Rockasteria

Tuesday, September 10, 2024

Thomas F. Browne - Wednesday's Child (1971 uk, elegant jazzy folk soft rock, 2016 korean remaster)

It's one of the unwritten laws of record collecting that some labels guaranteed quality simply by existing -- and, if a record bears that sainted logo, then it's worth any investment you care to make. Of course, it doesn't always work that way, as collectors of the legendary U.K. prog label Vertigo will ruefully inform you. But anybody taking a chance on one of the final albums to be released beneath the label's spiral logo, the one-and-only album by singer/songwriter Thomas F. Browne, might well find themselves wondering why the company wasted so much wax on half-hearted jazz-rock, and so little exploring the further reaches of the folk-rock hybrid.

Browne himself was drummer with the '60s beat band Nero & the Gladiators, a heavily classics-influenced band that also featured future Spooky Tooth/Foreigner guitarist Mick Jones for a time. Indeed, Jones and Browne alone later worked together as the State of Mickey & Tommy, and Wednesday's Child continued the partnership, with additional (and supremely characteristic) help from fellow Spooky Gary Wright, and the Sandy Denny-less Fotheringay. Such heavyweight backing, of course, dictates much of the ensuing mood, a gently rolling collection of ballads that fall into much the same bag as the period Strawbs and Mike Heron. Browne's voice is not always at its best, lacking the depth of expression that his lyrics generally demand. But the power of the arrangements and some wonderfully atmospheric backing vocals from Doris Troy and Sue & Sunny readily salvage things, and songs like "Carry My Load" (with a breathtaking Jones guitar solo) and "Dark Eyed Lady"'s cheeky approximation of "Pinball Wizard"'s acoustic guitar hook are both supremely contagious, while "The Alamo" is as epic as the land it immortalizes.

by Dave Thompson

Tracks

1. Gentle Sarah - 4:23

2. Carry My Load - 4:25

3. Bowm, Bowm, Bomm - 4:31

4. Dark Eyed Lady - 4:23

5. It's Coming - 2:30

6. Hold On - 4:50

7. Tomorrow Is Another Day - 3:56

8. Poor Mans Smile - 3:30

9. The Alamo - 6:00

All songs by Thomas F. Browne, Mick Jones

Musicians

*Thomas F. Browne - Drums, Guitar, Vocals

*Doris Troy - Vocals

*Gary Wright - Organ, Piano

*Jerry Donahue - Guitar

*Mick Jones - Guitar, Vocals

*Pat Donaldson - Bass

*Raymond Donnez - Organ, Piano

Thursday, September 5, 2024

rep> Little Big Horn - Little Big Horn (1970-71 uk, great classic rock with glam and prog traces, 2012 Flawed Gems bonus track)

The eponymous, German-only album from this long forgotten British hard progressive quintet was released in 1971 by Bellaphon - the record label responsible for the collectable (and now very expensive) vinyl editions of other, stylistically similar but also little known UK bands like Diabolus, Steel Mill, Crazy Mabel and Sunday.

This difficult to describe album contained an eclectic mix of styles, going between straight rock, tasteful rock ballads and hard progressive rock. That varied, well-arranged and in most parts simply stunning record will certainly appeal to the fans of Procol Harum, Skin Alley and Jody Grind. As a bonus we have added a very rare, non-LP UK single (from 1970) - with a terrific and insanely hypnotic Just A Game being one of the very best heavy rock tracks from early 70's.

