The Box Tops were a Memphis rock group of the second half of the 1960s. They are best known for the hits "The Letter," "Neon Rainbow," "Soul Deep," "I Met Her in Church," and "Cry Like A Baby," and are considered a major blue-eyed soul group of the period. They performed a mixture of current soul music songs by artists such as James and Bobby Purify and Clifford Curry, pop tunes such as "A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Keith Reid, Gary Brooker and Matthew Fisher of Procol Harum, and songs written by their producers, Dan Penn, Spooner Oldham, and Chips Moman. Vocalist Alex Chilton went on to front the powerpop band Big Star and to launch a career as a solo artist, during which he occasionally performed songs he had sung with the Box Tops. Alex Chilton - guitar, lead vocals, Gary Talley - lead guitar, vocals, Bill Cunningham - bass, vocals, Danny Smythe - drums, vocals, John Evans - keyboards, vocals. This compilation is from 1996, re-released in 2009 with 18 tracks. 01 - The Letter 02 - Neon Rainbow 03 - Happy Times 04 - Cry Like A Baby 05 - Fields Of Clover 06 - Choo Choo Train 07 - She Shot A Hole In My Soul 08 - People Gonna Talk 09 - I Met Her In Church 10 - Sweet Cream Ladies, Forward March 11 - Together 12 - I Must Be The Devil LINK
Acid-punk outfit William Penn and His Pals formed at the College of San Mateo in late 1964; originally dubbed the DiscCounts, the founding lineup comprised singer Neil Holtmann, guitarist Mike Dunn, bassist Steve Sweet and drummer Ron Cox. Keyboardist Dave Lovell signed on in early 1965, and a few months later the group significantly overhauled its lineup and look--adopting the moniker William Penn and His Pals, the band (now Holtmann, Cox, Lovell, guitarist Mike Shapiro and bassist Steve Leidenthal) adopted Revolutionary War-era stage garb that included ruffled shirts and tri-cornered hats. The addition of former Nomads guitarist Jack Shelton swelled the roster to a six-piece, and for a short time, the lineup also included a second drummer, Mickey Hart, who would later sign on with the Grateful Dead. In early 1966 keyboardist Gregg Rolie replaced Lovell--in time he assumed the lion's share of vocal duties as well, resulting in Holtmann's dismissal from the group. William Penn and His Pals were a regular presence on the Bay Area live scene, opening for the Jefferson Airplane, Paul Revere and the Raiders and Them; in 1966, they cut their lone single "Swami" (credited to the William Penn Fyve), later anointed an underground classic thanks to its inclusion on the third Pebbles collection. A deal with the Fantasy label was pending, but in 1967 the group dissolved, with Rolie subsequently joining Santana.(Jason Ankeny) 01 - Swami 02 - There I Go I've Said It Again (Coast Recording) 03 - Blow My Mind (First Version) 04 - Far And Away 05 - Gotta Get Away (Second Version) 06 - E2D 07 - Blow My Mind 08 - Gotta Get Away 09 - There I Go I've Said It Again (Westmont Recording) LINK
Ultimate Spinach was a psychedelic/hard rock/blues band originally from Boston. In their '60's heyday they specialized in lengthy songs such as "Ballad of the Hip Death Goddess", from Ultimate Spinach (1968) and "Genesis of Beauty", from Behold And See (1968). Since 1970 the band have largely abandoned the psychedelic sounds and have (since at least 1975) dropped all of the '60's songs from their setlists (with the exception of 'Ballad Of The Hip Death Goddess' and a few from the third album).This is an ultra rare live recording of Ultimate Spinach in a fantastic clear sound-quality. A must-have, if you like the Bosstown-Sound. It's a perfect performance of the leaders of this specific style, merging psychedelic, jazz and proto-progressive elements, which makes this concert an unforgetable listening. They play in front of a handful audience creating a very familiar communal athmosphere.(Mutant) 01 - Hey Joe 02 - Get Together 03 - I Don't Know You 04 - Funny Freak Parade - Don't Let These Years Go By 05 - Don't Cry For Me 06 - Follow Me 07 - Ballad Of The Hip Death Goddess 08 - Mind Flowers LINK
