Mellow Candle - Swaddling Songs (1972)

Swaddling Songs is the First and Only Album by the Irish Progressive-Folk Band Mellow Candle.

When Mellow Candle made their first release in 1968, a Single called "Feelin' High", the ages of the members of the Band ranged from 15 to 16 (they were a Duo at the time), extremely young, even though they were not the only ones. The Band then started getting attention in the Traditional Movement when they were invited to play at the Club Andy Irvine managed, and ended up getting involved with the whole thing. The changes in Line-up where constant, with people coming in and out, never getting a steady Formation. When they were called to record some Demos for Deram Records (with Caravan's Drummer Richard Coughlan), the choice was made, they joined Deram right away and relocated to London in the beginnings of 1971. They lived in extreme poverty, spending all they had on Music and living many times of other peoples generosity and sharing apartments with many different persons. It wasn't until December of that year that they were brought into Studio and quickly recorded Live the Songs they had prepared. All the efforts culminated unfortunately in a commercial disaster and the Label parted ways with them. They tried to live for a while but it was the end and the Band parted ways, with some of the Members going on to play for other British Bands like Fairport Convention.

Best Tracks - "Heaven Heath", "Sheep Season", "Silver Song", "The Poet And The Witch", "Reverend Sisters", "Break Your Token", "Buy Or Beware", "Vile Excesses", "Lonely Man" and "Boulders On My Grave". Mellow Candle probably shared the stage with all of the greatest British Folk acts like Fairport, Steeleye Span and early Thin Lizzy. They were also heavily influenced by Jethro Tull and The Incredible String Band, whose sounds transpire to all of their Songs. I was not expecting this Album to be as good as it is, and also not as heavy. Fortunately it proved me wrong. A Copy of the Original (it has been re-edited) is worth 500$ nowadays. If you want to read more i recommend this. Some of the Songs remind me of Earth And Fire.

Mellow Candle:

- Clodagh Simonds - Lead and Back-Vocals, Piano, Harpsichord, Mellotron.

- Alison Williams - Lead and Back-Vocals.

- David Williams - Guitar, Back-Vocals.

- Frank Boylan - Bass, Back-Vocals.

- William Murray - Drums, Percussion.

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Fausto - Por Este Rio Acima (1982)

Por Este Rio Acima is the Sixth Album by the Portuguese Traditional Portuguese Folk Musician Fausto.

With Por Este Rio Acima (Sailing Up This River), Fausto started a Trilogy ("Lusitana Diáspora" which was finally ended in 2011) based on an old Portuguese Book about the trips of Fernão Mendes Pinto into the unknown barbarian lands of the Orient (Peregrinação, released in 1614). This Book, inserted in the Period when the Portuguese were still one of the Major Countries and still living the Portuguese Discoveries Age, narrated his journeys through a multitude of Oriental Societies, through perfect Utopian societies (very close to the Marxist Ideal) and simple common-folk, while fighting in battles and being enslaved, all in trip up the River. It is seem as one of the most important documents of it's time, while the veracity of the Story can be disputed (There is a Joke in Portugal, where they call him Fernão Mentes Minto, where his name his changed to the word Lie). Fausto, going deep in Portuguese Traditional Music, turned each one of the episodes in a Song and characterizing Portuguese Music forever. Por Este Rio Acima is still considered one of the Best Portuguese Albums o have ever been made.

Best Tracks - "É O Mar Que Nos Chama", "O Barco Vai De Saída", "Porque Não Me Vês", "A Guerra É A Guerra", "De Um Miserável Naufrágio Que Passámos", "Como Um Sonho Acordado", "A Ilha", "A Voar Por Cima Das Águas", "Olha O Fado", "Por Este Rio Acima", "O Cortejo Dos Penitentes", "O Romance De Diogo Soares", "Navegar, Navegar", "O Que A Vida Me Deu", "Lembra-me Um Sonho Lindo" (All the Songs on the Album). This is easily one of my favorite Albums, excellent Musicians, with excellent lyrics and excellent songs. It can't get better than this.

Fausto:

- Fausto - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar.

- Júlio Pereira - Cavaquinho, Acoustic Guitar.

- Pedro Caldeira Cabral - Portuguese Guitar, Lute, Viol.

- Rui Júnior - Adufe, Bass Drum, Triangle, Tabla, Portuguese Percussion Instruments.

- Orlando Costa - Vocals, Back-Vocals.

- Maria Do Céu Guerra - Back-Vocals.

Sweet Smoke - Just A Poke (1970)

Just A Poke is the Debut Album by the American Progressive-Jazz Band Sweet Smoke.

