The Red Hippie

The Deviants - Disposable (1968)

2012-02-14T10:58:00.000Z

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)

2012-02-13T11:41:00.005Z

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)

2012-02-12T13:33:00.001Z

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)

2012-02-09T18:26:00.001Z

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)

2012-02-07T20:48:00.000Z

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)

2012-02-06T22:48:00.001Z

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)

2012-02-05T19:27:00.000Z

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)

2012-02-05T12:01:00.001Z

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)

2012-02-03T20:20:00.001Z

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)

2012-02-02T17:54:00.001Z

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.

Fotheringay - Fotheringay (1970)

2012-01-31T18:26:00.001Z

Fotheringay is the First Album by the British Folk-Rock Band Fotheringay.

Sandy Denny left Fairport Convention in 1969, shortly after the release of the acclaimed Liege & Lief, with the intention of explore alone her own song-writing capacities. She was, however, used to work on a Group and thus she started recruiting Musicians to form her own Band, where she would be the leader. From Ecletion came Trevor Lucas (Denny's partner and later husband and father of her child) and Gerry Conway who were joined by two Folk Musicians Jerry Donahue and Pat Donaldson. The name Fotheringay comes from a composition by Denny, based on the story of Mary, Queen of Scots and the time she spent imprisoned in Fotheringay Castle. The Album features 5 Original Denny's Songs, Two Covers, One Lucas Composition and one Traditional. It achieved average notoriety, only getting to 18# in the UK Charts, although getting some very good reviews, this led to the disband of the group while they were recording the follow-up, not only because of that, but also because Denny was regarded as one of the Best Singers in the UK (chosen as the Best by MelodyMaker's Readers).

Best Tracks - "Nothing More", "The Sea", "The Ballad Of Ned Kelly", "The Way I Feel", "Too Much Of Nothing" and "Banks Of The Nile". A Fantastic Folk-Rock Album that maybe should have focused more on the Rock Side, even though the more Folkier Songs are extremely good and allows a good, clear listen to Denny's Voice, which is, as always absolutely marvelous. Maybe not as good as Unhalfbriking or Liege & Lief, but a landmark in Folk-Rock history.

Fotheringay:

- Sandy Denny - Guitar, Piano, Vocals.

- Trevor Lucas - Guitar, Vocals.

- Jerry Donahue - Guitar, Vocals.

- Pat Donaldson - Bass, Vocals.

- Gerry Conway - Drums.

- Linda Thompson - Vocals.

- Todd Lloyd - Vocals.

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Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left (1969)

2012-01-30T22:34:00.003Z

Five Leaves Left is the Debut Album by the English Folk Singer/Guitarist Nick Drake.

Nick Drake bought his first Guitar in 1965, for a mere 13 Pounds. With it he started experimenting with it, as he already had decent knowledge of the Piano and the Saxophone. The next year he entered a Literature Course in Cambridge via a scholarship, he however didn't take it seriously and under the pretext of studying moved to France with some friends, supposedly participating in a student exchange program, where he spent some Months smoking Weed and taking LSD. He also made a trip to Morocco, when he was told that it was there that you could get the finest Joints. Upon his return, he distanced himself even further from studies, staying in his room all the time, playing and listening to music, always high on Marijuana. While playing a supporting gig for Country Joe & The Fish he was spotted by Ashley Hutchings, who got him a connection with Joe Boyd, getting him to manage and record him, ending definitively with his stint at college. Recordings for the Debut started in late 1968 with the help of some Fairport Convention and Pentangle Musicians.

Best Tracks - "Time Has Told Me", "Three Hours", "Day Is Done", "Cello Song" and "Saturday Sun". It does not achieve Pink Moon's Personal and unique Sound, and it has a very big problem to it, the String Arrangements. maybe some of you will find them interesting or even enjoyable, but for me it is the decisive factor that turns a Record that could achieve otherwise the status of a True Classic.

Nick Drake (Five Leaves Left):

- Nick Drake - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano.

- Paul Harris - Piano.

- Richard Thompson - Electric Guitar.

- Danny Thompson - Bass.

- Rocki Dzidzornu - Congas.

- Clare Lowther - Cello.

- Tristan Fry - Drums, Vibes.

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Heron - Heron (1970)

2012-01-29T18:39:00.001Z

Heron is the Debut Album by the British Pastoral-Folk Band Heron.

Troubled by their experience of recording a Single in Pye Studios in the Summer of 1970, Heron decided to move to the country, uniting themselves to the forces of Nature. Packed with all their equipment they moved to the Farmhouse owned by Vocalist Tony Pook's Parents in Appleford, Berkshire and settled down in the middle of the Green British Fields, near the River Thames, with all the Recording equipment around them and set off to record their Debut. One of the Mics was however set quite far away from them, in the middle of the woods, recording those Natural sounds of the wind and birds, all the Blackbirds and Larks. No Electric Guitars, Basses or Drums were used, just plain, good old Acoustic instruments, with the exception of the Electric Piano. Released by the Dawn Label, they did not achieve much success, repeating what they had done before. Another example of the Folk Exodus, from the urbanized cosmopolitan capitals of the world to the small villages in the middle of the country, isolated from Mankind.

Best Tracks - "Yellow Roses", "Car Crash", "Harlequin 2", "Little Boy", "Goodbye", "For You" and "Carnival & Penitence". I found about them in the Book Electric Eden in which they even got the honor of appearing in the Front Cover, playing in the Green Field. It is great Hippie Folk, with an emphasis in Beauty. Very good Folk Album.

Heron:

- Tony Pook - Vocals.

- Gerald G. T. Moore - Vocals, Mandolin.

- Roy Apps - Guitar.

- Steve Jones - Electric Piano, Accordion.

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Meic Stevens - Outlander (1970)

2012-01-26T22:47:00.001Z

Outlander is the Debut Album by the Welsh Folk-Rock Musician Meic Stevens.

Meic is often forgotten by everybody, with the exception of his Welsh compatriots who regard him as a National equal to Bob Dylan. First spotted by DJ Jimmy Savile in a Folk Club in Manchester, gaining him the possibility of recording a Single, which he did that same year, produced by John Paul Jones (who in 4 years would reach Fame as the Bassist of Led Zeppelin) for Decca Records. But the Sales weren't even Mediocre, it failed miserably, setting back his career for many year. Following a nervous breakdown in 1967 he returned to his country, where he started to write Songs in the Welsh Language with the propose of creating a Music Movement with a strong National Identity, he released some EP's on Local Small Labels. During this times he would also play in Britain from time to time, and it was in one of this trips that he recorded his Debut for the Warner Bros. Label. It was to be his only Album in English and like his other Albums from this age, is now very sought-after for its rarity. It was recorded very quickly some of the Songs were even played just one time.

Best Tracks - "Rowena", "Love Owed", "The Sailor And Madonna", "Yarric", "Midnight Comes", "Dau Rhosyn Coch" and "Ballad Of Old Joe Blind". It is a nice mesh of Psychedelia with Folk Rock, with some great use of the Indian Sonorities.

Meic Stevens (Outlander Personnel):

- Wally "Sospan" Jones - Banjo.

- George Sweetnam - Bass.

- Dennis Elliot - Drums.

- Bernie Holland - Electric Guitar.

- Chris Taylor - Flute.

- Meic Stevens - Guitar, Vocals.

- Michael Snow - Piano, Organ.

- Ian Samwell - Welsh Harp.

- Dewan Motihar - Sitar.

- Keshav Sathe - Tabla.

- John Vanderyck - Violin.

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Tim Hart & Maddy Prior - Folk Songs Of Olde England, Volume 1 (1968)

2012-01-26T13:06:00.000Z

Folk Songs Of Olde England, Volume 1 is the Debut Album by the English Traditional Folk Duo Tim Hart & Maddy Prior.

As I told you in the Post about Tim Hart & Maddy Prior's Last Album, Summer Solstice, they began performing together in 1966, inspired by the growing Folk Movement, and by its earliest enthusiasts, leading them to a trip through rural England on the search for the Purest of the Folk Sounds. Their work was to be recorded and released in 1968, in two Volumes by the Tepee Records Label. And history was done, Fairport Convention got very influenced by it, especially Ashley Hutchings who would start going to the Cecil Sharp House Library researching Obscure Traditional British songs. Liege & Lief already shows this influence, when the Band went to the the countryside to record in the middle of Nature. For Hutchings however it was not enough, and when he got threw with them and was looking for Musicians to join him, in his mission to recover British Folk Songs (Sounds I have already heard this) he knew just whom he wanted to contact, and thus was Steeleye Span created.

Best Tracks - "Lish Young Buy-A-Broom", "Adieu Sweet Lovely Nancy", "Maid That's Deep In Love", "The Rambling Sailor", "Bruton Town", "The Dalesman's Litany" and "A Wager A Wager". The main reason if think this Album is amazing is quite simple. It is one of the few Albums were I stand A-Cappela and Banjo Songs. Whenever I am listening to an Album and I hear a Banjo, it is the end for that Album, it will be put aside and never listened to again. However this Songs are fantastic, really beautiful and with a strong Traditional and Modern Sound, both at the same time. No wonder why it was so important to other Folk Musicians at the time.

Tim Hart & Maddy Prior:

- Maddy Prior - Vocals, 5-String Banjo.

- Tim Hart - Vocals, Guitar, Dulcimer, Banjo.

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The Chocolate Watchband - The Inner Mystique (1968)

2012-01-24T19:16:00.001Z

The Inner Mystique is the Second Album by the American Psychedelic-Rock Band The Chocolate Watchband.

The story of The Chocolate Watchband is far from simple. In the 4 years that the Band lasted, the number of people that went through the Band is well above the 20's. The first incarnation was a short-lived High-School Band in 1965, that ended when some of the Members were drafted. One of the Members was not ready however to give up, Mark Loomis, he regrouped and was successful enough to be invited to be managed by Bill Leader from Fillmore East. This incarnation unfortunately wasn't able to survive much longer after recording the Debut, most of them going on to different Musical tangents, like Psychedelic-Folk in the case of Loomis. Once again the Band was saved by a Member who stayed behind a re-grouped to fulfill contractual obligations. With the Band falling to pieces, their Producer (Ed Cobb) just decided to record himself the Tracks with session Musicians, and let the Band record whatever they wanted, which was not that much. There isn't an absolute certainty as to who exactly participated.

Best Tracks - "Voyage Of The Trieste", "In The Past", "Inner Mystique", "I'm Not Like Everybody Else" and "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue". The Best Songs are probably the First ones, more trippy and Psychedelic, than the others which are interesting and very good, but not bringing anything new to the game. It is not as quite a great an Album as it is made to be, but it is nice and interesting, and not badly played. Some nice Sitar here.

The Chocolate Watchband (Incomplete):

- Sean Tolby - Lead-Guitar.

- Bill 'Flo' Flores - Bass.

- Tim Abbott - Rhythm-Guitar.

- Mark Whittaker - Drums.

- Chris Flinders - Vocals.

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The Byrds - The Notorious Byrd Brothers (1968)

2012-01-23T17:17:00.004Z

The Notorious Byrd Brothers is the Fifth Album by the American Psychedelic-Rock Band The Byrds.

While being the exponent of the Psychedelic Age of The Byrds, with every effect and techniques being used on the Production, as well as a long list of different influential Genres, from Country, Folk, Jazz and of course, the main driving force, Psychedelia, things were not going so well in terms of relationship between the Bands. Robert McGuinn saw David Crosby as an usurper, and that combined with the failure of the only A-Side Single, led to his expulsion in the middle of the Recordings. Michael Clarke, left soon after, dissatisfied by the quality of the Songs. Gene Clark, who had been forced out of the Band a while ago, joined the Band again for three weeks, during the recording, just to be once again rejected due to his fear of flying. Apart from this constant Personnel changes, the number of Musicians features as Guests is also quite big, which strangely did not affect the coherence and quality of the sound, that does not reflect the massive amount of people that passed through the Studio.

Best Tracks - "Artificial Energy", "Goin' Back", "Natural Harmony", "Draft Morning", "Wasn't Born To Follow", "Get To You" and "Tribal Gathering". Some of the Songs here are just amazing, and for me this one and Younger Than Yesterday are, without a shadow of a doubt, the Best work by The Byrds, even though I prefer the fine textures of Younger... Even there are some weak spots, it is an incredibly cohesive Album, with some of the Best Songs on the 60's. I will not post the entire Personnel, due to the its length, if you are interested click here.

The Byrds:

- Roger McGuinn – Guitar, Moog Synthesizer, Vocals.

- David Crosby – Guitar, Bass, Vocals.

- Chris Hillman – Bass, Vocals, Mandolin.

- Michael Clarke – Drums.

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Vol. 3: A Child's Guide To Good And Evil (1968)

2012-01-22T18:56:00.000Z

Vol. 3: A Child's Guide To Good And Evil is the Third Album by the American Psychedelic-Rock Band The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band.

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band was set up as the West-Coast response to the mainstream Pop-Art Movement in New York, lead by Andy Warhol and The Velvet Underground. Led by the Playboy Bob Markley, a good friend of Kim Fowley, who got him together with a the rest of the Band who were Members of the same Band. Markley had enough cash to ensure that the Band was supplied with the best Instruments, Recording Machinery and Lights for the shows. In a self-made Studio they recorded their First Album (not considered to be a real Album), with only 100 copies pressed (an original copy was sold for 15,000 dollars just some years ago). The Light Show got them a deal with Reprise Records. They went on the Record Four Albums for them, the latter being almost a Solo Album. Vol. 3 is considered as one of the finest examples of Psychedelia and the Prime of the Band. It was also however clear that the Band was falling apart, which had been happening since they were recording the Second Album.

Best Tracks - "Eighteen Is Over The Hill", "Ritual #1", "As The World Rises And Falls", "Until The Poorest Of People Have Money To Spend", "A Child's Guide To Good And Evil", "Ritual #2" and "As Kind As Summer". The last song called "Anniversary Of World War III" is two Minutes of pure silence. The Album is quite good, maybe not all the songs are that great, but it is a very important landmark of the Psychedelic Movement.

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band:

- Bob Markley- Vocals.

- Shaun Harris- Vocals, Bass.

- Ron Morgan - Guitar.

- Jim Gordon- Drums.

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Traffic - Mr. Fantasy (1967)

2012-01-21T20:33:00.001Z

Mr. Fantasy is the Debut Album by the English Psychedelic-Rock Band Traffic.

After Steve Winwood was threw with the Spencer Davis Group, in which he had come to Musical prominence, as a 15 year old getting numerous Hit's, he got together with 3 other Musicians with whom he had jammed some time ago, thus forming Traffic (The name came up when the group was trying to cross a street). Some of the Musicians at the time, influenced by the Folk Revival, where moving to the country side, getting away as much as they could from civilization. In the Rural Landscapes they created some great pieces of Music, like Liege & Lief by Fairport Convention. Traffic moved to Aston Tirrold, Berkshire. A small village where they set up a stage and projected a complicated water-color show, to help with their Jams. Living in this cottage improved their relationship with one another and proved to be fundamental for the existence of the Band. The Album, entirely written there, features heavy use of Sitars, Flute and Horns, something that would almost disappear in the next Albums, more oriented towards a Rock Sonority.

Best Tracks - "Heaven Is in Your Mind", "House For Everyone", "No Face, No Name, No Number", "Dear Mr. Fantasy", "Utterly Simple" and "Giving To You". The Album has a quite particular atmosphere, very trippy and Psychedelic, never getting to the heavier sounds that were being done in America. The Songs are all very interesting and not boring at all, as some Psychedelics can be.

Traffic:

- Jim Capaldi - Drums, Percussion, Vocals.

- Dave Mason - Guitar, Mellotron, Sitar, Tambura, Shakkai, Bass, Vocals.

- Steve Winwood - Organ, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Harpsichord, Percussion, Vocals.

- Chris Wood - Flute, Saxophone, Organ, Percussion, Vocals.

- Jimmy Miller - Maracas.

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Joni Mitchell - Ladies Of The Canyon (1970)

2012-01-20T18:42:00.001Z

Ladies Of The Canyon is the Third Album by the Canadian Singer Joni Mitchell.

After a very extensive tour and two Albums, Joni Mitchell came to mainstream fame with the release of this Album, Ladies Of The Canyon. It was this time that Mitchell moved forward from her Traditional Folk Sonority to a more advanced and particular Sound, with which she was later to became famous for, with Piano and more worked with Overdubs and Back-Vocals. Mitchell was at the time in a relationship with Graham Nash, and David Crosby was the one who had discovered her and managed to get her a record deal, thus the connection between Crosby, Stills & Nash and her was very big, to this day actually. One of the Songs was called "Woodstock", a Song which was obviously about the Festival and that Mitchell wrote after listening to the description made by Nash. She missed it because her manager thought it was better to go to a TV Show than to entertain a bunch of sweaty, stoned, long-haired Hippies. Ladies Of The Canyon went on to be her first Album to achieve Gold, and the start of the attention she would receive for the rest of her career.

Best Tracks - "Big Yellow Taxi", "Blue Boy", "Ladies Of The Canyon", "Morning Morgantown", "The Circle Game", "The Priest" and "Woodstock". It is not equal to Blue but it is a fine Album, with the intricate Vocals of Joni and some of her best known Songs. Worth listening to!

Joni Mitchell (Ladies Of The Canyon Personnel):

- Joni Mitchell - Guitar, Piano, Vocals.

