-= 7-FLOOR =-

Humble Pie - Humble Pie (1970)

2010-04-19T19:38:00.004+02:00

(no info)

Size: 89 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Corpus - Creation A Child (1971)

2010-04-19T19:33:00.004+02:00

Legendary US psych rock album, first released in 1971.
Excellent vocal harmonies and ringing guitar work coupled with some heavy riffs make this a worthwhile reissue.
From Corpus Christi in Texas as their name suggests.
There's some good guitar work on the album, which is essentially blues-based.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Cruising - 3.48
02 - Joy - 6.22
03 - Marriage - 3.35
04 - Creation A Child - 6.53
05 - Just A Man - 3.15
06 - We Can Make It, Luv - 2.30
07 - Not Mine - 3.29
08 - Where Is She - 3.36
09 - Mythical Dream - 4.54

Size: 76 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Proof - 5th Anniversary Phonograph Record (1966-71)

2010-04-19T19:23:00.003+02:00

Full title - 5th Anniversary Phonograph Record.
A great blues-rock band that, despite a few brushes with fame,
never quite got the attention they deserved.
Perhaps their underexposure was due to the fact that the band's home base of Alaska
was a bit too far off the map for rock critics & record execs of the time.
Had they moved a little further south down the coast,
who knows what would have happened! Led by the talented singer & harmonica player Gary Sloan
(master of the 12 beats & blues collector extraordinaire),
Proof spent the late sixties & early seventies on the fringes of the blues-rock scene,
managing to secure the opening slot at a few Alaskan Jefferson Airplane concerts.
Their second album, as its title suggests,
celebrates the band's 5th year together (1971) & features material that spans the period,
including blues classics 'Hootchie Cootchie Man',
'Leavin' Trunk' & 'Walkin' Blues', & speak volumes on the band's considerable talent.
It is also one of the most rare American blues-rock records
(original copies of their second album are practically nonexistent). Miniature gatefold LP sleeve.

Excellent 2nd album from this1971 Alaskan blues-rock band led by Gary Sloan that celebrated the bands 5th year
together. Great acid blues rock with ripping lead guitar.
Sloan has since worked with Muddy Waters, John Mayall, Jorma Kaukonen, Billy Preston, etc.

(info by: CGR)

Track Listings
1. Everybody Needs Somebody to Love (1966 - Bad Quality)
2. (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man (1968)
3. Harp Song (1968)
4. Commin' Home (1970)
5. Leavin' Trunk (1970)
6. Sugar Babe (1968)
7. City Line (1970)
8. Mouth Harp Man (1970)
9. Who's Been Talkin'(1971)
10. Judgement Day (1971)
11. Walkin' Blues (1971)

Size: 80 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Apple - An Apple A Day (1969)

2010-04-19T19:14:00.005+02:00

Formed in London in 1968, Apple led by lead guitarist Rob Ingram and vocalist Denis Regan recorded
only one album during their short tenure, but what an album it is.
Repertoire Records has compiled all 12 tracks from the original lp along with both sides of
the two singles the band released on Larry Page's Page One Records,
a total of 16 tracks and 52 minutes playing time of pure,
unadulterated classic British psychedelic rock.
Nealy every track is a highlight in and of itself,
but particular standouts are the single b-side "The Otherside," a Yardbirds cover "Psycho Daisies" and
a Lovin' Spoonful Cover "Sporting Life." All three of these tracks contain exceptional guitar work from Ingram.
Another standout is the b-side "Buffalo Billycan" again due to Ingram's work.
The album was released with very little label support and failed to chart as did the singles and
thus Apple lasted only a short time, as has been the fate of so many other talented bands.
Thankfully "An Apple A Day" remains as proof positive of the band's tremendous talent.
Fans of psychedelic rock and rock in general should do themselves a favor and snatch this one up,
it is a prime example of how exciting guitar-driven psychedelic rock can be.

(info by: CGR)

1. Lets Take A Trip Down Teh Rhine
2. Doctor Rock
3. The Otherside
4. Mr Jones
5. The Mayville Line
6. Queen Of Hearts Blues
7. Rock Me Baby
8. Buffalo Billycan
9. Photograph
10. Psycho Daisies
11. Sporting Life
12. Pretty Girl Love You
13. Lets Take A Trip Down The Rhine (Single Mix) (Bonus Track)
14. Buffalo Billycan (Single Version)
15. Doctor Rock (Single Mix) (Bonus Track)
16. The Otherside (Single Mix) (Bonus Track)

Size: 97 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

The Master´s Apprentices - A Toast To Panama Red (1972)

2010-01-08T19:27:00.003+01:00

This was the Masters last album before they split in 1972.
Although largely overlooked at the time,
it is seen in retrospect as a highly accomplished work.
In Germany, France,
Holland and Britain it is considered a major Progressive Rock album and a sought after collector's item.

Early 72 the band released 'A Toast To Panama Red' which died without a trace.
It is now hailed as one of Australia's most creative and innovative albums.
A diverse range of styles, instruments,
a choir and unusual vocals mean that it is still eagerly collected in Europe
(Where they are releasing bootleg copies of it).
The money ran out and the band split with Glenn and Jim returning home.

Original Album Discography:

The Master's Apprentices 1967
Masterpiece 1970
Choice Cuts 1971
Nickelodeon (Live in Perth) 1971
A Toast To Panama Red 1972

(info by: CGR)

1.Answer Lies Beyond
2.Beneath the Sun
3.Games We Play I
4.Games We Play II
5.The Lesson So Listen
6.Love Is
7.Melodies of St Kilda
8.Southern Cross
9.Thyme To Rhyme

Size: 75 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Locomotive - We Are Everything You See (1970) - Snelkoppeling

2010-01-06T20:12:00.005+01:00

No info.

01 - Overture
02 - Mr Armageddon
03 - Now Is The End, The End Is Now
04 - Lay Me Down Gently
05 - Nobody Asked You To Come
06 - You Must Be Joking
07 - A Day In Shining Armour
08 - The Loves Of Augustus Abbey, Part I
09 - Rain
10 - The Loves Of Augustus Abbey, Part II
11 - Comin Down, Love Song For The Dead Che
12 - The Loves Of Augustus Abbey, Part III
13 - Time Of Light And Darkness
14 - Mr Armageddon (Mono) (Bonus)
15 - Theres Got To Be A Way (Bonus)
16 - Im Never Gonna Let You Go (Bonus)
17 - You Must Be Joking (Mono) (Bonus)
18 - Moving Down The Line (Bonus)
19 - Roll Over Mary (Bonus)

Size:111 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Hickory Wind - Hickory Wind (1972)

2010-01-06T19:38:00.004+01:00

"Indiana based band who turned into legendary psych band B.F. Trike
released only a handful of copies of this record (Gigantic, 1969),
making it a true rarity; full of variety
(although much of it sounds like acid rock era of Byrds or Buffalo Springfield,
with the most psychedelic track being Time And Changes,
with its great vocals and lots of fuzz guitar; features four bonus tracks as B.F Trike;
beautiful package in a quality mini-LP style jacket with insert,
new liner notes, lyrics, original liner notes; limited to 1000 copies.
*High quality cardboard sleeve with obi*"

Fuzz acid west coast rockers, jangly folk rock, some bluesy psych jammers.
It's all here and done with verve. Pre B.F.Trike."

Just 100 copies of this album were pressed originally making it extremely rare.
The band came from Indiana and all except Prentice went on to play in B.F. Trike.
Their album is full of variety wth the most psychedelic track being Time And Changes.
This has great vocals plus lots of fuzz and was later re-recorded by B.F. Trike.
Mr Man is rather unusual, employing spoken lyrics over a piano/keyboard backing;
Father Come With Me is a successful blend of droning keyboards and vocals and there are also
a couple of laid back melodic numbers in I Don't Believe and Judy, which open and close the album.
Get to hear the album if you can but don't pay a fortune for a copy.

(info by: CGR)

01 - I Don't Believe
02 - Time And Changes
03 - Maybe Tomorrow
04 - Transit Blues
05 - Country Boy
06 - The Loner
07 - Mr. Man
08 - New Albany Police Carnival
09 - Father Come With Me
10 - Judy
11 - I'm A Man (bonus track)
12 - Red Shoes (bonus track)
13 - Come A Little Closer (bonus track)
14 - Shuh Rah (bonus track)

Size: 80 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Dschinn - Dschinn (1972)

2010-01-04T23:04:00.004+01:00

Sole and rare 1972 release from this German band given the high quality Second Battle Treatment. The cover is a great Salvador Dali pastiche, whilst the music inside is powerful heavy rock with some excellent lead guitar riffs and classic hard rock vocals. The CD contains outtakes and a whole bunch of pre - Dschinn tracks. Digi-pak with booklet

The Dschinn record had a very convincing Dali plagiate painting on its sleeve, courtesy of one Klaus Holitzka. I can reveal that the music isn't as surrealistic as the sleeve would imply, it's a quite conventional type of hard rock. This is not meant as a criticism, though - it is a great album! The lack of originality is nonchalantly replaced by sheer power, both in the music and the vocals. They wrote all nine tracks together, except for the cover version of "For Your Love". It was recorded at Tonstudio Mitte, Bremen and produced by Rolf Jenzen, a character unknown to me. Sadly this one album is their sole legacy, apart from a track on the 1973 sampler Mama Rock & The Sons Of Rock'n'Roll (Bacillus BLS 5526; 2nd edition BAC 2025), named "Rock'n'Roll Dschinny". Not even a single was lifted from their eponymous album and the group disappeared without trace.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Freedom - 4.47
02 - Fortune - 4.56
03 - I'm In Love - 4.45
04 - Train - 4.55
05 - Let's Go Together - 3.10
06 - Smile Of The Devil - 4.23
07 - I Wanna Know - 3.34
08 - Are You Ready - 4.02
09 - For Your Love - 4.12
10 - Rock'N'Roll Dschinny - 3.09
11 - Hear What I Say (The Dischas) - 2.53
12 - Come On Come Back (The Dischas) - 2.31
13 - Let's Go Together (The Dischas) - 2.18
14 - Never, Never (The Dischas) - 2.52
15 - Take Me Back (The Dischas) - 3.27
16 - Hurry Up (The Dischas) - 3.39
17 - Woman (The Dischas) - 2.26
18 - (The Dischas) - 2.20
19 - Can't You See (Outtake) - 3.10
20 - Give Me A Little Love (Outtake) - 2.58
21 - Day After Day (Outtake) - 2.43

Size: 97 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Beauregard Ajax - Deaf Priscilla (1967-68)

2009-12-21T23:05:00.005+01:00

Southern California's Beauregard Ajax recorded Deaf Priscilla in late 1967 and early 1968,
with legendary Del-Fi Records founder, Bob Keane producing,
but the record was shelved when the group disbanded.
Decades later a vinyl pressing was issued,
and in 2006 Shadoks Music released it on CD for the first time, with four bonus tracks.
As was the case for countless aspiring American rock collectives,
the British Invasion from a few years earlier heavily influenced the five-piece
(the singer even picked up an accent along the way), but as this was psychedelic age,
the songs are augmented with slightly fuzzed-out blues licks.
The actual tunes possess pleasing melodies, resulting in an overall light psych sound.
Lyrically, the tone is usually pretty heavy, though, with such darker subject matters as loneliness,
depression, failed relationships, and boredom.
The group shows a whimsical side on "Kaleidoscope," and the bubblegummy "Happy Brontosaurus,"
but they are at their best when embracing the melancholic aspects of day-to-day life on such numbers as
"Loneliness Is a Sometime Thing," "Goodbye Again," and "Blue Violins." One of the best and more bizarre tracks,
"Deaf Priscilla," is the mysterious tale of a horrific domestic dispute,
which the protagonist can partly ignore due to loss of one of her senses.
As a band, Beauregard Ajax is competent but largely unremarkable,
and the vocalist isn't distinctive, leaving this an interesting,
but unessential curio. As for the sonic experience, the master tape has deteriorated some,
which is often distracting (especially if listening on headphones).
As for the bonus tracks, they are useless, consisting of "alternate"
versions that hardly differ from the final mixes.

