Faintly Blowing

Pussycats - The Pussycats Story (1965-67)

2012-01-24T16:42:00.006+01:00

This Tromsø/Norway act started as The Arctic in spring 1964. They headed to Stockholm/Sweden to pursue a professional career and it was there where they met the businessman Sten Ekroth, who became their manager. Ekroth's idea was to make the band as big as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones and it was him who came out with the name "Pussycats". Their first single "Ebb Tide/Cadillac" sold nearly 25,000 copies. Their follow-up "Gonna Send You Back To Georgia/Donna" did not sell nearly as much, but at least it was not a week without the Pussycats was featured in the press. Their career was marked by scandal stories, often arranged by their manager. Their debut-album Pssst! Pssst! was hailed as a masterpiece in the press, and from a historical perspective, the LP is considered to be a milestone. No other Norwegian artists had until 1966 been able to make a rock LP of such convincing quality, both in terms of sound, performance and song material. The album was also one of the '60s greatest successes in Norway and stayed ten weeks on top of the charts, which was a Norwegian record. During a publicity tour in the summer of 1966, the Pussycats' second LP was recorded in Hamburg. Mrrr... Mrrr... was a bold mix of catchy pop songs and more experimental tunes and received ovations in the press and sold well again. Prior to the release of Mrrr... Mrrr... Ekroth quit his job and Totto Johannessen took over the management. More singles followed and they developed now a more polished Pop sound with less success. "Vanya Maria/Death Is Coming" was their last release as The Pussycats and perhaps their only record with hints of Psychedelia. Another 45 "Sjøreisa/Mors Minner" came out under the pseudonym Sailors but didn't make much impression. Soon after the band quit but in 1971 Trond Graff and Sverre Kjelsberg reformed the group with new members. Their only output was the album "Touch Wood" in 1973 which moves towards Progressive and Jazz.

The Pussycats Story (PolyGram 847502-2 / 1990) includes all their singles and the best tracks of their two albums.

Tracklist:
- Ebb Tide
- Cadillac
- Donna
- Gonna Send You Back To Georgia
- Boom Boom
- Gone, Gone, Gone
- Danny
- Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
- The Last Time
- Just A Little Teardrop
- Let Me Stay With You
- Purdy Patsy
- Baby Baby
- Don't Love Me
- Love Me Tonight
- Why Have We To Wait
- Song
- They Say...
- Regrets
- I'm Going Home
- The Craftsman
- True True Lovin'
- Travellin'
- A Night Of Life
- Rain
- Call Me
- Vanja Maria
- Death Is Coming

Personnel:
Trond "Eddy" Graff (lead gtr, vcls, organ) [ABCDEFGHI]
Ottar "Jimmy" Aasegg (rhythm gtr, vcls) [ABCDEFGH]
Sverre "Teddy" Kjelsberg (bs, lead vcls) [ABCDEFGHI]
Ingemar "Reddy" Stjerndahl (keyb'ds, vcls) [AC]
Friedel "Freddy" Brandt (drms) [ABCDEFGH]
Dennis Wilhelmsson (keyb'ds, vcls) [B]
Christian Reim (keyb'ds) [D]
John Erik Holtan (keyb'ds) [E]
(Arild Boman (keyb'ds) [F])
Janne Løseth (lead gtr, vcls) [G]
Per Christian Hansen (gtr) [H]
Bjørn Henriksen (gtr) [I]
Bror Dahl (sax) [I]
Knut T. Johannessen (drms) [I]

Band origin:
Tromsø (Norway)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. (A) Psst! Psst! Psst! (Polydor Int. 623013) 1966
2. (A) Mrr... Mrr... (Polydor Int. 623020) 1966
3. (I) Touch Wood (Polydor 2382033) 1973

45's:
1. (A) Ebb Tide/Cadillac (Karusell KFF-613) 1965
2. (A) Gonna Send You Back To Georgia/Donna
    (Karusell KFF-623) 1965
3. (A) Boom Boom/Gone Gone Gone (Teen Beat TBP 01) 1965
4. (A) Let Me Stay With You/Purdy Patsy
    (Teen Beat TBP 03) 1966
5. (A) Just A Little Teardrop/Baby Baby
    (Teen Beat TBP 04) 1966
6. (A) Why Have We To Wait/Regrets
    (Teen Beat TBP 05) 1966
7. (E) Smile At Me [Flexi-Disc] (Poppy Sound PS 102) 1966
8. (A) The Craftsman/Song (Teen Beat TBP 06) 1967
9. (F) A Night Of Life/Rain (Polydor NH 66800) 1967
10. (G) Vanja Maria/Death Is Coming
    (Polydor NH 66810) 1967
11. (G) Sjøreisa/Mors Minner (Nor-Disc NOR 156) 1967

[11. as Sailors]

Get it here (new link)

Listen to Why Have We To Wait

West Coast Consortium - Looking Back (1967-70)

2011-12-29T18:04:00.004+01:00

A harmony-pop outfit from London, they started as The West Coast Consortium. With their high-pitched falsetto vocals they are nothing for the hard-psych connoisseur. Their first single didn't make any impression and for some reason they changed their name for the second 45 to Robbie (maybe to establish their lead singer Robbie Fair as a solo act). Again success eluded them, although it was quite good. The follow-up "Colour Sergeant Lilywhite" was perhaps their most psychedelic and one of their best outings. Soon after they added organist Bill Mangham to their line-up and shortened their name to Consortium. The first record they did under the new moniker was "All The Love In The World". It was their only hit, reaching #22 in the UK charts. Not a bad song, but the backings are totally annoying. They released five more singles, all in the same style. Particularly "Day The Train Never Came", "I Don't Want Her Any More" and "The House Upon The Hill" are well worth hearing. They finally split around 1975 after RCA cancelled a record deal for an LP. At this time only Robbie Fair, now Robbie Legat, was the only remaining original member. The recordings were finally released as "Rebirth" on Angel Air in 2006 and more or less in the Pop-Rock vein. In 2003 Castle (Castle Music CMRCD 786) released "Looking Back", a 27 track CD, including all the singles (except the last) plus 11 unreleased tracks. There's another CD on Wooden Hill called "Mr. Umbrella Man" with more unreleased stuff.

Tracklist:
- Some Other Someday
- Looking Back
- Indigo Spring
- Listen To The Man
- Colour Sergeant Lillywhite
- Lady From Baltimore
- All The Love In The World
- Spending My Life Saying Goodbye
- When The Day Breaks
- The Day The Train Never Came
- Beggar Man
- Cynthia Serenity
- I Don't Want Her Anymore
- The House Upon The Hill
- Melanie Cries Alone
- Copper Coloured Years
- To Please Louise
- Amanda Jane
- Cindy In Love
- Willow Wood
- I'll Always Love You
- Soldiers In The Rain
- Live And Let Live
- Once Upon A Time
- What Are They All Singing About
- Scarlet River
- One Day The Train Never Came

Personnel:
Robbie Fair [aka Robbie Leggat] (vcls) [ABC]
Brian Bronson (gtr) [AB]
Geoffrey Simpson (organ, lead gtr, vcls) [AB]
John Barker (bs, trombone) [AB]
John Podbury (drms) [AB]
Bill Mangham (organ) [B]
Brian Parker (vcls, gtr) [C]
Mick Ware (vcls, gtr) [C]
Ken Brown (bs) [C]
John Parker (drms) [C]

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
Albums:
1. (C) Rebirth (Angel Air SJPCD 216) 2006

[1. racorded 1975]

45's:
1. (A) Some Other Someday/Looking Back (Pye 7N 17352) 1967
2. (A) Indigo Spring/Listen To The Man (Pye 7N 17370) 1967
3. (A) Colour Sergeant Lillywhite/Lady From Baltimore
   (Pye 7N 17482) 1968
4. (B) All The Love In The World/
   Spending My Life Saying Goodbye (Pye 7N 17635) 1968
5. (B) When The Day Breaks/Day The Train Never Came
   (Pye 7N 17725) 1969
6. (B) Beggar Man/Cynthia Serenity (Pye 7N 17797) 1969
7. (B) I Don't Want Her Any More/The House Upon The Hill
   (Pye 7N 17841) 1969
8. (B) Melanie Cries Alone/Copper Coloured Years
   (Trend TNT 52) 1970
9. (B) Annabella/Tell Me My Friend (Trend 6099 004) 1971

[1. + 3. as West Coast Consortium]
[2. as Robbie]
[4. - 9. as Consortium]

Get it here

Listen to The House Upon The Hill

V.A. - Live! From The Grooveyard (1967)

2011-11-25T21:50:00.005+01:00

It's hard to believe that New Westminster could be the heart of the R&B Scene, but there it was, the mid 60's, and IKE AND TINA TURNER were on the bill! The former Hollywood Bowl, under new ownership of Les Vogt and the management of Douglas Miller, became the short lived Grooveyard, and took its rightful place in local music history. MARVIN GAYE, ETTA JAMES, LITTLE JUNIOR PARKER, THE SPINNERS, and BO DIDDLEY performed there, as well as hot Northwest groups THE KINGSMEN, PAUL REVERE AND THE RAIDERS, DON AND THE GOODTIMES, and even THE SONICS. Most importantly, The Grooveyard gave some of Vancouver's hottest acts a stage and, on some very special evenings, you could see up to ten live bands and dance 'til you dropped. It just didn't get any better. The original album was the brainchild of Les Vogt, band manager, concert promoter, rockabilly performer, and owner of the Grooveyard. He thought the album would generate more publicity for the club and the bands in his management stable. He took his idea to musician and song writer Tom Northcott and local entrepreneur Jack Herschorn at their offices, where they operated New Syndrome Records.
All the songs on the album were recorded and engineered by Robin Spurgin at his studio. [..] The songs were not really recorded live in the club, but were actually played live in the studio with no added overdubs. Oddly, the crowd noise that was added to the background was recorded at the Arctic Club (a Vancouver Jazz venue) and not at the Grooveyard.
[..] Recorded in 1966 and released in 1967, the originals pressing of the double album was only 1000 copies (making it one of the most sought after albums in Vancouver record collector circles). Doug Cuthbert, the original drummer for the Night Train Revue, did the original cover design.
(taken from the liner notes)

Neptoon Records was responsible for this re-issue (Neptoon 005 / 2004) and as one might expect it consists mainly of Soul and R&B covers. Not a bad album, all bands are competent and the music has a special Northwest sound. The Stags for instance did a fine cover of The Wailers' "Out Of Our Tree" as well as an innocent version of The Byrds' "It Won't Be Wrong", The Shockers could easily find place on any "Northwest Battle Of The Bands" volume and The Shantelles' cover of "Have Love Will Travel" leans more towards to The Sonics than to the Richard Berry original (but in a smooth way). Live! From The Grooveyard is surely an artifact but also a hipshaker and quite good listen through.

Tracklist:
1. Epics - It's Growing
2. Epics - Knock On Wood
3. Night Train Revue - Letter Song
4. Night Train Revue - 99-1/2
5. Soul Unlimited - Get Out Of My Life Woman
6. Soul Unlimited - Choo Choo
7. Kentish Steele & The Shantelles - Have Love Will Travel
8. Kentish Steele & The Shantelles - Land Of 1000 Dances
9. Kentish Steele & The Shantelles - Leaving Here
10. Kentish Steele & The Shantelles - Mercy Mercy
11. Stags - It Won't Be Wrong
12. Stags - Out Of Our Tree
13. Shockers - You Don't Love Me
14. Shockers - It's You Alone
15. Nocturnals - Mustang Sally
16. Soul Unlimited - Little Joe
17. Soul Unlimited - Something You Got
18. Night Train Revue - Sometimes I Wonder
19. Night Train Revue - You Don't Know Like I Know
20. Epics - Cleo's Back
21. Epics - If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time
22. Shockers - Don't Bring Me Down
23. Shockers - You Better Run
24. Nocturnals - Slow Down
25. Nocturnals - You Make Me Feel So Good
26. Nocturnals - Get On Back
27. Stags - Drive My Car
28. Stags - Everybody Knows (I Still Love You)

Personnel:
[EPICS]
Jayson Hoover (vcls)
Jim Harmata (gtr)
Bob Kidd (bs)
Bill Gibson (keyb'ds)
Gunther Klaus (sax)
Dave MacPhail (drms)

[NIGHT TRAIN REVUE] incl.
Chuck Flintroy (vcls)
Sy Risby (vcls)
Suzanne Cliff (vcls)
Chuck Cliff (organ)

[SOUL UNLIMITED]
Carl Graves (vcls)
Bob Nahirnak (gtr)
Wayne Pealo (bs)
Robbie Buchanan (keyb'ds)
Al Lynch (trumpet, vcls)
Bruce Norris (trombone)
Ken Bronsch (sax)
Stan Williamson (drms)

[KENTISH STEELE & THE SHANTELLES]
Kentish Steele (vcls)
Paul Dean (gtr)
Brian Pulham (bs)
Brian Tingle (organ)
Gary Greensword (trumpet)
Warren Clarke (trumpet)
Stu Meadows (trombone)
Brian Tansley (sax)
Glen Gish (sax)
Jim Patterson (drms)

[THE STAGS]
Lloyd Manuel (gtr)
Pete McKinnon (bs)
Dan Hunt (organ)
Norm Stacey (drms)

[THE SHOCKERS]
Keith Foreman (vcls)
Mike Wilson (gtr)
Carl Erickson (bs)
Ed Coppard (keyb'ds)
Dave Jonsson (drms, vcls)

[NOCTURNALS]
Ron Henschel (gtr)
Wayne Evans (bs)
Chad Thorp (organ)
Roger Skinner (sax)
Carl Erickson (sax)
Bill McBeth (drms, lead vcls)

Band origins:
Vancouver (British Columbia/Canada)

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to The Stags - Out Of Our Tree

Listen to The Shockers - You Better Run

Trevor McNamara - Yeah Captain (1971)

2011-11-15T12:21:00.004+01:00

Trevor McNamara's career started in the Adelaide group 5 Sided Circle. During that time he also wrote "H.M.S. Buffalo", picked up by psychedelic band Inside Looking Out for their last 45. He left after two years with and formed Musick Express. Their only single "Jackie's Thing/How Does Paternity Suit You" reached the Top 100 in 1970 but they quit soon afterwards. "Jackie's Thing" can also be heard on the excellent Incredible Sound Show Stories #13 compilation. He then recorded enough material for a solo album, which was finally released in 1971 on the little Nationwide label and was highly touted by those who have heard it. Musically speaking not much was heard about him since. As far as I understood he changed his instruments with brushes and found fulfillment in paintings but in 2010 he reformed his first band 5 Sided Circle for a few gigs. World in Sound re-issued his album in 2001 (World in Sound WIS 1009) with two bonus tracks from his lone single. The music is a mishmash of different styles, ranging from Psychedelic (Silver/Yeah Captain) to Folk/Singer/Songwriter (The Gun/P.I.P./Living On A Strain) or Prog influenced Pop/Rock (Now/Digging). It seems he didn't know in which direction he should go and it's no wonder that Trevor McNamara itself didn't like "Yeah Captain". To my ears it's not that bad and there are some pleasant cuts on the album but it's also not fully convincing and especially no lost gem.

Tracklist:
- Silver
- Waking
- The Gun
- 15
- Jackie's Thing [From The Pop Opera 'Piano']
- Joseph Blackwell
- Riding To Athenbury
- Yeah Captain, Pt. 1
- Now
- P.I.P.
- Cavalier
- Digging
- I'm Very Sane Thank You
- Black Girl
- Sinners
- Living On A Strain
- Yeah Captain, Pt. 2
- Morocco [bonus]
- Country Corn [bonus]

Personnel:
Trevor McNamara
(bs, cello, drms, flute, gtr, keyb'ds, sax, vcls)

Origin:
Adelaide (South Australia)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Yeah Captain (Nationwide NLP 029) 1971

45's:
1. Morocco/Country Corn (Nationwide NSP-041) 1971

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Silver

Pilgrims - Telling Youth... The Truth (1962-67)

2011-11-08T10:54:00.005+01:00

Rock; Christianity; guitars; church... in the 21st century these words don't seem odd together. But, in 1961 rock meant "devil music" and church meant "boring". The Pilgrims changed all that. Raise among the world-war bombsites of southeast London, the five "Pilgrims" were part of the first generation to be called "teenagers". The swinging sixties had started and it was not cool to be Christian. These full-blooded teenagers with a love for rock music became christians but opted not to conform. They put faith and rock together and changed christian music for good. The Pilgrims were the first wholly electric Christian rock group and shocked the churches of their day. Later bands broke through into mainstream recording, radio and TV, but The Pilgrims were breaking traditions and taboos. After playing at a church service attended by Princess Margaret the group were condemned on national radio by a Countess (no less!). But The Pilgrims didn't want upper class approval; they spoke to their own generation in a language they understood. The group played in churches, to be sure, but their favourite audiences were in beat clubs and dives where nobody was pretending to be holy. When you listen to The Pilgrims you can sense the rawness and enthusiasm of a newfound faith; nut the music is polished and professional. They put heart and soul into their playing and wanted to be the best. At a 1966 concert in a 2,500-seat auditorium opposite Westminster Abbey they were feted as "not only the best, but also the LOUDEST Christian group". [..]
taken from the liner notes

The Pilgrims have all my sympathy. Except for the lyrics you would'nt believe that they came from the Christian environment. The music leans towards early UK R&B/Beat but with a sound that is closer to american garage bands. Not every track on this CD (LRL 001 / 2004) is a winner but songs like "Hey You", "Thank You Lord" or "There's Something In Your Life" will satisfy every garage-head and lovers of raw and wild Beat. On this occasion I would like to recommend you the highly enjoyable UK Xian Beat compilation on the excellent Roots And Traces: Spurensicherung blogspot.

