KAK - Kak-Ola (1968-69)

Although formed in Davis, California, Kak were based in San Francisco for a good part of 1968, when they recorded their only album. Lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter Gary Lee Yoder and lead guitarist Dehner Patten had been in the Oxford Circle, an obscure early Northern Californian psychedelic band that had cut one garage/psych single ("Foolish Woman"/"Mind Destruction") and played some shows on the San Francisco psychedelic circuit, while bassist Joe-Dave Damrell had been on a 1965 single on Scorpio Records with Group "B". The self-titled Kak LP was minor-league San Francisco psychedelic rock colored by a lot of influence from bigger Bay Area bands, particularly Moby Grape; the vocal harmonies and curling guitar work on tracks like 'Disbelievin'" and "Everything's Changing" in particular sounded like a more pedestrian Moby Grape. There were also more distant echoes of Quicksilver Messenger Service (in the guitar work) and the Grateful Dead (in faint traces of country-blues-rock). Kak were best, and least derivative, at their quietest, as on the gentle country-tinged rocker "I've Got Time, " the good-time wistful psych-folk-rock of "Lemonade Kid, " and the harpsichord-decorated ballad "Flowing By, " which was as derivative of Donovan as much of their other songs were of Moby Grape. Kak's album was barely promoted and sold little. It didn't help that the band played less than a dozen shows before breaking up in early 1969, Damrell having already quit prior to the split. Yoder did a single for Epic and and then joined Blue Cheer. The Kak album eventually became a pricey collector item, and was reissued on CD by Big Beat (with the new title Kak-ola) in 1999 with plenty of bonus cuts, including previously unreleased acoustic demos and Yoder solo tracks from the late sixties. - Richie Unterberger
None of the plodding riffs, histrionic vocal stylings, or blues posturing that plagued many similar groups of this era mar this collection of melodic, tasteful progressive hard rock (as well as some mellower country-rock songs). Leader and main songwriter Gary Yoder would eventually join Blue Cheer and add his distinctive stamp to that band's sound. The 1999 Big Beat CD, titled Kak-Ola, includes everything from the Kak LP, but also adds eleven bonus tracks. These include the 45 version of "Rain"; five previously unreleased acoustic cuts, four of them versions of songs from the LP, one ("Bye Bye/Easy Jack") of a tune that was not included on Kak; the "Flight From the East"/"Good Time Music" Gary Yoder solo single on Epic, released after Kak had split; and three Yoder solo demos from late 1967. - Jim Powers

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(Info by: CGR)

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1. HCO 97658

2. Everything's Changing

3. Electric Sailor

4. Disbelievin'

5. I've Got Time

6. Flowing By

7. Bryte 'N' Clear Day

8. Trieulogy

9. Lemonaide Kid

10. Rain(Single Version)

11. Everything's Changing(Previously Unissued

12. I've Got Time((Previously Unissued Acoustic Demo)

13. Medley: Bye Bye/Easy Jack(Previously Unissued)

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Size: 151 Mb

Bitrate: 256 mp3

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Paul McCartney & Wings - Band on the Run (1973)

BAND ON THE RUN is generally considered Paul McCartney's strongest solo effort. The album was also his most commercially successful--selling well and spawning two hit singles, the multi-part pop suite of the title track, and the roaring rocker "Jet." On these cuts, and elsewhere, McCartney's penchant for sophisticated, nuanced arrangements and irrepressibly catchy melodic hooks is up to the caliber he displayed in the Beatles, far surpassing the first two Wings releases WILDLIFE and RED ROSE SPEEDWAY.

The focus found in BAND ON THE RUN may have to do with the circumstances of its creation: Two former members quit the band prior to recording, leaving McCartney, wife Linda, and guitarist Denny Laine to complete the album alone (with Paul writing, producing, and playing most of the instruments himself). The album has the majestic, orchestral sweep of McCartney's ABBEY ROAD-era ambition, with a wide range of style-dabbling, from the swaying, acoustic jazz-pop of "Bluebird" to the appealing, straightforward rock of "Helen Wheels" to the wiry blues of "Let Me Roll It" to the swaying, one-off pub singalong "Picasso's Last Words (Drink to Me)"). Though it lacks the emotional resonance of contemporaneous releases by John Lennon and George Harrison, McCartney's infallible instinct for pop craft overflows on this excellent release.

















