lundi 11 février 2013

Link Wray - Stuck In Gear - 1975 - (Great Rock Album - Vinyl Rip - Wave)


                                   
Track List
01- Southern Lady
02- Tecolote
03- Quicksand
04- I Know You're Leaving Me Now
05- Did You See The Man
06- Midnight Lover
07- Cottoncandy Apples
08- BoJack
09- Jack The Ripper

There is very little info about this particular album.All i know is it was recorded in the UK and is very hard to find.It's been said it can be found at Ebay for about $4o, I had no luck seeing it there myself.I wish a good record label would re-issue all of Link's 70's & 80's material. I for one think it would be quit profitable.My fav tracks here are funky rocker "Bo Jack" and "Midnight Lover" which could have been a huge FM radio hit had someone actually been paying attention. The guitar solo's in "Midnight"will make many drool especially those of you who dig your 70's classic rock. Until then ...Rock On!

Link Wray : Guitars, Vocals
Ruan O'Lochlainn : Keyboards, alto sax
Freddie Smith : Drums, Percussions
Archie Legget : Bass
Gordon Smith : Steel Guitar 
Roger Brown & Carl Bramwell : Backing Vocals
John Greaves : Bass on "Jack The Ripper"
Charlie Charles : Drums on "Jack The Ripper" 

 

Link Wray - Record Plant - Sausalito - CA - September 1974 - Flac


Track Listing
01 DJ Intro / Rumble
02 It Was A Bad Scene
03 Good Time Joe
04 Walkin' Bulldog
05 She's That Kind of Woman
06 Backwoods Preacher Man
07 Unchain My Heart
08 Yo Walk By 

Even if you don’t know who Link Wray is, you’ve probably heard his music. He played a Gibson SG and was the pioneer of distorted rock guitar, influencing countless musicians. “Rumble” was used for the soundtrack for the movie “Pulp Fiction”. Litterally a four chord song, “Rumble” is a powerhouse of  cranked-up sustaining major chords ringing out with full overdrive. All you’ll need to hear is the first three chords :  D... D... A...  and you’ll recognize this classic instrumental tune. - Sidewindersf
Link mentions that John Cipollina is there in the studio during the broadcast.


Link

mercredi 6 février 2013

Snafu - Situation Normal (1974 Uk Great Classic Rock - 1993 Reissue - Wave)



On the second LP, “Situation Normal”, Pete Solley had taken over much of the control of the band. There is a strong country-rock influence on this album, which makes you either hate or love it.
Solley’s keyboard/fiddle playing is wonderful throughout the album. At the same time, Micky Moody was exploring music by the likes of Ry Cooder and getting more and more into playing slide guitar. Harrison’s vocal work is sublime and the rhythm section is both tight and soulful.
Surprisingly, it was not as well reviewed as its predecessor. The band toured America as a support act for Emerson Lake and Palmer but wasn’t happy with the results of having to play to a completely different audience.

Tracklist
01. No More – 6:19
02. No Bitter Taste – 3:24
03. Brown Eyed Beauty & The Blue Assed Fly – 3:25
04. Lock And Key – 2:49
05. Big Dog Lusty – 3:41
06. Playboy Blues – 8:16
07. Jessie Lee – 4:37
08. Ragtime Roll – 5:05

Credits
Bobby Harrison / vocals, congas
Micky Moody / guitar, mandolin, harmonica
Colin Gibson / bass
Terry Popple / drums, washboard
Pete Solley / keyboards, fiddle, ARP synthesizer

Mel Collins/ Alto & Tenor Saxophones (Track 08) 
Steve Gregory/ Tenor Saxophone (Track 08)
Bud Beadle/ Baritone Saxophone (Track 08)

Here

Thundermother - No Red Rowan (1970-1971 uk heavy hard rock and acid psych hard blues fuzzed - Wave)



Well, if you found your way to this page you must be a real fan of early 70's heavy psych rock as this one's been out of print (as a standalone) since 1995 but most of the album is available as side 2 of a double album released in 2003 which is still available here Works V.4. I'm surprised this is the first review of this lost classic.
No Red Rowan is a hard, heavy, blues-psych acid rock album released in 1971 out of the UK. Supposedly some kind of studio-musician supergroup and boy do they sound super!! Plays well as an album front to back, good stuff!
If you are a fan of the early 70's sound, this is a very worthwhile addition to your 'obscure gems' collection. (By Tuco)

There is no reliable information about the history of this band. Apparently this album was recorded in Wakefield between 1970-1971, England, engineered and produced by Mike Levon.
It collects Their Contributions to Astral Navigations, Gagalactyca, Loose Routes I and II. "David J. Smith (formerly of David John and the Mood) co-produced and sang on some tracks of an" ad hoc "group (ie They Were the studio creation) called Thundermother During 1969.
This one band shared with lp Light years Away called "Astral Navigations" (Holyground 1971). Thundermother's Contribution was recorded over one weekend.
Acid guitars, Hard Acid rock, heavy Acid Psych, Heavy Acid Prog, Acid Blues !! Progressive/hard rock featuring a lot of fuzzed guitar!!