Tracklist:
- Hey You!
- Thank You Lord
- Heaven's The Place For Me • Version 2
- There's Someone In Your Life
- I Didn't Care
- Think It Over • Version 2
- Wait And See
- Do You Believe In God?
- Heard It All Before
- Any Time Of The Day
- Who's Your Lord?
- I Know I'm Going To Heaven
- He Wants You
- I Don't Need You
- What Are You Doing With Your Life?
- Think Of God's Love
- I Praise The Lord
- Don't You Think It's Time
- Heaven's The Place For Me • Version 1
- I Found A Special Friend
- Think It Over • Version 1

Personnel:
Derrick Phillips (rhythm gtr, vcls) [ABC]
Don Sanders (lead gtr, bs) [ABCD]
Ian Wilkie (drms, vcls) [ABCD]
John Hubbard (bs, vcls) [AB]
Chris King (vcls) [A]
Tony Goodman (vcls, lead gtr, hrmnca) [BCD]

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
45's:
1. Heaven's The Place For Me/Think Of God's Love
(Herald 2416) 1964

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to There's Someone In Your Life

V.A. - California Love-In Vol. 3

2011-10-31T22:19:00.004+01:00

The third "Love-In" volume keeps the good standard of the previous releases. That means unknown and (still) uncompiled music from the Californian sixties. Bands like Canterbury Fair, Morning Glory or Peppermint Trolley Co. are no unknowns for the '60s connoisseur and you will also get your kicks with Joyride's excellent cover of The Doors' "Crystal Ship", the unusual but great "We Chose To Walk" by Zone 26 or Earth Island's non-album track "Doomsday Afternoon". Info on some bands is still hard to find but Jonathan Cole was the writer for Joyrides third and last single "Land of Rypap Papyr" and also responsible for Sound Sandwich's excellent "Apothecary Dream". Maybe there's a link betweens these two bands but it's just a guess. A nice and pleasant collection with 25 titles this is recommended for "Soft Sounds For Gentle People" addicts.

Tracklist:
1. Aggregation – Maharishi
taken from the single Sunshine Superman/Maharishi (LHI 1209) 1968
Line-up: LeWayne Braun (lead gtr, vcls), Dale Burt (piano, organ, vcls), Bayard Gregory (drms, timpani, bongos, tambourine, vcls), Leo Potts (flute, clarinet, sax, recorder, kazoo, vcls), Lemoyne Taylor (flute, clarinet, sax, slide whistle, vcls). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
2. Joyride – Crystal Ship
taken from the single
The Crystal Ship/Coming Soon (World Pacific 77877) 1967
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
3. Thorinshield – Life Is A Dream
taken from the single The Best Of It/Life Is A Dream (Philips 40492) 1967
Line-up: James Smith (gtr, vcls), Bobby Ray (bs, vcls), Terry Hand (drms, vcls). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
4. Chocolate Tunnel - Ostrich People
taken from the single
Highly Successful Young Rupert White/Ostrich People
(In-Sound 403/Era 3185) 1967
Line-up incl.: Kenny Johnson (lead gtr, vcls), Jerry Ritchie (bs).
Band origin: Bakersfield (California)
5. Zone 26 – Chose To Walk
taken from the single
Chose To Walk/When The World Turns Cold (World Pacific 77896) 1967
Line-up incl.: Brian Monsour (keyb'ds). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
6. Power – She Is The Color
taken from the single
Children Ask [If He Is Dead]/She Is The Color
(Showplace WS 218/MGM K 13815) 1967
Line-up: Robin Johnston (lead gtr, vcls), John Romero (lead vcls, gtr), Joe Romero (bs, vcls), Jim Sanchez (keyb'ds, vcls), Joe Rodriguez (drms, vcls).
Band origin: Torrance/Hawthorne (California)
7. Earth Island – Doomsday Afternoon
taken from the single
Doomsday Afternoon/Tuesday Afternoon (Philips DJP 62 40673) 1970
Line-up: Bruce Doshier (lead gtr, flute, vcls), Bill Liska (gtr, vcls), Richard Vanderwoerdt (gtr, keyb'ds, vcls), Nicholas Rush (drms, vcls).
Band origin: Canada → Los Angeles (California)
8. Morning Glory – I See A Light
taken from the single Need Someone/I See A Light (Fontana 1613) 1968
Line-up: Gini Graybeal (lead vcls, cymbals, tamb), Bob Bohanna (bs, gtr, vcls), Larry Gerughty (organ, piano, harpsichord, vcls), Allen Wehr (drms).
Band origin: San Francisco (California)
9. Elfstone - Beat The Clock
taken from the single
Louisiana Teardrops/Beat The Clock (World Pacific 77912) 1968
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
10. Canterbury Fair – Days I Love
taken from the single Song On A May Morning/Days I Love (Koala 8081) 1968
Line-up: Phillip Hollingsworth (bs, keyb'ds, vcls), John Hollingsworth (keyb'ds, vcls), Joe Lo Freso (keyb'ds), Sean Corsaro (drms).
Band origin: Fresno (California)
11. Lewis & Clarke Expedition – Daddy's Plastic Child
taken from the single
Daddy's Plastic Child/Gypsy Song Man (Colgems 1028) 1968
Line-up: Ken Bloom (lead gtr, autoharp, clarinet, sax, flute, organ), Boomer Clarke [aka Owen Castleman] (gtr, perc, vcls), Travis Lewis [aka Michael Martin Murphy] (gtr, hrmnca, vcls), John London (gtr, bs, perc), Johnny Raines (drms, perc). Band origin: Dallas (Texas)
12. Gale Garnett - I Make Him Fly
taken from the single The Sun Is Gray/I Make Him Fly (RCA 47-9020) 1967
Line-up incl.: Gale Zoë Garnett (vcls), Mike Deasy (gtr), Van Dyke Parks (keyb'ds), Earl Palmer (drms). Origin: Los Angeles (California)
13. Rejoice – Golden Gate Park
taken from the single Golden Gate Park/Sonora (Dunhill D-4158) 1968
Line-up incl.: Tom Brown (vcls), Nancy Brown (vcls), Michael Patrick Moore (drms). Additional musicians: Hal Blaine (drms), Joe Osborne (bs), Larry Knechtel (piano). Band origin: Marin County (California)
14. Looking Glass - If I Never Love Again
taken from the single
Silver And Sunshine [How Wonderful Is Our Love]/If I Never Love Again
(Valiant 750) 1967
Line-up: Ron Andre (vcls), Bonnie Andre [aka Bonnie Donato] (vcls), Linda Donato (vcls). Band origin: Sacramento (California)
15. Peppermint Trolley Co. - It's A Lazy Summer Day
taken from the single It's A Lazy Summer Day/Blue Eyes (Acta 809) 1967
Line-up: Danny Faragher (vcls, clavinet, organ, trombone, piano, perc), Jimmy Faragher (vcls, bs, perc), Casey Cunningham (drms, perc). Additional musician: James Fleming Rasmussen (gtr).
Band origin: Redlands (California)
16. Knack – Pretty Daisy
taken from the single Pretty Daisy/Banana Man (Capitol 5940) 1967
Line-up: Mike Chain (lead vcls, gtr), Dink Kaplan (gtr), Larry Gould (bs, vcls), Pug Baker (drms). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
17. Family Album – Get Together
taken from the single Get Together/Mind Beside Mine (December 875) 1967
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: California
18. Chris & Craig – I Need You
taken from the single Isha/I Need You (Capitol 5694) 1966
Line-up incl.: Craig Smith (gtr, vcls), Chris Ducey (gtr, vcls).
Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
19. Zone 26 – When The World Turns Cold
See Track 5
20. Carmel Covered Popcorn – Suzie Q
taken from the single Suzie Q/Looking For A Place (Vistone 2055) 1968
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
21. People – Riding High
taken from the single Organ Grinder/Riding High (Capitol 5920) 1967
Line-up: Gene Mason (vcls), Larry Norman (vcls), Jeoff Levin (gtr), Robb Levin (bs), Albert Ribisi (organ), Denny Fridkin (drms).
Band origin: San Jose (California)
22. Yankee Dollar – Mucky Truckee River
taken from the single
Mucky Truckee River/Reflections Of A Shattered Mind (Dot 17213) 1969
Line-up: Liza Gonzales (vcls), Dave Riordan (vcls), Greg Likins (gtr), Bill Reynolds (bs), Bill Masuda (organ), Nick Alexander (drms).
Band origin: San Luis Obispo (California)
23. Knack - Banana Man
See Track 16
24. Meditations – Transcendental Meditation
taken from the single
Transcendental Meditation/Beautiful Experience
(World Pacific 77876) 1967
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: California
25. Aggregation – Sunshine Superman
See Track 1

Get it here

Listen to Zone 26 – Chose To Walk

Listen to Canterbury Fair – Days I Love

Wild Cherries - That's Life (1965-68)

2011-10-23T19:43:00.004+02:00

The Wild Cherries started as a R&B combo in 1964. In their early days they often shared the gigs with The Purple Hearts. After a radical line-up change only founding member Les Gilbert remained and took over the keyboards. Lead guitarist Lobby Loyde (aka Barry Lyde) came from the Purple Hearts and as a five piece they released their first two singles in 1967. With new bass player John Phillips two more 45's followed a year later. The band went through a series of personnel changes and at the end of 1969 they finally call it quits. Lobby Loyde reformed the band as a power trio in 1971 but after a lone single the band finally falling apart. Half A Cow Records, who was responsible for the great Purple Hearts release "Benzedrine Beat", put out a complete discography (except the '71 recordings) of the Wild Cherries material (Half A Cow HAC 113 / 2007). Sad to say that "That's Life" didn't live up to my expectations. It is said that they were an adventurous and breathtaking live-band but on their recordings it seems that they couldn't unlock the handbrake. The strangely titled debut "Krome Plated Yabby" is not bad but nothing exceptional. The follow-up "That's Life" is far better and like its predecessor very much in the Cream style. The A-side of their third single "Gotta Stop Lying" is the best song to my ears and not unlike british psych-influenced Freak Beat. The 16 unreleased tracks, nine of them live, are more thrilling than their official releases. Especially their version of "Tobacco Road" is rough-as-guts and the live-version of "Without You" lives up for the name "Wild" Cherries. The CD comes with a 36 booklet and extensive liner notes.

Tracklist:
- Krome Plated Yabby
- Everything I Do Is Wrong
- That's Life
- Try Me (I'm Not as Bad as You Think)
- Gotta Stop Lying
- Time Killer
- I Don't Care
- Theme for a Merry-Go-Round
- Without You
- Coming Home Baby
- Tobacco Road
- Worried Blues
- You Don't Love Me
- Get Out of My Life
- Bye Bye Bird
- Without You [version 2] • live
- I'm Your Kingpin • live
- Mad Man Blues • live
- Tobacco Road • live
- Parchman Farm • live
- Smokestack Lightning • live
- My Generation • live
- Ain't Got You • live
- Baby Please Don't Go • live

Personnel:
John Bastow (vcls, hrmnca) [AB]
Malcolm McGee (lead gtr, vcls) [AB]
Rob Lovett (rhythm gtr, vcls) [AB]
Les Gilbert (bs, organ) [ABCD]
Geoff Hales (drms) [A]
Kevin Murphy (drms) [B]
Danny Robinson (vcls) [CD]
Lobby Loyde (lead gtr) [CDEG]
Peter Eddy (bs) [C]
Keith Barber (drms) [CD]
John Phillips (bs) [D]
Matt Taylor (vcls) [E]
Barry Sullivan (lead gtr, rhythm gtr, bs) [EF]
Steve Pristash (bs) [EF]
Barry Harvey (drms) [E]
Brian Wilson (lead vcls) [F]
Tim Piper (gtr) [F]
Teddy Toi (bs) [G]
Johnny Dick (drms) [G]

Band origin:
Melbourne (Victoria/Australia)

Discographie:
45's:
1. (C) Krome Plated Yabby/Everything I Do Is Wrong
   (Festival FK 1879) 1967
2. (C) That's Life/Try Me (Festival FK 2052) 1967
3. (D) Gotta Stop Lying/Time Killer
   (Festival FK 2258) 1968
4. (D) I Don't Care/Theme For A Merry Go Round
   (Festival FK 2535) 1968
5. (G) I Am The Sea (Stop Killing Me)/Daily Planet
   (Havoc H 1006) 1971

E.P.'s:
1. (C) Krome Plated Yabby (Festival FX 11422) 1967

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Gotta Stop Lying

Saturday's Children - 2 E.P.-Set (1966-67)

2011-10-14T17:39:00.006+02:00

From Chicago/Illinois, the Saturday's Children were a pleasant pop group, clearly influenced by The Beatles' "Rubber Soul" era. They released three singles on the Dunwich label and the unreleased "A Man With Money" appeared later on the retrospective compilation Early Chicago in 1971. These eight tracks are from the Sundazed double E.P. (Sundazed SEP-2 126 / 1997) and contains all their material.

Tracklist:
- You Don't Know Better
- Born On Saturday
- I Hardly Know Her
- Leave That Baby Alone
- A Man With Money
- Tomorrow Is Her Name
- Christmas Sounds
- Deck Five

Personnel:
Ron Holder (gtr, vcls)
Dave Carter (gtr)
Jeff Boyan (bs, vcls)
Rick Goettler (organ)
George Paluch (drms)

Band origin:
Chicago (Illinois/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. You Don't Know Better/Born On Saturday
(Dunwich 139) 1966
2. Deck Five/Christmas Sounds (Dunwich 144) 1966
3. Leave That Baby Alone/I Hardly Know Her
(Dunwich 156) 1967

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Christmas Sounds

V.A. - Beat The Road, Jack

2011-09-18T20:16:00.002+02:00

Along with Pebbles Vol. 19 and the two Copenhagen Beat compilations this is one of the better offerings of '60s Garage/R&B/Beat music from Denmark (Jacks Beat 5006 / 2001). Frost Records later came up with a complete label-anthology with over 250 songs that contains 10 percent good and 90 percent average or at worst rubbish tracks. Not so with this release which is a best of Jack's Beat Records, a label led by Jack Fridthjorf.

Tracklist:
1. Jack & The Outlaws - Step Into My Heart
taken from the single
Step Into My Heart/I Need A Girl (Jacks Beat BR 1002) 1965
Line-up incl.: Jack Fridthjorf (vcls)
Band origin: Nykøbing Mors (Nordjylland/Denmark)
2. Victors - Cara-Lin
taken from the single
Cara-Lin/Rhythm Of Love (Jacks Beat Records BR 1012) 1966
Line-up: Torkil Brandes (lead vcls), Erik Degn-Christensen (lead gtr), Ruddy Hansen (rhythm gtr), Jørn Clausen (bs), Jan Krarup (drms).
Band origin: Aarhus (Midtjylland/Denmark)
3. Les Candidates - I'll Go Now
taken from the single
I'll Go Now/Den røde Baron (Jacks Beat BR 1039) 1967
Line-up: Kurt Jakobsen (lead vcls, bs), Mogens Sigård (lead gtr, vcls), Erik Gravengård (rhythm gtr, vcls), Allan Pedersen (drms).
Band origin: Esbjerk (Syddanmark/Denmark)
4. Some Kind - En Skillingsvise
taken from the single
Can't Explain/En Skillingsvise (Jacks Beat BR 1035) 1967
Line-up: Niels Grejs Nielsen (lead vcls, lead gtr), Leif P. Hansen (bs), Finn Vestergaard Larsen (rhythm gtr, vcls), Ole Nygaard (drms).
Band origin: Odense (Syddanmark/Denmark)
5. Sioux - Long Tall Shorty
taken from the V.A.-Album Top Hits (Jacks Beat BRLP 5001) 1965
Line-up: Herbert Wakefield (lead vcls, rhythm gtr), Torben Søgård Jensen (lead gtr), Ole Madsen (bs), Jan Kildebogaard (drms).
Band origin: Børkop (Syddanmark/Denmark)
6. Jack & The Bulwers - The Way It Feels
taken from the single
The Way It Feels/Det Er Mig (Jacks Beat BR 1069) 1968
Line-up: Jack Fridthjorf (vcls), Lars Sørensen (lead gtr), Eigil Knudsen (rhythm gtr, vcls), Jan Baad (bs, vcls), Keld Sørensen (drms).
Band origin: Silkeborg (Midtjylland/Denmark)
7. All Rounds - I Love You
taken from the E.P.
Everybody/Feel Like Crying/What I See/I Love You
(Jacks Beat BR 1005) 1965
Line-up: Kaj Kjærgård (lead vcls), Hans Christian Fredborg (lead gtr), Bent Ove Sørensen (rhythm gtr), Flemming Jensen (bs), Hugo Christensen (drms).
Band origin: Hjørring (Nordjylland/Denmark)
8. Poisons - Call My Name
taken from the single
Call My Name/Reach Out I'll Be There (Jacks Beat BR 1051) 1967
Line-up: Henning Stærk Jacobsen (lead vcls), Johnny Thingsager Madsen (lead gtr), Poul Svane (rhythm gtr, organ), Erik Boas Pedersen (bs, vcls), Jørgen Peter Jørgensen (drms).
Band origin: Holstebro (Midtjylland/Denmark)
9. Group Seven - Funny Mae
taken from the Mini-album Group Seven (Jacks Beat Records BR 1029) 1966
Line-up: Benny "Dean" Ranch Andersen (lead vcls), Jørgen Quist (lead gtr), Chris Weile (rhythm gtr), Bent Olufsen (bs), Kurt Vittrup (drms).
Band origin: Randers (Midtjylland/Denmark)
10. Mat's - It's Not True
taken from the single
Rescue Me/It's Not True (Jacks Beat Records BR 1017) 1966
Line-up: Mads Hove Jeppesen (lead gtr), Svend Erik Sørensen (rhythm gtr, vcls), Poul "Noller" Hwass Hansen (bs), Bent Pedersen (drms).
Band origin: Thisted (Nordjylland/Denmark)
11. All Rounds - Everybody
See Track 7
12. Jack & The Outlaws - I Need A Girl
See Track 1
13. Gipsies - Ain't That A Shame
taken from the single
Ain't That A Shame/Loosers (Jacks Beat Records BR 1018) 1966
Line-up: Ernst Lillienskjorld Larsen (lead gtr, vcls), Carsten Schøn (rhythm gtr), Jan Englund Norré (gtr, vcls), Ole Borregaard (bs), Carl Gunnar Skadelund (drms). Band origin: Aalborg (Nordjylland/Denmark)
14. Black Four - Black Devil
taken from the V.A.-Album Top Hits (Jacks Beat BRLP 5001) 1965
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Horsens (Midtjylland/Denmark)
15. Mad Sound - To Masturbate
taken from the single
To Masturbate/Summertime (Jacks Beat Records BR 1080) 1968
Line-up: Finn Hansen (lead vcls), Poul Werner Laursen (lead gtr), Peter Lange Møller (rhythm gtr, vcls), Per Hugo Nielsen (bs), Benny Elmstrøm Lund (drms). Band origin: Grenå (Midtjylland/Denmark)
16. Jack - Protest
taken from the single
Trains/Someone/Protest (Jacks Beat BR 1009) 1966
Line-up/Band origin: See Track 1

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Les Candidates - I'll Go Now

Listen to Mad Sound - To Masturbate

Wilde Flowers (1965-69)

2011-09-12T20:40:00.004+02:00

An influential band from Canterbury/Kent that underwent a fluctuate line-up and served as a stepping stone for most of the members to the better known Soft Machine and Caravan. The Wilde Flowers never made an official release up to 1994 as Voiceprint put out a collection of demos from 1965-69 (Voiceprint VP 123 CD). The majority of the tracks were recorded 65/66 and although the instrumentation is in the typical Beatsound, Robert Wyatt's and Kevin Ayers' vocal treatments had already that special Canterbury-style (it's up to you if you like it or not). I must admit that this release is more an artefact and rather of historical interest. There are a few notable songs, though: "Those Words They Say" and "Time After Time" get the full Beat treatment, "Impotence" has all the indications for the later Soft Machine adventures while the best and one of their earliest songs "He's Bad For You" is a haunting R&B ballad that would had fitted perfectly on a Captain Beefheart setlist.

