Sunday, 28 March 2010

Grace Slick - Dreams (1980)

Dreams is the second solo album by the American singer Grace Slick.
The album sold well, and so did the singles but it got very bad critic reviews getting alot of 2-stars.
"Dreams" opens the album. It's a great song, with a quite nice classical section and the powerful voice of Grace. The Spanish-like guitar in "El Diablo" is another great moment in the album. "Angel Of Night" is the hardest song in the album. In "Seasons" the strenght of the song grows as the song continues. "Face To The Wind" and "Do It The Hard Way" are very nice too.
Grace had just left a long stay with the Alcoholics Anonymous before recording this. Most of the songs are self-reflective. This is a nice album to anyone who loves Grace's music. I surely love it.

Grace Slick (Dreams Personnel):
- Grace Slick - Vocals
- Frank Owens - Piano
- Scott Zito - Guitar
- Neil Jason - Bass
- Allan Schwartzberg - Drums

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Saturday, 27 March 2010

The Greatest Show On Earth - The Going's Easy (1970)

The Going's Easy is the second album by the British band The Greatest Show On Earth.
The band was created by ,EMI Records subsidiary Harvest, who were trying to create a British version of Blood, Sweat & Tears.
"Borderline" opens the album. A 9 minute track, which should be listened to in your mp3, because it does have a really groovy effect. 5 minutes of jam, and 4 minutes of singing. "Magic woman touch" is an acoustic nice and calm song, i like the percussion in the song and the guitar solo is quite cool, it was later covered by The Hollies. I think i heard something that sounded a bit like this, but i cant remember what it was. "Love magnet"'s main attraction is Mick Deacon's organ solo. The sax gives the song a nice jazzy sound.
They never got much success in England. They were able to book concerts all over Europe, but failed to get attention at home. This led them to disband in 1971.

The Greatest Show On Earth:
- Dick Hanson - Horns.
- Colin Horton-Jennings - Vocals, Guitar, Drums.
- Tex Philpotts - Saxophone.
- Ron Prudence - Congas, Drums.
- Garth Watt-Roy - Vocals, Guitar.
- Norman Watt-Roy - Vocals, Bass.
- Ian Aitchison - Tenor and Baritone Saxophone, Percussion.

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The Power Of Zeus - The Gospel According To Zeus (1970)

The Gospel According To Zeus is the first and only album by the American band The Power Of Zeus.
This is the first album released by Rare Earth, a Motown subsidiary. Many say that the reason why this album failed to get a public, is exactly because of the lack of experience of Motown to promote a Hard-Rock album.
It starts with two kick-ass songs "It Coulnd't Be Me" and "In The Night" both with great guitar line and an haunting organ. And then, suddenly, a calm song, "Green Grass & Clover" theres no guitar solo nor nothing. just a calm religious song. "The Death Trip", now this song has some fantastic howling vocals, the subject of the song is of course death. Nice guitar on this one "No Time" its nothing extraordinary but it has some really nice guitar solos. "Hard Working Man" has got to be one of my favourite songs at the moment i write this, so caution the melody is really catchy. I was expecting a better ending but eh this one is nice too, was waiting for something more definitive, "The Sorcerer Of Isis (Ritual Of The Mole)".
Great Hard-Rock album with a far-out cover. just look at those colours. Wow!
The Power Of Zeus:
- Joe Periano - guitar
- Bill Jones - bass
- Dennie Webber - organ, harpsichord and piano
- Bob Michalski - drums

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Thursday, 25 March 2010

Loudest Whisper - The Children of Lir (1974)