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Vanilla Fudge - Renaissance (1968)

This album was a fine example of progressive rock, and at the same time, had arguably the most heavy metal credibility out of all the band's releases. For Vanilla Fudge, the album was also the first to feature predominantly original compositions. Some of the highlights were the albums first two tracks, The Sky Cried, and Thoughts. The former featured some excellent guitar work, and is one of the most intense songs the band ever recorded. The latter started off in relaxing fashion before pounding into the bands trademark heaviness. It is the opinion of this writer that usually the best heavy metal has a density of instruments combining, as opposed to sheer volume. This statement would undoubtedly apply to the Fudge, as the organ and fuzz combine for the unparalleled density previously described. There really are not any "obviously inefficient" tracks, arguably making this the band's most consistent album. The album ends with what has to be the most intense version of Season of the Witch ever recorded, and a poem read in a most unusual voice. This version is reminiscent of Vanilla Fudge's earlier version of Eleanor Rigby, but has a paranoid energy that puts it in a class all by itself. The bonus tracks are generally good, with All In Your Mind and Where is My Mind both being effective soul/pop fusion, but the bonus cuts really do not go along with the original album's seven songs. Overall, the album is an emotional roller coaster ride with much mystery and despair. Review Hans Pfaall.

(Info by: MY GENERATION)

1. The Sky Cried-When I Was A Boy
2. Thoughts
3. Paradise
4. That's What Makes A Man
5. The Spell That Comes After
6. Faceless People
7. Season Of The Witch
8. All In Your Mind
9. Look Of Love
10. Where Is My Mind





















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The Deep - Psychedelic Moods (1966)

The Deep's Psychedelic Moods (1966) is probably one of the most fascinating and sought after psychedelic albums of all time, and this Radioactive reissue of the incredibly-rare stereo version is the one that all collectors want to own.
This was a Philadelphia-based studio-only project. The album, which is an extremely rare and quite costly collectors' item, has until recently been shrouded in total mystery. It was produced by Mark Barkan and Rusty Evans. Both were also involved in Freak Scene whose album Psychedelic Psoul (CBS 9456) 1968 is virtually a second Deep LP. We also know thal David Bromberg was involved in the project. The other personnel listed above have been deduced from songwriting credits and may also have been involved.

Their album is very strange, full of weird sound effects, haunting vocals and acid-soaked lyrics. It is based on a psychedelic folk format. Some, such as Color Dreams and Your Choice To Choose, sound very Seeds-like. Others, like Shadows On The Wall and Wake Up and Find Me are haunting acid ballads.

"Wake up and find meWith dreams of liquid nightsAnd never ending lights"
(from Wake Up and Find Me).

Arguably the best two tracks are Turned On and Psychedelic Moon - which are both very odd. The album is recommended listening. Fans of the band will also be interested in a series of outtakes released on CD by Collectables, Part 2 and Part 3 contains alternate takes and unreleased tracks which were recorded in 1966), whilst Part 4 (which also features tracks by Hydro-Pyro) and Part 5 are now also available on CD through Collectables.

Barkan went on to a group called Hydro Pyro. In 1970 Rusty released a solo album as Marcus.

(Info by: CGR)

1. Color Dreams
2. Pink Ether
3. When Rain Is Black
4. It's All A Part Of Me
5. Turned On
6. Psychedelic Moon
7. Shadows On The Wall
8. Crystal Nite
9. Trip #76
10. Wake Up And Find Me
11. Your Choice To Choose
12. On Off - Off On





















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The Shaggs - Wink (1967)

Although recorded in 1967 at the International Recording Studio in Chicago, this one and only offering by the five-piece preppy outfit from Notre Dame University in Indiana, with its multi-part vocal harmonies and jangly guitar, could easily have appeared in 1965 or '66.
However, there is no doubting the band's musical proficiency as they canter through a selection of songs by such luminaries as the Stones, Who, Beau Brummels, Byrds and Them, with the high point being an inspired version of 'If I Were A Carpenter'. As was so often the case, the band members, after producing what was to become a massively-collectable rarity, went their separate ways, probably to pursue fascinating careers in the world of orthodontistry or accounting.

