Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Hunger - Strictly From Hunger (1969)


Ένα παλιό μου δισκάκι για σήμερα από την ξεχασμένη PSYCHO, το οποίο αγόρασα με το που ήρθε στην πατρίδα μας. Αιτία της αγοράς η απίστευτη συλλογή Endless Journey, όπου σιγά σιγά μπόρεσα και βρήκα σε βινύλια κυρίως όλα σχεδόν τα γκρουπ που περιείχε. Εκτιμώ ότι γνωρίζετε το γκρουπ συνεπώς παραπάνω σχόλια δεν έχουν νόημα.

Personnel:
BILL DAFFERN vcls, drms A B
STEVE HANSEN gtr, vcls A B C
MIKE LANE vcls A B C
JOHN MORTON gtr, vcls A B C
MIKE PARKISON keyb'ds, vcls A B C
TOM TANORY bs, vcls A B C
GENE GUNNELS drms C
(ED KING gtr B)

ALBUMS:
1(A) STRICTLY FROM HUNGER (Public! Records P-1006) 1969 R4
2(B) HUNGER (No label) 1969 R6
NB: (1) reissued (Psycho 14) 1983 and counterfeited on CD (Afterglow 010) 1993. Reissued (Akarma AK 045) 1999 with one bonus track on vinyl and six bonus tracks on CD. (2) was only issued as a test pressing in a plain sleeve. Reissued on vinyl (Void 08) 1998. (1) and (2) reissued as The Lost Album a 2-LP package (Akarma 045/2) 1999.

45s:
1(A) She Let Him Continue/Mind Machine (Public! Records PR 101/2) 1968
2(A) No Shame/Not So Fine (Public! Records PR 103/4) 1968
3(A) Colors/Mind Machine (Public! Records PR 1001) 1969
NB: (1) is non-LP versions. (2) as by The Touch. Both tracks figure on the Strictly From album, the 'B' side being re-titled, but the 45 versions are very different. (3) same versions as on the Strictly From album.

Hunger! originated in Portland, Oregon but by 1968 they were based in Los Angeles, California and it was there that they issued their three singles

Tracks:
1 Colors 2:04
2 Workship 4:17
3 Portland 5:35
4 No Shame 2:26
5 Trying to Make the Best 5:33
6 Open Your Eyes 2:25
7 The Truth 3:59
8 Mind Machine 3:30
9 She Let Him Continue 5:04
10 Trying to Make the Best No. 2 7:18

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Oxford Blue - Alice In Wonderland


Ίσως να κάνω λάθος και να έχω παρεξηγήσει μερικά πράγματα, εκτιμώ όμως πως θα πρέπει να υπάρχει η δυνατότητα να «κυκλοφορούμε» οτιδήποτε μουσικά καλό πέφτει στην αντίληψή μας και να το μοιραζόμαστε.

Κάπως έτσι σκαλίζοντας το blog με τα 45αρια του peach fuzz forest, έπεσε το μάτι σε αυτό το σιγκλάκι το οποίο ούτε κατά διάνοια βέβαια δεν είχα ποτέ ακούσει μου, έστω και ως όνομα. Κατέβασα το κομμάτι, το άκουσα 500 φορές, όπως άλλες 500 έψαξα να βρω κάποια πληροφορία για αυτό το γκρουπ. Μάταια όμως.

Βάζω αυτούσιο το αρχείο με το Mp3 όπως το έχει το συγκεκριμένο blog χωρίς την άδεια του. Κατεβάστε το και θα με θυμηθείτε.

The mp3 file is from peachfuzzforest.blogspot. It’s really a brilliant song, that’s why I repost it here (without his permission). This song is a must for every psych fan.

http://sharebee.com/2dd15e84

Far East Family Band – Nipponjin (1975)


Κινούμαστε πιο progressive με τους Ιάπωνες Far East Family Band που προσωπικά μου άρεσαν χωρίς να έχω μεγάλη εμπειρία ακουσμάτων από την μακρινή αυτή χώρα. Το γνωστό μας όνομα εδώ είναι ο Kitaro που συνεργάστηκε μαζί τους.

Far East Family Band spawned the careers of three guys. Their names being Fumio Miyashita (who often released his albums under simply the "Fumio" name), Akira Ito, and most of all, Masanori Takahashi. Maybe you might not know Masanori Takahashi by that name, but you know him as Kitaro, the prolific New Age artist of the 1980s and 1990s. But what Far East Family Band did in the 1970s was not New Age at all, but mainly progressive rock, with the occasional Japanese influence.Nipponjin is the band's second album and contained remakes of songs from their previous album, The Cave - Down to the Earth (1975), and Far Out (1973), an album from Fumio Miyashita's previous band, Far Out.Klaus Schulze also produced Nipponjin, and you can hear some of his influence, particularly on "Undiscovered Northern Land". That piece mainly consists of droning, with some bamboo flute and Mellotron.
The album's real centerpiece is without a doubt, the title track. It starts off rather mellow, complete with electric sitar, with vocals (in English), but then the album kicks in with a killer guitar jam, eventually the band starts chanting "Om", as well as repeatedly chanting something in Japanese. Some of the mid-tempo parts of this song justifies why FEFB is regarded as the Japanese Pink Floyd. A totally amazing song!
The next song, "The Cave" is the FEFB sound in a nutshell. I especially like the intense middle part where they start singing in Japanese. A lot of the rest of the album consists of experimentations segued in to songs, such as the mellow "River of Soul". The final song, "Mystery of Northern Space" tends to be a bit more dramatic, especially in the guitar department, plus there are real strings used here. Regardless, a great album if you like Pink Floyd-like space rock with a Japanese twist. (Ben Miler)

Personnel:
Fumio Miyashita - guitar, keyboards, vocals
Akira Ito - keyboards
Masanori Takahashi (Kitaro) - keyboards, percussion
Hirohito Fukushima - guitar, vocals
Akira Fukakusa - bass
Shizuo Takasaki – drums

Tracks:

1. Nipponjin [16:51]
2. Cave [8:37]
3. Undiscovered Northern Land [2:54]
4. Timeless [4:26]
5. God of Water [2:06]
6. River of Soul [8:28]
7. God of Wind [2:33]
8. Movin' Lookin' [1:39]
9. Yamato [0:48]
10. Mysery of Northern Space [5:57]

Far East Family Band - The Cave Down To Earth (1975)


Regarded by many as the first Japanese progressive rock group, the Far East Family Band featured the keyboardist and future new age composer, Kitaro. A keyboard-dominated space rock band, the Far East Family Band played extended compositions that brought comparisons to Tangerine Dream and early Pink Floyd.

The group's first album was released under the band name of Far Out. After changing their name, the band released The Cave Down to Earth in 1975. Their first European release, Nipponjin -- Join Our Mental Phase Sound (1975), featured re-recorded versions of material from the previous record and the album attributed to Far Out. The group's next record, Parallel Worlds (1976), was profoundly influenced by Klaus Schulze who Kitaro met on a trip through Europe. With the first track over 30 minutes long, the album bears similarities to Krautrock legends Ash Ra Tempel. Tenkujin (1977) followed and was the band's first and only American release. By this point, the band consisted of Miyashta (vocals, synths, guitars, bamboo flute), Hirohito Fukushima (guitar, vocals, koto), and Yujin Harada (drums, percussion). It would be the band's last record. ~ Geoff Orens, All Music Guide

Personnel:
Akira Fukakusa - bass
Akira Ito - keyboards
Fumio Miyashita - guitar, keyboards
Hirohito Fukushima - vocals, guitar
Masanori Takahashi (Kitaro) - keyboards, percussion
Shizuo Takasaki – drums

1. Undiscovered nothern land
2. Birds flying to the cave
3. The God of water
4. Saying to the land
5. The God of wind
6. Moving, looking, trying, jumping
7. Wa, wa
8. Mystery of nothern Space
9. The Cave, down to the earth
10. Four minds
11. Transmigration

Monday, April 28, 2008

Rainbow - After The Storm (1968)


Το άλμπουμ (το cd δηλαδή) των Rainbow είναι μουσικά λίγο από όλα, αλλά με ένα πραγματικά πανέμορφο εξώφυλλο. Θα ακούσουμε από ψυχεδέλια, sunshine pop, acid rock, bluesy psych αλλά και μπαλάντες. Ξεχωρίζω την κομματάρα Milk & Honey Lovin' όπου τα φωνητικά με παραπέμπουν σε Fever Tree και American Blues.

Personnel:
DARRELL DEVLIN drms A
BOB GAY bs A
W DAVID MOHR keyb'ds A
HARRY VAVELA ld gtr A

ALBUM: 1(A) AFTER THE STORM (GNP Crescendo GNPS 2049) 1968
NB: (1) has been reissued on CD (Lyrical Sound Device CW 5003).


A short-lived Los Angeles-based project. Their album has a great cover. The contents incorporate several different styles. All the music is written by W. David Mohr and much of it is heavy with lots of fuzz guitar reminiscent of Iron Butterfly. It ranges from heavy soul (I Just Want To Make Love To You); hippie pop (Leaf Clover); a sorta West Coast sound which seems in places distinctly similar to Fever Tree's San Francisco Girls (well spotted, Max!); pretentious pop with lots of keyboards (Midnight Candle); gimmickry with lots of sound effects (Does Your Head Need Straightening?) to the very plesant After The Storm, which has some delighfful soothing piano.
(Fuzz, Acid & Flowers)

Tracks:

1. Debby's Party
2. Ballad of Captain Bob and the Good Ship Venus
3. Love Allusions
4. Milk & Honey Lovin'
5. I Just Want to Make Love to You
6. 4 Leaf Clover
7. Prelude to the "Music Makers Concerto"
8. Does Your Head Need Straightening
9. Midnight Candle
10. Mary Lou
11. Everything's Cool
12. After the Storm

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Lost-In-Tyme Updates

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Lost-In-Tyme Updates
Hallo All !!!
Since blogger delete (without warning) the 3 working pages of Lost-In-Tyme plus my account...we're trying to find a better place to host our posts...
The first part is the "100 Mirrors project" (we working on it when is possible)...and the second part is to find another host (we working also on some projects)We need from you to have patience and give us some time before we start making new posts regularly...You can send invitations for "Mirror blogs" to the known e-mails...step 1 :create a blog > settings > permissions > add authorsstep 2 :settings > permissions > grand admin privileges*even if you have done this, please check one more time your permissions page....Thank you all for the Support !
the Lost-In-Tyme team

Saturday, April 26, 2008

ΕΥΧΟΜΑΙ ΚΑΛΗ ΑΝΑΣΤΑΣΗ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΛΟ ΠΑΣΧΑ ΣΕ ΟΛΟΥΣ ΣΑΣ


It’s Easter time for the all the Orthodoxies

See you again on Monday

13th Floor Elevators - Easter Everywhere (1967)


Ο δίσκος ανέβηκε για το εορταστικό και μόνο της ημέρας. Easter Everywhere. Από πολύ καιρό σκεπτόμουν αν θα έπρεπε να ανεβάσω κάποιο κάποιο Lp των 13th Floor Elevators λόγω της περιπέτειας της υγείας του Roky Erickson. Ευτυχώς ανέκαμψε πλήρως στην υγεία του σύμφωνα με τα όσα έχω διαβάσει, ανακτώντας όλα τα δικαιώματα. Εκτιμώ ότι μέσα σε αυτά θα είναι και τα δικαιώματα από τους δίσκους.

