-= 7-FLOOR =-: August 2009

Friday, August 14, 2009

Yesterday's Children - Selftitled (1969)

Reissue of the Connecticut hard rock groups only LP,
originally released in 1969.
Not to be confused with the Chicago area punk group of the same name who appear
on the Pebbles box set. From the Cheshire and Prospect areas of Connecticut,
these guys started out playing classic garage fuzz-punk as demonstrated by
To Be Or Not To Be . They'd progress to a hard rock style,
of which the LP is a good example and worth searching out.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED FOR HARDROCK FANS of late 60's fuzzed rock.

(info by: CGR)

1. Paranoia
2. Sad Born Loser
3. What of I
4. She's Easy
5. Sailing
6. Providence Bummer
7. Evil Woman
8. Hunter's Moon

Size: 80 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
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Mighty Baby - Selftitled (1969)

Biography by Bruce Eder
The British psychedelic band Mighty Baby grew out of the Action,
the Liverpool-based R&B outfit signed to Parlophone by George Martin in 1965.
Long considered one of Martin's best discoveries this side of the Beatles,
the Action consisted of Reggie King (vocals), Alan King (guitar),
Pete Watson (guitar), Mike Evans (bass), and Roger Powell (drums).
After Watson left in 1967,
he was succeeded by keyboardist Ian Whiteman and blues guitarist Martin Stone,
a veteran of the Savoy Brown Blues Band.
This new lineup evolved beyond the R&B/soul sound that the original Action had played
and into a top-flight experimental group,
incorporating the kinds of long jams and folk/blues influences that the West Coast bands
were starting to export around the world.

They hooked up with ex-Yardbirds manager Giorgio Gomelsky in 1967 and recorded an album's
worth of material that went unreleased. Reggie King was gone by early 1968 to record
a solo album, and the remaining members went through a number of name changes,
at one point calling themselves Azoth.
In 1968, they hooked up with the managers who represented Pink Floyd and T. Rex and cut a
new series of demo recordings featuring Whiteman (who wrote most of the songs)
and Alan King on lead vocals. These demos were even more ambitious than the 1967 sides,
extending the structure of the group's songs with long,
beautiful guitar progressions and soaring choruses.
Unlike a lot of R&B outfits that tried the psychedelic route and failed,
they were suited to the new music by inclination and temperament.

The president of the band's new record label, Head Records,
for reasons best known to himself, chose "Mighty Baby" as the group's new name.
The self-titled album that followed was a masterpiece of late psychedelic rock,
with long, fluid guitar lines and radiant harmonies; still,
Mighty Baby didn't sell very well, although the group continued to play live shows to
enthusiastic audiences. Their record label folded in 1970, and the group eventually
signed to the Blue Horizon label, where they released a respectable if not
wholly successful second album, A Jug of Love. It was clear by then, however,
that their moment had passed, both personally and professionally.
Mighty Baby broke up in 1971, although several of the members periodically played together
on various projects — Evans and Whiteman even played back-up to Richard and
Linda Thompson in the late 1970's.

****This hour-long CD is one of the best bodies of British psychedelia ever released.
It contains the complete Mighty Baby album from Head Records,
expanded to 13 tracks with the addition of five tracks cut by the Action during its 1967
transition period. The opening number, "Egyptian Tomb,"
sets the tone for the entire album — in terms of content, structure, and beat,
it sounds like the early Allman Brothers,
or maybe the Grateful Dead in one of their harder-rocking moments,
jamming with Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young on an impromptu version of CSN's
"Pre-Road Downs." The beauty of the original Mighty Baby album tracks is that
they're psychedelia with a solid beat, none of that noodle-rock that drugged-up Brits
usually engaged in. "A Friend You Know But Never See" mighthave passed muster on
the Byrds' Notorious Byrd Brothers album. Other songs noodle around too much,
but overall this is some of the most energetic psychedelia to come out of England,
and anyone who enjoys psychedelic guitar will love Martin Stone's and Alan King's work
on this album. The bonus tracks, all "lost" demos, are even better:
highly rhythmic, driving rock (check out "Understanding Love") with lots of spacy guitar
and tougher-than-normal flower-power introspective lyrics,
with some gorgeous harmonies dressing it all up — a near perfect meld of garage rock
and psychedelic sensibilities.