Formed in 1967 in New York, Sweet Smoke started their career as "Sweet Smoke Of The Happy Plant Pipeful", which they ended up cutting, as Sweet Smoke was enough to prevent them from being able to play any gig anywhere. Around the ends of 1968, beginnings of 1969, the group moved to Germany where they lived as an extended Commune with a number of friends, who also participated in their concerts. One of the major characteristics of Sweet Smoke, apart from the blend of numerous Underground Musical Genres, like Acid-Rock and Raga-Rock, was the interactive Concerts they gave, where the spectators were expected to participate and were encouraged to do so by the above-mentioned friends of the Band. With the release of Just A Poke (which only has two tracks, each of them reaching the 16 minute landmark) they were immediately recognized and grew a strong following in Germany's Underground Culture for the next Decade. The Band in itself consisted of just 5 members, while in concert the number of persons standing at the stage, ranged from 10 to 15.

Best Tracks - "Baby Night" and "Silly Sally". Probably one of the Best Covers i have ever seen, a man smoking a hit of his Joint whose smoke burns in a million different colors. The Anarchic way in which the colors are used is also very interesting and trippy. The Music lives to its Cover, with extraordinary Instrumental work and without any dead moment.

Sweet Smoke:

- Andrew Dershin – Bass.

- Jay Dorfman – Drums, Percussion.

- Marvin Kaminowitz – Lead-Guitar, Vocals.

- Michael Paris – Tenor-Saxophone, Alto Recorder, Vocals, Percussion.

- Steve Rosenstein – Rhythm-Guitar, Vocals.

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Sunforest - Sound Of Sunforest (1969)

Sound Of Sunforest is the First and Only Album by the American Psychedelic-Folk Band Sunforest.

Deram Records is known for the quantity of Sole Records made by numerous Bands who never made it and quickly disbanded. Sunforest is one of them. Their story starts in America, when three Girlfriends (Terry Tucker, Freya Houge and Erika Eigen) decided to move to London to make it as a Band, and as soon as they got there, they were spotted by a Deram Scout in a Working-Class Pub and in that same day they were on a Studio Recording a Demo. In a two week timeframe they were ready for the Recording of their Album, and the guy who spotted them had not taken the role of Manager. And that's that. They recorded and Released Sound Of Sunforest in 1969, selling a very small quantity of copies and disbanding. Oddly, Stanley Kubrick, the Film Director, chose two of their Songs (The Overture To The Sun" and "Lighthouse Keeper") to feature in the Soundtrack of his 1971 Film, A Clockwork Orange, with only small changes to them.

Best Tracks - "Overture To The Sun", "Where Are You", "Bonny River", "Be Like Me", "Mr. Bumble", "Lady Next Door", "Peppermint Store", "Magician In The Mountain" and "All In Good Time". This Album reminds me a lot of The Children Of Lir by Loudest Whisper, the Vocal Harmonies and the song compositions on itself are quite similar. While not outstanding it is a great sample of the Psychedelic-Folk Albums with a Pop taste that were being made at the time.

Sunforest:

- Terry Tucker - Piano, Harmonium, Harpsichord, Hammond-Organ, Vocals.
- Freya Houge - Spanish-Guitar, Banjo, Vocals.
- Erika Eigen - Percussion, Ankle-Bells, Vocals.

- Reg Weller, Jim Lawless, John Blacchard - Percussion.

- Herbie Flowers, Joe Mudele - Bass.

- Jim Suilivan - Electric Guitar.
- R. Mosley, D. Wolfstal - Violin.
- F. Riddle - Viola.
- Malca Cossa - Cello.
- Ralph Eizen, Less London, Cliff Haines - Trumpet.
- John Burden, Andy McGavin - French Horn.
- Harry Smit - Flute, Piccolo, Bass-Clarinet.
- S. Sutcliffe, Les Baldin - Oboe.
- Cecil James - Bassoon.
- Alfie Reece - Tuba.

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Muddy Waters - After The Rain (1969)

After The Rain is the Fourth Album by the American Legendary Blues Singer/Guitarist Muddy Waters.

The Times they were A-Changin'. As Muddy Waters himself observed, White Teens were now much deeper into the blues than the Teens of "his own race", something that he pitied, even though he probably liked the respect he was getting from his new Fans. The Latter of the two Album, Waters recorded for Cadet Concept (A subsidiary of Chess Records, aiming at the Psychedelic Movement which had Bands of the likes of Rotary Connection), it was the Second experiment with the Psychedelic Sounds, something that Chess Records was trying to impose on their acts to draw a bridge between the two generations, the old Blues and their Suits and the new generation of Freaks. The difference between this two Albums (Electric Mud and After...) is the freedom that Waters was given to record and choose which Songs to play and how to do each one of them. Waters himself plays Lead-Guitar on this one, quite a rarity in his 60's Recordings where he devotes his attention at his voice.

Best Tracks - "I Am The Blues", "Ramblin' Mind", "Rollin' And Tumblin", "Bottom Of The Sea", "Honey Bee" and "Screamin' And Cryin'". Waters may not have enjoyed the previous Album, but he still invited most of the Musicians of the previous Sessions to help him create an Album with a similar sound. This is a very good Album, Blues with a Psychedelic taste very different from the Traditional Blues that bored the younglings.

Muddy Waters (After The Rain Personnel):

- Muddy Waters - Vocals, Lead-Guitar.

- Phil Upchurch - Guitar.

- Morris Jennings - Drums.