Είναι λογικό να μου πει κάποιος, καλά ρε φίλε τόσους και τόσους δίσκους ανέβασες, η «πειρατεία» του Rocky θα σε πειράξει? Θα του πω πως ναι μεν έχει δίκιο αλλά την περίπτωση του Erickson την αισθάνομαι διαφορετικά, αφού το σύστημα προσπάθησε με κάθε τρόπο να τον εξαφανίσει διελύοντας το πολυτιμότερο αγαθό που έχει ο άνθρωπος. Την υγεία του. Έτσι όπως έμπλεξε και τον τεράστιο Arthur Lee των Love χρόνια αργότερα (του την φύλαγαν εκτιμώ) μόνο που αυτόν τον έστειλαν φυλακή.

Όπως και να έχει ακόμα και οι «πειρατές» έχουν κάποιες αναστολές. Θεωρείστε πως αυτή είναι μία από αυτές που έχω για κάποια πρόσωπα που εκτιμώ πως «περπάτησαν» την μουσική πολύ παραπέρα από κάποιους άλλους άχρηστους που απολαμβάνουν προνόμια και χρήμα με ουρά.

Για τους 13th Floor Elevators θα τα πούμε κάποια στιγμή διεξοδικότερα στο μέλλον. Όσοι τυχών δεν έχουν αυτό το Lp (νομίζω θα έμειναν ελάχιστοι) ας το κατεβάσουν και ας το απολαύσουν.

Tracks:

1. "Slip Inside this House"
2. "Slide Machine"
3. "She Lives (In a Time of Her Own)"
4. "Nobody to Love"
5. "It's All Over Now, Baby Blue"
6. "Earthquake"
7. "Dust"
8. "I've Got Levitation"
9. "I Had to Tell You"
10. "Pictures (Leave Your Body Behind)"

The Apple Pie Motherhood Band - Apple Pie Motherhood Band (1968)


Πρέπει να πέρασε καιρός από τότε που μνημόνευσα ένα γκρουπ από την Βοστόνη με το περίφημο Bosstown. Οι Apple Pie Motherhood Band δεν ήταν η «μεγάλη» μπάντα ωστόσο διαθέτουν πολύ καλά φωνητικά και καλές συνθέσεις σε αυτό τον πρώτο τους δίσκο. Να συμπληρώσω στο Αγγλικό κείμενο ότι την παραγωγή στο μακράν καλύτερο κομμάτι του δίσκου έκανε ο Felix Pappalardi. Γνωστός σας ίσως λόγω των αξεπέραστων Cream στο Disraeli Gears.

Κατά το παρελθόν ίσως θυμάστε ότι είχν κάνει αναφορά στον παραγωγό ραδιοφωνικής εκπομπής Tony Coulter και στον Αμερικάνικό σταθμό eclectic music WFMU. Εκεί λοιπόν άκουσα μία άλλη εκτέλεση του Apple Pie η οποία είναι εξαιρετική και διαφορετική (είναι το 45αρι με τίτλο Long Live Apple Pie) αφού τα φωνητικά τα κάνει μία κοπελιά που θυμίζει Grace Slick. Προφανώς κατέβασα του σκοτωμού την εκτέλεση από τον σταθμό, την οποία έβαλα αυθαίρετα στα tracks ως bonus track. Για αυτό και μόνο το κομμάτι δηλαδή οι Apple Pie Motherhood Band είναι αξιαγάπητοι.

Personnel:
RICHARD BARNABY bs, vcls A B
JACK BRUNO drms, vcls A B
JOE CASTAGNO gtr, vcls A
TED DEMOS gtr, vcls A B
JEF LABES keyb'ds, vcls A B
ADAM MYERS hrmnca, vcls B
BRUCE PAINE vcls B
MICHAEL SORAFINE gtr, vcls B

ALBUMS:
1(A) APPLE PIE MOTHERHOOD BAND (Atlantic 8189) 1968
2(B) APPLE PIE (Atlantic 8233) 1969

45:
1 Long Live Apple Pie/Flight Path (Atlantic 2477) 1968

From Boston, this act evolved out of a garage band called C.C. And The Chasers. Richard Barnaby recalls: "As C.C. and the Chasers, we were a garage band. Jack was only thirteen at the time and we rehearsed in the basement of a friend, Tom Harrington in Arlington Mass, since none of our parents would have it! We covered The Byrds, and had a few originals, and when psychedelics hit, they hit us as well. We moved from Boston and lived in Greenwich Village from 1965-1969 and were the house band at the Bitter End Cafe.

There we backed up a number of the groups of the day including First Edition (with Kenny Rogers), Neil Diamond, Linda Rondstadt and The Stone Poneys, Jerry Jef Walker, Joni Mitchell, etc. Having signed to Atlantic we moved into the psychedelic venues such as Electric Circus, Cafe Au Go Go, and The Ark. With our second album we lived and played in Vermont, and toured the East Coast, and Mid-West from Toronto to Miami. We also toured both as a "B" group (supporting other groups like Chambers Brothers, Mamas and Papas, Jefferson Airplane, Butterfield Blues Band) and in our own right."

Tracks:

1. Born Under a Bad Sign
2. I'd Like To Know
3. Ice
4. Yesterday's New Song
5. Barnaby's Madness
6. Medley: The Ultimate/Contact
7. The Way It Feels
8. Brean And Jam
9. Apple Pie
10. Variations On a Fingernail

Bonus
11 Long Live Apple Pie

Friday, April 25, 2008

Morning Star - Message From the Throne (1975)


Στο ίδιο κλίμα ήθελα να ανεβάσω άλλη μία επιλογή την οποία όμως δεν διαθέτω σε καμία μορφή εκτός βέβαια από mp3 που κατέβασα. Δεν ντρέπομαι να πω πως η επιλογή αυτή ανήκει στο πάρα πολύ καλό blog που δυστυχώς δεν δραστηριοποιείται άλλο (ελπίζω ειλικρινά να συνεχίσει) heavenly-grooves. Ένα αυστηρά εξειδικευμένο blog το οποίο κατά καιρούς έβαλε πανέμορφους δίσκους που δυστυχώς δεν ήρθαν στην πατρίδα μας.

Κρίνω ότι θα πρέπει να ακούμε τα πάντα από εκείνα τα χρόνια και πολύ περισσότερο αυτά που δεν θα έρθουν ποτέ στην χώρα μας. Κάποιος καλός φίλος που μένει Νέα Υόρκη έχει ήδη στα χέρια του ένα κατάλογο που του έστειλα με διάφορα από εκείνη την εποχή που δεν τα έχουμε δει.

Αντιγράφοντας (χωρίς την άδεια του) από το heavenly-grooves για το γκρουπ αυτό διαβάζω πως ήταν από την Μινεσότα και είχε ως μέλη τους Roger Aleckson, Jon Bayless and Chris Hampton. Κρίνω πως ο συγκεκριμένος δίσκο είναι πολύ καλός.

Tracks:
01 - You're So Free.mp3
02 - The First Day.mp3
03 - Shine On (With Jesus).mp3
04 - His Will.mp3
05 - Steppin' In & Steppin' Out.mp3
06 - Joy In G Minor.mp3
07 - The Conversation.mp3
08 - The Ship Of Life.mp3

Electric Prunes - Release of an Oath (1968)


Λόγω της ημέρας διαλέγω αυτό το αγαπημένο Lp που δέχτηκε πολλές μάλλον κακές κριτικές. Το τι λένε οι κριτικές όμως με αφήνει παγερά αδιάφορο αφού στα δικά μου αυτιά φαντάζει εξαιρετικό. Ως φανατικός θαυμαστής των Electric Prunes που είμαι έχω να πως η δουλειά τους αυτή που κινείται στο χώρο του Jesus rock προφανώς και διαφοροποιείται αισθητά από τις αρχικές. Συγκρίνοντας το με το Mass In Mirror που προηγήθηκε το βρίσκω πάρα μα πάρα πολύ καλύτερο.
Παρά το πρώτο κομμάτι, το Kol Nidre που παραπέμπει σε μία Εβραϊκή προσευχή ο υπόλοιπος δίσκος είναι Χριστιανικός. Οι συνθέσεις ανήκουν στον συνθέτη και παραγωγό David Axelrod που κινήθηκε σε διάφορα ήδη μουσικής με πολλούς μουσικούς και σχήματα.

Personnel:
Howard Roberts and Lou Morrell (guitar)
Don Randi (keyboards)
Carol Kaye (bass)
Earl Palmer (drums)

Tracks:
Side 1
Kol Nidre (Axelrod) 4.14
Holy Are You (Axelrod) 4.05
General Confessional (Axelrod) 4.15

Side 2
Individual Confessional (Axelrod) 2.10
Our Father, Our King (Axelrod) 3.10
The Adoration (Axelrod) 3.48
Closing Hymn (Axelrod) 2.53

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Billy Nicholls - Would You Believe (1967)


Ένα από τα ψυχεδελικά Βρετανικά αριστουργήματα αποτελεί η δουλειά του Billy Nicholls που είναι ευκαιρία να ακούσουν όσοι δεν έτυχε ως τώρα. Κάπου στο αγγλικό κείμενο αναφέρεται το όνομα του Andrew Loog Oldham, το οποίο θα θυμίσω ότι υπάρχει πίσω από τα πρώτα χρόνια των Rolling Stones. Είναι συνεπώς προφανές ότι όπου ανακατευόταν ο Andrew, εξυπακούεται ότι θα το χαρακτηρίζει η ποιότητα.

ALBUM:
1 WOULD YOU BELIEVE (Immediate IMCP 009) 1967 R3
45s:
1 Would You Believe/Daytime Girl (Immediate IM 063) 1968
2 Forever's No Time At All/This Song Is Green (Track 2094 109) 1973
NB: (2) with Pete Townshend.

The Would You Believe album is now an ultra-rarity. His first 45 was produced by Ronnie Lane and Stevie Marriott of The Small Faces.
His album was Andrew Loog Oldham's attempt to concoct the UK's answer to The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, only a few copies appear to have leaked out. He was signed by Oldham straight from school.
Nicholls went on to contribute to Townshend's early seventies solo album, which explains Townshend's involvement on his 1973 45 for Track.
Compilation appearances have included: Portobello Road on Justavibration (LP) and Justafixation (CD); London Social Degree on Maximum '65 (LP); Would You Believe on Immediate Alternative (LP); Would You Believe and Daytime Girl on Immediate Alternative (CD); Daytime Girl on Immediate Single Collection, Vol. 5 (CD).