(info by: CGR)

1. Egyptian Tomb
2. A Friend You Know But Never See
3. I've Been Down So Long
4. Same Way From The Sun
5. House Without Windows
6. Trials Of A City
7. I'm From The Country
8. At A Point Between Fate And Destiny
9. Only Dreaming Listen
10. Dustbin Full Of Rubbish
11. Understanding Love
12. Favourite Days
13. A Saying For Today

Size: 116 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
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Krokodil - The Psychedelic Tapes (1970-72)

First release of this collection of demos and live materieal from this legendary
band from Switzerland, best known for their opus An Invisible World Revealed.
"1970-1972 were the psychedelic years of the Krokodil from Switzerland.
During this period the band recorded a lot of magical songs both live and in the
studio which are now after more than thirty years released for the first time.
1970-1972 were the psychedelic years of the mighty Krokodil from Switzerland who made
the stunning psychedelic kraut rock album "An Invisible World Revealed".
During this early period the band recorded a lot of magical songs both live
(3 tracks) and in the studio (5 tracks)
which are now after more than 30 years are released here on CD.
Long trippy space rock with a West Coast/Kraut Rock edge,
feature fluid acid guitar work, flute and effects.
The CD includes a great version of "Pharoah Sanders "The Creator Has a Mater Plan"
plus other gems.

(info by: CGR)

01 - The Creator Has A Master Plan - 9.24
02 - Stehaufmädchen Part 1 - 1.07
03 - Marzipan (Live) - 8.04
04 - Stehaufmädchen Part 2 - 1.05
05 - You're Still A Part Of Me (Live) - 5.46
06 - Stehaufmädchen Part 3 - 1.07
07 - Odyssey In Om (Live) - 30.33
08 - Raga - 3.15

Size: 114 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
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King Crimson - In The Wake Of Poseidon (1970)

King Crimson opened 1970 scarcely in existence as a band, having lost two key members
(Ian McDonald and Michael Giles), with a third (Greg Lake) about to leave.
Their second album — largely composed of Robert Fripp's songwriting and material
salvaged from their stage repertory ("Pictures of a City" and "The Devil's Triangle")
— is actually better produced and better sounding than their first.
Surprisingly, Fripp's guitar is not the dominant instrument here:
The Mellotron, taken over by Fripp after McDonald's departure —
and played even better than before — still remains the band's signature.
The record doesn't tread enough new ground to precisely rival In the Court of the
Crimson King. Fripp, however, has made an impressive show of transmuting material
that worked on stage ("Mars" aka "The Devil's Triangle")
into viable studio creations, and "Cadence and Cascade" may be the prettiest
song the group ever cut. "The Devil's Triangle,"
which is essentially an unauthorized adaptation of "Mars,
Bringer of War" from Gustav Holst's The Planets,
was later used in an eerie Bermuda Triangle documentary of the same name.
In March of 2000, Caroline and Virgin released a 24-bit digitally remastered job that
puts the two Mellotrons, Michael Giles' drums, Peter Giles' bass, and even Fripp's
acoustic guitar and Keith Tippett's acoustic piano practically in the lap of the listener.

(info by: CGR)

1. Peace-A Beginning
2. Pictures of a City
3. Cadence and Cascade
4. In the Wake of Poseidon
5. Peace - A Theme
6. Cat Food
7. Devil's Triangle: Merday Morn/Hand of Sceiron/Garden of Worm
8. Peace-An End
9. Cat Food [Single Version][Edit]
10. Groon [Single B Side]

Size: 90 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
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Killing Floor - Zero Tolerance (1969)

Yes. this is the band from the late 60s / 70s,
reformed some thirty years later! Original members Mick Clarke (gtr/voc)
Bill Thorndycraft (vcl/hrp/gtr) Lou Martin (keys)
and Stuart McDonald (bs) got back together but couldn't find the drummer
(sounds a familiar story!) so co-opted Mick's longtime drummer Chris Sharley.
In fact, during recording,
the original drummer Bazz Smith got in touch so he does appear on a couple of tracks.
There are 14 tracks, 12 new original songs and a pair of standards.

