Dark - Anonymous Days (1974-95 uk, cool guitar hard prog psych blend)

Anonymous Days is the second studio album from Dark recorded 23 years after the first, the famous and highly collectable 'Round the Edges' LP. The band's line-up remains the same, Steve Giles, Ron Johnson, Martin Weaver and Clive Thorneycroft. Anonymous Days contains songs written between 1974 and 1995 and is the album we always wanted to make, combining the Dark progressive rock style with the latest recording techniques.

The first album was recorded in about 24 hours, this one took an awful lot longer: that's modern studios for you. The tracks are pure Dark combining complicated twin harmony guitar work with thought provoking lyrics and wide ranging musical structures.

We thoroughly enjoyed getting back together again to write and rehearse after all those years, we even played a live gig in our home town of Northampton. At the start of the project Ron's bass guitar was taken from the dust in his loft where it had lain undisturbed for over 20 years. After the album was finished he put it back in exactly the same place ready for the next one?

Anonymous Days was recorded between 1994-1996 at Outrider Studios Northampton, all tracks were composed between 1974-1995

by Martin Weaver, Northampton, England. June 2001

Tracks
1. All The Loving I Need - 5:12
2. Madame La Guilloline - 6:55
3. Miles And Miles Away - 5:38
4. Shadow Of The Rain - 3:20
5. A Hope Full Of Holes - 8:44
6. On Came The Midnight - 6:28
7. Don't Worry About That - 5:04
8. Killing My Friends - 5:49
9. Journey's End - 6:30

Dark
*Steve Giles - Guitars, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
*Ron Johnson - Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
*Martin Weaver - Guitars, Vocals
*Clive Thorneycroft - Drums, Percussion

1969-71  Teenage Angst The Early Sessions
1972  Round The Edges

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Chicken Shack - Unlucky Boy (1973 uk, elegant solid hard blues rock, 2013 remaster)

Originally released in 1973, but reissued recently through Esoteric label, Chicken Shack's Unlucky Boy finds guitarist/vocalist/songwriter and band founder Stan Webb in fine form. Only drummer Paul Hancox remains from the Imagination Lady, and indeed the horn-oriented approach here is much different than the plodding Led Zeppelin-isms of the previous disc. 

Webb contributes six originals, and even though they are derivative of Savoy Brown (a band he joined for the Boogie Brothers album just a year later), his approach here is much more subtle and controlled than on his last effort. Chris Mercer's saxes, often double tracked to sound like a horn section, bring a tough R&B to the mix, and drummer Hancox is a controlled powerhouse. Webb also reigns in his impulse to overextend guitar solos so prevalent on Imagination Lady, whipping off tight, controlled leads instead. 

Producer Neil Slaven contributes honest, witty, and often self-deprecating liner notes that help explain why two of these songs suffer from poor mixes (basically, he had consumed various substances and couldn't salvage the songs after the fact). Strings on "As Time Goes Passing By," (also included in a shorter single version) are a nice touch and bring a bit of class to the proceedings while maintaining the R&B slant of the disc. Two unedited studio jams make the cut as "Stan the Man" and the seven-minute "Jammin' with the Ash," both featuring pianist Tony Ashton, who really lets loose on the latter. 

Things get stripped down for an unusually delicate version of Lonnie Johnson's "Too Late to Cry" with just strummed guitar and bass. The opening trio of Webb-penned tunes shows some of his best songwriting with the instrumental "Prudence's Party" a terrific capsule of Webb's stinging, gritty guitar style. The album sounds dated but harkens back to a particular time in British blues that is charming in its anything goes attitude. That helps make this one of Stan Webb's more consistent and successful offerings.

by Hal Horowitz

Tracks

1. You Know You Could Be Right - 3:47

2. Revelation - 5:13

3. Prudence's Party - 3:14

4. Too Late To Cry (Lonnie Johnson) - 3:10

5. Stan The Man - 4:25

6. Unlucky Boy (Big Mama Thornton, Champion Jack Dupree) - 2:34

7. As Time Goes Passing By - 4:46

8. Jammin' With Ash - 7:04

9. He Knows The Rules (Jimmy McCracklin) - 4:05

10.As Time Goes Passing By - 3:33

All songs by Stan Webb except where stated

Chicken Shack

*Stan Webb - Guitar, Vocals

*Bob Daisley - Bass Guitar

*Tony Ashton - Piano

*Paul Hancox - Drums, Percussion

*Chris Mercer - Saxophones

Chicken Shack
1968  40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve (2013 reissue)
1974  Go Live "Goodbye Chicken Shack" 

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Buffalo - Only Want You For Your Body (1974 aussie, pure energy tough 'n' roll, Aztec digi pack remaster edition)

Aztec Music once again have done a brilliant job with great remastering, a massive booklet with liner notes, band interviews and tons of photos. Plus 2 rare bonus tracks (a 7” edit/mix of "What’s Going On" and a live GTK recording of "United Nations"). Aztec have done such a good job that the bootleggers have actually had the nerve and audacity to cry unfair...Ha! Maybe the bootleggers should pay the band some royalties first, before complaining too much.

This the band's third album and is a big leap forward in terms of songwriting and production. Where, on Buffalo's previous albums, the vibe on songwriting seemed to be "smoke a bunch of pot, turn the amps up full blast and see what happens", there's a different approach on "Only Want You for Your Body". The tunes are still riff-heavy, loud and dynamic, but the song arrangements are more traditional i.e. they actually have verses and choruses (shock!) Production-wise, it’s also a progression with double tracked guitars and vocals, backing vocals (more shock horror!), percussive and sound effects, which add up to make this probabl0y Buffalo's best album.

The band's endless touring prior to this albums recording sessions had tightened the musicianship considerably.Pete Wells (who sadly passed away on 27 March 2006, was slide guitarist with Rose Tattoo, Lucy De Soto + the Handsome Devils and The Pete Wells Band) can take a bow: His bass playing was incredible! All budding bassists should check out his playing on this album. Guitarist John Baxter proves to be the heaviest and wildest guitarist in the country at the time, drummer Jimmy Economou is aggressive and hard-hitting but never self-indulgent. Frontman Dave Tice‘s vocals alone are more powerful then most bands at the time.

Ok, you ask: Why wasn’t this album a multi-million selling album it deserved to be? Well, at the time Australian radio was extremely conservativeand it was almost impossible to sell a lot of records without airplay. Buffalo probably weren’t doing themselves any favours by having a front cover featuring a semi-naked young girl tied up on a torture rack. Songs like "I'm a Skirt Lifter, Not a Shirt Raiser" and "Kings Cross Ladies" were unlikely to be played on Catholic church-owned radio station 2SM. However, the band probably took a perverse delight in all this.So folks - have a listen to this and see what all of the fuss is about.

