Offenbach - Saint-Chrone de Néant (1973 canada progressive and hard progressive rock - 2008 remastered & expanded edition - FLAC)

As mentioned in the text below which appeared with the original album, the idea of Offenbach playing music as part of a traditional Mass for the Dead came from Pierre Harel, after a show in a club in Northern Québec which erupted into a brawl.

After the lack of interest for the band's first album Offenbach Soap Opera, Harel was looking for an event that would focus some media attention on Offenbach, which was experimenting with progressive rock and blues, influenced by groups like Deep Purple.

Participating in an ancient mass with priests in Montreal's most sacred shrine took months of convincing the religious authorities, and is described with much humor in Harel's book Rock ma vie.

Remarkably, rock music and Latin lyrics went well together, and the resulting album, entitled St-Chrone de Néant, a play on the word "synchronize", quickly attained cult status.

This reissue contains Offenbach's entire performance in the order it was recorded on November 30, 1972, including 26 unreleased minutes of music and mass.

Not surprisingly, it is interspersed with non-musical interludes. The recording was remastered, without compromising the sound of a live concert in a large cavernous church with echoes, background noises and the crowd.

Unreleased material includes "Marche de Peanut" written for the film and album Bulldozer, the finale of "Edgar", a composition named after Edgar Allan Poe that would later appear on the record Never too Tender, and the unpublished "Fils de Lumière".

Once the mass was over, and after Offenbach played "Rirolarma" as an encore, the crowd still wanted to hear more.

The final track, the now classic "Faut Que J'me Pousse", reveals the spontaneity of the recording as half of the sound system had failed and was being repaired when the group started to play its second encore ! - Release Notes


Domine Jesus Christe:


Track List:
01.La Chacone en Sol Majeur (04:47)
02.Pax Vobiscum (11:05)
03.Kyrie (05:22)
04.Oremus (00:49)
05.Finale d'Edgar (01:01)
06.Dans la chaire (03:19)
07.Requiem (02:39)
08.Dies Irae (04:50)
09.Fils de lumière (Évangile) (02:37)
10.Fils de lumière (04:36)
11.Domine Jesus Christe (05:34)
12.Cum Traderetur/Memento (07:43)
13.Marche de Peanut (03:52)
14.Rirolarma (04:58)
15.Faut que j'me pousse (05:03)

Offenbach:
*Gérald Boulet: organ, vocals, synthesizer
*Pierre Harel: organ, vocals, synthesizer
*Jean Gravel: guitar
*Michel Lamothe: bass
*Roger Belval: drums


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Three-Headed Dog - Hound Of Hades (1974 uk hard rock and hard progressive - APE lossless audio format)

Three-Headed Dog - Hound of Hades CD. Previously unreleased early 70s underground hard progressive rock masters unearthed from the infamous Birmingham rock scene which brought us such luminaries as Judas Priest and Black Sabbath.

Three-Headed Dog were among the lesser known and more obscure acts playing the circuit which included others like Iron Claw, Necromandus and Flying Hat Band.

Their sound being compared to early Priest, Wishbone Ash and Wild Turkey.

This CD also features a few bonus tracks from other rare bands of the era discovered in the studio's archives.

This stuff sounds pretty amatuer and like it was transferred direct from tapes with no noise reduction or enhancement whatsoever, so if you can't listen to anything without top studio production you'll want to look elsewhere (by rockadrome.com).

Slick Solution:


Track List:
01.Slick Solution
02.Cerberus
03.Butterfly
04.Gone Blue
05.Just Gotta Play
06.25 or 6 to 4
07.Stallion - All of the While*
08.Khayyam - Eternal Prison*
09.Khayyam - Collusion*
10.Zella Studios Acetate - Mystery track*


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Captain Marryat - Captain Marryat (1974 scottish progressive/hard rock, Shadoks reissue - MP3 320K and FLAC)

Captain Marryat were from Glasgow, Scotland and they recorded this demo album in 1974, released in a tiny pressing on the Thor label, hoping to get an EMI or Chrysalis deal, both who showed interest in the band at the time.