Tracks

1. Good Time Music (John Sebastian) - 3:38

2. Getting It Together (John Mark) - 3:31

3. I Wish I Had The Words - 4:27

4. Anything That Turns You On - 3:02

5. Right Road (Alan Davis) - 3:31

6. Name Of The Game - 3:07

7. Something Good - 2:56

8. Ain't No Harm - 3:39

9. Isn't It Strange - 3:22

10.Just Ain't Fair - 5:28

11.Another Man's Song - 3:57

12.Just A Game - 4:16

All songs by Jim Turner except where noted

Bonus Track 12

Little Big Horn
*Jim Turner - Vocals, Piano, Organ
*Barry Beasley - Vocals, Bass
*Billy Slaney - Drums, Percussion
*Alan Davis - Lead Vocals
*Danny Maidment - Vocals, Guitar

1966-68 The Choir - Choir Practice

Tuesday, September 3, 2024

The Lost Souls - The Lost Souls (1964-1976 us, splendid garage folk psych rock, 2018 release)

The Lost Souls never released any records, yet the meager recorded evidence that survives indicates that they were one of the finest unknown American groups of the mid-’60s, able to write both catchy British Invasion-type rockers and, in their latter days, experimental psychedelic pieces with unusual tempo changes and song structures. The band were also unusual in their occasional embellishment of the typical period guitar-bass-drums lineup with flute, sax, and mandolin. Although popular in their Cleveland hometown, they broke up in 1968 to attend college. Rhythm guitarist Denny Carleton, who wrote and sang some of their best material, went on to briefly join The Choir, their chief and more successful rivals.”

by Richie Unterberger

The music scene in Cleveland in the mid to late 1960’s was ripe with talent: the James Gang with Joe Walsh and Glenn Schwartz, The Choir, Eric Carmen () - pre-Raspberries, Glass Harp with Phil Keaggy, the Damnation of Adam Blessing… and the Lost Souls. Of all those bands, only the Lost Souls never released a record. Then again, they were in high school, trying to navigate dress codes and bullies—and playing in front of a couple thousand fans when not suspended. Sure, they lost a battle of the bands at Teen Fair 1968, but it was to the James Gang with Joe Walsh. And somehow it is the Lost Souls who emerge from that time and place with the greatest mystique and some of the most adventurous music, music which few have heard. Lost Souls main songwriter Denny Carleton released a cassette of the band’s original recordings in 1984. It received airplay on hundreds of college and public radio stations in the USA and around the world, and garnered glowing reviews… and that was it, until now.

Not only is this the first time the music of the Lost Souls has been available since that cassette, our Lion Productions edition is the first release for many additional Lost Souls cuts, including alternate versions of key tracks like the insightful ‘Things That Are Important’ and ‘I’m Falling’ the closest to a hit the band ever had, all taken from the original tapes and carefully mastered. Seven bonus tracks highlight the work of Lost Soul’s main songwriter Denny Carleton, one-time member of The Choir, and more surprisingly, punk legends the Pagans; selections by The Choir, Moses, Milk and Carleton, many in all possible low-fi glory, recorded on various 4-Track devices, ranging from power-pop to grimy garage.

Tracks

1. Love I Won't Admit - 2:57

2. Look At Me (Unknown) - 2:08

3. Walking Out On Me (Unknown) - 2:19

4. Things That Are Important - 2:24

5. Let's Get Away (Chuck McKinley) - 3:26

6. Dare To Surmise (Denny Marek) - 4:14

7. If These Are Men - 2:26

8. Josephine - 3:32

9. Trashcan Throne (Denny Marek) - 2:16

10.Livin' The Way I Want To (Chuck McKinley) - 3:31

11.Pre-Break Song (Denny Marek) - 0:57

12.I'm Falling - 3:49

13.I Want You - 3:30

14.Whatcha Gonna Do - 2:38

15.Things That Are - 2:31

16.I'm Falling - 3:33

17.Diamond Head - 2:06

18.I Can See Beyond Your Lies - 2:46

19.Oh Yes - 3:50

20.If These Are Men - 3:02

21.Mummer Band - 2:24

22.Middle Of An Island - 2:20

23.Alice - 2:07

24.I'm Not Busy, It's Just The Phone - 2:41

25.Could She Love Me - 3:28

26.Moonlight Rebellion (Key One) - 2:37

All songs by Denny Carleton except where indicated

Trracks 20,21 by The Choir

Track 22 by Moses

Track 23 by Milk

Track 25 by Cleveland Cuties

Tracks 24,26 by Denny Carleton

The Lost Souls

*Denny Carleton - Rhythm Guitar

*Chuck McKinley - Bass (Tracks 1-19)