Perhaps one of the best American psych gems Shadoks ever laid their hands on.
The album was recorded in April 1968 at Western Sound Recorders L.A. for a famous surf label,
but was never released. Perhaps better than Public Nuisance and as good as Brain Police from Rockadelic,
this album is a milestone such as Cold Sun's Dark Shadow. There isn't one track that is lacking energy
(and there are 14 great ones, plus 4 bonus tracks never issued before) --
songs such as "Loneliness Is A Sometime Thing,"
"Dead Woman Blues" and "Deaf Priscilla" are outstanding highlights.
Perfect vocals, tons of fuzz guitar and tough lyrics. We will love this album forever.

(info by: CGR)

1. Loneliness Is A Sometime Thing
2. Goodbye Again
3. I Will Be Looking Away
4. Dr. Jebediah Webb
5. Is Tomorrow Thursday
6. Dead Woman Blues
7. Blue Violins
8. Things Will Work Out Fine
9. Happy Brontosaurus
10. Deaf Priscilla
11. Feather In A Bottle
12. Take You Far Away
13. Love Is A Prize
14. Kaleidoscope
15. Blue Violins - (version 2)
16. Dead Woman Blues - (version 2)
17. Goodbye Again - (version 2)
18. I Will Be Looking Away - (version 2)

Size: 84 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

The Sacred Mushroom - Selftitled (1969)

2009-12-21T22:58:00.004+01:00

I was surprised by the excellence of this obscure album.
The band Sacred Mushroom hailed from Cincinnati Ohio.
This album was originally released in 1969.
The most famous member of the band is lead guitarist/song writer Larry Goshorn
who later joined country-rockers Pure Prairie League.
The music on this disk sounds nothing like country rock.
The music is instead great heavy blues from the late sixties.
Larry Goshorn's guitar work while not overly fast or flashy shines throughout the disk.
His playing on this set reminds me of Eric Clapton's playing while in the
heavy blues/psych band Cream. Larry's brother Danny handles the lead vocals on the set.
Songs like "I Don't Like You" and "Lifeline" contain great late sixties guitar playing.
The disk also contains an inspired cover of the Kink's "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" and
"Mean Old World" popularized by blues harmonica expert Little Walter.
Unfortunately this was to be the band's only release.
The approximately 34 minutes of music on this set shows great promise.
Highly recommended for collectors of sixties heavy blues/rock.

(info by: CGR)

01 - I Don't Like You - 2.53
02 - You Won't Be Sorry - 2.19
03 - Catatonic Lover - 3.03
04 - All Good Things Must Have An End - 4.41
05 - I'm Not Like Everybody Else - 4.35
06 - I Take Care - 4.59
07 - Mean Old World - 4.38
08 - Lifeline - 6.35

Size: 65 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

The Litter - Emerge (1968)

2009-12-01T21:53:00.005+01:00

Reviewer:Lawrence A.Strid (Mission Viejo, CA)
The Litter were a garage band with an early hit called "Action Woman"
that is featured on the Nuggets box set,
a must have 4 CD set of early sixties psychedelica.
They progressed into a more hard-edged proto-metal band in the late sixties
with a style somewhat reminiscent of Blue Cheer's second album or the MC5's first live album.
Emerge reaches the apogee of their development with this release,
which features ear-shattering guitar work, great lead vocals,
and a drummer (Tom Murray, what happened to you?)
who utilizes a double-bass kit with an expertise akin to a Paul Whaley or a Ginger Baker.
His drum solo on the extended cut "Future Of The Past" is phenomenal.
If you are a fan of this kind of music you will thrive on this.
Just their cover tune of "Little Red Book" (which was penned by Burt Bacharach),
and which makes the cover by Love pale by comparison, is worth the price of this album.

(Info by: CGR)

1. Journeys
2. Feeling
3. Silly People
4. Blue Ice
5. For What It's Worth
6. Little Red Book
7. Breakfast At Gardenson's
8. Future Of The Past
9. On Our Minds

Size: 76 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Sir Haakon & The Popular Musicians – What Is To Come (2004)

2009-12-01T21:47:00.004+01:00

(No info)

01 - What Is To Come...
02 - Victoria
03 - Rain Falls
04 - 10 Naked Women
05 - Don't Disturb The Dreamer
06 - Sir Horny Humperdink
07 - Eulclie
08 - Late In The Forest
09 - In The Big Picture
10 - The Sound Of Yesterdays
11 - Dream About A Princess

Size: 64 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Rory Gallagher - Live at My Fathers Place NY (1974)

2009-12-01T21:40:00.002+01:00

01 - Tattoo'd Lady
02 - Early In The Morning
03 - Cradle Rock
04 - Just A Little Bit
05 - Walk On Hot Coals
06 - A Million Miles Away
07 - Hands Off
08 - Bullfrog Eyes
09 - Leaving Town Blues - Peter Green

(No info)

Size: 170 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Some pictures included (no covers)
Download

Fields - Selftitled (1969)