The band pick up where they left off all those years ago so this is high-energy blues-rock.
Things kick off with a chugging rocker, "Burn Out",
with clattering piano from Lou, Bill and Mick sharing the vocals and good harp and guitar.
Another chugger follows, "Prozac Blues" with a nice steel guitar intro,
liked this one. As I did the next track "Calm Down",
a slow blues with excellent piano and some high-energy guitar work.
"Sperm Bandit" sees some more good piano, harp and slide guitar. "The Big Issue"
and the title track are protest /issue songs,
the first being sort of punk blues and the latter being an aggressive song.
I wasn't so keen on these. The two covers are Slim Harpo's
"Strange Love" and Sonny Boy's "Bring it on Home".
Both are delivered with a nice rolling beat,
both have good harp work and the latter good piano and guitar too making it an
excellent closer to the CD.

Other favourite tracks are the rocker "Iron Ewe" - touches of "Cell Block 9" -
and "Road of Diamonds" with grand solos all round, my pick of the CD.
Good to see the band doing a whole lot of new material;
and not just re-treads of their earlier tunes.
A solid rhythm section and good solos from all.
Lou's piano playing impressed,
not only his solos but also his fills and background playing.
Solid vocals from both Bill and Mick,
with trademark high-energy guitar work from Mick and some useful suckin'
and blowin' from Bill.
Overall a good modern blues-rock album that comes with a recommended sticker!

The line-up is:
Bill Thorndycraft (original Killing Floor singer) - Vocals, harp, and acoustic guitar.
Mick Clarke (original Killing Floor guitarist) - Vocals, electric and acoustic guitars
Stuart (Mac) McDonald (original Killing Floor bassist, also ex Paul Rodger's Peace,
Jellybread, Salt) - Bass
Lou Martin (original Killing Floor pianist, also ex Rory Gallagher Band,
Blues'n'Trouble and others) - Keyboards
Chris Sharley (Mick Clarke Band, ex Sassafrass) - Drums
Bazz Smith (original Killing Floor drummer) - Drums (tracks 3 & 12)

Bill’s thoughts about the Album:

Burnout
Mick had the structure for this song with one of his many magical Riffs which
he seems to produce like Armani produce quality suits.
I wanted to write a song about ‘Burnout’ a syndrome/phenomena never mentioned
much before the mid 1990’s but ubiquitous in the late 90’s following the increase
in expectations and workloads of professionals,
especially in people professions such as the Police, Social work,
and frontline medical workers and then extending to many other professions.
This resulted in the remarkable increase in stress related problems such as Depression,
Migraine, Asthma, IBS,Back pain etc and increased alcohol and Drug dependency.
This leads on to the second song on the album...

Prozac Blues
which I had structured before the coming together of the band and is rather
personal to me as it documents many events in my life especially the
premature death of my sister who had taken on the task of caring for my
disabled elderly mother who was very demanding not just because of her
physical disability but more significantly, because of her enduring mental
health problems….my sister was prescribed a cocktail of Prozac and Valium to
help her cope with this complex and untenable situation….
There are several million Full time carers in Britain today whose
lives are devoted to and overwhelmed by the demands of the caring role and
who save the government and Tax payer millions of pounds by their unpaid labour.

Calm Down
Bazz Smith flew in from his home in Switzerland to play on a couple
of songs…this was jammed from nothing in one take thanks to our excellent
engineer Lee Bowman having the sense to run the tapes…otherwise
I am not confident we could have reproduced the feel on another take…I love Lou’s
piano break in the middle!!

Sperm Bandit
was influenced by Dotun Adebayo’s book and documentary “Sperm Bandit”
about the modern day phenomena of some women acquiring the sperm of a male
partner unbeknown to the man for the purpose of pregnancy with no
intention of any further requirements of the man….which I thought was an
interesting theme for what was originally Mick’s song.

Big Issue
aka Bush ’n’ Blair…..This was a song I had written before the
band came together again ,written around 2000, and when we recorded it in 2003,
we thought it best to retitle it as we we not confident that Mr Bush and
Mr Blair would be in power for much longer at that time. So the Big Issue
seemed an appropriate alternative title as the song is about so many “Big Issues.
” You can take your choice!!