- Teresa Adams - Cello.

- Paul Horn - Clarinet, Flute.

- Jim Horn - Baritone Saxophone.

- Milt Holland - Percussion.

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John Renbourn - Another Monday (1967)

2012-01-19T18:59:00.003Z

Another Monday is the Second Solo Album by the English Folk Guitarist John Renbourn.

The friendship between Bert Jansch and John Renbourn would evolve a step further when Renbourn started participating in Jansch's Albums with much more prominence then in the others (He already had participated in Jansch Second Album and in the great Jack Orion). With the release of Bert And John, they were connected for the better and the worse. Another Monday also had another Folk character that would be of major importance for Folk Music. Jacqui McShee, a friend of Renbourn with whom she sung in the Club Les Cousins, as asked to participate on Renbourn's Record, making this a sort of prehistorical Pentangle Album, with only three of the Members, yes, but this union was of major importance for the creation of the Band. After getting some attention and being seen as one of the leading figures of the new Folk Movement, Renbourn was expecting to get at least a decent Studio for his Follow-up. He got instead Bill Leader's Kitchen. It is completely true, he recorded this Album in Bill Leader's Kitchen. Renbourn was now playing a different Guitar, similar to the one used by Davy Graham.

Best Tracks - "Another Monday", "Ladye Nothinge's Toye Puffe", "I Know My Babe", "One For William", "Sugar Babe", "Can't Keep From Crying" and "Nobodys Fault But Mine". It is not a long Album and it is was still a warm-up compared to Sir John A Lot... but it already shows the Folky direction Renbourn was heading for. Quite some good songs on this one even though it is quite a small Album.

John Renbourn (Another Monday Personnel):

- John Renbourn - Guitar, Vocals.

- Jacqui McShee - Vocals.

- Jennifer De Montforte-Jones - Cello.

- Bert Jansch - Guitar.

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Creedence Clearwater Revival - Cosmo's Factory (1970)

2012-01-17T18:08:00.002Z

Cosmo's Factory is the Fifth Album by the American Country-Rock Band Creedence Clearwater Revival.

The amount of Releases by CCR were astonishing. Just two years after their Debut they were already on their Fifth release, and in the end of the year they launched their Sixth. One would expect that some of the Albums would be quite weak and uninteresting, but that does not face the reality, all of them were and are praised as being top-notch pieces of Music. As soon as the Band released Willy And The Poor Boys they started working on a new one. It was named Cosmo's Factory, the room where they rehearsed each day, when they were just ambitious Musicians full of hopes and dreams. The Room was always full of smoke due to the cigarettes, leading Drummer Doug "Cosmo" Clifford to start calling it, The Factory. Upon its release it achieved the number one slot in 6 different countries and in less than a year was certified Gold for having sold more than 500,000 copies. The Reviews are unanimous. This one is a Classic.

Best Tracks - "Ramble Tamble", "Lookin' Out My Back Door", "Run Through The Jungle", "Up Around The Bend", "My Baby Left Me", "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "Long As I Can See The Light". In the beginning the Songs may say uninspired and quite similar to the other Songs they already had released, thus being monotonous and not worthy to spend time and listen to the same Music once again. But it gets better. A lot better. The last Songs are filled with emotion and rhythm. Even the beginning songs don't seem so bad once you are done with listening to the Album.

Creedence Clearwater Revival:

- Doug Clifford – Drums.

- Stu Cook – Bass.

- John Fogerty – Lead-Guitar, Piano, Saxophone, Harmonica, Vocals.

- Tom Fogerty – Rhythm-Guitar.

Christy Moore - Prosperous (1972)

2012-01-16T16:54:00.004Z

Prosperous is the Second Solo Album by the Irish Folk Musician Christy Moore.

Moore first tried to enter the Folk Scene in Dublin, which he was quite enloved with. However he was never capable of getting booked in any Club, supposedly because he wans't "cool" enough. In light of this downput he decided it was time to move on and went to live in England, in 1966. Upon his arrival, he found a job with the working class, on factories, oilrings and buildings. This connection with the working class led him to start entering the Englsh Folk Circuit and in no time he was in, and the next year saw him playing live in a Club. By 1969 he had grown desperate for a Recording Contract and the fact that he was rejected by Transatlantic, the most desirable Folk Label at the time, forced him to record his Debut in a small Studio in Chealsea. The Album did not make it, and he was once again thrilling to get back to Ireland. He picked up Bill Leader, the Producer, and they made a trip there, to record some of the Artists playing there. It was also in Ireland in 1970, that Prosperous was recorded, in a session with Andy Irvine and Liam O'Flynn. This session also led them to start the magnificent Band Planxty.

Best Tracks - "The Raggle Taggle Gipsies"/"Tabhair Dom Do Lámh", "The Dark Eyed Sailor", "I Wish I Was in England", "James Connolly", "Spancill Hill" and "Rambling Robin". Prosperous is almost a more tender and unprepared Planxty Album, with some of the songs featuring on their Debut, a lot more worked over than the ones in here. A good ole Irish Folk Album for you to enjoy.

Christy Moore (Prosperous Personnel):

- Chrisry Moore - Guitars, Vocals.
- Donal Lunny - Guitars, Bouzouki, Bottleneck Bouzouki.
- Liam Óg O'Flynn - Uillean Pipes, Whistle.
- Andy Irvine - Mandolin, Mouth Organ.
- Clive Collins - Fiddle.
- Dave Bland - Concertina.
- Kevin Conneff - Bodhran.

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John Renbourn - John Renbourn (1965)

2012-01-15T13:01:00.000Z

John Renbourn is the Debut Solo Album by the English Folk Guitarist John Renbourn.

Renbourn started his Guitar career in the early, early 60's, about 1961, when after finishing his studies and his Guitar classes he went Hitch-Hiking, meeting the likes of Wizz Jones or Mick Softly and getting extremely influenced by the Guitar skills of Davy Graham. It was around 1961 that Renbourn got his first Steel-String Guitar, a rarity back in the day, which few had, and that were not made as they are today. This Guitar features on the cover of this Album, where Renbourn poses with it in a photo he has described as "folk-singer-on-the-rubbish-dump pose". It might be hard to understand this, but around this time, the Guitar players were regarded as scum, and many were refused entrance on Clubs. Renbourn found one place where they were being accepted, in Soho, and when he went to play there he met a Female Singer from America who invited him to record two Albums, losing his Unpublished Virginity and got his to know the likes of Richard Thompson and Terry Cox. In 63/64 he met Bert Jansch with whom he would collaborate numerous times until Jansch death last year (2011). Renbourn was then signed to the Transatlantic Label and recorded his Debut in a small Studio near to the Les Cousins Club, where many Guitarist met.

Best Tracks - "Judy", "Beth's Blues", "Song", "Down On The barge", "Plainsong", "The Wildest Pig In Captivity", "Winter Is Gone" and "Noah And Rabbit". Far different from Sir John A Lot... and much closer to Faro Annie, Renbourn's Debut already features the Fantastic Guitar playing he is known for and the help of his fellow Guitarist Jansch, performing 15 Songs very close to British Folk Blues. It is a quite good Album and very rare, even on the Internets.

John Renbourn (John Renbourn Personnel):

- John Renbourn - Guitar, Vocals.

- Bert Jansch - Guitar.

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John McLaughlin - Devotion (1970)

2012-01-14T22:46:00.003Z

Devotion is the Fourth Solo Album by the English Jazz-Fusion Guitarist John McLaughlin.

Devotion shows McLaughlin in a transition point. Just after leaving the Miles Davis Band, with whom he recorded the landmark Bitches Brew and just before forming The Mahavishnu Orchestra. Devotion came out after McLaughlin played with the one and only Jimi Hendrix, and recorded a Jam that lasted through the whole night, inspiring him to go on Studio and Record it. What makes this one different from every other Album in his Career? Because the Guitar is not just making the exceptional "normal" Solos by McLaughlin, but crying and walling full of effects creating a never before heard Acid Sound, better than a lot of Psychedelic Bands I have heard trying to create it. Alan Douglas, a Record Producer with his own Label and that worked with the likes of Hendrix and Miles Davis, was chosen to Produce it and release it on his own Douglas Records. McLaughlin has complained about his work numerous times, stating that he mixed tracks that were not supposed to be bidden together, against his wishes. Recorded in February and released in September of 1970, just a year before he became Mahavishnu.

Best Tracks - "Devotion", "Dragon Song", "Siren" and "Purpose Of When". The Guitar is without a doubt the landmark of this Album. The Sound is distorted and trippy, with far less resemblances to the typical Jazz sonority and much more to do with Acid-Rock. It is still not as good as the Albums we was going to do with The Mahavishnu Orchestra, but it was getting there.

John McLaughlin (Devotion Personnel):

- John McLaughlin - Guitar.

- Buddy Miles - Drums, Percussion.

- Larry Young - Organ, Electric Piano.

- Billy Rich - Bass.

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Sweetwater - Sweetwater (1968)

2012-01-14T14:51:00.001Z

Sweetwater is the Debut Album by the American Progressive-Psychedelic Rock Band Sweetwater.

Sweetwater was formed in the midst of the Psychedelic Movement, when San Francisco still was the home of the Hippies and Acid-Heads. The Band had a huge number of Members, contrasting with the usual 4-Piece Band and also counted with the help of a symphonic Orchestra and numerous guests and also with the usual instruments used in Rock Music, bringing in the Flutes and Cellos. Their strong point was Singer Nansi Nevins and it was due to their voice that they were quickly made into a contract with the Warner Reprise Label. They however seem to have been always in the wrong place in the wrong hour, they played in the all the big Venues and Festivals and opened for all the big Bands of the age, but no one seemed to ever notice them and that reflected their Albums Sales, even though it was enough to land them a Place in Woodstock, for which they were booked as the Opening Band (Due to the traffic problems Richie Havens was the one to open the Festival) and they were still the first "Band" to play there.

Best Tracks - "Motherless Child", "Here We Go Again", "For Pete's Sake", "What's Wrong", "In A Rainbow", "Rondeau" and "Two Worlds". There are three Major forces on this Album. Nansi's Voice of course and the Piano and Flute. The tracks are very good and an easy listen, not difficult to just sit down and relax to this Songs. All of them are full of energy and groove. This is a great Album, not a shadow of a doubt. One of the best Psychedelic's i have heard in a while.

Sweetwater:

- Albert Moore - Flute.
- Alan Malarowitz - Drums.
- August Burns - Cello.
- Elpidio Cobian - Conga.
- Nancy Nevins - Lead-Vocals.
- Alex Del Zoppo - Keyboards.
- Fred Herrera - Bass.
- Joe Bruley - Guitar.
- Mike Williams - Drums.
- Henry Arias - Percussion.

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Miles Davis - Miles In The Sky (1968)

2012-01-12T21:17:00.001Z

Miles In The Sky is the Thirty-First Album by the American Jazz Musician Miles Davis.

Miles In The Sky marks the end of the Second Great Quintet, with the Band starting to disintegrate, Herbie Hancock and Ron Carter were replaced, shortly after and the rest was soon to follow their lead, being replaced by the likes of Chick Corea and John McLaughlin, similar to the evolution from Bop and Jazz to Fusion and Psychedelia, which can already be noted on this Album. It was also during this period that they created a new of playing live, which consisted on basically a mesh of all the Songs with transitions made between them to create a single coherent long piece, with the songs only being distinguished by the different Chords and Tempos being used, that would change with each new Song. Other big landmark in Davis career is the fact that this was the first one where an Electric Piano, Guitar and Bass were used, yet another indicator of the changes to come. As a lot of other Albums by Davis, with was recorded in a very short span of Time, in this case, 4 days were enough for it to be ready for release, which it was, right after the end of the recording.

Best Tracks - "Stuff", "Paraphernalia" and "Black Comedy". As a fan of Psychedelia I would obviously choose Bitches Brew rather than this one, but this is in no way inferior to that one. Very Jazzy yes and with some very good Horns and Drums work, i listened to this one while reading William S. Burroughs, Jr book, "Speed", and it meshed quite well.

Miles Davis (Miles In The Sky Personnel):

- Miles Davis - Trumpet.

- Wayne Shorter - Tenor Saxophone.

- Herbie Hancock - Piano, Electric Piano.

- George Benson - Electric Guitar.

- Ron Carter - Bass, Electric Bass.

- Tony Williams - Drums.

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José Mário Branco - Mudam-se Os Tempos, Mudam-se As Vontades (1971)

2012-01-12T00:40:00.002Z

Mudam-se Os Tempos, Mudam-se As Vontades is the Debut Album by the Portuguese Folk/Protest Musician José Mário Branco.

Portugal was now definitively living under a full-fledged Fascist Dictatorship, with deep roots on the Portuguese society. In 1940, the Communist Party was re-organized (after the previous leadership was arrested and sent to be killed in a Concentration Camp) by a new generation of Communist Revolutionaries (do a research on Álvaro Cunhal) and a long battle ensued, with a lot of people being arrested, tortured and exiled. In some cases even killed. It was during this hard times that José Mário was born, in 1942 in the city of Porto. Since an early age he was exposed to Music, by his fathers who were Music Teachers. A man of ideas he embraces the Communist ideology on his youth and joins the clandestine PCP (Portuguese Communist Party) from which he ends up being expelled in the early 60's for his enflamed opinions (He was close to the Far-Left) and in 1963 ends up being exiled to Paris, where he met numerous other Portuguese Musicians also exiled for their connection to the Communist Ideology. It was there in Paris that he recorded his Debut Album in 1971.

Best Tracks - "Abertura (Gare D'Austerlitz)", "Cantiga Para Pedir Dois Tostões", "Cantiga Do Fogo E Da Guerra", "O Charlatão", "Queixa Das Almas Jovens Censuradas", "Nevoeiro", "Perfilados De Medo" and "Mudam-Se Os Tempos, Mudam-Se As Vontades". José Mário is probably one of the Best Portuguese Composers and Musicians in Portugal. The Songs are extremely well arranged, extremely beautiful and with very beautiful lyrics. The Vocals are very deep and relaxing, full of emotion. The Last Song particularly, a re-working of a Poem by Camões, is a very well known song in Portugal, after 40 years, it is still a presence on the National Radio.

José Mário Branco (Mudam-se Os Tempos, Mudam-se As Vontades Personnel):

- Gilbert Roussel - Accordion, Harmonica, Piano, Harpsichord.

- Claude Engel - Electric Guitar.
- Alan Jones - Electric Bass.
- José Mário Branco - Tambourine, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Organ, Harpsichord.

- Jacqueline Ritchie - Flute.

- Sérgio Godinho - Guitar, Back-Vocals.

- Daniel Lalloux - Drums, Percussion, Timbales, Cymbal.

- Catarina - Vocals.

- Jorge Pereira - Organ.

- Jean Sommer - Guitar.

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La Revolución De Emilano Zapata - La Revolución De Emilano Zapata (1971)

2012-01-10T20:35:00.000Z

La Revolución De Emiliano Zapata is the Debut Album by the Mexican Psychedelic-Rock Band La Revolución De Emiliano Zapata.

La Revolución De Emiliano Zapata started simply as a group of friends from Guadalajara , who wanted to play Covers of Songs they liked, as they wished, turning them to their own style and interests, of course heavily influenced by the Hippie Movement, which was at its full force in the country just above them (U.S.A. of course). As any other Band, they started their career by playing a load of Birthday Parties and other things of that type. They seem to have managed to spark some light in the hearts of the people has they quickly became one of the Top Acts in the city and the areas that surrounded it. During a Radio Contest by Radio Ondas De La Alegria (Waves Of Happiness Radio), they received the biggest number of phone-calls and thus receiving the prized audition with a Major Company (Polydor Records). Their First Album was a huge success, not only in Mexico but all over the world, getting some singles to the Top of the Charts.

Best Tracks - "Nasty Sex", "Si Tu Lo Quieres", "Ciudad Perdida", "Todavia Nada", "Al Pie De La Montaña" and "Bajo Los Cielos". I haven't been Posting many Psychedelic Albums lately, focusing mostly on Progressive and Folk, and as I have been waning to post this Album, for over a year now, I just decided to do it now and be over with it. Even though the Titles are mostly in Spanish, the Lyrics are all sung in English. It doesn't sound like the Band is from Mexico has its sound is very close to the one being made by Garage Bands in San Francisco. Pretty Good. Fantastic Guitar Solos.

La Revolución De Emiliano Zapata:

- Javier Martín Del Campo - Guitar, Flute, Piano.
- Oscar Rojas Gutiérrez - Vocals.
- Antonio Cruz Carbajal - Drums.
- Francisco Martínez Ornelas - Bass.
- Carlos Valle Ramos - Guitar.

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Canned Heat - Boogie With Canned Heat (1968)

2012-01-09T16:55:00.001Z

Boogie With Canned Heat is the Second Album by the American Blues-Rock Band Canned Heat.

From the previous Album, probably one of the main differences and the best evolution between them is the fact that apart from the usual Blues Covers that feature in every Blues Album, there are also some fantastic Original Compositions. Boogie With Canned Heat, features the Song that made it for them, "On The Road Again", a re-working of Floyd Jones, and which earned them the number 1 slot in most charts (especially in Europe). With the success that came with the Album, the Managers decided to lease a Club on Sunset Boulevard, in which they often played, almost as if they were the house Band. Other acts that played in the Kaleidoscope Club, such as Jefferson Airplane, Sly & The Family Stone and the Grateful Dead. But this time playing there was destined to end. Right after playing for an audience of over 80,000 people in the Newport Pop Festival they embarked on a tour to Europe, where they were hailed as heroes and featured on some TV Shows, like Top Of The Pops in England and Beat Club in Germany. 9 Months after the release of this Album, Living In The Blues was released, on October, 1968.

