This superb San Franciscan power trio only recorded one album, which stands as one of the best of Its kind. Rooted in blues, its snappy, self-penned songs display a clear acid rock influence, whilst avoiding excess of any sort. Though it was released in Europe and even Australia in 1970, it sank without trace, spelling the end for the band, though their reputation has been growing ever since. Gary Wagner, guitar, piano, lead vocals, John Haden, bass and Steve Adams, drums. 01 - My Eyes Are Getting Heavy 02 - Dynaflow 03 - Ain?t Feeling Too Bad 04 - Silver Ghost 05 - Skid Row Runner 06 - Lucanna 07 - We?re Gonna Burn Together 08 - Somebody Got The Blues 09 - How Can You Win 10 - Take Me With You When You Go LINK
Polyphony’s Without Introduction is renowned for being a highly-collectable and listenable album of psych/prog jams reminiscent of some of the British or Italian psych monsters from the early ‘70s. Released in 1971 on the Eleventh Hours label, this hard progressive rock outfit from Virginia features some stunning guitar and keyboard work, as well as a percussionist at home on congas, timbales and just about everything hittable along with surrealistic lyrics and off center vocals making it a jaw dropping album from one of the US's earliest progressive rock bands. The band is definitely influenced by early UK exponents of prog including Keith Emerson, Steve Howe and Peter Gabriel. Without Introduction, was originally released in 1971, and reissued in 2005. Only four songs, but three of 7, 13 and 15 minutes. 01 - Juggernaut 02 - 40 Second Thing In 39 Seconds 03 - Ariels Flight 04 - Crimson Dagger LINK
Riff Raff was a UK progressive rock band formed by keyboardist Tommy Eyre in 1972.The band was a continuation on the back of drummers (and Harrow School of Art friends) Rod Coombes (Juicy Lucy Strawbs and Stealers Wheel) and Joe Czarnecki's (Plainsmen) aka Joe Peter's project originally called 'Crikey' started in 1969 and completed in 1970 when Rod had to accept growing tour commitments with Juicy Lucy.These sessions comprise half of the Riff Raff album 'Outside Looking In' in which Rod wrote half the songs.Rod says that "the concept of the band was based around two drummers and afro-jazz (Rod and Joe were great fans of Ginger Baker and Miles Davis) and fusion(this album was one of the first true fusion albums to be recorded).I had worked with Roger with singer Paul Williams (Juicy Lucy)and Tommy previously and clearly we all enjoyed doing what we do best-playing freely". Riff Raff later went on to release two albums to lukewarm response; however, their use of jazz and hard-edged rock garnered them a large underground following. Riff Raff also released a classic single 'Copper Kettle' (Dylan track) which displayed Tommy Eyre's arrangement expertise. Although not typical of Riff Raff's repertoire, the band were unlucky not to get some chart coverage from the single. Bud Beadle - saxophone, Rod Coombes - Drums percussion and composer, Joe Czarnecki aka Joe Peters - Drums percussion, Aurero De Souza - drums, Tommy Eyre - keyboards, vocals, Pete Kirtley - guitar, vocals, Roger Sutton - bass guitar, vocals, Steve Gregory - woodwind, Joanna Newman - vocals and Joe O'Donnell - viola.