Info by: Xyros

















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Bitrate: 320 mp3
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Chicken Shack - OK Ken (1968)

This was Chicken Shack's most popular 2nd album, making the British Top Ten. If you're looking for relics of the British Blues Boom, however, you'd be much better off with Ten Years After, to say nothing of legitimate artists such as Fleetwood Mac and John Mayall. British blues at its best could be exciting (if usually derivative), but it's difficult to fathom how this relentlessly plodding, monotonous effort met with such success. Stan Webb took most of the songwriting and vocal chores, emulating the slow-burning Chicago boogie with little skill or subtlety (though he wasn't a bad guitarist). Christine Perfect did write and sing a few songs, but these unfortunately found both her compositional and vocal chops at a most callow stage of development. To nail the coffin, most of the songs were preceded by excruciating comic dialog that made Cheech & Chong sound sophisticated in comparison.

Japanese limited edition pressing of their 1969 album. This remastered version comes housed in a minature LP sleeve. CBS. 2005.

(Info by: CGR)

1. Baby's Got Me Crying
2. Right Way Is My Way
3. Get Like You Used To Be
4. Pony And Trap
5. Tell Me
6. A Woman Is The Blues
7. I Wanna See My Baby
8. Remington Ride
9. Fishing In Your River
10. Mean Old World
11. Sweet Sixteen





















Size: 103 Mb
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Jethro Tull - Live At The Isle Of Wight (1970)

This Isle of Wight performance is another truly remarkable addition to the Jethro Tull catalogue and a nugget of pure gold. This particular performance took place on the last day of the festival, August 30th, 1970. Tull was one of the last groups to be featured, following a performance by The Moody Blues and directly preceding Jimi Hendrix, who would sadly die only 18 days later.

The set list is familiar to any fan of the early Tull years, featuring songs from their first three albums, and one song (My God) that wouldn't show up on an album until the release of the Aqualung album the following year. For what it's worth, some of these same songs also appear on disc #2 of the Jethro Tull 25th Anniversary Box Set, which was recorded on November 4th, 1970 at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Taken together, these two performances give a very good picture of the whole Tull concert experience of that era.

The show starts out with a wonderful version of MY SUNDAY FEELING, and other highlights include DHARMA FOR ONE, BOUREE, and the perennial favorite NOTHING IS EASY (the song that has such a hard time coming to an end.)

While the performance is not quite as polished on this disc as it is during the later New York performance, the energy level is perceptibly higher, and Martin Barre is brilliant, as usual. Clive Bunker in particular gives one of his finest drum performances ever recorded, and the album is worth the money for that alone. If you're a fan, you've got to get this album.

(Info by: G-Dexter)

















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The Souls Of Inspyration - Selftitled (1970)

Like labelmates Jarvis St Revue and It's All Meat a very rare LP despite being on Columbia.A psych/prog mix with a late 60s feel in the vocals and organ but also baroque and classical influences.

This pop/rock band came from Sherbrooke, Quebec, although its members bar Cloutier originated from Red Lake, Ontario (near the Manitoba border). They had the honour of closing the activities at the Expo 70 musical presentations in Osaka following their win at a group competition at "Man and his World" on 7th and 8th July 1970.

Their album is quite sought-after and deservedly so. Pursuit, also issued as a 45, is a keyboard-driven number and sets the tone for the whole album. Other highlights:- Stranger and Sun Shines In Winter, both keyboard-dominated numbers with attractive harmonies and if you're into long keyboard progressives - try Dil Kusha. Recommended.

(Info by: CGR)

01 - Pursuit - 2.44
02 - Stranger - 3.02
03 - Sun Shines in the Winter - 3.12
04 - Dil Kusha (Heart's Happiness) - 6.43
05 - Of Lams & Wolves - 6.11
06 - Eyes of Nature - 3.29
07 - Seasons of Change - 5.22
08 - Unknown Bonustrack - 1.58

















Size: 61.8 Mb
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