- Otis Spann - Piano.

- Louis Satterfield - Bass.

- Pete Cosey - Guitar.

- Charles Stepney - Organ.

- Paul Oscher - Harmonica.

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Harold McNair - The Fence (1970)

The Fence is the Sixth Instrumental Solo Album by the Jamaican Jazz-Fusion Flutist Harold McNair.

Born in Jamaica in 1931, Harold McNair was taught in a Catholic school known for its discipline and an High-level Musical Education. Under the pseudonym of "Little G", McNair played for 10 years in the Bahamas, mostly Caribbean Music. His Instruments at the time were the Alto and Tenor Saxophone (he also sang), as he would only be introduced to the Flute, for which he was known for in the 60's. It was in 1960 that McNair moved to America, Miami to be more specific, where he would start his Recording career, and also pick up the Flute, which he learned to play by himself. He quickly left America and toured Europe, where he gained fame as an amazing Horns Musicians, and it was a matter of months until he had a Reputation by himself. With an intense activity and the Musician's Union Ban on foreign Musicians playing in the UK, McNair participated in numerous projects, moving with each one of them more deeply in Jazz territory. The Fence shows McNair experimenting with the new Jazz-Fusion Sounds, making three Covers of well known songs and expanding them to fit the Genre.

Best Tracks - "The Fence", "True Love Adventure", "Early In The Morning", "Scarborough Fair" and "Here, There And Everywhere". It took me a long time to grasp my hands around this one, but the extensive search paid off. It is quite different from the other Jazz-Fusion acts, like John McLaughlin and Miles Davis, much calmer, but it is very good and intense, with killer Flute work. The Cover versions are also very interesting, as they are both expanded and turned into something else, maintaining the original characteristics of the Song. Really interesting. (Danny Thompson and Terry Cox from Pentangle helped create the Album).

Harold McNair (The Fence Personnel):

- Danny Thompson - Bass.

- Rick Grech - Bass.

- Terry Cox - Drums.

- Colin Green - Guitar.

- Tony Carr - Percussion.

- Alan Branscombe - Piano.

- Keith Tippett - Piano.

- Harold McNair - Saxophone, Flute.

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Alan Stivell - Renaissance Of The Celtic Harp (1971)

Renaissance Of The Celtic Harp is the Third Solo Album by the French Breton Celtic-Folk Harper Alan Stivell.

Born in Auvergnat, France, Alan Stivell was introuced to the Celtic Harp since he was a boy (his Father built one in Britain) and exposed to Celtic Mithology and History and Art of Britain. He was also taught in the Arts of several traditional Scottish Instruments like the Bombarde. Even though most of his teen life was spent in Paris he would often go back to Brittany with which he felt a great affinity. During this years he would intensify his studies, becoming well versed in Welsh Music (Irish Flute and Tin Whistle) and English, Irish and Breton. In 1966, with a brand new Celtic Bardic Harp with Bronze Strings he started getting involved with the growing Folk-Rock Movement and signed to Phillips Records, where he was even more deeply involved with the Revival. In 1971 Stivell recorded his first fully Instrumental Album, uniting the best aspects of Celtic Folk Music and Rock. Renaissance... was extremely well regarded in France by the Critics, winning some of the most important prizes in the country (Académie Charles Cros).

Best Tracks - "Ys", "Marv Pontkalleg", "Eliz Iza" and "Gaeltacht". Probably one of the most Beautiful Albums I have ever heard. It is wonderful from start to finish with an amazing Celtic sonority, yet not sounding old and used. I had not knowledge of Stivell, but expect other Albums by him on this Blog, because if they are as good as this one...

Alan Stivell (Renaissance Of The Celtic Harp Personnel):

The number of Persons working on the Album is very high, there are a lot of them. Click here if you are interested in knowing who played, here.

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Andrew Leigh - Magician (1970)

Magician is the First and Only Solo Album by the British Psychedelic-Folk Singer/Bassist Andrew Leigh.

Shortly after a quick stint with Spooky Tooth before their first Break-Up, even getting on board for time enough to participate on their Album, Ceremony. He would quickly join another Band, as in a matter of months he was playing with Ian Matthews, in his new Band, Matthews Southern Comfort (A Country-Rock Band), founded after he left one of the most notorious Bands in Folk history, Fairport Convention. Matthews Southern Comfort would later turn into Southern Comfort after Matthews left, where Leigh would have a Leading position, bringing in many of his compositions. Back to Magician. Recorded for the Polydor Records Label and Produced by Leigh himself. It features a very high number of Musicians and numerous instruments, ranging from the Sitar to the Saxophone, Members of The Action and Blossom Toes were present on the Sessions. The Album sold extremely poorly upon released and only in recent years has it seen a Re-Release on CD format.

Best Tracks - "Magician", "Get Myself Together", "Goin' Out To The West", "Solitaire", "Windy Baker Street" and "Up The USA". It has some great and some less great moments. The first songs are very unique, very different from everything, but the latter songs are too much Country-like, generic and bland. Worth the listen, especially the opening acts.

