The Druids of Stonehenge - Creation (1968 us heavy psychedelic and psychedelic rock - Axis Records edition - FLAC)

Formed while students attending New York's Columbia and Syracuse Universities, by 1966 singer Dave Budge, guitarist Carl Hauser, drummer Steve Tindall (personal note - the Sherlock Holmes pipe didn't exactly foster a "hip" image) rhythm guitarist Bill Tracy and bassist Tom Workman had come together as The Druids of Stonehenge; recorded a series of demos and relocated to Los Angeles in hopes of scoring big time successes.



Two years of toil on the local club circuit eventually brought overnight success in the form of a contract with MCA's newly formed Uni label.



Produced by Jerry Goldstein (he also contributed one song to the proceedings), 1968's "Creation" didn't exactly set the world on fire, though it's far better than most mid-'60s of ferings.



Propelled by Budge's nasty growl (imagine Eric Burdon after a week long bender), in contrast to most of their contemporaries who were pursuing ever more sophisticated arrangements, the band exhibited a penchant for roaring Animals-styled R&B (check out "Painted Woman", their blazing cover of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell On You" and the original "Bring It On Home (Can't Get By Alone)").



The band's other area of interest seemed to be drug-oriented material; check out the subtle "Speed" and their cover of Love's "Signed DC"). Intriguing for it's raw and rugged sound in an era of increasing audio sophistication.



This album is too freakin cool. The first track tricks you, with a classic soft psych track. From there it builds to become a pure punk psych gem.



The lead singer is incredable with vocals that can be described as Mick Jagger meets Iggy Pop meets Lou Reed.



Some of the tunes are kinda blues psych and some disply a Velvet Underground minimalizm. It's guaranteed to please even the staunchest 60s psych critic.





Six Feet Down:





Track List:

01.Six Feet Down

02.Earthless

03.I Put A Spell On You

04.Speed

05.Bring It On Home/Can't Get By Alon

06.Painted Woman

07.Pale Dream08 Signed D.C.

09.Forgot To Be Begot10 A Garden Where Nothing Grows

11.It's All Over Now Baby Blue



The Druids of Stonehenge:

*Dave Budge (vocals),

*Carl Hauser (lead guitar, vocals, keyboards),

*Steve Tindall (drums, keyboards),

*Billy (B.T.) Tracy (guitar),

*Tom Paine Workman (bass)





[ Rip and scans by OldrockerBR ]

CODE: 59929

Randy Holden - Guitar God 2001 (1997 us heavy psychedelic, hard rock and blues rock - FLAC)

When I first contacted Randy Holden I immediately recognized his name. I couldn't place him though.

After more thought and reflection, I realized that this was the man that replaced Leigh Stephens in Blue Cheer back in 1968. And he did a really nice job filling those shoes.

Well, here it is 2001 and Randy is blazing his own path, producing and releasing his own music via the Internet.

He told me before I received the CD that I would love it. He was right on the money. I was in awe of the guitar playing on this CD.

The third track "Prayer To Paradise" is over twenty-two minutes long. My god, that's an entire CD for some folks ! It's a cosmic ride of instrumental fire.

Holden reaches down real deep and lets his guitar do all the talking. What you will hear will leave your mouth agape wondering why you haven't heard of this great musician.

Using middle-eastern flavored high-powered rock, Holden cuts loose an unembellished arsenal of crunching, power driven chords that will leave you in disbelief of what you heard when it finally ends.

I thought of Hendrix, Zappa, and Dick Dale while I was taking in this awe-inspiring journey of rock nirvana. If that wasn't enough, "I'll Take Your Blues Away" kicks in to close things out.

A female vocalist by name of Rachel Stavage sets the song ablaze with her authoritative vocal style.

Holden's playing on this number is scorching, and truly befitting of blues-rock number. Hang on to your a**.

This guy will blow you away. If you like hard rocking guitar jams, you will think you died and went to heaven when you hear this CD (Keith Hannaleck).