Tracklist:
- Impotence (1969)
- Those Words They Say (1966)
- Memories (1966)
- Don't Try To Change Me (1965)
- Parchman Farm (1965)
- Almost Grown (1965)
- She's Gone (1965)
- Slow Walkin' Talk (1965)
- He's Bad For You (1965)
- It's What I Feel [A Certain Kind] (1965)
- Memories [Instrumental] (1965)
- Never Leave Me (1966)
- Time After Time (1966)
- Just Where I Want (1966)
- No Game When You Lose (1966)
- Impotence (1966)
- Why Do You Care (1968)
- The Pieman Cometh (1968)
- Summer Spirit (1968)
- She Love To Hurt (1969)
- The Big Show (1969)
- Memories (1969)

Personnel:
Graham Flight (vcls) [A]
Brian Hopper (gtr, sax) [ABCDE]
Hugh Hopper (bs) [ABCD]
Richard Sinclair (gtr) [AB]
Robert Wyatt (drms) [ABC]
Kevin Ayers (vcls) [B]
Richard Coughlan (drms) [CDE]
Pye Hastings (gtr, sax) [CDE]
Dave Lawrence (bs, vcls) [CDE]
Dave Sinclair (keyb'ds) [E]

Band origin:
Canterbury (Kent/UK)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. The Wilde Flowers (Voiceprint VP 123 CD) 1994

[1. recorded 1965-69]

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to He's Bad For You

Quarteto 1111 - Singles and EPs (1967-72)

2011-08-29T22:47:00.003+02:00

A band from Portugal with a strong Moody Blues influence. Their output spans nearly a dozen Singles/EPs and two albums, the first in the soft-rock/pleasant psych mould, the latter with a more symphonic Prog vibe (I would recommend the first). This release (World Psychedelia WPC 68490 / 2005) contains the best from their 45's and if you like the music of their english contemporaries then you will be rightly served here. Not every track is a winner but songs like "Os Faunos", "Balada Para D. Inês", "Dona Vitória" and especially "Ode To The Beatles" are quite worthwhile.

Tracklist:
- A Lenda De El-Rei D. Sebastião
- Os Faunos
- Gente
- Balada Para D. Inês
- Partindo-Se
- Dona Vitória
- Nas Terras Do Fim Do Mundo
- Meu Irmão
- Domingo Em Bidonville
- João Nada
- As Trovas Do Vento Que Passa
- Epílogo
- Back To The Country
- Ode To The Beatles
- Uma Nova Maneira De Encarar O Mundo

Personnel:
António Moniz Pereira (gtr) [ABCDE]
Jorge Moniz Pereira (bs) [A]
José Cid (keyb'ds, vcls) [ABCDE]
Miguel Artur da Silveira (drms) [ABCD]
Mário Rui Terra (bs) [B]
Tózé Brito (bs) [CDE]
Mike Seargent (gtr) [E]
Guilherme Inês (drms) [E]

Band origin:
Estoril (Portugal)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. (B) Quarteto 1111 (Columbia 8E 062-40037) 1970
2. (E) Onde, Quando, Como, Porquê Cantamos Pessoas Vivas
   (Decca SLPDP 5016) 1974

45's:
1. (A) Meu Irmão/Ababilah (Columbia/EMI ) 1968
2. (B) Nas Terras Do Fim Do Mundo/Bissaide
   (Columbia/EMI 45 ML 245) 1969
3. (B) Génese/Os Monstros Sagrados
   (Columbia/EMI 8 E 006-40035 M) 1969
4. (B) Todo O Mundo E Ninguém/É Tempo De Pensar Em Termos
   De Futuro (Columbia 8E 006-40080 M) 1970
5. (D) Back To The Country/Everybody Needs Love, Peace
   And Food (Columbia 8E 006-40088 M) 1970
6. (D) Ode To The Beatles/1111
   (Columbia 8E 006-40140) 1971
7. (D) Sabor A Povo/Uma Nova Maneira De Encarar O Mundo
   (Columbia 8E 006-40250) 1972

E.P.'s:
1. (A) A Lenda de El-Rei D. Sebastião/Os Faunos/
   Fantasma «POP»/Gente (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2289) 1967
2. (A) Balada Para D. Inês/Partindo-se/
   Vale da Ilusão/Dragão (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2304) 1968
3. (B) Guarda Nocturno/Perspectiva/Tempo de Inocência/
   Dona Vitória (Columbia/EMI SLEM 2325) 1968
4. (B) João Nada/Estrada Para A Minha Aldeia/Domingo Em
   Bidonville/Epílogo (Columbia/EMI E 016-40059) 1970

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Ode To The Beatles

V.A. - California Love-In Vol. 2

2011-08-19T14:43:00.006+02:00

More psychedelic and pop sounds from the Californian underground '60s scene. In addition to better known groups such as The Travel Agency, Gale Garnett & The Gentle Reign, Damon or the excellent Stone Country there are some great songs from The Californians, Hinge, Waphphle or Initial Shock.

Tracklist:
1. Travel Agency - What's A Man
taken from the single What's A Man/She Understands (Viva 637) 1969
Line-up incl.: Steve Haehl (lead gtr, vcls), Frank Lupica (drms), Michael S. Aydelotte. Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
2. Gale Garnett And The Gentle Reign - Breaking Through
taken from the single
Breaking Through/Fall In Love Again (Columbia 44479) 1969
Line-up: Gale Garnett (lead vcls), Bruce Horiuchi (lead gtr, kazoo), Bob Ingram (gtr), Tony Hill (keyb'ds), Michael Aragon (drms).
Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
3. The Californians - Nausea Beast
taken from the single Glass Disguise/Nausea Beast (Crazy Horse 1318) 1969
Line-up incl.: Richard Bastrup (gtr), Jim Ferguson (gtr), Curt Pickelle (bs), Doug Brown (sax, keyb'ds), Steve Schmit (drms).
Band origin: Anaheim (California/US)
4. Damon - Oh What A Good Boy Am I
taken from the single
Song Of A Gypsy/Oh, What A Good Boy Am I (Ankh 1) 1969
Line-up incl.: Damon [real name David Del Conte] (vcls, gtr).
Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
5. Stone Country - Love Psalm
taken from the single Love Psalm/Magnolias (RCA 47-9472) 1968
Line-up: Steve Young (lead gtr, vcls), Doug Brooks (rhythm gtr, vcls), Richard Lockmiller (gtr), Dann Barry (bs, vcls), Don Beck (banjo), Dennis Conway (drms). Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
6. Hinge - Now Let Me Love You
taken from the single
Now Let Me Love You/I'll Pretend (Highland 1194) 1968
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
7. Stained Glass – Lonely
[demo / 1966]
Line-up: Bob Rominger (gtr), Jim McPherson (bs, vcls), Dennis Carrasco (drms). Band origin: San Jose (California/US)
8. Boston Tea Party - Don't Leave Me Alone
taken from the single Is It Love/Don't Leave Me Alone (Fona 311) 1967
Line-up: Travis Fields (vcls), Mike Stevens (lead gtr), Richard de Perna (bs), Robert de Perna (organ), Dave Novogroski (drms).
Band origin: Burbank (California/US)
9. Waphphle - Going Down
taken from the single Goin' Down/I Want You (Elektra 45616) 1967
Line-up: Glenn Strawn (lead gtr), Brian Barmby (bs), Jack Giere (vcls, keyb'ds), Rick Jagla (drms). Band origin: Sacramento (California/US)
10. Unwritten Law - Action Speaks Louder
taken from the single
This Whole World Is Blind/Action Speaks Louder (Strata 106) 197?
Line-up incl.: Luther Burbank (vcls, gtr).
Band origin: Burlingame (California/US)
11. Initial Shock – You've Been A Long Time Comin'
taken from the single
You've Been A Long Time Comin'/I Once Asked (BFD 2022) 1967
Line-up: Mojo Collins (gtr, organ, vcls), George Wallace (lead gtr), Steve Garr (bs), Brian Knaff (drms).
Band origin: Missoula (Montana) → San Francisco (California/US)
12. Ferguson Tractor - Desperation Blues
taken from the single
12 O'Clock High/Desperation Blues (MTA 169) 1969
Line-up incl.: D. Ferguson. Band origin: California
13. Mount Rushmore – Rough Rider
[demo / 1967]
Line-up: Glen Smith (vcls), Mike Bolan (lead gtr), Terry Kimball (bs), Travis Fullerton (drms). Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
14. Stone Country - Life Stands Daring Me
taken from the single
Life Stands Daring Me/Time Isn't There [Anymore] (RCA 47-9301) 1967
Line-up/Band origin: See Track 5
15. Californians - Glass Disguise
See Track 3
16. Laughing Wind – The Bells
taken from the single John Works Hard/The Bells (Tower 315) 1967
Line-up: Dan Harris (gtr, vcls), Shaun Harris (gtr, bs, vcls), Michael Lloyd (keyb'ds, gtr, vcls). Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
17. Thorinshield - Family Of Man
taken from the single
Family Of Man/Lonely Mountain Again (Philips 40521) 1968
Line-up: James Smith (gtr, vcls), Bobby Ray (bs, vcls), Terry Hand (drms, vcls). Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
18. Bethlehem Exit - Walk Me Out
taken from the single
Walk Me Out/Blues Concerning My Girl (Jabberwock 110) 1966
Line-up: John Tomasi (lead vcls, harp), Pete Sultzbach (gtr), Dave Wilkie (bs), Chris Ingstrom (drms). Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
19. Travel Agency - She Understands
See Track 1
20. nePenthe - Good Morning Baby
taken from the single
Good Morning Baby/Slow It Down (Direction D-4003) 1970
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: California
21. Peter Fonda - Catch The Wind
taken from the single November Nights/Catch The Wind (Chisa 004) 1967
Line-up incl.: Peter Fonda (vcls), Hugh Masekela (trumpet).
Origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
22. California Bear - Hand My Head
taken from the single Hand My Head/Virgin Dreams (M&H MH-101) 1969
Line-up incl.: Bruce Terry. Band origin: Riverside (California/US)
23. Stone Country - Time Isn't There (Anymore)
See Track 14
24. Instant Ralston – Mariposa
taken from the single Mariposa/Rock And Mole (Scepter 12338) 1971
Line-up incl.: Gerry Ralston (vcls). Band origin: California
25. Randy S & The Westwood Paper - Haight Ashbury Blues
taken from the single
Haight Ashbury Blues/ Haight Ashbury Blues instrumental
(American Gramophone 6-667) 1967
Line-up incl.: Randy Sparks. Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
26. Crystal Fountain – Sensations
taken from the single The Night Behind Us/Sensations (acetate) 1967
Line-up incl.: Wendy Flower (lead vcls), Bonnie Flower (drms).
Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)

Get it here

Listen to Californians - Nausea Beast

Listen to Initial Shock – You've Been A Long Time Comin'

Moon's Train (1967)

2011-08-14T00:39:00.005+02:00

Peter 'Moon' Gosling was the vocalist, keyboardist and mastermind behind Moon's Train and wrote most of the songs with Stones bassist Billy Wyman, who managed and produced this Beckenham/London group. Their only official release for MGM in 1967, the 45 "Deed I Do/It's In Her Mind" went nowhere. The band had enough material for an intended album but after Gosling and Wyman had drifted apart it remained in the can. In 1998 Tenth Planet released a 16 song album (Tenth Planet TP037) with the proposed tracks from an acetate (except "Marriage Is For Old Folks"). The music is typical soulish Mod, pretty much in the Alan Bown Set mould although I prefer the songs that take the same line as the Small Faces, the powerful "Wait For Me" and especially the anthem-like "My Town". Also included are the Gosling/Wyman compositions "Shades Of Orange" and "Loving, Sacred Loving" as instrumentals, later picked up by The End for their "Introspection" album.

Tracklist:
- The Life I Lead
- Wait For Me
- You Got Me
- Say What I Mean
- Loving, Sacred Loving
- Bakerman
- Telephone Talker
- My Town
- I'm Not The Marrying Kind
- I Get Excited
- My Love For You
- Shades Of Orange
- Home And Dry
- Nervous
- Moanin'
- Memories Of You

Personnel:
Caroline Attard (vcls) [A]
Jernima Smith (vcls) [A]
Lewis Rich (vcls) [A]
Peter 'Moon' Gosling (keyb'ds, vcls) [AB]
Ken Leamon (sax, flute) [AB]
Peter 'Face' Lynton (gtr, bs) [A]
Tony Chapman (drms) [A]
Ian Dibbon (gtr) [B]
Peter Atwood (bs) [B]
Alec Brown (trumpet) [B]
Malcolm Penn (drms) [B]

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
Albums:
1. (B) Moon's Train (MGM acetate) 1967

45's:
1. Deed I Do/It's In Her Mind (MGM 1333) 1967

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to My Town

Penthouse 5 - The WordD Is Love (1966-67)

2011-08-05T09:26:00.005+02:00

Often misspelt as "The World Is Love" this CD (Collectables COL-0683 / 1997) centres around Dallas resident Jon Williams and his involvement in three great garage/acid punk bands, Penthouse 5, By Fives and The WordD. It contains all the singles (except for the By Fives B-Side) and alternate versions as well as unreleased material, which is equally good. The WordD got another airing on the latest Cicadelic release "It's A Happening! - Texas Girls Of The 60's" that is strongly recommended.

Tracklist:
- Bad Girl
- Don't Mess Around With My Dream
- In His Shadow
- I Saw You Walking • by The By Fives
- Keep On Walking (unreleased version) • by WordD
- You're Gonna Make Me • by WordD
- You're Gonna Make Me
- Vertigo Blue Sometime (previously unreleased version)
- It's All My Own Bizarre Dream (prev. unreleased version)
- La, La, La (previously unreleased version)
- Twelve String Jangle (previoulsy unreleased)
- You're Always Around (previously unreleased)
- You're Always Around • by The WordD
- Today Is Just Tomorrow's Yesterday (demo) • by WordD
- Today Is Just Tomorrow's Yesterday (4 track) • by WordD
- The Years Have Passed (backing track)
- It's All My Own Bizarre Dream (demo)
- Don't Mess Around With My Dream (demo) • by Ron Price
- Vertigo Blue Sometime (pbacking track)
- Today Is Just Tomorrow's Yesterday (early rehearsals)

Personnel [Penthouse 5]:
Rob Graham (vcls) [A]
Justin Brown (lead gtr) [A]
Steve Wood (gtr, keyb'ds, vcls) [AB]
Bill Looney (bs) [AB]
Mark Porter (drms) [A]
Jon Williams (lead vcls, keyb'ds, hrmnca) [B]
Richard Keathley (lead gtr, vcls) [B]
Mike Echart (drms) [B]
(Becky Durr (lead vcls) [B]

Band origin:
Dallas (Texas)

Discographie:
45's:
1. (A) Bad Girl/In His Shadow (Solar 7665-4211) 1966
2. (A) You're Gonna Make Me/
Don't Mess Around With My Dream (Hawk 1-1-67) 1967

[2. as Penthouse]

Personnel [The WordD]:
Genie Geer (lead vcls)
Jon Williams (lead vcls, keyb'ds, hrmnca)
Richard Keathley (lead gtr)
Pat Whitefield (bs)
Bob Johnson (drms)

Band origin:
Dallas (Texas)

Discographie:
45's:
1. You're Always Around/You're Gonna Make Me
(Caprice 609V-4983) 1966

Personnel incl. [By Fives]:
Jon Williams (lead vcls)

Band origin:
Dallas (Texas)

Discographie:
45's:
1. I Saw You Walking/That's How Strong My Love Is
(Tomi 106) 1966

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Penthouse 5 - It's All My Own Bizarre Dream

Listen to The WordD - Keep On Walking

V.A. - Biet Het Vol. 2

2011-07-29T10:50:00.004+02:00

Volume 2 (Distortions/Waterpipe) is in the same mould as its predecessor. Good tracks by The Softs, Symptomes, Het or Met & Zonder are accompanied by the pure rubbish of Willem O.P. Schepper, Erik or Tinus Plotseling for instance. Again, the dutch people will have more fun with the lyrics than the foreign speaker.