Andrew Leigh (Magician Personnel):

- Andrew Leigh - Vocals, Bass, Guitars, Piano, Banjo, Maracas.
- Bryn Hayward - Guitar.
- Kevin Westlake - Drums, Vocals, Guitar, Bass.
- Reggie King - Piano, Vocals.

- Gordon Jackson - Sitar.
- Gary Farr - Harmonica, Guitar.
- Mike Kellie - Percussion.
- Brian Godding - Guitar.
- Tony Priestland - Saxophone, Flute, Oboe.

- Gary Wright - Piano.

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The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1967)

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band is the Eight Album by the English Psychedelic-Rock Band The Beatles.

When they decided it was time to stop doing concerts once and for all, The Beatles went into a sort of hiatus, each Beatle spending some time away from the other. Paul McCartney went on to work with other Musicians, George Harrison went to India to study Sitar with Ravi Shankar, John Lennon associated even further with the Peace movement and Ringo Starr spent his time with his family, at home. It was during this period that McCartney came up with the idea of creating an hoax Band for the next Beatles Album, and thus was created Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Recording sessions started in Late 1966, even though the first songs to come out were used as Singles and in other Albums. Songs that were composed for this record only started being recorded when the Abbey Road Studios had a Stereo 4-track operational equipment. The Songs all had numerous references to Drugs, which got most of them banned from the Radio. The Album was released and quickly regarded as one, if not the Best Album to have ever been recorded, both by the audience and the Critics. It often covers as Nº1 in many Best Albums Ever Lists.

Best Tracks - "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band", "With A Little Help From My Friends", "Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds", "Getting Better", "Fixing A Hole", "She's Leaving Home", "Being For The Benefit Of Mr. Kite!", "Within You Without You", "Lovely Rita", "Good Morning Good Morning" and "A Day In The Life". As most of you, it seems that I have been listening to this Record for an eternity. It is absolute, pure Musicianship. The songs are exquisitely well done, captivating, beautiful. Yes, that's it, this is what I can say about this Album. It is Beauty. The Cover-Art has to be one of the most covered pieces of Pop-Art to ever have been created. There are references to it everywhere. A Collage of the most famous and important figures of all ages, and the decade they were leaving specifically.

The Beatles:

- John Lennon – Lead And Back-Vocals, Guitars, Hammond Organ, Piano, Harmonica, Kazoo, Tambourine, Maracas.

- Paul McCartney – Lead And Back-Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Organ, Kazoo.

- George Harrison – Guitars, Sitar, Lead And Back-Vocals, Hammond Organ, Tambura, Harmonica, Kazoo, Maracas.

- Ringo Starr – Drums, Percussion, Congas, Tambourine, Maracas, Tubular Bells, Lead-Vocals, Harmonica, Kazoo.

In Other News: My School

In the past months the Portuguese President hasn't been able to make any public apparition without being hissed and having to get away as fast as they can. The Last three public apparitions he made ended up with him being booed all the the way since his name was pronounced until he was gone.

At my School, today, there was a visit organized by the principal to show the new school (renovation works have been in progress for almost 3 years). There was a phony exhibition showing what we do in our school, prepared without the knowledge of the Students and the direction was all dressed up for the big event.

But the Students knew what was going on and today at 10:00 am about 200-300 students were in front of the School, chanting against him, demanding what was theirs by right.

Due to Austerity cuts imposed by the Reactionary Right-Wing government, involved raising the Public Transport tickets in about 50%, cutting salaries, ending the Student Discount for Transports and the end of numerous holidays. And particularly to our school... The new building already has cracks that go from the top to the ground level, the roof of the gym is falling and there are pieces of it hanging above us attached only wires, there is no canteen, there is no place for the students to be on the school except for the middle of the street, there is no internet, there are no printers and every piece of material that breaks, cannot be replaced.

Minutes before the supposed arrival however we were informed that the President was not coming due to "Lack of Security".

This did not stop us. Speaking their minds, us Students entered the school and roamed thought the corridors until eventually going back outside and dispersing.

I have also just been informed that a general Strike will occur in Portugal in little over a month.

We Need a Revolution.

Check Videos here, here and here (I am the guy with long hair singing and talking). If you know portuguese listen here.

The Zombies - Odessey And Oracle (1968)

Odessey And Oracle is the Second and Last Album by the English Psychedelic-Pop Band The Zombies.

This new one marks a new step in The Zombies career. It marked their entrance to a new world of sounds, with big influences of Psychedelia coming in. Another big change was the lack of cover songs on the Album, all of them being Compositions of the group. Now signed to the CBS Label hey were sent to the mythical Abbey Road Studios just some months after the Recording of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles) and The Piper At The Gates Of Dawn. During the 5 months that it took for the recording (there was a change of Studios in the middle, and a subsequent return to Abbey Road) they released two Singles, both of them went completely unnoticed by everyone. Their final mix was in Mono, and when they were told that they were required to present a Stereo Mix and had to spend part of their pay to make it, it was the end, by the time of the release The Zombies were no more. Terry Quirk, the Artist responsible with the Cover-Art made a mistake and wrote Odessey instead of Odyssey. They tried to cover it up by saying it was intentional, which obviously ended up being proven false.