Strange Love
I have always loved Slim Harpo’s sound and consider him a greatly underrated
blues man…This is one of my favourite Sim Harpo songs which Mick does great
credit to on vocals and guitar

Zero Tolerance
A term and political slogan used frequently by the media and politicians….I will say
no more!!!

Run On
Running has been a significant part of my life in the past and to a lesser
extent now…it was only logical for me to write about the joy and therapeutic
value gained from running. Another wonderful riff and rocker from Mr Clarke..

Iron Ewe
Mac’s idea ably co written by his partner Jan and given the Mick Clarke arrangement

What is it about you?
I had written this song many moons ago and it might ring a bell for those men
who struggle to understand women…Lou’s piano solo in the middle highlights
one of his influences, the great Fats Domino….a very fine piano Solo Mr Martin!!!
Thank You Lou….

Road of Diamonds
Essentially Micks song and one of my favourites on the album…I love Micks
‘Twangy guitar’ in the middle. Very remininicent of the late great Duane Eddy….

Radnor Rumble
Mac and Jan’s song with a great arrangement from Mick and driven by the
formidable Bazz Smith on Drums…Enjoy Mac’s superb Bass!!

Fred McDowell
A song about a Blues hero of ours featuring another great Mick Clarke Riff and
fine Bass playing from Mac.

Bring it on home
Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller) has been a major influence on me ever since I
had the privilege to witness him live at the Black cat club, Woolwich back in the
sixties…I was delighted when the band agreed to do this on the album and hope you
enjoy our version for which much credit must go to Mick for his arrangement..

Throughout the album we were fortunate to have Chris Sharley drum for us in the
absence of Bazz…Chris in my opinion, is one of the finest Rock Blues drummers
around and his solid drumming combines perfectly with Mac’s imaginative Bass.
Hopefully you will agree…Let us know if you enjoy the album….Let us know if you don’t!!!

(info by: CGR)

1. Burnout (Thorndycraft / Clarke)
2. Prozac Blues (Thorndycraft / Clarke)
3. Calm Down (Smith / Martin / McDonald / Thorndycraft / Clarke)
4. Sperm Bandit (Thorndycraft / Clarke)
5. The Big Issue (Thorndycraft/Clarke)
6. Strange Love (Slim Harpo)
7. Zero Tolerance (Thorndycraft / Clarke)
8. Run On(Thorndycraft / Clarke)
9. Iron Ewe (McDonald / Davies)
10. What is it about you? (Thorndycraft / Clarke)
11. Road of Diamonds (Thorndycraft/Clarke)
12. The Radnor Rumble (McDonald / Davies)
13. Fred McDowell (Thorndycraft / Clarke)
14. Bring it on Home (Sonny Boy Williamson)

Size: 113 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Chicken Shack - Imagination Lady (1972)

Imagination Lady is the fifth long-player for Stan Webb's Chicken Shack.
Much in the same tradition as the great British bluesmen Alexis Corner and John Mayall,
Webb's revolving-door personnel landed the band several notable members, including:
John Almond (tenor/alto sax), Hughie Flint (drums), and Christine Perfect
(keyboards/vocals). For this album, Webb (guitar/vocals) gathered a trio consisting
of himself, future Gods and Jethro Tull member John Glascock (bass), and Paul Hancox
(drums). Enthusiasts of the more traditional 40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed and Ready
to Serve and OK Ken albums have been quick to dismiss the latter-era band, often citing
the whole over amplified power metal trip as detracting from their blues origins.
While certainly valid assessments, the power trio featured on Imagination Lady brings
more than sheer volume to this release. As with the previous Chicken Shack long-players,
this disc features several Webb originals augmented with some well-chosen cover tunes.
The album opens with a ferocious cover of B.B. King's "Crying Won't Help You."
This version is highlighted by Glascock's thrashing bass lines and Webb's wah-wah
driven lead guitar and gin-soaked vocals. In a style akin to the Faces or even some
of the rowdier moments from the Peter Green-led Fleetwood Mac, this trio grinds out
the blues with a decidedly English edge. The folkie "If I Were a Carpenter" is speared
with searing electric guitar leads that rip throughout the likewise spirited contributions
from Glascock and Hancox. The tune is also afforded an unexpected sensitivity that
contrasts well between the all-out sonic onslaught of the chorus and the restrained
polyrhythms of the verses. In regards to original material, "Daughter of the Hillside"
is without a doubt Webb's most impressive contribution to the album. It is arguably
the strongest side on the disc. This straight-ahead rocker is an ideal trio effort
with equal contributions from all three recalling the intense instrumentality of Cream
or early Led Zeppelin. With so much potential, it's unfortunate that the 11-minute epic
"Telling Your Fortune" — which is nothing more than a 12-bar blues platform for solos
from Webb and Hancox — is so erratic. In an ironic contrast, the closing number
"The Loser" is upbeat and almost pop-oriented, again displaying the immense strength
of this short-lived incarnation of Chicken Shack.