Named after the 19th Century mariner and novelist, this Glaswegian band made just one privately-pressed LP.

They wanted to record only a single, but instead came up with a complete album of self-composed tracks. Since it was not that easy for a Scottish band to get attention down in London, this album was the only pressing ever done and was sold at band gigs only.

Five musicians, great organ, vocals, extra heavy fuzz-guitar with drums and bass -- amazing underground songs, influenced by Deep Purple, Uriah Heep and Beggars Opera -- a true lost classic.

Dig on the truly tribal percussion, searing guitar leads and drugged-out keys on the fully-instrumental and galloping "Dance Of Thor."

The band formed in the early '70s, around 1971 to 1975, generating quite a following while playing all around Scotland and the Borders at various venues including Burns Howff in Glasgow which was a very popular venue as other bands such as Alex Harvey Band, Nazareth and Beggars Opera played there.

Shadoks was lucky to find the band themselves to make a deal so this beauty can finally conquer the world of rock music.

Many people watching eBay auctions were surprised to see this album selling for nearly 3,000 Euro each. Before that, this album was completely unknown.

Captain Marryat - Blindness:


Track list:
01. Blindness (05:10)
02. It Happened to Me (08:11)
03. A Friend (04:32)
04. Songwriter's Lament (06:20)
05. Changes (02:45)
06. Dance of Thor (06:53)

Captain Marryat:
*Jimmy Rorrison - vocals, drums
*Hugh Finnegan - bass, vocals
*Allan Bryce - organ, vocals
*Tommy Hendry - vocals, acoustic guitar
*Ian McEleny - lead guitar, acoustic guitar

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Epitaph - Epitaph / Stop Look And Listen / Outside The Law (1971-1974 uk hard rock and hard progressive rock - First 3 albums - MP3 320K and Wave)

The Germans usually preferred to use English lyrics, and several bands, like Blackwater Park, 2066 & Then and Epitaph, had British vocalists!

Epitaph were founded in Dortmund in 1969, consisting of Cliff Jackson (vocals, guitar), Bernd Kolbe (bass, mellotron, vocals) and Jim McGillivray (drums).

The first sessions for their debut album, released 1971 on Polydor, were recorded in an Essex studio in England.

For unknown reasons, it was however finished in Windrose Studios, Hamburg, where a fourth member was added to the group: Klaus Walz (guitar, vocals).

The five resulting tracks sounded similar to the groups mentioned above, and particularly the earliest incarnation of Uriah Heep.

Epitaph's Cliff Jackson didn't attempt to copy Byron's operatic vocal style, though. There were both fast rock'n'roll numbers and slow ballads with mellotron textures, usually in the 'heavy progressive standard song length' - from 5 to 7 minutes.

In 1972, Epitaph recorded their second album, "Stop, Look And Listen" in Audio Tonstudio, Berlin.

This album also contained five tracks, stylistically similar to their first offering.

Both albums are recommended for fans of the heavy progressive genre. In early 1973, Epitaph released two non-LP singles on the Polydor subsidiary Zebra: "Autumn '71" coupled with "Are You Ready" (2047 003) and "We Love You Alice" coupled with "Paradise For Sale" (2047 005).

After this promising start, it seems as if the band was promised a bright future by the newly founded American record company Billingsgate, that they eventually signed to.

The band invested much time and money into their third album, "Outside The Law" (1974), and aimed at an international break-through.

On this album, McGillivray was replaced with Achim Wielert (drums, percussion). The music sounded more polished this time, as the band abandoned progressive elements for a more straight forward heavy rock style.

Sadly all their dreams of success were brutally shattered, as Billingsgate soon went bankrupt and all their money was lost.

Epitaph had laid out on an extensive (and expensive) USA promotional tour (with ex-Karthago member Norbert Lehmann on drums) in October 1974 - on their return they had to sell their gear to survive!