2009-11-23T22:27:00.004+01:00

"Fields" is kind of an oddity; especially for a record label that's best known for a more pop-oriented catalog.
The album's overall feel is very blues-rockish. A number of reviews we've seen draw comparisons to Cream.
In this case the comparison isn't bad,
with tracks such as the leadoff rocker 'Elysian Fields',
'Take You Home' and 'Jump On It' baring more than a passing resemblance to Clapton and company.
Exemplified by tracks such as 'Bide My Time', the performances are quite raw.
Personal favorite - the bizarre, sidelong 'Love Is the Word'.
With backing from Motown singer Brenda Holloway,
the song offers up a weird blend of rock, psych and soul influences.
Stretched out over nearly 20 minutes, it has to be heard to be believed. [SB]
~~~
Decent hard rock effort by a band with a Cream fixation (but thankfully no drum solos).
Lots of lead guitar on the normal length songs on side one.
Side two is one 20-minute song that has a lot of creative ideas and builds in intensity.
It's much better than most side-long songs of the era and is an actual composition,
not just an excuse for jamming.
Overall, a good but not great album that is interesting enough to be recommended to fans of the style.

This US power trio's sole album was released on both sides of the Atlantic in 1969,
but sank without a trace. Equally influenced by blues, soul and acid rock,
it's an enjoyable mixture of snappy hard rock songs and the lengthy "Love Is The Word" suite,
which occupied a whole side of the original LP.
Featuring backing vocals from Northern Soul legend Brenda Holloway and production by former
Merry-Go-Round guitarist Bill Rinehart, it's a must for fans of bluesy psychedelic rock,
and makes its CD debut here.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Elysian Fields - 3.44
02 - Bide My Time - 4.39
03 - Take You Home - 3.04
04 - Jump On You - 3.25
05 - Sun Would Set - 5.22
06 - Love Is The Word - 18.41

Size: 75 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Selftitled (1968)

2009-11-23T22:19:00.004+01:00

(no info available)

01 - I put a spell on you
02 - The working man
03 - Susie Q
04 - Ninety-Nine and a half
05 - Get down Woman
06 - Porterville
07 - Gloomy
08 - Walk on the water

Size: 69 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Amboy Dukes - Marriage On The Rocks (1970)

2009-11-16T22:06:00.006+01:00

(no info)

01 - Marriage
02 - Breast-Fed Gator
03 - Get Yer Guns
04 - Non-Conformist Wilderbeastman
05 - Today's Lesson (Ladies & Gentlemen)
06 - Children Of The Woods
07 - Brian Games Of Yesteryear
08 - The Inexhaustible Quest For The Cosmic Cabbage

Size: 85 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Sex - Sex & The End Of My Life (1971-72)

2009-11-03T22:28:00.003+01:00

Both albums by Canadian heavy progressive rock band on one CD from 1970 & 71.
Both albums are ultra-rare and the music is comparable to Elias Hulk or Ellison
with sledgehammer drums, furious fuzzy lead guitar and wasted vocals.
By the second album the group had expanded to a four piece and become a
little more progressive but still were as heavy as hell.

A French-Canadian band from Montreal, Quebec, whose lyrics are English.
Both their albums are now rare. The first leans very much towards hard rock with
sledgehammer drums, thundering rhythm, furious guitar leads and wasted vocals.
There's some nice woodwind on 'Come, Wake Up!',
some pleasant mouth harp on 'Try' and some fuzzy guitar on 'Night Symphony' and
'Love Is A Game'; but overall the menu's heavy-handed bluesy hard rock.
The first 45 was culled from this album. All the material was penned by Gratton,
Rousseau and Trépanier. The lyrics are very much in the spin of their name,
particularly the final cut. For hard rockers only!

Prior to their second album, Pierre Ouellette was added to the line-up.
'The End Of My Life' was more progressive than their first effort.
The vocals are in the same wasted style as their first effort,
but the instrumentation is usually more experimental and less heavy-handed.
Their second 45 was taken from this album and probably comprised its best tracks.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Scratch My Back (1971)
02 - Not Yet (1971)
03 - Doctor (1971)
04 - I Had To Rape Her (1971)
05 - Come, Wake Up (1971)
06 - Try (1971)
07 - Night Symphony (1971)
08 - Love Is A Game (1971)
09 - Born To Love (1972)
10 - I´m Starting My Life Today (1972)
11 - Emotions (1972)
12 - Pleasure (1972)
13 - See (1972)
14 - Syphilissia (1972)
15 - The End Of My Life (1972)

Size: 137 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Savoy Brown Blues Band - Shake Down (1967)

2009-11-03T19:17:00.003+01:00

Reviewer: chris meesey (Garland, TX United States):
Most Savoy Brown aficionadoes are aware that Kim and Co released
their first album in England only in 1967, that it was called Shake Down,
and that most Americans have heard very little of this album,
probably only the two cuts featured on the compilation Savoy Brown Chronicles.
The true SB fan might have to search far and wide to find a copy,
as with Jack the Toad, the later, pub-rocking Savoy Brown album now considered a classic.
Well, friends, start searching again,
because I have recently unearthed a copy of this excellent album,
and believe me, it's worth searching for!!
Kim assembled a multiracial band in 1965/66 and by 1967 had recorded Shake Down.
It's a traditional blues album that is very reminiscent of Getting to the Point,
SB's second album (first in America) that is much better known than this one.
Shake Down consists mostly of blues covers, save one excellent instrumental,
"Doormouse Rides the Rails", featuring the band's first-rate second guitarist,
Martin Stone. His interplay with SB guru Kim Simmonds on such tracks as
"It's All My Fault," "Shake 'Em on Down,"
and especially on the traditional blues opus "Black Night"
are among the high points of the album. Singer Bryce Portius
(one of the first blacks to front a British blues band)
has a somewhat limited vocal style, but it works very well for this material.
His highlights include the Howlin' Wolf classic "I Ain't Superstitious,"
and the Willie Dixon-penned tune, "Little Girl".
Kim is already showing maturity beyond his teenage years in terms of track selection
and musical direction; as a guitarist,
he shows his chops very nicely on "Shake 'Em On Down,"
already clearly grasping the less-is-more concept that makes for great blues.
His playing in these early years is still somewhat limited,
otherwise we'd be looking at a timeless classic.
Special thanks to Denis in St.
Petersburg, Russia, for helping me to obtain this underappreciated gem.
Now that Kim handles his own record distribution
(through his new label, Panache Records),
perhaps he would consider rereleasing Jack the Toad,
Lion's Share, and of course this album in the United States to satisfy his legion of fans.
Until then, please pursue this album diligently;
it's a blues gem that will have you shaking it on down with the best of them!!!

Limited edition Japanese only reissue of the 1967 album has been fully remastered
with the origianal tracks and comes in a miniature LP sleeve. Decca. 2005.

(info by: CGR)

1. Ain't Superstitious
2. Let Me Love You Baby
3. Black Night
4. High Rise
5. Rock Me Baby
6. I Smell Trouble
7. Pretty Woman
8. Little Girl
9. Doormouse Rides the Rails
10. It's All My Fault
11. Shake 'Em on Down

Size: 77 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Second Helping(1973)

2009-10-24T09:50:00.003+02:00

With staples such as "Sweet Home Alabama," "Workin' for MCA," and
the J.J. Cale-penned "Call Me the Breeze," Skynyrd's second captures the Jacksonville,
Florida, band at the height of its powers, coming off the success of
"Free Bird" and "Gimme Three Steps" from their 1973 debut.
Backed by a tight rhythm section and the mighty three-guitar attack of Allen Collins,
Ed King, and Gary Rossington, singer Ronnie Van Zant (credited in the album notes for
"Vocals, J&B") turns in a legendary performance on the urgent blues ballad "I Need You,"
the cautionary "The Needle and the Spoon," and "The Ballad of Curtis Loew,"
the story of a young white boy sitting at the feet of an old black Dobro master.
Along with Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd and One More from the Road,
Second Helping remains Skynyrd's finest hour.

(info by: CGR)

Size: 85 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Haze - Hazecolor-Dia (1971)

2009-10-17T15:59:00.003+02:00

Recorded in 1971, this German album is a complex progressive rock effort with
plenty of excellent guitar playing and a bizarre vocal style.
Some nice psychedelic touches also feature and the disc comes housed in a digi-pak
with a photo transparency cover..

HAZE played excellent progressive rock with lots of impressive instrumental passages,
but their lead-singer's voice sometimes sounded a little bit strange.
Nevertheless it should be recommended for all fans of early 70's metal.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Peaceful Nonsense - 7.18
02 - Fast Career - 8.35
03 - Be Yourself - 6.26
04 - A Way To Find the Paradise - 6.58
05 - Decision - 10.14

Size: 92 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Gravy Train - Second Birth (1973)

2009-10-17T15:21:00.004+02:00

OK so to this day I have still not heard or read a favourable review of
“Second Birth” which was GRAVY TRAIN’s 3rd album and often forgotten and l
iterally dismissed in the brilliance of their great bookend albums.
Without a question GRAVY TRAIN were in transition from the Vertigo Records
days and yes had a few years off in between releases and yes maybe there are
some strong borrowed parts, but I really like this album.
Perhaps It is because I love the sound these guys created and am a big fan
of Norman Barrett vocals and guitar work. As with all GRAVY TRAIN albums guitars
are in the forefront with some excellent flute, bass, key and drum interplay.
My favourite track is “Motorway” which gets to really find some space to groove to and
is complete IMHO with flute accents, raging guitar,
Barrett’s harsh vocal screeches and syncopated timing.
Overall “Second Birth": does not reach all the highs of
"(A Ballad of) A Peaceful Man”,
but still is a very good album and one which needs to be seen in different light.

(info by: CGR)

1. Morning Coming
2. Peter
3. September Morning News
4. Motorway
5. Fields And Factories
6. Strength Of A Dream
7. Tolpuddle Episode
8. Second Birth
9. Goodtime Girl (Bonus Track)

Size: 90 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Daemon - The Entrance To Hell (1970-71)

2009-10-13T20:20:00.005+02:00

Very rare post "Atomic Rooster" and pre "Hard Stuff"
unreleased Demo LP-1970-1971 from the Masters.
Heavy progressive with lengthy jams du Cann. Post Atomic Rooster, pre Hard Stuff.

Daemom crawled from the burning pits in 1970,
dragging blackenedguitars across smouldering rock,
smiling eerily as they ascended. On the seventh circle, in a flash of white,
Daemon emerged. Guitars wailed. Angels wept.
After much studio work Saemon attempting social acceptance,
adopted the name "Bullet", later "Hard Stuff",
releasing some singles & two LP's,
the tracks on this releasewetre the first recorded by Daemon 1970/1971,
all havebeen digitally remastered by John du Cann from original 1/4 master tapes.
Only the orchestrator uses an acetate as a source.

Daemon vanished mid-song on stage 1972.
A sulpburous residue settled upon the bats of a gaping audience.
Fire fell from the sky....

(info by: CGR)

01.Door Open
02.Millionaire
03.No Witch At All
04.Taken Alive / Amyl Nitrate
05.Evil Maker
06.Entrance To Hell
07.The Orchestrator
08.Hell: Daemonic Posession
09.Fortunes Told
10.Sinister Minister
11.Jam
12.Time Gambler
13.Monster In Paradise
14.Jay Time
15.Mr Longevity
16.Door Closes
17.Jam: The Provider

Size: 126 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Blues Image - Open (1970)

2009-10-12T19:38:00.005+02:00

Biography by William Ruhlmann:
The Blues Image was a one-hit wonder Latin-tinged pop/rock band,
that one hit being "Ride Captain Ride,
" which made the Top Ten and sold a million copies in 1970.
The group was formed in Tampa, FL, in 1966 by Michael Pinera
(b. September 29, 1948, Tampa, FL) (guitar, vocals), Manuel Bertematti
(b. 1946, Tampa, FL) (percussion), and Joe Lala (b. Tampa, FL) (drums).
Malcolm Jones (b. Cardiff, Wales) (bass) joined in 1966,
followed in 1968 by Frank "Skip" Konte (b. Canyon City, OK) (keyboards).
The band moved to New York City in 1968 and managed a club called the Image.
Then they moved to Los Angeles,
where they signed to Atlantic Records' Atco division in February 1969,
and released their self-titled debut album. This was followed by Open (1970),
which featured "Ride Captain Ride." But the Blues Image never followed their hit.
Pinera left, replaced by Kent Henry (guitar) and Dennis Correll (vocals).
Then the Blues Image broke up. A third album, Red White & Blues Image,
was compiled from outtakes. Skip Konte joined Three Dog Night,
while some other band members reformed as Manna.
Pinera later was a member of Iron Butterfly,
then Ramatam, and, with Bertematti, the New Cactus Band.
He also formed a band called Thee Image and worked as a solo artist.
Lala became a Los Angeles session player and worked with Joe Walsh and the
various manifestations of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, among others.

**Blues Image's second album was their most successful,
in large part because of the inclusion of their huge hit single
"Ride Captain Ride." The rest of the record, however,
shows them to be a band in search of a more individual voice,
borrowing heavily as it does from Jimi Hendrix ("Love Is the Answer," "Pay My Dues"),
Creedence Clearwater Revival ("Running the Water"),
any number of average blues-rock bands ("Clean Love"),
and the Latin-rock fusion of Santana
("La Bamba," "Consuelate," and the instrumental "Wrath of Daisey").
Those familiar only with "Ride Captain Ride" might be surprised at the band's versatility,
which took in blues, Latin, and hard rock, though not in as even or striking a mixture as,
say, Santana. It's a pedestrian form of versatility, though,
with none of the other songs possessing the pop hooks of "Ride Captain Ride."
