Hard rock, heavy psychedelia, or a mixture? Listener is the judge. Heavy guitar work, strong vocals. "Question" and "Circles" are two great songs in this album. Listen to bands like these instead of hyped-shit made for the green.
An unlucky band Gandalf (see the band information), this album is more of a cover album, including beautiful versions of "Hang on to a Dream" and "Golden Earrings". Relaxing tunes, listen to their versions of the songs I mentioned.
Album information:
01 - Golden Earrings
02 - Hang on to a Dream
03 - Never Too Far
04 - Scarlet Ribbons
05 - You Upset the Grace of Living
06 - Can You Travel in the Dark Alone
07 - Nature Boy
08 - Tiffany Rings
09 - Me About You
10 - I Watch the Moon
Band information:
Gandalf were an influential late 1960s psychedelic rock group. They were an American band originally called the Rahgoos and formed by Peter Sando, Frank Hubach, Bob Muller and Davy Bauer.
They signed a record deal with Capitol Records in 1967. Producers Koppelman & Rubin were not happy with the bands name, and suggest that it be changed. Despite being against the bands will, and losing local fan recognition, Davy suggested the name "Gandalf and The Wizards", which ended up sticking as "Gandalf".
They recorded their first and only LP the same year. The record includes covers of Tim Hardin, Eden Ahbez and Bonner & Gordon (the writers of "Happy Together") and two songs composed by the band's guitarist Peter Sando.
But Capitol spurned them and only released the LP in 1969 with the wrong record inside the sleeve. The copies were recalled and damaged the band's career. Capitol didn't promote the record which made the sales worse.
Over the years the album's reputation grew and it was re-released by Sundazed records in 2002.
Here we are, Frijid Pink; my most loved band in the archive. Sometimes I wish they were known world-wide, and sometimes I wish I was the only one who knew their music. Great fucking music, 3 albums. In my opinion, Frijid Pink made the best "House of the Rising Sun" cover, even better than of The Animals'. I want you to listen to Frijid Pink, and at the same time I don't. Go on.
Album(s) information:
Frijid Pink - 1970
Defrosted - 1970
Earth Omen - 1972
Band information:
Frijid Pink was formed when local Detroit-area band the Detroit Vibrations, which featured Stevers and Harris, were joined by guitarist Gary Ray Thompson and singer Tom Beaudry, who later took the stage name Kelly Green. At some point Thompson convinced Vibrations' manager Clyde Stevers (Richard's father) that he was a better musician than the Vibrations' current guitarist. They spent their first two years touring throughout the Southeast Michigan/Detroit area and eventually signed with Parrot Records. Their first two singles, "Tell Me Why" and "Drivin' Blues" (both released in 1969) failed to attract much attention, but their third 1969 effort, a distorted guitar-driven rendition of "House of the Rising Sun," reached the Top Ten on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in the spring of 1970. This disc sold over one million copies, thereby receiving a gold disc.[1] The track also peaked at No. 4 in the UK Singles Chart.[2] and #3 in the Canadian RPM Magazinecharts. The song was a "filler," using up time at the end of a recording session. The band was so popular in their native Detroit area that a fledgling Led Zeppelin opened for them at Detroit's Grande Ballroom. Frijid Pink often shared billing with the likes of the MC5, the Stooges, the Amboy Dukes, and other local groups of that era.
Frijid Pink's self-titled debut LP followed in 1970, as did their second release Defrosted, with most of the album's writing being provided by duo of Beaudry and Thompson. Subsequent singles including "Sing A Song For Freedom" and a cover of "Heartbreak Hotel" failed to match earlier successes, and after the departure of Beaudry and Thompson, a new lineup was formed featuring David Alexander and later Jon Wearing on vocals, Craig Webb on guitar, and Larry Zelanka on keyboards. This version of the group recorded 1972's Earth Omen. The group would have another lineup in place before re-entering the studio to record 1975's All Pink Inside with Jo Baker on vocals and Larry Popolizio playing the bass.
Fraction's too heavy. Jim Beach is crazy on vocals. I can't get myself to believe just how these guys can be unknown. Songs "Eye of the Hurricane" and "Sanc-Divided" are two of my favorites in this album. Do not miss Fraction if you like heavy stuff.