Their new album was part of the bankrupt estate of Billingsgate, and Epitaph were forced to disband in 1975. The band secretly reformed later the same year, but didn't record any further albums until 1979.

Epitaph went through major changes during 1977, and only Cliff Jackson remained from the original group.

His new crew consisted of Heinz Glass (guitar), Harvey Janssen (bass), Michael Karch (keyboards) and Fritz Randow (drums).

They backed Omega on a Europe tour in the Autumn of 1977. The band finally signed a new recording deal with Brain, resulting in the mediocre "Return To Reality" (1979).

The band now performed a melodic boogie hard rock - of no particular distinction or interest. "See You In Alaska" (1980) was a similar effort.

Karch quit after this, leaving the four other to record a live album. In 1981 the new Epitaph disbanded.

Surprisingly enough, the original Epitaph (Jackson, Walz, Kolbe, and Lehmann) soon attempted a short re-union.

"Danger Man" (1982) was perhaps better than the Brain albums, but not able to recapture the spirit of the past times (by Dag Erik Asbjørnsen).

Moving to the Country:



Epitaph (1971):
01.Moving to the Country
02.Visions
03.Hopelessly
04.Little Maggie
05.Early Morning
06.London Town Girl (bonus track)
07.Autumn (bonus track)
08.Are You Ready (bonus track)
09.I'm Trying (bonus track)
10.Changing World (bonus track)

Stop Look And Listen (1972):
01.Crossroads - 4:47
02.Nightingale - 5:51
03.Uptight - 5:52
04.Fly - 8:49
05.Stop Look And Listen (Jackson, Bernd Kolbe, Klaus Walz, Jim McGillivray) - 9:53

Bonus:
06.Autumn 71 (single A-side, 1973) - 4:27
07.Are You Ready (single B-side, 1973) - 4:23
08.We Love You Alice (single A-side, 1973) - 3:36
09.Paradise For Sale (single B-side, 1973) (Walz, Kolbe) - 3:15

Outside The Law (1974):
01.Reflexion
02.Woman
03.Big City
04.In Your Eyes
05.Outside the Law
06.Tequila Shuffle
07.Fresh Air
08.We Love You Alice (bonus)
09.Paradise for Sale (bonus)


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Bodkin - Bodkin (1972 scotland hard progressive - MP3 320K and FLAC)

BODKIN were a Scottish quintet that released a self-titled album in 1972.

They made a classic-sounding, rough-edged heavy progressive rock with the emphasis on Doug Rome's Hammond organ and complimented by Mick Riddle's guitar, Bill Anderson's bass, Dick Sneddon on drums and the cool wailing of Zeik Hume.

Somewhat more jam-oriented than contemporaries such as ATOMIC ROOSTER or URIAH HEEP and not quite as hard-hitting, BODKIN nevertheless delivered spirited rock music with energetic interplay between guitar and organ, fine musicianship, and distractingly good compositions from the 21 year-old Doug Rome.

A very palatable blend of dark organ-rock and dirty blues, Bodkin will surely please listeners interested in the murky and mysterious early years of the Heavy Prog scene and anyone seeking rare prog."(by Atavachron-ProgArchives).

Plastic Man:


Track List:
01.Three Days After Death Pt. 1 (9:28)
02.Three Days After Death Pt. 2 (7:09)
03.Aunty Mary's Trashcan (10:48)
04.Aftur Yur Lumber (5:12)
05.Plastic Man (5:59)

Bodkin:
*Doug Rome / organ
*Mick Riddle / guitar
*Bill Anderson / bass
*Dick Sneddon / drums
*Zeik Hume / vocals


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Duffy - Scruffy Duffy (1973 uk hard rock, boogie and hard progressive - 2002 progressive line edition - FLAC)

A very interesting album by British group that combines heavy-progressive, hard-boogie and southern rock, calling plays as an illusion to Spooky Tooth, Foghat (in particular, opens the album thriller Running Away) and Atomic Rooster (Ode To Clay, for example ).

