
Somebody's Cryin'	4:45
What Would You Do If I Did That To You	3:00
Crazy Love	2:54
Let's Burn Down the Cornfield
The Fifth One	3:06
Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum
Don't Make Me Color by Black Face Blue
Fe Fi Fo Fum	2:35
Somebody's Cryin'
Iron Out The Rough Spots	5:10
Somebody's Gone	2:10
Iron Out the Rough Spots
Somebody's Gone
What Would You Do If I Did That to You?
Let's Burn Down The Cornfield	2:55
Don't Make Me Color My Black Face Blue	3:09

Video

iron out the rough spots Nolan Porter

NOLAN PORTER - Gwendolyn

B4 Burn Down The Cornfield - Nolan Porter - Nolan (1972)

B2 Crazy Love - Nolan Porter - Nolan (1972)

N F PORTER - DON'T MAKE ME COLOR MY BLACK FACE BLUE

Images

télécharger l'album Nolan - No Apologies

Catalog Numbers

A-20102
A20102, A-20102
A20102

Labels

Lizard

Listen online

ouvir online
online luisteren
kuunnella verkossa
lytte på nettet
escuchar en línea
online anhören
écouter en ligne
lyssna på nätet
ascolta in linea

Formats

Vinyl
LP
Album
Stereo
Promo

Companies

Role	Company
Distributed By	Ampex Records
Recorded At	Wally Heider Recording Studio, Los Angeles
Published By	East
Record Company	Ampex Of Canada

Credits

Role	Credit
Backing Vocals	Clydie King, Sherlie Matthews, Venetta Fields
Bass	Roy Estrada
Drums	Jimmy Carl Black, Richard Hayward
Guitar	Lowell George
Horns	Tony Elisalda
Congas	Tony Elisalda
Photography By	Kira, Tom Gundelfinger
Design	Kira, Tom Gundelfinger
Piano	William H. Payne
Organ	William H. Payne
Producer	Gabriel Mekler
Keyboards	Gabriel Mekler
Vocals	Nolan Porter
Photography	Kira, Tom Gundelfinger
Artwork By	Kira, Tom Gundelfinger

Notes

This release has a song called "Travelin' Song" in position B1.
Label variation .
Publishers:
A1: East-Cotillion (BMI)
A2: January Music (BMI)
A3: Lizard Music (ASCAP)
A4: Lizard Music (ASCAP)
A5: Tamerlane Publishing, Inc. (BMI)
B1: Lizard Music (ASCAP)
B2: Cordon Blue-Red Mountain (BMI)
B3: Lizard Music (ASCAP)
B4: Lizard Music (ASCAP)
B5: Lizard Music (ASCAP)
Made in U.S.A.
Catalog# is printed as "A20102" on the cover and spine, and as "A-20102" on the labels.
Recorded at Wally Heider's Studio 3, Hollywood, except track B2 recorded live at the Troubadour in Hollywood.
Release year not stated on record.
B1: Van-Jan Music (ASCAP)
Recorded at Wally Heider's Studio 3, Hollywood.
The Lizard label was a short-lived subsidiary of Ampex that operated during 1971.
Recorded at Wally Heider's Studio 3 - Hollywood
Track B1 is a different song than the one on the original release
On spine and back cover: Category is A20102
Label variation where the durations appear in a straight column.
White sticker on front: "Promotional Copy. Not For Sale."
This white label promo copy says "D. J. Copy Not for Sale"

Barcodes

Matrix / Runout (Side A, Runout): ARP 20102-A △14739
Matrix / Runout (Side B, Runout): ARP 20102-B △14739-X
Matrix / Runout (A Side): A2012-A-RE-1 △14739
Matrix / Runout (B Side): A2012-B-RE-1 △14739-X
Matrix / Runout (Side A, Runout): ARC 7̶5-2-0-0 8̶20102-A △14739
Matrix / Runout (Side B, Runout): 8̶20102-B △14739-X
Matrix / Runout (A Side scratched out letter or number before the code): 2012-A-RE-1 △14739
Matrix / Runout (B Side scratched out letter or number before the code): 2012-B-RE-1 △14739-X

About Nolan

Nolan Frederick Porter (May 10, 1949 February 4 2021) was an American R&B singer and songwriter who recorded two albums and six singles in the early 1970s.

Real Name

Nolan Frederick Porter

Name Vars

N F Porter
N. F. Porter
N. Porter
N.F. Porter
Nolan
Noland Porter
Porter

Aliases

Frederick II

Interesting fact about Album

Did you know that the 1970 album *No Apologies* by Nolan Porter is a genre-blending masterpiece? It mixes rock, funk, soul, and even children's music. The album features legendary musicians like Lowell George on guitar and Roy Estrada on bass, both known for their work with Frank Zappa. Fun fact: the track "Let's Burn Down the Cornfield" appears twice, but it’s not a mistake—it’s two different versions! The album cover art and photography were done by Kira and Tom Gundelfinger, who gave it a distinct visual style. A true hidden gem from the US and Canada scene.