Προφανώς ξεχωρίζω το It Brings Me Down

I wander through the night time
There's no one I can call mine
It brings me downIt brings me down
There's no one looking at me
Because there's nothing to see
It brings me down
It brings me down
Because I think far too much
And there's no one as such
who believes in the dreams I have to dream
It brings me down
I wander through the night time
There's no one
I can call mine
It brings me down
It brings me down
There's no one looking at me
because there's nothing to see
It brings me down
It brings me down
Because I think far too much
And there's no one as such
Who believes in the dreams
I have to dream
It brings me down

Tracks:

1. Would You Believe? (Paul) - 2:41
2. Come Again (Nicholls) - 2:34
3. Life Is Short (Nicholls) - 3:07
4. Feeling Easy (Nicholls) - 3:12
5. Daytime Girl (Nicholls) - 2:14
6. Daytime Girl (Coda) (Nicholls) - 1:36
7. London Social Degree (Nicholls) - 2:20
8. Portobello Road (Nicholls) - 2:05
9. Question Mark (Nicholls) - 2:26
10. Being Happy (Nicholls) - 2:28
11. Girl From New York (Nicholls) - 3:16
12. It Brings Me Down (Nicholls) - 4:39Bonus Tracks
13. Would You Believe? [Mono Single Version] (Paul) - 2:38
14. Daytime Girl [Mono Single Version] (Nicholls) - 2:14

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Jorma Kaukonen with Tom Hobson - Quah (1974)


Το πρώτο σόλο Lp του Jorma Kaukonen κυκλοφόρησε το 1974 και ενώ στο μεταξύ «εργαζόταν» ως Hot Tuna από το Δεκέμβρη του 1968 μαζί με άλλα μέλη των Jefferson Airplane όπως τους Marty Balin, Jack Casady και Joey Covington. O Jorma παρουσιάζει την δική του άποψη για το rock, το blues την folk και το gospel.

Στην συλλογή μου υπάρχουν και μερικές εξαιρέσεις όπως για παράδειγμα με αυτό το Lp που είναι original (μικρής αξίας) σε σχέση με τους κάργα πειρατές που διαθέτω. Όσον αφορά το περιεχόμενο, το πραγματικά αγαπημένο μου κομμάτι είναι το Genesis.

Jorma Kaukonen's first solo album remains one of the crowning achievements in his distinguished musical career. First released in 1974, Quah drew on the same folk and blues influences that powered his Hot Tuna project, but did so with a gentler, more delicate touch. Produced by his Hot Tuna partner Jack Casady, the album mostly features just Jorma and his deft fingerpicking, although three songs feature tasteful string-section overdubs. The opening "Genesis," a poignant ode to his failing marriage (recorded on Valentine's Day), is perhaps his most touching original composition, while another original, "Flying Clouds," is a graceful melody as far from acid rock as one can imagine. There are also two uplifting covers of his biggest influence, Rev. Gary Davis. Originally, Quah was supposed to be a full collaboration with Tom Hobson, whom Jorma describes as a "quirky roots performer." Hobson was apparently too quirky for the suits at RCA, since only two of his contributions survived the original cut; though always considered a bit odd by Jorma fans, Hobson's songs have over time acquired a certain charm. The 2003 reissue adds four unreleased bonus cuts: two Hobson vocals, an instrumental duet, and a solo instrumental by Kaukonen. Those who associate Jorma Kaukonen with more jam-oriented projects may be surprised by just how lovely and enchanting Quah is. --Marc Greilsamer

Line Up:
Jorma Kaukonen
Tom Hobson

Tracks:

Side 1
Genesis
I'll Be All Right
Song for the North Star
I'll Let You Know Before I Leave
Flying Clouds
Another Man Done Gone

Side 2
I Am the Light of This World
Police Dog Blues
Blue Prelude
Sweet Hawaiian Sunshine
Hamar Promenade

The Misunderstood - Before The Dream Faded




Από τις ελάχιστες φορές που τα χρόνια εκείνα Ελληνική εταιρεία δίσκων αιφνιδίαζε τους πάντες αφού αποφάσιζε να κάνει ανατύπωση ξεχασμένο δίσκο και συγκρότημα. Έτσι έγινε και με τους Καλιφορνέζους Misunderstood που κινήθηκαν με απόλυτη επιτυχία στην ψυχεδέλια αλλά και στο garage. Είναι ένας τέλειος δίσκος που εκτιμώ ότι όλοι οι συμπατριώτες μας θα βρήκαν τότε μία κόπια της Cherry Red (συμφερόντων Music Box). Αρκετές και καλές πληροφορίες για το γκρουπ υπάρχουν παρακάτω από το κλασικό πλέον βιβλίο.

Θα ξεχωρίσω το I Can Take You to the Sun

I rise in the morning, with an open mind,
with guitar and song I drift, the Sun is what I find
Because love I am as you are love
and I never stop to doubt
As I seen the meaning of the word
that glows within not out
I rise in the morning, beneath an open sky,
with guitar and song I drift, and never stop to cry
Because love I am as you are love
and I never stop to doubt
As I seen the meaning of the word
which glows within not out
Well I speak of love but you do not see
cause words are words and they mean nothing more
with half a mind you laugh at me
cause I speak of colours you’ve never seen before
You’ve existed in a lie, that will some day show
I can take you to the Sun, to the Sun,
but you don’t want to go

Αλλά και το Children of The Sun

Let go lovely children
Close your eyes and drift away
When you wake again tomorrow
You'll be born again to stay
Thus the word of love has spoken
You've joined the children of the Sun
You've joined the children of the Sun
Relax yourselves and drift
Into the regons of your mind
As understanding glows before you
All thats left of you is kind
Thus the word of love has spoken
You've joined the children of the Sun
You've joined the children of the Sun


Personnel:

RICK BROWN vcls A
GLENN CAMPBELL steel gtr A B
TONY HILL gtr A
RICK MOE drms A
GREG TREADWAY gtr A
STEVE WHITING bs A
GUY EVANS drms B
STEVE HOARD vcls B
NEIL HUBBARD gtr B
CHRIS MERCER sax B
DAVY O'LIST gtr B
NIC POTTER bs B

ALBUMS:
1(A) BEFORE THE DREAM FADED (Cherry Red BRED 32) 1982
2(B) GOLDEN GLASS (Time Stood Still TSS LP 1) 1984
NB: (1) reissued on CD (Cherry Red CD BRED 32) 1992 and again (Cherry Red BRED 32) 1996. Fans of the band will also be interested in The Legendary Goldstar Album (Cherry Red CDBRED 142) 1997. This double CD package contains all the material featured on (2) plus previously unreleased material recorded at Gold Star in 1966. Only two of these 1966 cuts have surfaced before on the 'B' side to Golden Glass 12" single. however, to confuse matters further, (2) has also been reissued on CD in Italy (Get Back GET 4) 1996, also with the two 12" tracks recorded at Gold Star.
EP:

1 GOLDEN GLASS (Cherry Red 2 THYME 1) 1984
NB: (1) contains Golden Glass plus two tracks recorded at Gold Star studios in 1966: Shake Your Money Maker/I'm Not Talking.

45s:
1 I Can Take You To The Sun/Who Do You Love? (Fontana TF 777) 1966
2 Children Of The Sun/I Unseen (Fontana TF 998) 1968
3 You're Tuff Enough/Little Red Rooster (Fontana TF 1028) 1969
4 Never Had A Girl (Like You Before)/Golden Glass (Fontana TF 1041) 1969

Reissue 45:
5 Children Of The Sun/Who Do You Love?/I Can Take You To The Sun (PS) (Cherry Red CHERRY 22) 1981
NB: (3) & (4) as Misunderstood featuring Glenn 'Fernando' Campbell.

Something of an anachronism, in that they originated in California but recorded in London, The Misunderstood have two claims to fame: they were managed for a while by John Peel and recorded two of the best singles of the psychedelic era:- I Can Take You To The Sun and Children Of The Sun. Both contain some excellent guitar riffs and are sought-after by collectors. Both were recorded at the same time but the second was issued belatedly. The group started out in Riverside, California, when Treadway, Moe and Phelps (lead gtr) formed their own surfing group, The Blue Notes, changing their name to The Misunderstood in 1965 by which time Brown and Whiting had been added to their line-up. Then, having recruited Campbell from another surfing band, The Goldstones, as a replacement for Phelps, who left the band, they had cut two blues tracks, Jimmy Reed's You Don't Have To Go and Howlin' Wolf's Who's Been Talkin' as a single. These can now be heard on Before The Dream Faded, Cherry Red's 1982 release of the group's earlier material. After seeing them play a gig at the opening of a shopping centre in Riverside, John Peel (then known as Ravenscroft) realised their potential and acted as their manager. The band soon developed a mind-blowing stage act. Treadway was soon called home to be drafted and was replaced by Tony Hill, but when Moe, too, was drafted the band began to fall apart.

However, the six songs they recorded here in England (now contained on side one of Before The Dream Faded) captured the band at their creative zenith. Musically they predated Pink Floyd by several months and had the whole band not been eventually deported back to the States, they could well have attained similar status.
Campbell reformed the band in 1969 with an entirely different line-up which recorded two Rhythm and Blues influenced singles, You're Tuff Enough and Never Had A Girl (Like You Before). These were not as good as the first two singles although they do now fetch similar prices. When they collapsed, Campbell formed Juicy Lucy, with other members of this group, who reached No 14 in the UK Charts in March 1970 with Bo Diddley's Who Do You Love?. Tony Hill later joined High Tide.
However, the indications of a psychedelic revival in 1981 saw Cherry Red records reissue an EP of the band's finest songs and Rick Brown and Glenn Campbell form an Eastern-influenced hard rock outfit called The Influence. In 1982 they recorded a one-sided flexidisc, You're My Girl (Bucketfull Of Brains BOB 2), which appeared with the excellent 'Bucketfull Of Brains' magazine.
The Golden Glass EP contains material by the second line-up on the 'A' side. By then the band had veered towards blues-based progressive music. On the flip are two tracks by the earlier 1966 line-up:- Shake Your Money Maker and I'm Not Talkin', recorded at the legendary Gold Star studios. Other material recorded at these sessions was thought to have been lost, however in 1998, The Legendary Goldstar Album appeared, which combined the later Golden Glass album with these earlier 1966 cuts. Of these, I'm Not Talkin remains the highlight, with a splendid feedback freakout section.

