Plain and Fancy

Sunday, November 9, 2025

Gypsy - Unlock The Gates (1973 us, groovy funky rockin')

Judging by the cover art, liner notes and some of the song titles I initially wondered if I’d purchase a secular album (of course I didn’t immediately notice the guy on the cover holding a copy of Rolling Stone). I owned a couple of the earlier Gypsy LPs and they weren’t religiously-themed, but people change all the time …

Co-produced by Jack Richardson and Jim Mason, 1973’s “Unlock the Gates” was easily the band’s most conventional set. Largely written by lead singer/guitarist Enrico Rosenbaum (singer/guitarist James Johnson and keyboardist James Walsh also contributing material), selections like ‘Is That News?’, the title track and 'Bad Whore (The Machine)’ would have sounded perfect slotted into mid-1970s top-40 radio (okay the latter title might have been a problem for commercial radio). Unfortunately while highly commercial, material like ‘One Step Away’ and ‘Need You Baby’ came at the expense of the band’s identity. Anyone expecting to hear more of the pseudo-progressive moves found on earlier sets was going to be thoroughly disappointed. To be honest, much of the set could have easily been mistaken for Ambrosia (‘Make Peace with Jesus’), The Doobie Brothers, etc. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, especially if you were into commercial 1970s rock. ‘Bad Whore (The Machine)’ and the funky (yes, funky) ‘Don’t Get Mad (Get Even)’ were particularly impressive. Perhaps not good news to some folks, but the core of Chicago’s horn section (Lee Loughname, James Pankow, and Walter Pazaider) provided supported on a number of tracks.

An odd mixture of progressive and yacht rock moves, 'Make Peace with Jesus' sounded like David Pack and Ambrosia tune, No idea if they were being sincere with the song's non-secular lyrics, but it gets a nod as one of the LP's standout performances which probably explains why it was released as a single. Penned by James Walsh, 'One Step Away' was a smooth AOR ballad that sounded like it had been stolen out of the Ambrosia songbook. Very commercial, this one sounded like it had been written specifically for radio airplay. It sounded strange, but the band's white-boys funk-meets-jazz-rock mash-up 'Bad Whore (The Machine)' somehow worked. Yeah, the discordant horn section at the end of the song was a waste of time, but the rest of the sound actually had a decent groove. Bless 'Don’t Get Mad (Get Even)' for at least giving drummer Bill Lordan five seconds of spotlight time ... The album's best performance, this one had everything going for it - catchy, funky melody, more of those silky smooth group harmonies, and even a short taste of James Walsh's keyboards

by Scott R.Blackerby, March, 2024

Tracks

1. Is That News? (Enrico Rosenbaum, James C. Johnson) – 3:17

2. Make Peace With Jesus (Enrico Rosenbaum, James Walsh) – 3:17

3. One Step Away (James Walsh) – 3:12

4. Bad Whore (The Machine) – 2:50

5. Unlock the Gates – 3:41

6. Join It – 2:48

7. Need You Baby – 3:06

8. Smooth Operator – 3:21

9. Don't Get Mad (Get Even) – 3:16

10.Precious One (James C. Johnson) – 4:20

All songs by Enrico Rosenbaum except where stated

Gypsy

*Enrico Rosenbaum - Guitar, Vocals

*James Walsh - Keyboards, Vocals

*James C. Johnson - Guitar, Vocals

*William Lordan - Drums

*Randall Cates - Bass, Vocals

With

*Walter Parazaider - Saxophone (Tracks 1,4,6,7)

*James Pankow - Trombone (Tracks 1,4,6,7)

*Lee Loughnane - Trumpet (Tracks 1,4,6,7)

1970 Gypsy - Gypsy

1971 Gypsy - In The Garden

1972 Gypsy - Antithesis

1966-68 A Door Inside Your Mind (2023 four disc box set)

Thursday, November 6, 2025

West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band - Where's My Daddy? (1969 us, splendid psychedelia, 2011 edition)

This is the fifth album by psych legends The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band. Recorded shortly after this legendary Californian psychedelic band had left Reprise (where they'd made three classics), this oddity is more pop-based than their previous efforts, though the eccentric influence of frontman Bob Markley is still strong. Released in the summer of 1969, it sold poorly and hasn't been widely heard since.