The Children Of Lir is the debut album by the Celtic band Loudest Whisper.
The band was originally formed as The Wizards in the early 60's. They performed covers from The Beatles, Hollies, and Spencer Davis. When Cream and Jimi Hendrix appeared the changed their name to Loudest Whisper and started entering a heavier blues territory. In 1973 guitarist Brian O'Reilly, who had previously done some musicals with a local theater group, decided to stage a performance of the story of the Irish King Lir. It was quite succesful, and the band was invited to make the album wih the music used at the musical.
It starts with "Overture", a fantastic instrumental piece. the electric guitar line is just awesome. The voice at "Lir´s Lament" is great, it manages to create a fantastic ambient. "Good Day, My Friend" has great lyrics and "Wedding Song" is the first song in which we listen to the marvellous female vocals. "Mannanan I", "Mannanan II", "Dawning of The Day" and "Cold Winds Blow" are some tracks that deserve great attention.
A great Irish folk-rock album, it is one of the most sought-after Irish albums ever.

Loudest Whisper:
- Brian O'Reilly - Guitar, Piano, Keyboards, Vocals
- Geraldine Dorgan - Guitar, Vocals
- Paud O'Reilly - Drums, Vocals
- Mike Russell - Bass, Vocals

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Saturday, 20 March 2010

James Gang - Rides Again (1970)

Rides Again is the second album the the American band James Gang.
This is the first album by the classical line-up of the band. Dale Peters replaced Tom Kriss on bass guitar.
"Funk #49" is one of the best known songs by them, it's funky groove is remarkable. "Asshton park" is a fantastic guitar solo instrumental song, Joe Walsh uses a sick effect on the guitar. Theres a sweet, sweet guitar and drum riff in "Woman". "The Bomber" is very enjoyed by many people, i dont like it that much, it has a good solo and it sounds quite like Hard-Rock, which isnt bad i just dont think it matches some of the other songs. For instance, i like "Tend My Garden" better than "The Bomber", its alot softer, i dont know if we can even compare them. It also starts the beginning of the Country/Folk part of album. "Ashes The Rain And I" and "Garden Gate" sound great too.

James Gang:
- Joe Walsh - Guitar, Keyboards, Piano, Percussion, Vocals.
- Dale Peters - Bass, Keyboards, Percussion, Vocals.
- Jim Fox - Drums, Percussion, Keyboards, Organ, Piano, Vocals.

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Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Shocking Blue - At Home (1969)

At Home is the second album by the Dutch Psychedelic band Shocking Blue, the first with Lead singer Mariska Veres.
The band is most known by their hit single "Venus" and the similarities between Grace Slick and Mariska. They sold around 3.5 million albums in the early 70's. For some reason this is their least known album.
The opener "Boll Weevil" and "Love Machine" show the rocker side of Shocking Blues, while "Acka Raga" who features a fantastic Sitar and "Love Buzz", that was covered in Bleach, the first album by the grungy Nirvana (not the psychedelic ones), show the psychedelic trippy side of them. "I'm A Woman", you can listen to the greatness of Mariska's voice here, also the guitar riff is really cool. "Venus", Shocking Blues greatest hit, one of the most recognisable songs of the 70's. In my country the song is used at a shaving commercial, thats why most people know it nowadays unfortunatelly, it has a Riders On The Storm-like Keyboard intro. "Poor Boy" is an instrumental song, in which most of it is occupied by a guitar solo. "Long And Lonesome Road" is probably my favourite song in the whole album, the fuzz guitar, the vocals, the rhythm everythings great!
i dont usually like bonus tracks (im a weirdelly organised musically, that doesnt happen in the rest of my life, my teachers dont call me by my name, they call me alien as im always in other place...) but this ones are definitivelly worth listening to ( i only listened to them because i thought they were part of the album). They sing in a very good english, i only discovered they werent english when i researched them.