*Denny Marek - Lead Guitar (Tracks 1-19)

*Larry Tomczak - Drums

*Rich Schonauer - Saxophone

Related Act

1969 The Choir - Artifact The Unreleased Album (2018 remaster)

Tuesday, August 27, 2024

Bloody Mary - Bloody Mary (1974 us, rough psych hard rock, 2014 korean remaster)

Bloody Mary was a group based in New York, and this is their only album released by USA Family Productions in 1974. The rumors was that they were Sir Lord Baltimore, who was also from New York, but that was a misunderstanding because it was recorded in the same studio in Hempstead, Long Island, as Sir Lord's second album, with the same engineer (John Bradley). Sir Lord and Bloody Mary recorded in studios next to each other in 1971, but for some reason this album was released in 1974. The album was produced by Vinnie Testa.

According to some infos, members were Vito Albano, John Parisio, Richard Incoirvaia, (these three guys were part of a band called Alive ‘N Kickin, who scored a big hit with the song “Tighter, Tighter” in 1970), for the rest of the members Donnie Dimola, John Tattos and Larry Goodman, except their names, I don't have further informations.

The guitar and organ are constantly played, and the music is high-tension, fast-paced hard rock. The songs are based on blues but have a touch of funk and progressive rock, and the 16-beat-based performance with Latin percussion is simply cool. It gives the impression of a jumble of Purple-like and Santana-like parts, and there are also elements of rough hard rock. A great album with a full band feel.

Tracks

1. Dragon Lady - 5:04

2. Highway - 2:51

3. Riddle Of The Sea - 4:08

4. Free And Easy - 5:10

5. You Only Got Yourself - 7:01

6. Can You Feel It (Fire) - 5:37

7. I Hear The Music Playing - 4:51

All titles by Vito Albano, John Parisio, Richard Incoirvaia, Donnie Dimola, John Tattos, Larry Goodman

Bloody Mary

*Vito Albano - Drums, Percussion

*John Parisio - Guitar

*Richard Incoirvaia

*Donnie Dimola

*John Tattos

*Larry Goodman

Friday, August 23, 2024

Brian Short - Anything For A Laugh (1971 uk, sophisticated, ambitious folk jazz blues classic rock, 2022 korean remaster)

Brian Short was an English singer who emerged as the frontman of Black Cat Bones. His solo album, Anything for a Laugh, appeared in 1971 on Transatlantic Records. He later wrote songs for Jeff Beck and Hummingbird.

Short first fronted The Sect, a Newcastle beat group that played numerous Tyneside venues (Club A’Gogo, the Mayfair, the Majestic, the Quay Club) during the mid-1960s. It was at one 1965 show at the Cellar Club in South Shields where he met his wife of 40 years, Lynda.

In 1968, Short joined London blues-rockers Black Cat Bones, taking the place of original vocalist (and later Downliners Sect frontman) Paul Tiller. Short remained long enough to sing on their one album, the 1970 Decca Nova release Barbed Wire Sandwich.

In 1971, Short teamed with keyboardist Max Middleton, then of the Jeff Beck Group, and four-fifths of the unsigned act Simpson’s Pure Oxygen (formerly Griffin): guitarist Peter Kirtley, bassist Colin Gibson, guitarist/keyboardist Kenny Craddock, and drummer Alan White. They backed Short for an album on the folk-jazz-psych label Transatlantic Records with additional help from reedist Lyn Dobson (Locomotive, Soft Machine, Keef Hartley Band, Mick Softley, Mick Greenwood), Jamaican contra-bassist Coleridge Goode, and the Leiston Dafties Choir.

Short released Anything for a Laugh in 1971 on Transatlantic. The 12-song album features 11 originals, including “Blue Tuesday,” “Don’t You Need Me Anymore,” “Emily,” “Wishing Well” and “Winter Comes.” Also included is a cover of the Randy Newman composition “I Think It’s Going to Rain Today.”