Tracks List:
01.Someday 13:41
02.Country Lines 1:05
03.Boogie Music 4:48
04.Woman 3:17
05.Lady (Lay By Me) 3:39
06.The People Show 3:55
07.Come on Home 4:53
08.Woman in My Life 4:17
09.Rock Me Babe 6:03
10.Boogie Music (Coke Version) 4:53
11.Duce Blues 1:14
12.Watch Your Step 3:30
13.You Know Me Babe 1:26
14.Come on Home (Space Version) 7:31

Thundermother:
David John - lead vocals, percussion
Dave "Ginner" Millen - lead vocals, lead guitar, bass
Frank Newbould - guitar, bass, vocals
Fred Kelly - drums, percussion
Dave Wilkinson - piano
Dave Smith "Daz" - bass
Jerusalem Smith - Drums On "Woman"

Here

Snafu - Snafu (1973 Uk Great Classic Rock - 1993 Reissue - Wave)



When Paladin folded in 1973 I noted that their keyboard player/violinist Pete Solley had joined Snafu. This was a progressive rock band formed by Bobby Harrison (ex Procol Harum) and Mick Moody (guitarist ex Juicy Lucy - check the latter out too!) which produced 3 albums. A year or two later I picked up a vinyl copy of Snafu's second album "Situation Normal". This was influenced by Pete Solley and was an OK country-rock based album. Having read that this first album had been re-released on CD and was reputed to be better and more rock than country I bought it.
It's all round a better album to me, more rock with excellent slide guitar, some mandolin on one track and violin included on a couple of others. The album opens with a rocking "Long Gone", some great vocals by Harrison on the track and nice guitar from Moody. "Said he the Judge" reminds me of a slow rock song in the Lynyrd Skynyrd mold. "Monday morning" features the mandolin and violin and has a country hoe-down theme. The next track, "Drowning in the sea of love" has a soulful/rock feel with backing wah-wah guitar work. "Country nest" is another laidback country-style song which has what sounds like a steel-pedal guitar rather than slide. "Funky friend" is what it says, a funky rocking track with some violin work again. "Goodbye USA" is another slow rock song with synthesiser work by Solley. The final track "That's the song" is back to rock with plenty of guitar and Hammond organ.
The CD comes in a cardboard gatefold sleeve which replicates the original vinyl copy. The front cover includes a Roger Dean design and when opened there's a photo of the group and their names/roles on the left side, track listing and other production credits on the right hand side. Enclosed in one sleeve is a pull-out sheet of excellent extensive notes on Snafu and the individual musicians put together by Chris Welch with input from Micky Moody. The latter also gives fairly detailed notes on each track.
I liked this CD at the first hearing and the package, whilst only cardboard is far superior because of its original-design finish and the included notes than many bland, noteless plastic-cased CD's. I understand that their last album, "All funked up" is another good funky rock album with no country influence as Solley had left by this time. Must seek that out next.
A short-lived act, like Paladin, but one that I never had the opportunity to see live unfortunately. And the name Snafu? From the American TV series, Sergeant Bilko, it was short for "situation normal, all fouled up" but not applicable to the group or this album! (By J. Bodicoat "Digger")


Tracklist
01- Long Gone
02- Said The Judge
03- Monday Morning
04- Drowning In The Sea Of Love
05- Country Nest
06- Funky Friend
07- Goodbye U.S.A.
08- That's The Song
09- Dixie Queen
10- Sad Sunday

Credits
Lead Vocals, Percussion – Bobby Harrison
Guitar, Mandolin, Backing Vocals – Micky Moody
Bass Guitar – Colin Gibson
Drums – Terry Popple
Keyboards, Backing Vocals – Pete Solley

Snafu - All Funked Up (1975 uk heavy classic rock blended funk & country - flac)


Solley left the band to join Procol Harum. Brian Chatton and Tim Hinkley was recruited to complete the lineup that would record the band’s third album.
As the title suggests, the overall sound is very funky rock with an evident blues debt. Micky Moody’s overdriven slide adds a touch of Southern boogie to the mixture. The laidback country-rock groove sustained throughout has held up remarkably well in the quarter-century since its release.
Shortly after the release of the album, the general feeling of disillusionment and loss of direction which dominated the established British rock scene in the mid-seventies finally caught up with Snafu as well. During a tour of Germany, Micky Moody was invited to join David Coverdale (for the band which would become Whitesnake) and he accepted. Snafu was no more.

