Mark Farner And Don Brewer - Monumental Funk (1974 us, amazing funky soul psych beat, 2017 digipak edition)

"Monumental Funk" put out by the people at the original label who released music by Terry Knight & the Pack, a company called Lucky Eleven; This is an amazing record that Don Brewer and Mark Farner have every right to be very proud of. While Grand Funk Railroad's manager, Terry Knight, may have been a fine producer and a marketing genius, his own efforts at songwriting and singing were the worst aspects of the Pack. Here Farner and Brewer absolutely shine, their version of "Harlem Shuffle" more fun than the hit version by the Rolling Stones. 

When Don Brewer formed Flint and released a disc on Columbia in 1978, he covered the Supremes' "Back in My Arms Again." Here Mark Farner trumps him with "Come See About Me," a great non-Motown version by these Michigan boys. Farner's original, "We Gotta Have Love," is worthwhile, as is the tremendous rendition of "Hey Everybody." Yes, this record was released to cash in on the fame of Grand Funk Railroad, and there is even a picture disc version of it. The release of this music made the boys in the band angry, but there is a silver lining. Monumental Funk shows that Grand Funk Railroad was no fluke and that Mark Farner was a major talent before Capitol Records signed him and brought him to the attention of millions of fans. 

by Joe Viglione

Tracks
1. We Gotta Have Love (Mark Farner) - 5:10
2. Hey Everybody (J. Tuttle) - 3:37
3. I've Got News For You (Dick Wagner) - 4:43
4. Come See About Me (Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland) - 4:17
5. Harlem Shuffle (Bob Relf, Earl Nelson) - 5:19
6. Love Light (Joseph Scott) - 7:04

Personnel
*Mark Farner – Guitar, Harmonica, Keyboards, Vocals
*Don Brewer – Drums, Vocals

1966-67  Terry Knight And The Pack - Terry Knight And The Pack / Reflections (2010 issue)
1969  Grand Funk Railroad - On Time (2002 remaster and expanded)
1969  Grand Funk Railroad - Grand Funk (2002 bonus tracks remaster)
1970  Grand Funk - Closer To Home (japan remaster with bonus tracks)
1970  Grand Funk Railroad - Live (japan remaster)
1974  Grand Funk - Shinin' On (Japan extra track issue and 2014 SHM remaster)

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Brother Fox And The Tar Baby - Brother Fox And The Tar Baby (1969 us, 2009

Boston's Brother Fox and the Tar Baby featured the talents of former Profits and The Front Page Review guitarist Richie Bartlett, Pugsley Munion bassist Tom Belliveau, guitarist Dave Christiansen, drummer Bill Garr, singer Steve High. and keyboardist Joe Santangelo.  One of the era's isolated multi-racial bands, the group were signed by the small Oracle label, which released 1969's Bruce Patch produced "Brother Fox and the Tar Baby".  Christiansen was credited with penning all eleven tracks, the result being an odd hodge-podge of musical styles. 

Quite diverse, the set included stabs at conventional hard rock ('We All Love Him'), ballads ('I Start To Cry') and the plain bizarre ('Maxie the Meanie').  The first couple of times I listened to the album I'll readily admit to being a little under whelmed, but repeated spins saw me start to warm up to the collection. To my ears the highlights included 'Metal Soldier', 'Three Tots and a Man and their most psych-oriented track 'Mr. Sleepy'. (The album was original released in a gatefold sleeve.)

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Tracks 
1. Electric Chair - 4:19
2. Old Ladies - 2:56
3. Steel Dog Man - 3:47
4. Maxie The Meanie - 3:03
5. We All Love Him - 2:30
6. To Your Dreams - 3:34
7. Three Tots And A Man - 4:03
8. I Start To Cry - 3:12
9. Metal Soldiers - 4:42
10.Mr. Sleepy - 4:48
11.Crazy John - 3:54
All songs by Dave Christiansen

Brother Fox And The Tar Baby
*Richie Bartlett - Guitar
*Tom Belliveau - Bass
*Dave Christiansen - Guitar
*Bill Garr - Drums, Percussion
*Steve High - Vocals, Percussion
*Joe Santangelo - Keyboards