Original copies of Anything for a Laugh are housed in a gatefold sleeve with blue- and sepia-tinted b&w photos of urban desolation. Lyrics appear on the inner-spread. The album was produced by Mike Finesilver (Love Sculpture, Kingdom Come, Ross, Gonzalez, J.A.L.N. Band). Craddock plays harmonium on select passages.

Short retained his ties with Middleton, who performed on the 1971 release Rough and Ready by the Jeff Beck Group. That album wraps with the six-minute Short composition “Jody.” Middleton’s next band, Hummingbird, included the Short co-write “Got My ‘Led Boots’ On” on their 1977 third album Diamond Nights, arranged by drummer Bernard Purdie.

As a songwriter, Short penned “I Don’t Want the Night to End,” a 1978 disco hit for French singer Sylvie Vartan. In 1981, he partnered with Maxine Nightingale on the A&M single “Rendezvous” (b/w “You Touched Me”). During the ’80s, his songs were recorded by Syreeta; Toni Basil; Ray, Goodman & Brown (aka The Moments); and Beau Williams. Brian passed away in 2014.

Jazz-Rock-Soul

Tracks

1. Ring That Bell - 3:34

2. Emily - 5:01

3. Don't You Need Mee Anymore - 3:57

4. With You On My Side (For Joy And Alan) - 2:32

5. Blue Tuesday - 4:11

6. I Think It's Going To Rain Today (Randy Newman) - 3:41

7. Mother Molly - 4:25

8. Anything For A Laugh - For Rob - 3:27

9. Wishing Well - 3:56

10.Winter Comes - 3:22

11.Goodbye Brother Paul - 3:26

12.Always Another Train - 3:02

All songs by Brian Short except track #6

Musicians

*Brian Short - Vocals

*Alan White – Drums, Finger Cymbals

*Max Middleton - Piano

*Ken Craddock - Guitars, Harmonium, Vocals

*Peter Kirtley - Guitars, Mandolin, Vocals

*Colin Gibson - Bass, Wellingtons

*The Leiston Dafties Choir - Backing Vocals

With

*Lyn Dobson-Soprano Sax, Flute

*Ray Cooper - Percussion

*Coleridge Goode - Double bass

*Ed Spevock - Percussion

1975 Oz Knozz - Ruff Mix (2006 edition)

Tuesday, August 20, 2024

rep> Chameleon - Rising (1973-78 us, exceptional hard prog rock, 2013 digipak release)

It was 1969 when Mike Huey introduced his friend, Spencer Clark, to his brother Rick Huey, and the three of them started a "garage band" called Evolepoh. In 1970, Craig Gysler joined the band, now renamed Lorien, and they started composing original tunes and working toward playing live shows.

In the Spring of 1972, Spencer (lead guitar, lead vocals, song writer) - , Mike (drums, backing vocals, artistic promoter, lyricist) - , and Craig (keyboards, rhythm guitar, lead vocals) - were about to graduate high school, although Rick (bass, backing vocals, song writer-uri-diculous) - had graduated two years prior. Soon the boys were landing opening spots with MC5, Captain Beefheart, and The Amboy Dukes (Ted Nugent) - at a local Houston venue called "of Our Own". They were not yet in their Progressive Zone, but were listening to and influenced by bands such as King Crimson, ELP, Peter-Gabriel-Era Genesis, and Yes.

By 1975 the band had changed their name to Chameleon, and were playing gigs around Houston and surrounding Texas cities. Widely known and praised as a Progressive Rock band, they shared the stage with other notable Houston bands such as Eeze (later known as Automatic) - , La Paz, The Electromagnets with Eric Johnson, Heyoka, One Hand Clapping, and Oz Knozz. Chameleon rehearsed 4 or 5 nights a week out at Spencer's place west of Houston, (a converted barn) - and that is where they fine-tuned their progressive style.