Tracklist:
1. Spiders - Oze-Wieze-Woze
taken from the single
Oze-Wieze-Woze/Thank You Girl (Fontana YF 278043) 1964
Line-up: Heinz van Tuyl (gtr), Jos Panhuizen (vcls, gtr), Hans Vermeulen (bs), Peter van Breemen (drms).
Band origin: Eindhoven (Noord Brabant/Netherlands)
2. Softs - Kassie Kijken
taken from the single Kassie Kijken/Paarse Broek (Omega 35481) 1966
Line-up: Felix op't Einde (vcls), Peter Bakker (gtr), Klaas Groot (bs), Rene Vlieger (drms). Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
3. Fabien Collin - Ophoepelen
taken from the single Water en brood/Ophoepelen (Passe Partout 010) 1967
Line-up incl.: Fabien Collin (vcls). Origin: Antwerpen (Belgium)
4. Symptomes - Zij Liet Me Staan
taken from the single Paulien/Zij Liet Me Staan (Philips JF 333666) 1967
Line-up: Jan Cornelissen (lead gtr), Martin Cornelissen (rhythm gtr, vcls), Cees in t'Groen (rhythm gtr), Cees Bogers (bs), Henk Ernst (drms).
Band origin: Dongen/Rijen (Noord Brabant/Netherlands)
5. Het - Allen Op Het Kerkhof
taken from the single
Ik Heb Geen Zin Om Op Te Staan/Alleen Op Het Kerkhof
(Fontana 278115 YF) 1965
Line-up: Jacques Zwart (lead vcls), Adri de Hont (gtr), Pim van der Linden (bs), Dennis Witbraad (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
6. Ronnie & De Ronnies - Zo Lui
taken from the single Help! Help!/Zo Lui (Delta DS 1264) 1967
Line-up incl.: Ronnie Schutte.
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
7. Ernie Bender & The Jets - Hey Lulu
taken from the single Strandfeest/Hey Lulu (Fontana YF 278092) 1965
Line-up incl.: Ernie Bender [real name Ernst Beneder].
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
8. 12345 - Hullabaloo!
taken from the single
Neem Me Mee Sexy Natel/Hullabaloo (Fontana YF 278149) 1967
Line-up: Peter Grinwis (vcls), Herman Kroese (lead gtr), Jan van den Broek (rhythm gtr), Leo van de Corput (bs), Henk van Genderen (drms).
Band origin: Breda (Noord Brabant/Netherlands)
9. Joske Harry's & The King Creoles - Louie Louie
taken from the single
Louie Louie/Hoor! Nu Zeg Ik Het Weer (Arsa AR 107) 1964
Line-up incl.: Joske Harris [real name Georges Lisabeth] (gtr, vcls).
Band origin: Brugge (West Vlaanderen/Belgium)
10. Cavaliers - Assepoes
taken from the single Assepoes/Claudette (Imperial IH 641) 1965
Line-up: Piet Souer (vcls, gtr), Ton Sprenger (gtr), Frits van Antwerpen (keyb'ds), Dick Stigter (bs), Cees van Antwerpen (drms).
Band origin: Eindhoven (Noord Brabant/Netherlands)
11. Fabien Collin - Mariwana Maruwana
taken from the single
Mariwana Maruwana/Met jou aan m'n zij (EMI GBP 225) 1967
Line-up/Origin: See Track 3
12. Andre van Duin - Moet ik lopen? [She's About A Mover]
taken from the single
Stoelen stoelen! [Wooly Bully]/Moet ik lopen? [She's About A Mover]
(Philips JF 327894) 1965
Line-up incl.: Andre van Duin (vcls).
Origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
13. Sharks - Pas Op Voor De Sharks
taken from the single
Pas Op Voor De Sharks/Made In USA (Funckler DL 45108) 1963
Line-up: Hans van Tol [aka Tol Hansse] (gtr, vcls), Fred Bachofner (gtr), Ton Schreuder (bs), Clous van Mechelen (sax, piano, gtr), Chris Uittenboogaard (drms). Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
14. Clungels - Geen Cent!
taken from the single
Dat Had Ik Nog Nooit Gedaan/Geen Cent! (Artone DS 25337) 1966
Line-up: Axel van Duin (vcls, gtr), Paul Brachel (gtr), Jaap Gerritsen (bs), Arthur de Groot (piano), Theo Pietersen (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
15. Rolf De Meijer - Leef Alleen Om 'Ja' Te Zeggen
taken from the single
Leef Alleen Om 'Ja' Te Zeggen/Wat Wil Ik Nog Meer (?) 1968
Line-up incl.: Rolf De Meijer. Origin: Netherlands
16. Erik - Hippie Hip
taken from the single Alexander Bell/Hippie Hip (Decca 23727) 1967
Line-up incl.: Erik van Malder (vcls). Origin: Antwerpen (Belgium)
17. 12345 - Neem Me Mee Sexy Natel
See Track 8
18. Confetti Combo - Die Pil
taken from the single
Ik Weet Dat Jij Niet Nee Kan Zeggen/Die Pil (Philips JF 334641) 1969
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Netherlands
19. Babs, Marina & De Hippe Vogels - LSD
taken from the Soundtrack-album De Stunt (Philips 844056 PY) 1967
Line-up: Mary van den Berg (vcls), Marian Berk (vcls), Carola Baay (vcls), Maelys Morel (vcls), Lia Karon (vcls), John Kuipers (vcls), Frank Sanders (vcls), Beer Bossu (vcls), Jan Bolt (vcls).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
20. Softs - Paarse Broek
See Track 2
21. Het - S.O.S.
taken from the single S.O.S/I Call You Bluff (Fontana 278146 YF) 1967
Line-up/Band origin: See Track 5
22. Willem O.P. Schepper - De Tien Geboden
taken from the single
De Tien Geboden/De Pantoffelheld (CNR UH 9853) 1966
Line-up incl.: Willem O.P. Schepper (vcls). Origin: Netherlands
23. Tinus Plotseling - Trip Trap Door De Tulpjes
taken from the single
Trip Trap Door De Tulpjes/Quinn The Eskimo (Havoc SH 149) 1968
Line-up: Tinus Plotseling [aka Peter Tetteroo] (vcls).
Origin: Delft (Zuid Holland/Netherlands)
24. Met & Zonder - Meneertje Pils
taken from the single
Meneertje Pils/Rood En Oranje In De Schemering (Fontana YF 278150) 1967
Line-up: Tony Leroy (gtr), Martijn Dresden (bs, vcls), Hessel de Vries (keyb'ds, vcls), Pierre van den Linden (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
25. Ronnie & De Ronnies - Help! Help!
See Track 6
26. Selfkick - Zo Is Het Toevallig Nog Eens Een Keer
taken from the single
Zo Is Het Toevallig Ook Nog Eens Een Keer/Blues For Us By Us
(Delta DS 1187) 1966
Line-up: Yme de Jong (vcls), Ton van der Woude (lead gtr), Dick Kuyer (rhythm gtr), Fred de la Rie (bs), Wim van Beek (drms).
Band origin: Beverwijk (Noord Holland/Netherlands)

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Symptomes - Zij Liet Me Staan

Listen to Softs - Paarse Broek

Action - Action Speaks Louder Than... (1968)

2011-07-13T21:36:00.005+02:00

I assume that you all know The Action. The Mods and Beat fans love them for their 65-67 recordings respectively the retrospective "Ultimate Action" album, the Psychedelic entusiasts prefer the "Brain" aka "Rolled Gold" releases. "Action Speaks Louder Than..." contains five studio demos from '68 shortly before they became Mighty Baby and was released 1985 on the Castle label (Castle DOJOLP 3). Although it's already the Mighty Baby line-up the sound is better comparable with the "Brain" recordings and highly recommended for every Psychedelic connoisseur. All the tracks were written by Ian Whiteman and presumably recorded as they've picked up the name Azoth for a short while. "The Tapestry of Delights" described it as "a soft, West Coast psychedelic feel with very pleasant harmonies". The tracks also appeared on Big Beats CD re-issue of the first "Mighty Baby" album and if you have this release you don't need necessarily "Action Speaks Louder Than...". If you haven't you should grab these songs for your complete Action discography!

Tracklist:
- Only Dreaming
- Dustbin Full Of Rubbish
- An Understanding Love
- My Favourite Day
- A Saying For Today

Personnel:
Reggie King (vcls) [ABCD]
Peter Watson (lead gtr, vcls) [A]
Alan 'Bam' King (gtr, vcls) [ABCDE]
Mike Evans (bass, gtr) [ABCDE]
Roger Powell (drums, gtr) [ABCDE]
Ian Whiteman (keyb'ds, sax, oboe, clarinet) [CE]
Martin Stone (lead gtr) [DE]

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
Albums:
1. (A/B) The Ultimate Action (Edsel ED 101) 1980
2. (E) Action Speaks Louder Than (Castle DOJOLP 3) 1985
3. ( ) Rolled Gold (Dig The Fuzz Records DIG 025) 1998

[1. singles and unreleased 65-67]
[2. '68 demo recordings]
[3. '67/'68 demo recordings]

45's:
1. (A) Land Of A Thousand Dances/In My Lonely Room
   (Parlophone R 5354) 1965
2. (A) I'll Keep On Holding On/Hey Sha-Lo-Ney
   (Parlophone R 5410) 1966
3. (A) Baby You've Got It/ Since I Lost My Baby
   (Parlophone R 5474) 1966
4. (B) Never Ever/Twenty Fourth Hour
   (Parlophone R 5572) 1967
5. (B) Shadows And Reflections/Something Has Hit Me
   (Parlophone R 5610) 1967
6. (B) Harlem Shuffle/Wasn't It You (Hansa 14321 AT) 1968

[6. German-only release]

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to A Saying For Today

Dave Clark Five (1962-63) + Washington DC's (1964-68)

2011-07-09T08:34:00.008+02:00

There was no real connection between the two bands except that they shared the same label (Ember Records) in their early days. After the Dave Clark Five started to hit the charts high Ember Records used them as a lure to promote the Wahington DC's and released the "Dave Clark Five with The Washington DC's" album. It contains only two songs of the DC5 but eight tracks of The Wahington DC's, who had prior to this release a number 1 hit in Turkey with "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine", but failed to make the charts in England. The LP didn't make any impact too and very little was heard of the group over the next two years. They then got a record deal with CBS and reappear on the scene in '66 with the excellent "32nd Floor" 7-inch, followed by the even superior "Seek And Find" single. Again success eluded them and as a consequence the band headed to the continent where they were seemingly better recognized than in their homeland. The end of '68 saw the release of their final 45, the cool Mod/Freakbeat "I've Done It All Wrong/Anytime". Not long after the group finally split.

The CD-only release on Repertoire (Repertoire REP 4314-WY / 1993) contains the first three DC5 singles, white-bread early '60s Pop if you ask me. More interesting is the tracklist of the Washington DC's (17 tracks in total) that contains their whole output plus 2 unreleased songs.

Tracklist:
[Dave Clark Five]
- Chaquita
- In Your Heart
- First Love
- I Walk The Line
- That's What I Said
- I Knew It All The Time

[Washington DC's]
- Seek And Find
- I Love Gerald Chevin The Great
- 32nd Floor
- Whole Lot More
- Any Time
- I've Done It All Wrong
- Kisses Sweeter Than Wine
- Where Did You Go
- Shimmy Shimmy
- Sweet Little Rock'n'roller
- Yakety Yak
- Little One
- Is It Me
- Have You Seen My Baby
- Carol
- Return To Me
- Have You Seen My Baby [alt. take]

Personnel [Washington DC's]:
Pat Curley (lead gtr) [AB]
Barry Fitzgerald (gtr) [ABCD]
Roger Creed (bs) [AB]
Baz (drms) [A]
Glen Duke (drms) [BC]
Roger Saunders (vcls, lead gtr, keyb'ds) [CD]
Berbie Trott (bs) [C]
Gary Lee Illingworth (keyb'ds) [C]
Walt Monaghan (bs, gtr, keyb'ds) [D]
Brian Hillman (drms) [D]

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
Albums:
1. (C) The Dave Clark Five With The Washington DC's
   (Ember FA 2003) 1965

45's:
1. (B) Kisses Sweeter Than Wine/Where Did You Go
   (Ember EMB S 190) 1964
2. (C) 32nd Floor/Whole Lot More (CBS 202226) 1966
3. (C) Seek And Find/I Love Gerald Chevin The Great
   (CBS 202464) 1967
4. (D) I've Done It All Wrong/Anytime (Domain D 9) 1968

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to I've Done It All Wrong

V.A. - California Love-In

2011-07-01T16:39:00.003+02:00

This unofficial release went about six volumes and was compiled "from members for members" of the (now gone) U-Spaces group. Some illustrious people were involved like Max Waller, Patrick Lundborg or Alec Palao, to name a few. By the time of finishing "California Love-in" contains previously uncompiled or forgotten material of Psychedelic and Pop groups from the californian '60s. For my taste more than half of the material is well worth hearing. As I was never a member of any group or forum I've picked it up a while ago at Soulseek.

Tracklist:
1. The Love-Ins
Cinema Trailer Edit
2. Family Tree - He Spins Around
taken from the single
He Spins Around/She Had To Fly (RCA 9671) 1968
Line-up: Bob Segarini (gtr, vcls, keyb'ds), Mike Dure (gtr), Bill 'Kootch' Troachim (bs, vcls), Jim Decocq (keyb'ds), Van Slatter (drms).
Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
3. Hobbits - Jolly Good Fellow
taken from the single
Frodo Lives/Jolly Good Fellow (ZAR 25) 1967
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: California
4. Gladstone - What A Day
taken from the single Upsome/What A Day (A&M 1061) 1968
Line-up: Ned Torney (gtr, keyb'ds, vcls), Jim Sawyers (gtr), Alan Graham (vcls, bs), Ken Matthew (drms, vcls).
Band origin: San Jose (California/US)
5. Travel Agency - Time
taken from the single Time/Made For You (Tanqueray 20102) 1966
Line-up: Steve Haehl (gtr, vcls), Tom Beal, Busby.
Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
6. Avant Garde - Honey And Gall
taken from the single
Naturally Stoned/Honey And Gall (Columbia 4-44590) 1968
Line-up: Elkin "Bubba" Fowler (vcls), Chuck Woolery (vcls) + session musicians. Band origin: California
7. Ariel - It Feels Like I'm Crying
taken from the single
I Love You/It Feels Like I'm Crying (Brent 7060) 1966
Line-up: Jack Walters (lead gtr), Chris Guiver, Paul Studebaker, Dennis Studebaker. Band origin: Burlingame (California/US)
8. Now - I Want
taken from the single
I Want/Like A Flying Bird (Embassy C-1968) 1968
Line-up: Frank Straight (lead gtr), David Zandonatti (bs, vcls), Oliver McKinney (keyb'ds), Randy Guzman [aka Randy Gordon] (drms).
Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
9. Tow-Away Zone - Searchin'
taken from the single Searchin'/Shabd (Epic 5-10369) 1968
Line-up: Phil Franks (gtr), Bjorn Nymann (gtr), Randy Molitor (bs), Bill DeHaan (drms). Band origin: San Leandro (California/US)
10. Weathervane - My Original Blue Jeans
taken from the single
4-4,4-5/My Original Blue Jeans (Plamie P 1026) 1968
Line-up: Kevin Beamish (lead gtr), Bob Wilson (rhythm gtr), Ed Bowman (bs), Steffen Presley (organ), Mike O'Bryan (drms, lead vcls).
Band origin: Modesto (California/US)
11. Vandells - American Eagle
taken from the single
Hunter's Fox/American Eagle (Bay Town BT 021/022) 1969
Line-up: Drew Serb (lead gtr), Joe Serb (rhythm gtr, lead vcls), Mike Raffanelli (bs), Gary Raffanelli (organ), Paul George (drms).
Band origin: Richmond (California/US)
12. Stained Glass - Mediocre Me
taken from the single
A Scene In Between/Mediocre Me (RCA Victor 47-9354) 1967
Line-up: Bob Rominger (gtr), Jim McPherson (bs, vcls), Dennis Carrasco (drms). Band origin: San Jose (California/US)
13. Spring Fever - You Made My Life
taken from the single Stop!/You Made My Life (Capitol 2337) 1968
Line-up incl.: David Bryan Orgill.
Band origin: Salt Lake City (Utah) → San Francisco (California/US)
14. Drongos - Under My Thumb
taken from the single
Under My Thumb/If You Want To Know (White Whale WW-235) 1966
Line-up: Bruce Clausen (lead gtr), Arnold Levinson (rhythm gtr), Michael Friedman (bs), Todd Anderson (vcls, piano, sax), Alec Axt (drms).
Band origin: Berkeley (California/US)
15. White Haven Pillow - Music Man
taken from the single Wreck It/Music Man (MTA 142) 1968
Line-up: Dave Corboy (vcls), Mick Cantrell (lead gtr), Kenn Simms Jr. (gtr), Dennis Brock (bs), Don E. Cantrell Jr. (keyb'ds), Roger Corboy (drms).
Band origin: Hayward (California/US)
16. Flying Circus - Got To Learn To Love
taken from the single
Green Eyes Green World/Got To Learn To Love (MTA 130) 1967
Line-up: Bill Berry (vcls), Kevon "Kid" Haapala (gtr), Jim Grandjean (gtr), John Haapala (bs), Don Perkins (drms).
Band origin: San Anselmo (California/US)
17. Kensington Forest - Movin' On
taken from the single
Bells/Movin' On (Baysound 6901) 1967
Line-up: Jack Walters (lead gtr), Chris Guiver, Dennis Studebaker, ? Walters. Band origin: Burlingame (California/US)
18. Recurring Love Habit - Faiola Bros.
taken from the single
A Day In The Life/Faiola Bros. (Buddah BDA 4) 1967
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
19. Captain Zoom - I Really Want You
taken from the single
I Really Want You/Long Tall Texan (A&M 785) 1965
Line-up: Ron Cornelius (gtr), Joe Davis (bs), Robin Reich, Gary Vasquez.
Band origin: Richmond (California/US)
20. Weird Herald - Saratoga James
taken from the single
Saratoga James/Just Yesterday (Onyx 2202) 1968
Line-up: Billy Dean Andrus (lead gtr), Paul Ziegler (gtr), Cecil Bollinger (bs), Patrick ? (drms). Band origin: San Jose (California/US)
21. Tommy Faia & The True Blue Facts -
The Boy I Left Behind
taken from the single
Rain, Rain, Rain, Rain/The Boy I Left Behind (A&M 945) 1968
Line-up incl.: Tommy Faia (vcls, gtr), David Rosenkranz (drms).
Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
22. Vandells - Hunter's Fox
See Track 11
23. Now - Like A Flying Bird
See Track 8
24. Travel Agency - Made For You
See Track 5
25. Spring Fever – Stop!
See Track 13
26. Broken Arrow - Every Night You Never Give Me Money
taken from the single
Keep On Truckin'/Every Night – You Never Give Me Your Money
(Vault V-968) 1970
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: California
27. Tow-Away Zone - Shabd
See Track 9
28. Gladstone - Upsome
See Track 4
29. Wildwood - Swimming
taken from the single Plastic People/Swimming (Magnum 420) 1968
Line-up incl.: John Turner (gtr), Frank John Colli (vcls, bs), Mike Ross (keyb'ds), Tim Mora, William Chalker.
Band origin: Stockton (California/US)