It should be noted that since the band split back in the mid '70s, Buffalo have picked up a fairly impressive world wide following. Members of Soundgarden were fans , a European stoner rock band Colour Scheme covered a Buffalo song on one of their albums and the Hoodoo Gurus use to play Buffalo over the P.A before going on stage. Sheek The Shayk (ED: Who?) paid tribute to the band on their debut CD. Murray Shepherd (Monarchs , Ride Ons , Funthings etc) is a huge fan, and Cosmic Psychos released a version of "Sunrise". Hey...maybe we should petition the Homebake organisers and try and get a reunion show happening (although realistically this is unlikely to happen).

by Steve Danno-Lorkin

Tracks
1. I'm A Skirt Lifter, Not A Shirt Raiser - 4:53
2. I'm Coming On (Alvin Lee) - 3:39
3. Dune Messiah - 4:32
4. Stay With Me - 3:37
5. What's Going On - 3:58
6. Kings Cross Ladies - 7:27
7. United Nations - 6:18
8. What's Going On (Single Version) - 3:25
9. United Nations (Live At Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, April 1974) - 7:51
All tracks written by Dave Tice and John Baxter except track #2
Bonus tracks 8-9

Buffalo
*Dave Tice - Lead Vocals
*Peter Wells - Bass
*John Baxter - Guitar
*Jimmy Economou - Drums

1972  Dead Forever
1973  Volcanic Rock

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Steppenwolf - Monster (1969 us, great classic protest rock, 2013 japan SHM issue)

Steppenwolf may be best remembered for its pair of ubiquitous hits, but the band had far more to say than that. John Kay and his bandmates too often gave in to their polemics, trapping some of their lyrics in the late '60s and early '70s; while nuance was never their strong point, they still knew how to make an artful point. On 1970's Monster, an overlooked masterpiece, they managed to create a thematically cohesive album that managed to remain concise even while containing the group's most epic moment.

That epic piece, "Monster/Suicide/America" opens the album with a nine-minute history of the American debacle. Steppenwolf eviscerates the US, criticizing easy targets like slavery, invasive policing, and unjust war, but the group complicates the matter. Kay reifies America and the ideals of the country, establishing her (yes, it's a "she") as an entity pre-existing and continuing outside of the thoughts and actions of the populous, capable of rescuing her "sons and daughters." At the same time, they create a monster that's risen up from the actions of the citizenry, but not only from government atrocities, but also from ordinary people who "got fat and grew lazy." Alternating between second and third person point-of-view, Kay targets everyone, in the process discovering that between the evils of the monster and the good of the mythic America lies the suicide—the very drive for freedom is a death drive based on narcissism and corruption.

The real genius of the song lies in its musical structure. Steppenwolf slowly develops increasing tension through tempo changes and heavy riffs that periodically gives way to false releases. After more than five minutes, the song finally breaks into what could have been a serviceable chorus. The music lightens and a set of backing vocals come in to suggest hope and openness, but the lyrics are unrelenting and the music's pulled between darkness and light (a second attempt at the apostrophe to America) before dying out. The performance needs a magnificent sense of pacing, atmosphere, and restraint, and Steppenwolf delivers (the edited versions that show up, as on Move Over are more digestible but wreck the structure).

Of course, we don't come to Steppenwolf for artistic masterpieces, and they wisely follow "Monster" with "Draft Resister," a murky groove driven by a double hit on the tom. The lyrics are straightforward, but they're useful in making explicit the themes of the album: the inherent failure of hierarchy to maintain reliable leaders. Anyone who attains a seat of power (or finds himself in it) can't behave. In this track, the target's obvious, as we're asked to "heed the threat and awesome power of the mighty Pentagon," but as the album develops, the targets become blurrier, and it's hard not to feel implicated.

"Power Play" has one of rock's greatest forgotten openings, as one simple guitar part grows into three, each toying with the hook preceding it until the band establishes a fantastic groove. Ostensibly, Kay snipes at vague Authority, but in doing so he reveals humanity's tendency to forego patience in favor of opportunism. Starting with the "hey, you!" at the end of the first line, Kay turns his questioning into a threat, once opening enough to say we "just might all gang up on you." Even so, he can't resist the optimism in democracy; the power play here is dependent upon the people—the masses—actually holding the power, to be able to find their leaders "obsolete" and get rid of them. It's the same hope that barely survives "Monster," but here it's close to turning into bitter revenge; Kay acknowledges not a class or political struggle, but a "never ending power play / 'Tween jealous greed and vicious hate."

After "Fag," an instrumental more combative in name than in performance, and the direct questioning of "What Would You Do (If I Did That to You)," we get one of the band's finest recorded moments. On a big bass drum, "From Here to There Eventually" savages institutionalized Christianity (echoing "Monster"'s "Like good Christians some would burn the witches") from the perspective of a flinching apostate. Nearly every line—or at least slant-rhymed AAAB stanza—makes for an epigram, yet Kay still manages to convey the hurt that narrator feels at his religious betrayal. For all the anger of opening lines "You filled this house with things of gold / While handing crumbs to the old and poor," the singer needs help in saving the world ("Don't ya know we need somebody to / Do some work down in the street").

When authority—in this case the clergy—fails and the followers recognize the perils of leadership, a void opens. Kay's objective in the song is as much to resolve this dilemma as it is to excoriate Christianity. He knows "we got to go from here to there eventually," but he can pin down where either of those points are. Those in power have faltered in such a way that reconciliation feels impossible. The final verse deals with religion's invasion of privacy: "It's got nothing to do with heaven or hell / What I do in bed, I'm not gonna tell." By this point open conversation is impossible and Kay can only snidely suggest, "You really ought to try it."

After the breaches over treatment of the poor and sexual proclivities become too great, the backup singers (returning from "Monster") turn into virtual gospel choir. It's impossible to know how satirically to take this coda. The lyrical content suggests the lines can only be parody. How else could we see a rejection of the church lead into "Hallelujah! Jesus will save you ... He's coming back, and you better believe it"? But the pain and empathy in the song (along with a zealot's lead guitar plea) point to a real need for healing. In the near chaos of imitation gospel, there's the light of a real spiritual yearning, but the power figures and followers of "Monster/Suicide/America" have revealed the impossibility of effective authority, and there's no way out. As the singers wail about salvation and a whip cracks on moaning bodies, looking upwards becomes both necessary and futile, and we have no idea what to believe. 

by Justin Cober-Lake

Tracks
1. Monster (Kay, Edmonton)
....Suicide (Kay, St. Nicholas, Byrom, Edmonton)
....America (Kay, Edmonton) - 9:15
2. Draft Resister (Kay, Mcjohn, Byrom) - 3:22
3. Power Play (Kay) - 5:27
4. Move Over (Kay, Mekler) - 2:53
5. Fag (Byrom, Edmonton, St. Nicholas) - 3:13
6. What Would You Do (If I Did That To You) (Francen, Porter) - 3:23
7. From Here To There Eventually (Kay, McJohn, Edmonton) - 5:34
8. Move Over (Kay, Mekler) - 2:59
9. Power Play (Kay) - 4:50
10. America (Kay, Edmonton) - 3:55

Steppenwolf
*John Kay – Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica
*Larry Byrom – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Nick St. Nicholas – Bass, Backing Vocals
*Goldy McJohn – Keyboards, Backing Vocals
*Jerry Edmonton – Drums, Backing Vocals

1968  Steppenwolf (2013 japan SHM bonus tracks and 2014 SACD)
1969  Early Steppenwolf (1967 Live, Japan SHM mini lp)
1969  At Your Birthday Party (Japan SHM 2013 remaster)
Related Act
1968  John Kay and the Sparrow
1972  John Kay – Forgotten Songs and Unsung Heroes

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Marsupilami - Arena (1971 uk, epic agile potent concept progressive rock, 2007 remaster)

After their debut album's release, Marsi toured and expanded by adding Mandy Riedelbanch on multiple wind instruments and found themselves relocating in Amsterdam, where they were playing a series of concert in the Paradiso theatre with the then-state of the art MC2 Lightshow. This is when they started to write and rehearse for their second album, with the assistance of an external lyricist Bob West. 