Tracklist:
01. Don’t Keep Me Wondering – 5:21 
02. Bloodhound – 5:25
03. Lock And Key – 2:56
04. Hard to Handle – 3:22
05. Every Little Bit Hurts – 4:41
06. Turn Around – 4:23
07. Deep Water – 5:27
08. Keep on Running – 3:24
09. Barroom Tan – 3:48
10. Dancing Feet – 5:51
11. Are You Sure (Bonus Track) - 3:43


Line-up:
Bobby Harrison - vocals
Micky Moody - guitar
Colin Gibson - bass
Brian Chatton - keyboards
Tim Hinkley - piano, organ
Terry Popple - drums, percussion
Mel Collins - saxophone
Liza Strike, Viola Wills - background vocals



Here

mardi 5 février 2013

Stack Waddy - Bugger Off! - (1972 great uk heavy rock with outstanding vocals - Wave)


Stack Waddy's second and final studio album Bugger Off. Originally released in 1972 John Peel favorites Stack Waddy were a raucous Rock 'N' Roll quartet from Manchester who were signed to the late DJ's Dandelion Records in the early '70s. This release also includes the 'lost' BBC Peel Session of 1972 as bonus tracks.
"John doesn't claim to sing, his voice acting more as an instrument than a method of conveying words... Mick produces the most incredible noises out of his old battered machine... Stuart's bass chews its way through a number, while his hair flies as he leaps about like a soul in everlasting torment... Steve provides a form of percussion of an alpine rockfall intensity..."



Tracks 
01 Rosalyn      
02 Willie the Pimp      
03 I'm Your Hoochie-Coochie Man      
04 It's All Over Now      
05 Several Yards      
06 You Really Got Me      
07 I'm a Lover Not a Fighter      
08 Meat Pies 'Ave Come But Band's Not 'Ere Yet      
09 It Ain't Easy      
10 Long Tall Shorty (Mainly)      
11 Repossession Boogie      
12 The Girl from Ipanema      
13 Mama Keep Your Big Mouth Shut   

Credits
John Knail - Vocals, Harmonica
Steve Revell - Drums
Mick Stott - Guitar
Stuart Banham - Bass

Stack Waddy - Stack Waddy (1971 great uk heavy rock with outstanding vocals - Wave)


Stack Waddy's debut album is one of the "must hear" discs of the early 1970s, an uncompromising roar that might cavort through that shell-shocked no man's land that sprawls between Captain Beefheart and the Edgar Broughton Band, but which winds up defiantly beholden to absolutely nothing else you've ever heard — one reason, perhaps, why the group vanished with so little trace.Recorded live in the studio (or thereabouts, Stack Waddy is a blurring blend of brutal band originals and deliciously mauled covers. Beefheart's "Sure Nuff Yes I Do" is an unblinking highlight, while raw takes on "Suzie Q" and "Road Runner" remind us of the group's mid 60s genesis on the Manchester R&B scene. 
There's also a version of Jethro Tull's "Love Story" that comes close to topping the Sensational Alex Harvey Band in terms of lascivious power and ferocity. Certainly John Knail takes no prisoners as he howls his way through and, while Stack Waddy holds back from completely recreating the live band experience (there's no breaking bottles, for a start), still this is one of those few albums that genuinely requires you to wear protective clothing.


01. Roadrunner (McDaniel) 3:26
02. Bring It to Jerome (Green) 5:18
03. Mothballs (Banham, Knail, Revell, Stott) 3:35
04. Sure Nuff 'N' Yes I Do (Bermann, VanVilet) 2:29
05. Love Story (Anderson) 2:19
06. Suzie Q (Broodwater, Hawkins, Lewis) 2:27
07. Country Line Special (Davies) 3:55
08. Rolling Stone (Waters) 3:25
09. Mystic Eyes (Morrison) 6:05
10. Kentucky (Banham, Knail, Revell, Stott) 2:42 

Credits
John Knail - Vocals, Harmonica
Steve Revell - Drums
Mick Stott - Guitar
Stuart Banham - Bass

Here

mardi 29 janvier 2013

Man - Welsh Connection (1976 great uk psyche-prog rock - wave)


This was to be Man's last studio album for two decades, and with its weak sales (it failed to chart) and underpowered material it's easy to see why the band called it quits for the time being. There's some irony, then, in the closing track being "Born with a Future." It's a good final bow, though, as it's well harmonized and ultimately one of the best cuts on the album. Perhaps this releases's most nagging overall problem is the mix-Phil Ryan's keyboards are high up, while Deke Leonard's bracing guitar parts are less evident than usual. Although this isn't always a liability-the lengthy title track lazily wends its way through some pleasant moog solos and electric piano flourishes-the grittiness of the band's sound is largely squandered here.

Tracklist
01. "The Ride and the View"   Deke Leonard 5:01
02. "Out of Your Head"   Leonard 4:04
03. "Love Can Find a Way"   John McKenzie 5:13
04. "The Welsh Connection"   Phil Ryan, Micky Jones 7:18
05. "Something is Happening"   Ryan 6:21
06. "Car Toon"   Leonard, Ryan 6:01
07. "Born With a Future"   Jones, Leonard, Ryan 7:07
08. "(I'm A) Love-Taker"   Leonard 2:47