The 2004 CD reissue on Sundazed adds historical liner notes with quotes from
guitarist Mike Pinera and percussionist Joe Lala.

1. Love Is The Answer
2. Running The Water
3. Clean Love
4. La Bamba
5. Consuelate
6. Ride Captain Ride
7. Pay My Dues
8. Fugue U
9. Parchman Farm
10. Wrath Of Daisey
11. Take Me

Size: 69 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Writing On The Wall - The Power Of The Picts (1969)

2009-10-06T21:49:00.002+02:00

An Edinburgh band, who were originally known as The Jury.
They moved down to London,
changed their name to Writing On The Wall and were a popular attraction at
London's Middle Earth Club. Their album didn't capture them at their best.
The sound was flat and it was poorly produced. Bogeyman catches the ear.
With its maze of interlocking riffs and driving rhythm it was the natural
choice for the Middle Earth sampler Earthed.
Child On A Crossing was not included on the album but was added as an
additional track when the album was reissued in Germany on Repertoire in 1992.
Two of the better tracks on the album were Aries and Hill Of Dreams,
but also of note was the 'B' side to the single Lucifer Corpus,
which had an excellent guitar solo and real menace.

Willy Finlayson left in 1969 being replaced by Robert Smith,
who'd been in The Embers and Three's A Crowd.
Soon after Smith and Patterson left but the band soldiered on until late 1973,
releasing one further 45 for Pye.

Both sides of the Middle Earth 45 can also be heard on Filling The Gap (4-LP)
and Visions Of The Past, Vol. 2 (LP & CD). Buffalo has resurfaced on Rubble,
Vol. 10 - Professor Jordan's Magic Sound Show (LP) and Filling The Gap.
It sounds pretty good to these ears.
The band also signed to Tetragammaton in the US and they put out a live album,
Live At Middle Earth, which is apparently better and much different to the UK release.
It's also hopelessly rare.
Wooden O recorded a version of Aries (Middle Earth MDE 201) 1969.
Finally a version of The Small Faces Sha La La La Lee recorded at a John Peel session
has resurfaced on Mynd The Gap (LP), and Ladybird can be found on Progressive Music (LP).

Patterson left the band to join Beggar's Opera, but sadly died in the early nineties.
Robert Smith joined Blue.
Certainly Writing On The Wall were the best progressive rock outfit to come out
of Edinburgh.

Of their retrospective albums, Cracks In The Illusion Of Life contains
both sides of a 1967 45, Words And Music / Peter Gunn,
issued originally as The Jury. Also featured are two promising pop-psych tracks from 1968;
Felicity Jane and Flight Of The Mind plus the more mainstream Katie's Been Gone.
From 1972 there's the keyboard-orientated Fishers Of Men,
but sadly most of side two is taken up with rather unimaginative hard-edged rock.
Of this both sides of their 1973 45 for Pye, Man Of Renown, are the pick of the bunch.

(info by: CGR)

Personnel:
WILLY FINLAYSON gtr A
ALBY GREENHALGH wind A B C
JIMMY HUSH drms A B C
LINNIE PATTERSON vcls A B
BILL SCOTT keyb'ds A B C
JAKE SCOTT bs A B C
ROBERT SMITH gtr B

ALBUM:
1(A) THE POWER OF THE PICTS (Middle Earth MDLS 303) 1969

45:
1 Child On A Crossing/Lucifer Corpus (Middle Earth MDS 101) 1969
2 Man Of Renown/Buffalo (Pye 7N 45251) 1973

Track Listing: Side One:
It Came On A Sunday (4:18)
Mrs. Coopers Pie (3:21)
Ladybird (3:47)
Aries (8:09)
Bonus track: Lucifer Corpus (5:43)

Side Two:
Bogeyman (3:44)
Shadow Of Man (5:57)
Taskers Successor (3:43)
Hill Of Dreams (3:08)
Virginia Water (5:57)
Bonus track: Child On A Crossing (3:33)

Size: 94 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Frontvover Included
Download

The Rainbow Press - There´s A War On & 2nd Album (1968-69)

2009-09-24T22:45:00.006+02:00

Two collectable albums (68/69) by this late Sixties US band on one CD.
Some nice psychedelic touches vcan be found on these two fine psychy/rock/pop albums
that have a varied and enthralling countercultural slant.
Fuzz guitars and keyboards combine to create a sound not too dissimilar to
Tangerine Zoo but with an added Anglophile psych pop vibe.
Reversable sleeve that displays both original covers.

For an album that's becoming a minor collectable,
remarkably little is known about Rainbow Press.
This the first album itself is excellent late '60s U.S. soft rock with more than just
a touch of psychedelia about it. The ten well-crafted songs are all original,
and are delivered smoothly by a tight 6-piece band dominated by Groff's superb vocals.
The album's name and the eponymous track are as close as we get to political posturing,
which is a great relief as the lack of prosletising let's the strength of the
song writing and the band's performance shine through.
There are loads of tight vocal harmonies,
and plenty of fuzz guitar liberally dispensed throughout this polished and
very enjoyable record. Highly recommended.

(Info by: CGR)

01 - Step Aboard - 3.12
02 - A Simple Way - 2.35
03 - Cyclic Epic - 4.13
04 - Better Way - 2.40
05 - The Girl Cannot Love - 4.52
06 - There´s A War On - 4.16
07 - Lightning Streak - 2.43
08 - I´ve Found Someone - 3.15
09 - Our Country´s Still OK - 3.54
10 - No One Follows The Daytime - 3.41
11 - Sightseeing - 3.17
12 - Great White Whale - 2.37
13 - The Lost Platoon - 4.32
14 - I´ll Cry Instead - 3.34
15 - You Warmed Up - 3.46
16 - As I Went Out One Morning - 3.43
17 - Have You Ever - 3.06
18 - Sing Your Song - 3.20
19 - Definitions - 4.02
20 - Smitty´s Rainfall - 3.33

Size: 130 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

The lollipop Shoppe - Just Colour (1968)

2009-09-24T22:38:00.005+02:00

Led by singer Fred Cole, who had formerly been in the Northwest punk band the Weeds,
the Lollipop Shoppe's sole album (from 1968) ranks as one of the better psych-punk LPs,
and also as one of the better one-shot rock records of the late '60s.
Featuring Cole's choked, bitter phrasing,
the group staked out the middle ground between the Seeds
(who shared the same manager) and Love,
with a bit of fellow L.A. psych-punkers the Music Machine thrown in.
If comparisons must be made, they were definitely closer in tone to Love than the Seeds,
with a mixture of raunch and reflection in the spirit of Arthur Lee.
Cole was one of the few psychedelic performers to make a contribution during the punk era,
surfacing in the Portland punk band the Rats in the late '70s.

The bands only album, 'Just Colour' is a good document of 'psychedelic rock' from that era.
Rocking out hard,
yet with a gentle and beautiful song like 'Only A Reflection' as well,
it's no surprise that some of the Lollipop Shoppe songs (like 'Don't Look Back'
and 'You Must Be A Witch') easily fit in with the Dead Moon set list, even today.

After the Lollipop Shoppe broke up in 1969,
Fred played in a couple of local bands but was generally fed up with the rock'n'roll
business (including the 'necessity' of keeping their marriage a secret).
However, the band made a short re-appearance as Underground Railroad after all
(for a couple of gigs) and even called themselves The Weeds again for a 1971 single,
recorded as a threepiece with Ed Bowen and newcomer drummer Dominic Davis.
The name of the Lollipop Shoppe however will not easily be forgotten,
since countless cover versions of 'You Must Be A Witch'
surfaced in the eighties garage rock boom,
and lots of garage punk bands of today also pick this song for their set list.

(Info by: CGR)

01 - You Must Be A Witch - 2.43
02 - Underground Railroad - 7.39
03 - Baby Don´t Go - 2.35
04 - Who'll Read The Will - 2.28
05 - It´s Only A Reflection - 3.04
06 - Someone I Know - 4.05
07 - Don´t Look Back - 2.30
08 - Don´t Close The Door On Me - 4.21
09 - It Ain´t How Long - 2.41
10 - It´s Makin' It - 2.27
11 - I'm Gonna Be There - 2.41
12 - You Don´t Give Me No More - 2.13
13 - Sin - 2.23

Size: 78 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

The John Dummer Band - Selftitled (1969)

2009-09-24T22:30:00.005+02:00

No info.

Size: 96 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Tapiman - Tapiman (1971)

2009-09-14T20:52:00.005+02:00

great Spanish monster rarity! Legendary hard-rock-psychedelic album from 1971
(for many, also a progressive album!?).
Extremely underground hard-rocking power trio!!!
Line up features Max Sunyer on guitar (later in Iceberg),
and Tapi on drums (just after leaving Maquina!).
Newly remastered for this release,
it comes with an exact repro of the original promo poster and a four page insert
with a Max Sunyer interview plus many previously unpublished photos.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Wrong World - 3.15
02 - Gosseberry Park - 3.54
03 - Don´t Ask Why - 4.47
04 - Practice - 3.22
05 - Paris - 3.47
06 - No Change - 3.02
07 - Moonbeam - 3.24
08 - No Control - 3.09
09 - Jenny - 3.32
10 - Driving Shadow (Pepe´s Song) - 7.52
11 - Hey Joe (Bonus Single) - 3.21
12 - Sugar Stone (Bonus Single) - 2.57

Size: 87 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Pinnacle - Assasin (1974)

2009-09-14T20:48:00.004+02:00

Rare privately-pressed album by a Liverpool heavy rock band.
The spelling of the title is theirs.
Musically, this is a sonic assault with pounding drums and bass and frenzied keyboards.
Powerful stuff indeed.
A sort of prototype heavy metal album that was originally only available as a demo.
Clearly of interest to heavy rock/metal fans.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Assasin
02 - Time Slips By
03 - Cyborg
04 - Astral Traveller
05 - The Chase
06 - Thumbscrew
07 - The Ripper
08 - Bad Omen

Size: 74 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Pentagram - The First Daze Here (1972-76)

2009-09-14T20:44:00.006+02:00

This Pentagram record is that same kind of mop-up Album of the Month that we
got with the Electric Eels and the Mirrors a bunch of reviews back,
in that none of these groups ever made a ‘proper’
album at the time because they lived in the world’s biggest cultural desert,
America’s Mid West. However, whereas the Eels’ music was ignored because
they were actively doing their damnedest to wind up blue collardom,
and the Mirrors were treading too much on the toes of Kinksy Velvetdom when
even the two originators were themselves in a backwater, Bobby Liebling’s
Pentagram was deadly melodic proto-metal that would have
been huge and mainstream had they ever got that first LP away.
One single listen to FIRST DAZE HERE reveals the kind of compulsive refusenik
hookiness that the best Rawk is always imbued with, from the automatic
writing of Steppenwolf’s ‘Born to Be Wild’ to the roadtrips of Montrose’s
‘Bad Motor Scooter’. This Pentagram music ain’t unknown because it’s
difficult in any way, it’s unknown merely because of the obscurity of
the pond from which it chose to ooze. Yup, unfortunately,
that simple wrong place/wrong time syndrome seems to have been Pentagram’s
stumbling block; and their hometown Arlington,
Virginia weren’t never gonna see the rise of its own mavericks
without them all first re-locating Alice Cooper/Janis Joplin-stylee
to some rock’n’roll centre then returning be-limousined in snotbag
splendour to accompany their own single finger salute.
And so for Pentagram, although five of the songs herein were culled
from a single recording sesh, even getting into a proper studio was always
the biggest deal. Indeed, some of very best stuff on this record was caught
live in their rehearsal room – probbly the ONLY place they coulda
sung what they wanted without being paranoid that some urbane studio
engineer wasn’t smirking behind smoked glass. But that steaming hi-hat
heavy recorded-in-our-gang-HQ element only makes the sense of desperation more real.
And as Pentagram’s only contemporary 7” releases came out under
different monickers (as Macabre and Boffo Socko) in the misguided
attempts of local entrepreneurs to hoodwink the population that they was
pushing something brand new, so the sense of utter cultural
abandonment was made even greater! The great shame is that without
that big label deal, Pentagram never got into a position to do the unwieldy
long death tracks that surface only when you ain’t having to load the
gear in and out of the studio, but leaving it all set up for a coupla
days and settling into your own corner behind the percussion racks and Leslie cabinet.
Still, maybe Pentagram’s sense of urgency is precisely because they never
could do that comparatively bourgeois shit! I mean, although they do sound
superficially like Sabbath in a Too Much ‘Grease it out’ kind of way,
Pentagram didn’t sound anything at all like the sludge Blue Cheer spunked out.
In truth, this lot sounded mostly like a slower Dust only a fuck of a lot
better1 because they took the more obviously Goyisch side of Dust such as
the odes to shagging camels and the learning to die songs and the suicide
songs and did them better (Hail babies, Bobby Liebling musta sung Dust’s
‘Suicide’ in the shower 200 times at the very least).
Pentagram also trimmed the excess cling-ons off the Dustian butt
(but not all, natch), thus streamlining it,
distilling it and making it coherent and believable.

Pentagram’s songs are mainly short and brutal and flow from the Nornian
fountainhead of Bobby Liebling, whose name I drop regularly in
these reviews because he’s got the kind of one-of vocal and Muse-based
lyrical sensibility that only such Capt. Scarlet ‘shamanic other’-ly types as
Sean Bonniwell seemed to capture on record.2 When Bobby says he’s gonna die tonight,
U-Knows he’s gonna kick it! He’ll resurrect fer shit-damn-sure but that don’t
undermine a damn thing. When I use the term shamanic, you gots to understand
the shaman ain’t always successful but the mere fact that he’s cruisin’ for a
bruisin’ puts him right out of the regular space of thee average human being.
As I wrote of Faust in the KRAUTROCKSAMPLER all those years ago,
aiming for the stars is so much more than people generally do that you cain’t
beat on someone when they don’t actually achieve it.
Bobby Liebling was Lugh and his light reflected directly into the songs.
As he himself sang:

‘Now you’re confused so I’ll set you straight
Many men die ‘cause they left it too late
If you don’t know what I talk about
Walk in the blue light you can find out.’

Motherfucker! It’s not ‘Too “too too” to put a finger on’ as Tommy Verlaine