The album, recorded in London, was produced by future Camel founder Peter Bardens, and indeed you can hear some of Mirage's source of inspiration in Arena, including Latimer's flute, much reminiscent of Jessica Stanley. "Graced" with one of the ugliest ever prog artwork, Arena was an improvement on their debut, partly because the extra musician allowed the group to have much more possibilities, sonically and songwriting-wise.

So the aptly titled opening track Prelude does musically exactly that: it resumes the first album's progress and the band is ready to pick up things where they'd left it at. So with the following Peace Of Rome (we're in a concept, but I was never bothered to follow it too much without smirking at the pretentiousness, the worst offender being Triumvirate) is a very ambitious piece, exploring its themes over circus/arena crowd noises, and a touch of mellotron (that was missing in the debut album) and plenty of interplay time. 

The mammoth title track starts rather eerily, but in a second movement, it picks a mid-eastern them over tabla and drums, but in the next one, the ambitious and daring vocal passage turns close to ridicule, but saved from it by further impressive progressions until a sharp and raw end. At one point, you can hear Laverock's bowed guitar give an acetate cello sound.

The flipside starts on effects-laden narration as intro of the other epic of this album, Time Shadows. This tracks spends a considerable time in its first movement a piano/organ duo (overdubbing from Leary, certainly), before gradually intervening are Jessica's flute, Mandy's sax and Laverock's now jazzy guitar. After an insufferably long passage dishing out whatever lyrics the track had to offer, the group unleashes on a bass and closing lyric lines, before echoing keys and sax bring the track into a very Graaf-esque ending. Indeed you'd swear this is Jaxon, Banton, and Hammill closing this track. 

I'm not sure whether the closing Spring track is supposed to be part of the concept, for it doesn't get one of those pompous description like the first four tracks, but it's also a collectively-written track, that starts as a complete mayhem to slowly settle down in a dervish-like trance, with Fred's meandering scat vocals soaring over the rest of the band's great semi-raga, until the guitar and flute slowly deconstruct the group's unity (there is a superb double flute interlude that last until the organ breaks it up, announcing the piano and now double scat vocals. Fantasrtic stuff and definitely the group's best moment and it is quite accessible too. Much more than some of the more "baroque" passages that "doesn't click all the way".

One of the rare deceptions I have is that it seems that the new member Riedelbanch is only really present (or at least noticeable) on the album's flipside, which is a crying shame, because I think she made quite a difference. Arena is definitely an improvement on their debut album, but it is a bit like Gnidrolog?. Get both albums as they're equally good, even if this one will get more nods.

by Sean Trane 

Tracks
1. Prelude To The Arena (L. Hasson, B. West) - 5:23
2. Peace Of Rome (L. Hasson, B. West) - 7:01
3. The Arena (L. Hasson, B. West) - 12:55
4. Time Shadows (L. Hasson, F. Hasson, B. West) - 11:16
5. Spring (D. Laverock, L. Hasson, F. Hasson, R. Hicks, M. Fouracre, J. Stanley-Clarke, M. Reidelbanch) - 9:16

Personnel
*Fred Hasson - Lead Vocals, Percussion, Harmonica
*Dave Laverock - Electric, Acoustic, Bowed Guitars, Percussion, Vocals
*Leary Hasson - Piano, Mellotron, Tubular Bells
*Richard Hicks - Bass
*Mike Fouracre - Drums, Timpani, Percussion
*Jessica Stanley-Clarke - Flute, Vocals
*Mandy Reidelbanch - Tenor, Alto Sax, Flute, Percussion
*Bob West - Vocals
*Peter Bardens - Percussion

1970  Marsupilami (2008 Eosteric remaster)

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Baba Scholae - 69 (1969 france / uk, superb progressive experimental rock with jazz, blues and psych traces, 2012 AV release)

«69» of the Baba Scholae is a major album of the year 1969. It is a cult disc that never disappoints - quite the reverse, when, like me, you can listen to it in the very best conditions after decades of obscurity. Some legendary records lose their power once they are revealed and it becomes obvious that the fantasy of the music lover exceeded the realities of the work. 

This is not the case here: Jean-Yves Labat de Rossi, John Arthur Holbrook and their friends conceived a classic work worthy to be ranked with the Rock masterpieces of the period. But today - all nostalgia put aside - is the Baba Scholae album still as meaningful as it ever was? Unlike some other discs reminiscent of the famous "Madeleine de Proust" the album of Jean-Yves, John, Jules, Steve, Alan and Woody far surpasses even those very appealing legendary names of the 60's such as the Marquee, the Speak Easy, Zanzibar Productions and the Rock'n'roll Circus. 

This album that you can (at last!) hold in your excited hands takes us by surprise because it still affects us, here and now, as pristine as ever. The 21st century listener is perhaps even more capable of understanding this project than his 20th century counterpart because he can rely both on hindsight and 40 years of musical productions which his glorious predecessor could not enjoy. Terms such as "rock psyche" or "progressif impose too many limits to apprehend this Anglo-French opus. Jean-Yves Labat de Rossi and his "partners in crime" were far too young, proud and ambitious ever to want to imitate the groups of the late 60's who nevertheless brought out "instant classics" with disconcerting ease.  

Baba Scholae is a stubborn entity that aimed at going forward to explore new territories with a freshness that prevented them from falling into the pitfalls of the ironic post modern pastiche that weights down many contemporary discs. "If it does not exist, it must be invented" such seemed to be the watchword of Baba Scholae which could rely on the recklessness of the young that allows progress to be made without following established tracks. Pioneers are not conscious of being so and allow themselves to make creations which their successors would never dare to imagine once the "tables of the law" of rock had been set in stone. 

In this sense, without knowing it, Baba Scholae enters into the family of artists and cross current groups who, even if they are inspired by their environment and their times, are not their prisoners. Some names?: Frank Zappa, Devo, Brian Eno and the Flaming Lips, are explorers who, in their own way, like "the Enterprise" of Star Trek, have all sampled worlds where man had never previously set foot. Some proofs?: 1984-Melancolia Street is a folk song stamped with Saudade that would not be amiss amongst the present day renewals of this musical style. 

Half Day could have been a title of Gorky's Zigotic Mynci with its accents of the school of Canterbury revisited. Kaleidoscope is a timeless pop song, perverse in its structure, that would make the galaxy of artists of the Elephant 6 collective such as Olivia Tremor Control green with envy. Keep it "rythmique", with its mixture of folklore and hypnotic playful pop, is worthy of the great moments of post-rock. 

I must stop here - or I could go on for hours, but I am sure you have grasped the gist of my remarks. Like the greatest uncut diamonds in the history of rock, Baba Scholae "69" is an exceptional record which could remain buried for several generations without losing its lustre. Let us meet in 2050 when I have no doubt that the musicologists and critics of the future will reach the same conclusion.

by Jean-Emmanuel Deluxe, July 2012

Tracks
1.1984 - Melancolia Street - 8.40
2. Half Day - 4.03
3. Will Meant Ciment - 2.10
4. Julius - 2.14
5. La Chasse Au Serpent A La Flute - 1.55
6. Go Down Sunset - 2.31
7. Telegram - 0.31
8. Song My (My Lai) - 3.29
9. Kaleidoscope - 2.02
10.Keep Rythmique - 4.04
11.Just Like George - 1.01
12.White Bird - 3.53
13.She's An Indian In Minor - 2.13
14.Song For A New Connection - 2.58
15.L'oeil Du Maitre - 4.44
16.1984 - Melancolia Street - 11.24
Lyrics and Music for all songs Labat de Rossi, Holbrook, Vigh, Baytis, Jones, Woodbine, Piat.