Credits
Terry Williams – Vocals & Drums
Phil Ryan – Vocals & Keyboards
John McKenzie – Vocals & Bass
Deke Leonard – Vocals & Guitar
Micky Jones – Vocals & Guitar
Caromay Dixon – Vocal on "Something is Happening"
Jeffrey Hooper – Vocal on "Out of Your Head"
Anton Matthews – Vocal on "Out of Your Head"
Pete Brown – African Talking Drums on "The Welsh Connection" and "Something is Happening"

dimanche 27 janvier 2013

Gene Clark - No Other (us 1974 great california country rock - 2003 edition with bonus tracks - wave)


When The Byrds reunited for Asylum Records there was the hope that the original quintet would recapture the magic they generated with their first couple of albums. It didn't happen. While The Byrds (which is still out of print)suffered from an overabundance of ambition, production and egos, Clark's solo effort for Asylum had all the ambition and production of the previusly mentioned album but with the inspiration necessary to pull it off.
This is Clark's most "produced" effort. For that very reason, there are some Byrds and Clark fans that can't stand it. Looking past the ambitious production, the songs are what really matter. At its core, No Other features some of Clark's most sublime material. Many folks have compared it to Van Morrison's Astral Weeks but I'd venture to compare it to Lennon's Imagine. The heartache, pure emotion and powerful performances at the core of the album benefit from the production.

Rhino has done a terrific job of remastering the album. While I can't detect a huge sonic difference between this and the fine Collector's Choice edition, it does benefit from the inclusion of alternate versions and a bonus track not available on a legit CD before.

Gene Clark was always the most vulnerable of The Byrds. That was reflected in his powerful, emotional songs as much as his emotionally naked vocals. It's about time that this great album got the deluxe treatment it deserves. Certainly if you're a Byrds/Clark fan pick this up. Even if you're not, it's well worth purchasing. Like Neil Young's wounded On the Beach, No Other is a classic album that stands outside of its time but was also made at the wrong time. Perhaps it'll finally get some appreciation.(By Wayne Klein) 



Tracklist
01-"Life's Greatest Fool" – 4:44
02-"Silver Raven" – 4:53
03-"No Other" – 5:08
04-"Strength of Strings" – 6:31
06-"From a Silver Phial" – 3:40
07-"Some Misunderstanding" – 8:09
08-"The True One" – 3:58
09-"Lady of the North" – 6:04
Bonus Tracks
10-"Train Leaves Here This Morning" - 4:59
11-"Life's Greatest Fool" (alternate version) - 4:16
12-"Silver Raven" (alternate version) - 3:06
13-"No Other" (alternate version) - 5:35
14-"From A Silver Phial" (alternate version) - 3:42
15-"Some Midunderstanding" (alternate version) - 5:17
16-"Lady Of The North" (alternate version) - 5:54



Credits
Gene Clark - Vocals, Guitar
Lee Sklar - Bass
Butch Trucks - Drums
Russ Kunkle - Drums
Michael Utley - Keyboards
Craig Doerge - Keyboards
Joe Lala - Percussions
Richard Greene - Violin
Chris Hillman - Mandolin
Ted Machell - Cello
Bill Cuomo - Rheem Organ
Jerry McGee - Guitar
Danny Kootch - Guitar
Jesse Ed Davis - Guitar
Steve Bruton - Guitar
Buzzy Feiten - Guitar
Ronnie Barron - Cindy Bullens - Claudia Lennear - Venetta Fields - Clydie King - Shirley Matthews - Carlena Williams - Tim Schmit - Voices

Here

vendredi 25 janvier 2013

Copperhead - Copperhead (1973 us great west coast rock - 2001 remaster - wave)


When John Cipollina left Quicksilver Messenger Service in 1971, he formed Copperhead with Jim Murray and Casey Sonoban (two members of the first Quicksilver line-up), his brother Mario (who later found fame with Huey Lewis and The News) and various other musicians. Their frequent rehearsals and gigs didn't allow them to get a recording contract and in 1972 Cipollina assembled a new line-up with Gary Philippet (ex Front Line), Jim McPherson (ex Stained Glass), David Weber and Hutch Hutchinson. A record, Sealed For Your Protection, was ready to be released on Just Sunshine Record but was eventually shelved. Finally Copperhead was issued by CBS in 1973 and is a superb example of San Francisco Sound, with seven original tracks and a new version of Kibitzer, already recorded by McPherson with Stained Glass. A must for fans of Quicksilver and Cipollina's guitar.
After Copperhead, Cipollina, Weber, McPherson and Hutchinson joined Terry and The Pirates and played with various local groups. Hutch Hutchinson became a renowned bass session player and is still active in the studios.(Stephane Rebeschini)



Tracklist
01. Roller Derby Star 4:16
02. Kibitzer 3:46
03. A Little Hand 5:01
04. Kamikaze 5:26
05. Spin-Spin 3:18
06. Pawnshop Man 5:30
07. Wing-Dang-Doo 4:06
08. They're Making A Monster 7:36
09. Chameleon 3:40



Credits
John Cipollina - Lead & Hawaian Guitars
Hutch Hutchinson - Vocals, Bass
Jim McPherson - Vocals, Piano, Bass, Percussion
Gary Philippet - Vocals, Guitar, Organ
David Weber - Drums 

jeudi 24 janvier 2013

Roy Harper - HQ (1975 great uk classic rock & folk rock - wave)