The Golden Glass album contains material by line-up (B), including both sides of their two singles, You're Tuff Enough and Never Had A Girl Like You Before. The remaining four tracks were a cover of the Spencer Davis Group hit Keep On Running, Freedom, I'm Cruising and the Little Richard Okeh track I Don't Want To Discuss It, which is ladened with feedback. This isn't for psych heads but many appeal to progressive fans who are into long, bluesy guitar solos.
We've also recently heard that Cherry Red have released a CD of post-Misunderstood recordings, from the 1980s, which includes the re-working of many of their classic tracks.
Compilation coverage has included:- Children Of The Sun on Chocolate Soup For Diabetics, Vol. 1 (LP); Golden Glass on Rubble Vol. 4: 49 Minute Technicolour Dream; Never Had A Girl Like You Before (45 version) on Rubble Vol. 1: The Psychedelic Snarl (LP) and Rubble Vol. 1 (CD). In addition a live track recorded by Line-up 'B' Bad Hat, has also resurfaced on Turds On A Bum Ride, Vol. 4 (CD).

Tracks:

Side 1
1 Children of the Sun Hill 2:51
2 My Mind 2:34
3 Who Do You Love? 2:26
4 I Unseen Hill 2:01
5 Find a Hidden Door 2:16
6 I Can Take You to the Sun Brown 3:38

Side 1
1 I'm Not Talking 2:25
2 Who's Been Talking? Burnett 2:57
3 I Need Your Love 3:20
4 You Don't Have to Go Out Reed 4:43
5 I Cried My Eyes Out 2:39
6 Like I Do 2:51
7 You've Got Me Crying Over Love 2:22

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Ant Trip Ceremony - 24 Hours (1968)


Περνάμε σε ένα Αμερικάνικο γκρουπ με αυτό το πολύ παράξενο όνομα το οποίο προέρχεται από κάποιον καθηγητή σε άσχετη φάση, όπως λέει και το απόσπασμα από το κλασικό βιβλίο. Ξεχωρίζω μακράν το εκπληκτικό κομμάτι Four In The Morning με ένα ασύλληπτο φλάουτο, με τρομερή κιθάρα και φωνητικά εξαιρετικά. Τολμώ πάντως να πω ότι σε μερικά σημεία μου θυμίζουν Τιμ Μπάκλεϊ. Υπάρχει επίσης το νοσταλγικό Riverdawn, το ψυχεδελικότατο Violets of Dawn αλλά και πανέμορφες μπαλάντες που συνθέτουν ένα δίσκο υψηλού επιπέδου για τα δικά μου στάνταρτς.

Personnel:
STEVE DeTRAY ld gtr A
GEORGE GALT gtr, vcls, hrmnca, bs A B
ROGER GOODMAN vcls A B
GARY ROSEN bs, gtr, vcls A B
MARK STEIN ld gtr, flte, bs A B
JEFF WILLIAMS drms A B

ALBUM:
1(A/B) 24 HOURS (C.R.C. 2129) 1968 R4
NB: (1) reissued on Resurrection (R1). The vinyl reissue is exact and indistinguishable from the original except for the fact that it's on dark blue vinyl and must be held to a bright light to check. If you can't see colour through it, it's probably an original. (1) reissued on CD by Anthology (Ant 2311) 1995, with a newly designed cover. (1) reissued legitimately on CD by Collectables (Col-CD-0717) 1999 but with a different running order.

Steve Detray, a student at Oberlin College in Ohio, took a break in 1966 and early 1967 to spend time in Logan, Utah with his brother. While out there, he formed a band which he named Ant Trip Ceremony after a suggestion from a local English professor who had seen the term in a novel. The phrase was a description of modern human society and Detray thought it an appropriate name for his band. Before he returned to Oberlin for the 1967/8 academic year, Steve disbanded the band but retained the name when he formed a new electric rock band at Oberlin. Gary Rosen, George Galt, and Mark Stein had been playing together in a blues band. Stein was a flute major at Oberlin, Roger Goodman was also a student, and the only non-college member was the drummer, Steve Williams, a 16-year-old local kid who had some jazz-drumming experience.

The band mainly played gigs at Oberlin and were noted for long improvisatory jams. Their album was recorded in two sessions, the first in February 1968 and the second some months later. Steve Detray was only present for the first session as he left the College in the Spring of 1968. Technical faults affected the recording: the KLH deck used for playback had a faulty right speaker and the mixdown was affected as a result with vocals sounding further back in the mix than originally intended. The producer, David Crosby, was a fellow-student at Oberlin and contrary to legend is not the David Crosby of The Byrds/CSN&Y fame. Only 300 copies of the album were pressed and sold around campus.

A blend of folk, blues, jazz and Eastern psychedelia, the album is at its best on the more meditative pieces like Pale Shades Of Gray with it's eerily beautiful snakecharmer melody and What's The Matter Now which is based on on a reflective "Goodbye Pork Pie-Hat" riff. Four In The Morning and Riverdawn are also in this lullingly insistent vein whilst Elaborations is a lengthy raga-ish instrumental with some very effective flute. Some of the covers like Get Out Of My Life Woman and Eric Andersen's Violets Of Dawn are no more than adequate, but their version of Hey Joe is much more exciting.

The band disbanded as the members left college. Steve, George, Gary, and Jeff still perform while Roger is retired from teaching college. Steve Williams later played with such greats as Clark Terry, Al Hall and Herb Lovette, whilst Rosen was a Bluesbander prior to his conversion to folk music. Goodman came from England originally.
(Lloyd Peasley / Vernon Joynson / Clark Faville)

Tracks:
1. Outskirts (1:38)
2. Pale Shades of Gray Steve Detray (4:28)
3. Hey Joe Billy Roberts (4:14)
4. Four in the Morning Robin Remaily (4:34)
5. What's the Matter Now? George Galt (2:43)
6. Elaborations Steve Detray (7:14)
7. Riverdawn George Galt (3:33)
8. Violets of Dawn Eric Anderson (4:30)
9. Locomotive Lamp Gary Rosen (3:41)
10. Little Baby Willie Dixon (3:01)
11. Sometimes I Wonder (3:48)
12. Get Out of My Life Woman Allen Toussaint (3:04)

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Moby Grape – Vintage


Ενόψει μία ανθολογία των Moby Grape με live, ακυκλοφόρητα, single versions και studio συνθέσεις. Ουσιαστικά περιέχει όλο το πρώτο lp, σχεδόν όλο το δεύτερο και τρίτο και αρκετά από το τέταρτο.

It's hard to imagine a better-produced package of Moby Grape's work than this two-disc, 48-track condensation of their best late-'60s recordings. The first disc of this set centers around their entire 1967 self-titled debut LP (included in its entirety), which mixed blues, country, and folk influences with hard-charging psychedelic rock & roll. The result was one of the Summer of Love's more enduring works. The second disc boils their wildly inconsistent 1968-69 material down to a fairly strong and coherent selection. While it doesn't match the peak of the group's initial burst, it features some strong folk and country-rock originals that wear much better in the absence of the bloated jams and half-baked hard rock that could make their albums a chore to sit through. Each disc includes interesting demos, outtakes, and live performances that round out the legacy of this prodigiously talented but ill-fated band, which was overcome by internal strife and label/management difficulties after their promising debut. ~ Richie Unterberger

PERSONNEL: September 1966 to June 1968
Jerry Miller - guitar
Skip Spence - guitar
Peter Lewis - guitar
Bob Mosley - bass
Don Stevenson - drums

PERSONNEL: June 1968 to February 1969
Jerry Miller - guitar
Peter Lewis - guitar
Bob Mosley - bass
Don Stevenson - drums

PERSONNEL: February 1969 to April 1969
Jerry Miller - guitar
Peter Lewis - guitar
Bob Moore - bass
Don Stevenson - drums
Spence died of multiple medical problems, April 1999

Disc: 1
1. Hey Grandma
2. Mr. Blues
3. Fall on You
4. 8:05
5. Come in the Morning
6. Omaha
7. Naked, If I Want To
8. Rounder [Instrumental]
9. Someday
10. Ain't No Use
11. Sitting by the Window
12. Changes
13. Lazy Me
14. Indifference
15. Looper [Audition Version]
16. Sweet Ride
17. Bitter Wind [Alternate Version]
18. Place and the Time [Alternate Version]
19. Rounder [Live]
20. Miller's Blues [Live]
21. Changes [Live]
22. Hey Grandma [Single Version]
23. Omaha [Single Version]
24. Big

Disc: 2
1. Skip's Song ["Seeing" Demo][Version]
2. You Can Do Anything [Demo Version]
3. Murder in My Heart for the Judge
4. Bitter Wind
5. Can't Be So Bad
6. Just Like Gene Autry: A Foxtrot - Arthur Godfrey, Moby Grape, Lou Waxman & His Orchestra
7. He
8. Motorcycle Irene
9. Funky-Tunk
10. Rose Colored Eyes
11. If You Can't Learn From Your Mistakes [Peter Solo Version]
12. Ooh Mama Ooh
13. Ain't That a Shame
14. Trucking Man
15. Captain Nemo
16. What's to Choose
17. Going Nowhere
18. I Am Not Willing
19. It's a Beautiful Day Today
20. Right Before My Eyes
21. Truly Fine Citizen
22. Hoochie
23. Soul Stew
24. Seeing
Disc 1
Disc 2

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Pearls Before Swine - The Use Of Ashes (1970)



Βασανίστηκα λίγο μέχρι να βρω κάτι που να ταιριάζει αμέσως μετά το Nick Drake. Θα έπρεπε να είναι ιδίου επιπέδου και ύφους. Εκτιμώ πως είναι η καλύτερη επιλογή που μπορούσα να κάνω.Κατέληξα στους επίσης αγαπημένους μου Pearls Before Swine με τον συγκλονιστικότερο ψευδό τραγουδοποιό που έχω ακούσει ποτέ μου.

Μετά την κυκλοφορία του These Things Too αρκετά από τα μέλη του γκρουπ αποχώρησαν. Ο Tom Rapp βρέθηκε με την γυναίκα του στην Ολλανδία (Ουτρέχτη) όπου εκεί συνέθεσε τα περισσότερα κομμάτια του δίσκου. Όταν επέστρεψε στην Αμερική, ηχογράφησε το δίσκο με τους μεγαλύτερους μουσικούς από το Nashville, μέλη μίας country rock που λεγόταν Area Code 615.

Το The Use Of Ashes ανοίγει με ένα από τα ωραιότερα τραγούδια-ποιήματα του Rapp, το The Jeweler, εμπνευσμένο από μία τυχαία στιγμή όπου ο συνθέτης παρακολουθούσε την γυναίκα του να καθαρίζει ένα κόσμημα. Αυτές οι γυναίκες, για πόσα όμορφα πράγματα είναι τελικά υπεύθυνες?