Best Tracks - "Care Of Cell 44", "A Rose For Emily", "Maybe After He's Gone", "Beechwood Park", "Brief Candles", "Hung Up On A Dream", "Changes", "Butcher's Tale (Western Front 1914)" and "Time Of The Season". This is one of the First Psychedelic Albums I ever heard, almost three years ago, during the summer, while making a long Bicycle Trip though the country-side. It was really beautiful and I still remember very fondly the memory of listening to it (I remember the whole thing). It is without a shadow of a doubt, one of the Best Album to come out of the 60's and from the whole Psychedelic Movement. A Masterpiece (As is the cover by the way).

The Zombies:

- Colin Blunstone - Vocals.

- Rod Argent - Organ, Piano, Mellotron, Lead-Vocals.

- Paul Atkinson - Guitar, Vocals.

- Chris White – Bass, Vocals.

- Hugh Grundy – Drums, Vocals.

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The Deviants - Disposable (1968)

Disposable is the Second Album by the English Anarchic Hard-Psychedelic-Rock Band The Deviants.

Formed in 1967 as The Social Deviants in the Underground Movement in London around the personality of Singer Mick Farren. The successive changes in the Line-up, would lead to the shortening of the Name, (The Deviants) and their befriending of a son of a Millionaire, which came very in handy to make it possible for the group to Record and Release their Debut, free of charge. Far from other Psychedelic acts however, The Deviants, were not a common Band, they were a Musical collective, determined in destroying the Bourgeoisie culture, with their almost Punk (They were extremely influential in the Punk Movement of the next Decade), unstructured Sound. Their First managed to get to a Major Label, Decca Records but Disposable was made to be in an Independent one, Stable Records was the elect one. The Line-Up changes continued throughout the years, for the Recording of this one there was one change before and one after the Release, never achieving a steady Line-Up, always a constant flow of Musicians, floating around a Sun (Farren). The Deviants would later turn into the Pink Fairies, another Anarchist Hard-Psychedelic Band.

Best Tracks - "Somewhere To Go", "Jamie's Song", "You've Got to Hold On", "Let's Loot the Supermarket", "Slum Lord", "Normality Jam", "Guaranteed to Bleed" and "Last Man". It is quite hard to actually like this Album. It sounds disorganized and without a theme to bind it all together. On the other hand, that can also be quite charming and inviting, this Anarchic creation, created for the sake of creation. Very interesting indeed.

The Deviants:

- Mick Farren - Vocals.

- Sid Bishop - Guitar.

- Duncan Sanderson - Bass.

- Russell Hunter - Drums.

- Dennis Hughes - Organ.

- Tony Ferguson - Organ.

- David "Boss" Goodman - Vocals.

- M.J. McDonnell - Harmonica.

- Pete Brown - Trumpet.

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Robert Wyatt - The End Of An Ear (1970)

The End Of An Ear is the Debut Album by the English Canterbury-Scene Progressive-Rock Multi-Instrumentalist Robert Wyatt.

Shortly after the release of Soft Machine's Third Album Third, Wyatt went to Sound Techniques Studio in London, in order to record his first Album Solo. The sound is very similar to the one produced by Soft Machine in their last Album, dropping the Psychedelic and bringing in the Jazz influences, apart from the long compositions being privileged over the standard 3 minute Song. A strange characteristic of this Album is the lack of Song Names, substituted by dedications to a number of important people in his life, like the Band Caravan and his love Caroline, which was a theme in many of his Songs. Apart from this Songs there is also a two-part cover of a Gil Evans composition. Robert Wyatt and Soft Machine would part ways in 1971, going on to create the Band Matching Mole with David Sinclair (Caravan) and putting an hiatus on his Solo career until the release of Rock Bottom in 1974.

Best Tracks - "Las Vegas Tango Part 1 (Repeat)", "To Saintly Bridget", "To Oz Alien Daevyd And Gilly", "To Nick Everyone", "To Carla, Marsha And Caroline (For Making Everything Beautifuller)" and "Las Vegas Tango Part 1". If you know Wyatt's work, you will find in The End Of An Ear a mesh of his following Solo Records and his playing on Soft Machine. There are no lyrics and the Vocals are no more than an instrument, woking with all the others and never getting the lead role. There are no lyrics, so we can consider this to be an Instrumental Record. Really worth the listen. The Cover is great, with both a new and an old look to it.

Robert Wyatt (The End Of An Ear Personnel):

- Robert Wyatt - Drums, Vocals, Piano, Organ.

- Neville Whitehead - Bass.

- Mark Charig - Cornet.

- Elton Dean - Alto Saxello.

- Mark Ellidge - Piano.

- Cyrille Ayers - Percussion.

- David Sinclair - Organ.

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Oriental Sunshine - Dedicated To The Bird We Love (1970)

Dedicated To The Bird We Love is the First and Only Album by the Norwegian Raga-Rock/Psychedelic Band Oriental Sunshine.