sung all those years ago. Give Bobby Liebling four lines and he says it all.
Moreover, there is a stomping refusenik heathenism herein that particularly
smokes my pole because I grew up in the West Midlands where those same attitudes
that stopped Pentagram were found in large doses, nay in fucking overdoses.
Hard to explain in the 21st Century, but growing up in the middle of the
English West Mid of the early ‘70s bred a weird sort of anarchy of cough
mixture surrogate trips and Amon Düül 2. The biggest thing in our school was
when my mate Barry Clempson’s older brother joined Humble Pie.
That the Pie was brownnosing the sub-sub-basement of the Everyblues was hardly the point,
dahlings. In our minds we were collectively on a major label and it was
fast times at Wincott High from here on in!

The first time I heard Pentagram was on the compilation A GATHERING OF THE TRIBES.
Their maudlin death trip ‘Be Forewarned’ particularly stood out among
the other stuff because it was like an ever-descending sibling of
1970-period Love’s OUT HERE version of ‘Signed D.C.’
It took a traditional 6/8 minor chord sequence,
stuck an ur-bass rumble underneath and sibilant Zildjian cymbal
tinitus-inducing percussion over the top, and told a traditional
tale of kidnapping your intended love in a manner redolent of
‘The Rape of the Sabine Women’ (only this weren’t no ‘SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS’
whitewash, motherfuckers!). Even the presence of Josephus’ 16-minute ‘Dead Man’
across most of side two couldn’t deflect the power of this three and a half
minutes of doom and judgement, and boy was Bobby Liebling Judge Mental!3 So when
you listen to this Pentagram record, remember always that,
although most of it comes from one 1973 session,
the rest was culled from a whole bunch of stuff created between 1972 and 1976.
I don’t mean this as some kind of apologia for the band, babies,
I mean the exact opposite – that this weren’t no progressive rock that ‘improved’
therefore tidied up as it went along, and you don’t see any lessening of
sonic impact in later tracks, etc.

FIRST DAZE HERE

The album starts with three of the five songs that came from their March ’73
recording sesh and gives the album its real coherence. However, the album hits
its peak later on, so give it time if this stuff don’t smoke thy pole immediately.
‘Forever My Queen’ opens up just like Bang doing Sabbath in that remedial Bleib
Alien-meets-‘Future Shock’-style, a grunge-a-holic trawl through the lowest grade
of Iommi riffs. Vincent McAllister solos wildly and inappropriately all
through and then it just… fades and fucks off in my favourite kind of AM radio
fade – 3 secs max. Then, off into the next under 3-minutes bliss of
‘When the Screams Come’, complete with Bill Wardian bibles-at-the-sofa
drum fills and Sabbalong time changes. Man, these guys are screaming out
for an LP of their own but there’s not even bones for these dogs!
And slowly out of the mists comes the sub-Joy Division/E Pluribus
Sabbalong of ‘Walk in the Blue Light’ in which Vincent McAllister
exposes his bassist-turned-guitar hero provenance with another Bleib Alien
riff you always thought Ace Frehley woulda been knocking out before his
Kiss days (not true, I’m sure). In fact, that whole Roky Erikson/Bobby Liebling
thing that the Swedish band Witchcraft had going really manifests here in the
atmosphere of ‘Walk in the Blue Light’, enjoying a real soaring clarity and
openness that Sabbath obviously never approached because of their ubermetal
groovelessness.

Greg Mayne RICKENBACKER BASSThen, ‘Starlady’ kicks in from three
years later and weez talking about a totally different, blazing,
auspicious rock experience that sounds like a band that’s huge.
Gone is the autistic, post-adolescent in-yer-boots vibe to be replaced with
a Horned God confidence that screams and struts. Also, here we gotta nutha
extra guitarist called Marty Iverson, who adds considerable weight to the sound
and pushes the whole Pentagram trip into a Dust-as-played-by-Montrose experience
even something like the Australian UGLY THINGS period of MC5/Yardbirds influenced groups.
I know I keep punishing the Dust metaphors but Leibling’s voice is
uncannily like Richie Wise’s at times.

Track 5 is that classic ‘Lazylady’ 7” they recorded a year before as Macabre,
and comes on with another ‘Walk in the Blue Light’ morons-on-the-frontier riff
(play ‘em back to back – they’ze virtually the same fucking riff: excellent)
over an Ace Frehley’s ‘Shock Me’/’Dark Light’-style throw away vocal
that meets dirty Frank Zappa around the time of OVERNIGHT SENSATION
(though this sucker is a year before that Mothers’ LP) –
extremely charming and funny too. This is the toon in which Liebling disses
his chick and kicks her out so she buys up the whole apartment block he
lives in and has him kicked out, too. Nice.
‘Review your Choices’ is the fourth track from that same session that
spawned the first three tracks on this disc. Again, we’re deep in Sabbath
territory both lyrically and in its per-riffery. Sounds like Liebling never
leaves the first four frets for his songwriting and Vincent McAllsiter is a
committed ex-bass player when it comes to copping then staying true to the Liebling lick.
He also exceeds at soloing like a flayling moron between each vocal delivery.
Satan’s coming round the bend in this one, and there’s a man with a pitchfork,
and.. oh whatever, I obviously suck this dung into every orifice
with more gusto than most, or you wouldn’t be getting it served up
as Album of the Month. Two months after that main sesh came the same
Boffo Socko alias 7” ‘Hurricane’ that appears on GUITAR EXPLOSION 2,
and is just Hendrix-filtered through Iommi’s week old socks.
Deeply excellent, relentless, by numbers and irksome that it ain’t
internationally known. A quick 2.05 classic, fade and outtahere.

Then it’s time for two of the three best tracks on the whole record,
and both recorded in their rehearsal with sometime extra guitarist Randy Palmer.
‘Living in a Ram’s Head’ (excellent fucking title, Herr Liebling) has a steaming
incessant freight train quality you wanna keep playing over and over and over.
Man, if they got more of this rehearsal room stuff in the can, clue me druids,
I gots to know! The following track is ‘Earth Flight’ which coulda be spunked out
in the late 1960s and appeared on PEBBLES VOLUME 5, or UGLY THINGS, or
any classic hard rock LP of the time. Monstrous and full of demons,
and worthy of ripping off forever. ’20 Buck Spin’ is the final one of
the five track session from March 1973, and man does it smoke my unyielding pole.
Vincent McAllister is as good here as he is rock in that photo of him you can see
in the review. And that SG is more burning here that Iommi’s ever was (honest!)
AND this guy never has to resort to soloing OVER his solos as Iommi did countless times
(whaddya mean, I cain’t diss Iommi? Only after 20 years did Iommi’s solos become
classic through sheer overplaying and I’ll challenge any non-motherfucker to
disprove my unhasty assertion!) Someone should release these five tracks
as 7” 33RPM European-style pic sleeve maxi single just so we can judge Pentagram
on a contemporary 1973 level and understand the songs in context.
This band will surely be revisited again and again in the next few years and will,
like lost greats such as the Blue Things and the Swamp Rats,
become an accepted part of Rock’s great canon like the little glitch that held
that first LP up weren’t fucking owt at all.

Geof O'Keefe DRUMS‘Be Forewarned’ is up next. What do I say? I been listening
to this on heavy rotation for 21 years and it is demented and suffused with the
kind of incandescant glow that marks it out as the work of the great.
Batman-meets-Lucifer Sam-as-played-by-Heavy period Love is not exactly obvious,
kiddies, and I think we see here the reason that Fleetwood Mac’s
‘The Green Manalishi’ influenced everyone (except its own writer):
it has that LOVE IT TO DEATH interweaving minor key dervish quality
that we all try to cop, but rarely even glimpse.

Then, we conclude with Pentagram’s finest hour by about ten bazzillion miles.
‘Last Daze Here’ is a beautiful, gleaming jewel of a death trip, with Bobby singing
like he’s staring out of some spectacular ice palace and ain’t never coming back
to the real world. He’s Mithra trapped in the mountain, he’s Loki
with the poison reigning down on him,, but there ain’t nobody there to
wipe it away in this particklier scenario. This song is imbued with a sense
of tragedy you rarely hear in heavy rock. For those who don’t quite get it… whatever.
But if you ever approached that post-everything vacuum, that empty cathedral in your head,
that hollow, unspeaking, unblinking, unhuman emotionless inertia that even Iggy
could only hint at in the flatness of ‘Sick of you’ then you truly NEED NEED NEED
this song in your life. If Pentagram had only done this one song and been killed
in a plane crash thereafter, we’d still be celebrating it 50 years from now.
And when Bobby takes it down from his dazed almost whispered tenor to flat
shark-eyed semi-spoken baritone and states: ‘Said it’s bin a little bit too long’,
you feel the ice melt, then re-freeze instantly, and you know in that moment
how tragic human life is, how intolerably short human life is,
how the moments of adolescence that resurface in adult life must be
celebrated and further celebrated, then howled about, shrieked out,
screamed out… man, we are dead and in the fucking ground for so long…
No No No No No No No… Gimme Life and gimme the six minutes of this toon
on endless rotation.

(info by: CGR)

1. Forever My Queen (1973)
2. When the Screams Come (1973)
3. Walk in the Blue Light (1973)
4. Starlady (1976
5. Lazylady (1972)
6. Review Your Choices (1973)
7. Hurricane (1973)
8. Livin’ in a Ram’s Head (1974)
9. Earth Flight (1974)
10.20 Buck Spin (1973)
11.Be Forewarned (1972)
12.Last Days Here (1974)

Size: 85 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Mountain - King Biscuit Flower Hour (1974)

2009-09-14T20:34:00.003+02:00

Mountain comprising of Leslie West, Felix Pappalardi,
Corky Laing recorded live on November 3rd, 1974 at Capitol Theatre New Jersey.

This was their First Performance after Reforming and Includes all the
Classic Mountain Songs Including the Anthem Nantucket Sleighride and the Storming Rock
and Roll Covers Roll Over Beethoven and Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On.

Also Included is an Interview with Guitarist Leslie West.

Note: This album has also been released under the title "Greatest Hits Live"

(info by: CGR)

1. You Better Believe It
2. Theme For An Imaginary Western
3. Never In My Life
4. Jingle Bells
5. Get Out Of My Life Woman
6. Mississippi Queen
7. It's For You
8. Nantucket Sleighride
9. Roll Over Beethoven
10. Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On
11. Leslie West Interview

Size: 92 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Front cover Included
Download

Yesterday's Children - Selftitled (1969)

2009-08-14T21:23:00.004+02:00

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
Download

Mighty Baby - Selftitled (1969)

2009-08-14T21:16:00.006+02:00

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
Artwork Included
Download

Krokodil - The Psychedelic Tapes (1970-72)

2009-08-14T21:06:00.004+02:00

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
Download

King Crimson - In The Wake Of Poseidon (1970)

2009-08-14T20:57:00.006+02:00

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
Download

Killing Floor - Zero Tolerance (1969)

2009-08-14T20:52:00.005+02:00

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)

2009-08-14T20:48:00.003+02:00

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
Download

Arcadium - Breathe Awhile (1969)

2009-08-14T20:44:00.005+02:00

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
Download

Jolliver Arkansaw - Home (1968)

2009-08-14T20:40:00.003+02:00

(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)

Size: 64 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Johnny Winter - Progressive Blues experiment (1968)

2009-08-14T20:34:00.002+02:00

No info.

Size: 73 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Janis Joplin - Love Janis (1963-71)

2009-07-28T22:18:00.003+02:00

Since this is a companion CD to the off-Broadway stage musical Love, Janis,
it alternates classic tracks from her Big Brother & the Holding Company and solo albums
with spoken excerpts from letters to her family (read by Catherine Curtin,
not by Joplin herself). No album that contains "Piece of My Heart," "Summertime,"
"Ball & Chain," "Me and Bobby McGee," and
"Get It While You Can" can be dismissed with the absolute lowest rating.
But really, this is not an advisable way to hear these songs,
either as an introduction or a best-of. If it's the music you care about,
all of the material is easily available on the Big Brother and Joplin solo albums
(except for the 1962 performance of "What Good Can Drinkin' Do,"
which is on the Janis box set). If you want to read the letters,
you can buy the book Love, Janis, written by her sister, Laura Joplin.
If you live in the right place, you can even see the play.
This jumble of well-traveled tunes is just an attempt to wring more mileage out of the
Joplin back catalog.

(info by: CGR)

1. What Good Can Drinkin' Do
2. I Bring the News
3. Down on Me
4. I'm Somebody Important
5. Women Is Losers
6. Our First Record Is Finally Out
7. Piece of My Heart
8. I'm Sorry, Sorry
9. A Happening
10. Summertime
11. He's a Beatle, Mother
12. Ball and Chain
13. I May Just Be a Star Someday
14. A Woman Left Lonely
15. Twenty-Five
16. Try (Just a Little Bit Harder)
17. Did I Tell You About My Reviews?
18. Little Girl Blue
19. Twenty-Seven
20. Me and Bobby McGee
21. Mercedes Benz
22. The Last Letter: Really Rushin' Through
23. Get It While You Can

Size: 120 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

C.A. Quintet - Trip Thru Hell (1960)

2009-07-28T22:06:00.005+02:00

Ripped By: ChrisGoes(Rock)

Below is a Q & A with C A QUINTET mastermind Ken Erwin,
who got in touch with me after he and his brother Jim had spotted my review of
"Trip Thru Hell" on the Net.
I consider Ken Erwin one of the most extraordinary musical talents to emerge during