Ο δίσκος περιέχει το καταπληκτικό Rocket Man που περιγράφει έναν πατέρα αστροναύτη που είχε τραγικό τέλος στο διάστημα. Αναλυτές εκτιμούν πως το κομμάτι είναι μία αναφορά του Tom Rapp στον πατέρα του, με τον οποίο είχε δύσκολες σχέσεις, επηερασμένος και από το γεγονός ότι πιτσιρικάς ζούσε κοντά στο Κανάβεραλ στην Φλόριντα. Το κομμάτι επίσης βασίζεται στο βιβλίο The Illustrated Man του Ray Bradbury (διάφορες ανεξάρτητες ιστορίες μεταξύ τους με θέμα την σύγκρουση της ψυχολογίας του ανθρώπου με την πρόοδο της τεχνολογίας).

The Rocket Man" — An astronaut's job keeps him away from home for long stretches of time, so he has little time with his wife and son, only visiting them for a period of three days at a time. The story is told from the perspective of the son, who holds an interest in becoming an astronaut too. However, his father explains to him that while the stars are beautiful, what he really wants is being with his family. Sensing that his wife is unhappy with him being at home so little, the father makes a promise to the son that he will be quitting his job after his next mission to spend more time with them. At the end of the story, the son and his mother learn that his ship fell into the sun, and from then on, they do not venture outside during the day in remembrance of him.

My father was a rocket man
He often went to Jupiter or Mercury, to Venus or to Mars
My mother and I would watch the sky
And wonder if a falling star
Was a ship becoming ashes with a rocket man inside
My mother and I
Never went out
Unless the sky was cloudy or the sun was blotted out
Or to escape the pain
We only went out when it rained
My father was a rocket man
He loved the world beyond the world, the sky beyond the sky
And on my mother's face, as lonely as the world in space
I could read the silent cry
That if my father fell into a star
We must not look upon that star again
My mother and I
Never went out
Unless the sky was cloudy or the sun was blotted out
Or to escape the pain
We only went out when it rained
Tears are often jewel-like
My mother's went unnoticed by my father, for his jewels were the stars
And in my father's eyes
I knew he had to findIn the sanctity of distance something brighter than a star
One day they told us the sun had flared and taken him insideMy mother and I
Never went out
Unless the sky was cloudy or the sun was blotted out
Or to escape the pain
We only went out when it rained

Υπάρχει επίσης το πανέμορφο instrumental κομμάτι From the Movie of the Same Name, με το γλυκύτατο βιολί που προκαλεί μία νοσταλγία αλλά και θλίψη. Ομολογώ πως αν και είμαι αισιόδοξος άνθρωπος, η μουσική αυτού του επιπέδου που διέπεται από τον έντονο πεσιμισμό, με συγκλονίζει. Για μένα είναι μία από τις γλυκύτερες συνθέσεις του ανεπανάληπτου δημιουργού Thomas Dale Rapp ή Tom Rapp.
Υπάρχει η αναφορά στην ματαιότητα του πολέμου στο When The War Began αλλά και η υπενθύμιση της ιστορίας ενός πλοίου στον 2ο παγκόσμιο πόλεμο που μετέφερε 4000 αιχμαλώτους και βυθίστηκε.

Η προσοχή πρέπει να στραφεί και στο εξώφυλλο, το θέμα του οποίου είχε επιλεγεί από την σειρά 7 έργων του 15 αιώνα Γαλλικής ή Φλαμανδικής προέλευσης, The Hunt of the Unicorn.

Performers:
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: Guitars
David Briggs: Piano, Harpsichord
John Duke: Oboe, Flute
Hutch Davie: Keyboard
Bill Pippin: Oboe, Flute

Tracks:
1. The Jeweler (2:48)
2. From the Movie of the Same Name (2:21)
3. Rocket Man (3:06) ("based on a short story by Ray Bradbury")
4. God Save The Child (3:08) ("Elisabeth helped")
5. Song About A Rose (2:21)
6. Tell Me Why (3:43)
7. Margery (3:03)
8. The Old Man (3:16)
9. Riegal (3:13)
10. When the War Began (5:07)

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left (1969)



Μετά τους αξεπέραστους Rolling Stones αν υπάρχει κάτι από την μουσική της Βρετανίας που έχω ασχοληθεί περισσότερο όσον αφορά διάβασμα και άκουσμα είναι αναμφίβολα ο τεράστιος Nicholas Rodney Drake ή Nick Drake.

Έλληνας σοβαρός μουσικός και συνάδελφος που συμμετέχει σε ένα γκρουπ μαζί με κάτι παππούδες ροκάδες από την δεκαετία του 60, μου είπε μια μέρα στο σχολείο πως άνθρωπος που δεν έχει δει ζωντανούς τους Rolling Stones και δεν έχει ακούσει Beatles από βινύλιο, δεν έχει πάρει μυρουδιά τι είναι το rock. Θα τολμούσα να συμπληρώσω πως όσα κενά υπάρξουν σε κάποιον από τον παραπάνω συνδυασμό, θα τα καλύψει απόλυτα ο συχωρεμένος εδώ και 34 χρόνια (June 19, 1948 – November 25, 1974) Nick Drake. Είναι αδιανόητο για μένα να λέμε ότι ακούμε μουσική και να μην ακούμε Drake. Δεν τίθεται θέμα αν μας αρέσει η folk ή όχι. Πρόκειται για μουσική που γράφτηκε πριν 30 χρόνια αλλά νομίζεις ότι γράφτηκε μόλις χτες.

Ο εσωτερικός του κόσμος πέρασε αναμφίβολα στα τραγούδια του. Αναλυτές, μετά θάνατον (ως συνήθως) ξεψάχνισαν για παράδειγμα το συγκλονιστικό River Man όπου «ανακάλυψαν» ότι ο Nick διάβαζε ποίηση από τον William Wordsworth (1770-1850). Με πλήθος κειμένων προσπαθούν να αναλύσουν αυτό το κομμάτι σε κάθε του λέξη. Το πληρέστερο ίσως site με πλήθος αναλύσεων είναι αυτό http://www.algonet.se/~iguana/DRAKE/DRAKE.html στο οποίο θα βρείτε κάποιες απαντήσεις αν ασχοληθείτε με τους στίχους του.

Από μουσική (νότες ή παίξιμο οργάνου) δεν γνωρίζω, σε όσους όμως επαΐοντες ζήτησα να τον ακούσουν και να μου πουν γνώμη, αν δεν έμειναν με ανοικτό στόμα τουλάχιστον προβληματίστηκαν, εντυπωσιάστηκαν και αναθεώρησαν κάποια πράγματα. Το πρώτο ερώτημα ήταν «μα τι μουσική παιδεία είχε, τι σπουδές έκανε?». Ακόμα και χτες βράδυ ένας συνάδελφος στο bar που προσπαθεί να παίξει κομμάτια του στην κιθάρα, δήλωνε γοητευμένος και έκπληκτος με την τεχνική του.

Θα τολμήσω να ξεχωρίσω από το Five Leaves Left τα δύο κομμάτια που παίζω πάντα στο bar (παίζω και άλλα βέβαια όπως το ανεπανάληπτο At the chime of a city clock). Τα River man και Man in a shed. Διαβάστε λίγο τους στίχους από το Man in a shed…

Το ότι η ζωή είναι γεμάτη αδικίες είναι γνωστό σε όλους. Το ότι η ζωή φέρθηκε σκληρά στο Nick και τον έκανε δέσμιο της σχιζοφρένιας ήταν μία μεγάλη αδικία. Στα links που παραθέτω παρακάτω μπορείτε να διαβάσετε όλες τις λεπτομέρειες για τις τελευταίες στιγμές της ζωής του που δεν μπορούν να αφήσουν ασυγκίνητο κανέναν.

Παραθέτω μερικά links που αξίζει απόλυτα τον κόπο να ερευνηθούν.
http://www.michaelorgan.org.au/drake1.htm
http://www.algonet.se/~iguana/DRAKE/DRAKE.html
http://www.nickdrake.com/index.html
http://www.brytermusic.com/
http://www.alwaysontherun.net/nickdrake.htm

ALBUMS:

1 FIVE LEAVES LEFT (Island ILPS 9105) 1969 SC
2 BRYTER LAYTER (Island ILPS 9134) 1970 SC
3 PINK MOON (Island ILPS 9184) 1972 SC
4 FRUIT TREE (triple LP + booklet) (Island NDSP 100) 1979 SC
5 HEAVEN IN A WILD FLOWER (Island ILPS 9826) 1985
6 FRUIT TREE (4-LP box set + booklet) (Hannibal HNBX 5302) 1986
7 TIME OF NO REPLY (Hannibal HNBL 1318) 1987

NB: All of the above are also available on CD. (1), (2) and (3) on Island (IMCD 8, IMCD 71, and IMCD 94 respectively) 1989. (7) on (Hannibal HNCD 1318) 1989. Also of interest is Tamworth In Arden 1967/68 (Anthology ANT 15.00) CD 1998, which compiles eighteen rare recordings made at home, prior to his deal with Island.

Nick Drake was born in Burma in 1948 to a very upper-middle class British family. When his parents returned to England half a dozen years later, he spent his childhood at Tamworth-in-Arden (to the northwest of Stratford) initially and later at a Surrey preparatory school and later at Marlborough Public School. His sister Gabrielle was in the TV soap 'Crossroads'. In 1967 he won a scholarship to read English at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, although he preferred to write songs and develop his guitar playing than study. He gave some public performances whilst he was at Cambridge and was eventually recommended by Ashley Hutchings (of Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span fame) to Joe Boyd's Witchseason Productions, who were offering a comprehensive management package-agency, publishing and recording. On the basis of a demo tape Drake was rapidly offered a recording contract.

His debut album was in many respects stunning, full of haunting, dream-like melodies and unusual guitar work. The best known track is Time Has Told Me by virtue of its inclusion on Island's Nice Enough To Eat sampler. It was later included on a promo-only release in 1986, Island Life (Island ISLAND MP1). The sales from the album were sufficient to encourage Drake to leave Cambridge to concentrate on a music career, although it passed unnoticed by the majority of the record buyers. To promote the album he did a limited number of 'live' performances which seem to have been much appreciated by the small numbers of people who had the privilege to hear him. Generally, though, he had no enthusiasm for touring.

Later in 1979 Island produced a box set, Fruit Tree - The Complete Recorded Works, compiling his three albums with the four tracks which had been laid down at his final session. It came with a lavish booklet and an extensive biography. There was also a much rarer five track Island promo sampler consisting of Introduction, Hazy Jane II, Time Has Told Me, Fruit Tree and Rider On The Wheel. In 1985 Island released a 14-track compilation, Heaven In A Wild Flower, but the best retrospective collection of his material is the four-album box set Fruit Tree released by Joe Boyd in 1986 on his own Hannibal label. The extra album consisted of five tracks which had been recorded for the Five Leaves Left album but never used, some alternate versions of album tracks and the four songs from his final session. This album was released as a separate item and entitled Time Of No Reply in 1987.