01 - Your World 02 - For Every Dog 03 - Little Miss Drag 04 - Dreaming 05 - Times Lost 06 - You Must Be Joking 07 - La Meme Chose
Moby Grape '69 is the rock band Moby Grape's third album and first after the departure of Skip Spence. Spence nonetheless is heard on one song, "Seeing", presumably from the Wow/Grape Jam sessions, and positioned as the final song on Moby Grape '69. As Peter Lewis describes the album, "We made Moby Grape '69, in an attempt to rebound from the Wow album, which was over-produced. And it's a cool album. Although we could have rehearsed it a little more, we still believed in it. But I think we were waiting for Skippy to come back, and he never did." 01 - Ohh Mama Ohh 02 - Ain't That A Shame 03 - I Am Not Willing 04 - It's A Beautiful Day Today 05 - Hoochie 06 - Trucking Man 07 - If You Can't Learn From My Mistakes 08 - Captain Nemo 09 - What's To Choose 10 - Going Nowhere 11 - Seeing 12 - Soul Stew 13 - If You Can't Learn From My Mistakes (demo) 14 - You Can Do Anything (demo) 15 - It's A Beutiful Day Today (demo) 16 - What's To Choose (demo) 17 - Big (demo) 18 - Hoochie (demo) LINK
Kensington Market was a Toronto, Canada based rock band, active from 1967-1969. Named after a downtown Toronto neighbourhood, it was formed by singer/songwriter and guitarist Keith McKie, formely with The Vendettas, with guitarist and pianist Eugene Martynec from Bobby Kris & The Imperials. The original line up was completed with former Vendettas' bass player Alex Darou and drummer Jimmy Watson. Former Luke & The Apostles frontman, singer/songwriter Luke Gibson was added later in 1967. In 1969, keyboardist John Mills-Cockell joined, and their follow-up, 'Aardvark', was released, produced by Felix Pappalardi (Cream's producer), followed by their second US tour. However, this wasn't done in enough time to save the splintering band who split that same year. 01 - Help Me 02 - If It Is Love 03 - I Know You 04 - The Thinker 05 - Half-Closed Eyes 06 - Said I Could Be Happy 07 - Ciao 08 - Ow-Ing Man 09 - Side I Am 10 - Think About The Times 11 - Have You Come To See 12 - Cartoon 13 - Dorian LINK
Paper Lace was a Nottingham based pop group, formed in 1969. They are known to Americans as a one-hit wonder; however, in the UK they were a "classic two and a half hit wonder". The core of the band originally formed in 1967 as Music Box, but changed their name to Paper Lace when Phil Wright joined as drummer and lead singer. The band took their name from lace products created from a special grade of high quality paper manufactured in Nottingham, their hometown. Paper Lace was one of hundreds of pop bands in England looking for the big time while slogging their way through small club gigs and brief television appearances. A season at Tiffany's, a Rochdale club, led to more television appearances, but a passport to the charts did not arrive until a 1974 victory on Opportunity Knocks, the ITV talent contest series. They were the most successful band Nottingham ever produced, and were invited to perform on the Royal Variety Performance in front of the Queen Mother. First Edition is the debut album.
01 - In The Morning 02 - Stoney End 03 - Lady 04 - I've Got You, That's Enough For Me 05 - Threw My Love Away 06 - Martha (Whatever Happened To) 07 - Games People Play 08 - Please Be My Friend 09 - You Can't Touch Me 10 - Elsie 11 - Like A Rolling Stone 12 - Early One Morning
A Michigan power trio whose album is powerful and inventive - one of the best hard rock albums on the label. Showcasing a line up consisting of drummer John Bredeau, singer/guitarst Paul Frank and singer/bassist Michael Urso, the band only managed to release one instantly obscure album, but what an LP! Produced by Dan Moore and Buzz Clifford, 1971's Head Over Heels is simply great. Loud, tough, yet surprisingly accessible, material such as Road Runner and In My Woman showcased the trio's knack for melodic, but crunching guitar rock. Frank and Urso had attractive voices and as we said before, they sure could generate some sound. Among the few missteps were some out of kilter harmony vocals (Question) and the bland power ballad Children Of The Mist (which was almost redeemed by Frank's nice guitar solo). Elsewhere, recorded at Detroit's Eastowne, an extended cover of Willie Dixon's Red Rooster and the Franks-penned Circles were in-concert efforts that aptly showcased the band's impressive live chops. Frank and Urso subsequently reappeared with the band Fresh Start. Urso was also a late-inning member of Detroit's Rare Earth (along with the Scorpion guitarist Ray Monette), playing on several of their albums in the mid-70s.(CGR) 01 - Road Runner 02 - Right Away 03 - Red Rooster 04 - Children Of The Mist 05 - Question 06 - Tired And Blue Land 07 - In My Woman 08 - Circles LINK