Best Tracks - "Evil Woman", "On the Road Again", "Whiskey Headed Woman No. 2", "Amphetamine Annie", "Marie Laveau" and "Fried Hockey Boogie". This is definitively better than their Debut, but it lacks the improvisational texture of the follow-up. Both the Vocals, by Blind Howl and the Bear are fantastic as always and the Guitar work cannot be attacked. Some of the songs are the problem for me. They are just to Bluesy, they sound like every other Blues song but played with good musicians. Is it that obvious that i dislike Blues-Purists?

Canned Heat:

- Bob Hite - Vocals.

- Alan Wilson – Slide-Guitar, Vocals, Harmonica.

- Harry Vestine– Lead-Guitar.

- Larry Taylor – Bass.

- Fito De La Parra – Drums.

- Dr. John Creaux - Horns, Piano.

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Caetano E Chico - Juntos E Ao Vivo (1972)

2012-01-08T15:37:00.001Z

Juntos E Ao Vivo is a Live Album by the Brazilian Traditional/Tropicália Musicians Caetano Veloso and Chico Buarque.

After some years living in Exile for their opposition to the Fascist Regime in Brazil, Chico Buarque (In exile in Italy) and Caetano Veloso (In exile in England) returned once again to their home-country in early 1972. By the end of the year, the duo got together to perform two shows that would be released still in 1972. Caetano also released a Live Album with Gilberto Gil that year. The shows were held in the 10th and 11th of November in the city of Salvador, one of the most important in the Country, in the Castro Alves Theatre. The Album features some of the Best-Known songs by both Musicians. Chico and Caetano were still being victims of the repression though even though they were allowed to live in Brazil again. Chico adopted the pseudonym Julinho da Adelaide which he used to publish songs and books without having to suffer censorship, as his true name was already burned for his Leftist Ideals. Julinho de Andrade even had an Identity Card.

Best Tracks - "Bom Conselho", "Partido Alto", "Tropicália", "Morena Dos Olhos d'Água", "Você Não Entende Nada/Cotidiano", "Ana De Amsterdam" and "Os Argonautas". This is a true Classic! Everything about it is just perfect! The Songs are just fantastic and with extremely good Musicians. If you have an interest in Brazilian Music, even the slightest interest you will find here a fantastic work by two fantastic Musicians.

Caetano E Chico (Juntos E Ao Vivo Personnel):

- Caetano Veloso - Vocals, Guitar.

- Chico Buarque - Vocals, Guitar.

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Davy Graham - The Holly Kaleidoscope (1970)

2012-01-07T17:07:00.001Z

The Holly Kaleidoscope is the Sixth Album by the British Guitarist Davy Graham.

Being taught Musical Instruments since childhood and by the age of 12 when he started playing the Guitar he already was versatile in the Piano and Harmonica. Since the beginning he was influenced by the playing of Steve Benbow, who was by his turn, influenced by the Moroccan way of playing. This gave Graham an exotic flavor to his Guitar playing. In the early 60's he invented a Song called "Anji" which was probably one of the most influential Folk Songs ever, also one of the First Folk Instrumentals ever made. This was a revelation for such Guitarists as Bert Jansch, John Renbourn, Jimmy Page, Paul Simon and Ralph McTell, who saw there a complete new way of playing, more in touch with the new sounds. However he was not known for really wanting any fame, causing him to be seen as quite an unreliable character. One of the most famous stories was the Time that he was booked a 6-month Tour on Australia, which came to an end when Graham's Plane stopped in Bombay for a quick pause, and Grahams spent the months we was supposed to be in Australia, traveling through India. Back to the Album, Graham was joined by his then-Wife Holly.

Best Tracks - "Flowers Never Bend With The Rain Fall", "Wilt Thou Unkind", "Blues At Gino's", "Sunny Moon For Two", "Here, There And Everywhere", "Ramblin' Sailor", "Bridge Over Troubled Water" and "Little Man You've Had A Busy Day". I am not that attracted to Holly's Vocals. They are nice indeed and are surely better than those of Davy Graham who was no Singer at all, but she sounds very rigid and contained. Graham's Guitar is however magnificent and compensates the poor level of the Vocals. A pretty good Album and any lover of Jansch or Renbourn should give it a go. To be true, the Best Tracks are the Instrumental ones.

Davy Graham (Holly Kaleidoscope Personnel):

- Davey Graham - Guitar, Vocals.
- Holly Gwyn - Vocals.

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Fuxan Os Ventos - Sementeira (1978)

2012-01-06T00:43:00.001Z

Sementeira is the Forth Album by the Spanish Galician Traditional Folk Band Fuxan Os Ventos.

In 1972, some high-school students decided to form a Folk Band with the sole purpose of having the most of they could take out of it. When they won a popular contest with the Song "Fuxan Os Ventos" they just decided to go along and use it as their name from then on. More contests were won and they started growing notoriety from both the Critics and the Public, however as the times went by they started getting more and more involved with Galician Folk Music and with the Political Ideas of the Left (Spain was undergoing a transition between Fascism and Democracy). They were deeply involved with the culture of their People (Spain was since the beginning a merge of very different States with very different cultures, and there is still a lot of friction between some of those States) and it was mainly about them that they Sang about, along with exaltations of the virtues of their people and the working class. They were signed to Philips-Fonogram, with the guarantee that they had absolute Artistical Freedom and were not forced to use any Electrical Instrument, as was their wish. Just some more informations about Galicia, it is right above Portugal and the language is very similar to the Portuguese language (I've known some guys who belonged to a movement which supported the union between Galicia and Portugal, they were the ones who presented me with this treat).

Best Tracks - "Sementeira", "Cantiga De Amigo", "Foliada De Olas", "Cantar De Cego II", "A Carolina", "Muller", "Pandeiretada", "Melra, Melriña", "Alalás", "Muiñada" and "Cara A Libertade". I was some years ago a member of a Left-Wing Choir which sang Protest songs from all over the world, and one of the songs which was shown to us by a Galician Student was "Muller" (Woman) a song about the emigration men were forced to do, due to the famine, and the women who had to stand it all. The Album is very interesting Folk, a lot different from the Folk made in the UK and the US and should be interesting to listen to the Sounds of the Iberian Peninsula.

Fuxan Os Ventos:

I Could not find the Personnel for the Album, as it was always changing and there was never a definitive Line-Up.

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Jan Dukes De Grey - Mice And Rats In The Loft (1971)

2012-01-05T19:56:00.001Z

Mice And Rats In The Loft is the Second and Last Album by the British Acid-Rock/Progressive Band Jan Dukes De Grey.

Once a Member of an 11 Piece Band, Derek Noy starting making is own writings and compositions and when he came to the conclusion that he was quite better than the Songs that were being worked over in Buster Summers Express (the Band where he played) he quit. Noy was approached by a Flautist called Michael Bairstow, who was interested in joining Buster Summers, but instead ending up forming Jan Dukes de Grey, in 1968, in Leeds (the name was intended to be exotic, nothing else). After a year of gigging and rehearsing they were ready to release their Debut on Decca Label, which was regarded as a good work but still very naive. After the release, they were joined by Drummer Denis Conlan, also from Buster Summers, and the Trio went on to open for Pink Floyd and The Who. For the Follow-up they had to move to a different Label Transatlantic Records. Mice And Rats In The Loft features only 3 long tracks and is a very much Bolder attempt than the previous, more free and loose. The Band continued to do Gigs but never again recorded and eventually changed their name to Noy's Band in 1974.

Best Tracks - "Sun Symphonica", "Call Of The Wild" and "Mice And Rats In The Loft" (all the songs on the Album). I enjoy immensely the Drums and the energy of this one, even though i quite dislike the Vocals. There are moments that quite remind me of Comus, First Utterance (especially the song "Drip, Drip"). The Horns are also excellent replacing the Guitar in the long and prolonged Jams. The Musicians are excellent and if you are into Strong and Psychedelic Jams as much as I, you will find here a great companion.

Jan Dukes De Grey:

- Michael Bairstow - Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Trumpet, Percussion, Keyboards

- Derek Noy - Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Percussion.

- Denis Conlan - Drums.

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Folkal Point - Folkal Point (1972)

2012-01-03T23:27:00.000Z

Folkal Point is the First and Only Album by the British Traditional Folk Band Folkal Point.

The information about this Band from Bristol is as scarce as scarce can be. It is however considered to be one of the Best Folk Album to come out of the U.K. and probably is one the most sought-after Folk Albums in the world. There are very few copies left on this Planet, as only 500 were pressed by Midas Records (their Label) and of those, 250 were destroyed by a flood, which strangely seems to be an accident that tends to happen quite a lot (I've heard of numerous Albums whose copies were destroyed by Floods). Until this day only two Original copies have surfaced on Ebay. But hope is the last thing to die! Folkal Point has been re-issued by Big Pink on CD, which is great news (I won't buy it cost it costs 50 Pounds, but good new nonetheless). Folkal Point is a beautifully well crafted Album, with the marvelous tender and soothing Vocals by Cherie Musialik accompanied by excellent Folk Musicians who render a web of sounds for it to flow softly down to our ears, with the some very good Covers. One of the Best things I have ever heard. Extremely Recommended.

Best Tracks - "Twelve Gates Into The City", "Scarborough Fair", "Sweet Sir Galahad", "Edom O'gordon", "You Ain't Going Nowhere", "Anathea" and "Once I Knew A Pretty Girl". I quite much said everything i wanted above. I saved this Album for the Blog's anniversary, as an especial treat to you all. Enjoy.

Folkal Point:

- Cherie Musialik - Lead-Vocals.

- Stuart Amesbury - Vocals, Rhythm Guitar.

- Brian Murray - Vocals, Bass.

- Martin Steed - Lead Guitar.

- Paul Cook - Rhythm Guitar.

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2 years of TheRedHippie!

2012-01-03T19:05:00.001Z

Today (3/01/12) marks the Second anniversary of TheRedHippie.

Since the first Post I must have shared with you all about 270 Albums. There were times of strong activity and times where I almost forgot it existed. Lately however there are new posts almost everyday, as my interest grows even Furthur (some of you will get the reference). I do not only listen to the 60's/70's and have also a strong love for Grunge (the big ones, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden and Alice In Chains, but also the less known figures of the 90's like Blind Melon ((which I strongly recommend to Psychedelic fans)), Mudhoney, Melvins and Stone Temple Pilots), just to let everyone know haha.

But after all this rambling, what i wanted to ask you is to enjoy as much as you can the Albums. You can get them here, for free and without having to be forced to comment or get passwords. This is the goal I aimed for. I want people to enjoy the Best they can, and that they do not have go through boring processes to do so. You just have to use the Link i give, nothing else (of course i would enjoy if some of the 500 people who come here daily would leave a nice comment, but far from me to force you to do so, i know that sometimes i take also a long time to answer people).

If you have any suggestions to any feature i should add to the Blog please be so kind to let me know.

A friend of mine was kind enough to make me a draw I could use as the presentation page ending finally with those horrible Blank letters, stripped of emotion. He made a great work, so go check his Photography Blog, FotoPercepção, and tell him what you think about his work.

With this I excuse myself. I need to clean my hair and take a rest.

(I was contacted some days ago by a guy called Dag from Norway which presented me with some very grooooovy sounds from his home, that remarked that the name of the Band and Album of my first Post was very interesting considering my Political orientation. The Common People - Of The People, By The People, For The People. I guess that can be my new moto.)

This Blog is Of The People, By The People and For The People!!!!

Red Greetings!

Salvation - Gypsy Carnival Caravan (1969)

2012-01-02T19:56:00.002Z

Gypsy Carnival Caravan is the Second and Last Album by the American Acid/Psychedelic Rock Band Salvation.

Formed in San Francisco After two different groups of people met eachother in 1967, they were originally called New Salvation Army Banned, inevitably cutting their name to a shorter version of just Salvation, afraid that the real Salvation Army could legally prosecute them, when they were signed to ABC Records, before getting the Deal they were residents in a Local Topless Club and used to play often in Communal groups in the hip neighborhood of Haight-Ashbury. After their Debut they started getting a lot of gigs supporting the Big ones, like their San Francisco fellows, Big Brother And The Holding Company, the Biggest Blues-Rock Band Canned Heat and the magnificent The Doors. Their fame was slowly growing and were invited to record a Second Album, Gypsy Carnival Caravan, getting a gig as Headliners in the Fillmore East. The Band came to an end when their management ran away with the money of their contract with ABC Records in 1970.

Best Tracks - "Handles Of Care", "Yuk Yuk", "Salvation Jam" and "What'll I Do #42". If you dig the Psychedelic sounds coming out of the San Francisco Acid acts, you will surely find here a lost gem. It's very groovy, full of Jams and Organ/Guitar Solos. I have not been listening to a lot of Psychedelia lately but this one came up and it just blew my mind. Give it a go!

Salvation:

- Al Linde - Vocals.

- Joe Tate - Guitar.

- Artie McLean - Bass.

- Teddy Stewart - Drums.

- Art Resnick - Keyboards, Organ, Harpsichord.

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Daevid Allen - Banana Moon (1971)

2012-01-01T22:40:00.002Z

Banana Moon is the First Solo Album by the Australian Psychedelic/Progressive Singer, Guitarist Daevid Allen.

Allen trip began in 1960 when after discovering Beat Literature while working on a bookshop, he moved to Paris, more specifically the Beat Hotel, it was in Paris that he grew an interest in Jazz. Next year he once again relocated to England, where he met William S. Burroughs (The great Beat writer, who wrote Junky, Naked Lunch, etc..., also known as the Addict Artist) and inspired by him formed the Jazz-Trio, Daevid Allen Trio, with a young, 16-year old, Robert Wyatt, which performed pieces inspired on the book by Burroughs The Ticket That Exploded. In 1966 the group had developed into Soft Machine (once again inspired by Burroughs Book, The Soft Machine) that he abandoned before the First Album was released. He was denied entrance in England after an European Tour, so he just remained in Paris, participating in the May, 68, Students Revolt, in which he read poetry and distributed Teddybears to the Police. He left for Maiorca, running from the Police and it was there that he Formed Gong. Banana Moon was recorded two years after, with the presence of many of his old and new buddies.

Best Tracks - "Time Of Your Life", "Memories", "White Neck Blooze" and "And His Adventures In The Land Of Flip". This Album is really something. One of the best Progressive works I've heard in awhile. The Cover-Art features a drawing of some Planets, very colorful and Psychedelic, by Didier Léon. It was first released in France and only released in England in 1975.

Daevid Allen (Banana Moon):

- Daevid Allen – Guitar, Vocals.

- Archie Legget – Bass.

- Robert Wyatt – Drums, Vocals, Guitar.

- Barry St. John - Back-Vocals.

- Maggie Bell – Back-Vocals.

- Gerry Fields – Violin.

- Christian Tritsch – Guitar, Bass.

- Pip Pyle – Drums.

- Gary Wright – Piano.

- Gilli Smyth – Vocals.

- Nick Evans – Trombone.

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Dando Shaft - Dando Shaft (1971)

2011-12-31T20:13:00.001Z

Dando Shaft is the Second Album by the British Psychedelic/Progressive Folk Band Dando Shaft.

For their Second Album, they were moved to another Label RCA (Neon, a subsidiary Label of RCA, to be precise, as they would only get to the Major Label with the next effort). This wasn't the only change, mind-you. Polly Barton, a very good Singer joined the Band in the time between the Debut and the Second Album, bringing Dando Shaft and Pentangle even further together. The strong Folky roots of the Debut gave birth to a more Jazzy, Progressive Sound, much richer than the one before, and also the use of Bulgarian tempos was responsible for a much more exotic Sonority. Even though they were quite well-regarded by the critics, they never managed to call the attention of the normal Music buyer, leading to quite poor sales, which surely does not correspond to the quality of the Album. Dando Shaft went on to record another Album before disbanding. I was called to the attention a few days ago that Multi-Instrumentalist Martin Jenkins passed away, early this year, Jenkins was the Vocalist, Guitarist and the player of Flute, Fiddle and Saxophone. Some Sad news.

Best Tracks - "Coming Home To Me", "Sometimes", "Waves Upon The Ether", "Railway", "Whispering Ned" and "Kayope Driver". I must say I enjoyed this one quite a lot more than the previous. It is a far more interesting mesh of different Genres and does sound a lot more free.

Dando Shaft:

- Kevin Dempsey – Guitar, Vocals.

- Martin Jenkins – Vocals, Flute, Mandolin, Fiddle, Guitar.

- Ted Kay – Tabla, Percussion.

- Roger Bullen – Bass.

- Dave Cooper – Guitar, Vocals.

- Polly Barton – Vocals.

Download in comments.

Colosseum - Valentyne Suite (1969)

2011-12-31T15:07:00.003Z

Valentyne Suite is the Second Album by the British Jazz-Rock Band Colosseum.