Related Acts
1968  Front Page Review - Mystic Soldiers
1970  Pugsley Munion - Just Like You

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Hookfoot - Headlines (1975 uk, astonishing guitar rock with southern tastes prog shades and funky vibes, 2016 two discs set)

Hookfoot were,  very much a band of "musician's musicians". All of them were in great demand as session players, both individually and collectively. As well as backing Elton John on many of his early albums they also perform en masse on Mick Grabham's 'Mick The Lad' solo LP (possibly it was this which led to the misinformation that Grabham was himself a Hookfoot member) and on Steve Swindell's solo LP from 1974 (the astute amongst you may recognise Swindell's name as a former Hawkwind member). The band also backed Harry Pitch and Zack Laurence on the chart-topping one-hit wonder 'Groovin' With Mr Bloe'; and although his voice is perhaps an acquired taste, Long John Baldry's 'It Ain't Easy' LP from 1971 also featured bassist Dave Glover, drummer Roger Pope and guitarist Caleb Quaye throughout, some of the songs sounding distinctly Hoofoot-esque.

Great songwriters, great musicians, with their tastes strayed too far towards bluesy country funk for the heads to ever fully embrace them. A bit like Steve Stills, in some ways: you kinda dug the way he did it, but not always what he actually did. Thing is though, Caleb Quaye was undeniably one of THE finest guitar players the UK has ever produced - not for nothing did Eric Clapton surprise David Letterman a lttle while ago by informing him "I'm not the world's best guitar player. Caleb Quaye is." - and I can't help wondering, if Hookfoot had played hard rock and psychedelia, whether their albums might not today be held in the same kind of reverential, big-dollar high esteem by collectors as, say, Little Free Rock, Ashkan, Aunt Mary, Blonde on Blonde and especially I suppose Black Cat Bones (who likewise featured a stellar guitar player in the shape of a young Paul Kossoff). I still challenge any fan of the above not to go into a toe-curling trance of guitar-fuelled ecstasy on hearing Hookfoot blister through 'Nature Changes' on the 'Live in Memphis' album though, or to goggle in awe at the pyrotechnics on display on all twelve minutes of 'Shoe Shine Boy', one of the otherwise unreleased songs on the 'Headlines' compilation album.

Headlines', the double LP compilation put out by DJM 1975,a year or so after Hookfoot's demise. Interestingly, it includes 4 non-album cuts, but no live material and none of the band's singles!

by Phil McMullen, April 2010

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Don't Let It Bring You Down (Neil Young) - 3:07

2. Movies (Ian Duck) - 4:53

3. S.B.W. (Ian Duck, Caleb Quaye) - 2:36

4. Shoe Shine Boy (Caleb Quaye) - 12:05

5. Nature Changes (Caleb Quaye, Ian Duck) - 5:25

6. Bluebird Revisited (Stephen Stills) - 4:03

7. Coombe Gallows (Caleb Quaye) - 3:09

8. Gimme Shelter (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) - 4:19

9. Fire And Rain (Caleb Quaye) - 3:38

Disc 2
1. Sweet Sweet Funky Music (Caleb Quaye) - 3:18
2. Living in the City (Caleb Quaye) - 4:57
3. If I Had the Words (Ian Duck, Roger Pope, Caleb Quaye, David Glover) - 3:31
4. Good Times a Comin' (Ian Duck, Fred Gandy, Roger Pope, Caleb Quaye) - 6:18
5. Cruisin' (Ian Duck, Fred Gandy, Roger Pope, Caleb Quaye) - 5:32
6. Just a Little Communication (Caleb Quaye) - 5:38
7. Nothin' Changes (Caleb Quaye) - 4:44
8. Tradin' Riffs (Caleb Quaye) - 4:45
9. Rockin' on the Good (Ian Duck) - 5:09
10.So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star (Chris Hillman, Roger McGuinn) - 3:18

The Hookfoot
*Caleb Quaye - Electric, Acoustic Guitars, Keyboards, Pianos, Organ, Percussion, Tambourine, Vocals
*Ian Duck - Electric, Acoustic Guitars, Harp, Percussion, Tambourine, Vocals
*Roger Pope - Drums, Percussions, Tambourine, Cow-Bell
*Dave Glover - Bass (1969-72)
*Fred Gandy – Bass (1973)
With
*Dicky Birds – Whistling
*Bob Kulick – Guitar, Vocals