Other compilation appearances have been Hazy Jane I on Bumpers, a double budget priced compilation released in 1970, One Of These Things First on El Pea, another double set released in 1971 and much more recently Black Eyed Dog appeared on the CD and cassette version of Voices (Hannibal HNCD 8301) in 1990. Collectors may be interested in a US-only compilation comprised of eight tracks from his first two albums and entitled Nick Drake (Island ILPS 9307). It came out in 1972 and is hard to find. Also of interest is Tamworth In Arden 1967/68 (CD), which compiles eighteen rare recordings made at home, prior to his deal with Island.

Those of you who didn't get to hear Drake's stunning work the first time round and who have any appreciation of folk music should be sure to investigate his music now.

Tracks:
(οι τίτλοι παραπέμπουν στους στίχους)


Nick Drake - Pink Moon (1972)


Ο παρουσία του Nick στο blog συνδέεται από το γεγονός πως την Δευτέρα το βράδυ (νομίζω 3 το πρωί), ήρθε κάποιος κύριος στο bar, ρωτώντας τι είναι αυτό που ακούγεται και πως μπορεί να βρει το δίσκο. Έπαιζε το ανεπανάληπτο Things behind the sun. Τον παρέπεμψα εδώ όπου και του υποσχέθηκα να το ανεβάσω.

Το Αγγλικό κείμενο αναφέρει συμπυκνωμένα τα τραγικά γεγονότα που ακολούθησαν το Pink Moon. Προφανώς από μεριά μου είναι παντελώς άχρηστη οποιαδήποτε «κριτική» στο δίσκο. Ποια κριτική δηλαδή, έλεος. Σχολιάζονται κομμάτια σαν το Free Rind?

As he became ill Drake quit London to return to his parents' home. He recovered enough to rent a flat in Muswell Hill to record his third album, Pink Moon. Recorded in just two sessions the album was short and very stark compared to his earlier efforts. It just consists of his vocals, guitar and a piano overdub on one cut. Far less accessible than his earlier two albums it inevitably sold in small quantities and is consequently the hardest of his three albums to find. The songs are full of impending doom and depression, but full of creativity and some of his finest guitar playing. Get to hear From The Morning and Place To Be. Another stunning track was the unnervingly delightful Thing Behind The Sun.

After recording Pink Moon Nick suffered a nervous breakdown and was hospitalised on a voluntary basis for a few weeks. He had become withdrawn from society and was increasingly difficult to communicate with. He recovered sufficiently to record four tracks for a future album, which he later decided to scrap. He possibly intended to re-record them later, but after a short break in Paris he returned to try out new material but tragically died from an overdose of Tryptizol, which he may well have taken to try and get off to sleep.

Tracks:
(Οι τίτλοι και πάλι παραπέμπουν στους στίχους)
1. Pink moon
3. Road
5. Horn
7. Know

Nick Drake - Bryter Layter (1970)





Αντί κάποιου σχολίου θα ήθελα απλά να απευθυνθώ στη γυναίκα μου, για να της θυμίσω εκείνο το καλοκαιράκι στην Νάξο, όπου ένα βραδάκι ακούγαμε Drake μέχρι το πρωί. Ένοιωσες ποτέ πιο όμορφα και πιο γαλήνια? Σου θυμίζω μόνο το One Of These Things First …

His second album, Bryter Layter, was largely comprised of songs written in his spartan bedsitter in Hampstead. It took over a year to complete because he was very fussy about the musicians who he wanted to work with him on the album. Richard Thompson and others connected with Fairport Convention were heavily involved and John Cale played on two tracks, Fly and the shimmering love song Northern Sky. Other highlights included At The Chime Of A City Clock and Hazey Jane I. The critics considered the album stunning but sadly it was too esoteric to achieve the widespread interest and mass sales that some predicted.

The fact that people didn't buy the album in great numbers was a major blow and may have been a contributory factor in his growing depression, which was exacerbated by his producer Joe Boyd's move to Los Angeles to work for Warner Brothers. However, Boyd sold Witchseason to Island and made them agree to release any album Drake made as part of the contract.

Tracks:
(που όπως πάντα παραπέμπουν στους στίχους)
Introduction

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Arzachel – Arzachel (1969)


Ένα βράδυ κάπου την άνοιξη του 1984 αν θυμάμαι καλά (λόγω εκείνου του καλού ανθρώπου) έπιασα στα χέρια μου μία original κόπια του δίσκου αλλά ταυτόχρονα άκουσα από αυτόν για πρώτη φορά τον όρο Canterbury. Ο δίσκος που στο μεταξύ που είχε γίνει αντιγραφή σε εκείνο το απίστευτα όμορφο ανθρακί μπομπινόφωνο που διέθετε, άρχισε να παίζει γεμίζοντας το χώρο με αυτόν τον space ήχο που σε μάγευε. Σε μάγευε παρά το γεγονός ότι η εγγραφή του δίσκου δεν ήταν ότι και το καλύτερο. Η όλη ατμόσφαιρα όμως σε συνδυασμό με τα ακούσματα που είχαν προηγηθεί είχαν δημιουργήσει κλίμα. Ίσως αναρωτιέται κανείς από σας πως είναι δυνατόν να θυμάμαι λεπτομέρειες από ένα γεγονός που συνέβη πριν 24 χρόνια. Θα απαντήσω ρωτώντας με την σειρά μου, υπάρχει άνθρωπος που δεν θυμάται την κοπελιά που έκανε έρωτα για πρώτη φορά? Εγώ τι νομίζετε έκανα εκείνο το βράδυ με την μουσική?

Δυστυχώς έχω το κακό συνήθειο να κολλάω σε μερικά πράγματα, οπότε στην συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση κόλλησα από τότε στο άκουσμα του Queen St. Gang, το οποίο περιπίπτοντος έπαιξε τέρμα στο μπαράκι χτες αργά το βράδυ.

Τώρα πληροφορίες περί Steve Hillage, Egg και Canterbury βρωμάει πλέον ο τόπος. Εγώ το μόνο που θα συμπληρώσω, είναι ότι ο συγκεκριμένος δίσκος άνοιξε την αυλαία του Canterbury αφού αν δεν κάνω λάθος θεωρείται ο πρώτος του είδους.

Personnel:
CLIVE BROOKS (BASIL DOWLING) drms A
MONT CAMPBELL (NJEROGI GATEGAKA) bs, vcls A
STEVE HILLAGE (SIMON SASPARELLA) gtr, vcls A
DAVE STEWART (SAM LEE-UFF) keyb'ds A

ALBUM:
1(A) ARZACHEL (Evolution Z 1003) 1969 R3
NB: (1) Also issued in the US (Roulette 42036); by Vogue (LDVS 17218) in France; by CBS in Italy in 1971; and by Bellaphon in Germany in 1972, also with a different cover. (1) has also been pirated on vinyl several times and reissued officially on CD (Drop Out DOCD 1983) 1994.

This spacey psychedelic album is notable for the involvement of Steve Hillage.
Steve Hillage, who was born on 2nd August 1951, first played in an outfit called Uriel who later evolved into Egg but by then Hillage had departed for college. When he finished college he was first in Khan and then in Kevin Ayers' touring band Decadence before joining the French-based hippie outfit Gong.

He recorded his Fish Rising album with assistance from several Gong members, much of the material which was co-written with his girlfriend Miquette Giraudy. He eventually left Gong in 1976. The same year he recorded another solo album, which was produced by Todd Rundgren in Woodstock, New York, and included members of Rundgren's band Utopia. It was critically acclaimed. His 45, It's All Too Much, was a Beatles cover.

He went on to record a series of solo albums in the late seventies with considerable recognition. In the eighties he became involved in production work. The nineties saw him recording again as leader of the loose knit dance music outfit System 7.

Musically it's at times a little over the top. But, the opening cut, Garden Of Earthly Delights is of interest and Azathoth has a rich 'church' organ backing. On side two Clean Innocent Fun previews Hillage's fine guitar work and Metempsychosis opens full of weirdness and sound effects (which recur at regular intervals throughout) before pursuing a similar vein. The latter track, in particular, begs comparison with Pink Floyd around the Saucerful Of Secrets era. Arzachel is a very keyboard-dominated album.

The group were known as Uriel until July 1968 when Hillage went off to college. The others formed Egg (July '68 - May '72) and the Arzachel album was recorded by Egg with help from Steve Hillage. When Hillage left college April '71 and returned to London he formed Khan.

Compilation appearances have included: Garden Of Earthly Delights on Circus Days Vol. 1 & 2 (CD) and Circus Days, Vol. 1 (LP); Queen Street Gang on Instro-Hipsters A Go-Go (CD).
(Vernon Joynson / Joe Rein / Jim McMaster / Gianpaolo Banelli)

Tracks:

1. Garden of Earthly Delights 2.45
2. Azathoth 4.21
3. Queen St. Gang 4.25
4. Leg 5.40
5. Clean Innocent Fun 10.23
6. Metempsychosis 16.38

Country Joe McDonald - Thinking of Woody Guthrie (1969)


Ως φανατικός θαυμαστής των Country Joe and the Fish και κατ’επέκταση του Country Joe McDonald έφτασα σε αυτό το άλμπουμ που προέκυψε ένα κλασικό Αμερικάνικο folk άκουσμα. Ένας φόρος τιμής στον ήρωα της folk Woody Guthrie στον οποίον και ανήκουν σχεδόν όλες οι συνθέσεις. Εδώ πάντως ακούτε ένα παντελώς διαφορετικό Country Joe.Ο δίσκος για πρώτη φορά κυκλοφόρησε από την Vanguard το 1969.

Μembers:
Joe McDonald: vocalsGrady Martin: dobro, sitar, guitarRay Edenton: guitarHarold Bradley: guitarHal Rugg: steel guitarHargus Robbins: pianoNorbert Putnam: bassBuddy Harmon: drums

Tracks:

1. Pastures of Plenty (2:17)
2. Talkin' Dust Bowl (2:21)
3. Blowing Down that Old Dusty Road (2:33)
4. So Long it's Been Good to Know Yuh (3:00)
5. Tom Joad (7:06)
6. The Sinking of the Reuben James (2:42)
7. Roll on Columbia (2:21)
8. Pretty Boy Floyd (4:24)
9. When the Curfew Blows (2:15)
10. This Land Is Your Land (3:20)

Monday, April 14, 2008

The Lemon Drops - Crystal Pure



Δεν έχω δει να κυκλοφορεί στα πέριξ αυτό το cd με τους The Lemon Drops οπότε καλό είναι να ανέβει. Σημαντικότερο κομμάτι τους το μάλλον γνωστό και πολύ καλό I Live In The Springtime, αρκετά ψυχεδελικοί στο Sometime Ago, πιο garage στο The Theatre Of You Eyes και sunshine στο Paperplane Flyer. Δεν θα τρελαθείτε ακούγοντας τους αλλά πιστεύω ότι δεν θα αδιαφορήσετε μαζί τους. Φωτο από το εξώφυλλο στο νετ δεν βρήκα, οπότε σας έβαλα αυτή από το cd που έχω από την Thunder Bolt του 1995.