the 1960s and was delighted at the opportunity to shoot some questions his way,
including a couple of really detailed ones.
This is not a comprehensive interview on the band's history,
which can be found in Lost & Found magazine #3 and/or the liner notes to the Sundazed
"Trip Thru Hell" reissue.
There are also more Erwin dialogues about to be published elsewhere shortly.
Take it away, Ken!

Q. Did CA Quintet play much outside the Twin Cities area?

Ken Erwin: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota,
South Dakota was the main "touring" area...
we were suppose to play a job in Michigan one time...
but the bus broke down in Wisconsin and we never made it....

Q. Did the band ever appear on local TV?

Ken: Never on TV that I am aware of… we opened for some "national acts"… Like The
James Gang, Freddie Cannon, Kenny Rogers and the 5th Edition

Q. Were any of your releases reviewed or advertised in national magazines
such as Billboard?

Ken: I don't think so.

Q. Was there ever talk or plans of going with a major label?

Ken: There was some talk of going with some label in New York… Richard Gottehrer) ….
He got involved with Peter Steinberg in the late 60s …. But they were so crooked …
I have no idea what if anything was going on with them.

Q. There is a significant leap in creativity from the early CA Quintet 45s to the LP,
which sounds like nothing done before within pop & rock music.
Was there any particular event or source of inspiration that set you on the path that
led to the album?

Ken: Hummm.. I think the creativity was there all along… I think early on we were
just trying to get "known" to a point where we could get work… also,
the "glamour" and groupies got old pretty quick and we found ourselves searching for
something more than playing cover music… also in the late 60s any band worth
anything wrote their own music and created their own style.

Q. The music and moods on "Trip thru hell" is quite unlike anything made in rock music
up until that point, and often seems closer to modernist classical like Stravinsky or
Bela Bartok. Is this music that had influenced you?

Ken:… ya ( good question )… always in the back of my mind I had a feel for
classical music.. I got bored with the instruments (orchestration)
they used in the classic recordings… but I liked the way the masters had a feel
to take their listeners along in a manner that kept their interest and
had a good feel as to when it was time to "change things" in their music….
As a side note: Our father told us when he heard that album…
joked that it would never sell… as he liked it… he loves classical music.

Q. The cover design of "Trip thru hell" matches the music perfectly.
How did this come about; what was the creative process that led to the front cover artwork?

Ken: Rod Eaton… a local drummer who did something at Dove studios (not sure what )…
he did the whole thing… we had no input that I remember.

Q. The great use of trumpet on the album is far removed from how brass instruments
are normally used within pop and rock music.
Were there any rock bands around that you thought used horns in a similar way as you?

Ken: Well… using a trumpet was not in vogue at that time… I doubt if you would have found
a trumpet on stage with Jimi Hendrix… there were some R&B bands that did the
standard trumpet, sax, trombone… thing ( which I really like )…
but I guess we never really thought about it at the time…
we just used it to add a different element to our sound….
It probably was a handicap at the time… producers and probably many people in the
industry were followers of the trends… and the trumpet was not "cool".

Q. Do you remember approximately what month (in 1969) the LP was released?

Ken: I think it was summer …. I remember lying on the floor of this rat hole of a
place I lived and listening to the album the first time I smoked pot.

Q. What is "I shot the king" about -- is it inspired by the Kennedy assassination?

Ken: No…. it was just some vision I had of some daring fool risking and perhaps
losing everything … in perhaps the 14th century France ….
To get rid of some oppressive King… sacrificing himself for the greater good.

Q. There is an ominous low frequency rumbling that appears about halfway through
"Trip thru hell pt 1". Was this just studio ambience, or a deliberate effect?

Ken: Before I go on... I must say I am just amazed at Jim's bass guitar lines...
he really was the "heartbeat of the music and the band" ...
his playing really is a signature item in my opinion of most of the songs....
His creative bass lines made the songs distinct.... He held us steady...
usually from what I know (which is not a lot)
the drummer sets the grove and the rest follow...
but with three different drummers on the album...
Jim was excellent at adjusting to them all and anchoring the group ....
I guess I just took him for granted at the time as I heard him everyday....
but it is really true... he was the steady rock of the music ...
the foundation to the sound... and the rest of us all just climbed on board.

Well I gave up on the head-phones... the wife is gone, so I put it on the big speakers...
broke out some Heineken .. and cranked it up .... It has been a long time,
but to the best of my recollection... what you may be hearing is the "bleed through"
from other tracks coming in during the drum solo....if you notice after the drum solo
it goes back into the theme.... at the time we could have turned off the "rumble" ...
but I would imagine we heard it and thought it gave a nice effect so we left it in.

Note: ... maybe I might be the dumbest guy around ...
after listening to this thing again after so many years have gone by ...
I noticed something that most others have probably already figured that out..
isn't it kind of interesting that the music on "trip thru hell" album has no
"sappy love songs" or any other "boy girl relationship" type songs on it ...
the songs are about other subjects ...but that would make sense looking back on
it from the standpoint of what we were trying to create.

This at a time when 90% of the songs were about "true love", "broken hearts",
"sugar sugar" and "baby baby baby " .... I have to laugh as I am sure 30 years later,
the song writers of that age would prefer to hear a song about something else ....
maybe if we had put some "silly love songs" on there... we would have gone further....
I personally am very glad we didn't.

Q. Any particular reason for "Colorado Mourning" being about Colorado?

Ken: I hitchhiked through there as a young hippie and fell in love with the scenery.

Q. What are the lyrics for "Trip thru hell pt 2", i e: the last 4 lines on the LP?
They're hard to decipher on the record.

Ken: The angels came and played
A thousand years
But all the glory there
Was washed by tears

Q. What was the reasoning behind the "cocktail jazz" segment during "Trip thru hell pt 2", just before the apocalyptic finale? Does it signify anything in particular?

Ken: A "hiccup in reality" an "interruption" in agreement and expectations …. like an acid trip. It is like when reality tends to get tangled up a bit and things don't fit the pattern anymore.

Q. Where is "Sleepy Hollow Lane" -- is it a completely invented place?

Ken… It is totally in your imagination…. As far as I know.

Q. The vocals on the LP are rather different from the more conventional style on
"Mickey's Monkey" and "Blow to my soul". On the LP the vocals often have an introspective,
almost listless quality that enhances the eerie mood. Was this new vocal style a
deliberate move to match the musical style of the album,
or more of a natural progression?

Ken: From my standpoint … what we did with the vocals were intended to blend them
into the "landscape" of the music…. To have them be more than an instrument…
but not too much more… to be a special instrument that delivers lyrics and
some emotion/attitudes … they were meant to be different than the focal point,
the way most music is.

Q. Did you mix or filter the vocals on the LP in any unusual way to achieve their
"otherworldly" quality?

Ken: Many hours were spent mixing… we would make acetates of mixes… bring them home…
listen to them over and over… then go back and remix…
until we got it the way we wanted it… we could have "brought them out" more… but
again… we wanted them to blend.

Q. Do you remember how many copies of the album that were pressed?

Ken: Well as you may know we were just totally screwed by Peter Steinberg and his
"record company"… later on I found a check made out to us that he cashed…
I think I recall about 700 pressed… I have heard rumors of more (and less) ….
even though they sold out pretty rapidly when it was released…
the record company never pressed anymore… even though the demand was there at the time…
My brother Jim likes to recall a time when he and Tom Pohling sailed a bunch of them
against a brick wall.

Q. Did you perform the "Trip thru hell" material live? If so,
was it difficult to recreate?

Ken: Some of the songs we did live … Colorado Mourning, Smooth as Silk,
Underground music, Cold Spider…. But the "teeny boppers" wanted to hear Proud Mary….
and that is totally understandable.

Q. Could you say something about the band's development after the album was released?
There is a "live" album recorded in 1971...?

Ken: Well we slowly drifted into drugs and lost direction as to where (or even if)
we wanted to go anywhere… We never were matched to an audience that wanted what we did…
and we got to a point where we didn't care if people liked what we did anymore…
it got to be a job… the "live" album was nothing but an after thought…
like taking a photo to record an event… we had a tape recorder and just laid mics
on the floor…. As a result the live tape it is impossible to mix… ( we tried)
there were only 4 of us left… it was a snapshot of the end.

Q. The Minnesota 1960s scene produced an extraordinary number of unusual,
highly creative records by bands such as C A Quintet, Bedlam Four ("Hydrogen atom"),
T C Atlantic ("Faces"), Calico Wall ("Flight reaction"), the Litter, the Electras etc,
that is remarkable even on a national scale.
Was this something you were aware of back then? Do you see any particular reason for it?

Ken: I was highly aware of the scene…. For some reason Peter Steinberg
involved me at one point with the "management" of Candy Floss records….
As a result I still have a few acetates/tapes around from some of those groups…..
I always felt that Warren Kendrick ( spell ? ) was a real talented producer
( the Electra's)…. a lot of the music from the time came out of Dove recording studios….
It was a hot spot.

THE END

1. Trip Thru Hell (Part 1)
2. Colorado Mourning
3. Cold Spider
4. Underground Music
5. Sleepy Hollow Lane
6. Smooth As Silk
7. Trip Thru Hell (Part 2)
8. Dr Of Philosophy
9. Blow To My Soul
10. Aint No Doubt About It
11. Mickeys Monkey
12. I Put A Spell On You
13. I Shot The King
14. Fortune Tellers Lie
15. Sadie Lavone
16. Bury Me In A Marijuana Field
17. Colorado Mourning (Alternate Version)
18. Underground Music (Alternate Version)
19. Smooth As Silk (Alternate Version)

Size: 103 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Brain Police - San Diegos only Psychedelic Cops (1968-70)

2009-07-28T22:00:00.003+02:00

This band from San Diego played many concerts with famous bands.
They only released this testpressing and never made an official record.
The music is absolutely perfect Fuzz guitar psych with great rhythm guitars,
organs and St. Pepper-style vocals.
With more luck this band could have been as famous as Strawberry Alarm Clock.
They played on many bills together. The music is not as soft.
It has a much stronger output than most of the famous bands the played together with.
We know of 5 originals. Every song a hit.

(Info by: CGR)

01. election for mayor / ride my train of love
02. i´ll be on the inside, if i can
03. i´d rather see you dead
04. find me a moment
05. getting too much higher
06. adler
07. gypsy fast woman
08. i´ll find love
09. there´s a light over the city
10. my world of wax
11. world of wax
12. smoking at windsor hill
13. bonnie
14. oh no
15. why ?
16. searching for my love
17. these are the words
18. once and for all girls
19. your ma said you cried in your sleep last night
20. how do you tell a girl

Size: 142 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Blackwater Park - Dirt Box (1971)

2009-06-22T23:00:00.004+02:00

Hard & heavy guitar rock from Berlin, 1971, with 'no-messin' attitude,
overloaded guitar, and english vocals. Includes a cover of the Beatles "For No One",
and a mini epic 8 min work-out "Rock Song".
Somehow we can't help thinking maybe UFO saw this lot & decided to nick their act..
Housed in a great digipak.

Another one of those German bands with a British vocalist.
The line-up was Richard Routledge (vocals, guitar), Michael Fechner (guitar),
Andreas Scholz (bass, he came from the recently disbanded Murphy Blend!)
and Norbert Kagelmann (drums). "Dirt Box" had a promisingly weird cover,
but the music was quite common for the period:
guitar-based hard blues-rock in the Anglo-American style.
The material written by Fechner and Scholz ("Mental Block",
"Rock Song" and "Indian Summer") was the best,
recalling the brilliance of Armaggedon.
Routledge's material tended towards boogie blues and sounded more like Free.
He also wrote all the lyrics.
The album also included a good cover version of the Beatles'
"For No One". This is one of many albums of which the original copies sell for
small fortunes today. To meet the increasing demand,
Second Battle re-released the album in 1990 in its original sleeve.
If you go for originals though, expect to part with 250 DM.

(info by: CGR)

1. Mental block
2. Roundabout
3. One´s life
4. Indian summer
5. Dirty face
6. Rock song
7. For noone

Size: 67.7 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Under Milkwood - Selftitled (1970)

2009-06-22T22:42:00.005+02:00

Reissue of a fantastic Californian psych-based only released in 1969 as test pressing
(was planned to be released on A&M label but never came out);
it had this real 'west coast' guitarsound like Jefferson Airplane,
Moby Grape, some folkrock passages ala Fairport Convention but also some exotic hippie
atmospheres ala Traffic Sound;