Trapeze were an English rock band formed in March 1969, by vocalist John Jones and guitarist/keyboardist Terry Rowley (who named the band), with guitarist Mel Galley, singer/bassist Glenn Hughes, and drummer Dave Holland. The band had a fairly fluid line up, finally dissolving in 1994, and although they never found commercial success themselves, several members went on to join better known bands, including Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Whitesnake, Judas Priest, and Uriah Heep. The core and most familiar line-up of the band was Glenn Hughes, Mel Galley, and Dave Holland. After Glenn Hughes' departure in June 1973, Galley and Holland kept the band together with constantly varying members until 1979, when Holland went on to join Judas Priest. Holland tried to revive the band in 1990, after leaving Priest, but the band finally broke up in 1994. Their first three albums remain their best known and most commercially successful. Trapeze is the 1970 debut album by the band. The album was produced by John Lodge, of Moody Blues fame. The sound on this particular album is a far cry from the blues-based hard rock the band would become well-known for. The band released another album also named Trapeze in 1976. 01 - It´s Only A Dream 02 - The Giant´s Dead Hoora! 03 - Over 04 - Nancy Gray 05 - A) Fairytale B)Verily Verily C) Fairytale 06 - It´s My Life 07 - Am I 08 - Suicide 09 - Wings 10 - Another Day 11 - Send Me No More Letters 12 - It´s Only A Dream - Reprise LINK
U.K. were a short-lived British progressive rock supergroup active from 1977 until 1980. Singer/bassist John Wetton and drummer Bill Bruford had worked together in King Crimson from 1972-4, when guitarist Robert Fripp disbanded the group. Wetton and Bruford continued to work together on ideas. In September 1976, they worked on forming a band with keyboardist Rick Wakeman, who had previously worked with Bruford in Yes. The project was stopped by Wakeman's label. According to Bruford, "A&M Records were unwilling to let their 'star,' Wakeman, walk off with a used, slightly soiled King Crimson rhythm section, and the idea failed." Bruford and Wetton next asked guitarist Robert Fripp to reform King Crimson. When Fripp declined, Bruford and Wetton decided that each would bring in a musician of his choice to form a new band. Wetton brought in keyboardist/violinist Eddie Jobson, whom Wetton knew from his work with Roxy Music in 1976. Bruford recruited guitarist Allan Holdsworth (formerly of Soft Machine and Gong) who had played guitar on Bruford's 1977 debut solo album, Feels Good to Me. U.K. released their self-titled debut album in 1978 and followed it with a supporting tour. Following two lengthy American tours (June–October 1978), first Holdsworth and then Bruford departed U.K. over musical differences, going on to form the jazz rock fusion group Bruford. 01 - In The Dead Of Night 02 - By The Light Of Day 03 - Presto Vivace And Reprise 04 - Thirty Years 05 - Alaska 06 - Time To Kill 07 - Nevermore 08 - Mental Medication LINK
Triumvirat was a German progressive rock trio that formed in 1969 in Cologne, Germany. The founding members were: keyboardist/composer Hans-Jürgen Fritz, drummer/lyricist Hans Bathelt, and bassist Werner Frangenberg. During its early years, Triumvirat initially played Top 40 songs at local venues in Cologne. The Nice and Emerson, Lake & Palmer heavily influenced Triumvirat’s musical direction and the band incorporated some of Nice/ELP music into their repertoire (Rondo among others). In fact, at the height of their fame during the 70’s prog rock era, Triumvirat was often referred to as the ‘German Emerson, Lake & Palmer’ or ‘ELP clone’ due to Fritz's classical virtuosity on keyboards and synthesizers.The LP Old Loves Die Hard was released in the United States and some other markets with a different cover from the European and later the CD edition. It featured a cornered mouse seen through a magnifying hand lens. 01 - I Believe 02 - A Day In A Life 03 - The History Of Mystery Part1 04 - The History Of Mystery Part2 05 - A Cold Old Worried Lady 06 - Panic On Fifth Avenue 07 - Old Love Dies Hard LINK