1969  Hookfoot - A Piece Of Pye (2010 japan Remaster)
1971  Hookfoot - Hookfoot (2010 japan remaster)  
1972  Hookfoot - Good Times A'comin (japan 2010 bonus track remaster)
1972  Hookfoot - Communication (2005 reissue)
1973  Hookfoot - Roaring (2005 expanded edition)

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Colin Scot - Just Another Clown (1973 uk, gorgeous progressive folk rock, 2017 korean remaster)

There was a time when the demarcation lines between folk and rock were well drawn though one or two brave souls would occasionally pop their heads above the parapet.

Colin Scot was one of them and his tactic of covering Buddy Holly songs in his live set might have caused frowns from the folkie purists but probably stood him in good stead when it came to supporting rock bands such as Van der Graaf Generator or King Crimson in the bigger venues in the early 70s. The graveyard support slot was always a tough spot, and Scot was better at it than many of his more famous contemporaries.

Scot died in 1999 having only released three albums none of which attracted much in the way of sales or critical acclaim. Though long forgotten now, Scot was well plugged into the rock circuit rather than the folk scene, having the kind of juice that attracted various members of Genesis, Lindisfarne, Van der Graaf Generator, Yes, Rare Bird, and Robert Fripp from King Crimson to populate his 1971 debut.

That he could count on such distinguished company was due in no small measure to producer John Anthony - the behind the desk for albums such as progressive rock classics such as Nursery Cryme and Pawn Hearts.

"Just Another Clown" was recorded and released in 1973, two years after his debut, accompaniment with a much different and not so famous (like in his first recording) cast of musicians. His voice is amazing and remises the incredible set of progressive jazzy folk rock, some psychedelic touches with excellent guitar outbursts, emerge an unbelievable magic, melancholic in a way, like a tearful clown of a circus..

Alcohol dependency and a lack of original material meant Scot quickly became a marginal figure a fact underlined by his decision to quit the UK to make a living in Europe where he resided until his untimely death. Colin Scot does deserve a warm welcome, after all, he was a dreamer.

Tracks
1. I'm A Dreamer - 4:42
2. Then You Won't Be Blue - 2:39
3. Sunday Morning - 3:53
4. It's Over Now - 3:28
5. Baby I Got News For You - 4:19
6. Bluebird - 1:58
7. Lament - 6:51
8. Edward And Charley And Me - 3:10
9. You're Singing My Song - 3:03
10.A Simple Song - 4:41
Words and Music by Colin Scot

Personnel
*Colin Scot – Twelve String Guitar, Trombone, Whistle, Banjo, Vocals
*Micky Binelli - Accordion
*Nic Potter - Bass
*Peter Poole - Bass
*Terry Weil - Cello
*Fred Kelly - Drums
*Ray Glynn - Electric Guitar
*Mox Gowland - Flute, Harmonica
*John Pearse - Guitar
*Dave Kaffinetti - Keyboards
*Ray Cooper - Percussion
*David Hentschel - Synthesizer
*Madhukar D. Kothare - Tabla

1971  Colin Scot - Colin Scot (2006 remaster, korean Limited Edition) 

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Reason - The Age Of Reason (1969 us, fine rough soulful psych rock, 2016 edition)

Pressed in minute quantities by Arlington-based Georgetowne label, 1969's "The Age of Reason" lay largely forgotten until it appeared in one of Austrian vinyl collector Hans Pokora's books - 1001 Record Collectors Dreams.  Like anything listed in one of Pokora's books, the album's subsequently become a high priced, in-demand release. 

This late-1960s release is also a pretty good example of hype and rarity taking precedence over quality. That's not to imply the album's bad, rather for the big bucks it commands, you could certainly find a couple of more enjoyable releases. 

The band apparently came together in 1967, featuring the talents of keyboardist Tommy Didly, former The Telstars bassist Terry Gorka, drummer Bill Manning, and lead guitarist Billy Windsor.  