Harper considers HQ to be "...probably the best record that I have made to date"

HQ finds Roy in 1975 as part of a rock quartet, Trigger. The album opens with The Game, one of Harper's most compelling long songs--it's a rocker with a smart lyric and includes David Gilmour and John Paul Jones. The next 2 tracks are solid rockers, "Spirit" is an anti-religion song, and "Grown ups" is a great 50's style boogie displaying Roy's playful wit. "Referendum" has some sweet guitar from Spedding and switches between acoustic and electric. "Forget Me Not" is the first acoustic song on the album and is a beautiful love song. "Hallucinating Light" is beautiful and finely crafted, and the album is superbly topped off with "Cricketer," an emotional and lovely take on aging and the proud memories of a life. The bonus tracks are good, but not as essential as the original album songs. Throughout, Roy's voice is top-notch. The lyrics are some of his finest, and his band is tight and rocking. I recommend this gem to anyone who likes classic rock, and especially to fans of Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Jethro Tull, and Dylan's folk-rock. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! 
(By Elliot Knapp) 

Tracklist
01 "The Game (Parts 1–5)" – 13:42
02 "The Spirit Lives" – 4:14
03 "Grown ups are Just Silly Children" – 2:55
04 "Referendum (Legend)" – 3:49
05 "Forget Me Not" – 2:24
06 "Hallucinating Light" – 6:24
07 "When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease" – 7:13
08 "The Spirit Lives" (Early Mix, 23 March 1975)
09 "When An Old Cricketer Leaves The Crease" (Live in Exeter, 31 October 1977)
10 "Hallucinating Light" (7" Single version)



Credits
Roy Harper – vocals, guitar
Chris Spedding – guitar
Bill Bruford – drums
Dave Cochran – bass
David Gilmour – guitar on "The Game"
John Paul Jones – bass on "The Game"
Steve Broughton – drums on "The Game"
The Grimethorpe Colliery Band – brass on "When an Old Cricketer Leaves the Crease"

Link

mercredi 23 janvier 2013

Bulbous Creation - You Won't Remember Dying (1969-70 great us heavy psychedelic rock - wave)


An extremely rare and previously unreleased 1969/1970 heavy psychedelic album housed in a superb sleeve. It was recorded in the Cavern Sound Studio, Missouri. The opening cut, End Of The Page, has a lovely guitar intro and the other highlight is the lengthy Let's Go To The Sea, which features some great Hendrix' psychedelic guitar work. The remainder of the album comprises harder edged rock cuts, their own interpretation of Stormy Monday and Hooked, which is the best moment on the album vocally. Worth checking out. The band hailed from the Kansas/Missouri area.

A1 End of the Page 4:44
A2 Having a Good Time 4:08
A3 Satan 6:05
A4 Fever Machine Man 6:29
B1 Let's Go to the Sun 8:26
B2 Hooked 4:05
B3 Under the Black Sun 2:55
B4 Stormy Monday 4:48

Heavypsych classic with warm dusty basement sound with HEAVY bass and great acid psych guitarwork of premium quality. "Stormy Monday" and "Let's go to the sea" are amazing.



"1970 recordings of great jammy downer hardrock/psych with an intense atmosphere, far-out vocals and only one weak cut. Lyrics deal with smack, 'Nam, satanism and more; a merciless snapshot of the post-flower power era. In my opinion among the very best of all the Cavern Sound Studios stuff (Stoned Circus, Crank/Thump Theatre, Phantasia, Trizo 50) that has appeared. The reissue has the usual Rockadelic sleeve obsession with heroin and death, which is well matched by the sounds inside. The label was unable to locate the band which explains the lack of info." 

Yes more great underground Heavy Psych. This time Bulbous Creation - You won't remember dying from 1970 (Rockadelic). This album is another personal favorite. You get great acid lead guitar in class with Garcia or Cipolina and warm heavy, dusty underground sound with a eerie dark edge. Some great gems of this album are opener "End of the page", "Having a good time", the Heavy Psych monsterpiece "Let's go to the sea" and the incredible acid psych version of "Stormy Monday" which has some of the best psychedelic clear tone lead guitar ever recorded. The sheer variation, the musical quality and underground production make this album a true keeper. A desert Island record if there ever was one. Have a quality psychedelic experience with this beloved gem. Please share your views on this album.