Space Surf Rider:


Tracklist:
1. Space Surf Rider
2. I Sail on Love
3. Prayer to Paradise
4. I'll Take Your Blues Away

Credits:
Randy Holden : Guitar, Vocals (1,3)
Randy Pratt : Bass (1,2,4)
Darren Lyons : Drums (1,3,4)
Phil Weiss : Drums (2)
Rachel Stavage : Vocals (4)

Recorded 1997 At E-R-S, N.Y.C.
Produced By Randy Holden
Cover Art & Design: Marlon Holden


[ Thank you SILVERADO for sending this post ]
CODE: 59146 or click here (password is code_number+phrockblog)

Rock Island - Rock Island (1970 us, hard blues psych, 2010 remaster edition - MP3 320k and FLAC)

Rock Island formed in 1969 in Philadelphia and had a few different line-ups before the final members that recorded this album, which consisted of Cobb Bussinger (keyboards, vocals), Mike Kennedy (guitar, vocals), Frank Schallis (drums, vocals), B.J. Taylor (lead vocals), and Tony Curcio (bass). Three of the members-Cobb, Mike, and Frank -were previously in a band together named The Many Few.

Rock Island played throughout Philly at many of the Belmont Plateau and Pennypack "Be-lns," held outside in city parks, and coffee houses like Hecket's Circle and built a very good local following. The Group recorded a 4-song demo and went to New York to shop it. They called every record company in the city and made as many appointments as possible.

One producer that really liked the demo was Jeff Hest, with Project 3 Records, which was a fairly new label founded by Enoch Light. Enoch liked the band very much and signed Rock Island to a one-LP contract. Jeff Hest was assigned as producer for the band and made many trips to Philadelphia for the purpose of choosing material for the upcoming album. Once the songs were chosen, the band started recording at A&R Studios in New York City and made multiple trips to New York to record a few songs each trip.

The single Hard and Never Easy was released at the same time as the album and was successful in the mid-west and some areas of Europe. The band made their New York debut at Ungano's, opening for Rod Stewart and the Small Faces and played many times at the Electric Circus in New York. The band took on three managers who arranged for the group to rehearse in the soon-to-be-opened Playboy Club on Broad Street in Center City Philadelphia. A few nights each week the band would allow passers-by to come in and watch their set, which provided a lot of great feedback while putting together their live show.

The band also acquired a limousine, which proved to be a lot of fun travelling to gigs and back and forth to New York. In May of 1970, when the band was at their peak musically and rehearsed to perfection, the Kent State University massacre took place, where four students were killed and nine wounded after being fired upon by the Ohio National Guard. This event caused many universities and colleges to cancel their summer concerts, hence cancelling many of Rock Island's concerts and leaving the band ready and willing to perform but with no available venues to play. Over the next few months the band, having no clear plans, started having internal problems and eventually one of the members left, then another.

After replacing the missing members, the music was never the same, and the band lost impetus and direction. At this time, Project 3 offered Cobb Bussinger and Frank Schallis a contract to record another LP with the condition that they were the sole writers. Bussinger/Schallis, having been a writing team for 10 years, accepted the deal and hired former Rock Island guitarist Mike Kennedy and added Ric Criniti as bassist. The new band was named RAIN and recorded one album with Project 3 Records in 1972. Frank Schallis passed in 2000, Mike Kennedy in 2006.
Cobb Bussinger
El Paso, Texas, February, 2010


Tracks
1. Blue, Blue Lady (M. Kennedy) - 2:59
2. Runnin1 Through My Mind (Jeff Hest) - 5:09
3. When I Was A Boy (R. Bussinger, F. Schallis) - 3:10
4. I Keep On Tryln1 (M. Kennedy, B.J. Taylor) - 2:13
5. Hard And Never Easy (M. Kennedy) - 3:05
6. She Has Left Me (R. Bussinger, F. Schallis) - 3:12
7. Won't You Stay Another Day (M. Kennedy, F. Schallis) - 2:21
8. I Remember (M. Kennedy, B.J. Taylor) - 2:20
9. Babe, I'm Gonna Leave You (M. Kennedy, R. Devlin) - 2:22
10.Blues (R. Bussinger, M. Kennedy, B.J. Taylor) - 8:13
11.Blues Reprise #1 (M. Kennedy) - 0:40
12. Blues Reprise #2 (M. Kennedy) - 0:28