Shocking Blue:
- Robbie van Leeuwen - Guitar, Sitar, Back-Vocals
- Mariska Veres - Vocals
- Klaasje van der Wal - Bass Guitar
- Cor van der Beek - Drums

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Barclay James Harvest - Berlin-A Concert For The People (1982)

Berlin - A Concert For The People is the recording of a 1980 concert in Berlin by Barclay James Harvest.
The free-concert was performed right in front of the historical Reichstag, to an audience from the 175,000 to 250,000. As the concert was free it's impossible to know how many where there.
BJH consider it to be their best gig ever, but the recording had very flaws. There were loads of loud noises, and John Lees guitar was almost inaudible during the mix, so they had to add alot of overdubs at Strawberry studios. Thats the reason the album took 2 years to be released.
"Berlin"'s piano is great. Sounds almost like a 80's rock band, but theres something on it that makes it so good and enjoyable to listen. "Loving Is Easy" has a drum line simillar to "Touch Of Grey" by the Grateful Dead. Theres a pretty nice guitar solo in "Sip Of Wine". Then theres the haunting "In Memory Of The Martyrs" the monochordic guitar line and the vocals are just amazing. It ends with "Hymn", a fantastic song that ended all of their concerts, the YEAH! roars are pretty badass.
Found this album while checking my parents vinyls. Most of them are south-american intervention bands (theyre all very good, but i wasnt checking them, as i heard most of them already) but in the middle there was this. Great discovery.

Barclay James Harvest:

- John Lees - Guitar
- Les Holroyd - Vocals, Bass
- Mel Pritchard - Vocals, Keyboards
- Kevin McAlea - Keyboards, Back-Vocals, Saxophone
- Colin Browne - Keyboards, Guitar, Bass, Back-Vocals

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Thursday, 11 March 2010

Joan Baez - Joan Baez (1960)

Joan Baez is the debut album by Joan Baez.
Columbia offered a contract to Baez, but she refused an decided to stay with Vanguard, an independent Folk label, known for releasing material by blacklisted communist musicians like Paul Robeson and The Weavers. It was also Country Joe and the Fish label, releasing all of their albums.
Despite the inexistence of hit singles the album went gold, but only entered the Billboard 200 when Joan Baez II was released.
"Silver Dagger" is one of Baez most known songs and it still is today, a song she plays live (went to her concert 4 days ago, she played it there. the album is 50 years old by the way thats why shes touring the world). "East Virginia" and "Fare Thee Well" both have a fantastic vocal work. in the 60's everyone had a cover of "House of the Rising Sun", and so does Joan, its not the best cover of them all, but its very nice nonetheless. "Wildwood Flower" has a delicious guitar work. "Donna Donna" is another classic that she still playes today. "Henry Martin" is a tale about a pirate, it was also covered by Donovan and Bert Jansch.
A fantastic album, by one of the best folk singers ever. Joan played the guitar and sung on it.
The album was recorded in 4 days, some of the songs were only played once. According to Joan, they could use the hotel room everyday except tuesday 'We could use the room every day except Tuesday, because they played Bingo there on Tuesdays' when i read this i gave a big laugh. A classic album recorded in a bingo room.

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Tuesday, 9 March 2010

Free - Free (1969)

Free is the self-titled second album by the English band Free.
The band was at the edge of breaking up on the beginning of the recording. Rodgers and Fraser wanted more discipline, Kossoff cried for the freedom and spontaneity of the first album. Only the intervention of Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island records (Free's label), managed to save the situation. I it wasnt for him we wouldn't have more Free albums.
"Songs Of Yesterday" has a really catchy bass line and a pretty nice guitar solo. "Lying In The Sunshine" is a nice calm bluesy song. "Trouble On Double Time" is credited to the whole band, the only song were written by Fraser|Rodgers. The mood of "Free Me" is really nice. The album's final song "Mourning Sad Morning" has one of the best demonstrations of the greatness of Paul Rodgers vocals. Chris Wood's flute is pretty nice too. "Woman" and "Broad Daylight" should also be listened to very carefully.
The cover pictures a woman made of stars jumping in the sky. Its considered to be one of the best album covers ever.
This album didnt draw much attention, but the next would, with the super-hit "All Right Now".