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Spring Fever - You Made My Life

Listen to Wildwood - Swimming

Dean Carter - Call Of The Wild (1959-69)

2011-06-27T10:19:00.007+02:00

WHAT'S THAT? "Old School Rock'n'Roll" on MY Blog? A greasy Rockabilly Cat imitating Elvis the Pelvis? Neither nor! It's Arlie Neaville aka Arlie Nevil aka DEAN CARTER! And who's dat? Well, that's the loony guy from Champaign/Illinois who's responsible for the mayhem version of "Jail House Rock" and the Fuzz Garage classic "Rebel Woman". Both are included on the Ear-Piercing Punk compilation and exactly these two songs forced me to buy this CD (Big Beat CDWIKD 213 / 2003). Four tracks from the 45's plus tons of unreleased material this release proves that he has more to offer than the aforementioned double-sided 7-inch jewel from 1967. The first half of "Call Of The Wild" is simply excellent and a must for every garage aficionado. "Mary Sue", "Sizzlin' Hot" and especially "Call Of The Wild" (where he sounds pretty much like Sean Bonniwell's Music Machine) are among the best of '60s Garage Punk while his version of "Fever" is the wildest I've ever heard. Also notable is the cool "Love's A-Workin'" and the strange modulated "Midnight Sun". The second half of this CD is more in the classic Rock'n'Roll vein with the exception of the excellent "Good Side Of My Mind" and "Would You Believe", a crazed poundin' Rocker. Most of the material dates from 67/68 and the sleeve notes on the back cover puts his work in the right context: "Who was Dean Carter, the missing link between rockabilly's rebel yell and the snarl of garage punk?" That's exactly what it is!

Tracklist:
- Jail House Rock
- Mary Sue
- I Got A Girl
- Rebel Woman
- Call Of The Wild
- Sizzlin' Hot
- Love's A-Workin'
- Don't Try To Change Me
- Fever
- I'm Leavin'
- Dr. Feelgood
- You Tear Me Up
- Run Rabbit Run
- Midnight Sun
- Sugaree
- Black Boots
- Love Eyes
- Dobro Pickin' Man
- The Lucky One
- Shadow Of Evil
- Boppin' The Bug
- Hannah Hannah
- Cry Blue
- Good Side Of My Mind
- Forty Days
- School Work
- Would You Believe
- Sock It To Me Baby

Personnel:
Dean Carter [real name Arlie Neaville]
(vcls, gtr, dobro, organ) [ABC]

Additional musicians:
Arlie Miller (gtr) [A]
Dave Marten (bs) [A]
Kookie Cook (drms) [A]
Jack Johnson (gtr) [B]
Tom Harrigan (piano) [B]
Dennis Elliott (drms) [B]
Ray Miller (ukulele) [B]
Rick Miller (accordion) [B]
Roy Miller (bs) [B]
Barbara Montgerard (clarinet) [B]
Jerry Merritt (lead gtr) [C]
Bud Green (bs) [C]
Lee Spires (drms) [C]
Christine Williams (back vcls)
Janice Rodgers (back vcls)

Origin:
Champaign (Illinois/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. ( ) River Of Life/Angel Love (Ping 8001) 1961
2. ( ) The Skip/Alone On A Star (Fraternity F-900) 1962
3. (A) Sixteen Tons/The Lucky One (Limelight Y-3019) 1964
4. (A) Fever/Number One Girl (Milky Way MW-003) 1965
5. (A) Care/Rockin' Bandit (Milky Way MW-004) 1965
6. ( ) Run, Rabbit, Run/Soul Feelin'
    (Milky Way MW-010) 1967
7. (B) Jailhouse Rock/Rebel Woman (Milky Way MW-011) 1967
8. (C) Mary Sue/Wanderin' Soul
    (Tell International 45-369) 1967
9. (C) Good Side Of My Mind/Do I Need A Reason
    (Tell International 45-373) 1968
10. ( ) Drink My Wine/Tawney
    (Tell International 45-378) 1969
11. ( ) Indianapolis/Good Samaritan
    (Shout 'N' Shine 215) 19??
12. ( ) Don't Throw Any Stones/Brighter Days
    (Fraternity F-1202) 1972

[1., 10. + 11. as Arlie Neaville]
[2. + 12. as Arlie Nevil]
[8. + 9. as Dean Carter Sound]

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Call Of The Wild

Apple - Thank U Very Much [45] (1968)

2011-06-18T11:04:00.003+02:00

I think we all agree that Apple was responsible for one of the great albums of the UK '60s era. Their lone longplayer and the two 45's for Page One (both included on "An Apple A Day") are still at top of my list for British Psychedelic music. Prior to their releases on Larry Page's label they had a US/Holland only single on Smash/Philips. "Thank U Very Much/Your Heart Is Free Just Like The Wind" never made it onto the recent re-issues or any compilation and I've always wondering if this 7-inch is something special. A while ago I purchased the Smash release for an acceptable price and I can tell you that I was rather disappointed. "Thank U Very Much" is a Roger McGee composition and if you like the Scaffold, well, than you will go along with this version too. "Your Heart Is Free Just Like The Wind" was a small hit for Vicki Carr and the Apple cover is even greasier than the soppy original. Both songs are in comparison with their later material nondescript and for completists only.

Tracklist:
- Thank U Very Much
- Your Heart Is Free Just Like The Wind

Personnel:
Dennis Regan (vcls)
Rob Ingram (gtr)
Jeffrey Harrod (bs)
Charlie Barber (piano)
David Brassington (drms)

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
Albums:
1. An Apple A Day... (Page One POLS 016) 1969

45's:
1. Thank U Very Much/Your Heart Is Free Just Like The Wind
(Smash S-2143) 1968
2. Let's Take A Trip Down The Rhine/Buffalo Billycan
(Page One POF 101) 1968
3. Doctor Rock/The Otherside (Page One POF 110) 1968

[1. US release / also released in Holland
"Philips 320269 BF"]

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Thank U Very Much

V.A. - Biet-Het Vol. 1

2011-06-08T07:49:00.004+02:00

This is quite an interesting compilation (Distortions/Waterpipe Records / 1998) with Nederbiet/Garage done in Dutch language. There are some cool songs by Ruud Knolraap & The Sweet Vegetable (what a name!), Fallouts, Clungels or Art Brouwer but also a few throwaway tracks like "Ik Wil Me Donalduckie" or Hugo De Groot's "Ze Nemen Me Eindelijk Mee Haha" (every country seems to have their own version of "They're Coming To Take Me Away"). Perhaps this is more attractive to people who understand the lyrics but also the foreign listener will be satisfied with at least half of the material.

Tracklist:
1. Mokum Beat Five - Trouw Nooit
taken from the single
Trouw Nooit/Wat Scheelt Je Nou? (Delta DS 1197) 1966
Line-up: Rens Mans (vcls), Jaap van der Wouden (gtr, vcls), Ton Wiertz (gtr, vcls), Barend v.d. Brink (bs), Fred Wiertz (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
2. Eurfians - Waaro!
taken from the single
Opa's Beat/Waaro [Wild Thing] (Imperial IH 702) 1966
Line-up: Cees de Groot (vcls), Pino Tomé (lead gtr), Eddy Eksteen (rhythm gtr), Henk van Greuningen (bs), Wim Voorhaar (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
3. Jokers - Zet Die TV Af!
taken from the single
Cecilia Rock/Zet Die TV Af (Philips 319609 PF) 1960
Line-up: Jos Clauwers (gtr), Tim Visterin (gtr), Jos Raes (bs), Danny Peppermans (drms). Band origin: Antwerp (Belgium)
4. Fallouts - De Vlieg
taken from the single
De Vlieg/Hartstikke Dood (Funckler Artone DF 45233) 1966
Line-up: Frans van Daal (vcls), Will Theus (lead gtr), Henk Jacobs (rhythm gtr), Ad van Daal (bs), Jan Theus (drms).
Band origin: Valkenswaard (Noord Brabant/Netherlands)
5. Peter J. Muller - Links De Kinks
taken from the single
Links De Kinks/Peter Moet Hangen (Delta DS 1196) 1966
Line-up incl.: Peter J. Muller (vcls).
Origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
6. Bob Bouber - Ik Wil Me Donalduckie
taken from the single
Ik Wil Me Donalddukkie Terug/Kie Ka Katetoe (Philips JF 334665) 1968
Line-up incl.: Bob Bouber [real name Boris Blom] (vcls).
Origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
7. Eddy Dyan & The Saints - Lady Sex
taken from the single Lady Sex/Een Droom (Monopole 093) 1970
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Lebbeke (East Flanders/Belgium)
8. Ronnie & De Ronnies - Daar In De Wildernis
taken from the single
Boem Boem Is Ho/Daar In De Wildernis (Delta DS 1206) 1966
Line-up incl.: Ronnie Schutte.
Origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
9. N.V. Groep '65 - Tanger
taken from the single Dankzij De Heer/Tanger (Delta DS 1162) 1966
Line-up: Warner Landkroon (vcls), Pim Abbestee (gtr), Frits Kerkhof (gtr), Paul Frie (bs), Hans Michielsen (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
10. Ruud Knolraap & Sweet Vegetable - Nieuwe Sperzibonen
taken from the single
Nieuwe Sperzibonen/Geurende Gouden Tuinen (Reward RW 1012) 1969
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Netherlands
11. Ernie Bender & The Robbins - Cleopatra
taken from the single
Cleopatra/Commando Pimpelen (Delta DS 1181) 1966
Line-up incl.: Ernie Bender [real name Ernst Beneder].
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
12. Clungels - Dat Had Ik Nog Nooit Gedaan
taken from the single
Dat Had Ik Nog Nooit Gedaan/Geen Cent! (Artone DS 25337) 1966
Line-up: Axel van Duin (vcls, gtr), Paul Brachel (gtr), Jaap Gerritsen (bs), Arthur de Groot (piano), Theo Pietersen (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
13. Aart Brouwer - Hé Pssst...
taken from the single Vies/Hé Pssst... (Philips JF 327575) 1964
Line-up incl.: Aart Brouwer (vcls), Jan Akkermans (lead gtr).
Origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
14. Dukes - In Istanboel
taken from the single Abra-Kadabra/In Istanboel (Decca AT 10214) 1967
Line-up: Joop van der Plas (vcls, gtr), Ed Holshuysen (vcls, gtr), Wim Heijnen (bs), Jan van den Werf (drms).
Band origin: Nijmegen (Gelderland/Netherlands)
15. Fallouts - Hardstikke Dood
See Track 4
16. Hugo De Groot - Ze Nemen Me Eindelijk Mee Haha
taken from the single
Ze Nemen Me Eindelijk Mee Aha.../...Aha Eem Kijlednie Em Nemen Ez
(Havoc SH 119) 1966
Line-up incl.: Cees de Man. Origin: Hilversum (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
17. De Fouryo's - Surf City
taken from the single Op Een Dag/Surf City (Decca AT 10015) 1963
Line-up incl.: Dick van Niehoff, Jan Schouten, Jetty Schouten, Joyce Schouten. Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
18. Tony Light - Laat Me Gaan
taken from the single
Laat Me Gaan/Wees Niet Bang, Little Woman (Funckler DB 42.811) 1965
Line-up incl.: Tony Light [real name Ton Ligtvoet].
Origin: Leiden (Zuid Holland/Netherlands)
19. De Clicheemannetjes - Lekker Legbad
taken from the single
Wat Is Mijn Bal Nou?/Lekker Legbad (Omega 35777) 1966
Line-up: Kees van Kooten (vcls), Wim de Bie (vcls).
Band origin: The Hague (Zuid Holland/Netherlands)
20. Mokum Beat Five - Wat Scheelt Je Nou?
See Track 1
21. Het Poco Mania - Peterselie
taken from the single Heikrekel/Peterselie (Fontana YF 278161) 1968
Line-up: Jacques Zwart (lead vcls), Adri de Hont (gtr), Pim van der Linden (bs), Dennis Witbraad (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
22. Eurfians - Opa's Beat
See Track 2
23. Ruud Knolraap & Sweet Vegetable -
Geurige Gouden Tinten
See Track 10
24. Sparklings - Barst
taken from the single Barst/Weet Dat Ik Je Mis (CNR UH 9849) 1966
Line-up: Ben Cramer (vcls), Wim Timmer (gtr), Ton Vos (gtr), Douwe v. d. Zee (bs), Ger Belmer (keyb'ds), Rori van Ark (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
25. Het - Spat Niet Met Pap
taken from the single
Spat Niet Met Pap/Kejje Nagaan (Fontana 278123 YF) 1966
Line-up: Jacques Zwart (lead vcls), Adri de Hont (gtr), Pim van der Linden (bs), Dennis Witbraad (drms).
Band origin: Amsterdam (Noord Holland/Netherlands)
26. Freddy Scott & The Condors - Kom Maar Hier
taken from the single
Buena Sera/Kom Maar Hier (RCA Victor 47-9550) 1964
Line-up: Wim Schreijnders (vcls), Aad Ras (gtr), Peter la Haye (bs), Ed de Gelder (keyb'ds), Ben Schaap (drms).
Band origin: Rotterdam (Zuid Holland/Netherlands)
27. Peter J. Muller - Beter Langharig Dan Kortzichtig
taken from the single
Beter Langharig Dan Kortzichtig/Mode Noemt Hij Fashion
(Delta DS 1182) 1966
Line-up/Origin: See Track 5
28. Johnny Lion - Wees Niet Bang
taken from the single
Tijd Komt En Gaat Voorbij/Wees Niet Bang (Philips JF 333553) 1966
Line-up incl.: Johnny Lion [real name Jan van Leeuwarden]
Origin: The Hague (Zuid Holland/Netherlands)
29. Ronnie Schutte - Ze Zegge
taken from the single
Ze Zegge/Zij Houdt Niet Meer Van Mij (Delta DS 1161) 1966
Line-up/Origin: See Track 8

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to
Ruud Knolraap & Sweet Vegetable - Nieuwe Sperzibonen

Listen to Aart Brouwer - Hé Pssst...

Chris, Chris & Lee (1970)

2011-05-30T20:22:00.006+02:00

This nice and gentle folk album with some christian vibes was self released by Chris Dunn, Chris Smith and Lee Paul. The instrumentation is exclusively accoustic, no percussion, just guitar, bass and at times banjo and piano. Side 1 contains original material with the strong opener followed by "Thank You", an upbeat number with successful vocal harmonies. The other highlight is the delicate "Wish You Were Here" that nearly touches the Simon & Garfunkel territory (Thankfully they get a grip on themselves and instead of a corny result it turned out as a laid-back melancholic number). The flip side consists throughout of covers. Noteworthy is their version of CSN's "Helplessly Hoping" and Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter". I can't think what came over these guys for doing "This Guy's In Love With You" but this is one of the few lowpoints. On balance not a record to freak you out but something special for a pleasant evening.

Tracklist:
- Flying Bird
- Thank You
- The Pink Song
- Wish You Were Here
- Once
- Helplessly Hoping
- Lalena
- If I Were A Carpenter
- California Dreamin'
- This Guy's In Love With You
- Samson

Personnel:
Chris Dunn
Chris Smith
Lee Paul
[Reid Lancaster (bs)]

Band origin:
US

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Chris, Chris & Lee (CC & L Records) 1970

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Thank You

Mike & The Ravens - Nevermore (1958-2004)

2011-05-24T09:38:00.006+02:00

Anytime you get a chance to tap into someone else's maniacal collection of anything - pinball machines, barbwire samples or, in this case, original garage-rock music, you're in for a treat. This 2-CD set (Bacchus Archives BA 11102 / 2005) chronicles the recordings of Michael Brassard and Stephen Blodgett as they worked their way through a number of East Coast '60 and '70s rock bands. The set opens with Brassard's 1958 debut on WDEV radio, playing and whistling his acoustic original "Rovin' and then proceeds through a full disc of early-60s frat-stompers, garage rock, doo-wop rooted ballads, surf-tinged guitar, and oddball studio freak-outs, all punctuated by bits of contemporaneous radio continuity. Unlike many garage rock comps, this isn't the sound of '65, it's the sound of '62. The British Invasion had yet to happen, and some of the country's rawest music was emanating from corners like Vermont. Michael Brassard, both before and with the Ravens, was apparently quite a sponge for musical styles, equally at home with twangy guitar rockers as with talking folk-blues. Using Plattsburgh, New York's Rollerland as a studio (where The Ravens waxed the skatetastic "Moonlight Couples Only"), Brassard and friends had the freedom to try just about anything that came to mind. The Ravens were a solid garage rock band in the Pacific Northwest vein, and Brassard and Blodgett wrote many catchy original songs. The second disc in this set moves from the garages of 1962 to the trippy sunshine pop of 1967. It's difficult to connect the two discs, as the second set's harmonies, string orchestrations, and psychedelic lyrics (e.g, "I Could Hear the Grass Growing") are more akin to the works of Gary Usher and Curt Boettcher than The Kingsmen styled work of Mike & The Ravens. Variously credited to Fire & Brimstone, The Camel's Hump, The Front Burner and others, the common thread is again Michael Brassard and his former Raven bandmate Stephen Blodgett, and like their earlier garage rock, they wrote many memorable original tunes. A more concise sampling of The Ravens finished garage rock sides can be found on Bacchus' companion single-disc volume, "Heart So Cold: The North Country '60s Scene." This 2-CD collection provides a view of the underlying studio catalog from which the commercially released sides were sprung. The evolution of Brassard and Blodgett, and their second wind of '60s psychedelia is all worth hearing. Disc two finishes out with pop, folk and country sides waxed from the '70s through 2004, showing the flame still burning. Sound quality on disc 1 is highly variable; disc 2 is more consistent mid-to-hi-fi. Both discs include generous helpings of previously unreleased works.
(review by Red Tunic Troll)

You can also check their website for further information.