Album information:
01 - Sanc-Divided
02 - Come Out Of Her
03 - Eye Of The Hurricane
04 - Sons Come To Birth
05 - This Bird
06 - Sky High
Band information:
A few short years ago, if you had wanted to listen to this record you would have had to buy a poor quality bootleg or spend upwards of £1,000 for one of the 200 copies that comprised the entire original 1971 pressing. LA-based Fraction were, in theory, a Christian-rock band, but, at times they sound like some seriously deranged and dangerous people. Tapping the same wave of down-tuned, bleakly heavy, savage comedown psych that informed contemporaries like Black Sabbath and the Stooges, Fraction were a working-class group who would rehearse and record early in the morning before going to their day jobs. Thanks to that dedication there is a spacious sort of loneliness at the heart of the noise they make. The five songs that made up the original album were recorded live in a single three-hour session with no FX and no overdubs – Come Out of Her is positively demonic (and includes a neat little two-bar breakbeat at 2:03). Singer Jim Beach's ragged growl has been likened to Jim Morrison, but there's a desperation and anxiety present here that the handsome, wealthy son of a senior navy officer never had, while guitarist Don Swanson pushes the wah-wah and fuzz to the limit. Moon Blood is a brilliantly odd record, a snapshot of a time where Jesus-freak hippies could still remember what it felt like to have some angry toxins flooding through your brain. Naturally, the band never got anywhere and for decades barely anyone, bar the most obsessed, got to hear them. Until, happily, now.
Pure heavy psychedelic rock. I fucking love this band. Released '69 and still heavier than what we hear today. "Crackshot" is my favorite song in the album. I should tell you that these guys made the best "Eight Miles High" and "Paint It Black" cover ever. It's unfair, that a band like this is unheard of. Fuck.
Album information:
01 - Crackshot
02 - Hey Jude
03 - Watch Your Step
04 - Three Minute & Ten Second Blues
05 - Brought Up Wrong
06 - Medley - Eight Miles High - Paint It Black
07 - You've Got The Power
08 - Gonna' Lay Down 'N Die (Slow Blues)
Band information:
Following The Time Machine's collapse in 1967 Dangel and bass player Joe Johnson decided to form their own band. Recruiting guitarist Joe Johansen and drummer Michael Marinelli the result was The Unknown Factor. Serving as a for-hire backing band, the quartet worked with local acts such as Patti Allen and Ron Holden.
In 1968 they added former Punch singer Pat Gossan to the lineup. They quickly scored a deal becoming the house band at Seattle's Eagle Auditorium and attracted considerable attention as one of the acts performing at the 1968 Sky River Rock Festival. The resulting publicity saw them sign a contract with the L.A. based Vault Records. The group subsequently debuted with a dandy 1968 single 'Brought Up Wrong' b/w 'Watch Your Step' (Vault catalog number V-947). While the single did little commercially, it attracted enough attention for Vault to finance a follow-on album. Released in 1969 the cleverly titled "Floating Bridge" teamed the band with producer Jackie Mills. Musically the set offered up a standard mix of originals and popular covers, but the results were killer throughout. With Dangel, Johnson and Gossan responsible for most of the original material, tracks like 'Brought Up Wrong', the earlier single 'Watch Your Step', and 'Three Minute & Ten Second Blues' sported a distinctively heavy, Hendrix-inspired sound. Propelled by Gossan's likeable voice and Dangel and Johansen's twin leads extended guitar rave-ups like 'Crackpot' and their Byrds/Stones instrumental medley should strike a chord with the two hard rock fans out there reading this. Elsewhere another 'Hey Jude' cover wouldn't have sounded like the year's most imaginative move, but these guys managed to pull it off. Envision the song redone as an instrumental with a heavy edge that would have sounded good on an early Allman Brothers album ... one of the most impressive Beatles covers I've ever heard. In fact the only real disappointment is the routine bluesy closer 'Gonna' Lay Down 'n Die'. Much better than the standard references would have you think (and surprisingly hard to find in decent shape).
A band with a strange name, I wonder what they were thinking. Nevermind the band's name, this great album has 29 tracks, starting from the 14th, the rest of the tracks are by the Lost. Psychedelic rock and garage rock goes so well together. You'll find lots of songs to your liking, I'm sure.