Tracks

1. Where's My Daddy? - 2:07

2. Where Money Rules Everything - 1:53

3. Hup Two! Hup Two! - 1:50

4. My Dog Back Home - 3:11

5. Give Me Your Love Thing - 3:45

6. Outside/Inside - 2:23

7. Everyone's Innocent Daughter - 2:23

8. Free As A Bird - 2:00

9. Not One Bummer - 1:20

10.Have You Met My Pet Pig - 2:03

11.Coming Of Age In LA - 2:38

12.Two People - 2:17

Songs 1,2,11 written by Michael Lloyd, Bob Markley

Songs 3,4 written by Danny Harris, Bob Markley

Songs 5-10,12 written by Shaun Harris, Bob Markley

The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

*Bob Markley - Vocals

*Danny Harris - Guitar, Vocals

*Shaun Harris - Bass, Guitar, Vocals

With

*Hal Blaine - Drums

*Ron Morgan - Guitar

*Michael Lloyd - Guitar, Vocals

1965-67 Volume One
1967 Part One
1967 Volume Two
1968 Volume Three

1960-71 Companion

Related Acts

1969 Markley - A Group

1973 Shaun Harris - Shaun Harris (2005 remaster)

1969-71 Spirit Of John Morgan - Spirit Of John Morgan (2007 Japan remaster)

Mad Curry - Mad Curry (1970 belgium, superb progressive rock with jazz glances, 2013 bonus tracks remaster)

Machiavel might be Belgium's best known and most successful progressive rock band, but they weren't the first.

Probably the earliest band from that country playing this kind of music is Mad Curry, who released a single called "Antwerp", and then a self-entitled album, both in 1970 on the small Pirates label, meaning LP copies aren't likely to float around, and a legitimate CD reissue hasn't surfaced.

The band came from Antwerp, which is in the nothern half of the country (where the Flemish variety of Dutch is spoken). The band included female vocalist Viona Westra, who sounds remarkably like Curved Air's Sonja Kristina, with saxist Joosk Geeraerts (apparently also known as Giorgio Chitschenko), organist Danny Rousseau, bassist Jean Andore (or Vandooren), and drummer Eddy Kane (or Verdonck).

Notice they don't have a guitarist. Despite the band being Belgian, they stick to a British style of jazzy progressive rock.

Really, Mad Curry is truly one of the great, lost gems of progressive rock. This is simply an incredible collection of music, with some really creative drumming from Eddy Kane, and some killer organ work from Danny Rousseau.

This one of those progressive rock albums that isn't particularly pretentious (for those who run at the thought of this kind of music), as they tend to borrow more from jazz than classical. The music is really full of great twists like on "Beauty", "Music, the Reason for Our Happiness", and "Longhaired Children in a Cave".

"The Worker" is a real interesting one where it the keyboard heard sounds like a cross between a piano and harpsichord. While vocals are largely from Viona Westra, one of the guys (not sure who) do actually share vocal duties on "Beauty" (a song with reference to sex) and he reminds me of the Amon D??l II male vocalist.

Frequently Mad Curry gets compared to Soft Machine and Julian's Treatment, which is understandable, the Soft Machine comparison coming from the jazzy nature of the music, and Julian's Treatment for the female vocals and Hammond organ.

Other groups I get reminded of are Affinity, Catapilla, and even Curved Air (thanks to Viona Westra sounding like Sonja Kristina, which means if you like Sonja's vocals, you'll have little problem warming up to Viona's vocals, although like Sonja, she is an acquired taste).

Really, had Mad Curry been British, they'd likely end up on the Vertigo label, as it's very much in the vein of the more jazzy progressive albums on that label.

But since they were Belgian, they ended up on the Pirates label. Remember, in Belgium, the progressive rock scene hadn't been as so well represented as the progressive rock scenes in the countries that surround it (Netherlands, France, Germany), but Belgium had their share of groups worth your time, and if you're a fan of those British groups I mentioned, I really think you can't go wrong with Mad Curry. I was simply blown away from the first listen!

by Ben Miler

Tracks
1.Men - 4:08
2.Big Ben - 4:53
3.Beauty - 3:31
4.Music, The Reason Of Our Happiness - 4:05
5.Jack Is Away - 5:17
6.5 Longhair Children In A Cave - 3:52
7.The Worker - 3:48
8.Sound For Tomorrow (Giorgio Chitschenko) - 3:16
9.Antwerp - 2:57
10.Song For Cathreen - 2:26
All titles by Viona Westra, Giorgio Chitschenko except where noted

Mad Curry
*Viona Westra - Vocals, Percussion
*Giorgio Chitschenko (Joosk Geeraerts) - Varitone Saxophone
*Danny Rousseau - Keyboards, Sounds
*Jean Andore (Vandooren) - Bass
*Eddy Kane (Verdonck) - Drums