Mike left the band in 1978, and Marty Naul from Oz Knozz joined as drummer, backing vocalist, director, and "crazy-Ass Insane Chauffer") - Chameleon began to increase the vision of being a Prog Rock band, and recorded the now famous "Barn Tapes" during this period.

By 1981, the band Chameleon had run its course, and although the five spirits of Spencer, Craig, Rick, Mike and Marty that comprised the band's soul went their separate ways, all of the recordings they left behind are still here, fully restored and presented to you now for enjoyment and remembrance.

CD Liner-notes

Tracks
1. Texas Cyclone (Craig Gysler) - 9:41
2. Follow Your Love (Paradise Lost) (Craig Gysler, Spencer Clark) - 3:57
3. Pilot Thoughts (Spencer Clark, Mike Huey) - 7:24
4. Brave New Way (Spencer Clark, Craig Gysler) - 4:08
5. Drool Away (Spencer Clark) - 4:36
6. Pass Thru The Columbian Mountains (Spencer Clark) - 6:43
7. Everyday Everyway (Spencer Clark, Craig Gysler) - 5:56
8. Mirkwood Forest (Craig Gysler, S. Clark, Mike Huey, Rick Huey) - 6:53
9. In The Heart (Craig Gysler) - 5:26
10.Saturate (Spencer Clark, Craig Gysler) - 4:49
11.Midnight Matinee (Spencer Clark) - 5:29
12.Life Positions (S. Clark, Craig Gysler, Rick Huey, Marty Naul) - 9:26
13.In My Own Way (Craig Gysler) - 3:14

Chameleon
*Spencer Clark - Guitars, Vocals
*Craig Gysler - Keyboards, Vocals
*Mike Huey - Drums
*Rick Huey - Bass, Vocals
*Marty Naul - Drums (1978-80)

Related Act

1972 Christopher Kearney - Christopher Kearney (2016 SHM remaster)

Friday, August 16, 2024

Christopher Kearney - Sweetwater (1974 canada, nice soft groovy rock, 2014 korean remaster)

This is the third album from Canadian swamp singer-songwriter Christopher Keaney. His sound is more refined than his debut, featuring three songs by band member Bob Yeomans. It seems to have been influenced by Steely Dan, and while the vocals still retain a down-to-earth quality, they are light and elegant. This is a work from the period when swamp music was moving towards to straight rock forms, and it is of high quality.

Tracks

1. Prayin` For Rain - 3:06

2. Sweetwater - 3:01

3. Chicano Cowboy - 3:35

4. Silver Spoon - 2:39

5. Travellin` Son - 5:07

6. Steady Ground - 3:05

7. Dirt Road - 6:58

8. Raggedy Ann - 3:37

9. Runnin` Child - 3:17

10.The Last Train - 3:31

All compositions by Christopher Kearney, Bob Yeomans

Personnel

*Christopher Kearney - Vocals, Guitar

*Bob Yeomans - Guitar, Backing Vocals

*Gene Falbo - Bass, Backing Vocals

*Dido Morris - Congas

*Jon Goldsmith - Keyboards, Backing Vocals

*Al Brisco - Pedal Steel Guitar

*Ben Mink - Violin

*Bob DiSalle - Backing Vocals

1973 Christopher Kearney - Pemmican Stash (2014 korean remaster)

Monday, August 12, 2024

rep> The Surprise Package - Free Up (1969 us, powerful organ driving heavy acid psych with some prog shades, 2010 extra track remaster)

The Surprise Package were a Seattle, Washington group consisting of Fred Zeufeldt (drums, backing vocals), Michael Rohers (piano, organ, bass, backing vocals), Greg Beck (guitar, backing vocals), Rob Lowery (lead vocals).

Their only album was released in early 1969 on tiny LHI label owned by the famous arttist/producer Lee Hazelwood. The Record mostly contained a trippy and quite intense music with lots of Hammond organ pasages, loud and fuzzed-out guitar parts and solid drumming. It can be easily described as a stylistic combination of Vanilla Fudge, The Doors and especially Iron Butterfly.