Baba Scholae
*Steve Baylis - Drums
*John Arthur Holbrook  - Lead Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
*Alan Jones - Bass
*Jean-Yves Labat De Rossi - Flutes, Saxophone, Bombard, Keyboards, Vocals
*Jules Vigh  - Guitar, Melotro
*Woody Woodbine  - Lead Vocals

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Caravan - Caravan (1968 uk, debut masterpiece, psych, early prog canterbury scene, japan SHM-CD remaster)

For their first album, Caravan was surprisingly strong. While steeped in the same British psychedelia that informed bands such as Love Children, Pink Floyd, and Tomorrow, Caravan relates a freedom of spirit and mischief along the lines of Giles, Giles & Fripp or Gong. The band's roots can be traced to a British blue-eyed soul combo called the Wilde Flowers. 

Among the luminaries to have passed through this Caravan precursor were Robert Wyatt, Kevin Ayers, and Hugh Hopper and Brian Hopper (pre-Soft Machine, naturally). By the spring of 1968, Caravan had settled nicely into a quartet consisting of Pye Hastings (guitar/bass/vocals), Richard Coughlan (drums), David Sinclair (organ/vocals), and Richard Sinclair (bass/guitar/vocals). 

Inspired by the notoriety and acclaim that Soft Machine encountered during the burgeoning days of London's underground scene, Caravan began a residency at the Middle Earth club. Additionally, the band was shopping a homemade demo tape around to local record companies. Before long, entrepreneur Tony Cox worked out a deal for them to record on the newly founded U.K. division of the Verve label. Caravan's self-titled debut is equally as inventive and infinitely more subtle than the Soft Machine's Volume One or Pink Floyd's Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Two of the album's best tunes -- the ethereal "Place of My Own" was backed with the dreamlike "Magic Man" -- were issued as the band's first single. 

Those tracks accurately exemplify the subtle complexities that Caravan would hone to great effect on later recordings. The same can also be said for album cuts such as "Love Song With Flute" and the extended nine-minute "Where but for Caravan Would I?" The latter title aptly exemplifies Caravan's decidedly less than turgid attitude toward themselves -- a refreshing contrast from the temperamental and serious Art School approach adopted by Pink Floyd and the Moody Blues. 

The mono and stereo mixes of the long-player are striking in their disparities. The stereo mix is at times opaque and virtually swallows the vocals most specifically on the tracks "Policeman" and "Grandma's Lawn." Otherwise, there are numerous additional nuances that discern the two. The single version of "Hello Hello" is also included as a bonus. This track was the follow-up 45 to "Place of My Own" and would appear in a slightly different form on their next LP, If I Could Do It All Over Again, I'd Do It All Over You.   

by Lindsay Planer

Tracks
1. Place Of My Own - 4:01
2. Ride - 3:42
3. Policeman - 2:44
4. Love Song With Flute - 4:10
5. Cecil Runs - 4:07
6. Magic Man - 4:03
7. Grandma's Lawn - 3:25
8. Where But For Caravan Would I Be (R. Coughlan, P. Hastings, B. Hopper, D. Sinclair, R. Sinclair) - 9:01
9. Place Of My Own - 4:01        
10.Ride - 3:42
11.Policeman - 2:44
12.Love Song With Flute - 4:10
13.Cecil Runs - 4:07
14.Magic Man - 4:03
15.Grandma's Lawn - 3:25
16.Where But For Caravan Would I Be (R. Coughlan, P. Hastings, B. Hopper, D. Sinclair, R. Sinclair) - 9:01
17.Hello Hello (Single Version Bonus Track) - 3:12
All compositions by  R. Coughlan, P. Hastings, D. Sinclair, R. Sinclair except where indicated.
Tracks 1-8 Mono album
Tracks 9-17 Stereo album

Caravan
*Pye Hastings – Guitar, Singer, Vocals
*Dave Sinclair – Electronic Organ, Organ, Piano
*Richard Sinclair – Bass Guitar, Bass, Guitar, Vocals
*Richard Coughlan – Drum Kit, Drums
Additional Musician
*Jimmy Hastings - Flute

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The Herbal Mixture - Please Leave My Mind (1966 uk, fine blues garage beat)

Formed in London, England in 1966, Herbal Mixture consisted of Tony McPhee (guitar/vocals), Pete Cruickshank (bass) - both ex-members of John Lee’s Groundhogs - and Mike Meekham (drums). The new act’s name was inspired by McPhee’s interest in alternative medicine. 

Herbal Mixture secured a contract with Columbia Records, for whom they recorded two inventive singles. ‘A Love That’s Died’ married pop and psychedelia through McPhee’s fuzz guitar playing, while the atmospheric ‘Machines’ opens with startling effects, before progressing through contrasting moods heightened by further compelling guitar work. 

Herbal Mixture split up in 1967 having failed to achieve commercial success either on record or as a live attraction. In 1968 McPhee and Cruickshank were reunited in the Groundhogs. Please Leave My Mind compiles singles, demo versions and two previously unreleased tracks.  

Tracks

1. Rock Me Baby (Little Son Jackson) - 2:29

2. Shake It (C. Carter, J. Cruickshank) - 2:03

3. Some One to Love - 2:38

4. Hallelujah - 2:13

5. I'll Never Fall in Love Again (Stone) - 2:08

6. Over You Baby - 2:22

7. Please Leave My Mind - 2:38

8. a Love That Never Died - 2:43

9. Something's Happening - 1:53

10.Tailor Made - 1:56

11.Over You Baby - 1:57

12.Machines - 2:03

13.Please Leave My Mind #2 - 2:39

14.Tailor Made #2 - 1:58

15.A Love That's Died #2 - 2:27

16.A Love That's Died #3 - 2:29

All songs by Tony McPhee except where noted

Tracks 1-6 as The Groundhogs 

Herbal Mixture
*Tony McPhee - Guitar, Vocals
*Pete Cruickshank - Bass
*Mike Meekham - Drums

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Faine Jade - Introspection: A Faine Jade Recital (1968 us, wonderful trippy psychedelia, 25th anniversary silver series edition with bonus tracks)

One of the highly collectable LPs of the 1960s, Introspection: A Faine Jade Recital .  The Introspection LP comprises 10 songs that make up a minimalist psychedelic masterpiece. Using a few overdubs, the recording relies on the five-piece instrumental lineup behind Jade's decidedly Anglicized Long Island accent. 

The opening "Doctor Paul Overture" sets the stage for an album bursting with curiously of-center British-influenced psychedelic pop. "People Play Games" reveals Jade's hippie-era lyricism magic lanterns, scarlet scissors, and crystal cornucopia, while its percussive intro and jungle play-out suggests The Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows." "Ballad Of The Bad Guys" has a garage attack that benefits its title; A Brand New Groove" features a guitar riff that could have worked for the Rolling Stones; "Don't Hassle Me" proclaims the generation- gap chorus; "No-o-o! Don't you hassle me/ I'm trying to be young/ I'm trying to be free." 