Album information:
01. Feeling much better
02. Midnight hour
03. I'm so happy
04. When you're there
05. Four and twenty miles
06. Prelude to the town monk
07. Shadows
08. Dark street downtown
09. Protrait in grey
10. In my window
11. Satori
12. The Lost w. Space Kids - part 1
13. The Lost w. Space Kids - part 2
Band information:
Flat Earth Society's Waleeco is a mid-level psychedelic organ-and-guitar-driven rock record, with a more focused sense of song construction than many such efforts in the late '60s, although the results aren't all that special. A highlight is "Shadows," which sounds like a super tough variation on the Association. [The 2006 CD reissue combines Waleeco with material that the Lost, another Boston band of the time, recorded in 1967 as incidental music for Space Kids, an audio fairy tale.]
Psychedelia, progressive, blues; whichever works for you. Felt is one-album band like most of these bands. "The Change" is a song that is 10 minutes long, and is one of my all-time favorite song. The song is actually a compilation of 3 different tracks, all with a different vibe. Try Felt.
Album information:
01 - Look at the Sun
02 - Now She's Gone
03 - Weepin' Mama Blues
04 - World
05 - The Change
06 - Destination
Band information:
Felt was formed in Alabama in the late '60s around the talents of Myke Jackson (guitars), Mike Neel(drums), Tommy Gilstrap (bass), Stan Lee (guitars), and Allan Dalrymple (keyboards). The band's self-titled album, released on the small Nasco label in 1971, contains half-a-dozen original songs written for the most part by Jackson. The mostly blues-styled songs on this album are full of great guitar work and contain fine Beatles-esque harmony vocals. While most of this album has a blues feeling to it, some of the songs hint of progressive rock with swirling keyboards, intense drumming, and blistering guitar solos. The album has recently been discovered for its musical excellence and has become a very rare collectors' item. Guitarist Lee would later go on to become a member of punk band the Dickies in the late '70s. This welcome re-release by Akarma Records features a reproduction of the original foldout album graphics in the mini-LP-styled Akarmapack.
Fantasy. Another band with POWERFUL female vocals. This time it's a little different. Lydia Janene (vocals), was 16 year old at the time of recording. Can you fucking believe that? I'll speak no more, I'll quote a couple sentences from the album's covers;
This album is dedicated to all the young, positive thinking people of this small planet, without whom the evolution of mankind and the hopes of world peace would most certainly be brought to an abrupt, unfilled end.
Album information:
01-Happy
02-Come
03-Wages Of Sin
04-Circus Of Invisible Men
05-Stoned Cowboy
06-Understand
07-What's Next
08-Painted Horse (Bonus Track)
09-I Got The Fever (Bonus Track)
10-Stoned Cowboy (Bonus Track)
11-Understand (Bonus Track)
Band information:
US act FANTASY was formed by 5 teenagers in Miami in 1967, originally consisting of Billy ROBBINS (vocals), Bob ROBBINS (bass), Jim DeMEO (guitar), Mario RUSSO (keyboards) and Greg KIMPLE (Drums). They slowly built up a following, and local popularity eventually saw them signed as a house band on "Thee Image", a highly popular venue at the time. The band played there every weekend from 1968, and got to open for acts like Led Zeppelin, Frank Zappa, Steppenwolf and other artists popular at the time.
Then disaster strikes for the band, as vocalist Billy Robbins; who was a charismatic frontman with no small part in the success they had achieved so far, went missing - and eventually turned up dead. Some time after the band starts searching for a new lead singer, and eventually settles on Lydia Janene MILLER (aka Jamene Miller); a 16 year old highly talented vocalist with a rough, powerful voice in the tradition of Janis Joplin and Grace Slick.
Fantasy got signed to Liberty/United Artists shortly after, and their self-titled debut album is released in 1970. They get a minor hit single with the instrumental Stoned Cowboy, but apart from that the album went nowhere. Miller decides to leave the band, unsuccessfully trying to establish a solo career, while the rest of the band carried on as Year One.
Fantasy reunited on two occasions in the 70's; but then for individual concerts only.
Sadly, Jamene Miller died on September 27, 2008 at the age of 55 due partly to an alcohol-related condition.