Formed in September in 1968, Colosseum was almost a mesh of Musicians from two diverse famous Bands in the Jazz and Blues tradition. There were Members of the John Mayall And The Bluesbreakers and the Graham Bond Organization there, all of them, therefore, experienced Musicians. Upon their Live Debut they were recorded and featured on the Radio Show, Top Gear, of the great DJ John Peel, which gave them a lot of exposure, as John Peel's Show was highly regarded by everyone, back then and still today. They used numerous compositions by Graham Bond, using some in their Debut Album, released in 1969. Before the release of this Album in November of the same year, Colosseum played the recorded Jam Session called Supershow, which featured Led Zeppelin, Stephen Stills, Jack Bruce and Eric Clapton. Trading their previous Label Fontana for the new Vertigo Records, the subsidiary of Phillips which released more Underground Acts (Black Sabbath were one of the First Bands in the Label), Colosseum released their Second Album, Valentyne Suite which is seen by many Fans as their Masterpiece. Valentyne Suite is mostly Jazz-Rock experimentalism.

Best Tracks - "The Kettle", "Elegy". "Butty's Blues", "The Valentyne Suite Theme One - January's Search", "The Valentyne Suite Theme Two - February's Valentyne" and "The Valentyne Suite Theme Three - The Grass Is Always Greener". This is not my favorite Band and i did not find this Album amazing. It is a nice and good listen, but no more than that.

Colosseum:

- Dave Greenslade - Hammond Organ, Vibraphone, Piano, Back-Vocals.

- Dick Heckstall-Smith - Saxophone, Flute.

- Jon Hiseman - Drums.

- James Litherland - Guitar, Lead-Vocals.

- Tony Reeves - Bass.

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Gil Scott-Heron - Small Talk At 125th And Lenox Ave (1970)

2011-12-29T22:21:00.002Z

Small Talk At 125th And Lenox Ave is the Debut Album by the American Jazz Poet Gil Scott-Heron.

Since his early childhood Scott-Heron was praised by everyone for his amazing writing abilities, even earning himself a place in a very restrict school where only rich kids and exceptional students had a place (the fact that there were 5 Black kids in the school, Scott-Heron included probably explains it all). When he went to college (Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, the same attended by Communist writer Langston Hughes, his biggest influence) he started to form Bands, with such names as Black & Blues, showing already his distinct Black-Pride. Just two years after entering college he took a year off so that he could devote his attentions to writing two novels (The Vulture and The Nigger Factory), the first one released in 1970, same year as this Album, got fantastic reviews and helped this Album get good reviews by contact (he had also release a volume of his poetry). The Album was recorded Live in a Bar located between 125th Street and Lenox Avenue, Scott-Heron providing the Vocals and three Percussion Musicians the Music. The Poems are mostly about numerous parts of the Black Struggle and White Middle-Class Trash. He was heavily influenced by the likes of Richie Havens, Otis Redding and Malcolm X.

Best Tracks - "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised", "Omen", "Brother", "Comment 1#", "The Subject Was Faggots", "Evolution (And Flashback)", "The Vulture", "Enough", "Who'll Pay Reparations On My Soul" and "Everyday". Gil Scott-Heron is a fantastic Poet (and from what I've heard he is also a great Novelist) and as this is the Sole Album I have heard from him, until now, I can't say anything about his whole Discography. If they are like this one then i can say that they are all excellent.

Gil Scott-Heron (Small Talk At 125th And Lenox Ave):

- David Barnes – Percussion, Vocals.

- Charlie Saunders - Congas.

- Eddie Knowles – Congas.

- Gil Scott-Heron – Guitar, Piano, Vocals.

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Pearls Before Swine - The Use Of Ashes (1970)

2011-12-28T21:55:00.002Z

The Use Of Ashes is the Fourth Album by the American Psychedelic-Folk Band Pearls Before Swine.

After the release of the previous Album (These Things Too) all the original Musicians had left with the exception of its leader Tom Rapp. Abandoned by his fellow Musicians, Rapp moved to the home-country of his wife Elisabeth, the Netherlands. It was during this months in a house near Utrecht that Rapp wrote most of the Lyrics to the Songs used here, and generally considered to be some of the best Lyrics of the whole PSB Discography. When Rapp left the Netherlands he quickly assembled a group of the Best session Musicians available in Nashville and recorded the Songs, which basically is a Tom Rapp Solo Album, as he had the last word in everything. Most of this Musicians were Members of the Country Rock Band Area Code 615 (Released two Albums before disbanding). As all the other Albums in PSB discography the Cover-Art also features a piece of Classical Art from the Renaissance, in this case a piece of a Flemish Tapestry from the 15th Century called "The Hunt of the Unicorn: VI, The unicorn is brought to the castle", featuring three knights bringing down a unicorn with their spears.

Best Tracks - "The Jeweler", "From The Movie Of The Same Name", "Rocket Man", "Margery", "Riegal" and "When The War Began". Even though it is considered by many as the best Album by Rapp, I still think that both Balaklava and One Nation Underground are better, more interesting Albums overall. The Use Of Ashes has some amazing Songs and is definitively a great Album.

Pearls Before Swine:

- Tom Rapp - Vocals, Guitar.

- Elisabeth - Vocals.

- Charlie McCoy - Dobro, Guitar, Bass, Harmonica.

- Norbert Putnam - Bass.

- Kenneth Buttrey - Drums.

- Buddy Spicher - Violin, Cello, Viola.

- Mac Gayden - Guitar.

- David Briggs - Piano, Harpsichord.

- John Duke - Oboe, Flute.

- Hutch Davie - Keyboard.

- Bill Pippin - Oboe, Flute.

Download in comments.

Free - Fire And Water (1970)

2011-12-28T17:27:00.001Z

Fire And Water is the Third Album by the English Hard-Blues Rock Band Free.

After the difficulties over the making of the previous Album (The Self-Titled Free, released in 1969, which you can check out in the Blog) Fire And Water came out much smoother, with a much more cohesive Band, and a new sound. Fire & Water was a huge success, climbing its way to Number 1 on the Billboard Chats in the UK (Number 17 in America), a huge difference, since their previous two Albums had failed to Chart at all. "All Right Now" became their theme Song after the huge performance in the Isle Of Wight Festival, 1970 in front of over 600,000 spectators. At the time of the release the Members of the Band were aged from 18 to 20. In Later years the Band would re-open the wounds healed by Island Records owner Alexis Korner, splitting-up and re-uniting in 1972 only leading to Andy Fraser's departure in 1972 in a clash with Guitarist Paul Kossoff and his growing Drug-Addiction (He would often now show up to concerts and even when he appeared, sometimes he hadn't the capacity to play) and differences with Vocalist Paul Rodgers. Eventually, Free broke-up for good in 1973, each Member going on a new direction. (Kossoff died in 1976, due to complications over his Drug Addiction).

Best Tracks - "Fire And Water", "Oh I Wept", "Remember", "Heavy Load", "Mr. Big" and "All Right Now". An amazing Album and just superb Vocals. Free were truly one of the Best Bands of it's Time. All of them were amazing Musicians and it is a shame there were so many problems that led to their extinction.

Free:

- Paul Rodgers - Vocals.

- Paul Kossoff - Guitars.

- Andy Fraser - Bass.

- Simon Kirke - Drums.

Ford Theatre - Trilogy For The Masses (1968)

2011-12-25T19:34:00.003Z

Trilogy For The Masses is the Debut Album by the American Progressive/Psychedelic Rock Band Ford Theatre.

Ford's Theater was the place where Abraham Lincoln was murdered. They chose this name to present themselves as a voice of the present (at least the present 40 years ago, where the Vietnam War was at the highest pick and Kennedy had just been assassinated). A Present filled with assassinations and violence. This was the main idea expressed on the liner notes of the Album, and idea amplified by the fact that all the lyrics are in the second Person, talking directly to You (or Us). Ford Theatre was formed from the ashes of a Boston-based Band (Joyful Noise) and a Composer called Harry Palmer, when the latter saw them play on a College, and decided they were the ones who could bring his Ideas to life, slowly he became a Member of the Band and the Name was changed accordingly. By the Summer of 67 the Band was already playing under this moniker and in the Setlist was already Trilogy For The Masses, which caused a big sensation on a DJ from Boston called Dick Summers and who got them the deal with ABC Records. Trilogy was recorded in two takes with the Band playing the Setlist continuously as if they were playing a Live Concert.

Best Tracks - "Theme For The Masses", "101 Harrison Street (Who You Belong To)", "Excerpt (From The Theme)", "From A Back Door Window", "Theme For The Masses" and "Postlude Looking Back". This has to be probably one of the Best Albums i have ever heard, it has an aura in it, there is something that grips me to this Record and doesn't let me go. It is far better Psychedelia than some of the things that were being made back-then. I haven't listened to it enough times to list it as one of my Top Ten's but in time he may find a way to get there. It has amazing melodies driven by a very strong Keyboard and some very relaxing Vocals. The Cover-Art is also amazing! A Drawn eye with a real eye in the middle, very somber.

Ford Theatre:

- Harry Palmer - Guitar.
- Robert "Bobby" Tamagni - Drums, Vocals.
- Arthur "Butch" Webster - Guitar.
- James "Jimmy" Altieri - Bass.
- Joey Scott - Vocals.
- John "Mazz" Mazzarelli - Organ, Vocals.
- Bernard Eichen - Strings.
- Charles McCracken - Strings.
- George Ricci - Strings.
- Aaron Rosand - Strings.

Download in comments.

Richie Havens - Alarm Clock (1971)

2011-12-24T19:19:00.001Z

Alarm Clock is the Seventh Album by the American Folk Musician Richie Havens.

After the big success of his performance in the Woodstock Festival, where he, as you all know, opened the festivities and performed for a huge crowd for about 3 hours, as the other Musicians scheduled were being flown to the precinct by Helicopter. You have all heard "Motherless Child" so you can get why he got so famous after that. Following this, he created his own Label, Stormy Forest, in which he released 6 Albums, starting with Stonehenge and ending in Mixed Bad II, in the latter he was already a subsidiary to Polydor (It looks like Stormy Forest is again on activity and is re-printing Richie's Albums from this Period). Alarm Clock consists mostly of Havens Compositions except for the opening track, a fantastic rendition of George Harrison's "Here Comes The Sun", and the rest of the Songs feature exactly what we are all expecting, fantastic songs with Havens strong Vocals and quick guitar strumming. Alarm Clock was also the first Album that reached the Top 30 stop on the Billboard Charts, showing the evolution of popularity he was feeling at the time.

Best Tracks - "Here Comes The Sun", "To Give All Your Love Away", "Younger Men Grow Older", "Girls Don't Run Away", "Missing Train" and "Alarm Clock". It is not definitively Mixed Bag, but it is a quite good Album by a fantastic Artist. There are some really worthwhile songs on here and should be listened to.

Richie Havens (Alarm Clock Personnel):

(currently trying to find the Personnel, if anyone has it, please contact me via my e-mail on the side)

Milton Nascimento E Lô Borges - Clube Da Esquina (1972)

2011-12-23T21:37:00.000Z

Clube Da Esquina is the Debut Album by the Brazilian Collective of Musicians Clube Da Esquina (Credited to Milton Nascimento E Lô Borges).

Milton Nascimento moved to the capital of Minas Gerais (Belo Horizonte) in 1963, and it was there that he met Lô and Márcio Borges, as they both lived on the same building. One day, after watching Jules Et Jim by Truffaut numerous times, non-stop, they started composing songs together, dividing by the two of them the roles of composer and lyricist (Milton composed the Songs and Márcio wrote them). Milton started recording Solo Albums in 1967 (with his Debut, Travessia, already posted on this Blog), but many of them were with the help of Márcio and Lô who had become good friends and important collaborators. It wasn't until 1972 however that they (Clube Da Esquina) released their Debut, composed of 21 Songs and 2 LP's. At the time of its release however it was treated by the Critics as a disgusting and uninteresting Album, but after it gained International recognition, they changed their opinion, god knows why... Clube Da Esquina is now seen as one of the Top-10 Albums to come out of Brasil (That's what the country is called, with an S, Americans imagine it with a Z if you want).

Best Tracks - "Tudo Que Você Podia Ser", "O Trem Azul", "Saídas E Bandeiras Nº 1", "Cravo E Canela", "Dos Cruces", "Um Girassol Da Cor Do Seu Cabelo", "Clube Da Esquina Nº 2", "Os Povos", "Saídas E Bandeiras Nº 2", "Lilia", "Trem De Doido" and "Ao Que Vai Nascer". Something attracts me to Milton's Voice, and that added to the high-quallity Musicians and Lyrics are really something. Rolling Stone graded it as the seventh greatest Brazilian Album Ever. The Cover depicts two boys, (one black and the other white) symbol of the unity between Milton and Lô.

Clube Da Esquina:

- Lô Borges - Vocals, Guitar, Viola, Percussion, Back-Vocals.

- Milton Nascimento - Vocals, Guitar, Viola, Piano.

- Tavito - Vocals, Guitar, 12-String Guitar, Viola.

- Beto Guedes - Vocals, Viola, Back-Vocals.

- Alaide Costa - Vocals.

- Nelson Angelo - Guitar, Piano, Surdo, Percussion.

- Toninho Horta - Guitar, Percussion, Back-Vocals.

- Wagner Tiso - Piano, Electric Piano, Organ.

- Robertinho Silva - Drums, Percussion.

- Luís Alves - Caxixi.

- Paulinho Braga - Percussion.

- Luiz Gonzaga - Back-Vocals.

Download in comments.

Soft Machine - Third (1970)

2011-12-21T21:22:00.001Z

Third is the Third Album by the English Canterbury Scene Progressive Rock Band Soft Machine.

Shortly after the Release of Volume Two, their previous Album, 4 Horn Musicians were added to the Band, even though after a couple of months only 1/4 of those Musicians remained in the Band (Elton Dean and his Saxophone). The Albums consists basically of one composition divided in 4 and in 2 different LP's, much in the style of Miles Davis Bitches Brew, marking their evolution from Psychedelic Rock to full-blown Jazz Fusion. Third was in print for over 10 years, a rarity in those days when most Bands were given a single print, and very few copies. The songs were worked with different effects, using old Live recordings and riffs, slowing down and speeding up the tracks, using collages of different songs and creating a old and raunchy sound, due to the use of home recordings and the collages. There are still some Vocals on the Album, even though for the most part the songs are already Instrumental. Their next Album (called Forth) would be their First full Instrumental LP and also the last featuring Robert Wyatt, who would go on to form Matching Mole.

Best Tracks - "Facelift", "Slightly All The Time", "Moon In June" and "Out-Bloody-Rageous" (All the 4 songs are awesome, getting them all to the Best Track status). This is a great Album, especially if you are into Jazz. However it is not as good as Volume Two, at least in my perspective. Third is considered to be the Soft Machine's Masterpiece obviously by the above statement you can see I don't see it that way. The Psychedelic sounds of their previous are far more interesting.

Soft Machine:

- Mike Ratledge – Hohner Pianet, Lowrey organ, Piano.

- Hugh Hopper – Bass.

- Robert Wyatt – drums, vocals, Hammond Organ, Hohner Pianet, Piano, Bass.

- Elton Dean – Alto Saxophone, Saxello.

- Lyn Dobson – Soprano Saxophone, Flute.

- Jimmy Hastings – Flute, Bass Clarinet.

- Rab Spall – Violin.

- Nick Evans – Trombone.

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Montreal - A Summer's Night (1970)

2011-12-18T21:12:00.000Z

A Summer's Night is the First and Only Album by the Canadian Psychedelic-Folk/Jazz Band Montreal.

A Summer's Night was recorded shortly before a series of events in Quebec known as the October Crisis, led by a terrorist Marxist-Leninist independence group called Front de libération du Québec. This movement deeply influenced Quebec Musicians who dropped the English language and started singing on their native language, French (only one of the Songs on A Summer's Night features French lyrics). Canadian Musicians Fran Losier, Gilles Losier and Jean Cousineau went to New York where 4 other American Musicians joined them to record the Album, including Richie Havens who plays the Sitar, and is also the Producer. Needless to say, the Album failed to Chart, and i couldn't track the whereabouts of the Musicians after this effort. A Summer's Night isn't obviously a record with the capacity to get to the charts, as it is calm, reflective Music, with many Jazz arrangements and an incredible rendition of "Summertime". Fran Lousier's Voice is probably what i would consider to be the highlight of the whole endeavor.

Best Tracks - "What About The Wind?", "A Summer's Night", "Every Passing Moment", "Summertime" and "Infinity". The Album is very good, no weak points. Soft Psychedelia, Jazz and Folk combined to create a product fit to listen to any fan of the 60's. It grows more and more interesting and enjoyable with each listen.

Montreal:

- Jeremy Stieg - Flute.

- Buzzy Linhart - Vibes.

- Skeeter Camera - Drums.

- Richie Havens - Sitar.

- Fran Losier - Vocals.

- Gilles Losier - Piano, Bass.

- Jean Cousineau - Guitar.

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Tyrannosaurus Rex - Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels Of The Ages (1968)

2011-12-17T21:01:00.001Z

Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels Of The Ages is the Second Album by the English Psychedelic-Folk Duo Tyrannosaurus Rex.