Just Paste
Free Text
Text Host

Wednesday, November 5, 2025

Spirit Of John Morgan - Age Machine (1970 uk, excellent psych classic rock)

These devout blues rockers' second helping of psychedelic blues appeared in 1970 with confident swagger underpinned by the relative success of their self-titled debut LP from 1969. Mervyn Conn's Carnaby outlet was itself confident enough to issue the band's second installment of brooding blues to a marketplace that was becoming swamped with mega-stars and progressive pomp. Spirit Of John Morgan's affinity with Graham Bond is clearly evident throughout the songwriting and performances that signify the band's innovative approach and musical prowess. Digitally remastered with analytical liners and rare photos detailing the band's success and eventual demise, the Spirit Of John Morgan is being kept well and truly alive with this celebratory reissue of a significant and true lost classic. Includes a bonus track.

F/F

Tracks

1. Age Machine - 3:35

2. No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed (Richie Havens) - 5:34

3. Friend Of Jesus (James Edward Stewart) - 2:46

4. Golden Rollin' Belly - 2:28

5. Never Let Go - 3:11

6. Lost Nirvana - 4:56

7. Seventh Dawn - 3:53

8. Won't You Come Home - 2:28

9. Mumbo Jumbo - 4:27

10.Putney Breakdown - 2:10

11.The Floating Opera Show (Georg Hultgreen) - 2:55

All songs written by John Morgan except where stated

Bonus Track 11

The Spirit of John Morgan

*John Morgan - Organ, Piano, Vocals

*Mick Walter - Drums, Percussion, Vocals

*Don "Fagin" Whitaker - Lead Guitar, Vocals

*Phil Shutt (Phil Curtis) - Bass

*Trev Thoms - Guitar

1971 John Morgan - Kaleidoscope (2007 Japan remaster)

1966 The Hollies - Bus Stop (2012 japan remaster)

Monday, November 3, 2025

The Hollies - Romany (1972 uk / sweden, wonderful folkish classic rock, 2014 japan SHM remaster and expanded)

The group's follow-up album to a pair of hit singles ("Long Cool Woman," "Long Dark Road") tries for the harder sound that sold those singles. Romany's cover art deliberately recalls its immediate predecessor Distant Light, but otherwise the two albums are rather dissimilar. For starters, this is the album that the group cut during the short-lived tenure of Mikael Rickfors as lead singer -- he's more of a weighty, David Clayton-Thomas type singer than Allan Clarke was, much more of a hard-rock crooner, as is evident on the version of David Ackles' "Down River" and the self-consciously heavy rocker "Slow Down." Tony Hicks and Terry Sylvester make a valiant effort to meld their harmonies into the familiar Hollies mode, and succeed on songs such as "Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys" and "Jesus Was a Crossmaker," though apart from "Magic Woman Touch," most of this album's original first side lacks the memorable hooks, melodies, or tempos needed for hit material.

There are tunes worth discovering, however, for anyone who has never heard this album. The title track, although it was too moody and arty to ever become a hit, could be the prettiest song to come from the group after the 1960s; the Tony Hicks co-authored "Blue in the Morning" has a hard-edged, crisp, economical guitar part reminiscent of "Long Dark Road"; and "Courage of Your Convictions" seems to be a conscious attempt at emulating the sound of "Long Cool Woman." The playing and singing are impressive, and these are solid album tracks, if not necessarily chart-topping material.

by Bruce Eder

Tracks

1. Won't We Feel Good That Morning (Billy Day, Mike Leslie) - 3:23

2. Touch (Mikael Rickfors) - 5:11

3. Words Don't Come Easy (Colin Jennings) - 3:42

4. Magic Woman Touch (Colin Jennings, Garth Watt-Roy) - 3:17

5. Lizzy and the Rainman (Larry Henley, Kenny O'Dell) - 3:19

6. Down River (David Ackles) - 4:08

7. Slow Down (Billy Day, Mike Leslie) - 2:53

8. Delaware Taggett and the Outlaw Boys (Colin Jennings) - 3:08

9. Jesus Was a Cross Maker (Judee Sill) - 3:46

10.Romany (Colin Jennings) - 5:24

11.Blue in the Morning (Kenny Lynch, Tony Hicks) - 3:19

12.Courage of Your Convictions (Alan Rush, Randy Cullers) - 3:35

13.The Baby (Chip Taylor) - 3:53

14.Oh Granny (Terry Sylvester) - 2:41

15.Indian Girl (Terry Sylvester) - 3:18

16.I Had A Dream (Terry Sylvester) - 3:32

17.Magic Woman Touch (Colin Jennings, Garth Watt-Roy) - 4:02

18.If It Wasn't For The Reason That I Love You (Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway) - 3:17