great alternate male/female vocals not unlike Balin/Slick but also crystal vocal passages
ala Sandy Denny. Underground masterpiece from this mystic folk band out of California.
Recorded in the early 70s, it's never been released & test pressings are collector's items.
The singer Clara Miles had a voice similar to Grace Slick,
especially on the acoustic tracks. Gatefold sleeve.

(info by: CGR)

1. Empty Room
2. Changing Seasons
3. Tell Me
4. Forgotten Bridge
5. Parade
6. Sandwiches Rock 'N' Roll
7. Lost Youth
8. Ballad Of The Spirit Of The World
9. Final Song

Size: 75.6 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

The Firebirds - Light My Fire (1969)

2009-06-22T22:36:00.004+02:00

An intriguing mystery outfit whose albums have become sought-after for their over-top heavy psych-blues-rock mayhem that owes much to Hendrix, Iron Butterfly and Blue Cheer's Vincebus Eruptum. The best place to start is Erik Lindgren's superb 1997 CD compilation, An Overdose Of Heavy Psych which contains six primordial chunks.

The Dance Party Time LP is lighter instrumental fare that sounds just like The Animated Egg but without the fuzz. Some tracks have a haunting quality because they've been recycled: Out Of Town is Dark by The Animated Egg; and Doors Time turns out to be a pedestrian version of the backing track to The Id's Boil The Kettle Mother.

The Associated Soul Group Contessa album below is listed purely as conjecture in the hope that someone may establish a connection other than that it shares the same cover as the Electric Firebirds and is on another exploitation California label. Who WERE these Godfathers of grunge?

(info from: internet)

Size: 57.9 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Stoned Circus - Revisited (1970)

2009-06-04T22:01:00.005+02:00

An outstanding piece of US psychedelia from this act founded in Kansas, 1968 and not to be confused with Stone Circus that recorded for the Mainstream label. The powerful sound with male and female vocals, great organ and heavy fuzzy guitars has a strong Jefferson Airplane/Big Brother feeling. This previously unreleased (on CD)
1970 material was found in the the archives of the Cavern Sound Studios where the Wizards from Kansas also recorded. Includes "Gotta find a way", "New World", a cover of Zeppelin's "Gonna leave You" and more. Now reissued from the original masters with a detailed biography and pictures, in collaboration with the band.

A fine hippie quintet with male-female vocals in the Jefferson Airplane mould. They recorded their only album, on 4th September 1970 at Cavern Sound Studios, Missouri and were originally from Independence (Harry Truman's birthplace). This is the same studio where The Wizards From Kansas and Burlington Express laid down their first tracks. The album, which remained unissued until 1994, contains an excellent cover version of the traditional Babe I'm Gonna Leave You.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Gotta Find A Way - 3.43
02 - Feel - 2.39
03 - Try Love - 4.19
04 - New World - 3.12
05 - Trust - 2.27
06 - Sweet Lovin´ - 2.49
07 - Instrumental - 5.07
08 - Gonna Leave You - 6.20
09 - Corina - 2.29
10 - Whole Lotta Love - 2.12

Size: 67.6 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Raw Material - Selftitled (1970)

2009-05-31T02:34:00.007+02:00

Super rare UK progressive from the late '60s. Leaning in a psych direction with Doors like keyboards, 'Tull like flute, long tracks, quality vocals, varied instrumentation etc.This was Raw Material's self-titled maiden voyage in the studio, they would release one more album in 1971 titled Time Is. The sound created on this album was not as intense or complex as their second outing but it is a glimpse at what they would become.

This music was progressive but will most likely be looked upon as pre-progressive (i.e. Yes, Pink Floyd) by most fans and critics. Colin Catt, the vocalist and keyboard player, set the tone for the band with his trilling vocal style and Jon Lord/Deep Purple influenced keyboard playing.

Although this album has some of the fusion and jazz elements present, it is not a prevalent as their second album. Rock seems to be the foundation that everything else stems from on their freshman outing. It remains as a fine example of early prog-rock with the use of the flute, sax and harp. Although this may not be the best album that you have heard from that period of time it is good and worth checking out.

(info by: CGR)

1. Time and Illusion-7:30
2. I'd Be Delighted-5:10
3. Fighting Cock-3:50
4. Pear On An Apple Tree-2:57
5. Future Recollections-3:55
6. Traveller Man-6:10

Size: 81.3 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Spriguns - Revel Weird And Wild (1976)

2009-05-29T21:47:00.005+02:00

Reissue of the 1976 debut by Spriguns (previously known as Spriguns of Tolgus). The band adopted a Fairport-like electric folk-rock sound, capped by Mandy Morton's silky velvet vocals. Electric violin and electric guitars evoke misty ancient moorlands and create a suitable backing for Mandy's beautiful voice. Fabulous

Who would have believed what talent there would be inside Mandy Morton? It seems that no one were aware of her skills not even herself. Not even when her musical career started, was she given the homage she so rightly deserved.Her career started of as playing as a duo with her husband Mike Morton. The couple played as a Cambridge folk-duo on Friday and Saturday nights at the Anchor pub in Silver Street, Cambridge. They recieved a growing following, and the duo turned into a band: Spriguns Of Tolgus. They became a known and beloved act in the sorroundings of Cambridge, and their following soon demanted some album releases. Their 1974 privately released cassette was sold to students at live performances and less than 50 copies were produced.
The cassette format has ensured that their value has not reached the epic proportions of the vinylfollow-up Jack With A Feather from 1975, which boasted better sound quality and duplicated some material from the earlier cassette. The playing on the album was good and almost all the material was traditional.After this Spriguns Of Tolgus did break up as a band, but mr. & mrs. Morton continued working with music. They soon were ready to make new recordings. This band did however abbreviate the name to Spriguns. In 1976 they released Revel Weird And Wild which consisted of only of songs written by members of the band, although some of the songs were more or less stolen from traditional songs.
Already at this time Mandy was clearly in control of the band,written most of the material. The following year they made Time Will Pass, were Mandy now were the only songwriter in the band, the album were more aggressive than it's predecessor, and the music, all written by Mandy, seemed to go in a new direction. Mandy's lyrics were still mostly about knight and ladies from a time long ago. Both albums were recorded for the famous label Decca.Spriguns was now totally the vehicle of talented vocalist Mandy Morton. And the next step was only naturel, Spriguns did now only seem as being Mandy Morton with a backing band. And so she rebaptised Spriguns into Mandy Morton And Spriguns and made Magic Lady in 1978.It was this album that introduced me to Mandy's music: I borrowed the cd in the summer 1999, because I knew that my music hero Graeme Taylor was playing on the album. But soon I fell for Mandy's songs.Now performing only as Mandy Morton she recorded Sea Of Storms in 1980. And then three years did pass until her six and final release: Valley Of Light. This album is the only one not to feature Mandy's husband Mike Morton, and so Mandy was now the only one who had been al the way from Jack With A Feather in 1975. After the album Mandy retired from music.
The last three albums were recorded either for Polydor or Banshee.This page is in memory of her indescribably perfect efforts on these albums, which all are of sublime songwritingship, I know I've heard them all!!!

(info by: CGR)

01. Trysting Tree 4:01
02. Outlandish Knight 4:33
03. Sir Colvin 5:56
04. Piscie Song 4:03
05. Nothing Else To Do 2:58
06. Hasberry Howard 2:54
07. Lord Lovell 4:48
08. Laily Worm 3:18
09. When Spring Comes In 3:09

Size: 67.8 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

McDonald & Sherby - Catharsis (1969)

2009-05-20T23:12:00.006+02:00

"Latest offering in our series of Christian titles, this time from those noted style gurus, McDonald & Sherby, whose sole contribution to the canon of 20th century music was Catharsis, an album which originally appeared on the appropriately-named Omniscient label (Omniscient Records 1426S) Some have speculated that given the band's prog/psych leanings, Catharsis was probably recorded in the '70s,
although the accepted wisdom is that the album was made at Minneapolis's Sound 80 Studios on 1969. The album consists of six long tracks with a decidedly heavy guitar-based vibe, all well- recorded and delivered with considerable aplomb. A guitar-based progressive album recorded at Sound 80 in Minneapolis. Though undated, the record sounds of a mid-seventies vintage, not dissimilar to fellow Great Lakes prog rockers Kopperfield."

(info by: CGR)

01 - Addoranne - 10.06
02 - Sharks Around Blood - 5.27
03 - Run And Hide - 4.17
04 - Space Beam - 4.35
05 - Swim Free - 15.01
06 - Drivin´ Me Crazy - 5.18

Size: 83.3 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Flood - The Rise of (1970)

2009-05-18T22:21:00.005+02:00

Long-lost seventies psych-rock from an act based in New York. Some bluesy workouts with a funky feel on occasion and rock'n'riffy numbers with great moments of intense fuzz guitar soloing, but really rather a disappointment. Inexplicably considered (Impossible to find) by a couple of record dealers recently, but (Extremely rare) value has been consistent for 10 years elsewhere.

(ingo by: CGR)

01 - Vacumn - 4.12
02 - Idle Time - 4.25
03 - Blessed The Young Children - 4.31
04 - Pain - 3.58
05 - Songbird Of Time - 3.30
06 - Mr. Wickett - 6.18
07 - Don´t Take Me - 3.27
08 - Hurting Time - 4.02

Size: 65.6 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Beefeaters – Beefeaters & Meet You There (1967-69)

2009-05-18T22:18:00.006+02:00

(no info)

Size: 166 Mb
Bitrate: 320 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Sorcery - Sinister Soldiers (1978)

2009-05-18T22:12:00.006+02:00

(no info)

Size: 92.6 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Ramatam - Selftitled (1971)

2009-05-17T23:28:00.008+02:00

Review by Joe Viglione:
Tom Dowd produced 1972's self-titled debut from Ramatam, a poor-man's Blind Faith featuring co-author of The Blues Image hit "Ride Captain Ride Mike Pinera on guitar and vocals, and Mitch Mitchell on drums. The "star" of this group was alleged to be April Lawton, a chick who had the Hendrix riffs down, to be sure, but not as creative as Robin Trower and all those other gents who carried Jimi's sound and stylings into the seventies.
An appearance by the group in Boston at the old Music Hall was pure white noise and not very memorable outside of that. The album is a bit more refined, but ultimately fails to deliver the goods.
"Whiskey Place" opens the record sounding like a brazen blend of Ten Wheel Drive meets The Jimi Hendrix Experience without a Genya Ravan or a Jimi to save the day. The horns actually clash with the guitar while the bass has a mind of its own. The production work by Dowd on the first track is totally uninspired and it certainly feels like the act was left to its own devices.
Mike Pinera and Les Sampson's "Heart Song" works much better, a jazzy vision of Traffic's brand of Brit rock meeting that of the West Coast's /Quicksilver Messenger Service.
But it's not enough - Rare Earth type macho vocals do much to implode the disc's potential totally sinking Pinera's "Ask Brother Ask".
Mitchell's great drum work is wasted on the monotony of the hook, and the musicianship gets so fragmented it sounds like Eno's Portsmouth Sinfonia without the humor. The Tommy Sullivan / April Lawton composition "What I Dream I Am", on the other hand, almost gets it done - it's pretty tune with flutes, acoustic guitar work and simple percussion from Mitch.
It fails because of vocals which just can't cut it, painful singing obliterating the disc's best chance for recognition. Was Tom Dowd out having coffee or just not interested in this whatsoever?
America could've used an answer to Steve Winwood's poppy jazz, and a Genya Ravan would have brought this experiment out of the quagmire it finds itself in with her voice and production intuition.
The blues here undefined and the tape mix far from cohesive on the other band collaboration,"Wayso". Ramatam, diffused and confused, is a tragic statement of record labels trying to make a talent rather than finding one. "Changing Days" is another decent Sullivan / Lawton easy feeling co-write with horrible vocals eradicating the core goodness of the songwriting. Mike Pinera's "Strange Place" takes the Kiss riff, from "Shout It Out Loud" and puts it in a jazz setting with vocals that sound like they are auditioning for Savoy Brown...and failing to get the gig.
If that sounds awful just be thankful you're reading about it without having to hear this mess. By 1973 the group would be pared down to a power trio of Lawton, Sullivan and Jimmy Walker on drums.
Perhaps bassist Russ Smith, ex-Iron Butterfly Pinera and Mitch Mitchell saw the writing on the wall, but how they couldn't come up with something much, much better than this is the mystery.
There's enough combined talent here to have delivered a real gem. With this album Ramatam have re-written Euclid's axiom and turned it on its head: here the whole is less than the sum of its parts. The final track, "Can't Sit Still", sounds like producer Dowd looped his old Ornette Coleman and Allman Brothers tapes with his Black Oak Arkansas projects. And if Ramatam hadn't toured, people might've thought that's exactly what this was.

1. Whiskey Place
2. Heart Song
3. Ask Brother Ask
4. What I Dream I Am
5. Wayso
6. Changing Days
7. Strange Place
8. Wild Like Wine
9. Can't Sit Still

Size: 75.7 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Mariani - Perpetuum Mobile (1970)