Mark Bolan was obviously influenced by the Lord Of The Rings, as his fellow Musician in Tyrannosaurus Rex was named Steve Peregrin Took, which most of you know, is one of the names of the 4 hobbits. For this one any mention of the 20th century was completely erased, dedicating all the songs to Greek and Persian mythology, and once again basing his compositions on LOTR. Overall though the Album is quite similar to their Debut, My People Were Fair And Had Sky In Their Hair... But Now They're Content To Wear Stars On Their Brows and the time between both releases was of just a few months, from July to September, but the follow-up sounds as if they had lost some of their energy, it is all there mind you, but it lacks the Freakish sounds of the Debut. In 1969 Took started getting involved with the more Anarchic, Drug-Taking, Wild faction of the 60's Musicians, influenced by the Pink Fairies and Mick Farren, leading to the first divergence with Bolan, eventually leading to their break-up.

Best Tracks - "Deboraarobed", "Stacey Grove", "Wind Quartets", "Aznageel The Mage", "Salamanda Palaganda", "Eastern Spell" and "Scenescof Dynasty". As I previously said, this one lacks some of the energy and the overall weird arrangements of the Debut, but it is a pretty good Album and should be listened to nonetheless.

Tyrannosaurus Rex:

- Marc Bolan - Vocals, Guitar.

- Steve Peregrine Took - Bongos, African Drums, Kazoo, Pixiephone, Chinese Gong.

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Steeleye Span - Below The Salt (1972)

2011-12-16T01:03:00.000Z

Below The Salt is the Fourth Album by the English Folk-Rock Band Steeleye Span.

Below The Salt was the First Album by the new Line-up of Steeleye Span, Ashley Hutchings and Martin Carthy had left, disapproving of the new direction the Band was going to, and going on to pursue more purist Folk Sounds. Below The Salt is often regarded as one of the best Albums by the Band and also the one closer to the Medieval Music (Some of the tracks are reinterpretations of old Renaissance songs). Even the name of the Album is a reference to a practice which happened in the Middle Ages, when the Lords set some Salt on the dining table (Salt as almost every substance of its genre was extremely rare and costly) to separate themselves from their subjects, who sat "below the salt". Their Fourth Album also features their first Hit song "Gaudette", an old christmas song, without any instruments. This did not help the Album that much as they still only reached number 43 on the English Charts. I do not see it as being their best Album, as their previous 3 were better, especially Please To See The King. They were Signed to Chrysalis now, the same Label in which Jethro Tull were, expanding even further the friendship between the Bands.

Best Tracks - "Spotted Cow", "Rosebud In June", "Sheep-Crook And Black Dog", "Royal Forester", "King Henry", "Gaudete", "John Barleycorn" and "Saucy Sailor". Steeleye Span were and are a fantastic Band and after what I've heard until now (5 Albums) they haven't let me down. Maddy Prior especially is amazing on this one, her voice is superb and gets her to the same level of other Folk-Singers as the likes of Sandy Denny. Highly recommended!

Steeleye Span:

- Maddy Prior - Vocals.

- Tim Hart - Vocals, Appalachian Dulcimer, Guitar.

- Peter Knight - Violin, Viola, Mandolin, Banjo, Piano, Vocals.

- Rick Kemp - Bass, Drum, Vocals.

- Bob Johnson - Guitar, Vocals.

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Ralph McTell - Spiral Staircase (1969)

2011-12-15T00:35:00.001Z

Spiral Staircase is the Second Album by the English Folk Singer/Guitarist Ralph McTell.

McTell was heavily influenced by foreign Art movements. African Music and the American Beatniks led him to pick up an Ukelele, later getting a Guitar (The Guitar was only introduced to England on the 50's). Ralph led a life outside of the law, traveling all over the world (Yugoslavia, France, Belgium and Germany) and living in a Caravan in Cornwall. During this period, McTell started playing the Folk Clubs, getting in contact with such personalities as Jacqui McShee and Martin Carthy. The Rhythm of his travels continued, this time through Italy and Greece, when he stopped in Paris, a city he would go to often, he studied Guitar with the famous Reverend Gary Davis. It was in 1966 that he took up the name of McTell, the same time when he started being requested to play in a number of Clubs. From then on his career was set, in 1967 he landed a deal with Transatlantic Records and released his Debut the following year. John Peel and the BBC were pretty enthusiastic with his work and played it on the Radio numerous times giving him a lot of airplay. His Second Album features what is now considered to be his signature song.

Best Tracks - "Streets of London", "Mrs. Adlam's Angels", "Wino And The Mouse", "Last Train And Ride", "Spiral Staircase", "Daddy's Here" and "Rizraklaru (Anag)". I was recommended a book called "Electric Eden" which I currently reading and they mention Ralph over there, as many other artists from the 60's Folk Revival, which led me to a sudden interest in Folk music. This is a very good Album, not one of the best though, it is a landmark Album and an important landmark in Folk history. Thank you again, person who recommended the book! I am enjoying it a whole lot.

Ralph McTell (Spiral Staircase Personnel):

- Ralph McTell - Guitar, Vocals.

- Brian "Brock" Brocklehurst - Double Bass.

- Mick "Henry VIII" Bartlett - Jug.

- "Whispering Mick" Bennett - Washboard.

- Peter Berryman - Guitar.

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Donovan - Mellow Yellow (1967)

2011-12-12T18:49:00.002Z

Mellow Yellow is the Fourth Album by the Scottish Singer and Guitarist Donovan.

As Sunshine Superman, Mellow Yellow wasn't released in the UK due to Legal problems. This prompted the release of this two Albums together in June 1967, Mellow Yellow blending in with Sunshine Superman under the latter's name. But Mellow Yellow was quite different from the previous record. Mellow Yellow is a transition Album, some of the Songs keep up with the earlier work, some of them being left-overs, but others give the Album a somber sound, showing Donovan's new writing style. An early John Paul Jones features on the Album as an arranger, supposedly against Donovan's will, even though Mickie Most, Donovan's Producer liked his arrangements a lot. Donovan makes a reference to Bert Jansch, undoubtedly one of the most important figures on the Folk Revival of 1965 (if maybe not the most). The Song "House of Jansch". Mellow Yellow was Donovan's Second Electric Album, showing the evolution of Folk Music as just two years earlier Dylan made his famous Electric Debut on the Newport Folk Festival.

Best Tracks - "Mellow Yellow", "Writer In The Sun", "Sand And Foam", "House Of Jansch", "Young Girl Blues", "Museum", "Hampstead Incident" and "Sunny South Kensington". I do think that Sunshine Superman is quite superior, both the Lyrics and the Songs. That does not mean it is not a fantastic Album because it is, listening is mandatory.

Donovan (Mellow Yellow Personnel):

- Donovan - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar.

- Joe Moretti - Rhythm Guitar

- John McLaughlin - Rhythm Guitar

- John Cameron - Piano, Harpsichord, Organ, Celesta.

- Big Jim Sullivan - Electric Guitar.

- Jimmy Page - Electric Guitar.

- Eric Ford - Electric Guitar.

- Danny Thompson - Bass.

- Spike Heatley - Bass.

- John Paul Jones - Bass.

- Phil Seamon - Drums.

- Bobby Orr - Drums.

- Tony Carr - Percussion, Drums.

- Danny Moss - Saxophone.

- Ronnie Ross - Saxophone

- Harold McNair - Flute.

- Shawn Phillips - Sitar.

- Pat Halling - Violin.

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Soft Machine - Volume Two (1969)

2011-12-11T23:10:00.001Z

Volume Two is the Second Album by the English Canterbury Scene Progressive Rock Band Soft Machine.

The Jimi Hendrix Experience were managed by the same managers of Soft Machine, getting them to open to Hendrix's Tour in 1968. It was during this period that Wyatt, Ayers and Ratledge were exposed to large audiences (Daevid Allen went to France when he was denied entry on UK and formed Gong) but in the last concert, Ayers went in another direction (He released some excellent Solo Albums) and thus the Band was no more. Fortunately they had an obligation to the Label to record more Albums, leading Wyatt and Ratledge to re-form again, inviting their Road-Manager and Bassist Hugh Hopper to form a Trio, and getting their hands to work. They were extremely influenced by The Mothers Of Invention 1967 Album Absolutely Free, making them opt for 2 long songs and 2 quick ones instead one 14 separate ones. Even though it was not on purpose, their Sound was starting to evolve into the Jazz Fusion sonority, which they later developed in following Albums. This Line-up was the Backing-Band to Syd Barret's The Madcap Laughs, even though they were uncredited.

Best Tracks - "Pataphysical Introduction - Pt I", "Hibou, Anemone And Bear", "Dada Was Here", "Out Of Tunes", "As Long As He Lies Perfectly Still", "Dedicated To You But You Weren't Listening", "Pig", "A Door Opens And Closes" and "10.30 Returns To The Bedroom" (Since there are only 2 big Songs and two smaller I wrote the best divided Parts of the Songs). This Album revived my interest on the Canterbury Scene and Wyatt (Robert Wyatt is one of my favorite Musicians), it has great Sounds and very Psychedelic-Progrevisse taints. The Cover is also quite weird a sort of collage of a woman's body, all weird, and quite resembling a childhood draw. I can't seem to understand the idea behind it, but it is very appealing.

Soft Machine:

- Robert Wyatt – Drums, Vocals.

- Hugh Hopper – Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Alto Saxophone.

- Brian Hopper – Soprano And Tenor Saxophone.

- Mike Ratledge –Piano, Lowrey Holiday De Luxe Organ, Hammond Organ, Harpsichord, Flute.

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Ravi Shankar - At The Woodstock Festival (1969)

2011-12-10T23:46:00.001Z

At The Woodstock Festival is a Live Album by the Indian Sitar player Ravi Shankar.

By 1966, after he started hanging out with the likes of George Harrison, Ravi was a very well regarded musician to the whole Hippie crew. Raga Rock was at its peak and he was a mentor to anyone who liked the genre and was seen as the most famous Indian Musician in the whole World. He was sometimes seen around Haight-Astbury in San Francisco. He participated on the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 where he literally blew the minds of both the crowd and the other Musicians performing there (including Jimi Hendrix, who listened to Shankar with his mouth open, as seen in the Recordings of the Festival). After being such great act in Monterey he was thus invited to play the Woodstock Festival in August 1969. Shankar hated the concert and was never a proponent of it, as he also broke up with the Hippie community at the time, he was however the first Musician to release his concert, and one of the few to release the whole performance. By 1970 Shankar had definitely nothing to do with the Hippies, but who cares, by 1970 the Hippies were done with (to my dislike obviously).

Best Tracks - "Raga Puriya - Dhanashri Gat In Sawarital", "Tabla Solo In Jhaptal" and "Raga Manj Khamaj" (all the three songs on the Album). It is not only Shankar who displays a full control over his instrument. Alla Rakha, the Tabla player, is also considered as one of the best Indian Musicians of his age and he shows that abundantly on this Album. This is not his best moment, but it is a great performance in the most famous Festival of all times.

Ravi Shankar (At The Woodstock Festival Personnel):

- Ravi Shankar - Sitar.

- Alla Rakha - Tabla.

- Maya Kulkarni - Tamboura.

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Okko - Sitar & Electronics (1971)

2011-12-10T16:20:00.001Z

Sitar & Electronics is the Debut Solo Album by the Dutch Multi-instrumentalist Okko Bekker.

I'll start by saying that i did not find much information on Okko. Okko Bekker emerged on the Hamburg scene on the Late 60's, obviously influenced by Eastern Sounds and Synth music. In 1971 Okko Bekker set of to record his Debut Album where he mixed those two influential Sonority's thus creating Sitar & Electronics (a quite explicit name) where he played the Sitar and Synthesizer accompanied by some Flutes, Guitars and Tablas played by some Psychedelic Musicians. The Album was recorded in Windrose-Dumont-Time Studios, if anyone is interested to know. Of the 8 songs present on the Album there are two covers, both Beatles songs ("A Day In The Life" and "If I Needed Someone"). They are quite good covers, with little resemblance to the original songs, which is what all Covers should be like. I heard that he went on to play with some Bands which names i do not know. The Producer of this Album is Henning Ruete and the Artists responsible for its trippy cover were Christian Rabbe and Harke, Rabbe for the Photo and Harke for the Art improvements.

Best Tracks - "Ganges Delta", "East Indian Traffic", "If I Needed Someone", "Shivas Lullaby", "Painted Sails On Ganges" and "A Day in the Life". The Album is not magnificent but very interesting and enjoyable if you are deeply into Instrumental Sitar.

Okko:

- Herb Geller - Flute.

- Peter Haesslein - Guitar.

- Okko Bekker - Tabla, Sitar, Moog Synthesizer.

- Simon Alcott - Moog Synthesizer.

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Miles Davis - Bitches Brew (1970)

2011-12-04T16:25:00.000Z

Bitches Brew is the Thirty Forth Album by the American Jazz Musician Miles Davis.

In 1968, acts like Sly & The Family Stone, Jimi Hendrix and James Brown, influenced immensely Miles, along with the growing Acid-Rock movement. Miles entered then his Electrical age, transforming his Old-Style quintet in a full garnished "Rock" Band, and adding new Members of the new generations tho his ranks. Chick Corea and John McLaughlin were replacing the older Members (even though they would still play with him numerous times) and bringing new sounds to the group, both Live and in Studio. Bitches Brew was recorded in just 3 days, and the numerous Musicians who played on it where not given any orientation on what to do until some moments before the recording, and even then they were just told basic stuff like the Tempo, some chords and the basic Melody. On some of the quieter moments you can even hear Miles talking to some of the Musicians telling them what they should do now. Miles wanted to work this way to force the Musicians to pay more attention to eachother. This Album earned Miles Davis his first Gold Record and is nowadays considered to be on the Top Ten Jazz Albums ever.

Best Tracks - "Pharaoh's Dance", "Bitches Brew", "Spanish Key", "John McLaughlin" and "Miles Runs The Voodoo Down". Bitches Brew is also considered to be one of the first Jazz-Rock Fusion Albums ever, and many of the Members of the Band like McLaughlin and Corea would go on to expand the genre with other seminal works of the Genre.

Bitches Brew:

- Miles Davis – Trumpet

- Wayne Shorter – Soprano Saxophone.

- Bennie Maupin – Bass Clarinet.

- Joe Zawinul – Electric Piano.

- Chick Corea – Electric Piano.

- John McLaughlin – Electric Guitar.

- Dave Holland – Bass.

- Harvey Brooks – Electric Bass.

- Lenny White – Drums.

- Jack DeJohnette – Drums.

- Don Alias – Drums, Congas.

- Juma Santos (Jim Riley) – Shaker, Congas.

- Larry Young – Electric Piano.

Spirit - Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus (1970)

2011-11-28T23:31:00.000Z

Twelve Dreams Of Dr. Sardonicus is the Forth Album by the American Psychedelic-Rock Band Spirit.

This was the last Album by the original Line-Up of the Band, as as soon as the Album was released two of the founding Members left to form a Band called Jo Jo Gunne (Jay Ferguson and Mark Andes) and Ray California leaving for a while to pursue a Solo career. During the recording California fell from his horse and fractured his skull, resulting in a delay of several months, as he spent more than 1 month recovering at the hospital and another one at home. Even after all that he couldn't still work as he had before for a while. The Last Album is also considered to be the Bands best, overcoming their Debut, which is also regarded as one of the Bands best works, but which lacks the amazing songwriting and composition characteristics of Dr. Sardonicus. Mind you that this is a Conceptual Album, not telling a story, but with a main theme that is followed in every song. Our existence and its fragility. Spirit is one of the Best Bands of their age, and were extremely influential to today's Music.

Best Tracks - "Prelude - Nothin' To Hide", "Nature's Way", "Animal Zoo", "Love Has Found A Way", "Space Child", "When I Touch You" and "Street Worm". I don't know why i hadn't listened to Spirit since i posted their Debut. I truly don'y know why i did so. Well, it was a mistake and it is now corrected, as i will now listen to the two Albums between Dr. Sardonicus and Spirit.

Spirit:

- Mark Andes - Bass, Vocals.

- Randy California - Bass, Guitar, Vocals.

- Ed Cassidy - Percussion, Drums.

- Jay Ferguson - Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals.

- John Locke - Keyboards.

Them - Time Out! Time In For Them (1968)

2011-11-26T20:50:00.001Z

Time Out! Time In For Them is the Second Album by the Northern Irish Psychedelic-Rock Band Them.

It was with Them that Van Morrison reached the International Circuit, as with the previous Band he had, the Monarchs, he only got to tour U.S. Military bases in Scotland, Germany and England. But after a dispute with Decca Records the Band broke-up (not before playing some concerts with The Doors as their openers and influencing a young Jim Morrison). In 1967, the remains of the Band, now without Morrison regrouped and left behind the R&B influences and as many Bands of the age they were extremely influenced by oriental sounds (Raga-Rock) and there is quite a lot of Sitars and such sounds on this Album. In America they quickly entered the West-Coast stream and settled in Los Angeles, where they were signed to the same Label where The Chocolate Watchband was also playing for, called Rev-Ola. Them would still release 3 more Albums, the last one Live, which have all been re-issued by both Rev-Ola and Fallout. Time Out! Time In For Them and their previous Record, Now And Them, still remain as the Bands best Post-Morrison Albums.

Best Tracks - "Time Out For Time In", "She Put A Hex On You", "Bent Over You", "Waltz Of The Flies", "Black Widow Spider", "Just On Conception" and "But It's Alright". This Album was a find! It is great Psychedelic rock played by excellent Musicians and with the right amount of Oriental Sounds. Jim Armstrong, especially, is one hell of a Guitarist and a Sitar Player.

Them:

- Kenny McDowell - Lead-Vocals.