(info by: CGR)

1. Crying Won't Help You Now (Whittaker) - 5:09
2. Daughter of the Hillside (Webb) - 3:52
3. If I Were a Carpenter (Hardin) - 6:33
4. Going Down (Nix) - 3:32
5. Poor Boy (Webb) - 5:09
6. Telling Your Fortune (Webb) - 11:09
7. The Loser (Webb) - 2:32

Size: 61 Mb
Bitrate: 224 mp3
Artwork Included
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Arcadium - Breathe Awhile (1969)

Arcadium was a little known British band that performed at the Middle Earth Club
in London back in the late '60s (other artists that performed there were Wooden O,
Writing on the Wall, and Tam White).
Their one and only album,
Breathe Awhile was released on the obscure Middle Earth label,
named after the nightclub. Remember, this was 1969,
prog rock was going through its growing pains,
so many bands still stuck to their psychedelic roots, and of course,
Arcadium was no exception. The album opens up with the amazing "I'm On My Way",
it starts off slowly, then they start getting in to some great jams.
Allan Ellwood gives us some nice organ work,
and Robert Ellwood (presumably a brother) gives us some nice psychedelic guitar work.
The rest of the band consisted of bassist Graham Best,
drummer John Albert Parker, and 12-string guitarist Miguel Sergides
(all credited to vocal duties, aside from the drummer). "Poor Lady",
a much shorter piece, also blew me away.
And then you have "Walk on the Bad Side",
which actually starts off rather discouraging in that cheesy psychedelic pop manner,
then the music kepts getting better and better as it progresses,
with some really intense passages.
"Woman of a Thousand Years" is not to be confused with the Fleetwood Mac song of the same
name (this pre-dates Future Games by two years, by the way),
it's a completely different song.
There's almost a Van der Graaf Generator-like feel to this song,
especially in the organ work. "Birth, Life & Death"
is the other lengthy epic with more mindblowing passages.
Admittedly the vocals aren't the strong point of this album,
although I've heard a lot worst. The CD reissue also includes two bonus cuts,
"Sing My Song" and "Riding Alone",
both from a single the band released around the same time of Breathe Awhile.
"Riding Alone" is the standout cut, in my book. Regardless,
I find this a great and solid album,
and I highly recommend this album to those in to the early prog/psych scene.

(info by: CGR)

Track Listings
1. I'm on My Way
2. Poor Lady
3. Walk on the Bad Side
4. Woman of a Thousand Years
5. Change Me
6. It Takes a Woman
7. Birth, Life and Death
8. Sing My Song (Bonus)
9. Riding Alone (Bonus)

Size: 100 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
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Jolliver Arkansaw - Home (1968)

(The one and only album by USA band Jolliver Arkansaw, orignally released in 1968.
Jolliver Arkansaw was actually a continuation of BO GRUMPUS under the protection of
Mountain member Felix Pappalardi.
Leslie West is featured on fat leadguitar on a few tracks.)

(Info by: CGR)

1. Frou Frou by Joe Hutchinson
2. Mr. Brennan by Joe Hutchinson & Felix Pappalardi
3. Bright As Fire by Jim Colegrove & Ronnie Blake
4. The Eye by Joe Hutchinson
5. A Girl Like Mary by Jim Colegrove
6. Hatred Sun by Joe Hutchinson
7. Lisa My Love by Joe Hutchinson & D. Hutchinson
8. Migrant Fowl by Joe Hutchinson
9. King Chaos by Joe Hutchinson
10. You Keep Me Satisfied by Joe Hutchinson
11. St. Justina by Joe Hutchinson
12. Gray Afternoon (w. Leslie West)