A great band from the UK. Previously known as Kaleidoscope. They have released 4 albums in total, but only one as Fairfield Parlour. Great sound, great lyrics, great everything. Surely a favorite of mine. And I'm not exaggerating. Please listen to them, I'll share their older albums at a later time.
Album information:
(01) Aries
(02) In my box
(03) By your bedside
(04) Soldier of the flesh
(05) I will always feel the same
(06) Free
(07) Emily
(08) Chalk on the wall
(09) The glorious house of Arthur
(10) Monkey
(11) Sunny Side Circus
(12) Drummer boy of Shiloh
(13) Bordeaux Rose (bonus track)
(14) Chalk on the wall (bonus track - mono-single version)
(15) Just another day (bonus track)
(16) Caraminda (bonus track)
(17) I am all the animals (bonus track)
(18) Song for you (bonus track)
(19) Bordeaux Rose (bonus track - alternative version)
In 2003, the independent record label Circle released the Kaleidoscope and Fairfield Parlour's 1967 to 1971 BBC radio sessions recordings in an album called Please Listen To The Pictures.
Eternity's Children is a 60's pop band meeting psychedelic music. Don't expect fuzzy guitars, wait for keyboards. "Timeless" is a slow album, with male-female vocals, the song "Lifetime Day" is very relaxing, listen to pass out! Song "Flowers" is my favorite.
Album information:
01 Again Again
02 Rupert White
03 Flowers
04 My Happiness Day
05 Lifetime Day
06 Mrs. Bluebird
07 Your World
08 You Know I've Found A Way
09 Little Boy
10 Sunshine Among Us
11 Again Again (mono)
12 Rupert White (mono)
13 Flowers (mono)
14 My Happiness Day (mono)
15 Lifetime Day (mono)
16 Mrs. Bluebird (mono)
17 Your World (mono)
18 You Know I've Found A Way (mono)
19 Little Boy (mono)
20 Sunshine Among Us (mono)
Band information.
Sunshine pop cult favorites Eternity's Children were formed in Cleveland, MS, in 1965 by singer/keyboardist Bruce Blackman and drummer Roy Whittaker, fellow students at Delta College. With the addition of lead guitarist Johnny Walker, rhythm guitarist Jerry Bounds, and bassist Charlie Ross, the group (originally dubbed the Phantoms) began developing the complex, overlapping vocal harmonies that remained the hallmark of their sound throughout their career.
Hello from Sweden! All tracks are sung in English, just like Elonkorjuu's "Harvest Time". I'm not sure how to explain what I think of this album, is it an experimental album or an ordinary heavy psychedelia? The listener will choose I guess. Listen to Epizootic, you may like the guitar.
A band from Finland with great guitars, especially the song "Unfeeling", got my attention first time I listened to it. The song "Captain" includes a solo influenced by the Russian folk song "Polyushka Polye" strange coming from a Finnish band, is it not? Song "Where's the Rising Sun" has a break, so relaxing and trippy, I just love it. Nevertheless, an album worth sharing.
Album information:
01- Unfeeling
02- Swords
03- Captain
04- Praise To Our Basement
05- Future
06- Hey Hunter
07- The Ocean Song
08- Old Man's Dream
09- Me And My Friend
10- A Little Rocket Song
11- Where's The Rising Sun
Band information:
Elonkorjuu was founded in the western Finnish city of Pori in the autumn of 1969. A year later the band was awarded with the second place in the 1970 Finnish Rock Championship contest and was signed by EMI. Elonkorjuu released their debut album Harvest Time in 1972. Today the original pressing is considered the most expensive Finnish vinyl album with a price up to € 1,500. It was re-released as a CD in 2002. During the 1970s Elonkorjuu was often featured in the major Finnish music festivals such as Ruisrock and Pori Jazz.
In 1978 the band released their second album Flying High, Running Fast under the name Harvest, which is an English translation of Elonkorjuu. The album was released by RCA Records and Elonkorjuu's goal was an international breakthrough, but the band finally split instead. The guitarist Jukka Syrenius moved to Norway and released several albums with his new group Jukka Syrenius Band, also featuring some international musicians like the American drummerClifford Jarvis, the South African bassist Johnny Dyani and the Norwegian keyboardist Haakon Graf.