Free:
- Paul Rodgers - vocals
- Paul Kossoff - guitar
- Andy Fraser - bass
- Simon Kirke - drums
- Chris Wood - flute

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Monday, 8 March 2010

Sly & The Family Stone - Stand! (1969)

Stand! is the fourth album by the American Soul/Funk band Sly & The Family Stone.
The album has sold well more than one million copies since its release.
"Stand!" starts pretty calmly before entering in a gospel like rythym. Many asked why the song wasn't just the gospel extension, as it is the most enjoyed part of it. "Don't Call Me Nigger, Whitey" an anti-racist anthem, most of the lyrics are a line saying "Don't call me "nigger", whitey./Don't call me "whitey", nigger". "I Want To Take You Higher" Sly Stone, Robinson, Freddie Stone, Graham, and Martini all play instrumental solos in it. "Sex Machine" is a 13m jam, in which everyone plays a solo. It is said that while Gregg Errico was recording the last solo of the song, the rest of the band were making fun of him. Thas why in the end we hear some laughes. Sly plays the bass in the final song of the album "You Can Make It If You Try".
It got fantastic reviews, the first Sly album to be consider a classic.

Sly & The Family Stone:
- Sly Stone - Vocals, Organ, Guitar, Piano, Harmonica, Vocoder, Bass
- Freddie Stone - Vocals, Guitar
- Larry Graham - Vocals, Bass
- Rose Stone - Vocals, Piano, Keyboard
- Cynthia Robinson - Trumpet, Back-Vocals
- Jerry Martini - Saxophone, Back-Vocals
- Greg Errico - Drums, Back-Vocals
- Little Sister(Vet Stone, Mary McCreary, Elva Mouto) - Back-Vocals

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Sunday, 7 March 2010

Creedence Clearwater Revival - Bayou Country (1969)

Bayou Country is the second album by the American band Creedence Clearwater Revival.
It was the first Creedence Clearwater Revival's album to achive sucess, getting multi-platinum status.
"Born On The Bayou" has one of the best vocal works by John Fogerty. "Proud Mary", a song about a river in mississipi, was later covered by Tina Turner, turning it into a super-hit. "Keep On Chooglin" is a very CCR's kind of song, no one else could play it but them. "Graveyard Train" has a fantastic harmonica solo in the middle of it. "Bootleg" teaches us that the forbidden fruit is always the most desired (is this how you write it in english? in portuguese its different XD). "Good Gooly Miss Molly" the music is quite mainstream, you kind of get the feeling you had already heard this, but fogerty's voice and guitar playing make it all better. Not saying Little Richard is a bad musician (he is the author of the song) but its not fantastic.
All CCR's musicians were superb players. Both Fogerty's, Cook and Clifford all are amazing musicians and thats what makes Creedence a good listening. They dominate music.

Creedence Clearwater Revival:
- Doug Clifford - Bass, Drums
- Stu Cook - Bass, Drums
- John Fogerty - Lead Guitar, Harmonica, Lead Vocals
- Tom Fogerty - Rhythm Guitar, Back-Vocals

Raw Material - Raw Material (1970)

Raw Material is the debut album by the Progressive Rock band Raw Material.
"Time And Illusion" is the most fantastic song in the album, Colin Catt's Psychadelic keyboards solo and his amazing vocals are the finest i've heard in awhile. "I'd Be Delighted" features Jethro Tull like flute and an amazing bass and drum line. "Fighting Cock" starts calmly but ends with a sax solo. "Future Recollections" reminded me of Pearls Before Swine's "Translucent Carriages" because of the whispered back-vocals. After so many solos, the guitar had to eventually pop up, "Traveller Man" has a great fuzzed-out guitar solo. A poem is recited in "Destruction Of America", inciting friendship and solidarity in America to prevent it's distruction.
A really good album. More than worth to spend the time to listen, and who doesnt like this cover? Is it possibly to not like it? A fantastic drawing of an old man playing the flute, in the middle of a mountain with some wolf-like creatures behind them.