- Alan Henderson - Bass.

- Jim Armstrong - Guitar, Sitar.

- Dave Harvey - Drums.

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John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers - Bare Wires (1968)

2011-11-25T01:07:00.001Z

Bare Wires is the Fifth and Final Album by the English Blues-Rock Band John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers.

By the time of the release of Bare Wires, on June 1968, John Mayall was done with the purist Blues phase, at least for now, and was ready to try to do something more in touch with the Sound of the Time. The Bluesbreakers were not the same. Peter Green, Keef Hartley and Andy Fraser had all been replaced when Bare Wires started to be recorded, all of them going for other musical directions, like Fleetwood Mac, which lead this Album to have an almost new Line-up. This continuos change of Band Members lead John Mayall to drop the Bluesbreakers moniker and start recording as a Solo artist, as right after the Band released this one, there were more desertions. Despite all this conflicts behind the scenes, this was the Band's best-selling Album and also John Mayall's best-seller ever. The Cover on this one is also very important, you can almost sense the changes on the Band's music just by looking at their Discography's Covers. Bare Wires Cover is a product of its time. The Photo is by Pete Smith and colored by Jan Persson.

Best Tracks - "Bare Wires - Suite", "I'm A Stranger", "No Reply", "Hartley Quits" and "Sandy". I listened this Album on a friend's house and heard it, start to finish, about 4 times in a row. It is a very interesting listen and advised to Blues fans.

John Mayall & The Bluesbreakers:

- John Mayall – Vocals, Harmonica, Piano, Harpsichord, Organ, Harmonium, Guitar.

- Mick Taylor – Lead Guitar, Hawaiian Guitar.

- Chris Mercer – Tenor, Baritone Saxophone.

- Dick Heckstall-Smith – Tenor, Soprano Saxophone.

- Jon Hiseman – Drums, Percussion.

- Henry Lowther – Cornet, Violin.

- Tony Reeves – Bass.

In comments.

Quintessence - In Blissful Company (1969)

2011-11-20T19:48:00.000Z

In Blissful Company is the Debut Album by the Psychedelic/Raga Rock Band Quintessence.

Quintessence was formed in April 1969 by the Flautist Raja Ram following and advertisement in the Music Magazine Melody Maker and an audition in an hall in Notting Hill. The six Members who formed the Band were all deeply involved with Indian Mysticism and Hinduism, but were also involved with Christianity and of course Buddhism who was, as you all know, very common amongst the Hippies. One of their first gigs in a Festival allowed them to be spotted by the just formed Island Records, getting them signed as one of the first Bands on the Label (along with Jethro Tull, Sandy Denny and Nick Drake). Their concerts were regarded as being very good, they often Jammed on-stage and brought local Hare-Krishna to sing chants with them, as their main goal when playing was to bring their audience into a Trance, much to what the Grateful Dead did when they played The Merry Pranksters Acid Tests. Their sound was a mesh of Jazz with a lot of Indian Influences and a lick of Progressive Rock and Psychedelia, with the use of Flute and Sitars which lead them to be very well regarded by the masses at the time.

Best Tracks - "Giants", "Manco Capac", "Body", "Gange Mai", Notting Hill Gate" and "Midnight Mode". A very interesting Album. I have been interested in the Indian-influenced Music lately and this Band was a great find. I will check out their other Albums (they still recorded 4 more Albums) and maybe in the future I will post another one by them.

Quintessence:

- Shiva Shankar Jones - Vocals, Keyboards.
- Raja Ram - Flutes, Bell, Percussion, Raspers.
- Alan Mostert - Lead Guitar.
- Maha Dev (Dave Codling) - Rhythm Guitar.
- Shambhu Baba (Bhava) - Bass.
- Jake Milton - Drums.
- Mike - Sitar.
- Surya - Tamboura.

Van Der Graaf Generator - Still Life (1976)

2011-11-17T23:52:00.001Z

Still Life is the Sixth Album by the English Progressive Rock Band Van Der Graaf Generator.

Van Der Graaf Generator had a difficult run right singe their formation in 1967. They had multiple problems with Labels (specifically the Record Label Mercury), their manager, who was also a founder of the Label Charisma Records, failed to support the Band financially and to advertise them, and when they were getting started their gear was stolen. By 1972 they were threw of all this problems and called it a quit. Even so, they kept getting along with each other, even helping Peter Hammill to record his Solo Album. The Classic Line-up decided then that it was time to start recording again, and in 1975 they got together once again and in a period of 12 months were able to record 3 Albums heavily influenced not only by the Progressive sound but also by Classical music and Jazz, giving the Band a much darker sonority. The lyrics of Still Life are mostly about Humanity and its Psychological existence. Van Der Graaf's Tour in 1975 in Italy caused numerous riots and problems with the police, which for me is extremely important as i down-grade every Band that hasn't sparked a riot once on their career. Just another note before ending, the Albums recorded during this period of the Band were produced by themselves, which didn't happen in their earlier works.

Best Tracks - "Pilgrims", "La Rossa" and "My Room (Waiting For Wonderland)". I wanted to listen to Van Der Graaf Generator for a while, and when i decided to look for an Album to listen to, i chose this one simply because it had an awesome Cover (a Lichtenberg figure) and i choose Albums numerous times because their covers are fantastic. The Music however matched its interior, it is a great Album.

Van Der Graaf Generator:

- Peter Hammill – Vocals, Guitar, Piano.

- David Jackson– Saxophone, Flute.

- Hugh Banton - Organ, Bass, Mellotron, Piano.

- Guy Evans - Drums, Percussion.

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Sorry for no Albums, BUT... BOOKS!

2011-11-16T14:26:00.000Z

So, i am sorry to the few if any followers in existence for not having posted anything for a while. This has a reason, i go through different phases all the time. The one i am on right now is listening to more music and uncovering new ones, so i will possibly post one Album this week, but don't expect much.

On the other note. I want more books. Specifically Books from the Beat Generation. I've gathered a long list of books i am going to obtain in the next times but would love to have people tell me which books i should definitively read. Take note that i do not need any books by Jack Kerouac or Burroughs to be recommended, but i would love if you could talk to me if you really feel it was such a great experience for you. I have indeed read Naked Lunch as most of you did, and a copy of Junky is arriving to my house in short time.

Also any good books on underground 60's, 70's music would be nice :)

RECOMMEND PLEEEEASE!

Sandy Denny - The North Star Grassman And The Ravens (1971)

2011-11-09T00:19:00.002Z

The North Star Grassman And The Ravens is the Debut Solo Album by the English Folk Singer Sandy Denny.

Denny's Band Fotheringay had ended due to Joe Boyd's job change, and as such she needed a place where she could continue showing her Songwriting and Vocal capacities. This time however she wasn't going to go through the work of forming a new Band, but she would go Solo. Work on her Debut began in March 1971, and only came to an end in May, already in a different Studio. Two songs from Fotheringay were used (They were recording an Album when the Band was "forced" to end) as were two songs by Bob Dylan ("Down In The Flood" and "Let's Jump The Broomstick"), the rest of them being Denny's own Songs, written and composed by her alone. Initially John Wood was supposed to Produce the Album, and he even did some things, recommending her to use the arranger Harry Robinson, who had quite a hand on the Album, but in the end it was Denny who Produced it herself (Richard Thompson, from Fairport Convention also helped it the Producing).

Best Tracks - "Late November", "Blackwaterside", "John The Gun", "The Optimist", "Wretched Wilbur", "The North Star Grassman And The Ravens" and "Crazy Lady Blues". It is not the best Album by Sandy Denny, not even the Best Solo Album, but it stands as a great listen and it has some great songs on it, like "Blackwaterside" (I'm in love with this song, what can i do?). Denny's voice is without a shadow of a doubt one of the greatest of the last century, and listening to her work his mandatory, and while most mandatory things are quite bad, this one is more than pleasant to oblige.

Sandy Denny (The North Star Grassman And The Ravens Personnel):

- Barry Dransfield - Back-Vocals, Violin.

- Buddy Emmons - Pedal Steel Guitar.

- Gerry Conway - Drums.

- Ian Whiteman - Piano, Flute, Organ.

- Jerry Donahue - Electric Guitar.

- Pat Donaldson - Bass.

- Richard Thompson - Accordion, Electric,Acoustic And 12-Sting Guitar, Bass, Vocals.

- Robin Dransfield - Back-Vocals.

- Roger Powell - Drums.

- Royston Wood - Back-Vocals.

- Sandy Denny - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Piano.

- Tony Reeves - Bass.

- Trevor Lucas - Acoustic Guitar, Back-Vocals.

Dando Shaft - An Evening With Dando Shaft (1970)

2011-11-02T23:37:00.001Z

An Evening With Dando Shaft is the Debut Album by the British Psychedelic/Progressive Folk Band Dando Shaft.

Dando Shaft formed in 1968 in Coventry, England, taking their name from a 1965 Book by Don Calhoun with the same name. The Band started as a Quintet, later adding a Sixth Member in 1970. For two years Dando Shaft played in Local English venues until being contacted by the Young Blood Records Label and getting a record contract with them. As soon as they got it, they started preparing their First Album, an entirely Acoustic (No electric instruments were used) Folk Album, focusing in the relationship of Man with Nature. When An Evening With Dando Shaft was released in 1970, they were immediately compared with another Folk-Revival Band which most of you know, Pentangle (the comparisons would increase when they added a Female Vocalist to their Band as Pentangle have Jacqui McShee as their Lead-Singer). Dando Shaft were however much more Folk oriented than Pentangle, at least in this Album, as they would implement a lot of Jazz in their next 2 Albums.

Best Tracks - "Rain", "Cold Wind", "September Wine", "In The Country", "End Of The Game" and "Lazily Slowly". It is a great Album, and everyone who likes the British Folk-Revival should check this one out. They are fantastic musicians and they composed amazing songs. I am definitively going to check their other 2 Albums, so expect them to be posted here in a near future. Enjoy!

Dando Shaft:

- Ted Kay - Percussion.

- Dave Cooper - Vocals, Guitar.

- Kevin Dempsey - Bass, Guitar, Vocals.

- Martin Jenkins - Flute, Mandolin, Violin, Vocals.

- Roger Bullen - Bass.

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Alan Hull - Pipedream (1973)

2011-11-01T19:33:00.001Z

Pipedream is the Debut Solo Album by the English Folk-Rock Singer Alan Hull.

Alan Hull started his musical career in a Band called The Chosen Few alongside Mick Gallagher in 1962. He was working as a nurse in a mental hospital to support himself through this times. In 1968 he joined The Downtown Faction which evolved into Lindisfarne in 1970, when they released their Debut. It was with Lindisfarne that he came to prominence, as the main contributor in terms of Songwriting and being one of the Lead-Vocalists, he was regarded by everybody as the leader of the Band, and as the Band was receiving loads of attention, getting their Album on the Top 10, he became a notorious musical figure at the time. By the time of their Third Album, Dingly Dell, he became dissatisfied with the Band and together with the other Lead-Vocalist of the Band, Ray "Jacka" Jackson, made a complete re-formation. That very same year, 1973, Alan Hull released his Debut Album, Pipedream, shortly after the Original Line-Up collapsed, featuring Band Members from the First and Second generation of Lindisfarne Musicians. Pipedream is mostly a reclusive Album, talking about his personal life and experiences.

Best Tracks - "Breakfast", "Just Another Sad Song", "Money Game", "United States Of Mind", "Country Gentleman's Wife", "Song For A Windmill" and "Blue Murder". I was quite impressed with Pipedream, more than i was expecting. I must say that I have an irrational fear of Solo Albums, and i always expect them to be weaker than Band Albums, I am not sure why this happens. Nonetheless this was a great experience and I recommend anyone interested in British Folk-Rock should listen to this fantastic Album. The Cover-Art is just amazing, a painting by René Magritte, where a man is smoking his own nose. Great choice.

Alan Hull (Pipedream Personnel):

- Alan Hull - Lead-Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Harmonium.

- John Turnbull - Guitar.

- Colin Gibson - Bass.

- Ken Craddock - Piano, Organ, Harmonium, Electric Piano, Guitar.

- Ray Laidlaw - Drums.

- Ray Jackson - Harp, Mandolin, Vocals.

- Dave Brooks - Saxophone.

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Timothy Leary - You Can Be Anyone This Time Around (1970)

2011-10-27T22:00:00.002+01:00

You Can Be Anyone This Time Around is an Album which Timothy Leary made and organized in 1970.

Timothy Leary was born in Massachusetts in 1920. Soon he entered a Military Academy with whom he had serious problems for breaking the law numerous times (for drinking contests and other assorted stuff) and after going to court and a full year being purposefully ignored by his colleges he was Honorably discharged. He moved to the Alabama University, and he studied continuously until receiving a Ph.D in Psychology by the University Of California. Afterwards he started working as a teacher in that same university, from where he ended up being expelled for being a proponent of Psychoactive drugs between the students. In 1960, after taking some psilocybin mushrooms in Mexico, he stated that he had learned more in those five hours about his conscious and Psychology than 15 years of studying. Upon his return to Harvard he established a research team on Psychoactive Drugs, starting a series of experiments on human beings. Allen Ginsberg (the Beat Poet and a famous underground personality) wanted to take part on the experience and also wanted to expand it, giving it to several people on the counter-culture. Leary was once again fired, and went to live in a mansion where he and a group of several people experienced Psychedelics until LSD was forbidden in 1966. I have not been able to find when this was recorded but it had some of the best musicians participating, for example, Jimi Hendrix, Stephen Stills and John Sebastian.

Best Tracks - "You Can Be Anyone This Time Around", "What Do You Turn On When You Turn On" and "Live And Let Live". You Can Be Anyone This Time Around is truthfully one of the most interesting Albums i've heard in a while, half interesting for its music and half interesting for the speeches that are given. Some of the songs feature short samples of psychedelic acts, like Country Joe & The Fish and also some of the beginning verses of Ginsberg's poem Howl. The Personnel is not complete.

Timothy Leary (You Can Be Anyone This Time Around Personnel):

- Timothy Leary - Voice.

- Jimi Hendrix - Bass.

- Stephen Stills - Guitar.

- John B. Sebastian - Guitar.

- Buddy Miles - Drums.

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Ravi Shankar - The Sounds Of India (1968)

2011-10-23T19:22:00.000+01:00

The Sounds Of India is the Sixteenth Album by the Indian Sitar Player Ravi Shankar.

I am seriously not sure how many Albums Ravi has released since he started playing. His first Album was released in 1956 and was called Three Ragas, in the 12 years that separate the Debut from The Sounds Of India, he released a multitude of Albums, some live, some collaborations and of course original LP's. In the Mid-60's he had already influenced Bands like The Byrds and The Beatles to incorporate Indian Sounds to their Music, which led to the widespread use of Sitars and Tablas by numerous Psychedelic Bands of the epoch. George Harrison especially, gained an extraordinary interest in Indian Mysticism and Music after meeting Ravi Shankar, and all The Beatles Albums reflected this interest (Not only Indian Mysticism but also the LSD he was taking and which he as stated as one of the best things he has done). In The Sounds Of India, Ravi tries to present Indian Music to the Western Society, with explanations of how the Rhythms are and which instruments are being used etc. It is considered now one of the most important Albums of the 60's due to it's influence and Historical value.

Best Tracks - "An Introduction To Indian Music", "Dádrá", "Máru-Bihág" and "Sindhi-Bhairavi". It is not only a fantastic and very interesting historical document, but the Music in it, which is quite a lot, is fantastic and full of power. If you are interested in the Sitar and Music from India this is indeed the place to start, there isn't a single dead moment, and numerous musicians were deeply influenced by this Album right here.

Ravi Shankar (The Sounds Of India Personnel):

- Ravi Shankar – Sitar.

- Chatur Lal – Tabla.

- N. C. Mullick – Tambura.

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Gentle Giant - Acquiring The Taste (1971)

2011-10-23T00:25:00.000+01:00

Acquiring The Taste is the Second Album by the British Progressive-Rock Band Gentle Giant.

The core of Gentle Giant were the three Shulman Brothers, from a slum in Glasgow, Scotland. Their father was an Army Musician that ended up becoming a Jazz Trumpeter, with his influence they all became Multi-Instrumentalists. The two younger brothers, Derek and Ray, started their Band and quickly their older brother joined them, forming first The Howling Wolves, then The Road Runners and finally Simon Dupree And The Big Sound. Under that name they managed to get signed to the EMI Label, and released several Singles, none of them charting (Elton John played in some of them apparently) until the Label got fed up with their Soul-Pop sound and forced them towards Psychedelia. This led them to finally have some attention and subsequently made them feel bad by this insincere change of style. To express this feeling they recorded a single, with another name, The Moles. The Moles were speculated to be The Beatles, with Ringo as their Lead-Singer, but everything was set to straight points when Syd Barret told everyone who they were. By 1969 they just got fed-up with this direction and quit, their Band sucked, and each one of them could play Drums better than the Drummer. In 1970 they formed Gentle Giant, the name comes from a medieval story, where a group of minstrels are surprised by Giant.

Best Tracks - "Pantagruel's Nativity", "Edge Of Twilight", "The House, The Street, The Room", "Black Cat" and "Plain Truth". I will leave you with a part of the sleeve notes. So here it is. "... It is our goal to expand the frontiers of contemporary popular music at the risk of being very unpopular. We have recorded each composition with the one thought - that it should be unique, adventurous and fascinating. It has taken every shred of our combined musical and technical knowledge to achieve this. From the outset we have abandoned all preconceived thoughts of blatant commercialism. Instead we hope to give you something far more substantial and fulfilling. All you need to do is sit back, and acquire the taste".