Here

jeudi 10 janvier 2013

The Farm Band - The Farm Band (1972 us great psychedelic rock - cd edition - Wave)


Kind of a given here, don't you think? The Farm Band (also operating as Stephen & The Farm Band and the Tennessee Farm Band) was the houseband at The Farm, flagship of all hippie communes. I strongly recommend anyone with an interest in the rural revolution to check out this amazing place more; the book "Voices From The Farm" (Rupert Fike, ed.) is a good start.
This massive 2LP set was the Farm Band's first release and also by some miles their finest moment (later LPs are pretty good too, though, and I wouldn't want to let go of any of them). A nine-piece outfit, the standard rock setting is augmented by flute, electric fiddle, and French horn(!); mixed vocals and long, jam-oriented material give this an undeniable late-stage West Coast feel (not much of a surprise, really, as most of the Farm residents originated from San Francisco). The mood is one of joy and spontaneity, where you easily can imagine a few hundred longhaired freaks out in the fields groovin' all night long into the morning sun, as the last jam slowly fades away.
This spontaneity also results in performances that are perhaps a tad "loose", shall we say, or even sloppy, with vocal harmonies going all over the place. Songwriting never was the Farm Band's forte either. What they do succeed in is creating a sort of tribal Earth Rock, where the leadguitar of Walter Rabideau cuts through time and space leading the band further and further away into holy man jam land; the rhythmguitarist steps on his wah-wah, the violinist comes sweeping in from the cornfield ready to push things into even higher grounds, and eventually it's a wall of sound-effect that soars high above the watertower, leaving Summertown, TN, as nothing but a tiny dot on the map that stretches out far below. Get the picture? When the jams here really gel it's an amazing power at work, a psychedelic testimony with a groove that appears to be endless.
This being a very communal effort it feels contradictory to single out any specific player, but I can't let the opportunity pass to praise Walter Rabideau's guitarplaying. One of rock's unsung guitarheroes, his solos have a rich tone, an amazing flow & if you like me have an inclination towards air guitar-moves, Walter's all you need for a night of good fun. Ok, the last statement may not really be serving his reputation much good, but he really is fantastic, and an Acid Rock Legend in this household. On this album he also benefits from having some hot rhythm guitar to play against, by someone named Joseph (last name unknown to me), who wasn't on any of the subsequent LPs. 
In all, this is a document of a time where possibilities seemed endless (the heading on the Farm Band's touring bus read "Out To Save The World"), the music being only a fracture of what it was all about. The Farm is still there though, with some 300 members, but the Farm Band called it quits in the late 70s or so. Like any other Farm product the packaging here is awesome; a thick gatefold cover, huge poster and printed inners. A piece of art, a statement and an essential piece of underground head sounds.(http://www.beautifullies.se)


Tracklist


01- OM 2:36
02- Loving Your (Phillip Schweitzer) 10:16
03- Lord's Work (Thomas Dotzler) 3:06
04- Keep Your Head Up High (Phillip Schweitzer) 3:17
05- Being Here With You (Thomas Dotzler) 11:51
06- Let It Ride (Phillip Schweitzer) 12:05
07- Prayer (Phillip Schweitzer) 2:51
08- I Believe It (Phillip Schweitzer) 17:12

Credits
Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals – Walter Rabideau
Bass – William 
Drums – David Chalmer
Electric Guitar, Harmonica, Twelve-string Guitar, Vocals – Joseph 
French Horn, Piano – Cynthia 
Organ, Flute, Vocals, Piano – Thomas Dotzler
Vocals – Kay Marie, Louise
Vocals, Electric Fiddle, Piano, Acoustic Guitar – Phillip Schweitzer

Here

mardi 8 janvier 2013

Love - Out Here (1969 great us psychedelic rock - Wave)


An underrated masterpiece from Love 
Yes indeed, this is a different band than was behind the beloved Forever Changes, but that's ok, because this is a great record, a truly underrated gem. Sure, this record is all over the dang place with long psychedelic guitar jams, drum solos, short novelty tunes, 3 minute pop songs-sung with much love, soul and passion by Arthur Lee, down and out blues, and acoustic folk songs. But for music nerds who enjoy stuff like that-this is a buried treasure. Yes, maybe it could have been cut down to a single record, but then why not just let this band do their thing and indulge, after all this was 1968! Indeed the sister album to this, "Four Sail", is the superior of the two, but Out Here is really good and kinda Out There...far out man! No kidding, this Love band was a tight, versataile group. Don't compare it to the first 3 Love records and just enjoy it for what it is. Arthur Lee's "White album", ya know -like the Beatles!. A sprawling 2 LP monster full of melodic, half-crazed, blues/rocking/funk/folk, short, medium, long, quiet, loud, funny, serious, sad, happy and big songs. Gary Rowles' lead guitar solo on "Love Is More Than Words..." is amazing, beyond words. 
Favorites are "Gather 'Round", "Listen To My Song", "I'll Pray For You", "Doggone", "Willow Willow", "Run To The Top", "I Still Wonder", "Stand Out", and the slowed down blues version of "Signed D.C." which has one of the greatest harmonica solos ever put down on vinyl, from Arthur of course. Great stuff. If nothing else, you gotta appreciate how awesome and amazing Arthur Lee's vocals were at this point. The guy had range like no other. Believe that! (By Hoagie Mike) 

