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
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
This instrumental exploito album from Italy got some good reviews and I really ask myself why. The opening cut is pretty groovy but the rest of the set is more or less lame. Listeners who enjoy "Bokaj Retsiem" or "101 Strings" could be pleased with "The Underground Set" but I'm not really into that cash-in records. The musicians were in fact from Nuovo Idea but for contractual reasons they have chosen a different name. This re-issue was released on Shagadelic (Shagadelic SDCD 4 / 2002) and I saw it on e-bay gone for 35$. So before you pay for unfulfilled expectations you should listen first! More info about the band can be found on the Italian Prog site
Tracklist: - Arcipelago - Emisfero - Atollo - Longitudine Est - 36° Parallelo - Samba Natalizia - Underground in Blue - Shake 26 - Equatore - 7° Meridiano - Emisfero Personnel [aka Nuovo Idea]: Marco Zoccheddu (gtr, vcls) Claudio Ghiglino (gtr, vcls) Giorgio Usai (keyb'ds) Enrico Casagni (bs, flute, vcls) Paolo Siani (drms, vcls) Band origin: Genova (Italy)
Discographie: Albums: 1. The Underground Set (Radio RRS 134) 1970 2. War In The Night Before (Tickle TLPS 5002) 1971
45's: 1. Arcipelago/La Filibusta (Radio RR 1030) 1970 2. Motor Road Underground/Slaughter On The Motor Road (Radio RR 1043) 1970 3. Tanto Per Cambiare/Emisfero (Radio RR 1048) 1970 4. Una Lettera/Libitum (Tickle TSP 1301) 1971 5. La Casa Aperta Agli Ospiti/Messaggio (Tickle TSP 1304) 1972
[1. + 5. B-Side by Gian Piero Reverberi Orchestra]
From New Jersey, their album (ABC ABCS 666 / 1969) was a "Super K" production by Kasenetz-Katz, with a psychedelic side and a bubblegum side. Among its better tracks are 4th Dimension and Seance, and overall it's worth hearing. One of the tracks, The Seance started when Jeff Katz came into the studio whilst the engineer was trying to get a volume and EQ level. As usual, the band were goofin-off - playing dissonant jibberish to irritate and annoy the engineer, but Jeff thought that THAT SOUND was' just what he was looking for ' to finish the album... One track from the album, Mysterious Martha has been compiled on Psychosis From The 13th Dimension. (taken from "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers")
Tracklist: - Where Are We Goin' To - 4th Dimension - Gypsy Lady - I Got Troubles (You Got Trouble) - The Seance - Mysterious Martha Garoo - The Book - Land Of The Krepus - Mrs Fortune Teller - Everybody's Got A Song To Sing Personnel: Jimmie Jersie (vcls, perc) Joe Ribaudo (gtr) Drew Troeder (bs, vcls) Guy Rigano (drms) Band origin: Garfield (New Jersey/US)
Discographie: Albums: 1. The Mystical Powers Of Roving Tarot Gamble (ABC ABCS 666) 1969
45's: 1. I Got Troubles/Gypsy Lady (ABC Paramount 11172) 1969
Originally from Lafayette/California they moved to San Francisco and picked up the typical sound of the city. I must confess that I'm not really into the music that "Big Brother & The Holding Company" or "Grateful Dead" did (although I respect their "Anhtems Of The Sun" and "Aoxomoxoa" albums). And now you know what's the deal here... long jammings with endless lead guitar interpretations. I think there are a lot of you out there who appreciate this record more than I do.
Tracklist: - Hearts To Cry • alternate version - Chain Reaction - Pulpit Hough - Cheshire • full-length version - Woodrose syrup - Can-A-Bliss • full-length version Personnel: David Denny (lead gtr, vcls) [ACDEF] Brian Hough (bs) [AB] Jack King (drms, vcls) [ABCDEF] George Tickner (gtr) [AB] Kaja Doria (vcls) [B] Bret Wilmot (lead gtr) [B] Ross Valory (bs, vcls) [C] Jimmy Warner (lead gtr, vcls) [CD] Bob Winkelman (gtr, vcls, bs) [CDEF] Jack Notestein (bs, vcls) [DE] Band origin: Lafayette (California) → San Francisco
Discographie: E.P.'s: 1. (D) Hearts To Cry/Misty Cloudy/Cheshire (Muggles Gramophone Works FB-A/B) 1968
Heavy Rock isn't necessarily what I like. But here we have an album from a London band that has its moments and hits my taste at times. The freaky "White Light", the Tyrannosaurus Rex styled "I'm Drowning" and the cool rocker "So Embarrassed" are all worthwhile. Of more interest to me are the bonus tracks that Castle Records released with their first album on one CD (Castle ESMCD 896 / 2000). Especially the 7-inch they did under the name The Tickle are both great psychedelic and freakbeat tracks. Finally I think every heavy rock aficionado would jubilate more at "Battersea Power Station" than I do.