Elonkorjuu was formed again in 2003 and the following year the band released their third studio album. In December 2009 Elonkorjuu played a 40th anniversary concert in Pori Theatre. It was later released as a double live album. In 2012 EMI released a 4-CD boxed set including almost every track the band has ever recorded. The box also includes rare live material from the 1970s. Today the guitarist Jukka Syrenius and bass player Veli-Pekka Pessi are the only original members of the band. The present line-up features the Hungarian-born drummer Zoltán Kárpáti, keyboardist Jussi Reunamäki and the saxophonist Jari Perkiömäki who holds a Doctor of Music degree in jazz music from the Sibelius Academy.
Probably one of the heaviest bands in my archive, both vocally and rhythm. Dragonfly, previously known as The Legend has released two albums the same year, '68; I'm amazed at how ahead of their time they were. Listen if you like heavy psychedelia.
POWERFUL female vocals; Carol Grimes. Another British band. Unfortunately they've released a single album. The vocals must be heard, is all I'll say.
Album information:
01. Blind To Your Light
02. Miserable Man
03. Home Made Ruin
04. Is It Really The Same
05. We Were Satisfied
06. The Wrong Time
07. Fighting It Out
08. Fools Meeting
09. Harry Lucky (Bonus Track)
10. Home Made Ruin (Alternate Take) (Bonus Track)
11. Is It Really The Same (Live) (Bonus Track)
12. Blind To Your Light (Live) (Bonus Track)
13. One For You (Bonus Track)
Band information:
Delivery was a British blues/progressive rock musical group, formed in the late 1960s. The band was one of the wellsprings of the progressive rock Canterbury scene.
Founded in 1966 as Bruno's Blues Band by guitarist Phil Miller, his elder brother, pianist Steve Miller, drummer Pip Pyle and bassist Jack Monck, the band gigged around London for a few years. In 1968, saxophonist Lol Coxhill joined them, and the band's name was changed to Steve Miller's Delivery. In 1969, the band teamed up with blues singer Carol Grimes and bassist Roy Babbington replaced Monck. The resulting line-up recorded and released one album: Fools Meeting. Although Grimes wanted to appear as a band member, the record company released the album under "Carol Grimes and Delivery". In 1971, Pyle left the band to join Gong and was replaced by Laurie Allan (who also later joined Gong). Soon after that, the band broke up.
Phil Miller went on to found Matching Mole with Robert Wyatt and Dave Sinclair, but a new Delivery line-up was assembled in the spring of 1972 consisting of the Miller brothers, Pyle and Richard Sinclair (bass and vocals), then Steve Miller's bandmate in Caravan. The band played a few live shows in August/September that year, but with Steve Miller being replaced by Dave Sinclair (from Matching Mole and Caravan), the band changed its name to Hatfield and the North. A final Delivery performance took place in November 1972 for the BBC's Radio One In Concert series, with an unusual line-up bringing together the Miller brothers, Pyle, Babbington, Coxhill and Sinclair, the latter on vocals only.
This hard/psychedelic rock band has 4 album (impressive considering other bands at that time), always getting heavier by sound in newer albums. It's a very nice band to listen to, cool lyrics, smooth vocals and "acidic" guitar solos.
Album(s) information:
(1969) - The Damnation of Adam Blessing
(1970) - The Second Damnation
(1971) - Which Is The Justice,Which Is The Thief
(1973) - Glory
Band information:
Cleveland acid rock combo the Damnation of Adam Blessing was formed in 1968 from the ashes of a pair of local garage bands, the Society and Dust; led by frontman Adam Blessing (Bill Constable), the group also included guitaristsJim Quinn and Bob Kalamasz, bassist Ray Benich, and drummer Bill Schwark. After months of relentless local gigging -- often as the opener for hometown heroes the James Gang -- the Damnation of Adam Blessing signed to United Artists and issued their self-titled debut LP in 1969, followed by a tour in support of the Faces. Second Damnation followed a year later, generating the minor hit "Back to the River"; with their third album, 1971's Which Is Justice, Which Is the Thief, Schwark was replaced by Blessing's drummer brother Ken Constable. In 1973, the group renamed itself Glory, releasing a self-titled LP on the UA subsidiary Avalanche before disbanding. The Italian reissue imprint Akarma re-released all of the Damnation of Adam Blessing's albums in the early to mid-2000s as either straight-up re-releases or with additional bonus tracks. The label even released a reissue of the obscure Glory album and offered deluxe vinyl pressings of most of the CDs as well.