Tracklist
01 I'll Pray For You - 4:16
02 Abalony - 1:46
03 Signed D.C. - 5:15
04 Listen To My Song - 2:24
05 I'm Down - 3:47
06 Stand Out - 3:00
07 Discharged - 1:36
08 Doggone - 12:00
09 I Still Wonder - 3:05
10 Love Is More Than Words Or Better Late Than Never - 11:20
11 Nice To Be - 1:50
12 Car Lights On In The Day Time Blues - 1:10
13 Run To The Top - 3:00
14 Willow Willow - 3:20
15 Instra-Mental - 3:00
16 You Are Something - 2:05
17 Gather Round - 4:50

Credits
Arthur Lee - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar
Frank Fayad - Bass Guitar
George Suranovich - Drums
Jay Donnellan - Lead Guitar

Here

lundi 7 janvier 2013

Arthur Lee - Vindicator (1972 great us heavy psych rock - cd edition with bonus tracks - wave)



Late last year when we wrote about Arthur Lee’s superb soul spin “Everybody’s Gotta Live,” we hadn’t yet heard Vindicator, the track’s 1972 mothership and Lee’s solo debut. Admittedly, we (I) naively assumed that Vindicator would be a record full of similar songs–an exploration of Lee’s R&B range that was largely neglected during his time in Love. We (I) were wrong.
It took us 17 tracks and roughly 51 minutes to find out that “Everybody’s Gotta Live” is the exception, not the formula. Vindicator is, at turns, southern rock, blues, folk, psychedelic rock and, yes, R&B. Lyrically, it spans from blues ballad to the utterly (and intentionally) ridiculous. While so many solo records segue with few seams from an artist’s ensemble career, Vindicator proves to be something of a non sequitur. That is, Love ends and Arthur Lee begins.

 Granted, there are some shades of what Lee would become (or probably always was) on Love’s grittier eponymous debut, shades that would be rubbed out gradually across De Capo and Forever Changes. Lee, famously, was somewhat controlling in Love, or he tried to be. But despite his better efforts, Bryan MacLean hedged Lee’s influence on composition and harmony, and probably to the benefit of Love. That’s not to say that Vindicator falls short, but only that it reveals what Love might not have been if Lee had his druthers. So, Vindicator is as much as album name as it is a statement for Lee, a practice in individuality, an exercise of personal salvation. Here, he does everything he ever wanted to do. Literally, everything.
 The opening track, “Sad Song,” is a return to his southern roots, where Lee does Skynyrd before Skynyrd did Skynyrd. A moderately paced rock piece formed around a call and response–Lee calling, his guitar responding–“Sad Song” might tempt you to believe this is what the album is about. Until the record skips over to the second song. “You Can Save Up to 50% But You’re Still a Long Ways from Home” is a 17-second a cappella nursery rhyme that, after multiple listens, still struggles to find sense: “I pawned it / a black-white-yellow human / And if you don’t like what I say / Then vote for Harry Truman.” It’s the kind of quirk you’d expect–if you were expecting such a thing–to find snugly fit into the later tracks, not just as you were getting warmed up. But it seems to work as an attention grabber. Bizarre as it may seem, you want to listen to it twice. And it informs that maybe you have no fucking clue what’s about to happen. In fact, it’s the same kind of subtle narcissistic kink as Lee’s notably flamboyant wardrobe. “Look at me,” it says.

 And to his credit, he does settle down after that. His straightforward blues standard in “He Said She Said” (a likely nod to his Memphis nascency) is also one of the few rhythm and blues approximations found. While it hinges primarily on blues, it’s justifiably, and pleasantly, both.
And that’s sort of how it goes: normalcy is met with brief episodes of eccentricity. Because for every blues and rock sanity, we find a “Hamburger Breath Stinkfinger,” the tale of an ill-advised date at McDonald’s, where Lee laments about the woman, “Oh what a dish / She smelled just like a fish.”

 Throughout the wandering, Vindicator’s common thread would be Lee’s voice and his guitar. Consistent variations aside, both are reminiscent of Hendrix. Vocally, the best document of this is either “Busted Feet” or “You Want Change for Your Re-Run.” The latter is the best effort on the record next to “Everybody,” and arguably the best composed. Driving guitar is joined halfway through by a simple piano underpinning, arriving perfectly out of nowhere. The Hendrix influence isn’t surprising. And not because Hendrix is “influential.”
 Friend’s in the early-’60s L.A. scene, Hendrix played guitar behind Rosa Lee Brooks when she sang the Lee-written “My Diary.” And Lee was known to frequent Isley Brothers shows, where Hendrix cut his teeth before “Hey Joe” forever wove him into the musical fabric. Lee even claims that it was Love’s version of “Hey Joe,” not Tim Rose’s, that inspired the version we all know. Even Hendrix’s later fashion sense offers a nod to the eccentric Lee, whose frills, tunics, scarves and hats were staples when Hendrix was still sporting a skinny tie as a backup. If that’s not enough, Vindicator is credited, not to Arthur Lee, but Arthur Lee & Band-Aid. On the record, Band-Aid is a mostly anonymous group of musicians. But the name was originally conceived by Hendrix and Lee for a group they intended to form with Steve Winwood. Of course, that would never happen.