Raw Material:
- Colin Catt - Vocals, Keyboards
- Mike Fletcher - Sax, Flute, Vocals
- Dave Green - Guitar
- Phil Gunn - Bass, Guitar
- Paul Young - Percussion

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Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Killing Floor - Out Of Uranus (1970)

Out Of Uranus is the second album released by the British Blues-Rock band Killing Floor.
The sound is heavy and the lyrics are very leftist, flower-power, about drugs and freedom.
"Out of Uranus" and "Acid Bean" have some great guitar riffs. "Soon There Will Be Everything" has a great violin work by Paul Spencer Mac. The ideals of the underground movement are portraied in "Call for the Politicians" and "Fido Castrol" (this name sounds familiar XD). The harmonica in "Lost Alone" is just so enjoyable. "Son Of Wet" sounds like an Artic Monkeys song, in the same music theres a drum solo, good, but not that much.
Many people seem to dislike this album. I cant understand why, its not the best ive posted but its a really good listening.

Killing Floor:
- Lou Martin - Piano
- Stuart McDonald - Bass, Vocals
- Bill Smith - Percussion
- Bill Thorndycraft - Harp, Vocals
- Mike Clarke - Guitar

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Led Zeppelin - Live At Royal Albert Hall (1970)

Live At Royall Albert Hall is a bootleg from the 1970's Led Zeppelin's concert in the Royal Albert Hall.
This was their first big concert after Led Zeppelin II overthrowed Abbey Road. It was recorded by Led Zeppelin at the time, but it was only released as a film 30 years later. The quality is pretty good.
"We're Gonna Groove" is one of the grooviest, strongest songs in their whole discography, with an unstoppable drum beat. "White Summer/Black Mountain Side" is a fantastic 12min guitar solo by the only and great Mr. Jimmy Page. In "Dazed And Confused" Plant's voice is just so full of soul, youll almost want to cry. The second solo song on the album "Moby Dick" this time is John Bonham and his atonishing drums. They were so excited when playing "How Many More Times" that they just bended it with "The Lemon Song". There is a big dispute regarding when was "Bring It On Home" played before or after "Whole Lotta Love", many say it was the first encore, but Led Zeppelin website says it isnt. Who are we going to believe.
The band was really stressed out because many famous musicians had tickets for this show. John Lennon, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck are just a few of them.
Great concert, from one of the best bands in the whole world LED ZEPPELIN

Led Zeppelin:
- Robert Plant - Lead Vocals
- Jimmy Page - Back Vocals, Guitar
- John Bonham - Percussion, Drums
- John Paul Jones - Bass

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Monday, 1 March 2010

Clear Light - Clear Light (1967)

Clear Light is the only record released by the American band Clear Light.
The band was known for the use of two drummers, one of them, Dallas Taylor, played with Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. The band was originally called The Brain Train, and they released a single with that name, but they decided to change it to Clear Light (a kind of LSD).
The album is full of guitar solos, "Black Roses" and "Street Singer" are examples of it. "Mr. Blue" is only sung in the chorus, the rest is spoken. "The Ballad of Freddie & Larry" and "They Who Have Nothing" bear a strong Love influence.
Clear Light disbanded soon after the release of the album, one of the reasons why they never got much attention. The fuzzy guitar and the double set of drums are just amazing, there are no bad songs on here, only Heavy-Psychedelia.

Clear Light:
- Cliff DeYoung - Vocals
- Bob Seal - Guitar
- Douglas "Doug" Lubahn - Bass
- Ralph Shuckett - Keyboards
- Dallas Taylor - Drums
- Michael Ney - Drums
- Robbie "The Werewolf" Robison - Guitar, Vocals
- Ralph Schuckett - Organ, piano, celeste
- Danny "Kootch" Kortchmar - Guitar

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