mardi 6 novembre 2012

Joseph - Stone Age Man (1970 Great Us Heavy Psychedelic Rock - Wave)


This one doesn't show up too often, but from time to time you'll see it as a big dollar item on psych lists. That's kind of a misnomer since Joseph Longeria's album is actually more blues-rock oriented than traditional psych. Maybe we're just being too anal here ... Regardless, he's a helluva guitar player and the album's well worth the asking price. 
We'll be real honest and admit we can't tell you much about this guy. Different reference works show him as being from Texas, or Tennessee. What little we do know is lifted from the liner notes accompanying his sole album, so take the information with a grain of salt. A&R man/producer Steve Tyrell apparently discovered Longeria playing in a Houston, Texas battle of the blues bands competition. Signing him to a contract with Scepter Records (a surprising choice given the label's fondness for MOR acts such as Dionne Warwick), Joseph's 1970 debut "Stoned Age Man" was recorded in Memphis' famed American Studios. Produced by Chips Moman, Mark James and Glen Spreen, the latter two were also credited with co-writing the majority of the nine tracks. So what's the album like? As we said earlier, the bulk of the album has a bluesy feel to it. Longeria doesn't have much of a voice, but his ragged growl and blazing guitar compliment one another, giving tracks such as "Trick Bag", his adaptation of "The House of the Rising Sun" and the title track considerable kick. The collection's also pretty cool in that Longeria writes some of the strangest lyrics we've ever heard - check out the bizarre "I Ain't Fattenin' No More Frogs for Snakes" and the sitar-propelled "Cold Biscuits and Fish Heads".
As far as we can tell, this is Longeria's only foray into recording. Anyone know what happened to him? (By RDTEN1)

This album is an amazing mixture of hard-blues, primitive hard-rock with obvious psychedelic influences. The husky voice of Joseph is powerful and wild. 
The tracks are excellent. There is a cover of "House of the Rising Son". 
It is said that Joseph "Long" Longeria, a gifted guitarist and singer, has been discovered by Steve Tyrell during one of those guitar duels ("Battle of the Blues Guitars") which were very popular and attracted the crowds in the Blues clubs. Joseph was not afraid of challenging T. Bone Walker and B.B. King.
This band, due to a lack of success and promotion disbanded after their only one album. 
Glen Spreen, the keyboard player, is later mentioned playing for Elvis Presley, Dan Fogelberg and Ian Matthews while Joseph disappeared of the scene.
This forgetten gem deserves to be discovered, especially for the wild blues freak with good guitar playing and husky voice.(By PC_Music) 

Tracklist
01- Trick Bag (Joseph Longeria - Mark Jones - Glen Spreen) -  
02- I Ain't Fattenin' No More Frogs for Snakes (Joseph Longeria - Mark Jones - Glen Spreen - Steve Tyrell) -  
03- Cold Biscuits and Fish Heads (Joseph Longeria - Mark Jones - Glen Spreen) -  
04- Stone Age Man (Joseph Longeria - Mark Jones - Glen Spreen) -  
05- I'm Gonna Build a Mountain (Joseph Longeria - Mark Jones - Glen Spreen) -  
06- Mojo Gumbo (Joseph Longeria - Mark Jones - Glen Spreen) -  
07- The House of the Rising Sun (adapted by Joseph Longeria - Mark Jones - Glen Spreen) - 
08- Gotta Get Away (G. Allman - J. Hurley - R. Witkins) -  
09- Come the Sun Tomorrow (S. Walton - D. Collins) - 

Credits
Vocals, Guitar - Joseph "Long" Longeria*
Keyboards - Glen Spreen 
Recorded at American Sound Studios, Memphis, Tennessee. 

Fuzzy Duck - Fuzzy Duck (1971 UK Great Heavy Progressive Rock - Wave)


This is one of the many harder-edged and organ dominated progressive bands that emerged in the early Seventies. Unfortunately very little is known about FUZZY DUCK's history. The musicians were Paul Francis (drums, percussion), Mick (Doc) Hawksworth (bass, vocals, acoustic 12-string, electric cello), Roy (Daze) Sharland (organ, electric piano) and Grahame White (guitar, vocals, acoustic guitar). The eponymous album from 1971 was released on CD by both the German Repertoire Records and the UK Aftermath Records. It has obvious hints from mainly Atomic Rooter but also Vanilla Fudge.(ProgArchives)

Though the brief career of Fuzzy Duck may only have consisted of one album and two singles the musical history of its various members reads like a "Who's who of rock and roll".
Formed in 1970 and based in North London the original line up consisted of guitarist/vocalist Grahame White, ex-Andromeda, bassist Mick Hawksworth, organist Roy Sharland and ex-Tucky Buzzard drummer Paul Francis. Managed by Gordon Mills, who also managed Tom Jones and Gilbert O'Sullivan, Fuzzy Duck signed to MAM Records, a subsidiary of Decca, and recorded their self-titled debut LP (MAM LP 1005). However just before the album was released White left (later turning up in Capability Brown, Krazy Kat and Jackie Lynton Band) and was replaced by Garth Watt Roy. His first recordings with the band came via the "Double Time Woman"/"Just Look Around You" single (MAM 37) released in August 1971. A second single "Big Brass Band"/"One More Hour"(MAM 51) was released in November 1971 but by the end of the year they decided to go their separate ways.
Garth Watt Roy teamed up with his bassist brother Norman to form the Greatest Show On Earth who released two albums, "Horizons" and "The Going's Easy", for EMI's progressive Harvest label. Since then he's recorded with the likes of East Of Eden, Limey, Marmalade, Steamhammer, Bonnie Tyler, Barbara Dickson, The Barron Knights and was also a founder member of The Q Tips. Mick Hawksworth went on to work with Matthew Fisher before teaming up with Alvin Lee for The Ten Years After LPs "Rocket Fuel" and "Ride On". Drummer Paul Francis went on to work with Tranquillity, Maggie Bell, Mick Ronson, and Chris Spedding and has recently been touring with Steve Harley.(Mark Brennan)

Tracklist
01- Time Will Be Your Doctor (5:06)
02- Mrs. Prout  (6:45)
03- Just Look Around You  (4:20)
04- Afternoon Out  (5:20)
05- More Than I Am  (5:30)
06- Country Boy  (6:00)
07- In Our Time  (6:49)
08- A Word From Big D  (1:51)
Bonus Tracks
09- Double Time Woman  (2:58)
10- Big Brass Band  (2:56)
11- One More Hour  (3:58)
12- No Name Face 

Credits
Mick Hawksworth - bass, vocals (lead Vocals 3-5-7), 12-string acoustic guitar and electric cello on "In Our Time"
Roy Sharland - organ, vocal on "A Word From Big D", electric piano on "Just Look Around You"
Paul Francis – drums, percussion
Grahame White (album tracks) – electric guitar, vocals (lead Vocals 1-2-4-6), acoustic guitar on "Mrs. Prout"
Garth Watt Roy (bonus tracks) - electric guitar, vocals (lead Vocals 9-10-11-12)

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