Two years later they were apparently back in the Washington, D.C. area, releasing what may have been a vanity project on the small Arlington, Virginia-based Georgetowne label.  Produced by drummer Manning, "The Age of Reason" offered up a mixture of late-1960s FM covers (Dylan, Savoy Brown Blues Band, Ike Turner) and band originals.  The players were all pretty good with keyboardist Didly featured on most of the songs.

Best of the lot was their opening Dylan cover.  Showcasing a couple of band originals, side two was marginally better with Manning's 'The View From Tom Thompson's Cell' standing as one of the best performance.   Elsewhere the biggest surprise was their cover of  'Temptations Bout To Get Me'.  The result was a totally unexpected knockout slice of blue-eyed soul.  Shame they didn't record more in this vein.

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Tracks
1. This Wheel's On Fire (Bob Dylan, Rick Danko) - 4:14
2. Stay With Me Baby (Chris Youlden, Kim Simmonds, Dave Peverett) - 4:31
3. I'm Blue (Ike Turner) - 4:05
4. Don't Try To See Through Me (N.R. Colbertson) - 4:51
5. The View From Tim Thompson's Cell (Bill Manning) - 4:22
6. Letter To Home (Tommy Dildy, Bill Manning) - 4:57
7. Bang Bang (Sonny Bono) - 5:09
8. Temptations Bout To Get Me (Jimmy Diggs) - 4:07

Reason
*Tommy Dildy - Keyboards, Vocals
*Terry Gorka - Bass
*Bill Manning - Drums, Vocals
*Billy Windsor - Guitar, Vocals
With
*Danny Gatton - Guitar

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Mordicai Jones - Mordicai Jones (1972 us, raw blues country roots 'n' roll, feat Link Wray, 2010 korean remaster)

In the early '70s, first-generation rock guitar hero Link Wray was looking to make a comeback, and after his self-titled 1971 album for Polydor -- in which he set aside the raw, feral guitar tone of his early instrumental hits for a more casual country blues mood -- failed to make an impression with record buyers, Wray and his buddies decided to try making an end-run around the charts with this album. The Mordicai Jones of the title was actually Bobby Howard, who played piano and mandolin on the Link Wray sessions and whose strong, blues-leaning voice lacked the idiosyncrasies of Wray's TB-ravaged instrument; on the surface, "Mordicai Jones" seemed like a more appealing frontman than Link (who by this time was already 44 years old), and his name was on the front cover when the album hit the stores. 

However, the music had the same casual and laid-back tone as the Link Wray sessions, and Link kept his trademark barking axe just as far under wraps as he did on his own album. However, the album has a tough and heartfelt vibe that sets it apart from the more pastoral country-rock albums of the time -- while lots of musicians were talking about getting back to the land, Mordicai Jones sounds like music made by folks who actually worked the farm they lived on, and the rough and flinty energy of these sessions wears a lot better than what most of their contemporaries were doing. Link also plays some fine slide guitar, too, even if "Rumble" fans might wish for more meat. Cuts from Mordicai Jones later surfaced on the compilation Guitar Preacher: The Polydor Years, and it was included in its entirety on Wray's Three Track Shack. 

by Mark Deming

Tracks
1. Walkin' In The Arizona Sun - 2:56
2. Scorpio Woman - 3:49
3. The Coca Cola Sign Blinds My Eyes (Link Wray, Bobby Howard, Yvonne Verroca) - 6:23
4. All I Want To Say - 3:14
5. All Because Of A Woman - 3:19
6. On The Run (Link Wray, Bobby Howard, Yvonne Verroca) - 5:46
7. Son Of A Simple Man - 4:24
8. Precious Jewel (Roy Acuff) - 2:17
9. Days Before Custer - 4:01
10.Gandy Dancer (Link Wray, Bobby Howard, Yvonne Verroca) - 3:33
All songs by Link Wray, Yvonne Verroca except where stated

Musicians
*Link Wray - Electric Guitar, Dobro, Steel Guitar, Bass Guitar
*Doug Wray - Rhythm Guitar, Proccnail Can Percussion, Vocals
*Mordicai Jones (a.k.a. Bobby Howard) - Lead Vocals, Piano, Mandolin, Harp
*Bill Hodges - Organ, Piano, Scratcher Percussion, Vocals
*Steve Verroca - Drums, Vocals
*John Grummere - Electric Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
*Norman Sue - Bass Guitar, Vocals
*Ned Levitt - Foot Stomp, Hand Claps, Vocals