Rock Island
*Cobb Bussinger - Keyboards, Vocals
*Mike Kennedy - Guitar, Vocals
*Frank Schallis - Drums, Vocals
*B.J. Taylor - Lead Vocals
*Tony Curcio - Bass

[ Rip and Scans by MARIOS ]
CODE: 56743 or click here (password is code_number+phrockblog)

Fraction - Moonblood (1970 us heavy and hard psychedelic - Anthology records first edition - MP3 320K and FLAC)

This 1971 release on the Angelus label (Angelus 571) was limited to only 200 copies, so originals are worth a small fortune.

Fraction, with vocalist Jim Beach bearing an uncanny vocal resemblance to Jim Morrision (although he was singing on Sunset Strip long before Morrison took to the stage), were often compared favourably with the Doors, although their quasi-religious message would probably not have found favour with the recently-departed Morrison.

Indeed, this rather fine album was once famously described as the album the Doors probably wished they had made!

Underpinned by guitarist Don Swanson's superb Ritchie Blackmorestyle guitar work, this is an album full of beautiful psychedelia, acid and hard rock, at once emblematic of the era but not dated by its association.

The five original compositions are all of the highest quality and the contribution of Beach's Morrison-esque vocals place a stamp of originality on the recording that endures from beginning to end (by systems records).


OldrockerBR review in Portuguese language:
Esta banda de Los Angeles tem uma identidade sonora muito própria e marcante. Soa como uma mistura de "The Doors" com a intensidade de um "MC5" e "The Stooges", adicionado a um pouco de Krautrock no estilo "Night Sun ou "Hairy Chapter".

O vocalista Jim Beach é uma espécie de Jim Morrison Cristão, tendo concebido todo projeto do disco que aborda questões existenciais, guerra do Vietnã, assassinatos, protestos e a relação de uma pessoa com fé em Deus com tudo isto.

O vocal "sujo e rasgado" de Jim Beach combina perfeitamente com a potente guitarra fuzzy de Don Swanson tanto nas passagens pesadas quanto nas mais arranjadas.

É extremamente difícil, fazer comentários sobre cada um das faixas deste disco. O melhor mesmo, é você ouvir e chegar às suas próprias conclusões...

A gravadora Radioactive relançou este CD com outra capa em 2004. A qualidade sonora não mudou praticamente nada quando comparada a esta edição.


Eye of the Hurricane:


Track List:
01.Sanc-Divided - 3.52
02.Come Out Of Her - 4.57
03.Eye Of The Hurricane - 8.55
04.Sons Come To Birth 5.26
05.This Bird - 4.38
06.Sky High - 3.24

Fraction:
*Jim Beach: Lead Vocals
*Don Swanson: Lead Guitar
*Curt Swanson: Percusion
*Victor Hemme: Bass Guitar
*Robert Meinel: Rhythm Guitar


[ Rip and scans by OldrockerBR ]
Previous posted at PHROCK in Friday, July 25, 2008
CODE: 53013

Shag - Shag (1969 us psychedelic tinged hard blues with very good heavy fuzz guitar - 2005 Gear Fab records edition - FLAC)

First based in Milwaukee band, The Shag released, over the 60’s two punk/garage singles (the first one under the name The Shags), which are to be found on various compilations.

In 1969 the final version of the group, which now had moved to California also have recorded a full album of material at “PHR” at the open hours when Grateful Dead were not recording and creating their “Working Man’s Dead”.

Although the recordings were promising they never got a record deal with it and they remained unknown and unreleased until now.