The title track "Introspection" leans toward a catchy folk rock, while "Cold Winter Sun" allows Manzi to repeat a lick echoing "Than He Kissed Me" before launching into a clearly mismatched power trio vamp. Jade enshrines his Brit-pop-folk-garage rock influences in the imaginative "I Live Tomorrow Yesterday," an upbeat number that sounds like a hit single. "Grand Finale", a five-minute instrumental experiment, closes the LP with a layered mix of effects, backward tracking, and studio dissonance.

The brilliant psychedelic rock 'n' roll of Faine Jade passed through the orange-colored skies of 1968 like a pink and lavender comet, then was gone... Fortunately Jade left behind a wondrous album to detail his amazing, one-way voyage through the night skies. Introspection: A Faine Jade Recital details every deliciously enigmatic, Syd Barrett-inspired twist and turn of the short but sweet career of this mysterious artist. 

Since the hideously rare original LP now requires a mortgage from your bank, Sundazed, with the full cooperation of the artist, presents the perfect Faine Jade package, taken from the absolute master tapes with rare photos and liner notes based on a recent interview with Faine Jade, himself.

This 1994 CD 25th Anniversary Silver Series Edition (this copy is No #28) on Jade's Sandiland label was remastered from the first generation tapes by Faine himself. It also adds a few bonus cuts: backing instrumental demo tracks for a few of the songs, the previously unreleased brief instrumental "Piano Interlude," and a 1993 "reunion" performance. 

Tracks
1. Tune Up (Non-music Work) - 0:23
2. Doctor Paul Overture - 2:40
3. People Games Play (Faine Jade, Nick Manzi, Bruce Bradt) - 4:11
4. Cold Winter Sun Symphony In D Major - 3:14
5. I Lived Tomorrow Yesterday - 2:34
6. Ballad of the Bad Guys (1956 A.d.) - 4:23
7. Piano Interlude - 1:38
8. Introspection (Faine Jade, Nick Manzi, Bruce Bradt) - 3:36
9. In A Brand New Groove (Faine Jade, Jerry Simon) - 3:07
10.On The Inside There's A Middle - 5:39
11.Don't Hassle Me - 2:47
12.Grand Finale (Don't Hassle Me Part 2) - 5:30
13.Stand Together In The End (Theme From An Imaginary Beatles' ReunionOr Woodstock Reprise) - 4:18
14.Doctor Paul - 3:23
15.People Games Play - 3:40
16.Don't Hassle Me (Instrumental) - 6:00
All songs written by Faine Jade and Nick Manzi except where indicated.

Musicians
*Faine Jade - 12-String Hagstrum Solid Body Electric, Rhythm Guitar
*Nick Manzi - Guild Starfire Solid Body Electric, Lead Guitar
*Brian Cooke - Piano, Farfisa Organ, Hammond B-3, Keyboards
*Victor Muglia - Fender Electric, Bass Guitar
*Randy Skrha - Drums, Tamborine, Bongos, Percussion
*Bruce Bradt - Keyboards
*Kevin Chase - Electric Guitar

Related Act
1966-68  Bohemian Vendetta - Enough

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Tandyn Almer - Along Comes Tandyn (1966 us, impressive sunny psych folk, 2013 digipack release)

We recently lost another unsung genius from the cracks and crevices of 60s pop/psych. Tandyn Almer, who sadly passed in early 2013, would never become a household name, but you’ve definitely heard his work. Penning major tunes like “Along Comes Mary” for the Association, “Sail on Sailor” and “Marcella” for the Beach Boys, and countless other psych-tinged gems, Almer left behind a distinguished trail of well-crafted compositions. Luckily, and ironically (as I’m sure he would have enjoyed to see its official release), we have gained a new trove of lost work in Along Comes Tandyn, a collection of Almer’s demos from 1965-1966.

Originally written and recorded for Davon music, a small number of acetates labeled “The New Songs of Tandyn Almer” was circulated in order to shop his tunes to other recording artists. While some acts like The Sure Cure and Curt Boettcher’s The Ballroom took the bait, most of these tracks have remained unheard. The sound is definitely demo quality (all the better), the band generally led by a clangy electric guitar and sprinkled with bits of piano and harpsichord. 

The vocals soar with typical 60s harmony, the lyrics quite often along the same vein. You can tell Almer was a real musician’s musician, his tunes never compromise, always taking an unexpected turn and often for something quite complicated. Take a listen to the surprisingly hip “Everytime I Take You Back To Me” and just try to follow the changes; or check the classical piano work on “There’s Gotta Be a Way.” Even “Along Comes Mary” (not included here) ducks and weaves at every chance, delivering it’s punch where you’d least expect it.

Some of Almer’s other happenings of note include an interview in Leonard Bernstein’s Inside Pop – The Rock Revolution (a “serious” investigation into pop’s emergence as an art form), as well as a short-lived best friendship with Brian Wilson, allegedly ending in an enstranging three-way.  While not exactly loaded with clear winners (Face Down in the Mud” is a downright weirdo blues offering that would sound at home on FZ’s Only in it for the Money and some tracks sound a bit like psychedelic filler). 

Along Comes Tandyn is still an excellent comp of lost pop-psych with a satisfying garage sound. Essential for fans of complex pop, the full package includes excellent liners (with lots of information provided by Tandyn himself) and will turn anyone into a hardcore Tandyn fan. Count me a Fandyn.

by Brendan McGrath

Tracks
1. Find Yourself - 2:44
2. You Turn Me Around - 2:20
3. Anything You Want (T. Almer, G. Mekler) - 3:45
4. About Where Love Is - 2:11
5. Everytime I Take You Back To Me - 2:08
6. There’s Gotta Be A Way - 2:43
7. Alice Designs - 3:39
8. Face Down In The Mud - 4:09
9. Where Will They Go - 4:34
10.Escape - 3:27
11.Victims of Chance - 3:34
12.Bring Your Own Self Down (The Purple Gang) - 2:48
13.I Get High - 3:21
14.Menagerie of Man - 2:15
15.Sunset Strip Soliloquy - 4:05
Words and Music by Tandyn Almer unless otherwise stated.

*Tandyn Almer - Vocals, Piano

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John The Revelator - Wild Blues (1970-72 holland, heavenly overdriven wailing blues licks)

In the mid 60's bassman Tom Huissen lived in London at the time that the blues scene there exploded.He became pals with Peter Green and witnessed the first rehearsals of Pete’s then new band Fleetwood Mac.

Immediately after returning in Holland Tom started to form a blues band modelled after Fleetwood Mac. John the Revelator (after a song by the late great Son House) took off immediately and extensively started gigging the Dutch and European blues circuits that were thriving at the time.

In 1970 they won the prestigious Loosdrecht Jazz Concours. Record label Decca immediately offered them a recording contract, which resulted in the release of the legendary album Wild Blues. It was recorded at the Phonogram studio with producer Tony Vos, who had a great track record with bands like Cuby + Blizzards, Ekseption and the Oscar Benton Blues Band. At that time John the Revelator had grown into a seven-piece band. They had just two days to record the album and one evening to mix it. Most tracks were done in two or three takes, with a bare minimum of overdubs: just vocals and horns.

Wild Blues has since become a highly sought-after collectors’ item. This deluxe set presents the original album in its entirety, plus  extra songs. One Track Mind, all dynamically mastered from the original tapes. The gatefold sleeve features restored cover art, along with rare archival photos and liner notes.