Gentle Giant:

- Gary Green – 6 And 12 String Guitar, Donkey's Jawbone, Cat Calls, Voice.

- Kerry Minnear – Electric Piano, Organ, Mellotron, Vibraphone, Moog, Piano, Celeste, Clavichord, Harpsichord, Tympani, Xylophone, Maracas, Lead-Vocals.

- Derek Shulman – Alto Saxophone, Clavichord, Cowbell, Lead-Vocals.

- Phil Shulman – Alto And Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Trumpet, Piano, Claves, Maracas, Lead-Vocals.

- Ray Shulman – Bass, Violin, Viola, Electric Violin, Spanish Guitar, Tambourine, 12 String Guitar, Organ Bass Pedals, Skulls, Vocals.

- Martin Smith – Drums, Tambourine, Gongs, Side Drum.

- Paul Cosh – Trumpet, Organ.

- Tony Visconti – Recorder, Bass Drum, Triangle.

- Chris Thomas – Moog Programmer.

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Ramases - Space Hymns (1971)

2011-10-22T01:33:00.001+01:00

Space Hymns is the Debut Album by the British Psychedelic Rock Musician Ramases (A.K.A. Martin Raphael).

Space Hymns has become now a legendary Album, and it was very appreciated by the more Hardcore members of the Freak culture. Born Martin Raphael in the late 30's in Sheffield, U.K. Martin was a PT instructor (Physical Training) in the British Army and was involved in a business in Scotland selling heaters. Supposedly one day, Martin had a vision in which the Egyptian God Ramases (a Pharaoh) and in the vision he was told that he was in fact the re-incarnation of that same god. What did Martin do after that you ask? Well what most people would do if they ever had such a vision, he changed his name to Ramases and started playing Music to share the truth with everybody. The next step was to record an Album, but to do so he had first need to find a Label, and so he did, signing to CBS and releasing a Single with his wife, under the name Ramses And Selket, this was around the year of 1968, and they achieved no success. In 1970, Ramases switched Labels, going to Vertigo, where he started recording his Albums, with soon-to-be 10cc Musicians, who were the proprietors of the recording studio, Strawberry Studios.

Best Tracks - "Life Child", "Oh Mister", "Quasar One", "You 're The Only One", "Earth People", "Molecular Delusions" and "Journey To The Inside". This one is a true masterpiece. It has the necessary levels of insanity and musicianship combined and it is more than just a good listen. The Cover-Art is just astonishing, a 6 page fold-out by Roger Dean, with some extremely nice paintings.

Ramases (Space Hymns Personnel)

- Ramases - Vocals.

- Selket - Vocals.
- Eric Stewart - Lead Guitar, Moog Synthesizer.
- Lol Creme - Lead Guitar, Moog Synthesizer.
- Kevin Godley - Drums, Flute.
- Graham Gouldman - Guitar, Bass.
- Martin Raphael - Sitar.

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Gnidrolog - Lady Lake (1972)

2011-10-19T22:52:00.001+01:00

Lady Lake is the Second Album by the British Progressive Rock Band Gnidrolog.

In 1969, Twins Colin and Stewart Goldring formed a Progressive Rock Band and started recruiting Musicians, Nigel Pegrum came from Spice (who would eventually evolve into the famous Band Uriah Heep), Peter "Mars" Cowling, John Earle and Charlotte Fendrich. Their hard to pronounce name, Gnidrolog, is a reverse and slightly changed modification of the Twins name, Goldring. I haven't found much information about them, so there is quite an hiatus between the forming and 1972 when they released their Debut and this one Lady Lake, one after the other, and disbanding quickly after, when they were faced with no commercial success. They had the chance to share the stage with such Rock legends as King Crimson, Colosseum, Gentle Giant and Soft Machine. When Gnidrolog was done with the Goldring Twins formed the Punk Band Pork Dukes and Pegrum joined Steeleye Span, a quite different sound from what is shown here. In 1999 they got back together and in the next year, 2000, released the Third Album by the Band. 1999 was also the year that saw the re-edition of the Album on CD Format.

Best Tracks - "I Could Never Be A Soldier", "Ship", "Lady Lake" and "Social Embarrassment". This is much better that i expected, most of the songs are 5 stars, and the fact that instead of using an overload of Keyboards, which most of Progressive Bands used, they focused mostly on Flute (fantastic, and almost comparable to what Ian Anderson did on Jethro Tull) and Saxophone. It is a fantastic Album, definitively worth a listen.

Gnidrolog:

- Stewart Goldring - Lead-Guitar.
- Colin Goldring - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Recorder, Tenor Horn.
- Nigel Pegrum - Percussion, Flute, Oboe.
- John Earle - Soprano, Tenor And Baritone Saxophones, Flute, Vocals.
- Peter Cowling - Bass, Cello.
- Charlotte Fendrich - Piano.

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The Raves - Singles (1967-1968)

2011-10-19T00:17:00.001+01:00

This are the 5 out of 6 songs that i was able to dig out from the 3 Singles released by the American Psychedelic Rock Band The Raves.

There are very scarce information about this Band, so the story begins with the Band forming in Brooklyn, New York, in an unknown year, but certainly before April 1967. The Band released 3 45's over the course of two years, not getting any success and disappearing of the Music circuit, without leaving any trace of their existence. Ron Haffkine was their Producer, he was also the Producer of another Band from New York called The Gurus, and also Produced and Managed the Dr. Hook & The Medicine Show, later diminished to simply Dr. Hook, a Band which enjoyed quite a deal of commercial success. I managed to find the two first 45's ("Mother Nature/Mister Man" and "Don't Chop Down My Tree/Think Of Your Love") and the A-Side of the Last 45, the one released in 1968 ("Everything's Fire/Sing Children Sing", it seems that Sing Children Sing, is not a part of any compilation so i couldn't discover it).

There isn't a single Photo of the Band, so I'll leave you with a photo from one of the 45's. This is another Technicolor Web Of Sounds find!

I found some info on the name of the Members, it seems that they were called D. and M. Jimenez, if they were related or which instruments did they play I do not know.

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Pentangle - Cruel Sister (1970)

2011-10-15T22:37:00.002+01:00

Cruel Sister is the Fourth Album by the British Folk-Rock Band Pentangle.

Released little over a year after their biggest commercial success and probably their best Album, Basket Of Light, Cruel Sister was, quite awkwardly a failure. Unlike their previous Album, this one was completely Folk-based, all the 5 songs being re-works of Traditional songs, giving a much Folker sound to the Album, which is probably one of the reasons why the Album failed. After Basket Of Light the Band got immense attention, appearing 12 times on television, recording songs for Films and TV Shows, and making two tours, one on the UK and another in the United States, getting to play on The Isle Of Wight Festival. It was due, of course, to the way it was recorded and the fact that Jazz played a lead role. This time they chose a known Folk Producer, Bill Leader, to help them with this Album. The B-Side was completely filled by just one song, "Jack Orion" previously worked by Bert Jansch in his Album with the same name, that I have posted some days ago. The Songs are played with Electric Instruments, but they are very calm and the way they are used is pretty simplistic.

Best Tracks - "A Maid That's Deep In Love", "When I Was In My Prime", "Lord Franklin", "Cruel Sister" and "Jack Orion". This is the first Album, where i have chosen all the songs as Best Tracks. I much prefer Basket Of Light than Cruel Sister, but this fact does not make it any worse, it is a fantastic Folk Album, by the fantastic Band that were Pentangle. This is one for the more Folk aficionados.

Pentangle:

- Terry Cox – Drums, Percussion, Dulcitone, Glockenspiel, Vocals.

- Bert Jansch – Acoustic Guitar, Appalachian Dulcimer, Recorder, Concertina, Vocals.

- Jacqui McShee – Vocals.

- John Renbourn – Acoustic And Electric Guitars, Sitar, Recorder, Vocals.

- Danny Thompson – Double Bass.

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Bert Jansch - Jack Orion (1966)

2011-10-12T22:10:00.001+01:00

Jack Orion is the Third Solo Album by the Legendary Scottish Guitarist Bert Jansch.

Jack Orion and it's preceder It Don't Bother Me were released in quick succession, one after another. Less than 10 months of difference between both of them. Bert was always a very productive Musicians, especially in the 60's. In Jansch's first Album he played only Original songs, and this contrasts a lot with this one, which is completely composed by Traditional tunes, more to the style of other Folk Recordings of the age. John Renbourn with whom he would play lots of times in the future (releasing a collaboration Album with Jansch the same year of this Album), plays in 4 of the 8 songs of the Album. One of the tracks of this Album is the famous "Blackwaterside", which Jimmy Page stole note after note and released on Led Zeppelin's Album Led Zeppelin I , Bert Jansch and his Label Transatlantic where preparing to take Led Zeppelin into court and they were told that their case was very strong, but when Jansch was told that it would cost him half of the costs to take them into court, he dropped out. Jansch was at the time leaving in London, sharing a flat with Renbourn, and was hanging with such personalities as Davey Graham, Roy Harper and Paul Simon.

Best Tracks - "The Waggoner's Lad", "Jack Orion", "The Gardener", "Nottamun Town", "Henry Martin" and "Blackwaterside". I am sad to say that Bert Jansch lost a struggle against Cancer just 7 days ago. When i heard he had died I decided to listen to more stuff by him, and immediately after knowing that I re-listened to Pentangle's Basket Of Light re-flaming an old spark. I'll be posting some Albums by Jansch and some more by Renbourn and by Pentangle. This is not Jansch's best Album but it is extremely interesting and it has several fantastic tracks.

Bert Jansch (Jack Orion Personnel):

- Bert Jansch - Guitar, Banjo, Vocals.

- John Renbourn - Guitar.

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Spriguns - Revel Weird And Wild (1976)

2011-10-12T00:41:00.002+01:00

Revel Weird And Wild is the Second Album by the English Electric Folk Band Spriguns.

Mandy and Mike Morton were a couple that owned a Folk Club in Cambridge, England and that decided to from an Acoustic Duo. Originally their name was Spriguns Of Tolgus, Spriguns from a Pixie from Cornwall and Tolgus from a Tin Mine from the same area. They played mostly Traditional songs from the UK. Gradually, thanks to the Club, they enlisted some musicians and moved to a more Electric Sound much to the style of Steeleye Span, and coincidentally they were spotted by Tim Hart after they released a Self Recorded low quality Tape in 1974. With the help of Tim Hart they managed to release their Debut, full, of course of Traditional songs. There were very few pressings of this Album but it fortunately managed to call the attentions of a big label, Decca Records. In 1976 they were finally able to make a deal with them, and when they did they cut their name short, leaving it simply as Spriguns and changed their Band, adding more Rock musicians, who brought a harder sound. The Album that resulted from this combination was again Produced by Tim Hart, and apart from the Harder sound the songs were mostly original apart from some couple Traditional songs. The Band went to record some more Albums until Mandy Morton decided to go for a Solo career.

Best Tracks - "Trysting Tree", "Outlandish Knight", "Piscie Song", "Lord Lovell" and "Laily Worm". It is a pretty good Album, not fantastic or amazing, but a nice good ole Electric Folk Album in the style of Steeleye Span. The cover is quite hideous, at least i get kinda of freaked out by it, and i surely hate it a lot.

Spriguns:

- Mike Morton - Bass, Vocals.

- Mandy Morton - Vocals, 12 String Guitar, Dulcimer, Bongos.

- Dick Powell - Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals.

- Tom Ling - Electric And Acoustic Violins, Harpsichord, Fiddle.

- Chris Woodcock - Drums.

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Quill - Quill (1970)

2011-10-08T19:16:00.002+01:00

Quill is the First and Only Album by the American Psychedelic/Progressive Rock Band Quill.

Quill was founded by two Boston brothers, Jon and Dale Cole. The brothers were managed by Ray Paret and David Jenks of Amphion Management, the biggest management company in town and which helped create a lot of Bands from the town and almost creating a musical atmosphere on the town in which numerous Bands grew up, like The Cars and Aerosmith. With Ray and David they were able to meet some of the best musicians on Boston's circuit and formed Quill. All the members of the Band knew how to play numerous instruments, something that they wisely used to their advantage, for instance in concert where the Band Members would change instruments all the way through it, creating a very interesting sonority. They were chosen to open to numerous Bands, such as The Who, The Kinks, Deep Purple, Sly And The Family Stone, The Grateful Dead, and Janis Joplin. On a concert in the beginning of the Summer of 69 they were invited to go and play on the forthcoming Woodstock Concert, without having released one single Album (that same night Jimi Hendrix and Stephen Stills joined the Band and jammed for the night). Quill were also contracted to play for the workers of the Festival and were paid to perform on a series of goodwill concerts to appease the angry locals. Atlantic Records, upon gaining knowledge of their participation, decided to make a record deal with them counting that they would feature in the movie, and so they were signed to Atlantic's Subsidiary, Cotillion. But the rain that was felt during the Festival made it impossible for them to be recorded and so the Label lost interest, although they self-produced their Album and sent it to the Label managing to get it released but not promoted by the Label however. It got some attention but nothing extraordinary, leading to the Band dissolution the same year, in 1970.

Best Tracks - "Thumbnail Screwdriver", "The Tube Exuding", "Yellow Butterfly" and "Shrieking Finally". Quite a nice Album, and a very good example of what the Labels do to some great Bands condemning them to near obscurity, which is sort of disappearing now that it was re-issued on CD. Roger North designed a famous Drum set that is very nourished by several Drummers.

Quill:

- Dan Cole - Guitar, Trombone, Vocals.
- Jon Cole - Bass, Guitar, Vocals.
- Norman Rogers - Guitar, Bass, Cello, Vocals.
- Phil Thayer - Keyboards, Bass, Saxophone, Vocals.
- Roger North - Drums, Percussion, Vocals.

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Catapilla - Catapilla (1971)

2011-10-05T22:37:00.001+01:00

Catapilla is the First Self-Titled Album by the English Progressive/Jazz Rock Band Catapilla.
Catapilla was formed in December 1970, extremely influenced by two Albums (In The Court Of The Crimson King by King Crimson and Valentyne Suite by Colosseum) released on the previous year of 1969, and which made them fall in love with the growing Progressive Rock movement. Catapilla's sound however was kind of different embracing a much harder and Jazzistic sonority than much other Bands who were also into the Progressive scene. I saw a description on a Site describing them as "The Canterbury Scene on Acid", and I think that it is quite a good way to describe what features on this Album. They were spotted by Black Sabbath's Manager, Patrick Meehan and he quickly offered to produce their first Album. Before starting to record however Lead-Vocalist Jo Meek retired from the music scene, and Anna Meek his sister came to replace him on the same spot. The Debut was released in Late 1971, not achieving much interest from anybody. They went on tour and changed most of their Line-Up during it, however they were rarely headliners. This one is however quite expensive, as it has become a much sought after collector's item.
Best Tracks - "Naked Death", "Tumbleweed" and "Embryonic Fusion". Quite a weird Album, with a very unnusual and characteristic sound. Most of the Vocals are screams but it is quite enjoyable, even though it isn't surely an Album to listen to if you want to relax. This is definitively a must!

Catapilla:
- Anna Meek - Vocals.
- Dave Taylor – Bass.
- Graham Wilson – Guitar.
- Hugh Eaglestone – Saxophone.
- Robert Calvert – Saxophone.
- Thierry Rheinhart – Woodwind.
- Malcolm Frith – Drums.

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John McLaughlin - Extrapolation (1969)

2011-10-03T23:06:00.001+01:00

Extrapolation is the Debut Solo Album by the English Jazz Fusion Guitarist John McLaughlin.

John McLaughlin was born in 1942, in Doncaster, England. Since an early age McLaughlin was exposed to music and taught to play the Piano and the Violin (his mother was a Violinist) only picking up the Guitar at the age of 11, influenced by personalities like Django Reinhardt. At the dawn of the 60's, he moved to London where he played with some figures like Alexis Korner and Brian Auger and also The Graham Bond Organisation. He also did one thing that angered him a lot but helped him stay alive, which was playing in Studio Sessions, even though it helped him get a lot of Studio Experience. He was also an active and important Musician in some of the best Miles Davis Albums, including Bitches Brew, which has a track named after him. On January 18th, McLaughlin and three more musicians got together in London's Advision Studios and recorded this Album in a single day, which would later be released the same year. McLaughlin moved to the United States later that year and was received as one of the best Session Musicians available, playing for loads and loads of musicians. McLaughlin and Jimi Hendrix played together once in the 25th March of 1969, for 6 hours straight during the night. There is a recording of this Jam out there but i haven't listened to it yet.

Best Tracks - "Extrapolation", "It's Funny", "Pete The Poet", "Spectrum", "Two For Two" and "Peace Piece". I have been listening to some Jazz Fusion Music lately an many of then feature this man. He was one of the pioneers of the Genre and this Album, although it seems to have been forgotten over the time is a great example of why he is so. Great Album, with 4 great musicians. It is truly great.

John McLaughlin (Extrapolation Personnel):

- John McLaughlin – Guitar.

- Brian Odgers - Bass.

- Tony Oxley – Drums.

- John Surman – Baritone And Soprano Saxophone.