Here the group plays hard, mostly bluesy, psychedelic rock with great fuzz guitars and a good rhythm section, as perfect music for night club performances, not only suitable to get drunk on beer to.

“Gypsies on the Forest” is my favourite track, -a classic if you ask me, a bit reminiscent of Rufus Zuphall-, which is very rhythmic-melodic and has great rocking flute.

“Mad Matter” has a great late night fuzz jam rock drive, and some mad laughter on the background.

“Riddle” is a harder rock song, while “Anyone’s Song” is an ok common ’baby' rock song.

“Cold Duck Wino” continues this way slightly more calmy rocking, with fine fuzz solos.

"Lavender Tab, Ooh dilly dilly" is like the first track, has again a partial rhythmical-melodic partly song drive, while "Lovely Lady" rhythmically is a calmer rock song with some more fuzz (by progressive.homestead.com).

Track List:
01.Gypsies In The Forest (03:06)
02.Mad Hatter (02:58)
03.Riddle (02:47)
04.Anyone's Song (02:46)
05.Cold Duck Wino (06:17)
06.Lavendar Tab, Ooh Dilly Dilly (07:26)
07.Lovely Lady (04:08)

Shag:
*Gordon Elliott: lead guitar, lead vocals, harmonica, conga drums
*Don Luther: bass guitar, vocals, percussion
*Green Greenwald: alto & soprano flutes, sax, drums, wurlitzer piano, vocals, percussion
*Michael Lamers: rhythm guitar, drums, autoharp, vocals, theremin, whistles, gongs, percussion


[ Thank you BOBO59 for sending this post ]
Rip and scans made by FLOGGER77
CODE: 52959

The Electric Prunes - Stockholm 1967 (1967 us heavy psychedelic , digipack edition - MP3 320K and FLAC)

The Electric Prunes' December 14, 1967 show from the Concert Hall in Stockholm, originally taped for broadcast on Swedish radio, fully restored and properly remastered.

The result is the finest record ever released by this band, and maybe the best live album of the psychedelic era. It was issued by a private label in England in a double-pocketed CD jacket with a beautifully illustrated booklet, complete with written reminiscences by the surviving members.

The band's lineup is from their second album, Underground: James Lowe (lead vocals), Mark Tulin (bass, organ, vocals), Ken Williams (lead guitar), the late Mike Gannon (rhythm guitar, vocals), and Quint (drums).

Calling them tight would be an understatement -- the band does a 45-minute set, parts of which ("Try Me On For Size," "You Never Had It Better") display long instrumental passages showing off Williams' prowess on the fuzz-tone guitar and Quint's powerful drumming to great effect; "I Had Too Much To Dream Tonight" is here, along with "Long Day's Flight" and "Get Me to the World On Time" and solid covers of "Got My Mojo Workin'" and "Smokestack Lightnin'."

This live show presents the group as much more of a garage-punk band than a psychedelic band, though they still traffic in the currency of the latter, including lots of distorted guitars and organ cadenzas -- the snarl and energy keep things moving, however. Twice as valuable as their Edsel hits compilation (by Bruce Eder).

OldrockerBR review in Poprtuguese language:
Para todos aqueles que não tiveram a sorte de assistir a um show dos Electric Prunes na década de 60 e sempre se perguntaram como eles faziam para reproduzir ao vivo os tantos efeitos de estúdio contidos em seus discos, eis aqui a resposta.

Gravado no Concert Hall de Estocolmo, em 1967 (com a finalidade de ser transmitido por uma rádio sueca, o que nunca aconteceu), em plena turnê da banda pela Europa; o disco mostra que embora não fosse possível tocar ao vivo todos os efeitos de estúdio que tanto agradavam os Prunes (e seus fãs), um show da banda não deixava de ser um evento digno de nota.