John the Revelator is still alive and kicking and has been on the road now for 45 years. They play all over Europe and toured Australia. 

Tracks
1. John the Revelator - 0:46
2. I Can't Stop Lovin' You (Elmore James) - 3:02
3. Worried Dreams (B.B. King) - 5:41
4. Charlie's Drive Inn - 1:39
5. Talk to Me, Baby (Elmore James) - 5:01
6. Personal Manager (Albert King, David Porter) - 4:35
7. Wild Blues - 1:37
8. Bleeding Heart (Elmore James) - 4:42
9. No Woman - 3:12
10.Homework (D. Clark, Al Perkins) - 3:05
11.Yeah - 3:03
12.Rockin' Squirrel - 3:34
13.One Track Mind - 4:44
14.I Can't Stop Lovin' You (Elmore James) - 3:22
15.Little Red Rooster (Willie Dixon) - 4:17
16.Worried Dreams (Instrumental) (B.B. King) - 4:50
All songs by John The Revelator except where noted.

Musicians
*Tom Huissen - Lead Vocals, Bass
*Frans Ten Kleu - Lead Guitar, Harmonica
*Fred Huissen - Drums
*Charles Van Der Steeg - Tenor, Baritone Sax (Tacks 1-14)
*Henno Van Donselaar - Alto Sax (Tracks 1-11, 14)
*Jos De Wilde - Slide Guitar (Tacks 1-14)
*Charles Van Den Heuvel - Piano (Tacks 1-14)
*Paul Dammers - Rhythm Guitar (Tracks 12,13,15,16)
*Hans Van Hemert - Synthesizer, Mellotron (Tracks 12,13)
*Hille Van Der Galien - Baritone Sax, Congas (Tracks 15,16)

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Rory Gallagher - Tattoo (1973 ireland, blues rock masterpiece, 2012 promo copy, digipack high audio quality remaster)

Returning quickly to the studio in the summer of 1973 with his Blueprint line-up, Rory was in a prolific and confident mood. Rehearsals for the album began at a rowing club in Cork city, which allowed Rory to develop the musical arrangements of his material at a leisurely, relaxed pace.

Tattoo’d Lady describes the fairground life style that had appealed to Rory since childhood and lyrically, he draws parallels between travelling entertainers and his own profession.

Rory was born, with a touch of irony, at The Rock Hospital, Ballyshannon. Rory rocked literally all of his life and this Cradle Rock is a rockin’ R&B cut that displays his exciting bottleneck style in full flight.

20:20 Vision features Rory on acoustic and highlights his fondness for Davy Graham’s acoustic style.

They Don’t Make Them Like You Anymore has a real cool jazz feel which is underscored with unison guitar and piano and some brilliant harmonics.

Livin’ Like A Trucker was written at a time when the band were increasing their touring activity in America, this number could have been a tour anthem, during his career Rory racked up over thirty long U.S. tours.

Gerry, Rod, Lou and Rory really lock in on Sleep On A Clothes Line which has shades of a riff Rory could have written for Taste.

Who’s That Coming starts with Rory playing his acoustic dobro in slide mode, the riff blends into Rory playing electric slide empahsizing Rory’s ability to play different blues styles from Delta to Chicago blues.

A Million Miles Away became one of the most loved numbers in Rory’s repertoire, it showcases the deep, introverted side of his emotions.

Admit It has a real jack hammer riff and is the perfect vehicle for a stinging Rory solo, Lou Martin lays down some great piano on this rock number.

Tuscon, Arizona by Link Wray (a then Polydor stable mate) is a colourful, laid back country track featuring some captivating lap-steel guitar.
by Donal Gallagher

Tracks
1. Tattoo'd Lady - 4:34
2. Cradle Rock - 6:15
3. 20:20 Vision - 4:02
4. They Don't Make Them Like You Anymore - 4:05
5. Livin' Like a Trucker - 4:19
6. Sleep on a Clothes Line - 5:13
7. Who's That Coming - 7:09
8. A Million Miles Away - 6:55
9. Admit It - 4:19
10.Tucson, Arizona (Bonus Track) - 3:47
All songs by Rory Gallagher except track 10 written by Doug Link Wray.

Musicians
* Rory Gallagher - Guitars, Vocals, Harmonica, Saxophone, Mandolin
* Gerry McAvoy - Bass Guitar
* Lou Martin - Keyboards, Accordion
* Rod de'Ath - Drums, Percussion

1971  Rory Gallagher (Japan Mini Lp replica)
1971  Deuce (Japan Mini Lp replica)
1972  Live In Europe
1973  Blueprint (Japan Mini Lp replica)
with Taste
1970  On The Boards (Japan SHM edition)
1971  Live Taste
1971  Live At Isle Of Wight

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Buffalo - Volcanic Rock (1973 aussie, loud, heavy, energy aggressive rock, Aztec digi pack issue)

God bless Aztec Music for re-releasing this. Volcanic Rock's first official release since 1973. Aztec have dug up the 32-year-old original studio tapes and have done a fantastic job on the remastering (some other reissue labels could take a lesson from Aztec ...yes, making your cd SOUND good is important !).

Fans of 1970s pre punk high energy rock need this album pronto!..It's loud, heavy and very aggressive!..Try and imagine the energy levels of Cactus, Black Sabbath, (early) Grand Funk, MC5, and Sir Lord Baltimore etc..add to that some very sinister hard rock riffling, Dave Tice's white version of Howlin Wolf voice, Pete Wells punchy bass styling sounding not too dis-similar to the sound that John Stax got on those early Pretty Things singles plus Jimmy Economou whose drumming recalls the great hit the entire drum kit style of John Bonham and Keith Moon (legend has it that Economou could also rival the two mentioned drummers in the partying department as well)

A Lot of Australian records from this era sounded weak and empty, possibly deliberately with thoughts of radio airplay. "Volcanic Rock" is probably the toughest album to come out in Australia during the early 1970s, certainly beating Billy Thorpe and the Aztecs and Lobby Loyde's Coloured Balls.

Buffalo's secret weapon was their ability to ignore the 12 bar blues/boogie that most hard rock bands of the time favoured and instead opt for creating powerful and sinister sounding hard rock riffs .

This is not to say this album is one-dimensional. For example "Freedom" is a slow heavy track which embraces the spirit of some of those pre rock 'n' roll voodoo blues records (while avoiding the standard 12-bar chord progression) and "Till My Death" is slightly psychedelic Hendrix sounding. It and "Shylock" will both blow your head off with high-energy rifforama.

In a era where Zeppelin , Deep Purple and Sabbath were having chart success it's a damn shame that the opening track on this album "Sunrise (Come My Way)" couldn't do for Buffalo what "Whole Lotta Love" , "Black Knight" or "Paranoid" did for their overseas contemporaries i.e. escalate the band to the worldwide stadiums.

As for the bonus tracks we get a 7" mix/edit of "Sunrise" plus a lo-fi but meaty live version of "Shylock" which despite lack of sound quality would still sending 99 percent of todays mall-metal kiddies running for mummy.