Tracklist: - Total War - Circus Days - Imagination - My Ship - Miss Lizzie - So Embarrassed - Freak In - Playtime - I'm Drowning - White Light - By The Tree
[Bonus tracks] - Mr. Golden Trumpet Player - Black Snake - Woman Love - Star Child - Sink Or Swim - Circus Days • single version - White Light • demo - By The Tree • demo - Imagination • demo - Playtime • demo - Subway (Smokey Pokey World) • as The Tickle - Good Evening • as The Tickle Personnel: [JUNIOR'S EYES] Mick Wayne (lead gtr, vcls) [ABCDE] John 'Honk' Lodge (bs, vcls) [ABCDE] John 'Candy' Carr (drms, bongoes) [A] Steve Chapman (drms) [BCD] John Redford (organ) [C] Graham 'Grom' Kelly (vcls) [D] Tim Renwick (gtr, glute, cello) [E] John Cambridge (drms) [E]
[THE TICKLE] Mike Docker (lead vcls) Mick Wayne (lead gtr, vcls) Richard Dowling (bs) Dave Williams (keyb'ds) John Beckerman (drms) Band origin: London
Discographie [Junior's Eyes]: Albums: 1. (D) Battersea Power Station (Regal Zonophone SLRZ 1008) 1969
Once again by request. Blond were from Gothenborg/Sweden and evolved out of the Tages. Their one and only album is a hotchpotch of pop-psych and late sixties rock. Not the best album in the world but quite appealing. The reissue came out in 2003 (Universal 018335-2). There are also three videos added on the CD showing them performing "The Weight", "My Days Are Numbered" and "Caroline". The sound and picture quality is excellent and might interest you too.
Tracklist: - Six White Horses - Deep Inside My Heart - Sailing Across The Ocean - Time Is Mine - The Girl I Once Had - The Lilac Years - I Wake Up And Call - Sun In Her Hand - I Pick Up The Bus - There's A Man Standing In The Corner - (I Will Bring You) Flowers In The Morning - Caroline - Lost Child (bonus) - How Can I Pray When I Don't Believe (bonus) - Balladen Om Killen Del 1 (bonus by Örjan) - Balladen Om Killen Del 2 (bonus by Örjan) - The Weight • Live (bonus) Personnel: Göran Lagerberg (vcls, bs) [AB] Anders Töpel (gtr, vcls) [A] Danne Larsson (gtr, vcls) [A] Lasse Svensson (drms) [AB] Anders Nordh (gtr) [B] Björn Linder (gtr) [BC] Mats Landahl (keyb'ds, vcls) [C] Björn Töpel (gtr) [C] Band origin: Gothenborg (Sweden)
Discographie: Albums: 1. (A) The Lilac Years (Fontana TY 881015) 1969
45's: 1. (A) I Wake Up And Call/The Girl I Once Had (Fontana 271281 TF) 1969 2. (A) The Lilac Years/Six White Horses (Fontana 271282 TF) 1969 3. (A) Deep Inside My Heart/(I Will Bring You) Flowers In The Morning (Fontana 1673) 1969 4. (A) I Wake Up And Call/(I Will Bring You) Flowers In The Morning (Fontana H 1040) 1969 5. (C) Lost Child/How Can I Pray When I Don't Believe (Fontana 6089002) 1970
This band was formerly known as The Astronauts. In 1967 they left their surf sound behind and made a 45 with a different line-up (Sally Go 'Round The Roses/Pay The Price) as Sunshine Ward. They moved to Los Angeles, got signed by Capitol and released their self-titled album (Capitol ST 2964 / 1968). It's a pretty West Coast sounding affair but it seems they were a bit late on the spot. All in all it's a good one and even producer David Axelrod couldn't ruin it. Three of their tracks (City Sidewalks, Sanctuary and Good Ole Friends) were also recorded by Yankee Dollar.