Cressida is an amazing band from England, very unique in sound aswell. They're labeled as a progressive rock band, though their sound and the year albums were released, they naturally possess a psychedelic taste in their music. You'll love Cressida.
Album(s) information:
Asylum (1971):
01. Asylum
02. Munich
03. Goodbye Post Office Tower Goodbye
04. Survivor
05. Reprieved
06. Lisa
07. Summer Weekend Of A Lifetime
08. Let Them Come When They Will
Cressida (1970):
01 - To Play Your Little Game
02 - Winter Is Coming Again
03 - Time For Bed
04 - Cressida
05 - Home And Where I Long To Be
06 - Depression
07 - One Of A Group
08 - Light In My Mind
09 - The Only Earthman In Town
10 - Spring '69
11 - Down Down
12 - Tomorrow Is A Whole New Day
Band information:
The roots of Cressida were sown in March 1968, when guitarist "Rock & Roll" John Heyworth answered an advertisement in Melody Maker, and later travelled to London to join The Dominators, a band whose situation he later described as "hopeless - until Angus Cullen applied for the lead singer spot". He and Heyworth hit it off immediately, and Heyworth was invited to stay at Cullen's family flat in Barkstone Gardens near Earl's Court. The pair settled down to some serious writing, eventually welcoming bassist Kevin McCarthy and drummer Iain Clark to the fold and now calling themselves Charge.
The band's early setlists included covers of songs by The Doors ("Spanish Caravan"), The Drifters ("Save The Last Dance For Me") and Spirit ("Fresh Garbage"), alongside original compositions by Cullen and Heyworth. In the Summer of 1969, shortly after returning from a German tour, the band's organist Lol Coker decided to leave, and moved back to Liverpool to marry his Swiss girlfriend and take over his father's business. He had stayed just long enough to play on the band's first demo, which got them a recording contract with Vertigo Records.
Peter Jennings then joined. "I was auditioned at the Roebuck pub in Chiswick, a place they sometimes used for rehearsals", he later remembered. "I imagine we ran through a 12-bar or two and possibly they tried me out on one of the numbers from their set, but anyway they liked the way I fitted in and I joined them that day". Jennings' previous musical experience included blues gigs playing 12-string guitar in tandem with ex-Paramounts pianist Andy Staines, and (in 1968–69) White Rabbit with drummer Ron Berg and guitarist Andy Rickell (a.k.a. Android Funnel). After White Rabbit came to an end, Jennings played with several short-lived bands.
At this point the band settled on the name Cressida. "None of the band considered Charge that wonderful a name. We decided after some discussion on a name taken from the William Shakespeare play Troilus and Cressida. Their first gigs as Cressida were in Germany, including the Star-Club in Hamburg sharing the bill withColosseum and East Of Eden, in the Autumn of 1969. Their manager at the time, Mike Rosen, also drove their Transit van and, being a trumpet player (he later joinedMogul Thrash), occasionally joined the band on stage for some of their more extended numbers. But Rosen soon fell out with producer Ossie Byrne (of early Bee Geesfame), and from that point Mel Baister assumed managerial duties.
Other forays into Europe included a trip to Bratislava in November 1969, where they performed at the end of a week's competition between various bands from the Eastern bloc; a week supporting Black Sabbath at Brussels' Theatre 140; and a performance at the Open Circus (an event held in a large tent with lion taming, fire eating and other side shows) in Rouen, France, alongside Brian Auger, Barclay James Harvest, Man and Circus.
Cressida mostly played the university and college circuits, as well as London clubs such as the Speakeasy, Revolution, Blaises and the Marquee Club. The first LP was recorded at Wessex Studios with Byrne producing. It consisted of songs by either Cullen or Heyworth (who handled lead vocals on one), plus one contribution each by Jennings and Clark.