The packaging on this is also excellent: a great triple fold out cardboard cover with a fat 22 page booklet featuring a stack of vintage photos, posters and some informative liner notes from Ian McFarlane. 

by Steve Danno-Lorkin

Tracks
1. Sunrise (Come My Way) - 4:58
2. Freedom - 9:02
3. Till My Death - 5:38
4. The Prophet - 7:24
5. Intro: Pound Of Flesh (Baxter, Peter Wells) - 4:33
6. Shylock - 5:52
7. Sunrise (Come My Way) - 3:42
8. Shylock - 6:01
All tracks written by Dave Tice and John Baxter, unless noted.
Track 7 Single Version
Track 8 Live Recording - Sydney Spring Festival 1973, Hyde Park, Sydney

Buffalo
*Dave Tice - Lead Vocals
*Peter Wells - Bass
*John Baxter - Guitar
*Jimmy Economou - Drums

1972  Dead Forever

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Heavy Cruiser - Lucky Dog (1973 canada / us, strong heavy space psych rock with blues drops)

Neil took the band members from Mama Lion into a studio to demo some songs.They recorded half-dozen songs and a few days later, Mama Lion went on a tour and wound up in New York City to play Central Park with Billy Preston.

The engineer in LA made an acetate of Neil’s songs and sent it to Neil in care of Famous Music. The band went to a meet and greet at Famous Music and Neil played the acetate at the party. The head of A&R loved the music and bought it from Artie Ripp.

Neil called the project “Heavy Cruiser”. When Mama Lion returned to LA, Neil took the band back into the studio and they recorded a few more tracks to complete the “Heavy Cruiser” record.

Artie Ripp stopped the band from putting their names on the record cover because he didn’t want it to interfere with his main act, Mama Lion.

The same thing happened when Neil did more of his songs with the band and produced a second “Heavy Cruiser” album called “Lucky Dog” – band members’ names were left off the cover.

Neil Merryweather

Tracks
1. Everytime I Hear Your Music - 2:41
2. Mirrors In Your Eyes - 3:55
3. Where You Gonna Run To - 3:06
4. Gotta Get Away - 4:23
5. Open Your Eyes - 3:38
6. You Really Got Me (Ray Davies) - 2:49
7. Freefall Glider - 5:34
8. Concrete Jungle - 3:44
9. Supergirl - 3:52
10.I'll Receive You - 3:11
All songs by Neil Merryweather except where noted

Heavy Cruiser
*Neil Merryweather – Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar
*James Newton Howard – Organ And Piano
*Coffi Hall – Drums And Percussion
*Alan Hertz - Guitar

1971  Neil Merryweather And Lynn Carey - Vaccum Cleaner

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Chicken Shack - 40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve (1968 uk, superb blues rock, debut album, 2013 extra tracks remaster)

When my brother Richard and I signed the Blue Horizon label with CBS Records we had nothing to offer them but Fleetwood Mac and the promise of a single featuring Aynsley Dunbar's band Retaliation. Derek Everett, who headed the A&R Department at that time, didn't show too much concern. "Blue Horizon is going to be a long term project for us.

When you've got something that you really believe in, we'll work with you on it". We had plenty of ideas of where to pick up product – it was just a matter of time and being in the right place at the right time. But everyone - including the veritable monkey's uncle - seemed to know what we were doing and what kind of material we were looking for. It was'nt long before those demo tapes started to appear by the sack load.

Now in the run up to our distribution deal with CBS I had been working with a band from Stourbridge - The Chicken Shack. They were first introduced to me by David Deacon- Yeats who had originally been the vocalist in the Shades of Blue along with guitarist Stan Webb. I was really impressed with the raw energy of this band and especially with Stan.

He reminded me a lot of Buddy Guy in his approach. There was another angle too – they had a girl playing piano. Christine Perfect. But prior to signing with Blue Horizon the band went through a few changes. As a trio they had spent some time working at The Star Club in Hamburg. That was with Stan, the ever present Andy Sylvester and drummer Alan Morley. It was around this time - 1965/66 - that I got involved with the band in a managerial capacity. It was an experience but I would have to say in all truthfulness not one I would wish to go through again. But a number of changes were made that proved to be for the better before I let go of the helm. 

Firstly, Alan Morley was replaced by American drummer/ vocalist Alvin Sykes. I must admit I cannot recall exactly how Al came to my notice. He was living in San Francisco and was leading his own band The Sound of Sykes. He was an excellent drummer and a very fine vocalist reminding me a lot of Little Junior Parker. My one real regret is that we did not get to record with him before he was forced to return to the States when a work permit was refused.  At this point, The Shack returned from Germany and immediately added Christine to the ranks once again and also took on a new drummer, Dave Bidvvell. It was this line-up that was featured on the band's first single release "It's Okay With Me Baby" (57-3135) and on their first album "Forty Blue Fingers. Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve".

It had been something of a surprise to many that the first Fleetwood Mac album had hit the charts but not many expected The Shack to emulate their stablemates with their first outing. But that's exactly what happened! The band and I chose the material for this album in an attempt to give the best balanced programme possible. Both Stan and Christine contributed two originals each and the remainder were taken from the various songbooks of Freddie King, B.B. King, Buddy Guy and John Lee Hooker. Once again, we added a small horn section featuring Dick Heckstall- Smith, Steve Gregory, Johnny Almond and Alan Ellis to add a little variation. 

It's remarkable how well this album stands up after such a long time. There's a real freshness and enthusiasm here which proved hard to better in the years to come. Nevertheless, Chicken Shack were to have their real moment of glory - a top 20 Chart entry with a cover of Etta James' "I'd Rather Go Blind" - but as far as their album releases go, this is my own personal favourite. International recognition soon followed. As with The Mac, The Shack found themselves continually on the road promoting themselves and their new product. They were a considerable draw on the club and concert circuit. Stan proved to be the epitome of the true showman and it was not uncommon for him to appear on stage via the street or car park towing a 150 foot cable behind him. 

He would wander off into the audience and sit himself on some young lady's lap or get himself a drink whilst still continuing to play. He knew how to hold an audience and once he's got them where he wanted then he would not let go. Meanwhile, the rhythm section would thunder on undeterred with Christine Perfect's mellow vocals and fine piano work acting as the ideal foil. Chicken Shack now had a new manager - Harry Simmonds. Ham had been working with Savoy Brown, which featured his suitar playing brother Kim and his invovement with Chicke Shack added a new impetus to the band's career. Who remembers those tours when Stan and the band backed Freddie King and Bobby Parker? I wonder how many of those who will read these lines will have been at one of those historic gigs? 