Time for another Obscure Psychedelic treat, from the icy cold country, Norway. Oriental Sunshine consists of a Duo, Nina Johansen and Runa Walle with the help of an Indian friend who brings a lot of Exotic Instruments into the mix. Needless to say the Album fell to the bottom of the bottoms of Music History, as soon as it was released, only resurfacing now, on the age of technology with the growing interest on the Underground Music of the 60's. There ain't any piece of information about the Album or the Band, as it is normal for Bands whose only major activity was recording an Album, the re-edition by Sunbeam in 2007 contains a booklet with the story of the Band and Album, written by Nina and Runa, but as I do not own a copy, I won't be able to share some of the stories featured there. I am not very versatile in Norway Music, despite the efforts made by Dag to make me a connoisseur, he however exposed me to this Album, for whom I can't thank him enough.

Best Tracks - "Across Your Life", "Mother Nature", "Look At Me", "Unless", "Can Anybody Tell", "Where You Went (Tum Kahan Gaye)" and "I'm Going". The Female Vocals are very inviting and the use of the Sitar in almost every Song in the Album is fantastic. Some of the songs may end up sounding the same as the previous, but the laid-back nature of it all kind of diminish that which would in other situation be a bad thing. Give this a try. You won't regret this.

Oriental Sunshine:

- Nina Johansen - Vocals, Guitar.
- Rune Walle - Vocals, Guitar.
- Helge Grosli - Keyboards.
- Satnam Singh - Sitar, Flute, Tabla.
- Sture Janson - Bass.
- Espen Rud - Drums, Percussion.

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Rex Holman - Here In The Land Of Victory (1970)

Here In The Land Of Victory is the First and Only Album by the American Acid-Folk Musician (and Actor) Rex Holman.

I confess. I do not like Star Trek. It seems that all Holman is known for is for being one of the Actors on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (he was also on the Monkees, never seen them though), apart from being known as the creator of this wonderful Psychedelic-Folk Gem, quite praised in the Collectors circuit. Another strange thing is the fact that, at the time of the recording, Holman was 42 years old. Not very usual for such an old folk to suddenly start using Tablas and Sitars and singing Psychedelic songs. I found no information on wether this Album came to be, and it looks like the Studios where it was recorded, Dimension Sounds, are not traceable. Yet another characteristics of the Album is its strange Cover, featuring a montage of drunk strange people and himself above them all (The back shows Holman sitting in the grass right in front on a passed-out alcoholic). A Strange Studio, a Duo of Producers completely unknown (Schmitt-Douglas) and an extremely weird cover. Everything needed for a commercial failure.

Best Tracks - "Here In The Land Of Victory", "Rowin'", "Listen To The Footsteps", "Red Is The Apple", "Sit & Flatter Me", "Come On Down", "Debbie" and "I Can't Read My Name". This is one of those weird Albums, where you have to wonder why nobody is talking about it. Why it fell into obscurity. The playing is great, there are some really strong and very emotional melodies and the Deep Vocals are extremely good and oddly addictive. If only it had been done a different way... Found no information about the Personnel.

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The Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland (1968)

Electric Ladyland is the Third and Last Album by the American Psychedelic-Rock Band The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

With the opening of the new Recording studio Record Plants Studios, Hendrix and his two comrades travelled to America to continue the work they started in the UK the year before. In Record Plant he found a close place to his favorite Rock Clubs in New York and also his to favorite Engineers to work with, Eddie Kramer and Gary Kellgren. As Hendrix was a Studio perfectionist, sometimes recording the same Song over 50 times, he stayed several hours in each session. If Hendrix couldn't go to his friends, his friends could go to him. The Studio was always full of Musicians, who ended up participating in the Album, like Jack Casady (Jefferson Airplane), Buddy Miles, Steve Winwood, Dave Mason and Chris Wood (from Traffic). All this coming and going made Noel Redding and Producer Bryan "Chas" Chandler very dissatisfied. Chandler who had been a driving force in the creating of the Experience, quit, leaving Hendrix to produce the Album all by himself. Redding would follow him some months later, marking the end of The Jimi Hendrix Experience.

Best Tracks - "And The Gods Made Love", "Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)", "Crosstown Traffic", "Voodoo Chile", "Little Miss Strange", "Long Hot Summer Night", "Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)", "Burning Of The Midnight Lamp", "1983... (A Merman I Should Turn To Be)", "House Burning Down", "All Along The Watchtower" and "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)". What can be said of a Jimi Hendrix Record, especially the Experience. Maybe one of the best Rock Projects to have ever existed and featuring the best Musicians of its age. Electric Ladyland may not feature some of their best known songs, but it is still considered to be one of the Best Albums ever made, and it has everything in it. It also shows some emphasis on the other Musicians, letting them take the Lead for a while.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience:

- Jimi Hendrix – Vocals, Electric-Guitar, Piano, Percussion, Comb and Paper Kazoo, Electric Harpsichord, Bass.

- Noel Redding – Back and Lead-Vocals, Bass, Acoustic-Guitar.

