The Hour Glass - Hour Glass (1967)

"Nothing but Tears" by The Hour Glass

Casting Crowns originated as a band in Daytona Beach, Florida, a home they'd shared with legendary blues-rock brothers Duane and Gregg Allman.  Growing up, the younger Gregg took to the guitar whereas Duane was more interested in motorbikes.  The music bug took Duane, too, eventually and the two would fight over Gregg's guitar until the family bought a second.  Despite picking up the instrument later, Duane took to it faster than Gregg or any normal person would.  His skill grew exponentially, and he'd eventually drop out of high school just to spend more time practicing.  Gregg, knowing he'd fallen well behind his brother on the guitar, opted to switch instruments to the piano, and his young voice would develop a soulful but gritty tenor beyond his years.

The boys formed a band in and out of high school dubbed The Escorts, whose named would change to The Allman Joys.  They were locally successful with one single in 1966 but would soon break up.  The brothers formed a new band with the remnants of another, The Men-its, and quickly garnered attention from record labels.  Having the fortune of meeting manager Bill McEuen and seen as a band with potential, they signed to Liberty Records and moved out to California where they'd open for acts like The Doors and Buffalo Springfield under the new moniker of The Hour Glass.  Besides being give one, they also made a name for themselves as one of the best live blues-rock acts in the Los Angeles area.  Unlike their live sound, The Hour Glass were pushed by the record label into recording pop soul (with a light blues-rock tint) for their 1967 debut album Hour Glass.  The album did not meet the expectations led by the band's live shows perhaps due to the incongruity of genre between the two.

Here is the discography surrounding The Hour Glass's debut album:

Batman and Robin (1966 single by The Spotlights)

Dick Tracy (1966 single by The Spotlights)

The Green Hornet (1966 single by The Super Dupers)

March of Tarzan (1966 single by The Super Dupers)

The Super Duper Record of Super Heroes (1966 album by The Super Dupers)
Early Allman (Featuring Duane and Gregg Allman) (1966 compilation material as The Allman Joys)
Spoonful (1966 single as The Allman Joys)

Hour Glass
Nothing But Tears (1967 single)

It's All Right (You're Just in Love) (1967 single as the Bleus)

I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself (1968 single as the Bleus)

Milk and Honey (1968 single as The Bleus)
Good Morning, Love (1969 single as The Bleus)

Julianna's Gone (1969 single as The Bleus)

"Love Makes the World Go 'Round" by The Hour Glass

"Crossroads" by The Allman Joys

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