Obscure Canadian rock band Mantis, from Montreal, released this eponymous debut album in 1973. It brings together a rather edgy collection of pop/rock, giving it an interesting synth sound in part. There isn't much info on this band, except that it was released on 'Sweet Plum' Records. 01 - I Don't Ever Want To Get Married 02 - Communique 03 - Walking Away 04 - What Does It Take 05 - Fred 06 - Hollywood Eyes 07 - National Blues 08 - Take Me Back 09 - Eyes Of Fire LINK
On the 17th of October 2005 the first in a legendary series of podcasts compiled by DinsdaleP was broadcast. Every week or so , a new edition followed. They continued for 114 episodes until December the 11th 2007, an astonishing amount of material in such a short space of time and very hard work for the author who shared these with us. At the time they were unique in both their content and production...in fact they still are... and although many have tried to emulate them none have succeeded. Dinsdale has very kindly made the original lossless tapes available to Nowhere Man Records, who are privileged to present them in their entirety, along with one or two surprises. DinsdaleP Podcast 040 BEATLES WILL BE BEATLES - Beatles Will Be Beatles ("The Beatles Story", 1964) - "Newsweek" interview (9-17-80) - Nobody Told Me (rough mix, 8-80) - I've Got A Feeling (rehearsal, 1-27-69) - storming the stage (Boston, 8-18-66) - I Owe It All To You ("Up Close", 12-10-92) - Club Dakota rap (Lennon home tape, ca. 1980) - Beatle Rap (The Quorymen) - Youngblood ("Pop Go The Beatles", 6-1-63) - "Movie-Go-Round" (3-20-64) - Long Tall Sally ("Anthology" DVD stereo mix) DinsdaleP Podcast 041 THE AMAZING MELLOTRON - Mellotron MKII demo (1964) - Stranger In My Arms (demo, ca. 11-66) - All Things Must Pass (rehearsal, 1-3-69) - Down In Cuba (Kenwood tape) - New Zealand interview (Wellington, 6-21-64) - Come On Down To Abbey Road ("Chaos And Creation At Abbey Road", 7-27-05) - Strawberry Fields Forever (RM3, 11-29-66) - Can't Buy Me Love (NME Pollwinners' Concert, 4-26-64) - Fastest Growing Heartache In The West (demo, 6-70) - The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill (mono mix) - Paul plugs records (Vancouver, 8-22-64) - Step Inside Love (demo w/Cilla Black, 11-21-67) - Brian Epstein Blues (7-19-68) DinsdaleP Podcast 042 DEREK TAYLOR SPEAKS - Derek Taylor interview (Bel Air, 8-24-64) - Going Down On Love (rehearsal, 7-13-74) - Eleanor Rigby (Max Hammer stereo remix) - "David Frost At The Phonograph" (8-1-66) - Love Me Do ("Saturday Club", 1-26-63) - George w/Howard Smith (4-30-70) - Isn't It A Pity (rehearsal, 1-26-69) - Bernice Lumb interview (4-1-64) - All My Loving (Melbourne, 6-17-64) - Derek Taylor WKYC-TV interview (Cleveland, 9-15-64) - "Loud" (John & Sean, 1979) - Call Me Back Again (Wings over Los Angeles, 6-23-76) LINK
Plastic Penny was a UK 1960s pop band, formed in November 1967. Their existence was notable only for their one hit single, early in 1968, with the song "Everything I Am". It reached a high of number six in the UK Singles Chart. The song, enhanced with a string arrangement, was a slow ballad. It was a cover of a song originally recorded by the Box Tops. The track, which first appeared as the b-side to the Box Top's 1967 minor hit single, "Neon Rainbow", was written by Spooner Oldham and Dan Penn. Brian Keith - Vocalist, Paul Raymond - Keyboardist / Guitarist, Mick Graham - Guitarist, Nigel Olsson - Drummer and Tony Murray - Bassist. Most of their material was psychedelic pop, with leanings towards a prog rock sound on some of their album tracks. The majority of their material was written by three of the band members, Brian Keith, Paul Raymond and Tony Murray. Keith later left the band leaving it a quartet, and Raymond took over vocal duties. Plastic Penny's outrput was released on the Page One Records label. The band's swansong was appearing at the first Isle of Wight Festival, held on 31 August 1968. Although Plastic Penny were not remarkable in themselves, several of their members went on to greater fame. Mick Grabham (then billed as Mick Graham) moved on to play with Cochise, and then Procol Harum. Keith later became the lead vocalist with Congregation, who oddly and coincidentally, share the unwanted one-hit wonder tag with Plastic Penny. Raymond later played several spells with the long-lived rock band, UFO. Nigel Olsson became an in-demand session musician, most notably drumming on much of Elton John's early work. He has also worked with the Spencer Davis Group, Uriah Heep, Kiki Dee, Neil Sedaka, Rod Stewart and Leo Sayer.