Personnel:
JEFF BRAND bs
BOBBY LUNAIK gtr
DANNY SMOLA vcls
GEORGE SORENSON ld gtr
EDDIE WEISS ld gtr
GARY WEISS drms
RICKY ERICKSON ld gtr
DICK SIDMAN vcls

ALBUMS:
1(-) CRYSTAL PURE (Cicadelic CIC 984) 1985
2(-) SECOND ALBUM (Cicadelic CIC 982) 1987
3(-) CRYSTAL PURE (Collectables COL-CD-0517) 199?
NB: (3) is a 24 track CD compilation.

45:
1(B) I Live In The Springtime/Listen Girl (Rembrandt 5009) 1967
NB: I Live In The Springtime was issued on Rembrandt 5009 in two different ways:

The more common issue (if a rare single like this could be considered common) is missing the drums and bass. The lesser seen pressing has the exact same label, but it has the drums and bass and the guitar is further down in the mix. We can only summise that they took the stereo mix and issued the left channel (in mono) on one pressing and the right channel (in mono) on the other pressing. It's not known if the two variations share the same dead wax markings.

This band formed in the Chicago, Illinois suburb of McHenry in 1966. Despite its repetitive lyrics the band's only 45 I Live In The Springtime, has a strong enough melody to suggest that better things could have laid ahead.... but as it turned out, none of their other 1967-68 recording sessions were released on record until the mid-eighties.

Ricky Erickson (ex-The Nuchez) was brought in to do guitar on the 45 after the band's original guitarist (George Sorenson) had quit prior to the recording and I Live In The Springtime did get some airplay in New York. Consequently the Lemon Drops recorded a second 45, the hard rockin' It Happens Everyday backed by a Ricky Erickson composition Alone, at the RCA Studios in Chicago, but it was never released. They then recruited a new 17 year old singer Dick Sidman and began working on an ambitious new project with tablas, flowery harmonies and numerous special effects ran up a studio bill of $1,200 that Reggie Weiss, the owner of Rembrandt Records couldn't pay. Only in 1985 were the master tapes from this session released as Crystal Pure.
In their quest for major label interest the band proceeded to record a live album over two evenings at Weiss' home. They took the tapes to several Hollywood labels but none were interested and losing heart the band actually split in 1968. However, the following month the Weiss family moved to Phoenix, Arizona and by chance played their tape for Buena Vista Productions who offered to put up $250,000 to promote the group. Obviously they were thrilled and the Lemon Drops reformed with just Ricky Erickson missing from the new line-up. They recorded lots of new songs in Chicago's Sound Studios during November and December 1968, but ironically these efforts too proved to be in vain, for the owner of Buena Vista died in his sleep and the deal was cancelled! Devastated the band split up for good.
Gary and Eddie Weiss later formed Watermelon and then Buzzsaw. In 1972 Reggie Weiss, frustrated by their lack of success issued a stereo mix of I Live In The Springtime as Buzzsaw.

Compilation appearances include: I Live In The Springtime on Nuggets Box (4-CD), Psychedelic Patchwork (LP), Pebbles, Vol. 8 (LP) and I Wanna Come Back From The World Of LSD (CD); Talk To The Animals, an unreleased cut with loads of fuzz guitar, on Psychedelic Crown Jewels, Vol. 1 (Dble LP & CD); Listen Girl on Time Won't Change My Mind (LP); Flowers On The Hillside, I Live In The Springtime, Listen Girl, Nobody For Me on Chicago Garage Band Greats (CD); Sometime Ago, My Friend (Theatre Of Your Eyes), Jennifer Ann, Crystal Pure, Maria and (Flower) Dream (demos) on The Cicadelic 60's, Vol. 5 (CD); I Live In The Springtime (unreleased version culminating in a guitar solo), Alone, Jennifer Ann on Chicago Garage Band Greats (LP); It Happens Everyday and I Live In The Springtime on Green Crystal Ties Vol. 9 (CD). Buzzsaw’s version of I Live In The Springtime can also be found on Highs In The Mid-Sixties, Vol. 4 and Pebbles, Vol. 6 (CD).
(Vernon Joynson/Max Waller/Barry Margolis)

Tracks:

1. I Live In The Springtime 3:03
2. It Happens Everyday 2:18
3. Sometime Ago 3:41
4. The Theatre Of You Eyes 3:22
5. Popsicle Girl 5:19
6. Flower Pure 4:00
7. Paperplane Flyer 2:34
8. Talk To The Animals 4:20
9. Fairytales 2:26
10. Hi, How Are You Today! 3:11
11. Alone 1:32
12. Sleeping In Colors 4:55
13. Sometime Ago (Acoustic) 0:22
14. Guinvere 4:02
15. Learn To Fly 2:05
16. Flowers On The Hillside 4:06
17. Flower-Dream 2:41
18. Flower Child Eyes And Arms 2:27
19. My Friend 0:33
20. To The Tower 1:58
21. Death Calls 2:05
22. Saturday Be-In 2:54
23. Love Is A Word 2:42
24. I Like You 2:06

Sunday, April 13, 2008

The Head Shop – The Head Shop (1969)


Απίστευτο ε? Και ένας δίσκος που δεν είναι πειρατής. Κάπου κάπου πέφταμε και σε κάτι πιο «νόμιμο» οπότε το αγοράζαμε αβλεπί. Η Νεουρκέζικη αυτή μπάντα έβγαλε μόνο ένα Lp και απότι φαίνεται αγαπούσε τους Beatles. Τελιώνουν την πρώτη πλευρά με το Yesterday και αρχίζουν την 2η με το Revolution. Μην παρασυρθείτε όμως από αυτό αφού το παίξιμό τους κάθε άλλο παρά Beatles θυμίζει. Υπάρχει επίσης και μία πολύ εκτέλεση του γνωστού Sunny του Bobby Hebb. Στο δίσκο πάντως εκτός των άλλων υπάρχει εξαιρετική κιθάρα.

Personnel:
Danny Prosseda, Guitar
Drew Sbordone, Bass
Joe Siano, Vocals
Jesse Luca, Drums, Percussion
Milan, Rhythm Guitars and Screams
Geoff Wright, Hammond/Farfisa Organ, Fuzz Bass (on "Heaven Here We Come" and "I Feel Love Comin' On")
Maxim, Violin Solo (on "Prophecy")
Larry Coryell, Guest Musician, Guitar Solo (on "I Feel Love Comin' On")

ALBUM:
1(A) THE HEAD SHOP (Epic BN 26476) 1969
NB: (1) has been reissued on CD.

The above is a most unusual and underrated album which was produced and arranged by Milan. Side one, aside from an interesting version of Sunny, is notable for the intros to all its songs, whilst Side Two is memorable for the invigorating Prophecy and the cosmic ending to the final track Infinity. Original copies of the album are not easy to find, as it's now a minor collectors' item, but the album is recommended.
The band, who are thought to have come from the New York / New York City area, do not appear to have released any 45s.
Compilation appearances have included: Heaven Here We Come on Psychedelic Dream (Dble LP); Prophecy on Psychedelic Visions (CD); and Head Shop on Sixties Archive Vol. 8 (CD).
(Vernon Joynson / Max Waller)

Tracks:

Side 1:
Head Shop (Milan/Maxim/R. Craig), 2:56
Heaven Here We Come (Milan), 2:40
Sunny (Bobby Hebb), 3:11
Listen with a Third Ear (Milan/Maxim), 2:30
Opera in the Year 4000 (Milan), 4:25
Where Have All the People Gone (Milan)
Yesterday (John Lennon/Paul McCartney)

Side 2:
Revolution (John Lennon/Paul McCartney), 2:28
I Feel Love Comin' On (Milan), 6:20
Prophecy (Maxim/Milan), 2:17
Infinity (Milan), 4:45

Travis Pike’s Tea Party



Θα θυμάστε πως η αγάπη μου για τους Ultimate Spinach με οδήγησε όπως έχω γράψει στο παρελθόν, στο μουσικό ξεσκάλισμα του Bosstown την εποχή εκείνη. Κάπου εκεί εντάσσεται και η αναζήτησή μου για αυτό το γκρουπ, για το οποίο ξεκαθαρίζω πως ότι βρήκα είναι σε μορφή mp3. Δεν διαθέτω ούτε δίσκο ούτε τίποτα. Συνεπώς εντελώς αυθαίρετα «δημιουργώ» αυτή την συλλογή. Αν κάποιος φίλος διαθέτει αλλά κομμάτια του γκρουπ και επιθυμεί να τα διαθέσει ας τα ανεβάσει.

Στην Βοστόνη λοιπόν ουσιαστικά δραστηριοποιήθηκαν οι Travis Pike’s Tea Party με ηγετική μορφή τον πολυπράγμων όπως αποδείχτηκε Travis Edward Pike. Μουσικά ξεκίνησε το 1964 ως τραγουδιστής σε ένα Γερμανο-Ιταλικό γκρουπ στην Γερμανία, τους The Five Beats. Γύρισε στην Βοστόνη όπου ίδρυσε τους Travis Pike’s Tea Party γράφοντας και τραγουδώντας 200 και πλέον τραγούδια για το γκρουπ. Το «γνωστό» τους κομμάτι που μάλλον έχετε ακούσει από διάφορες συλλογές είναι το If I Didn't Love You Girl. Μέσα όμως στα mp3 που έβαλα θα ακούσετε και την πανέμορφη ψυχεδελική μπαλάντα The Likes Of You.

I've never seen THE LIKES OF YOU
You are the dreams of my life come true
You're more than my imagination can conceive
Please let me hold you, that I may believe
Your eyes are beautiful
Your hair, the same I'd be so thrilled if you'd
Tell me your name
If you are real let me touch your cheek
The sight of you leaves me dazed and weak . . .

Μάζεψα όσα μπόρεσα να βρω στο net πολλά από τα οποία είναι πρόβες που ευτυχώς καταγράφηκαν. Δεν θα ήθελα να κουράσω άλλο με λόγια αφού για όποιον ενδιαφέρετε θα βρει πάρα πολλές πληροφορίες εδώ. Μετά τους Travis Pike’s Tea Party ο Edward συνέχισε να συνθέτει μουσική δείγματα της οποίας μπορείτε επίσης να βρείτε εδώ.