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Mark Fry - Dreaming With Alice (1972)

2011-10-02T00:23:00.001+01:00

Dreaming With Alice is the First Album by the English Acid-Folk Musician Mark Fry.

As soon as Mark Fry ended High-School in England in the year of 1970, he moved to Italy to pursue his giant interest in Painting and Arts. With him came his trustworthy friend, the Guitar. Fry however didn't have the ambition of becoming a Musician, even though he wrote numerous songs, he wanted to devote his life to painting, and Music was only a Hobby. The events however led to this Album being recorded in 1972 in the magnificent city of Rome. The Album ended up being released by RCA, but only in Italy, and it faded into almost complete obscurity. In 1973 Fry returned to England were he formed a Band with his old Friend, Ben Grove. It seems that they were in a verge to make a deal with a Label for endless times, but it was never done, leading to Fry deciding to go on a massive trip to Canada for six months and after that descending is was out to California, where he started to try to make it out as a Musician. There he wrote songs, recorded Demos and played every Gig he could. He never did it. In 1977 he quit his Band and the Music world overall, dedicating himself to Painting.

Best Tracks - "The Witch", "Song For Wilde", "A Norman Soldier", "Lute And Flute", "Narrow Streets", "Mandolin Man", "Rethorb Ym No Hcram" and all the "Dreaming With Alice" Verses. Dreaming With Alice is very influenced by the book by Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, of course, it was a book that was very influencing to that generation. Dreaming With Alice is also one of the most amazing Acid-Folk Albums I have ever heard and probably that anyone has ever heard. It is just completely amazing and it hasn't got one single dead or uninteresting moment.

Mark Fry (Dreaming With Alice Personnel):

I do not know if there are other musicians on this Record, because he recorded this in a Home-Studio of some Scottish Musicians, so it is possible that some of them indeed helped with the recording.

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Jonathon Round - Jonathon Round (1971)

2011-09-26T23:14:00.001+01:00

Jonathon Round is the First Album by the Folk-Rock Musician Jonathon Round.

It was quite tricky to found information about Jonathon Round on the Net. Sites that I usually go to in search of information had little to none information on him. Therefore I will present everything that i found about him to ease the search of anyone who is looking for more about him. So about his early life i know nothing about, he kind of suddenly appeared in the late 60's in the city of Detroit (where he seems to have been quite a mythical habitant of the town) and released a couple of Albums for the Label Westbound. His first one, a self-titled, was released in 1971 and the follow-up, whose name I don't know (and even whose existence I am not sure) was released in 1973. Jonathon seems to have been quite a charismatic and insane personality, according to a testimony I found on a forum, in the Release party of his Album, Jonathon spiked the weed with Heroin. It seems that he Toured America quite extensively until stopping in Chicago to study Improv Arts, and since then he seems to have continued doing Improv Performances until the end of his days (I have no confirmation on his death).

Best Tracks - "In Question Of The Unicorn", "Tolu", "Sympathy For The Devil", "Travelin' Mama Blues", "Train-A-Comin'" and "And I Will Not Be Moved". The Cover was in a Round-Shape which wasn't used by anyone at the time, and features a fantastic photo of the big-bearded Giant that was Jonathon, even though in the normal version (without being round) there is a picture where he looks quite small. He wrote a book on Improv Performances, and apart from being a musician, he was also a Producer, Director, Playwright, Author, Composer, Actor, Singer, Musician, Teacher and a Coach. If anyone has any more information I would be glad to receive it and update this post, even though I think i won't even get one comment on this one.

Jonathon Round (Jonathon Round Personnel):

- John Griffish - Keyboards.

- Mike Theodore - Acoustic Guitar.

- Jonathon Round - Acoustic Guitar, Lead-Vocals.

- Dennis Coffrey - Acoustic, Electric And Pedal Guitars.

- Bob Babbit - Bass.

- Sam Fazzini - Drums.

- Jack Ashford - Percussion.

- Bob Coward - Oboe, Flute.

- Fred Boldt - Baritone Sax.

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Stanley Clarke - School Days (1976)

2011-09-24T19:37:00.002+01:00

School Days is the Forth Solo Album by the American Jazz Fusion Bassist Stanley Clarke.

Stanley picked up the Bass completely randomly. He was late to school in the day where the students chose their instruments, so he ended being hooked up with it, as all the "cool" instruments had already found their player. He graduated from the Philadelphia Musical Academy in 1971 and moved to New York as soon as he could. There he started playing with several great musicians like Stan Getz, Chick Corea, Pharoah Sanders, Gil Evans and Art Blakey. Stanley was also very involved with the Scientology Church in that period, going to the point of referring its founder on the cover of his first releases. Following an invite by Chick Corea, Stanley joined the famous Jazz Fusion Band Return To Forever in 1972, and he was the only Member apart from Corea to feature in all the incarnations of the Band. Supposedly Return To Forever ended because Stanley left the Church of Scientology. Along with playing with them, he was since the beginning, working on his Solo career and in 1976 he recorded his Forth Album just a year before Return To Forever disbanded.

Best Tracks - "School Days", "Quiet Afternoon", "Desert Song" and "Hot Fun". It is always hard to find a good Album where the Bass takes control over the Guitar, and this one, is one of those. The Bass is just mind-blowing, and this is an Album that every Bass aficionado should hear. The Cover is quite bad, i don't like it, and it surely doesn't resemble what the Album has on its interior.

Stanley Clarke (School Days Personnel):

- Stanley Clarke – Electric Bass, Acoustic Bass, Piccolo Bass, Piano, Vocals, Handbells, Gong, Chimes, Humming.

- John McLaughlin – Acoustic Guitar.

- Icarus Johnson – Electric And Acoustic Guitar.

- David Sancious – Keyboards, Minimoog Synthesizer, Organ, Electric Guitar.

- George Duke – Keyboards.

- Milt Holland – Percussion, Congas, Triangle.

- Steve Gadd – Drums.

- Billy Cobham – Drums, Moog 1500.

- Gerry Brown – Drums, Handbells.

- Raymond Gomez – Electric Guitar.

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Gandalf The Grey - The Grey Wizard Am I (1972)

2011-09-21T23:30:00.001+01:00

The Grey Wizard Am I is the First and Only Album by the American Psychedelic Folk Musician Gandalf The Grey (AKA Chris Wilson).

This is quite a hard one to write about, mainly because there isn't almost any kind of information on Chris Wilson even though there is some more about the Album. As many other Musicians and Artists (of course it wasn't only them, many readers also, but they were especially fascinated by it) Wilson decided to record an Album under the pseudonym Gandalf The Grey (who is a main character in the series as you may know if you have read the Books, both the Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings trilogy, I have forgot whether he appears on Silmarillion though). Wilson apparently recorded a 45' but it did not achieve anything, and during the 90's he released another which of course failed also. About the Album, it is composed of 16 songs, all of them with the same musical style and not very different from one another, yet they are all very interesting and enjoyable. The lyrics are mostly about The Lord Of The Rings obviously, but there are also some songs about Wilson's Bohemian lifestyle on Greenwich Village. The Grey Wizard Am I was a private pressed release and each copy is worth for about 1.000 euros each.

Best Tracks - "The Grey Wizard Am I", "From the Grey Havens", "Here On Eighth Street", "Go And See", "Old Town Church", "Sunshine Down The Line", "Before Tomorrow", "The Shadows Of Tomorrow" and "An Eleven Song Of Love". It took me about two years to make my mind up and listen to this. I had downloaded it from the Peppermint Store Blog but the Cover seemed so banal and uninteresting that i discarded it, thinking it would be quite a unenjoyable, especially because of its quite big size. However it was a very good experience and I extremely liked it. Recommended for an fan of Psych Folk.

Gandalf The Grey:

- Gandalf The Grey - Vocals, Guitar

- Legolas The Elf - Guitar, Back-Vocals.

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Small Faces - Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (1968)

2011-09-20T20:27:00.001+01:00

Ogden's Nut Gone Flake is the Fourth Album by the British Psychedelic Pop Band Small Faces.

Ronnie Lane was going to buy a Bass in 1965 and he entered the store where Steve Marriott worked. The two quickly got involved and recruited two of their friends to form The Small Faces, they got the name due to their small statures. In the beginning they simply played Blues Songs and only two of their songs were Original compositions which they played around the London area. Many were deeply impressed by their performances and some of the owners of the Bars they played in started booking them some gigs out of town, until they got a contract with Decca. Their Singles were very successful since the First one, and they were always on the top of the Singles Charts, quickly they were playing on the TV and were one of the biggest live acts on England. With Decca their released their Debut, but as soon as 1967 they were already out of there and were signed with the Immediate Label, with whom they released their follow-up. Some time after Decca released a Third Album, with Unreleased Demos and Singles. It was in 1968 that they decided to evolve their Music and leave Pop music forever. And the result was amazing. They created a Concept Album around the story of Happiness Stan, a guy who realizes half the moon is gone and goes on a search of an explanation. He saves a fly from dying of hunger and his lead by a giant fly to the cave of the Hermit, Mad John, who explains him that the moon his back to full while he was looking for it, and makes a convincing case of which is truly the meaning of life. But one thing they hadn't expected happened. They realized they couldn't play the Album live, and when faced with this Marriott left the Band.

Best Tracks - “Ogden's Nut Gone Flake”, “Afterglow”, “Song Of A Baker”, “Lazy Sunday”, “Happiness Stan”, “The Journey “ and “Mad John”.The Album is just simply amazing. Superb Psychedelia and a very good concept, very hippiesque. The Album was originally released in a circular Tin Can copying a Tobacco can of the 19th century, and all the artworks and photos of the Band were circular. The Label quickly realized that it was to expensive to do so and it was changed to cardboard instead of Tin. Ogden's Nut Gone Flake is definitely one of the most amazing testimony's of the 60's Music Scene. Truly superb.

Small Faces:

- Steve Marriott - Guitar, Vocals.

- Ronnie Lane – Bass.

- Kenney Jones – Drums.

- Ian McLagan - Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals.

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Fresh Maggots - Fresh Maggots (1971)

2011-09-19T21:53:00.000+01:00

Fresh Maggots is the First and Only Album by the U.K. Acid Folk-Rock Band Fresh Maggots.

Two young lads from the town of Nuneaton, Warwickshire, who had just turned 19, recorded one Album for the RCA Label. And this is all the history there is about the Band. Needless to say, the Album failed to sell, and was forgotten until the Folk Rock revival that has been going on, with crescent interest on the Genre and the Age, and was finally Re-Issued on CD by the Sunbeam Label a few years ago. Fresh Maggots are not like other Acid Folk acts, their sound is very aggressive, since it drank heavily from the growing movement at the time, The Hard-Rock scene. There is another peculiarity in Fresh Maggots. Their Album was highly anticipated and advertised, and when it came out a lot of Music Reviewers praised it as magnificent and something out of the ordinary. This is a lot different from all those other Bands who were cut short on their dreams due to bad management, as they had all the capacity to make it but weren't able to do so. And guess who's fault it is? The Label. They delayed the release and the Records all had several problems which ended being the cause for the Album being discontinued.

Best Tracks - “Dole Song”, “Rosemary Hill”, “Everyone's Gone To War”, “Spring”, “Elizabeth R” and “Frustration”. This was a truly joyful surprise, very different from what i was expecting. The inside of the Album does not match the Cover, which quite resembles a quiet Acoustic only Folk Album, singing about Damsels and Knights, not this Fuzzy Guitar Extravaganza. A must for everybody.

Fresh Maggots:

- Mick Burgoyne - Electric Guitar, Violin, Tin Whistles, Glockenspiel.

- Leigh Dolphin – Acoustic Guitar, Vocals.

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The Five Day Week Straw People - The Five Day Week Straw People (1968)

2011-09-18T20:53:00.001+01:00

The Five Day Week Straw People is the First and Only Album by the British Psychedelic Band The Five Day Week Straw People.

The Five Day Week Straw People were not actually a Band, they were more of a Studio-only assemble that got together to record an Album based on the weekends of the normal folks (The Straw People). Three Musicians were chosen to participate, two of whom had no Band (Mick Hawksworth and Jack Collins) and the last one, the Vocalist (John Du Cann), was a member of an Obscure Psychedelic Pop Band called The Attack, who had recorded some Singles for the Record Label Decca. The whole affair was recorded in only 4 hours, and it was the first time Collins was playing with them, the place where they recorded was simply a London Schoolroom. All this is quite an achievement and a demonstrator of the versatility of this Musicians, as the Album does not lack for arrangements and problems. The three Members would go on to form another Band called Andromeda, as The Five Day Week Straw People were a project not destined to last for more than that Album. The Album is a much sought after Collector's Item and there were scarce copies of it left, until it was Released on CD in 2000 by the Label Angel Air together with 9 unreleased Tracks of the Band The Attack.

Best Tracks - “Five Day Week Straw People”, “I'm Going Out Tonight”, “Gold Digger”, “Car Wash”, “Sunday Morning?” and “Dust Is In My Eyes”. There are quite a number of unforgettable songs on this one, however there are also songs that are quite weak and uninteresting. It is overall a good Album nothing too extraordinary though.

The Five Day Week Straw People:

- Jack Collins – Drums.

- John Du Cann – Vocals, Guitar.

- Mick Hawksworth – Bass.

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Peter Tosh - Legalize It (1976)

2011-09-13T17:52:00.002+01:00

Legalize It is the Debut Solo Album by the Jamaican Reggae Musician Peter Tosh.

Winston Hubert McIntosh or as he was later known, Peter Tosh, was born in 1944 in Grange Hill, Jamaica. His parents were too young at the time of his birth so he was raised by his aunt. While living with her aunt he listened to a lot of American Radio Stations, which were extremely important in his musical culture, and were the big influence in his decision to start playing instruments. In a Slum called Trench Town he met Bob Marley and Bunny Wailer, with whom he played. But it wasn't until they met Joe Higgs that they started playing like professionals. In 1962 it was Higgs who helped organize The Wailing Wailers, who released several successful Singles. But this is not the story of The Wailers and Bob Marley. This is the story of the Second most important Member of The Wailers, Peter Tosh, so moving on. In 1965 the Wailing Wailers disbanded, and the friends separated. By 1967 when they all came together, Tosh was already a fervent Rastafari and very socially political active. The new Wailers embraced that, and their songs featured that theme a lot. You all know the rest o the story... In 1974, Tosh Solo Debut was refused and in anger he and Bunny left. He recorded a new one and released it in 1976, It was around this time that he adopted the name Peter Tosh.

Best Tracks - "Legalize It", "Burial", "No Sympathy", "Igziabeher (Let Jah Be Praised)" and "Brand New Second Hand". A Very important and interesting document in Reggae history. Very good songs and the musicians are excellent. The Cover depicting Tosh smoking a Weed Pipe in a Marijuana Field is also spectacular. From what i've heard there was a thing in the original LP that had the smell of Marijuana embedded to it, which is no only very funny but a very good idea too.

Peter Tosh (Legalize It Personnel):

- Peter Tosh – Guitar, Keyboards, Lead-Vocals.

- Al Anderson – Guitar.

- Aston "Family Man" Barrett – Bass.

- Carlie Barrett – Drums.

- Tyrone "Organ D" Downie – Keyboards.

- Donald Kinsey – Guitar.

- Robbie "Ras" Lee – Harmonica.

- Rita Marley – Back-Vocals.

- Judy Mowatt - Back-Vocals.

- Robert Shakespeare – Bass.

- Bunny Wailer – Back-Vocals.

Nirvana - The Existence Of Chance Is Everything And Nothing While The Greatest Achievement Is The Living Of Life, And So Say All Of Us (1968)

2011-09-13T03:03:00.001+01:00

The Existence Of Chance Is Everything And Nothing While The Greatest Achievement Is The Living Of Life, And So Say All Of Us is the Second Album by the British Progressive/Psychedelic Pop Band Nirvana.

Nirvana was formed in 1967, as a Duo, by two musicians (Patrick Campbell-Lyons and Greek composer Alex Spyropoulos) who wanted to expand their songwriting and composing potential. They weren't however very versatile musicians, and for that, they had a solution. To their Duo they added 4 session musicians to accompany them on concert and provide an image of a big Band rather than a Duo, which sold less. However they were not members of the Band, although they appeared on the Cover of Nirvana's Debut. Nirvana managed to land a contract with the Label Island with whom they started releasing some Singles. They were not unsuccessful, but we can't say they sold very well either, and even though their concerts were quite populated and had quite the energy, they sold poorly both in America and the U.K. (getting a good amount of sales in Europe though). For their Second try they decided to get back to their roots and return to the Duo format. Live appearances where getting fewer and fewer, and to augment to that fact, Schuster, the Cellist, got pregnant. This was, according to Spyropoulos, the spark that led to the disbanding of this "Band". The Second Album failed, and the Third was refused by Atlantic, forcing them to move to Pye Records.

Best Tracks - "Rainbow Chaser", "The Touchables (All Of Us)", "Trapeze", "The Show Must Go On", "Everybody Loves The Clown" and "St. John's Wood Affair". This is certainly not a phenomenal Album and i find some of the songs quite bad, but it has some very good musicianship and composition. The Cover-Art is quite impressive, numerous famous figures walking on dead corpses, quite a strong sight.

Nirvana:

Patrick Campbell-Lyons – Guitar, Vocals.

Alex Spyropoulos – Piano, Keyboards.

Ray Singer – Guitar, Vocals.

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