Lennon and Paul McCartney participated in an impromptu jam session on 28 March 1974 during the recording sessions for Harry Nilsson's Pussy Cats album (which Lennon was producing). While the session was taped, it has yet to see official release. In addition to Lennon, McCartney, and Nilsson on vocals, the recording features Stevie Wonder (keyboards), Linda McCartney (organ), Jesse Ed Davis (guitar), Ed Freeman (production and bass), and Bobby Keys (saxophone). Longtime Beatles assistant Mal Evans was also present at the session. Recorded at John's home. 01 - Studio Play 02 - Blues Jam 03 - Talk Part 04 - Lucille 05 - Nightmares 06 - Stand By Me 07 - Stand By Me 08 - Stand By Me 09 - Medley - Cupid - Chaing Chang - Take This Hammer LINK
Martin Cockerham (vocals/guitar) and Mark Francis originally formed Spirogyra as a duo in Bolton, Lancashire in the summer of 1967, not to be confused with a similarly-named 1980s American jazz group. When Martin went to the University of Kent at Canterbury in 1969 he expanded the band to include fellow students Barbara Gaskin (vocals), Steve Borrill (bass guitar), and Julian Cusack (violin). They were soon spotted by student union entertainments officer Max Hole, who offered to manage them and got them a recording contract with B&C Records. Their debut album, St. Radigunds, was named after the street that their student house was on. It established them as a cult act on the underground club circuit, and sold respectably. Its follow-up, 1972's Old Boot Wine, appeared on Peg Records and showcased a harder-edged sound than their predominantly acoustic debut. After the release of Old Boot Wine, the band was pared back to the duo of Cockerham and Gaskin, who were by now romantically involved. Their final album, Bells, Boots and Shambles, appeared on Polydor in April 1973 and sold poorly.
01 - The Furthest Point 02 - Old Boot Wine 03 - Parallel Lines Never Separate 04 - Spiggly 05 - An Everyday Consumption Song 06 - The Sergeant Says 07 - In The Western World
Linn County formed around 1967 in Linn County, Iowa, USA as the Linn County Blues Band. In 1968, the band signed with Mercury Records, moved to San Francisco, California, and changed its name to Linn County. They released their first album Proud Flesh Soothseer in 1968 and toured, performing with bands and people such as: Albert King, Led Zeppelin, Sly & the Family Stone, Eric Burdon & the Animals and Ten Years After. They never became too well known. The band broke up after Clark Pierson left with Janis Joplin. Linn County released three albums from 1968 to 1970. Stephen Miller, organ, vocals, Larry Easter, saxophone, flute, Dino Long, bass, Fred Walk, guitar, sitar, Jerry 'Snake' McAndrew, drums and Clark Pierson, drums. Fever Shot is the second album of the band. 01 - Girl Can't Help It 02 - Elevator Woman 03 - Too Far Gone 04 - Suspended 05 - Fever Shopt 06 - Lonely Avenue 07 - Ground Hog Blues LINK
Ramases was the creation and alter-ego of Martin Raphael (sometimes known as Barrington Frost), born in Sheffield, UK. Formerly an army PT instructor, whilst involved in a central heating business in Scotland, was inspired to assume the mantle of the Egyptian Pharaoh of whom he believed himself a reincarnation, and take up a musical career. Early singles (recorded with his wife, Dorthy Frost aka Selket) failed to make any impact, Space Hymns was recorded at Strawberry Studios in Stockport with soon-to-be members of 10cc. Glass Top Coffin was recorded following relocation to Felixstowe, and Ramases retired from the music business soon afterwards. He died in 1978 but his death was not widely reported in musical circles until the early 1990s. 01 - Golden Landing 02 - Long Long Time 03 - Now Mona Lisa 04 - God Voice 05 - Mind Island 06 - Only The Loneliest Feeling 07 - Sweet Reason 08 - Stepping Stones 09 - Saler Man 10 - Children Of The Green Earth 11 - Glass Top Coffin 12 - Golden Landing (Part II) LINK
The band started out life covering Beatles songs in San Jose, California. Their first single, a cover of the Beatles’ If I Needed Someone was released in 1966. It was a respectable cover of the Beatle’s classic though the flip was better, being a moody folk-rock original. The single tanked, prompting the band to quickly release the self-penned My Buddy Sin later on that year. My Buddy Sin was an excellent folk rock song with wailing harmonica, soaring harmonies, sharp lyrics and an acid tinged production. This single failed to attract attention despite it’s quality, forcing the band to record a brill building classic for their next 45. In the 1960’s, artists and rock bands depended on the success of the single to grant them artistic and creative control/freedom (making albums). We Got A Long Way To Go was a huge local hit, well executed, pleasant enough and professional, though betraying the band’s roots and creative aspirations. A few other decent though commercially unsuccessful singles followed in the psychedelic pop vein. Eventually the band was granted freedom to record two albums on the Capital label. Crazy Horse Roads is a unique effort, and much different from their jam oriented Aurora album. There are some solid psych pop songs (Night Cap, Twiddle My Thumbs and Fingerpainting), soul rock (Two Make One and Fahrenheit), galloping country-rock (Horse On Me) and hard folk-rockers (Light Down Below, Doomsday, I Sing You Sing, and Soap and Turkey). 01 - I Sing You Sing 02 - Finger Painting 03 - Soap And Turkey 04 - Twiddle My Thumbs 05 - Fahrenheit 06 - Nightcap 07 - Horse On Me 08 - Two Make One 09 - Light Down Below 10 - Piggy Back Ride And The Camel 11 - Doomsday LINK
UK heavy blues rock band from 1971. Pretty vicious at times, with wild loud screaming lead guitar. Long overdue and overlooked. This British based band plays a very heavy bluesy rock, only released in USA on Decca Label. There's plenty of heavy blasting guitar, great songs and good ideas. A couple really good tracks on here with a great guitar tone. Overall a very good album. One of those that make you wonder why you hadn't heard of it before. Definitely counts as a classic!. Highly Recommended (by Christer Andersson). 01 - Nigtmare 02 - One Night Stand 03 - I'm Still Trying 04 - What's Your Number 05 - Rat Race 06 - Seventeen 07 - Wish You'd Never Been Born 08 - Pushing 09 - There's Still Time LINK