Travis landed the job of studio manager for Lightfoot Recording Studios in Jamaica Plain, the first recording studio in the Greater Boston area to feature sound-on-sound recording. He booked studio time, assisted with engineering and helped hopeful clients with vocal arrangements. In off hours, Travis began laying down tracks for some of his 80 original songs. By the end of 1966, Travis finally had enough material written to put together a band, so he went down to Boston's prestigious Berkelee School of Music in search of musicians. There, he met classical guitarist Karl Garrett, trying to make up his mind whether to stay on and finish at Berklee or take up an invitation to study with André Segovia in Spain. Travis offered a third option, complete with a recording studio in which to rehearse. When Karl heard Travis' demo tapes, he signed on. Meanwhile, Mikey Joe Valente, the bass player from Natick High School's "New Jesters," learned that Travis was putting together a band and wanted in. His technique was weak, but his rhythm was solid and he took instruction well, so Karl agreed to take him under his wing. Mikey Joe discovered percussionist Phil Vitali (ex Navy Band), and rhythm guitarist George Brox and when they signed on, the cast was complete….(much more here)

I don’t have any stuff from Travis Pike’s Tea Party. These are only mp3’s I found around the net.

Tracks:

1. Dragon Song
2. End Of Summer
3, IThought You Knew
4. OK
5. One Ten Blues
6. The Likes Of You
7. If I Didn't Love You Girl
8. Bad Week

Saturday, April 12, 2008

The Other Half - Mr. Pharmacist


Μια garage επιλογή για σήμερα από ένα γκρουπ το οποίο είχε ελάχιστη διάρκεια ζωής. Γνωστότερή τους επιτυχία που μπήκε σχεδόν σε όλες τις garage συλλογές το Mr. Pharmacist. Προσωπικά μου αρέσει εξίσου το I Know αλλά και το ψυχεδελικότερο Wonderful Day. Περισσότερες πληροφορίες για του γκρουπ υπάρχουν σε μία συνέντευξη που μπορείτε να διαβάσετε στο Βeyond the beat generation εδώ.

Personnel:
LARRY BROWN bs A
RANDY HOLDEN ld gtr A
JEFF KNOWLEN vcls, hrmnca, gtr A
GEOFF WESTERN rhythm gtr A
DANNY WOODS drms A
RON SAURMAN drms B

ALBUM:
1(A) THE OTHER HALF (Acta 38004) 1968

NB: (1) also released in Germany with a totally different sleeve (Die Volks Platte ) 1968. (1) counterfeited on CD and on vinyl as Mr. Pharmacist (Eva 12003) 198?. Housed in a different sleeve, the Eva album contains additional 45 cuts.

45s:
1 Wonderful Day/Flight Of The Dragon Lady (Acta 801) 1967
2 No Doubt About It/I Need You (Acta 806) 1967
3 Oz Lee Eaves Drops/Morning Fire (Acta 825) 1968
4 Mr Pharmacist/I've Come So Far (GNP Crescendo 378) 1968
NB: There's also a rare French EP with picture sleeve: Mr Pharmacist/I've Come So Far/It's Too Hard/I Know (Vogue INT 18112) 1968.

The above album was a competent effort, composed of original numbers aside from an interesting version of Arthur Lee's Feathered Fish. Holden's fine psychedelic guitar work stands out throughout and is at its best on Morning Fire plus the finale What Can I Do For You?. Another number, Oz Lee Eaves Drops had an interesting beat, whilst the band's best known track, the non-LP Mr. Pharmacist, is a classic psych-punker and well worth checking out.

This group contained Randy Holden who, on The Other Half's demise, replaced Leigh Stephens in the better known Blue Cheer. Craig Tarwater (gtr) and Mike Pon (bs), both ex-Sons Of Adam, were also members of the band, but did not feature on the album.

Carolyn White, who used to live with the band in Mill Valley, California, recalls that they may have recorded a second album entitled The Other Half And How To Get It - Anyone have further info? Carolyn also tells us "Things came to an official end in L.A. when Jeff and Larry and Ron decided to move to Northern California, however I think Randy was the first to want to break up. It happened right after they recorded the theme to 'Mod Squad', a sixties cop show".

Compilation appearances include: Mr. Pharmacist on Mayhem & Psychosis, Vol. 2 (LP), Mindrocker, Vol. 1 (LP), Nuggets Box (4-CD), Nuggets, Vol. 12 (LP), Sound Of The Sixties (Dble LP) and Sixties Archive Vol. 1 (CD); Mr. Pharmacist and I've Come So Far on Psychotic Reaction Plus Ten (CD); Feathered Fish on Sixties Rebellion, Vol. 8 (LP & CD).
(Vernon Joynson/Stephane Rebeschini)

Tracks:

1 - Introduction - 1.53
2 - Feathered Fish - 2.30
3 - Flight of The Dragon Lady - 2.29
4 - Wonderful Day - 2.16
5 - I Need You - 2.41
6 - Oz Lee Eaves Drops - 2.27
7 - Bad Day - 2.14
8 - Morning Fire - 2.32
9 - What Can I Do For You (First Half) - 2.42
10 - What Can I Do For You (The Other Half) - 6.48
Bonus
11 - I´ve Come So Far - 2.22
12 - Mr. Pharmasist - 2.30
13 - No Doubt About It - 2.36
14 - It´s Too Hard (Without You) - 2.13
15 - I Know - 2.41

Friday, April 11, 2008

The Tea Company - Come And Have Some Tea With The Tea Company (1968)


Άλλος ένας «πειρατής» για σήμερα τον οποίο είχα αγοράσει από το 7+7 την πρώτη κιόλας μέρα που άνοιξε η κούτα στην υπόγα. Είχα σε κασετούλα από φοιτητής το δίσκο, η οποία βέβαια έπαιζε αποκλειστικά και για χρόνια το τελευταίο κομμάτι του άλμπουμ…το Make love, Νot war.

Άπαντες θα ξέρουν αυτό το ξενόφερτο σύνθημα της εποχής, το οποίο δε ξέρω κατά πόσον στην πατρίδα μας είχε εφαρμογή. Τα χρόνια που ήμασταν νεαροί είχαμε την απόλυτα δικαιολογημένη επαναστατικότητα μας, απέναντι σε κάθε μορφής εξουσία, την οποία εξουσία ενίοτε αμφισβητούσαμε με όποιο τρόπο μπορούσαμε στα πλαίσια που άντεχε και μπορούσε ο καθένας. Συνεπώς συνθήματα σαν το Make love, Νot war είχαν παραλλαχτεί εδώ σε άλλου είδους που γεννούσαν βέβαια διεκδικήσεις.

Όλοι μας κάτι έχουμε να θυμόμαστε και σχεδόν όλοι κάτι «κάναμε». Δεν ξέρω για παράδειγμα αν γνωρίζει κανείς πιο τριτοβάθμιο εκπαιδευτικό ίδρυμα στην χώρα μας, τόλμησε να κάνει την πρώτη κατάληψη (μετά τις εκλογές του 1981) που έγινε το 1983 (όχι κάποιο γνωστό ίδρυμα διότι αυτά είχαν ήδη καπελωθεί για τα καλά). Για να μην παρεξηγηθώ δεν προσπαθώ να περάσω από δω ότι ήμουν εγώ ο επαναστάτης και τίποτα άλλες τέτοιες μπούρδες. Απλά σαν νέος έχω να θυμάμαι ότι συμμετείχα ενεργά με άλλους συμφοιτητές μου, σε μία προσπάθεια να διεκδικήσουμε, όλα όσα πιστεύαμε πως μας ανήκουν. Έξω όμως από την οποιαδήποτε πολιτική σκοπιμότητα και χρώμα. Υπήρξε λοιπόν κάποτε η Συνεργασία Αδεσμεύτων Σπουδαστών…στην κυριολεξία αδεσμεύτων. Τότε π.χ. η σίτιση γινόταν με κουπόνια σε άθλια συμβεβλημένα εστιατόρια με τη σχολή, με συνέπεια η σαλμονέλα και οι γαστρεντερίτιδες να μας θερίζουν. Κάτι δεν έπρεπε να γίνει και για αυτό?

Ήταν όμως ωραία χρόνια, όμορφα, τα οποία αναπολώ συχνά και τα πεθυμώ. Χρόνια πολύ πιο αθώα από σήμερα. Αλλοίμονο όποιος πέρασε από την νιότη του και δεν έχει μνήμες. Για τις μνήμες βοήθησε η φοιτητική ζωή την οποία ευτυχώς γεύτηκα μέχρι το μεδούλι, γεγονός που συμβουλεύω τους μαθητές μου στο σχολείο να κάνουν. Να σπουδάσουν και να ζήσουν τα πανέμορφα νιάτα τους που είναι μια μόνο φορά. Για αυτό λοιπόν τους λέω Make love, not war με όποιον τρόπο μπορούν να το καταλάβουν.

Personnel:
FRANKIE CARRETTA gtr, ld vcls A
MIKE LASSANDO drms, backing vcls A
JOHN VANCHO bs, backing vcls A
AL VERTUCCI gtr, ld/backing vcls A

ALBUM:
1(A) COME AND HAVE SOME TEA WITH THE TEA COMPANY (Smash 67105) 1968
NB: (1) has been counterfeited on LP and CD. There is also a superior CD edition, released by band member Mike Lassandro - see main text for details.

45:
1 Come And Have Some Tea With Me/Flowers (Smash 2176) 1968

Tea was another word for marijuana, so with a name like The Tea Company, it is clear what to expect from their sole album. It is an interesting effort, with the title track and ten-minute cut, Flowers outstanding. The latter sounds Beatles-influenced psychedelia, with high-pitched guitar notes superimposed upon a typical psychedelic backing. It sounds rather like an extended version of the ending to Strawberry Fields Forever.

Aside from a slowed-down version of The Supremes' hit You Keep Me Hanging On, all the compositions are originals and some are full of the usual hippie cliches and social commentary, for example, Love Could Make The World Go Round and Make Love Not War. Their sole 45 contained shorter versions of two cuts from their album, with Flowers being a drastically edited and remixed version.
The group, who were originally called The Lip-Tin Tea Company, came from Queens, N.Y. and evolved out of The Naturals. They played mostly in New York City, Long Island, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Al Vertucci recalls:- "The Tea Company and all The Naturals stuff was done at Ultra-Sonic by Bill Stahl". Ultra-Sonic was "in Hempstead, L.I., and the owner/engineer was Bill Stahl who did all of the 'Fudge and Shangri-Las stuff there. One of the great engineers ever!! He did with four tracks what people can't do today with 48. The Tea Company LP (which was recorded on 8 tracks) was then re-mixed and ruined at A&R Recording, 7th Avenue in NYC by Mercury's Dick Corby."

Tracks
1. Come and have some tea
2. Flowers
3. Love could make the world go round
4. You keep me hangin' on
5. Don't make waves
6. As i have seen you on the wall
7. Make love, not war