01 - Your Way To Tell Me Go 02 - Hound Dog 03 - Currency 04 - Caledonian Mission 05 - Mcarthur Park 06 - Turn To Me 07 - Baby You're Not To Blame 08 - Give Me Money 09 - Sour Suite 10 - She Does 11 - Celebrity Ball
A sixties Hollywood outfit whose album is one of those strange late sixties barrier-breaking experimental efforts trying to fuse different musical genres. Orient Express, Autosalvage and John Berberian are other similar projects which spring to mind. This particular one is an attempt to fuse jazz with folk, rock and acid. After collaborating with Gabor Szabo on such superb efforts as More Sorcery and Dreams, bassist Louis Kabok and drummer Hal Gordon further embraced jazz-rock fusion under the Advancement aegis, issuing their sole LP in 1969. The opening "Juliet" establishes a dark, moody atmosphere immediately bolstered by the intriguing "Painful Struggle," with its eerie vibes and Kabok's extended bass bridge. "Moorish Mode" is Gordon's star turn, highlighted by an impressively restrained drum break. But it's the most overtly rock-influenced cuts that make Advancement worth seeking out, in particular "Fall Out," an impressively heady mTlange of jazz, hard rock, and psychedelia.(AMG) 01 - Juliet 02 - Painful Struggle 03 - Stone Folk 04 - Grass Mass 05 - Sunflower 06 - She 07 - Moorish Mode 08 - Hobo Express 09 - Child At Play 10 - Fall Out LINK
McKendree Spring was a folk-rock band. The band consisted of Fran McKendree (vocals & guitar), Fred Holman (bass), Dr. Michael Dreyfuss (electric violin, viola, Moog, Arp), Martin Slutsky (electric guitar). Christopher Bishop replaced Holman on bass as of the 1973 release Spring Suite. "Here we have a lovely little album that falls into the prog category... Stylistically, it sounds like the band moves through the seasons; just as they serve as inspiration for the thematic concept. Nice touches of funk in the beginning, then some psych influenced jammy tracks, and finally it goes into country mode with a bit of twang and some sweet near-balladry. Excellent violin throughout, as well as flourishes of Arp and Moog synthesizers here and there."(N-A) 01 - Equinox 02 - Winter 03 - I Was Born 04 - The Madman 05 - The Girl 06 - Today's The Day 07 - The Storm 08 - Growing 09 - Spring LINK
Hustler were a UK hard rock band active from the late 70's to early 80's kicking out some punchy sounds. A heavy rock outfit with a good reputation. High Street is very much in Free/Bad Company mould. Tracks like Just Leave A Good Man and Jack The Lad are hard rocking songs with strong melodies and good vocals and guitar work. There are some mellower moments on Let The Wind Blow and Miranda, whilst The Hustler is reasonably orchestrated. Get Outa Me 'Ouse, the only track where Micky Llewelyn sings, is in a more pub-rock direction and Piranhas has a long instrumental break with keyboard progressive overtones in a Deep Purple direction. A good example of this genre 01 - Just Leave A Good Man 02 - Piranhas 03 - Let The Wind Blow 04 - Uptight Tonight 05 - Get Outa Me 'ouse 06 - Jack The Lad 07 - Midnight Seducer 08 - Miranda 09 - The Hustler LINK
Seatrain was an American roots fusion band based initially in Marin County, California, and later in Marblehead, Massachusetts. Seatrain was formed after the breakup of the Blues Project in 1969. The group, which recorded four albums, disbanded in 1973. Andy Kulberg - bass/flute, Richard Greene - violin, Peter Rowan - guitar/vocals, Lloyd Baskin - keyboards/vocals and Larry Atamanuik - drums. The Marblehead Messenger is a third album the band Seatrain, recorded in 1971. As the previous album, it was produced by George Martin. 01 - Gramercy 02 - State Of Georgia's Mind 03 - Protestant Preacher 04 - Lonely's Not The Only Way To G 05 - How Sweet Thy Song 06 - Marblehead Messenger 07 - London Song 08 - Mississippi Moon 09 - Losing All The Years 10 - Despair Tire LINK