Tracklist:
[CD1]
- Rovin' • by Mike Brassard (1958)
- Dum Duvey • by Mike & The Throbs (1962)
- Git Home • by Mike & The Throbs (1962)
- Two-Ton Jenny • by Mike & The Throbs (1962)
- Mr. Heartbreak
- I've Taken All I Can
- Pete's Turkish Delight • by Peter Young & Brian Lyford
- Ballad of a Square • by Mike Brassard (1962)
- (Everybody's Goin' To) Rollerland
- Moonlight Couples Only
- No Man's Land
- Baby, Please Don't Leave Me • alternate take
- Biggest Fool Around
- One of These Days
- Like a Fire
- Can't You Feel the Pain • by The Ravens
- Riptide • by The Ravens
- I'll Get It from You • by The Ravens
- Goodbye to Mary Jane
- Living in a Dream • alternate take
- Oobie Doobie Do (Shake That Thing)

[CD2]
- Grey Eyes Watching • by Stephen Sargent & The Pride
  (1967)
- Underground • by Fire & Brimstone (1967)
- I Could Hear the Grass Growin' • by Fire & Brimstone
  (1967)
- Look • by The Camel's Hump (1969)
- Gotta Talk to You, Baby • by The Camel's Hump (1969)
- Birmingham • by The Camel's Hump (1969)
- Greyhound Bus • by Stephen Blodgett (1968)
- Tomorrow • by Mike Brassard & Bo Blodgett (1968)
- Lights of San Francisco • by The Front Burner (1971)
- Eldorado • by The Front Burner (1971)
- Gentle Wind • by Texas Drive (1973)
- Georgia Plains • by Texas Drive (1973)
- Truly (Christ's Lament) • by Texas Drive (1973)
- Lady • by Mike Brassard (1982)
- No More Beatle Songs • by Stephen Blodgett (1998)
- Motorboatin' • by Stephen Blodgett (1998)
- Adorable Gene • by Stephen Blodgett (1998)
- Motivatin' Blues • by Mike Brassard (2004)
- No Love to Give You
- Durham
- Teen Angel • by Stephen Blodgett & Bill Kinzie (1977)

Personnel [Mike & The Ravens]:
Mike Brassard (lead vcls) [ABC]
John "Bo" Blodgett (lead gtr) [AB]
Stephen Blodgett (rhythm gtr, vcls) [AB]
Eddie Jones (bs) [A]
Peter Young (drms) [AB]
Brian Lyford (bs) [B]
Bobby Lavigne (lead gtr) [C]
Jim Ricker (bs) [C]
Marc Chapman (drms) [C]

Band origin:
Northfield (Vermont/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Mr. Heartbreak/I've Taken All I Can (Empire E-1) 1962
2. Baby, Please Don't Leave Me/Biggest Fool Around
   (Empire E-2) 1962
3. Goodbye To Mary Jane/Living In A Dream
   (Empire E-3) 1963

Personnel incl. [Stephen Sargent & The Pride]:
Stephen Blodgett (gtr, vcls)
Chris Kiley (vcls)

Band origin:
Burlington (Vermont/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Grey Eyes Watching/Nobody's Child
(Compass CO-7001) 1967

Personnel incl. [Fire & Brimstone]:
Mike Brassard (vcls)
Stephen Blodgett (gtr)

Band origin:
New York City (New York/US)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Underground/I Could Hear The Grass Growin'
(Decca 32297) 1967

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Mike & The Ravens: I've Taken All I Can

Listen to Fire & Brimstone: Underground

V.A. - A History Of Garage & Frat Bands In Memphis Vol. 2

2011-05-19T19:21:00.004+02:00

So, how was the garage and frat scene during the 60s in the Birthplace of Rock & Roll? It often seems that after the original wave of rockers, every white boy over there chose either the country path or joined the Stax/Muscle Shoals R&B/soul family. Though a few punk songs from that area had appeared here and there, the first volume of this series took the first step to helping us discover the Memphis British-Invasion-fed youngsters from the 60s (along with the companion book that came out around the same time). This second CD mixes the garage vibe and the local influences. It opens with what is probably the most beloved Memphis 60s punk side, the Breakers' "Don't Send Me No Flowers," a true killer fuzz version of this song, also recorded by the What-Knots and the Gentrys among others. The other ace punker included is Los Angeles Smog Division's "Blue Green", an unissued track on a heavier trip à la Steppenwolf, with a couple of things stolen from the Pretties' "LSD." The core of this CD is made of blue-eyed-R&B, from the Diddley beat of the Ole Miss Downbeats (like the Drifters jamming with the Strangeloves) to the frat sound of Lawson & Four More (a band better known for the acid punker "Halfway Down the Stairs") or nice ballads like Ricky & the Rainbows' "Goin' Out Of My Mind" and the Merits' "Please, Please Little Girl" (with its cool moody organ). There are not many truly amazing tracks, but no stinkers either. My faves among the remaining ones are the Scepters' "Little Girls Were Made To Love" - obviously inspired by the Syndicate Of Sound's hit, with the same frat meets folk rock vibe - the Goodees' "Condition Red" which, though being from a Southern state, is pure Northern Soul in a cool Shangri-Las drama-mode, and the Honey Jug's great late 60s pop ballad "Warm City Baby." It's a shorter disc than the usual compilations issued these days, but a good selection and sound quality are what matters in the end.
(review by Laurent Bigot, Ugly Things magazine).

This was requested a while ago and I've got the original rip from the Garden of Delights blog. Sadly the link is down there but I think kudos go to the blog's owner Freaky Lady. This second volume was released in 2002 (Shangri-La Projects 035) and you will find the first volume on the Garage Punk 66 site.

Tracklist:
1. Breakers - Don't Send Me No Flowers (I Ain't Dead Yet)
taken from the single
Don't Send Me No Flowers (I Ain't Dead Yet)/Love Of My Life (Amy 938) 1966
Personnel incl.: Gary Johns (vcls), Mike Ladd (gtr), Stu Lewis (gtr), Dick Lewis (gtr), Tom Keckler (bs), Cully Powell (keyb'ds), Eddie Tatum (drms).
2. Ole Miss Downbeats - Geraldine
taken from the single Geraldine/Mr. Crump (Ardent 103) 1963
Line-up: Bobby Jones (vcls), Billy Wayne Herbert (gtr), Tommy Gray (bs), Buddy Flowers (piano), Tommy Christopher (sax), Jim Slocum (sax), Leon Deloach (trumpet), Ed Forsythe (drms).
3. Shades - Shady Lady
taken from the single Shady Lady/Moonlight Sonata (Ardent 104) 1963
Line-up: Chris Hull (gtr), Craig Benson (gtr), Mike Alexander (bs), Philip Stewart (vcls, piano), Lee Wiener (drms).
4. Percussions - Your Love
taken from the single Your Love/Misery And Pain (Block 201) 1966
Line-up: Sherrill Williams (gtr, vcls), Gayle Patterson (bs, vcls), Maggie Stout (keyb'ds), Don Reed (sax), Joe Stout (drms).
5. Merits - Please, Please Little Girl
taken from the single
Arabian Jerk/Please, Please Little Girl (Bandstand USA 1002) 1964
Line-up: Steve Little (vcls), Bill Way (vcls), Danny Clary (gtr), Johnny Reynolds (bs), Johnny Mullins (keyb'ds), John Tillman (drms).
6. Scepters - Little Girls Were Made To Love
taken from the single
Little Girls Were Made To Love/Love You Baby All The Time
(MOC 661) 1965
Line-up: Finley Brown (vcls), Bret Basselle (vcls), Mickey Dunlap (vcls), Norman Brown (lead gtr), John Wulff (gtr), Fred Shaeffer (bs), Greg Green (organ), Charles Jolley (drms).
7. Chasers - I Need Your Loving
taken from the single
I Need Your Lovin'/Since You Left Me (Style 1931) 1965
Line-up: Lonnie Davidson (lead gtr), Mike Maffel (bs), Steve Cowan (sax, vcls), Jerry Houston (drms).
8. Ponees - Move It, Groove It
taken from the single
Move It, Groove It/Here's The Place (Scion 711) 1966
Line-up: Chuck Gordon (vcls), Dick Lewis (gtr), Fred Beaty (bs), Eugene Adams (organ), Ricky Leach (drms).
9. Tommy Burk & Noe Counts - Stormy Weather (Part 1)
taken from the single
Stormy Weather [Part 1]/Stormy Weather [Part 2]
(Barbarian BARB-0110) 1975
Line-up: John Grear (vcls), Dan Morelock (vcls), Steve O'Keefe (vcls), Tommy Burk (lead vcls, lead gtr), Wayne Thompson (gtr), Mike Stoker (bs), Thomas Boggs (drms).
10. Ricky & The Rainbows - Going Out Of My Mind
taken from the single
Going Out Of My Mind/Come Back To Me (Arbet 1012) 1966
Line-up: Gary Shipley (lead vcls), Steve Edmaiston (back vcls), Dan Strahl (rhythm gtr), Bill Stancil (gtr), Tim Pappas (bs), Mike Sheffield (piano), Ricky Reeves (drms).
11. Lawson & Four More - Back For More
taken from the single
If You Want Me You Can Find Me/Back For More (Ardent 105) 1966
Line-up: Joe Lee (lead gtr), Bob Lawson (gtr, vcls), Joe Gaston (bs), Terry Manning (keyb'ds), Bill Donati (drms).
12. Goodees - Condition Red
taken from the single
Condition Red/Didn't Know Love Was So Good (Hip 8005) 1968
Line-up: Sandra Jackson (vcls), Judy Williams (vcls), Kay Evans (vcls).
13. Memphis Nomads - I Wanna Be
taken from the single
I Wanna Be/Don't Pass Your Judgement (Stax 243) 1968
Line-up: Finlay Brown (vcls), Steve Weaver (gtr), Bill Truitt (gtr), Bill Hall (bs), Jerry Murley (keyb'ds), Roy Yeager (drms).
14. Village Sound - Sally's Got A Good Thing
taken from the single
Sally's Got A Good Thing/The La La Song (Hipe 711 + Hip 8003) 1968
Line-up: Pat Taylor (vcls), Taft Lassiter (vcls), Danny Thompson (gtr), Dan Reding (bs), Greg Reding (organ, vcls), Bobby Dodds (drms).
15. Honey Jug - Warm City Baby
taken from the single
Warm City Baby/Honey Say So (HIP H-106) 1967
Line-up: Ron Jordan (vcls), Joe Lee (gtr), Joe Gaston (bs), Jim Dickinson (keyb'ds), Bill Donati (drms).
16. Los Angeles Smog Division - Blue Green
[unreleased / 1968]
Line-up: Melvin Lewis (vcls), Robert Johnson (lead gtr), Don Thornton (bs), Greg Huested (keyb'ds), John Stetz (hrmnca), Kenny Pruitt (drms).

— All bands were from Memphis/Tennessee —

Get it here

Listen to Ole Miss Downbeats - Geraldine

Listen to Scepters - Little Girls Were Made To Love

Antorcha (1970-76)

2011-05-13T19:05:00.006+02:00

After the split of Las Antorchas Victor Motta Aviles and band mate Omar Cortes Gaviño teamed up with Victor's brother Guillermo and continued as Antorcha. They played a sort of Acid-Rock but developed a style of their own. Actually not my kind of music but I like their anarchistic attitude and they receive extra points for the demented sound on few of their tracks. After a handful of E.P.'s they finally released an album in 1976. Shortly after they called it quits and 30 years later VAM Records (VAM 001-CD / 2006) put out a CD with all the tracks from their 45's plus "Mira" from their cassette-only release from 1976.

Tracklist:
- Canción No. 1
- Nada
- Amiga
- En El Jardín Del Edén
- Grass
- Going Down
- La Tierra
- Crisalida
- Sodomáquina
- Inconclusa
- Mira
- Bracero
- Intento No. 2
- Quiero Vivir

Personnel:
Omar Cortes Gaviño (bs, vcls) [ABC]
Victor Manuel Motta Aviles
(keyb'ds, rhythm gtr, vcls) [ABC]
Guillermo Motta Aviles (keyb'ds, lead gtr, vcls) [ABC]
Mario Salazar Hernández (organ, vcls) [B]
Antonio Salcedo (drms, vcls) [C]

Band origin:
Mexico City (Mexico)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Anarquismo (Ediciones Antorcha ) 1976

45's:
1. (C) La Tierra/Crisalida (EPA-03) 1972
2. (C) Sodomáquina/Inconclusa (EPA-04) 1974

E.P.'s:
1. (A) Canción No. 1/Nada/Amiga (GP-074) 1970
2. (B) Grass/Going Down/En El Jardín Del Edén
(EP-OC-01) 1971
3. (C) Bracero/Intento No. 2/Quiero Vivir (EPA-05) 1974

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Canción No. 1

Las Antorchas (1966-68)

2011-05-05T20:57:00.004+02:00

I've picked up the latest proposal from the comments section and continue with new posts. The older files will be restored from time to time (there are still more than 200 left).

Las Antorchas were formed by five college students and originated out of Mexico City. They released only one E.P. on Orfeon but had enough material for a longplayer. They split around 68/69 but after a line-up change they continued simply named as Antorcha. Under that moniker they recorded five singles and an album, released 1976. VAM Records collects all their known material as Las Antorchas on one CD (VAM/Orfeon Video Vox CMS-205« / 2006). The organ is sometimes horribly off-key and the vocals don't make a big impression. The worst track is their cover of "Hello, Goodbye" (Hola Adios), one of the few Fab Four songs I rather dislike. However they have a few good cover versions and strangely enough this collection works as a whole. Not to forget the excellent "Dime", a really great acid-punk track but not representative for their sound. Conclusion: they were not as good as Los Ovnis/Apocalipsis etc. but better than Tijuana Five or Los Belmonts (if that helps in any way). The CD comes with liners and VAM also released their subsequent material as Antorcha, but more about them in my next post.

Tracklist:
- La Antorcha
- Opus 14 Interior 12
- Tu Me Enseñaste
- Dime
- Tu Me Enseñaste (instrumental)
- Shake
- Un Poquito Más
- Confesion
- No Espero Ya Por Ti
- Substitute
- Anoche Fue
- Nunca Te Amado Mas
- No Lo Hagas
- Sabia
- Hola Adios
- El Soldado
- Canta Conmigo
- Dime (instrumental)

Personnel:
Jorge Gonzalez (lead gtr, vcls)
Fernando Mercado (gtr, vcls)
Omar Cortes Gaviño (bs, vcls)
Victor Manuel Motta Aviles (keyb'ds, rhythm gtr, vcls)
Bernardo Minerva (drms, lead vcls)

Band origin:
Mexico City (Mexico)

Discographie:
E.P.'s:
1. Un Poquito Más/No Lo Hagas/Anoche Fue/Shake
(Orfeon EP-734) 1967

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Dime

Just in case you wonder....

2011-01-18T14:00:00.003+01:00

....where all the posts have gone. All the links on Sharebee are deleted (for whatever reason). I will reorganize the blog and re-upload the old files. Stay tuned.

V.A. - Endless Journey (Phase Three)

2008-10-16T23:59:00.005+02:00

Last volume of this classic series (Psycho 19 / 1983).