- Mitch Mitchell – Back and Lead-Vocals, Drums, Percussion.

- Jack Casady – Bass.

- Larry Faucette – Congas.

- Mike Finnigan – Organ.

- Brian Jones – Percussion.

- Al Kooper – Piano.

- Dave Mason – Twelve String Guitar, Back-Vocals.

- Buddy Miles – Drums.

- Freddie Smith – Tenor Saxophone.

- Steve Winwood –Organ.

- Chris Wood – Flute.

Dr. Strangely Strange - Kip Of The Serenes (1969)

Kip Of The Serenes is the Debut Album by the Irish Folk-Rock Band Dr. Strangely Strange.

The Post I made about Dr. Strangely Strange's Second Album tells all the story about their short career but I will try my best not to repeat what I stated before (to see their follow-up, click here). After the Second Album the Band started falling apart, people were coming and leaving, and two of those entering the sinking ship were the couple Gay and Terry Woods, straight out of Steeleye Span, which they had left after the fight between them and the other couple (Maddy Prior and Tim Hart). With Dr. Strangely Strange they went on a Tour to support their latest Album, through Scandinavia. According to Gay Woods everything was fine, they were all very cool, hippie, dudes, but there was already a lot of tension between all of them. Dr. Strangely Strange reunited some times, every Decade. In 1973 they made a small Tour and in the 80's they played some gigs. 1997 saw the release of their Third Album, when they got all up together again. They have been like this for the last years, playing some special Gigs, commemorating The Incredible String Band (with whom they were always connected).

Best Tracks - "Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal", "Dr. Dim & Dr. Strange", "Dark-Haired Lady", "A Tale Of Two Orphanages", "Strings In The Earth And Air", "Ship Of Fools" and "Donnybrook Fair". The Debut has a lot less Electric than the follow-up, with less of the Comic aspect and more of the straight Folk, with numerous Traditional Instruments like Fiddles, Penny Whistles and Mandolins. It has a lot of emphasis on creating simple and beautiful melodies. Pretty good Album, not the most fabulous, but worth it.

Dr. Strangely Strange:

- Jay Myrdal - Glockenspiel.

- Ivan Pawle - Bass, Vocals.

- Neil Wood - Drums.

- Jim Booth - Guitar, Vocals.

- Tim Goulding - Keyboards, Vocals.

- Linus - Percussion, Vocals.

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Simon And Garfunkel - Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme (1966)

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme is the Third Album by the American Folk Duo Simon And Garfunkel.

The story of one of the most famous acts to ever walk the world (I doubt there is anyone who hasn't listened to at least one song by them) starts in 1953, when they met eachother in High-school and started performing together, only starting performing their own compositions in 1955, and recording their First song in 1957, which ended up selling over 100,000 copies. After some years inactive, as they were in different Colleges, only getting back on the early, early 60's, when they were spotted on the hip neighborhood of Greenwich Village and ended up recording their Debut, some of the songs praising the growing Civil Rights Movement. When it failed, Simon broke up the Band and moved to England to absorb the growing Folk Movement. Suddenly their songs started getting immense airplay and Simon got back to America to re-unite with Garfunkel. In 1966 they released two Albums, the latter Parsley, Sage, Rosemary And Thyme almost getting to the Top of the Charts.

Best Tracks - "Scarborough Fair/Canticle", "Patterns", "Cloudy", "Homeward Bound", "The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine", "The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)", "The Dangling Conversation", "Flowers Never Bend With The Rainfall" and "A Poem On The Underground Wall". When i was just a child, we never used to listen to much American Music, in the car it was mostly Brazilian and Portuguese Traditional Music, but there were some exceptions. I must have heard Simon And Garfunkel's Concert in Central Park more than a hundred times. Everything about their Music is perfect, the Vocals, the Lyrics, the Musical Compositions.

Simon And Garfunkel:

- Paul Simon – Lead-Vocals, Guitar.

- Art Garfunkel – Lead-Vocals, Piano.

- Joe South – Guitar.

- Carol Kaye – Bass.

- Eugene Wright - Bass.

- Joe Morello - Drums.

- John Meszar – Harpsichord.

Dr. John - Gris-Gris (1968)

Gris-Gris is the Debut Album by the American Pianist/Guitarist Dr. John, The Night Tripper.

Mac Rebennack (Dr. John) was an experienced and very sough-after Session Musician in New Orleans. Of course Drugs were everywhere, and it culminated with some problems with the authorities and the subsequent move out of town, aiming for Los Angeles. In Los Angeles he teamed with another group of New Orleans Musician renegades, in 1965, surviving with them, playing on numerous Rock Records. He decided to create the Pseudonym, Dr. John, to front the Band he was setting up, based on the Swampy sounds of his Hometown. He was not however the one whom he intended to incarnate this persona, he wanted Ronnie Barron to do it, but when the manager advised him not to do so, Mac had no other choice but to be re-born in that character himself. Originally his name had a subtitle, The Night Tripper, which didn't last for a long time. Dr. John's Debut was recorded in Gold Star Studios, Los Angeles. The time he got to record was achieved when he used the time that was supposedly booked for Sonny & Cher (for whom he played as a Session Musician). It was released on Atco Records, who was part of the famous Atlantic Records (released, even though the Directors hated it).