Band formed in Texas, which launched this unique work. A powerful blues-rock, very contagious and kicking. The album ends up sounding a bit generic, without much to add, but the quality of the material is not futile, the vocals are good, drums and bass sound with good expression. Willam Grate / lead guitar, back vocals, Richard Deleon / rhythm guitar, lead vocals, James Castillo / bass and Frudy Lianes / drums 01 - Cruising 02 - Joy 03 - Marriage 04 - Creation A Child 05 - Just A Man 06 - We Can Make It, Luv 07 - Not Mine 08 - Where Is She 09 - Mythical Dream LINK
Combining the deadpan wit of the Bonzo Dog Band and the social-conscious lyricism of the Kinks, Dead Sea Fruit helped to bring the British Invasion of the 1960s to France. Formed in 1966, the group spent three years based in Paris thrilling French audiences with their hook-laden songs. Although all but two members relocated to Dakar, Senegal, electric bassist/guitarist/vocalist Arthur Marsh, who had replaced founding member Christopher Hall in early 1967, returned to England after three months when club owners demanded that they stick to cover tunes. Dead Sea Fruit reached their apex in 1967, when their tongue-in-jowl single, "Lulu, Put Another Record On," reached the top position on the British music charts. Their self-titled album was released the same year. (AMG).
01 - The 815 And The 545 02 - Lulu, Put Another Record On 03 - Psychiatric Case 04 - Mr Barman 05 - Matters 06 - Seeds Of Disconcent 07 - I'll Come With You 08 - I've Been Away Too Long 09 - Mr Coffee Pot 10 - Time Waits For No One 11 - I Should Have Guessed 12 - Kesington High Street
"This 1971 release on the Angelus label 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." 01 - Sanc-Divided 02 - Come Out Of Her 03 - Eye Of The Hurricane 04 - Sons Come To Birth 05 - This Bird 06 - Sky High LINK
An obscure hard rock group from Ohio which may interest some collectors. In 1975, their drummer produced a flexi-disc by Pandora, another hard rock outfit. Cleveland's enigmatic Granicus recorded just one eponymous LP before fading into rock & roll oblivion, but it's an absolute gem! Quietly released by RCA in 1973, Granicus is truly an album out of time -- especially its own -- which perhaps explains its eventual commercial failure. Years on, the record acts as a veritable time capsule, taking the listener back to that tenuous transition point where late-'60s progressive rock and experimental psychedelia finally gave way once and for all to what is now considered the classic '70s hard rock sound. 01 - You're In America 02 - Bad Talk 03 - Twilight 04 - Prayer 05 - Cleveland Ohio 06 - Nightmare 07 - When You're Movin' 08 - Paradise LINK
Rare 1969 UK screaming, loud hard rock organ swirler from Ken Hensley (Gods, Uriah Heep, Toe Fat, Weed) and crew. During his time with Gods and Toe Fat, Ken Hensley recorded an album for a specific project called Head Machine. At this time, Hensley played mainly guitar again, as in the beginning of his career. The producer of the album "Orgasm” was David Paramor, who also produced The Gods’ albums. Ken Leslie (Ken Hensley) – organ/piano/guitar/vocals, John Leadhen (John Glascock) – bass guitar, Brian and Lee Poole (Brian Glascock and Lee Kerslake) – drums and Mike Road – percussion
01 - Climax - You Tried To Take It All 02 - Make The Feeling Last 03 - You Must Come With Me 04 - The Girl Who Loved, The Girl Who Loved 05 - Orgasm 06 - The First Time 07 - Scattering Seeds
9.30 Fly was a British band consisted of vocalist Michael Wainwright, Lynn Oakey guitarist, bassist Gary Charman, drummer Mike Clark and vocalist / keyboardist Barbara Wainwright. The quintet recorded on the label Embey this self-titled folk-rock psycho-progressive disc in 1972. The group, in November 1972, came to serve as opening act for the Velvet Underground in the Malver Winter Gardens.
01 - Life And Times 02 - Summerdays 03 - September 04 - Unhinged 05 - Mr.509 06 - Brooklyn Thoughts 07 - Time Of War