Tracklist:
1. Them - Gloria
2. Them - Baby Please Don't Go
taken from the album In Reality (Happy Tiger HT-1012) 1971
Line-up: Jim Parker (lead gtr, vcls), Alan Henderson (bs), John Stark (drms, lead vcls).
Band origin: Belfast (Northern Ireland) → Los Angeles (California)
3. Rubayyat - If I Were A Carpenter
taken from the single
If I Were A Carpenter/Ever Ever Land (International Artists IA 124) 1967
Line-up: Al Acosta (vcls), Cassell Webb (back vcls), Bill Hallmark (gtr), Robert Galindo (gtr), Dan Galindo (bs), Sam Allen (drms).
Band origin: Houston (Texas)
4. Clear Light - Sand
taken from the album Clear Light (Elektra EKS 74011) 1967
Line-up: Cliff De Young (vcls), Bob Seal (gtr, vcls), Douglas Lubahn (bs), Ralph Schuckett (organ, piano, celeste), Michael Ney (drms, perc), Dallas Taylor (drms). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
5. Cykle - Lesson To Learn
6. Cykle - Do My Thing
taken from the album Cykle (Label 9-261) 1969
Line-up: Ken Allen (lead vcls), Ralph Stephens (lead gtr, rhythm gtr, vcls), Jeff Hardin (rhythm gtr, vcls), Grady Pope (bs, vcls), Rickey Wilson (organ, vcls), Jimmy Sossamon (drms, piano, harpsichord, vibraphone).
Band origin: Fayettevile (North Carolina)
7. 49th Parallel - Close The Barn Door
taken from the single
Twilight Woman/Close The Barn Door (Venture 1004X) 1969
Line-up: Denny Abbott (vcls), Bobby Carlson (gtr), Danny Lowe (gtr), Alf Cook (bs), Dennis Mundy (organ), Terry Bare (drms).
Band origin: Calgary (Alberta/Canada)
8. T. Swift & The Electric Bag - Are You Experienced?
taken from the album Are You Experienced? (Custom 1115) 1968
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: US
9. Golden Dawn - My Time
taken from the album Power Plant (International Artists IA-LP-4) 1967
Line-up: George Kinney (vcls), Tom Ramsey (lead gtr), Jimmy Bird (rhythm gtr), Bill Hallmark (bs), Bobby Rector (drms).
Band origin: Austin (Texas)
10. Frumious Bandersnatch - Hearts To Cry
taken from the E.P.
Hearts To Cry/Misty Cloudy/Cheshire
(Muggles Gramophone Works FB-A/B) 1968
Line-up: David Denny (lead gtr, vcls), Jimmy Warner (lead gtr, vcls), Bob Winkelman (gtr, vcls, bs), Ross Valory (bs, vcls), Jack King (drms, vcls).
Band origin: Lafayette (California)
11. Dirty Filthy Mud - The Forest Of Black
taken from the single
The Forest Of Black/Morning Sunflower (Worex R-2340) 1968
Line-up: Kyle Hunter (vcls, drms), Roger Sabine (gtr, vcls), Jim Thorsen (gtr), Gary Kennings (bs), Art Doran (organ), Mark Minzyk (drms), "Len" [nln] (synth). Band origin: Berkeley (California)
12. Strange - Ruler Of The Universe
taken from the album
Translucent World (Outer Galaxie TW 1000) 1973
Line-up: Terry Brooks (lead gtr, vcls), Bob Griffin (bs), Donald L. Hall (strings), Don Hastle (drms). Band origin: Orlando (Florida)

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Rubayyat - If I Were A Carpenter

Listen to Dirty Filthy Mud - The Forest Of Black

Big Boy Pete - Homage To Catatonia (1966-69)

2008-10-15T00:35:00.009+02:00

Pete Miller is yet another fascinating figure from the underexpiored recesses of the British '60s beat under-world. He released two tremendous, utterly twisted singles: "Baby I Got News For You" (as Miller) in 1965, and "Cold Turkey" as (Big Boy Pete) in 1968. Prior to this, he had been lead guitarist for Peter Jay & the Jaywalkers, whose output included several singles produced by Joe Meek. Judging by some of the quirky, inventive and just plain WEIRD sounds on this collection, Miller had been watching Meek closely during his Jaywalkers days, (though he'd have to have been doing so furtively as Joe was secretive to the point of paranoia about his sound techniques). In his home studio in Norwich -"sur-rounded by lava lamps and Hindi visuals" - Miller and his musician friends spent most of 1966-69 conjur-ing up bizarre feats of pop and psychedelia, utilizing some of the echo and compression techniques he'd observed at Meek's studio along with many of his own electronic innovations. Fourteen of these songs make their first public showing on Homage To Catatonia, amply displayed in a magnificent gatefold sleeve complete with lyrics and all-telling liner notes. Combine a razor-sharp studio instinct, simple but superior '60s recording technology, madcap psycho-pop songsmithing ala (maybe) Roy Wood/Jeff Lynne with p'raps a little Edward Lear-esque nonsensical wordplay thrown in, and you may - just may - have same idea what you'll find on songs like "Knit Me A Kiss" or "A Dog Called Doug"-but it still won't begin to explain the impossible-to-pigeonhole (and amazing) "I Am Seldom 21", "Chinaman" or 'The Procession." Miller's tapes truly are a very unique secret horde of English psychedelia, and, incredibly, several of these recordings pre-date even the Beatles "Revolver", let alone the subsequent psychedelic stampede. Perhaps the strangest but most strangely satisfying set since I Hear A New World. A grower. I recommended.
(Mike Stax in "Ugly Things")

This album was released on the Tenth Planet label (Tenth Planet TP 026 / 1996). There's nothing much to say against his pop-psych tunes but he polished his old tapes a bit too much. So I've got the feeling that it sounds more like the '90s than the '60s. But I'm nagging and nagging and nagging... In fact it's a good album with some great songs like "Knit Me A Kiss", "Paranoia" or "The Procession". More info about his music on his website

Tracklist:
- Sheer Lunacy
- Crocogators
- I Am Seldom Twenty One
- Knit Me A Kiss
- 1,500,000 Volts
- Captain Of My Toy Balloon
- John Celery
- Paranoia
- Chinaman
- Music Created By Dust
- A Dog Called Doug
- The Procession
- The Candleman
- The Treacle Dance

Personnel incl.:
Peter Miller (gtr, bs, sitar, vcls)

Origin:
Norwich (Norfolk/UK)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Cold Turkey/My Love Is Like A Spaceship
(Camp 602005) 1968

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to The Procession

Listening (1968)

2008-10-14T09:09:00.005+02:00

From Boston and rated highly by some, this album includes some fine guitar and organ work on cuts like Baby: Where Are You?. Still an undiscovered gem this is worth searching out. Most of the vocals were performed by drummer Ernie Kamanis, and Peter Malick who was 16 at the time the album was recorded. Walter Powers had previously been in the famed punk band The Lost. A reworked version of the album's opener, Michael Tschudin's You're Not There, appears on the highly-touted album ...Setting Forth... Improvising Against The Future by Odyssey. Michael Tschudin later played with Cynara and produced the Fort Mudge Memorial Dump album. He became a session man and producer during the seventies, notably working with Tim Curry. Peter Malick played with the James Montgomery Band and is is still active, fronting his own Peter Malick Band playing blues / R&B influenced music in/around Boston. Walter Powers teamed up with his old Lost companion Willie "Loco" Alexander in the final incarnation of The Velvet Underground. The uplifting baroque-pop of Hello You can be found on Bring Flowers To U.S. (LP), whilst one track from the album, Stoned Is has also resurfaced on Marijuana Unknowns (LP & CD).
(taken from "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers")

The rip is from the Akarma re-issue (Akarma 050 / 1999).

Tracklist:
- You're Not There
- Laugh At The Stars
- 9/8 Song
- Stoned Is
- Forget It, Man!
- I Can Teach You
- So Happy
- Cuando
- Baby: Where Are You?
- Fantasy
- See You Again

Personnel:
Michael Tschudin (organ, keyb'ds, vcls)
Peter Malick (gtr)
Walter Powers (bs)
Ernie Kamanis (drms)

Band origin:
Boston (Massachusetts)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Listening (Vanguard 6504) 1968

45's:
1. I Can Teach You/Cuando (Vanguard 35077) 1968
2. Life Stories/Hello You (Vanguard 35094) 1968

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to I Can Teach You

V.A. - Endless Journey (Phase Two)

2008-10-13T10:11:00.005+02:00

This is my favourite volume (Psycho 3 / 1983) of this series. All of the tracks were taken from the bands albums except C.A. Qunitet's 45 "Blow To My Soul" and the two songs by The Mint that were originally released on the '71 compilation "A New Hi: Dallas". Only "Do You Understand The Words" by Help is not playing in the same league as the remaining now legendary psychedelic tracks.

Tracklist:
1. Paisleys - Wind
taken from the album Cosmic Mind At Play (Peace 70P-1) 1970
Line-up: Brad Stodden (vcls, gtr), Rick "The Wizard" Timm (bs, back vcls), Bill Smith (keyb'ds, back vcls), Bob Belknap (drms, back vcls), Mike Cornelius (drms, vcls). Band origin: Minneapolis (Minnesota)
2. Finchley Boys - It All Ends
taken from the album Everlasting Tributes (Golden Throat 200-19) 1972
Line-up: George Faber (vcls, harp), Garret Oostdyk (gtr), Tabe (bs),
J. Michael Powers (drms, perc). Band origin: Champaign (Illinois)
3. Creme Soda - Tonight
taken from the album Tricky Zingers (Trinity CST-11-LA) 1975
Line-up: Ron Juntunen (lead gtr, bs), Bill Tanon (gtr, bs, harp, mandolin, vcls), Jim Wilson (bs, keyb'ds, vcls), Art Hicks (drms).
Band origin: Milwaukie (Wisconsin)
4. Flat Earth Society - Feelin' Much Better
taken from the album Waleeco (Fleetwood FCLP 3027) 1968
Line-up: Rick Doyle (lead gtr, vcls), Phil Dubuque (gtr, vcls, recorder), Paul Carter (bs, vcls), Jack Kerivan (keyb'ds, vcls), Curt Girard (drms).
Band origin: Lynn (Massachusetts)
5. Mint - Can't Be Free
6. Mint - We're Friends
taken from the V.A.-Album A New Hi: Dallas 1971 – Part 1 (Tempo 2) 1971
Line-up: Randall Phillips (vcls), Jimmy Wallace (lead gtr), Danny Baucum (bs), Steve Sainton (keyb'ds), Clay Cunningham (drms).
Band origin: Dallas (Texas)
7. Help - Do You Understand The Words
taken from the album Second Coming (Decca DL 75304) 1971
Line-up: Jack Merrill (gtr, keyb'ds, lead vcls), Rob Rochan (bs, congas, vcls), Chet McCracken (drms, perc, vcls). Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
8. C.A. Quintet - Blow To My Soul
taken from the single
Blow To My Soul/She's Got To Be True (Falcon 71) 1967
Line-up: Ken Erwin (trumpet, gtr, vcls), Jim Erwin (bs, vcls), Tom Pohling (lead gtr, vcls), Doug Reynolds (keyb'ds, lead vcls), Paul Samuels (drms).
Band origin: Minneapolis (Minnesota)
9. Hunger - Workshop
taken from the album Strictly From Hunger (Public 1006) 1969
Line-up: Mike Lane (vcls), John Morton (lead gtr, vcls), Steve Hansen (rhythm gtr, vcls), Tom Tanory (bs), Mike Parkison (keyb'ds, vcls), Bill Daffern (drms, vcls).
Band origin: Portland (Oregon) → Los Angeles (California)
10. C.A. Quintet - Cold Spider
taken from the album Trip Thru Hell (Candy Floss 7764) 1969
Line-up: Ken Erwin (trumpet, gtr, bs, vcls), Jim Erwin (bs, vcls), Tom Pohling (lead gtr, vcls), Doug Reynolds (keyb'ds, vcls), Rick Patron (drms).
Band origin: Minneapolis (Minnesota)
11. Faine Jade - People Games Play
12. Faine Jade - Cold Winter Sun
taken from the album
Introspection: A Faine Jade Recital (RSVP ES 8002) 1968
Line-up: Faine Jade (lead vcls, rhythm gtr, bs), Nick Manzi (lead gtr, bs, vcls), Randy Pollock (gtr), Victor Muglia (bs), Brian Cooke (organ), Chuck Monica (drms). Band origin: New York City (New York)
13. Kak - Trieulogy: (I) Golgotha/(II) Mirage/(III) Rain
taken from the album Kak (Epic 26429) 1969
Line-up: Dehner C. Patten (lead gtr, vcls), Gary Lee Yoder (lead vcls, rhythm gtr, acoustic gtr), Joseph D. Damrell (bs, gtr, sitar, tambourine), Christopher A. Lockheed (drms, tabla, harp, vcls, maracas).
Band origin: Sacramento (California)
14. Creme Soda - Keep It Heavy
See Track 3

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Mint - We're Friends

Listen to Creme Soda - Keep It Heavy

Duncan Browne (1973)

2008-10-12T01:04:00.006+02:00

Duncan Browne's self-titled second album plays like a direct sequel to his debut long-player, Give Me Take You; he uses the same acoustic guitar and writes in a similar idiom, especially on tracks like "Country Song" and "The Martlet." Indeed, apart from the fact that it's generally better recorded, most of Duncan Browne could easily have slotted into the earlier album; the only exceptions are the more elaborately produced songs, such as "Ragged Rain Life," with its electric guitar sound, the keyboard-embellished "Babe Rainbow," and the bluesier, Dylan-esque "Journey," which was a substantial hit in England. Browne's style elsewhere on the record is unique unto himself, built around hauntingly beautiful melodies, mostly in a folk idiom, with some choice results, including the exquisite "Over the Reef" and "My Old Friends." He saved the best for last, a valedictory number entitled "Last Time Around," featuring extensive and impressive acoustic guitar ornamentation that gives way to some surprisingly tasteful progressive rock electronic sounds on the choruses. The RAK album was reissued on CD by EMI (EMI 724353562328) in 2002 with four bonus tracks, comprised of odd single sides and a pair of outtakes that extended the record's stylistic range considerably, into a more purely electric rock, more standard (though still enjoyable and attractive) singer/songwriter mode - although the last of the bonus tracks, the previously unissued "Mignon," is easily the prettiest song that Browne ever recorded and is thoroughly in the style of his first LP. Even overlooking its own intrinsic merits, Duncan Browne is worth owning as a more mature and developed, if slightly less spontaneous, expression of the sensibilities that forged Give Me Take You.
(Bruce Eder in "allmusic Guide")

You can also find his wonderful first album on the Time Has Told Me blogspot.

Tracklist:
- Ragged Rain Life
- Country Song
- The Martlet
- My Only Son
- Baby Rainbow
- Journey
- Cast No Shadow
- Over The Reef
- My Old Friends
- Last Time Around
- In A Mist (bonus)
- Send Me The Bill For Your Friendship (bonus)
- Guitar Piece (bonus)
- Mignon (bonus)

Personnel:
Duncan Browne (vcls)

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Give Me Take You (Immediate IMSP 018) 1968
2. Duncan Browne (Rak SRKA 6754) 1973

45's:
1. On The Bombsite/Alfred Bell (Immediate IM 70) 1968
2. Resurrection Joe/Final Asylum (Bell BLL 1119) 1970
3. Journey/In A Mist (Rak RAK 135) 1972
4. Send Me The Bill/My Only Son (Rak RAK 162) 1973

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Baby Rainbow

Mandrake Paddle Steamer - Overspill (1968-69)

2008-10-11T14:12:00.005+02:00

Mandrake Paddlesteamer made one, now legendary, psychedelic 45 which inevitably interests collectors. The original release of Strange Walking Man is now very expensive to purchase but aside from the disc's reissue by Bam-Caruso in 1988, the 'A' side, Strange Walking Man has also been heavily compiled. It's unusual for a tempo change towards the end where the vocal parts end and the song culminates with an instrumental passage. The track also features some great understated guitar work, and superb trippy lyrics. The flip side, Steam, is a pretty decent keyboard-driven instrumental. Their second 45, Sunlight Glide/Len (Parlophone SD 6072) 1969, was only released in Sweden, though no-one seems to know quite how this came about. It was written by Clae Fellbom and Calvin Floyd, two film producers responsible for a minor Swedish film called 'Skottet', which the songs were included in. Sunlight Glide is a melancholic, slow number, quite unlike this first 45. The flip side, Len, is a fuzzy instrumental.
(taken from "Tapestry Of Delights")

This collection (Scaner Jots Records BD 20002 / 199?) contains acetates and recordings from John Peel's Top Gear show from '69. A pretty rough sound indeed but you can hear their pontential on songs like "Overspill", "Cooger And Dark" or "Ivory Castle Of Solitaire Husk". They did never reach the heights of "Strange Walking Man" again though. I've added "Strange Walking Man" and their sole swedish single where they've shortened their name to Mandrake as bonus cuts. There's also an official website where you can find more information about the band.

Tracklist:
- Overspill
- Carmen
- Cooger And Dark
- Steam
- Slo Blo
- Senlac Lament
- Cooger And Dark
- Janus Suite
- Ivory Castle Of Solitaire Husk
- East Wing
- Strange Walking Man (bonus)
- Sunlight Glide (bonus)
- Len (bonus)

Personnel:
Brian Engel (vcls) [A]
Martin Briley (lead gtr, vcls) [AB]
Paul Riordan (bs) [ABC]
Martin Hooker (keyb'ds) [ABC]
Barry Nightingale (drms) [AB]
David Hooker (drms) [C]

Band origin:
London

Discographie:
45's:
1. Strange Walking Man/Steam (Parlophone R 5780) 1969
2. Sunlight Glide/Len (Parlophone SD 6072) 1969

[2. as Mandrake /Sweden only release]

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Cooger And Dark

V.A. - Endless Journey (Phase One)

2008-10-10T13:44:00.004+02:00

The three "Endless Journey" compilations were a good introduction into rare psychedelic music. Today bands like Moving Sidewalks, Faine Jade, Kak or Hunger are no longer unknown to most of us but in the early eighties these groups were quite a mystery. On "Phase One" (Psycho 1 / 1982) you will find predominately acid-drenched songs, only the three Rising Storm tracks from their only (great) album are in the garage vein. Mystic Tide's glorious "Psychedelic Journey Pts. 1+2" is represented here as a single track but Part 1 and Part 2 were originally released on two different 45's as b-sides.
I will post the other two volumes in the near future.