Cressida went through a difficult phase when Heyworth was forced to leave in early 1970. Around this time, the band recorded a more commercial track intended for single release, "Situation", but Vertigo chose not to issue it. The song is now available on a double-CD release of the band's complete recordings, The Vertigo Years Anthology 1969-1971.
Cosmic Dealer, one of my favorites in the archive. A great band from Netherlands, all songs sung in English. I have too many songs that I like to name here, you'll probably be listening to whole two albums that I have. The later one was re-released in 2012, but the recordings are from '71. Please enjoy this great band.
Album(s) information:
Crystallization - 1971
Child of Tomorrow - 1971 (2012)
Band information:
Five musicians formed a band in Dordrecht in 1968, called The Floating Fudge Featuring The Cosmic Dealer. The members were:Angelo Santoro (bass guitar), Ad Vos(drums), Frans Poots (vocals, flute, sax), Bas van der Pol (vocals, guitar, ex-Hawks) and Jan Reynders (vocals, guitar, ex-Hawks).
In 1970 they changed their name to Cosmic Dealer. In 1971 they released to singles, The scene/Child of the golden sun and Head in the clouds/Find your way on Negram. Both singles weren't a big success. The two singles were followed by the release of Cosmic Dealer's debut album, Crystallization. The music is a mixture of psychedelic and progressive music, completed with some hardrock. The album was produced by Eddy Ouwens. The band toured regularly and did a performance in a TV show, but the album didn't sell well. The same year Bas van der Polleft the band (who sadly passed away) and was replaced by Leen Leendertse, with him they recorded a few demo tracks. A little while later Angelo Santoro left the band. Cosmic Dealerstruggles along, but a year later it is decided to stop.
In 1973 the band was reformed. This time Frans Poots was replaced by Ed Boender.Leen Leendertse was also no longer a member of the band, but Angelo Santoro had returned. There was also a new vocalist, Kees de Blois. With these members the group started to work on new material and recorded a few demos. But it lasted not for long, because in the spring of 1973 the band had already split up again, and this time for ever.
In February and march 2010 Cosmic Dealer play a few reunion concerts in the original line up. Unfortunately the deceased Bas van der Pol is not there, he is replaced by Kees de Blois.
The band's name must be originated from the Corpus Christi massacre. Another band somewhere between heavy psychedelia and progressive rock. Much like Christopher, the vocals are clean and relaxing, lyrics are well-written, and of course the guitar; the reason I'm sharing the album. "Marriage" and " Creation a Child" are both great songs to listen.
Christopher is I believe a heavy psychedelic rock band, great lyrics, guitar solos throughout the whole songs, as in "Dark Road", a great track. If you like the sound of relaxing vocals coupled with heavy guitar riffs, Christopher might be for you.
Album information:
01 - Dark Road
02 - Magic Cycles
03 - Wilbur Lite
04 - In Your Time
05 - Beautiful Lady
06 - Lies
07 - Disaster
08 - The Wind
09 - Queen Mary
10 - Burns Decision
Band information:
Another one of Texas' wealth of interesting, late-'60s psychedelic bands, Christopher came together in 1968 in the Houston area. Doug Tull (drums), Doug Walden (bass, vocals), and Richard Avitts (guitar, vocals) were the original members of the band, which was originally known as United Gas. Tull andAvitts, at the time playing in a series of R&B and soul-leaning groups, first met in 1966 when Tull sat in on drums with one of Avitts' bands. Tull, however, was not as serious about the music as Avitts, leading to an eventual split. Tull developed a friendship around this time with Jefferson Airplaneguitarist and Texas native Jorma Kaukonen, and, in 1967, invited Avitts to jam with them. Certain that they had the makings of a band, the two went searching for a bassist who could sing, eventually finding Doug Walden.