Throughout the album, good speed blues guitar, organ passages kreynovskom style. The most powerful thing the album maybe is St. John's with 9-minute, place reminds somewhat the album "Salisbury" from Uriah Heep.


Running Away:


Track List:
01.Running Away
02.Changing My Ways
03.Ode To Clay
04.The 1959 Rock 'n' Roll Bop
05.The Browns
06.Banker
07.Joker
08.I Can't Help The Way I Am
09.St John's
10.Finale

Duffy:
*Stuart "The Queen" Reffold (Lead vocals, Harp and Percussion)
*Barry "Fruity" Coote (Lead Guitar, 12 String and Acoustic Guitars)
*Joe Nanson (Vocals and Keyboards)
*Patrick "Patty" Sarjeant (Bass and Vocals)
*Will "Wombat" Wright (Drums and Percussion)


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Duffy - Just In Case You're Interested (1972 uk hard rock and progressive rock - 2010 release of her first album - MP3 320K and Wave audio format)

UK hard rock and progressive rock band with touches of psychedelia. Their debut album, though not issued in the UK; it did receive issue in Europe and Brazil, leaving some to believe this was their second album.

In 1973 UK label Chapter One issued their self-titled second album. Their sound has comparisons to early Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, and Humble Pie with some minor Jethro Tull influences. Wisely, the French release used a band photo for the front cover.

All the compositions on the disc are good. The vocal performances of Stuart Reffold bring great intensity and guitarist Barry Coote masters his subject as either acoustic or electric.

The ballad "Do not Let Me Be Misunderstood" (cover of The Animals) is magnificent.

Riverside:


Track List:
01.Matchmaker (2:52)
02.Long Lost Friend (3:06)
03.Judgement Day (4:25)
04.Amie (2:37)
05.It’s My Life (2:58)
06.Rock Solid (3:26)
07.Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (5:56)
08.Tell Me (3:10)
09.Riverside (3:05)
10.Place to die (2:09)

Duffy:
*Stuart Reffold – vocals
*Barry Coote – guitar
*Joe Nanson – keyboards
*Patrick Sarjeant – bass
*Will Wright – drums


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Blackwater Park - Dirt Box (1972 germany hard/progressive rock, 1996 spalax reissue - MP3 320K and FLAC)

Blackwater Park was a little-known Berlin rock band that recorded its only album in Windrose Studios during December 1971.

Fans of the guitar driven, blues-flavored heavy progressive rock formula can't go wrong with 'Dirt Box'. Featuring a British vocalist, the group's sound can be compared to the likes of Free, Armaggedon, and Edgar Broughton Band.

'Dirt Box', released on BASF, contains six original tracks of varying quality and a cover version of the Beatles' 'For No One' which comes off rather well. The album opens with 'Mental Block'. Containing gutsy guitar riffs which remind me of the band Free, the song features tight riffs that jam, scorching guitar solos, and an airy hammond organ for added effect.

Powerful riffs guide the listener through 'Roundabout', an aggressive rocker with a slightly psychedelic intro. 'One's Life', 'Indian Summer', and 'Dirty Face' feature great guitar work and take on a heavy blues sound with 'Dirty Face' exploring the realm of boogie blues.

'Rock Song' stands out for it is the most unique song on the album in terms of sound. The song opens with a spate of aggressive riffs before turning into a doom and gloom rocker with a slight Eastern influence (imagine Black Sabbath performing 'Careful With That Axe, Eugene') before ending in a series of heavy guitar solos. Finally, the album comes to a close with a rocked-up cover version of the 'For No One' from the Beatles' 1966 smash 'Revolver'.

Overall, 'Dirt Box' has its shining moments, they combined elements from multiple extant and budding rock subgenres to construct their complex sound: hard rock, blues-rock, jazz-rock, acid rock, prog rock, and even proto-metal.

Unfortunately, the group's one and only album, Dirt Box, released in 1972, failed to advance the band's career beyond its preliminary stages, and it wasn't long before Blackwater Park had quietly called it quits.