Tracklist:
1. Moving Sidewalks - I Want To Hold Your Hand
taken from the single
I Want To Hold Your Hand/Joe's Blues (Tantara 3108) 1968
Line-up: Bill Gibbons (gtr, vcls), Don Summers (bs), Tom Moore (organ, piano), Dan Mitchell (drms). Band origin: Houston (Texas)
2. Rising Storm - Baby Please Don't Go
taken from the album Calm Before... (Remnant BBA-3571) 1967
Line-up: Rich Weinberg (vcls, hrmnca, tamb, cowbell), Bob Cohen (lead gtr), Tony Thompson (rhythm gtr, vcls), Todd Cohen (bs), Charlie Rockwell (organ), Tom Scheft (drms, bongos, tamb).
Band origin: Andover (Massachusetts)
3. Outcasts - Smokestack Lightning
taken from the single
1523 Blair/Smokestack Lightning (Gallant 101) 1967
Line-up: Galen Niles (gtr), Jim Carsten (gtr), Jim Ryan (bs), Eugene Carson (keyb'ds, hmnca), Ricky Wright (drms). Band origin: San Antonio (Texas)
4. Oxford Circle - Foolish Woman
5. Oxford Circle - Mind Destruction
taken from the single
Foolish Woman/Mind Destruction (World United 1002) 1966
Line-up: Gary Yoder (rhythm gtr, vcls), Dehner Patten (gtr), Jim Keylor (bs), Paul Whaley (drms). Band origin: Sacramento (California)
6. Unsettled Society - 17 Diamond Studded Cadillacs
taken from the single
17 Diamond Studded Cadillacs/Passion Seed (Charm 6084/85) 1970
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Pennelville (New York)
7. Finchley Boys - I'm Not Like Everybody Else
taken from the album Everlasting Tributes (Golden Throat 200-19) 1972
Line-up: George Faber (vcls, harp), Garret Oostdyk (gtr), Tabe (bs),
J. Michael Powers (drms, perc). Band origin: Champaign (Illinois)
8. Rising Storm - A Message To Pretty
9. Rising Storm - Don't Look Back
See Track 2
10. Clique - Splash 1
taken from the single
Splash 1/Stay By Me (Cinema 001/Scepter 12202) 1967
Line-up: Randy Shaw (lead vcls, trumpet, sax), Cooper Hawthorne (lead gtr), Bruce Tinch (bs), Larry Lawson (vcls, keyb'ds, sax, trumpet), David Dunham (sax, vcls), John Kanesaw (drms). Band origin: Houston (Texas)
11. Mystic Tide - Psychedelic Journey Pts. 1+2
taken from the singles
Frustration/Psychedelic Journey Pt. I (Solid Sound 156/7) 1967
Running Through The Night/Psychedelic Journey Pt. II
(Solid Sound 158/9) 1967
Line-up: Joe Docko (gtr, lead vcls), Jim Thomas (gtr, vcls), Paul Picell (bs, vcls), John Williams (drms). Band origin: Woodbury (New York)

Get it here (Artwork included / vinyl rip)

Listen to Oxford Circle - Foolish Woman

Listen to Clique - Splash 1

Jack Bedient & The Chessmen - Where Did She Go (1967)

2008-10-09T18:04:00.007+02:00

Obscure local album by Northwest frat/lounge/pop band of the tuxedo dancehall variety. Seemingly patterned on the Raiders' "Here they come" with half crooner ballads & half teen rockers. The charming Orbisonstyle smoothies are a bit cheesier than the Raiders' but the garage fuzz tracks (I counted 3½) are good with a fat rocking NW sound and neato teen vocals. Bizarre closing Dylan cover.
(Patrick The Lama in "The Acid Archives")

As far as I know "Where Did She Go" (Satori 1001) was their third and last album. The A-side is eminently forgettable and the songs fit better to an aged crooner with too much pomade in his hair than to a garage band. The flip-side is way-out better and much more in the garage-vein. The guitar on their cover of Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues" sounds pretty much like Punk-Rock '77 than '67. Definitely not a lost gem but hard to get and before you pay silly money for this better have a listen first, although the quality of this rip (which is not mine) is not the best. You can find more information on the Garage Hangover site.

Tracklist:
- Where Did She Go
- Candy Roses And Love
- My Girl
- Pretty One
- My Prayer
- Stay Away From My Girl
- Rapunzel
- Glimmer, Glimmer, Sunshine
- Love Work Shop
- I Used To Feel Bad
- Subterranian Homesick Blues
- Don't Go Home

Personnel:
Jack Bedient (lead vcls, rhythm gtr) [ABCD]
Kevin Woods (lead gtr, vcls) [ABC]
Bill Britt (bs, vcls) [ABC]
Jewell Hendricks (drms) [AB]
Walter Hanna (keyb'ds) [BC]
Ira Orr (drms) [C]
Jerry Bledsoe (drms) [C]
Steve Eggleston (bs) [D]
Sam Wisner (drms) [D]
Dennis Hayes (organ)
Bill Vitt (drms)

Band origin:
California → Carson City (Nevada)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. Two Sides of Jack Bedient (Trophy 101) 1964
2. Live at Harvey's Fantasy 3365 1965
3. Where Did She Go (Satori 1001) 1967
4. Songs You Requested (Chessmen no #) 196?
5. In Concert [Harolds] (Chessmen no #) 1969
6. Jack Bedient (Executive Productions no #) 196?

45's:
1. The Mystic One/Question (Era 3050) 1961
2. Pretty One/Silver Haired Daddy (Trophy 1001) 1964
3. See The Little Girl/Here I Am (Fantasy 595) 1965
4. See The Little Girl/Looking For A Good Love
    (Fantasy 595) 1965
5. Double Whammy/I Want You To Know (Fantasy 598) 1965
6. Drummer Boy [Play Us A Song]/Dream Boy
    [Count Your Dreams] (Palomar 2212) 1965
7. Glimmer Sunshine/Where Did She Go (Rev 104/5-66) 1966
8. Love WorkshopI Could Have Loved You So Well
    (Columbia 4-44302) 1967
9. Pretty One/See That Girl (Columbia 4-44481) 1968
10. The Pleasures Of You/It’s Over (Columbia 4-44565) 1968
11. My Prayer/Independence Day (Columbia 4-44671) 1968
12. I've Been Loving You/I Could Never Lose My Love
    For You (Executive Productions 21) 1969
13. Beautiful [Takes A Trip]/Release Me
    (Executive Productions 21) 1969

[4. as Chessmen]

Get it here

Listen to I Used To Feel Bad

"14" - 14 In A Bunch... And More (1965-68)

2008-10-08T20:45:00.008+02:00

This group originated from Finspång/Sweden. Their only album from 1966 is a pleasant affair with nice vocal harmonies and melodies that were heavily influenced by the "Beatles-Revolver"-era. This CD (EMI 724385930225 / 1998) contains all their singles and the above mentioned album.

Tracklist:
- Wondering
- Nothing But Moan
- Little Down-Hearted Arthur
- Im Krankenhaus
- Please Girl Put Me On Your List
- Suit-Men Crowd
- He's A Friend Of Mine
- I Can't Catch Them
- Mr. Great Blues
- Restless Feeling One Hour After Dinner
- The Taperecorder
- The Leaves Of The Summer
- Frosty Stars On A Window-Pane
- Meet Mr. Edgar
- Through My Door
- Displeasing Message
- One Way Ticket (To The Blues)
- Take My Suzy
- Wrong Side
- Easy To Fool
- Umbrella
- Drizzle
- Puzzled
- I Can't Sleep
- Only Love

Personnel:
Olle Nilsson (gtr, vcls) [A]
Kenneth Larsson (gtr, vcls) [A]
Conny Larsson (bs, vcls) [A]
Thomas Palmkvist (drms) [A]
Torgny Lind (drms)
Curt Bergh (drms)

Band origin:
Finspång (Östergötland/Sweden)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. 14 In A Bunch (Olga LPO 03) 1966

45's:
1. Wondering/Nothing But Moan (Olga SO 16) 1965
2. I Can't Catch Them/Through My Door (Olga SO 22) 1966
3. Displeasing Message/Little Down-Hearted Arthur
(Olga SO 30) 1966
4. One Way Ticket/Take My Suzy (Olga SO 35) 1967
5. Im Krankenhaus/Meet Mr. Edgar (Olga SO 39) 1967
6. Wrong Side/Easy To Fool (Olga SO 42) 1967
7. Easy To Fool/Frosty Stars On A Window Pane
(Olga SO 51) 1967
8. Through My Door/Meet Mr. Edgar (Olga OLE 002) 1968
9. Umbrella/Drizzle [Rain] (Olga OLE 006) 1968

Get it here (Artwork included)

Listen to Little Down-Hearted Arthur

V.A. - Pebbles Vol. 8

2008-10-07T09:00:00.005+02:00

Most of the material on Volume 8 (BFD-5025 / 1980) is well-known today. This Pebbles release contains my all time garage favourite "I Never Loved Her" by The Starfires (and other classics for sure).

Tracklist:
1. Lollipop Shoppe - You Must Be A Witch
taken from the single
You Must Be A Witch/Don't Close The Door On Me (UNI 55050) 1967
Line-up: Fred Cole (vcls), Ed Bowen (lead gtr), Ron Buzzell (rhythm gtr), Bob Atkins (bs), Tim Rockson (drms). Band origin: Portland (Oregon)
2. Starfires - I Never Loved Her
taken from the single I Never Loved Her/Linda (G.I. 4001) 1965
Line-up: Chuck Butler (lead vcls, tamb), Dave Anderson (lead gtr), Sonny Lathrop (gtr), Freddy Fields (bs), Jack Emerick (drms).
Band origin: Los Angeles (California)
3. Gants - I Wonder
taken from the single Greener Days/I Wonder (Liberty 55940) 1967
Line-up: Sid Herring (vcls, gtr), Johnny Sanders (gtr), Vince Montgomery (bs), Don Wood (drms). Band origin: Greenwood (Mississippi)
4. Sound Barrier - (My) Baby's Gone
taken from the single (My) Baby's Gone/Hey Hey (Zounds 1004) 1967
Line-up: Paul Hess (lead gtr, vcls), Chuck Jackson (rhythm gtr), Terry Davis (bs, vcls), Mike Riffle (keyb'ds), Larry Davis (drms).
Band origin: Salem (Ohio)
5. JuJus - Hey Little Girl
taken from the single You Treat Me Bad/Hey Little Girl (Fenton 1004) 1965
Line-up: Ray Hummel (lead vcls, gtr, hrmnca), Rod Shepard (bs), Max Colley (sax), Bill Gorski (drms). Band origin: Grand Rapids (Michigan/US)
6. Uncalled For - Do Like Me
taken from the single
Do Like Me/Get Out Of The Way (Dollie 509/Laurie 3394) 1967
Line-up: Tollie Lee (lead vcls), Larry Welding (lead gtr), Doug Wurst (rhythm gtr), Russell Riddle (bs), Cliff Wurst (keyb'ds), Ray Cobb (drms).
Band origin: Manchester (Tennessee)
7. Bruthers - Bad Way To Go
taken from the single Bad Way To Go/Bad Love (RCA-Victor 47-8920) 1966
Line-up: Frank Delia (gtr, vcls), Alf Delia (bs, vcls), Joe Delia (keyb'ds, vcls), Mike Delia (drms). Band origin: Pearl River (New York)
8. Clue - Bad Times
taken from the single She's The Reason/Bad Times (Byron 101) 1966
Line-up: unknown. Band origin: Midland (Texas)
9. Faine Jade - It Ain't True
taken from the single
Love On A Candy Apple Day/It Ain't True (Providence 420) 1967
Line-up: Faine Jade (lead vcls, rhythm gtr, bs), Bruce Bradt (organ, harpsichord), Jeff Jade (drms, tamb).
Band origin: New York City (New York)
10. Caravelles - Lovin' Just My Style
taken from the single
Lovin' Just My Style/Self-Service (Onacrest 502) 1966
Line-up: John Fitzgerald (lead vcls, hrmnca), Mike Lipman (lead gtr), Jerry Breci (gtr), Rick Anderson (bs), Danny Reed (keybd's), Doug Steiner (drms).
Band origin: Phoenix (Arizona)
11. Human Beingz - My Generation
taken from the single
My Generation/Evil Hearted You (Elysian 820F 8687) 1966
Line-up: Richard Belley (lead gtr, vcls), Ting Markulin (rhythm gtr, vcls), Mel Pachuta (bs), Mike Tatman (drms). Band origin: Youngstown (Ohio)
12. Question Mark & The Mysterians - Make You Mine
taken from the single Make You Mine/I Love You Baby (Capitol 2162) 1968
Line-up: Rudy Martinez (lead vcls), Bobby Balderamma (gtr), Frank Lugo (bs), Frank Rodriguez (organ), Eddie Serrato (drms).
Band origin: Bay City (Michigan)
13. Others - I Can't Stand This Love, Goodbye
taken from the single
I Can't Stand This Love Goodbye/Until I Heard It From You
(RCA 47-8669) 1965
Line-up: Pete Shepley (lead vcls), Jim DeStout (lead gtr, vcls), Mike Brand (rhythm gtr), John Costa (bs, vcls), Mike Patalano (drms).
Band origin: Kingston (Rhode Island)
14. Cindermen - Don't Do It Some More
taken from the single
Don't Do It Some More/True Love (Moonglow 5012) 1966
Line-up: Jim Kelley (lead gtr), Fred Perry (rhythm gtr, lead vcls), Don Whaley (bs), Sam Sinopoli (drms). Band origin: Fresno (Caifornia)
15. Rovin' Flames - How Many Times
taken from the single
How Many Times/Love Song No. 6 (Decca 32191) 1967
Line-up: John Delise (lead vcls), Jimmy "Mouse" Morris (lead gtr), J.R. Maietta (bs), Johnny Rogers (organ), Eddie Taylor (drms).
Band origin: Tampa (Florida)
16. Rockin' Ramrods - She Lied
taken from the single
She Lied/The Girl Can't Help It (Bon-Bon 1315) 1964
Line-up: Bill Linnane (lead gtr), Vin Campisi (rhythm gtr), Ronn Campisi (bs, lead vcls), Bob Henderson (drms, perc, vcls)
Band origin: Boston (Massachusetts)
17. Movin' Morfomen - Run Girl Run
taken from the single
When You Were Mine/Run Girl Run (Delta 2242) 1967
Line-up: Danny Gavurnik (trumpet, gtr, vcls), Rudy Maestas (gtr, vcls), Anthony Martinez (bs), Dave Rarick (gtr, keyb'ds, vcls), Ed Valdez (drms).
Band origin: Espanola (New Mexico)
18. Lemon Drops - I Live In The Springtime
taken from the single
I Live In The Springtime/Listen Girl (Rembrandt 5009) 1967
Line-up: Danny Smola (vcls), Ricky Erickson (lead gtr), Bobby Lunaik (rhythm gtr), Eddie Weiss (rhythm gtr), Jeff Brand (bs), Gary Weiss (drms).
Band origin: Chicago (Illinois)

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Listen to Uncalled For - Do Like Me

Listen to Human Beingz - My Generation

It's All Meat (1970)

2008-10-04T22:58:00.007+02:00

From Toronto, Ontario. The stand-out track on their album is Sunday Love, which ranges from soft to strident keyboard-dominated psychedelia. Crying Into The Deep Lake is also excellent, a superb slice of psychedelia with a haunting keyboard intro. The remainder of the album pales into insignificance alongside these two tracks, but is nonetheless worth obtaining. Both their 45s were issued in black and white picture sleeves. The first is a wild non-LP punker, written by Jed MacKay and Rick McKim, with particularly eerie lyrics and frantic delivery. MacKay and McKim also produced the Underworld's single Go Away, and wrote the flip side Bound.
(taken from "Dreams, Fantasies & Nightmares")

This re-issue (Void 18 / 2001) came with a bonus 45 (which was a reprint of their first single). More info on the Garagehangover site.

Tracklist:
- You Don't Notice The Time You Waste
- Make Some Use Of Your Friends
- Crying Into The Deep Lake
- Roll My Own
- Self Confessed Lover
- If Only
- You Brought Me Back To My Senses
- Sunday Love
- Feel It [Bonus]
- (I Need Some Kind Of) Definite Commitment (Baby) [Bonus]

Personnel:
Wayne Roworth (gtr)
Norm White (gtr)
Rick Aston (bs, vcls)
Jed MacKay (organ, piano, lead vcls)
Rick McKim (drms)

Band origin:
Toronto (Ontario/Canada)

Discographie:
Albums:
1. It's All Meat (Columbia ELS-374) 1970

45's:
1. Feel It/[I Need Some Kind Of] Definite Commitment
[Baby] (Columbia C4-2910) 1969
2. You Don't Notice The Time You Waste/If Only
(Columbia C4-2930) 1969

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Listen to You Brought Me Back To My Senses

Les 5 Gentlemen - Plus Grands Succés (1965-68)

2008-10-03T11:27:00.006+02:00

This highly talented band from Marseille is definitely my favourite french group. They released five E.P.'s on the Riviera label and one as "Les Ambitieux" on Columbia. They also tried to get a foot on the british market and released one 45 under the moniker "Darwin's Theory" but "Daytime" (which was "Dis-Nous Dylan" with english lyrics) didn't make any impact there. This cool sixteen-track compilation (Belle Amie 0100 / 2000) contains their best work from 1965-68. From my personnal view "LSD 25", "Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi" and "Twiggy" are absolutely essential for every psych/freakbeat connoisseur.

Tracklist:
- Cara-Lin
- Hosanna
- Dis-Moi
- Je Te Veux
- Prie!
- Lsd 25
- Dis-Nous Dylan
- Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi
- Cette Fille-La
- Trop Tard
- Ces Mots
- Oum Tse Oum Papa
- Olivier
- Longue, Longue Nuit D'Amor
- Twiggy
- Mets Du Sucre Dans Ton Café

Personnel:
Claude Olmos (lead gtr, back vcls)
Francois "La Canard" Paoli (gtr, tambourine, back vcls)
Jean Fredenucci (vcls, bs)
Guy Matteoni (keybd's, vcls)
Michel Donat (drms)

Band origin:
Marseille (France)

Discographie:
45's:
1. Cosa Mi Vieni A Dire/Quel Che Ho Fatto
   (Pathé AQ 1323) 1965
2. Daytime/Hosanna (Major Minor MM 50) 1966

[1. italian release]
[2. as Darwin's Theory]

E.P.'s:
1. Danse, Danse Encore/Ces Mots/Dis-Moi/C'est Pas Vrai
   (Columbia ESRF 1662) 1965
2. Cara-Lin/Trop Tard/Oublie-Moi/Cette Fille-La
   (Riviera 231142) 1966
3. Dis-Nous Dylan/Hosanna/Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi/Prie!
   (Riviera 231181) 1966
4. Qu'as-Tu Katioucha/LSD 25/Je Te Veux/Olivier
   (Riviera 231212) 1967
5. Oum Tse Oum Papa/Anna/Longue, Longue Nuit D'amor/
   1.000.000 D'annees Avant Jesus Christ
   (Riviera 231265) 1967
6. Twiggy/Mets Du Sucre Dans Ton Café/Cinema Muet/
   La Fabrique De Savon (Riviera 231321) 1968

[1. as Les Ambitieux]

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Listen to Si Tu Reviens Chez Moi