Tracklist: - Medley: My Time/Take A Long Look - City Sidewalks - Love And I - Monday - Plate Of My Fare - Not So Hard - Good Ole Friends - Sanctuary - To Nowhere - Good Luck Personnel: Richard Otis Fifield (gtr, vcls) Peter M. Wyant (gtr) Robert Carl McLerian (bs) Tony Murillo (drms) Band origin: Los Angeles (California/US)
Discographie: Albums: 1. Hardwater (Capitol ST 2954) 1968
45's: 1. City Sidewalks/Not So Hard (Capitol 2230) 1968 2. Plate Of My Fare/Good Old Friends (Capitol 2373) 1969
Locksley Hall was one of the better known psychedelic bands in the Pacific Northwest during their existence from 1967 thru' 1970. The album was recorded in 1969 at the legendary Audio Recorders in Seattle with long time Northwest guitarist Ned Neltner (Mark Five, Gas Company, Junior Cadillac) producing and Sonics engineer Kearny Barton at the console. It remained unreleased until the limited edition came out in 1996. The album reminds us of every band who ever played the Fillmore West in the late sixties and blends together elements of It's A Beautiful Day, Jefferson Airplane and Big Brother and The Holding Co. Recommended. (taken from "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers")
While a lot of co-ed groups of the era sound rather generic, Locksley Hall manages to escape identity in a slightly different way. This album plays almost like a sampler of West Coast music. On various songs they sound like Country Joe & The Fish, Jefferson Airplane, The Charlatans, Big Brother & The Holding Company, and the Association. Despite the crudeness of the recordings there’s a definite sense of professionalism here. They’re more appealing as a hard rock band than a soft rock band, but the only real dud here is the good timey song that ends side one. Both the male and female vocals are quite good, though as is often the case they sound much better apart than together. There is some excellent guitar playing here and a few very solid songs, most notably a long rocker on side one. The mix of styles is a bit disconcerting, but overall, this is much better than a lot of genre albums that did end up getting major label releases at the time. The LP was recorded in Seattle for Epic in the late 1960s but not released at the time. [AM] (taken from "The Acid Archives")
Tracklist: - Locksley Hall (Poem) - Boy - Let me blow out your candle - Baby blue eyes - D-O-P-E - Some say love - What does a lonely heart do? - Que-Bell - Wake up (Tubby's tune) - When autumn leaves turn to gold - Locksley Hall (Poem) Personnel: Ben Stanley (gtr, vcls) Shannon Svenson (vcls) Kevin Svenson (back vcls) Roy Castleman (bs, vcls) Denny Langdale (keyb'ds) Randy Thompson (drms) Band origin: Spokane (Washington/US)
Discographie: Albums: 1. Locksley Hall (OR 013) 1996 [rec. 1969-70]
Not really one of my favourite albums, so let's see what "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers" says: "Originally from Texas, Roger Salloom and Robin Sinclair moved to Chicago to take a part on the local Blues scene. The first album, which is a very minor collectors' item, was recorded there in 1968 for the Chess subsidiary Cadet Concept. The killer cut is a drug song called She Kicked Me Out Of The House Last Night (After This One). It features freaked-out vocals, a full organ sound and some good psychedelic guitar work. Salloom wrote seven of the eight tracks, the last one Griffin being authored by Robin Sinclair, a powerful female singer."
As far as I know this one hasn't been reissued.
Tracklist: - Be born again - Conversations with gentility - Steals - Griffin - She kicked me out of the house after this one - Florida Blues - Sitting on a finger - Marie La Peau
Personnel: Robin Sinclair (vcls) [AB] Roger Salloom (vcls, gtr) [AB] Tom Davis (lead gtr) [A] John Bolling (bs) [A] Dick Orvis (piano) [A] Phil Montgomery (drms) [A] Band origin: San Francisco (California/US)
Rare, original and hard to get music is the demand of that blog here. If a record is still available through mailorders I won't post it (but I make exceptions if I get the feeling the dealers force up the prices). Enjoy the music and... ...leave comments (or leave me alone).
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.