Best Tracks - "Gris-Gris Gumbo Ya Ya", "Danse Kalinda Ba Doom", "Mama Roux", "Jump Sturdy" and "I Walk On Guilded Splinters". It took me a while to get into Dr. John. I tried to listen to it numerous times and i would always get the same reaction after two songs. What am I listening to? Suddenly, last time I gave it a go, it sounded much richer, all of a sudden it made sense, and it wasn't only that, it was also sounding extremely good. That soulful, swampy, voodoo textures really got into my brain. It took five days to stop thinking about the Back-Vocals of the first two Songs. It is really a very good Album, very well played and truthfully a classic of its age.

Dr. John (Gris-Gris Personnel):

- Harold Battiste - Bass, Clarinet, Percussion.

- Dr. John - Keyboards, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals.

- Richard 'Didimus' Washington - Guitar, Mandolin, Percussion.

- Plas Johnson - Saxophone.

- Lonnie Boulden - Flute.

- Steve Mann - Guitar, Banjo.

- Ernest McLean - Guitar, Mandolin.

- Bob Frasier - Bass.

- Bob West - Bass.

- Mo Pedido - Congas.

- John Boudreaux - Drums.

- Dave Dixon - Back-Vocals, Percussion.

- Jessie Hill - Back-Vocals, Percussion.

- Ronnie Barron - Back-Vocals, Percussion.

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Big Brother & The Holding Company - Be A Brother (1970)

Be A Brother is the Third Album by the American West-Coast, Psychedelic-Rock Band Big Brother & The Holding Company.

When Janis Joplin left the Band, it all fell apart in just a couple months. Sam Andrew had also left with Janis to help her forming the Band that would support her in the Solo career she was aiming to launch. Peter Albin and Dave Getz facing the dismembering of the Band went on to play with Country Joe And The Fish, with whom they Toured. It was however a shot lived collaboration, as in early 1969 both of them were trying to reform Big Brother (All the members came back, except for Janis). Complementing the Reformation were Nick Gravenites (worked with The Electric Flag and Janis), Dave Schallock and Kathi McDonald (who worked with the likes of Leon Russell and The Rolling Stones). This is the First and maybe the only good way to listen to what Big Brother sounded in their early days, before Janis appeared and sort of changed their sound. The Heydays of the Big Brother And The Holding Company were unfortunately counted. Critics were unreceptive to their 2 Albums and they broke-up as interest in them was fading away.

Best Tracks - "Keep On", "Joseph's Coat", "Home On The Strange", "Mr Natural", "Funkie Jim" and "Be A Brother". Janis Vocals are deeply missed, there is no way to deny it. The Album is as fantastic as the Musicians that play on it, pure San Francisco Music, by probably one of the best and most famous Psychedelic Bands that ever walked the earth.

Big Brother & The Holding Company:

- Sam Andrew - Vocals, Guitar.

- Nick Gravenites - Vocals.

- David Schallock - Guitar, Vocals.

- James Gurley - Guitar, Bass.

- Peter Albin - Guitar.

- David Getz - Drums, Piano.

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Neil Young - After The Gold Rush (1970)

After The Gold Rush is the Third Album by the Canadian Country/Folk-Rock Musicians Neil Young.

When After The Gold Rush was recorded, Neil Young had already played with Buffalo Springfield, was a regular in most concerts by Crosby, Stills And Nash and would culminate with his entry on the Band and the recording of one of the most famous Albums on Rock History, and had gotten the Band Crazy Horse to back him. It was with Crazy Horse that Young started the Sessions, that would eventually lead to the Album itself, but in the middle of the process he sent them away and was joined by some of the Musicians of CSNY, even though of the main characters on the Band only Stephen Stills participated. CSNY Album had just been released (Déjà Vu) and this propelled Young's Album to the Top of the charts (All the other Members were releasing Solo Album at the time). It got to the number 8 Slot in the Billboard Charts in America, and while at the time of the release it was quite criticized by the Critics, it is now regarded as one of the Top-100-Albums ever made.

Best Tracks - "Tell Me Why", "After The Gold Rush", "Only Love Can Break Your Heart", "Don't Let It Bring You Down" and "I Believe In You". A much less Electric work then it's previous and already quite similar to what was to come in Harvest. Excellent Album with some of the greatest Songs on his career.

Neil Young (After The Gold Rush Personnel):

- Neil Young - Guitar, Piano, Harmonica, Vibes, Lead-Vocals.

- Danny Whitten - Guitar, Vocals.

- Nils Lofgren - Guitar, Piano, Vocals.

- Jack Nitzsche - Piano.

- Billy Talbot - Bass.

- Greg Reeves - Bass.

- Ralph Molina - Drums, Vocals.

- Stephen Stills - Vocals.

- Bill Peterson - Flugelhorn.