O repertório é infelizmente curto e rápido, mas selecionado a dedo: entre os sucessos e algumas faixas-chave extraídas dos dois álbuns, os Prunes revelam suas raízes no blues, fazendo releituras de “I Got My Mojo Working” (Muddy Waters) e “Smokestack Lightning” (Howlin’ Wolf) altamente ácidas (no sentido sessentista da palavra), com Ken Williams e Mark Tulin extraindo todos os recursos possíveis de seus instrumentos; trocando entre si, respectivamente, incríveis solos pirotécnicos e linhas de baixo mais do que acuradas.

James Lowe também está no melhor de si, balanceando convenientemente seus vocais rasgados nas faixas mais agressivas com sussurros desconcertantes nos momentos mais calmos.

Segundo os próprios Electric Prunes, este show não foi lá grande coisa; pois por estarem já cansados de tocar para platéias estáticas na turnê Européia, para este show eles resolveram “pegar leve”. Pois se a contenção da banda resultou simplesmente neste, que é um dos melhores discos ao vivo de acid rock, imaginem como devia ser um show da banda quando esta estava em “perfeita forma”.

I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night):


Track List:
01.You Never Had It Better
02.I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night)
03.Try Me On For Size
04.I Happen To Love You
05.I Got My Mojo Workin'
06.Long Day's Flight (Til Tomorrow)
07.Smokestack Lightning
08.Get Me To The World On Time

The Electric Prunes:
* James Lowe (vocals)
* Mike Gannon (guitar, background vocals)
* Ken Williams (guitar)
* Mark Tulin (organ, bass, background vocals)
* Quint (drums)


[ Rip and scans by OldrockerBR ]
Previous posted at PHROCK in Thursday, Saturday, July 19, 2008
CODE: 52662

Silver Metre - Silver Metre (1969 us psychedelic/heavy/hard rock featuring Leigh Stephens, Akarma reissue - MP3 320K and FLAC)

Silver Metre was a short-lived, San Francisco-based outfit formed by Leigh Stevens, previously with Blue Cheer, and Mick Waller from the Jeff Beck Group.

Together with Tom Cowan and Pete Sears, the band released one album in 1970. The album, recorded in England, is basic heavy rock with a spattering of psychedelia.

A mix of originals and covers songs, it includes three Elton John/Bernie Taupin compositions: "Country Comforts," "Now They've Found Me," and "Sixty Years On."

While the album did not make much impact upon its original release on the small National General label in the U.S., it is of interest to collectors because of the early Waller-Stevens connection.

Stephens and Waller would later move on to the British-based band Pilot, a short-lived early-'70s outfit, while Pete Sears was later in Stoneground and Jefferson Starship.

Silver Metre - Now They've Found Me:


Track list:
01. Now They've Found Me (Ballad Of A Well Known Gun) [03:39]
02. Naughty Lady [04:30]
03. Gangbang [04:42]
04. Country Comforts [03:23]
05. Superstar [03:45]
06. Sixty Years On [04:20]
07. Compromising Situation [03:46]
08. Cocklewood Monster [05:15]
09. Nightflight [04:15]
10. Dog End [03:52]

Silver Metre:
*Leigh Stephens - guitar
*Pete Sears - bass, keyboards
*Jack Reynolds - vocals
*Mick Waller - drums

[ Thank you NELWIZARD for sending this post ]
CODE: 49557

The Simon Dupree and The Big Sound - Part Of My Past Anthology (1966-1969 uk rhythm and blues / psychedelic with 55 tracks - MP3 320K and FLAC)

The band was formed in early 1966 from the remnants of two bands, The Road Runners from Portsmouth and The Classics from Gosport. They also recorded as the The Moles with the record We Are The Moles.

They were one of the first bands to use the Mellotron for recording at Abbey Road and on stage after The Beatles and The Moody Blues,

After rehearsing for a few weeks in early 1966 they started doing gigs in Portsmouth and around the South Coast of England.

They had very little gear and a dodgy van for transport, soon gained a good following and had queues of people waiting to get into such places as the Indigo Vat and Birdcage in Portsmouth.