But, as has often been the case with these obscure Teutonic bands, the cult of Dirt Box gradually grew over the years, and by the start of the new millennium, its occasional CD reissues were being eagerly snapped up by '70s hard prog collectors.

Blackwater Park - Rock Song


Track list:
01. Mental Block (03:18)
02. Roundabout (05:45)
03. One's Life (03:03)
04. Indian Summer (06:10)
05. Dirty Face (04:25)
06. Rock Song (08:45)
07. For No one (03:25)

Blackwater Park:
*Richard Routledge - guitar, vocals
*Michael Fechner - guitar
*Andreas Scholz - bass
*Norbert Kagelmann - drums

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CODE: 49530

Dark - Anonymous Days (1974-1995 uk heavy fuzz progressive - MP320K and Wave audio format)

"Anonymous Days" is the second studio album from Dark recorded 23 years after the first, the famous and highly collectable 'Round the Edges' LP.

The band's line-up remains the same, Steve Giles, Ron Johnson, Martin Weaver and Clive Thorneycroft.

Anonymous Days contains songs written between 1974 and 1995 and is the album we always wanted to make, combining the Dark progressive rock style with the latest recording techniques.

The first album was recorded in about 24 hours, this one took an awful lot longer: that's modern studios for you.

The tracks are pure Dark combining complicated twin harmony guitar work with thought provoking lyrics and wide ranging musical structures.

We thoroughly enjoyed getting back together again to write and rehearse after all those years, we even played a live gig in our home town of Northampton.

At the start of the project Ron's bass guitar was taken from the dust in his loft where it had lain undisturbed for over 20 years.

After the album was finished he put it back in exactly the same place ready for the next one? (Martin Weaver, Northampton, England. June 2001).

Track List:
01.Killing My Friends
02.Don't Worry About That
03.On Came The Midnight
04.A Hope Full Of Holes
05.Shadow Of The Rain
06.Miles And Miles Away
07.Madame La Guillotine
08.All The Loving I Need

Dark:
*Steve Giles: Guitars, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
*Ron Johnson Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
*Martin Weaver Guitars, Vocals
*Clive Thorneycroft Drums, Percussion


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CODE: 50124

I Drive - I Drive (1972 uk hard progressive and hard rock - MP3 320K and Wave audio format)

Finally 'I DRIVE' is available on CD again - this time, however, in the original design as a 2-CD-premium-digipack - complete with an extensive booklet, detailed band bio, many unreleased photos.

...And for the first time on CD: The first 'I DRIVE'- single published in 1969, and many rare recordings in addition.

Musically, the whole thing can be classified as a mixture of early 70s hard rock and English organ rock.

This band is very obviously influenced heavily by Deep Purple, particularly from the "Deep Purple in Rock" era.

Hard, fast, furious leads, vocals, rhythm section. Speedfreak progressive rock (by green-brain-krautrock.de).


Down Down Down:



CD-1:
01.Down Down Down (1972) - 4.38
02.Oo, Bopajero (1972) - 3.26
03.Looking Out My Window (1972) - 3.49
04.Marry A Musican (1972) - 3.13
05.Before The Devil (1972) - 3.34
06.Christine (1972) - 5.04
07.Only The Lonely (1972) - 4.29
08.What A Pity (1972) - 3.46
09.Just A Little Bit (1972) - 3.45
10.Be The One (1972) - 3.05
11.Brave New World (1972) - 6.21


CD-2:
01.I Need A Friend (1971) - 3.59
02.When Evening Comes (1971) - 4.15
03.It Ain't So Bad (1971) - 3.06
04.Looking Out My Window (1971) - 4.01
05.Everything In Vain (1971) - 3.15
06.Happy Days (1971) - 2.48
07.Turmoil (1971) - 3.47
08.Before The Devil (1971) - 4.02
09.Classic Rigby Part 1 And 2 (1971) - 6.09


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