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Grinderswitch - Pullin' Together (1976 us, excellent southern boogie rock, 2010 reissue)

Grinderswitch was a white blues-rock band that never rose above being a second-tier Capricorn Records act, not remotely as popular as the Allman Brothers or the Marshall Tucker Band. But Dru Lombar (vocals, guitar, slide guitar), Larry Howard (guitar), Stephen Miller (keyboards), Joe Dan Petty (bass), and Rick Burnett (drums) built a loyal following in the tens of thousands playing music that was influenced by British blues outfits like John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, Cream and T.S. McPhee's Groundhogs, but also the real article, especially Albert King and Booker T. & the MG's -- Lombar sounded more Black than any White rock singer you've ever heard. 

They could have been a more soulful and exciting competitor to Canned Heat, but they weren't lucky enough to appear in hit festival movies or get the right single out at the proper time. Working in the commercial shadow of better-known acts, they counted as fans members of the Marshall Tucker Band and a lot of other musicians who felt they deserved a break. The group failed to emerge as much more than a top regional act and an opener for the Allmans and Charlie Daniels, among others, despite recording seven album between 1972 and 1982, first for Capricorn and later for Atlantic.

by Bruce Eder

Tracks
1. Higher Ground - 3:47
2. I'm Satisfied - 3:25
3. That Kind Of Women - 4:12
4. Kill The Pain - 5:38
5. You're So Fine (Willie Schofield) - 3:33
6. Open Road - 4:11
7. Fact Of Life (Stephen Miller) - 2:27
8. Nobody Can - 3:04
9. As Sure As Tomorrow - 3:33
All compositions by  Rick Burnett, Larry Howard, Dru Lombar, Stephen Miller, Joe Dan Petty except where stated

The Grinderswitch
*Rick Burnett - Drums
*Larry Howard - Lead, Acoustic Guitars, Vocals
*Dru Lombar - Lead, Slide Guitars, Vocals
*Stephen Miller - Keyboards, Vocals
*Joe Dan Petty - Bass, Vocals
With
*Jimmy Hall - Harmonica
*Jerry Joseph - Congas

1974  Grinderswitch - Honest To Goodness
1975  Grinderswitch - Macon Tracks (2009 edition) 
1977  Grinderswitch - Redwing (2010 edition)
Related Acts
1968 Linn County - Proud Flesh Soothseer 
1969 Linn County - Fever Shot 
1970  Linn County - 'Till The Break Of Dawn
1969-70/72  Elvin Bishop - Party Till The Cows Come Home

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Christopher Kearney - Christopher Kearney (1972 canada, outstanding bluesy folk classic rock, 2016 SHM remaster)

Canadian born, Christopher Kearney’s career began with the support and encouragement of Gordon Lightfoot, who saw Christopher first perform at the age of 22 in Montreal. Within a year Christopher signed with Gordon’s Early Morning Productions and moved to Toronto.

Shortly thereafter Christopher inked a deal with Capitol Records and went on to record three albums on that label, Christopher Kearney,Pemmican Stash,and Sweetwater.

During this time period after a successful concert tour across Canada and a closing performance at Massy Hall in Toronto Christopher was asked to represent Canada at the Rio International Song Festival in Brazil.

A few years later Christopher joined forces with Bill King and Danny McBride and formed the band China.

Inking a new deal with CBS Epic and Charlie Daniel’s Production Company in Nashville, China joined forces with Bob Dylan’s Grammy Award producer Bob Johnston and Christopher was back in the studio.

During this project many other great players joined forces with Chris and the other members of China including Jeff “Skunk” Baxter, Albert Lee, Jay Graydon, Lee Ritenour, Andy Newmark, Abe Laborial, Danny Lanois, and Paulino Da Costa. 

In the early 90’s Christopher moved to Puerto Vallarta Mexico and resided there until 2005.

Within a year or so of returning to California he was writing once again and back in the studio. In 2007 a new set of sessions began and by the fall of that year "Just A Step Away" was completed.