It was not long before United Gas developed a following in and around Houston, playing local clubs such as Tangerine Forest, whose owner, Nick Lee, developed an interest in the band, eventually becoming their manager. Walden and Avitts began writing their own material and recorded a demo that Lee had circulated around Las Vegas and Los Angeles by his connections in those cities. United Gas moved to Las Vegas for a brief time and then to Los Angeles after L.A. record label Metromedia offered them a two-year contract. At the behest of Metromedia, the band changed their name to Christopher so that they wouldn't be confused with similarly monikered California band Pacific Gas & Electric. Walden and Avitts felt Christopher to be a religious band -- the name is derived from Saint Christopher -- and wanted to convey this through the music. Recording of their first album started in early 1969; however, it was hampered by Tull's drug use and his failed suicide attempt. He was fired (later returning to Houston and joining Josephus) and the sessioins were completed with drummers John Simpson and Terrence Hand. The result was Christopher's self-titled debut album, released in a single 1970 pressing of a thousand LPs by Metromedia. Walden and Avitts remained in Los Angeles playing as Christopher until Avitts returned to Houston later in the year.
Another latin band from the US. There are a couple songs sung in English, including my favorite "Mira Pa'ca". I believe the band is unique in sound. It is said that the band was highly influenced by Santana. Funk/progressive rock lovers should check out this album.
Album information:
01. Fire Over Water
02.Walk On Hell
03.Bollo
04. Caminando
05. Mira Pa 'Ca
06. Bembe
07.Solid Karma
08. Sacapa
09. Chango
Band information:
Jamming. This is Santana IV, the culmination of heavy Latin groove rock. This album has it all, the screaming Carlos guitar licks (and what chops!), the swirling organ (do you like Hammond? Oh boy, get a doctor, you'll need it), the speed freak machismo lead singer (messed up chicks swoon for this) and of course those danceable and tranced-out rhythms (even this stiff white guy noticed). The lyrics are just what you want from this kind of album: Sex, life-in-the-ghetto, grade-school mysticism and well, sex.
Right off the bat, you're pulverized with "Fire Over Water" followed by the eight minute "Walk on Hell". Do I really need to describe these tracks? Put the environment, instrumentation, song titles and influences together and you've got an aural vision. Many of the songs are catchy too - you'll be humming them for days. "Caminando", "Solid Karma" and especially "Mira Pa 'Ca" just have KILLER melodies. But where Chango excels is in the instrumentals like the pounding "Bollo" and "Bembe" plus the beautiful "Sacapa." But the best is saved for last. The nine minute title track combines relentless energy, tuneful melodies and fiery instrumental playing. It's awe-inspiring. Careful though, as you may find yourself in a big heap afterwards. Of course the closing moments have a 15 year old's imagination-girl-moaning-in-ecstasy bit. It's stupid but somehow fits.
How this album missed the big time is a mystery to me. Being 1975 perhaps it was too late for the early Santana sound, but not too many groups went down this road. I'm guessing that ABC records, not known for their marketing muscle, had no idea how to promote it. There are few albums ever that contains this kind of energy and instrumental virtuosity and combines that with a strong melodic sense. A true masterpiece and a really undiscovered gem. Fortunately the Akarma record company has done us all a favor by releasing this on CD and an exact gatefold LP.
Can.. a band formed in Germany, led mostly by Japanese Damo Suzuki. I remember reading a story of how they'd meet Damo in Germany, I just have to say Damo may not have the voice that you're looking for, but he has the feelings. Songs "Deadlock", "Tango Whiskyman" and "She brings the Rain" are my favorite. I'm holding on to 6 albums in my archive, please enjoy!
Album(s) information:
1968 - Delay 1968 (Pnoom) (7 tracks)
1969 - Monster Movie (4 tracks)
1970 - Soundtracks (7 tracks)
1971 - Tago Mago (7 tracks)
1972 - Ege Bamyasi (7 tracks)
1973 - Future Days (4 tracks)
Band information:
Can was a German experimental rock band formed in Cologne, West Germany, in 1968. Later labeled as one of the firstkrautrock groups, they transcended mainstream influences and incorporated strong minimalist and world music elements into their often psychedelic music.
Can constructed their music largely through collective spontaneous composition—which the band differentiated from improvisation in the jazz sense—sampling themselves in the studio and editing down the results; bassist/chief engineer Holger Czukay referred to Can's live and studio performances as "instant compositions". They had occasional commercial success, with singles such as "Spoon" and "I Want More" reaching national singles charts. Through albums such as Monster Movie (1969), Tago Mago (1971), Ege Bamyasi (1972) and Future Days (1973), the band exerted a considerable influence on avant-garde, experimental, underground, ambient, new wave and electronic music.