Who recalls the Nag's Head Pub in Battersea - now a corner plot boasting a Council flower bed and a wooden park bench. Who was at the Digbeth Town Hall to see Bobby Parker resplendent in a pea green mohair suit and sporting a pompadour hair-do complete with James Brown quiff? Who's got a bootleg tape of either of them? Not me, more's the pity. Those were days to remember and my heart goes out to those who were not around at the time. "40 Blue Fingers" is as close as we can get to the spirit of those times.

by Mike Vernon

Tracks
1. The Letter - 4:27
2. Lonesome Whistle Blues - 3:01
3. When The Train Comes Back (Christine Perfect) 3:31
4. San-Ho-Zay (Freddie King, Sonny Thompson) 3:03
5. King Of The World - 5:00
6. See See Baby - 2:23
7. First Time I Met The Blues - 6:24
8. Webbed Feet - 2:52
9. You Ain't No Good (Christine Perfect) - 3:36
10.What You Did Last Night - 4:40
11.It's OK With Me Baby (Christine Perfect) - 2:37
12.When My Left Eye Jumps (Willie Dixon, Al Perkins) - 6:28
13.Hey Baby (Christine Perfect, Stan Webb, Mike Vernon) - 3:43
All songs by Stan Webb except as else stated
Bonus tracks 11-13

Chicken Shack
*Stan Webb – Guitar, Vocals
*Christine Perfect – Keyboards, Vocals
*Andy Silvester – Bass Guitar
*Dave Bidwell – Drums
Additional Musicians
*Alan Ellis – Trumpet
*Dick Heckstall-Smith – Tenor Saxophone
*Johnny Almond – Alto Saxophone

Chicken Shack
1969  Chicken Shack - 100 Ton Chicken (2013 expanded edition)
1970  Accept (japan remaster and expanded)
1973  Unlucky Boy (2013 reissue)
1974  Go Live "Goodbye Chicken Shack" 

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Jimmy Curtiss - Life (1969 us, amazing soul drenched, psych folk rock, original Vinyl release)

Jimmy Curtiss was born and raised in Queens, New York, the first time he appears as a member of a doo wop outfit The Enjays, who released three 7"45s around 1959/60. In the following year J.C.'s first solo single appeared on United Artists. Teen pop you'd call this innocent, clear, very melody oriented phase in US mainstream pop. Bobby Vee, Bobby Darin, Dion & The Belmonts were it's main exponents. I know of at least three singles Jimmy Curtiss released during this period of his career around 1961/62. His voice is already unmistakeable. Already then he wrote or co-wrote most of his material. "Five Smooth Stones" for example is a nice and highly original version of the Bible's tale of David and Goliath. According to Vernon Joynson (in "Fuzz, Acid & Flowers") he was a "phenomenal songwriter ... throughout", who even sold songs to Bobby Darin and Ellie Greenwich. 

Between 1967 and 1969 Jimmy Curtiss worked with a group called The Hobbits in New York. This was presumably more a studio project than a performing live band. Despite the band's name, apparently taken from the universe of Middle Earth, which was very popular in hippie circles at the time, Tolkien's creatures never appear in the songs of The Hobbits, even though the first album is called "Down To Middle Earth" and the last "Back From Middle Earth". There are three LPs and two singles by the Hobbits. 

In 1968 Jimmy Curtiss founded his own production company Perception. Ever since he produced bands and/or wrote songs for them. A 7"45 "Artificial Rose" by the Lost Souls from North Dakota appeared in 1968 on a tiny label called Dawn Records. The song was co-written by Mr. Curtiss and his old partner Ernie Maresca. Two examples for a pure bubblegum period in Jimmy C.'s career are the singles "Love, Anyway You Want It" by The Sweet Bippies (ca. 1969) and "Da-Da-Da-Da", The Changing Colours (ca. 1969). Can't tell you anything more about these bands. In 1968/69 J.C. also produced three singles and an album by the New York group The Bag, who self described their music as "psychedelic soul". 

The band came from the same New York based blue-eyed soul scene as The (Young) Rascals or The Soul Survivors. Through his younger brother I got in touch with Dan Mahony, formerly of The Bag, in the summer of 2003. Unfortunately Dan couldn't tell anything really new. As it seems he doesn't remember things very well. After a few e-mails to and fro I didn't hear from him again. But obviously he and the other guys in The Bag were also involved in the recording of the New Hobbits album. Dan is living in Ireland now, and it seems he's still working as a musician. The Bag album "Real" contains several really well crafted soul pop and polished r&b songs with a touch of psychedelia. 

Almost at the same time Jimmy Curtiss and one Steve Kanyon produced the only album by a New York psychedelic folk/rock group called Velvet Night. Besides strangely arranged cover versions of two Tim Hardin and a Donovan song, plus a Cream medley, there are songs written by Curtiss and Kanyon plus one credited to the band's organ player Vinnie Nisi. The record has a rather weird US underground psychedelic sound. Donovan's "Season Of The Witch" certainly comes less menacing than Vanilla Fudge's version, but still much heavier than the original. The Cream medley is rather strange. And Tim Hardin's "If I Were A Carpenter" sounds spherically esoteric. When Lynn Boccumini sings lead vocals, the band even sounds a bit like Jefferson Airplane. Of substantial interest are only the songs we do not know already in other and better interpretations. Again it becomes clear, that Jimmy Curtiss was able to sense atmosphere and specifics of a musical style in a unique way. As a songwriter he wasn't bad either as we do know already.

And the man always found a way to include his own compositions on the records he produced for others. So he did with The Jon Bartel Thing, a band from California, whose lone album was released by Capitol Records in 1969. A great record full of brass dominated, jazz influenced psychedelic pop. Co-producer here was Terry Philips, who worked on many projects of Mr. Curtiss. This album by The Jon Bartel Thing reminds me in some ways a lot of the first Blood, Sweat & Tears LP. An interesting fact by the way, J.C.'s partners Terry Philips and Jerry Vance used to write songs together with Lou Reed for the Pickwick company in the early sixties. "Why Don't You Smile Now" was one of these.         

J.C. - LifeIn 1969 Perception Productions turned into Perception Records. Now Mr. Curtiss had his own record label. The New Hobbits LP bears the catalogue number PLP-10. But with the number PLP-1 appeared - probably a bit later - the Jimmy Curtiss solo album "Life". I'm not sure about the year of release. There's no date on the cover or record. Though most likely it came out in 1969 still. On this record J.C. is miles away from the early doo wop 7"45s but also from the Hobbits' psych pop or from "Psychedelic Situation" for that matter. Folk, singer/songwriter pop, blues in nine songs. All of them written by Jimmy Curtiss alone or in co-operation with people like Marcia Hillman, who was a co-writer for The Hobbits already. 

The album's opener "Child Of Clay" had been a US TOP 40 hit for Jimmie Rodgers in 1967. This was J.C.'s biggest success as a songwriter. Unusual were the mostly critical and serious lyrics. Really thrilling sometimes. The musical arrangements with wah wah sounds, with strings set rather economically grab one's attention.  Perception LogoThe album cover is really anti commercial sporting a primitive black & white photo layout. It's message rather unclear. The meaning of life? - Whatever. Jimmy Curtiss' backing band made another album for Perception under the name of Albert. Drummer Howie Wyeth worked as a session musician for Bob Dylan and others. Together with the album "Life" there appeared a J.C. single on Perception.

from Twang-Bang

Tracks
1. Child Of Clay (Curtiss, Matesca)- 5:57
2. Where Can I Hide (Curtiss, Green, Hillman) - 4:21
3. Franscesca (Curtiss, Wexler, Hillman) - 4:05
4. San Francisco Do You Remember Me? (Pollock, Curtiss) - 4:30
5. Lack 'O' Testicle Blues (Sell, Curtiss) - 6:33
6. Sunday Soon (Curtiss) - 4:57
7. You Can't Tell A Man By The Songs He Sings (Curtiss, Hillman) - 5:25
8. Johnny Get Your Gun (Curtiss, Pollock) - 3:35
9. He Was My Father (Curtiss, Hillman) - 4:45

Musicians
*Billy Elmiger - Bass
*Howie Wyeth - Drums
*Bob Abrahams - Acoustic Guitar Leads
*Jan Williams - Rhythm Guitar
*John Trivers - Bass
*Jerry Vance - Piano
*Jimmy Curtiss - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Wah Wah Pedal

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