 So instead, we have Vindicator. Not a tribute to Hendrix. Not an evolution of Love. It’s Arthur Lee frantically and impressively trying to fit every ounce of his musical yearning into one record. Someone trying to prove his every potential in one fell swoop. Years of pent-up emotion and style are released, and with great effort. Most other times, such a product would be a disjointed mess. But here, it’s a sincere piece of man. Punctuated with the exclamation, “I’m not Love,” Vindicator succeeds in showing us who Lee is. “Look at me,” it says. And maybe that’s vindication enough. (J. Crosby)

Tracklist
01 "Sad Song" – 2:20
02 "You Can Save Up to 50%, But You're Still a Long Ways from Home" – 0:17
03 "Love Jumped Through My Window" – 2:56
04 "Find Somebody" – 3:47
05 "He Said She Said" – 2:18
06 "Every Time I Look Up I'm Down or White Dog (I Don't Know What That Means!)" – 3:57
07 "Everybody's Gotta Live" – 3:31
08 "You Want Change for Your Re-Run" – 4:17
09 "He Knows a Lot of Good Women (Or Scotty's Song)" – 3:14
10 "Hamburger Breath Stinkfinger" – 2:44
11 "Ol' Morgue Mouth" – 0:53
12 "Busted Feet" – 4:53
Bonus tracks
13 "Everybody's Gotta Live" – 3:37
14 "He Knows a Lot of Good Women" – 3:16
15 "Pencil in Hand" – 2:15
16 "E-Z Rider" – 2:58
17 "Looking Glass Looking at Me" – 4:05

Credits
Arthur Lee - guitar, vocals
Charlie Karp - guitar
Frank Fayad - bass
Clarence McDonald - keyboards
Don Poncher - drums
Craig Tarwater - guitar
David Hull - bass

dimanche 6 janvier 2013

Roger Chapman – Mail Order Magic (1980 great uk classic rock with powerful vocals - Flac)


Roger Chapman's second studio album, Mail Order Magic, was recorded under some Roger Chapmantough conditions for the singer. Punk and new wave were sweeping England of any "oldies" acts, and Chapman was having trouble taking root in his own country. In addition, the label to which he had signed was folding, giving him a deadline to finish and release the album. Meanwhile Chapman, still high from the success of continental tours, tried to up the ante by recording with better players, including old Family-mate John Wetton. But lack of finances bumped the sessions from studio to studio, and Terry Barham and Paul Smykle (notable for reggae production) were brought in to stitch together the recordings into a pressable album. Considering all of this, the results were fantastic. The hard-edged rock, especially "Unknown Soldier," suited Chapman's edgy voice best. The Shortlist also served up R&B and even a little experimental music ("Ground Floor" sounds like an early demo of "Higher Ground"). Chapman would find a more comfortable career down the road, but the material would rarely be as convincing and as powerful as this.(Patrick Little)

It's hard to keep reviews of obscure 22-year-old recordings in context. In some ways, this CD has not aged as well as others in Roger Chapman's extensive solo discography, yet one has to recall the dreadful state of corporate-run FM radio back then (and now).
This recording is one of the better ones from Chappo's collaborations with guitarist Geoff Whitehorn. Standouts include Unknown Soldier (Can't Get To Heaven), Mail Order Magic, Making The Same Mistake, Barman, Higher Ground, and Ground Floor. Poli Palmer, another Family alum, co-wrote Barman, Higher Ground, and Ground Floor, and John Wetton kicks in some nice bass chops on a couple of tracks. Whitehorn delivers consistent, solid lead guitar, showing some flashes of brilliance (but ultimately making me miss Charlie Whitney's lead all the more).
Chappo is the main attraction, of course, and he delivers the goods, really shining on the title cut, Unknown Soldier, and He Said, She Said.
I doubt that this CD won Chappo many new fans outside of Germany, but it certainly is essential listening for his core faithful.(By Loce The Wizard)



Tracks Listing
01 Unknown Soldier (Can't Get To Heaven) - Roger Chapman 3:44 
02 He Was She Was - Roger Chapman & Geoff Whitehorn 4:48 
03 Barman - Roger Chapman & Poli Palmer 5:24 
04 Right To Go - Roger Chapman 4:05 
05 Ducking Down- Roger Chapman & Geoff Whitehorn  3:53
06 Making The Same Mistake - Roger Chapman & Geoff Whitehorn 4:58 
07 Another Little Hurt - Roger Chapman & Tim Hinkley 3:53 
08 Mail Order Magic - Roger Chapman 4:26 
09 Higher Ground - Roger Chapman 4:15 
10 Ground Floor 1:56 - Roger Chapman & Poli Palmer  

Credits

Roger Chapman - Harmonica, Vocals
Geoff Whitehorn - Guitar
Jerome Rimson - Bass, Vocals
John Wetton - Bass
Tim Hinkley - Keyboards
Poli Palmer - Synthesizer 
John Halsey, Les Binks, Mitch Mitchell - Drums