2009-05-17T23:11:00.006+02:00

Ultra-rare album originally released as acetate only in 1970 by Austin based psychedelic rock-blues combo featuring a 16 year old Eric Johnson, Vince Mariani and Jay Podolnick...contains two bonus tracks from a rare single 'Re-Birth Day' and 'Memories'.

This Mariani album comes in either a plain white cover with MARIANI written at the upper right or a cover with stamped info MARIANI at upper right, PERPETUUM MOBILE at upper right, SONOBEAT STEREO at lower right and ADVANCE COPYwith a handwritten number at lower left. That´s all.

Labels have the numbers HEC 411 / HEC 412.
The record sold for $10.000 mentioned above had the cover with stamped info

Reviewed by: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck: A trio called Mariani originally recorded Perpetuum Mobile in 1970. In 2001 Akarma Records resurrected this sought after collectable. A young 16-year-old guitarist was making some noise then, his name was Eric Johnson.
Many music lovers found out about Johnson through his breakthrough album Ah Via Musicom in 1990. After The Ventures had initiated me and opened my ears to instrumental rock, I heard Johnson's song "Trademark," which was enjoying a steady rotation on FM radio. Enamored by the new sound, I consequently started my search for all the instrumental guitar music that I could get my hands on.

This reissued classic rock-blues album comes packaged in gatefold sleeve with the original stunning artwork and lengthy and informative liner notes that fill up both sides of the inner sleeves.

I really did not know what to expect when I put this platter on my turntable. I thought it might have been one of those castaway recordings that you hear 30 years after the fact. This however was not the case. Johnson, Vince Mariani (drums, vocals), and Jay Podolick (bass, vocals) were a powerful trio. Johnson was only a 16-year-old kid but he sounded years beyond capabilities as a lead guitar player.

The cuts recorded for this album were not for the faint of heart or meant for top-forty airplay, some are complex jams that run for over five minutes. The beginning of side two starts things off with a Vanilla Fudge/Cactus like blues-rock session. That song was the decisive factor for me. It solidified in my mind that Johnson was indeed big league material long before he received that recognition.

It is time to blow the dust off your turntable and start your LP collection again. This album will inspire you ... I guarantee it.
Even if you are not interested in the music, the cover alone is a real eye catcher for science fiction buffs or album art collectors.
I loved the entire package myself, and was enlightened once again about an artist I have always enjoyed.

(info by: CGR)

1. Searching For A New Dimension
2. Re-Birth Day
3. Things Are Changing
4. Lord I Just Cant Help Myself
5. The Unknown Path
6. Euphoria
7. Message
8. Windy Planet
9. Re-Birth Day (45 Version)
10. Memories

Size: 96.9 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

The Five Day Week Straw People - same (1968)

2009-05-12T20:22:00.005+02:00

Five Day Week Straw People was an LP that captured a day in the life of sixties London. Released in September 1968, Five Day Week Straw People were not a band, but rather the work of London-based songwriters David Montague and Guy Mascalo, who composed a song cycle that they once described as being about "people who work monotonously during the week and then try to enjoy themselves at weekends."
The song writing pair hired in guitar, bass, drums, vocals and set up in a makeshift studio recording space(actually a school!). Taking just four hours, most of the tracks being recorded in one or two takes, the results were exceptional. Tracks like the title song, I'm Going Out Tonight and the dreamy, shimmering Sunday Morning being particularly strong. Packaged in a colourful psychedelic sleeve, the LP is now quite rightly regarded as one of the classic LPs of the era and copies regularly sell for more than £100.
The LP sold quite well at the time and the label wanted a follow-up album, but David Montague remembers that given how he and his partner had made no money from the LP (the modest fee was all given to the session players) they declined the offer and elected to focus their efforts on placing their songs with established music publishers.
This is the first reissue of the album, by Montague and Mascalo, mastered from original tapes stored in the Library for nearly 40 years, and enhanced with the addition of two bonus tracks recorded the same year by the pair, not previously reissued .

(info from: internet)

Size: 122 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Steel Mill - Green Eyed God (UK Progressive 1972)

2009-05-12T20:18:00.006+02:00

The mystery that surrounds the band adds to the appeal of this album, I must admit. But even without the mystique, the music still manages to stand alone, and quite well I might add. I've never liked having art (rock) as a sub genre of music, as I've stated before. music is a sub caterogry of art! So I view this as more of a hardrock/fusion album. The fusion influences are not to heavy, there are some focus/tullesque flute and subtle sax here and there. If you can find this album and want to pay lotf of money and/or an arm or leg, by all means, its a good album. But it is insanely rare so I would suggest you d/l it.

(info by: CGR)

01. Blood Runs Deep
02. Smmer Child
03. Mijo And The Laying Of The Wich
04. Treadmill
05. Green Eyed God
06. Turn The Page Over
07. Black Jewel Of The Forest
08. Har Fleur
09. Get On The Line Single A-Side
10. Zang Will Single B-Side

Size: 92.5 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Jody Grind - One Step On (1969)

2009-05-12T20:14:00.006+02:00

Great UK progressive rock band with powerful and driving sound. The band was the brainchild of Keyboard player Tim Hinkley. Jody Grind was a band formed by Tim Hinkley around 1969.Robert Fripp (cerebrum in King Crimson) almost joined the group. They released an album, Blue whale, in a progressive style, with long jamming songs. But Aynsley dissolved the band, when he got a call from Frank Zappa to join forces. Coincidentally, the album contains a long version of Zappa's 'Willie the pimp'.

And, sadly, I've never heard of Ivan Zagni again, except for an Elton Dean released in 1997. Can someone help here, please? I've heard he retired back to Norwich, but some years ago, he went to live to New Zealand.

(info by: CGR)

01 - One Step On - 18.43
02 - Paint It Black (single version) - 4.40
03 - Little Message - 5.03
04 - Night Today - 6.40
05 - U.S.A - 4.31
06 - Rock'n Roll Man - 5.06

Size: 87.9 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Goldenrod - Goldenrod (1969)

2009-05-05T20:30:00.005+02:00

(No info)

Size: 144 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Paternoster - Selftitled (1972)

2009-05-05T20:25:00.004+02:00

Amongst the most legendary of Austrian underground bands, but with a virtually undocumented history, Paternoster originated from Vienna, and existed for only two years in the early-70's, disbanding after the release of just one album.

Paternoster were heavy, but their complex progressive blend was atypically of the Krautrock ilk. Fronted by a most unusual vocalist, with an equally bizarre use of song, their music drew on that trippy Pink Floyd style. Akin to Gila, Virus, and Jane on occasions, the Paternoster style blended heavy classical motifs, psychedelic flights into the cosmos, and much more. The result is, that every track amounts to a lively potpourri of surprises.

(info by: CGR)

1. PATERNOSTER
2. REALIZATION
3. STOP THESE LINES
4. BLIND CHILDREN
5. OLD DANUBE
6. THE POPE IS WRONG
7. MAMMOTH OPUS O

Size: 74.7 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

REPOST: Irish Coffee - Irish Coffee (1971)

2009-04-29T21:23:00.007+02:00

Irish Coffee officially started in 1970, originating from another band called "The VooDoo". In the beginning they played only covers from British & American bands, such as Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Kinks etc... This band from Belgium, is killer hardrock with seering leads and really strong vocals, well composed songs. They wrote and recorded a single album of their own music. Irish Coffee did a lot of live-gigs those days and were a support-act for bands like: Focus, Dr. Feelgood, Yes, and many others. Unfortunately the band band splitted-up in 1975. But now the vocalist, guitarist and drummer have re-banded with a new organist and bassist and are touring in 2002-2003 playing their old stuff..

(info from CGR)

01 - Can't Take It
02 - The Beginning Of The End
03 - When Winter Comes
04 - The Show (Part 1)
05 - The Show (Part 2)
06 - Hear Me
07 - A Day Like Today
08 - I'm Lost

Size: 70.4 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

REPOST: Galaxy - Day Without The Sun (1976)

2009-04-29T21:04:00.006+02:00

This heavy progressive rock album is an important item among collectors. Originally recorded in Florida in 1976 and unearthed by the Italian Akarma label, this is a wonderful mixture of space rock, West Coast guitar solos and Gong-like female vocals which combine superbly to richochet around your brain. The 14 minute title track is awesome....

Band Description: Galaxy is a space rock band that played their largest performances in Jacksonville, Florida. The first was in 1975 at the 4th of July street concert sponsored by the Jacksonville Beach chamber of commerce. Galaxy was the only band performing that night, playing to a crowd the newspapers said was over 30 thousand strong. Galaxy performed 42 of their original rock songs that they had learned after being together only 3 months. They performed at the same venue the following year. Galaxy won WAPE radio's first "battle-of-the-bands" in 1976, winning the prize of a recording contract with Bang Records in Atlanta, Ga. that turned out only to be a midnight recording session.

Their winning year brought them to the concert stages to large audiences that included : Annhauser Busch Natural Light Beer debuton Jax. Beach to a crowd of over 250 thousand rock fans as thefinal feature act following a country rock band called "Road Dust" and during Galaxy's concert Leif Garrette made a guest appearance. Galaxy also performed to a Daytona Beach crowd of more that 20 thousand fans at the city's famous band shell on the beach. They recorded only one album called Day Without The Sun which is still available to on line collectors and Space Rock enthusiasts. During that following year.

Band History: Galaxy now has a new Space Rock CD called Find Another World and an "author's edition reissue CD of their first LP Day Without The Sun. The first reissue CD of Day w/o the Sun was produced and distributed by Akarma/Comet Records in Italy in 1999.
Galaxy's own record label SKY QUEEN RECORDS has always been unsigned by any major label up to the present.

(info by: CGR)

1. Space mountain
2. Green stuff
3. Look what you done
4. Galaxy
5. Sky queen
6. Day without the sun
7. Everybody Down
8. Woman Of Love

Size: 67.9 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

REPOST: Ancient Grease - Woman And Children First (1970)

2009-04-29T20:33:00.006+02:00

A short-lived hard rock outfit. All three had earlier been in The Eyes Of Blue and went on to form Big Sleep. Phil Ryan was later with Man. Gary Pickford-Hopkins had a brief stab at a solo career in the eighties.

The CD reissue includes a previously unreleased alternate take of "Freedom Train". Mercury's 1970 compilation, "Dimension of Miracles", included "Women And Children First", which was one of the band's better efforts. Gary Pickford Hopkins was later involved in lots of other projects including Cutting Crew, Drivers, etc.

(info by: CGR)

01 - Freedom Train - 4.05
02 - Don't Want - 5.08
03 - Odd Song - 5.45
04 - Eagle Song - 5.01
05 - Where The Snow Lies Forever - 5.12
06 - Mother Grease The Cat - 5.16
07 - Time To Die - 4.07
08 - Prelude To A Blind Man - 5.06
09 - Mystic Mountain - 3.34
10 - Women And Children First - 6.39
11 - Freedom Train (Alt.Take) - 3.28

Size: 98.8 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download

Peter Bardens - The Answer (1970)

2009-04-27T22:43:00.006+02:00

Peter Bardens kept fine company in the '60's, playing in bands with Ray Davies (Hamilton King's Blues Messengers), Mick Fleetwood (Cheynes), Van Morrison (Them), and Rod Stewart (Shotgun Express). Before going on to form Camel in 1972, keyboardist Peter Bardens released this solo debut in 1970 with Peter Green on guitar and Linda Lewis on backing vocals.

Prior to this solo debut, Pete Bardens had been on the British R&B-rock and psychedelic scene for about half a dozen years, playing in early bands with Mick Fleetwood and Peter Green, as well as (briefly) in Them with Van Morrison. The Answer was his chance to step out of the shadows, and while his skills as a keyboardist were formidable,
his songwriting just wasn't up to carrying an interesting album of his own. Devoted to a half-dozen lengthy tracks varying in duration from five to 13 minutes, Bardens offered a blues-progressive stew that, despite some flashy licks, lacked focus. It's a shame there wasn't better material to work with, for some quite talented musicians were among the supporting cast, including Love Affair singer Steve Ellis, session vocalist Linda Lewis, Bruce Thomas (later to back Elvis Costello in the Attractions), and most of all his old friend Peter Green. In fact,
Green offers some of his best playing as a sideman on this record, which both makes it better than it could have been, and makes it worth checking out for serious fans of the guitarist. In common with some of Green's own solo work, however, it's a meandering record,
bits of promising ideas swirling around before they've been honed into something cogent. Against the odds, however, the 13-minute "Homage to the God of Light" is the highlight, its mesh of Latin-esque rhythms, burning organ, and bluesy guitar recalling some of early Santana's more jammy grooves.

(info by: CGR)

1. Answer
2. Don't Goof With a Spook
3. I Can't Remember
4. I Don't Want to Go Home
5. Let's Get It On
6. Homage to the God of Light

Size: 92.3 Mb
Bitrate: 256 mp3
Artwork Included
Download