It worth noting that the title track lasted nearly 16 minutes and its structure wasvery similar to In A-Gadda-Da-Vida. Excellent freaky improvisations in some parts.Very Essential for acid heads. Unfortunately, the album (and also single with cover of MacArthur Park) went almost completely unnoticed. Soon after the band changed its name to American Eagle and 1970 released an eponymous LP for Decca records.

Tracks

1. New Way Home (Beck, Lowery, Rogers) - 3:53

2. 100% Vision (Lowery, Rogers) - 7:19

3. Breakaway (M. Rogers) - 3:34

4. Supporting Cast (M. Rogers) - 2:59

5. Social Disease (Beck, Lowery) - 2:35

6. Free Up (M. Rogers) - 15:51

7. MacArthur Park (A-Side 1969) (J. Webb) - 3:17

The Surprise Package

*Greg Beck - Guitar, Vocals

*Fred Zeufeldt - Drums, Vocals

*Mike Rogers - Organ, Piano, Bass, Vocals

*Rob Lowery - Lead Vocals

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Rudy Ramos - Hard Knocks And Bad Times (1972 us, wonderful country psych folk rock with west coast aura, 2010 korean remaster)

The acting career of Rudy Ramos has covered six decades and started with an appearance on the television show, "Ironside" in 1969. Six months later he was cast as a series regular, playing the part of Wind the volatile half-breed Indian boy in the legendary television western "High Chaparral." Since then he has done over sixty guest shots on episodic television including recurring roles on the hit TV show, "Hunter" in 1987-88 and "Resurrection Boulevard" in 2002-2003.

Mr. Ramos has done numerous movies for television including the ground breaking Helter Skelter (100 million viewers over two nights) playing the part of Danny DeCarlo, Everybody's Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure and Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman: The Movie as the villainous Captain Ruiz.

Feature film credits include The Enforcer with Clint Eastwood, Walter Hill's cult classic The Driver with Ryan Oneal and Academy Award nominee French actress Isabelle Adjani, Defiance with Jan-Michael Vincent and Art Carney, Quicksilver with Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne, Colors with Sean Penn and Robert Duvall and the 2001 sleeper Road Dogz directed by the up and coming talent Alfredo Ramos to name a few.

The stage has been a big part of Mr. Ramos' life with appearances in the Los Angeles area at the Mark Taper Forum, Taper Too, The Met, Matrix Theater, Los Angeles Theatre Center, and Nosotros Theatre. He also was a member of the Los Angeles Actors Theatre and performed in the award winning hit show Shorteyes by Miguel Pinero playing the part of Cupcakes. The ensemble won the 1977 Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for Best Ensemble.

In his spare time Mr. Ramos is very passionate about music. He recorded an album for Fantasy Records in the 70's titled "Hard Knocks and Bad Times." He is also very passionate about horses and is an advocate of natural horsemanship.

CD Liner Notes

Tracks

1. Let`em Roll Johnny (Roger Tillison) - 4:01

2. I Was Amazed - 4:11

3. Nathaniel - 3:01

4. Abraham - 3:28

5. Another Town - 3:06

6. Opel Jackson - 3:35

7. The Sharecropper - 3:05

8. Old Santa Fe (Roger Tillison) - 2:34

9. You Can See It In My Eyes - 4:41

10.Hard Knocks And Bad Times - 3:10

11.Manfred Jones And Willie Drew (Lonnie Hillard) - 2:34

All songs by Phil Sampson except where noted

Personnel

*Rudy Ramos - Lead Vocals

*Phil Sampson - Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harp

*Doyle Madden - Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar

*Bruce Hauser - Bass

*Rich Cliborn - Electric Guitar

*Lonnie Hillard - Backing Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

*Richard Bell - Keyboards

*Ernest Paul Foster - Backing Vocals

*Jimy Nielsen - Electric Guitar, Bass

*Michael Ney - Drums, Percussion

*Bill Boatman - Drums, Percussion