Autosalvage

Among the handful of psychedelic outfits from New York that reached a national audience, Autosalvage experienced only a faint and short-lived period of visibility. Bassist Skip Boone, brother of Lovin' Spoonful bassist Steve Boone, and guitarist Rick Turner, who supplied guitar to most tracks on Ian & Sylvia’s 1966 album Play One More, anchored the group. Their self-titled 1968 album drew on an unusually broad sonic range that embraced folk, blues, and strings. Upbeat vocal harmonies reflected a mild debt to the Lovin’ Spoonful, and Frank Zappa, perhaps drawn to the band’s occasional fragmented and improvisational approach, became a supporter, yet the songs never coalesced into a signature style. Skip Boone and drummer Darius Davenport also surfaced on Bear’s little-known 1968 album, but otherwise the debut served as the group’s only release. Guitarist Rick Turner subsequently enjoyed a thriving career as a luthier and instrument designer before dying on April 17, 2022, at age 78.