Rich musically and lyrically strong this offering from Christopher paints wonderful visuals of not only just the writer as he navigates through life's twists and turns but it also honestly touches on all of us. At close listening,the chances are very good that you will remember,see,or think of someone you know.

Excellent well crafting songwriters have always been a real commodity, and it is in that is category that Christopher quite comfortably belongs.

Tracks
1. Country Lady - 3:09
2. Loosen Up - 2:31
3. Let It Be Gone (Henry McCullough) - 3:41
4. Speical Day - 3:36
5. Long Old Train (John Schanck) - 4:50
6. House Of D (Chris Rawlings) - 4:11
7. Rocking Chair Ride - 2:33
8. Everything Here (Frank Thomas Talton) - 2:27
9. 20% Off - 2:53
10.Get Back Home - 2:49
Music and Lyrics by Christopher Kearney except where stated

Musicians
*Christopher Kearney - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
*Josh Onderisin - Acoustic, Electric Guitar
*David Bromberg - Slide Guitar, Dobro
*Cguck Aarons - Electric Guitar
*Jim Ackley - Keyboards
*James Rolleston - Bass
*Scott Lang - Bass
*Terry Clarke - Drums
*Diane Brooks - Vocals
*Steve Kennedy - Vocals
*Rhonda Silver - Vocals

1973  Christopher Kearney - Pemmican Stash (2014 korean remaster) 

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Carol Grimes - Warm Blood (1974 uk, excellent funky boogie rock, 2017 korean remaster)

Born in Lewisham, South East London, Carol Grimes had spent her early life as a busker. She eventually realised her talent one day in 1964 outside a pub in Hastings Old Town. Carol Grimes came to prominence in 1969 as a member of Delivery associated with the Canterbury Scene. 

During the 1970s she performed regularly on the London blues circuit with her band The London Boogie Band. At the same time she released her first solo album Warm Blood, the first release on the Virgin's Caroline label (CA2001), backed by session musicians in London and Nashville. The cover was taken in her Notting Hill flat. The following year saw the release of a follow-up blues album recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis and Goodyear Studios in Nashville which pictured her on the cover alongside her son Sam.

By the end of the decade, Grimes had moved to a more jazz-inspired style, including a lot of scat singing. In 1984 she formed Eyes Wide Open. Now known mainly as a solo artist she also does theatrical work and teaches voice. She lives in Folkestone.

CD Liner-Notes

Tracks
1. That's What It Takes (McLintan) - 3:12
2. High Hill Country Rain (J.J. Walker) - 4:04
3. Taxes On The Farmer (Traditional Arr. Ry Cooder) - 2:33
4. All For One (Mack Gayden) - 3:31
5. Ray, Ray, Ray (Bob Wilson, Alan Orange) - 2:52
6. Lost My Faith (In Everything But You) (Ron Cornelius) - 2:36
7. Warm Blood (Lloyd Perata) - 3:57
8. You're The Only One (Bob Wilson) - 2:32
9. Somebody Sleeping In My Bed (Allen Jones, Bettye Crutcher) - 3:09
10.Southern Boogie (D. Skinner) - 2:43
11.Don't Want You On My Mind (Bill Withers) - 2:11
12.Wait For Me Down By The River (Bob Johnson) - 2:56

Musicians
*Carol Grimes  - Vocal
*Ron Cornelius  - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
*Mack Gayden  - Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Banjo
*Bob Wilson  - Piano, Organ, Vibraphone, Arrangement
*Tommy Cogbill (Miss-Credited As Codbill)  - Bass
*Kenny Buttrey  - Drums
*Karl Himmel  - Drums
*Roger Ball  - Alto Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Brass Arrangement
*Malcome Duncan  - Tenor Saxophone
*Henry Lowther  - Trumpet
*Tommy Eyre  - Organ
*John "Rabbit" Bundrick  - Organ, Background Vocals
*Snazzy Sam Mitchell  - Dobro, Guitar
*Gaspar Lowell  - African Drum, Percussion
*Graham Bell  - Background Vocals, Harp
*Archie Leggit  - Background Vocals
*Jess Roden  - Background Vocals

Related Acts
1970  Delivery - Fools Meeting 
1972  Uncle Dog - Old Hat (2005 japan remaster)

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