The Shulmans brother-in-law John King, who was a television producer for BBC Bristol went to see them one evening and agreed to be their manager.

John didn't know too much about the pop music scene, but he did have some good contacts and knew some of the right people.

John took a demo disk of I See The Light ( a Five Americans cover ) to EMI, who gave them an audition.

This resulted in a five year recording contract, which was pretty amazing at the time. In October 1966 they went to studio two at Abbey Road and re-recorded I See The Light.

Shortly after signing with EMI the band turned professional. One of the first gigs was with The Walker Brothers at theABC Theatre - Blackpool. Next came The Beach Boys and Gene Pitney tours.Simon Dupree toured Sweden, Germany, Belgium, Holland and the UK, they played over 300 gigs a year traveling thousands of miles.

Simon Dupree and The Big Sound appeared frequently on British and German television, and were also a favourite of the BBC's for live radio shows.

The band eventually broke up in late 1969.

In 1970 Derek, Ray and Phil Shulman together with Kerry Minnear, Gary Green and Martin Smith formed the UK progressive rock band Gentle Giant.

Simon Dupree & The Big Sound - Live 1966:


Disc: 1
01.I See the Light [Stereo]
02.It Is Finished
03.Reservations [Stereo]
04.You Need a Man [Mono Version]
05.Day Time, Night Time [Stereo]
06.I've Seen It All Before [Mono Version]
07.Medley: 60 Minutes of Your Love/A Lot of Love
08.Love [Stereo]
09.Get Off My Bach [Stereo]
10.There's a Little Picture Playhouse [Stereo]
11.What Is Soul [Stereo]
12.Teacher, Teacher [Stereo]
13.Amen [Stereo]
14.Who Cares [Stereo]
15.Kites [Stereo]
16.Like the Sun Like the Fire [Stereo]
17.For Whom the Bell Tolls [Stereo]
18.Sleep [Stereo]
19.Part of My Past [Stereo]
20.This Story Never Ends [Stereo]
21.Thinking About My Life [Mono Version]
22.Velvet and Lace [Mono Version]
23.We Are the Moles, Pt. 1 [Stereo] - The Moles
24.We Are the Moles, Pt. 2 [Mono Version] - The Moles
25.Broken Hearted Pirates [Mono Version]
26.She Gave Me the Sun [Mono Version]
27.Eagle Flies Tonight [Mono Version]
28.Give It All Back [Stereo]

Disc: 2
01.Stained Glass Window [Stereo]
02.Please Come Back [Mono Version]
03.Light on Dark Water [Mono Version]
04.What in This World [Mono Version]
05.What Cha Gonna Do [Mono Version]
06.Don't Make It So Hard (On Me Baby) [Mono Version]
07.Kindness [Mono Version]
08.Castle in the Sky [Mono Version]
09.Loneliness Is Just a State of Mind [Stereo]
10.Laughing Boy From Nowhere [Mono Version]
11.You [Mono Version]
12.Can't You See [Stereo]
13.Now [Stereo]
14.Rain [Stereo]
15.Something in the Way She Moves [Stereo]
16.I'm Going Home [Mono Version]
17.Medley: 60 Minutes of Your Love/A Lot of Love [Mono Version]
18.Love [Mono Version]
19.Get Off My Bach
20.There's a Little Picture Playhouse [Mono Version]
21.Day Time, Night Time
22.I See the Light [Mono Version]
23.What Is Soul [Mono Version]
24.Teacher, Teacher [Mono Version]
25.Amen [Mono Version]
26.Who Cares [Mono Version]
27.Reservations [Mono Version]

The Simon Dupree & The Big Sound:
*Phil Shulman,
*Eric Hine,
*Derek Shulman,
*Tony Ransley,
*Ray Shulman
*Peter O'Flaherty.


[ Thank you CRIMSON for sending this post ]
Thanks a lot MARIOS and WAJORAMA for previous post in PHROCK Blog
CODE: 17361