19.Papa Rain (Colin Jennings) - 4:04

20.Witchy Woman (Don Henley, Bernie Leadon) - 3:37

21.Oh Granny (Terry Sylvester) - 2:41

The Hollies

*Mickael Rickfors - Lead Vocals

*Bernie Calvert - Bass

*Bobby Elliott - Drums, Percussion

*Tony Hicks - Guitar, Vocals

*Terry Sylvester - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

*Allan Clarke - Vocals (Track 14)

1966 The Hollies - Bus Stop / Stop! Stop! Stop! (2011 remaster)

1971 The Hollies - Distant Light (2014 Japan SHM-CD)

1974 The Hollies - Hollies (2009 remaster with extra tracks)

1966 The Hollies - Bus Stop (2012 japan remaster)

Sunday, November 2, 2025

The Hollies - Distant Light (1971 uk, fine folk classic rock, 2014 japan SHM bonus tracks remaster)

Released in 1972, Distant Light provided the first signs of The Hollies’ brief foray into hard rock territory. It included “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress,” which many people feel is atypical of The Hollies’ classic blend of fresh harmonies and catchy melodies. But the song worked out fine, as did most of the other tracks on this sadly overlooked album. Surprisingly, lead vocalist Allan Clarke, who co-wrote the song and played its now famous rolling guitar intro, departed to pursue a solo career prior to the album’s release.

Not that Distant Light came on like a whole lotta Led Zeppelin, but even long-time fans had to be pleasantly shocked to hear guitarist Tony Hicks cutting loose during the final minutes of “Promised Land,” a powerful anti-war song he co-wrote with non-band member Kenny Lynch. “You Know The Score,” written by Clarke and rhythm guitarist-harmony vocalist Terry Sylvester, sets its lament of “Death and destruction/We’ve got to change it now, Lord only knows how” to a hard-hitting arrangement. “Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress” with its Creedence Clearwater Revival style chugging guitar, would go on to be an FM radio staple, and lately, a gasoline commercial.

“Long Dark Road,” the other hit single from the album, was an appealing mid-tempo gem built on acoustic guitar, soaring harmonies, and Clarke’s high energy harmonica playing. Distant Light also had some gorgeous pop, particularly “Cable Car,” “To Do With Love,” and “Little Thing Like Love,” which sounded like vintage Elton John. “Pull Down The Blind,” Sylvester’s sarcastic look at heartache, and “Hold On,” Clarke’s rollicking tale of a one-night stand gone wrong, added even more flavor.

The Hollies would delve further into hard rock on the next album, Romany with new singer Mikael Rickfors, but by the time Clarke returned to the fold for a self-titled effort featuring “The Air That I Breathe,” they had pretty much abandoned the approach. Still, Distant Light stands as one of the most consistent efforts of The Hollies’ post Graham Nash era.

by Terry Flamm, February 5, 2013

Tracks

1. What A Life I've Led - 3:55

2. Look What We've Got - 4:06

3. Hold On (Allan Clarke) - 4:05

4. Pull Down The Blind (Terry Sylvester) - 3:27

5. To Do With Love - 3:25

6. Promised Land - 4:18

7. Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress (Allan Clarke, Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway) - 3:16

8. You Know The Score (Terry Sylvester, Allan Clarke) - 5:35

9. Cable Car (Terry Sylvester) - 4:21

10.A Little Thing Like Love (Allan Clarke, Tony Macaulay) - 3:18

11.Long Dark Road - 4:15

12.I Can't Tell The Bottom From The Top (Guy Fletcher, Doug Flett) - 3:42

13.Mad Professor Blyth (Allan Clarke) - 2:15

14.Gasoline Alley Bred (Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway, Tony Macaulay) - 3:54

15.Dandelion Wine (Tony Hicks) - 2:42

16.Hey Willy (Allan Clarke, Roger Cook, Roger Greenaway) - 3:28

17.Row The Boat Together (Allan Clarke) - 2:19

18.Cable Car (Terry Sylvester) - 4:21

19.I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top (Guy Fletcher, Doug Flett) - 3:50

Songs 1,2,5,6,11 written by Tony Hicks, Kenny Lynch

The Hollies

*Bernie Calvert - Bass

*Allan Clarke - Vocals

*Bobby Elliott - Drums, Percussion

*Tony Hicks - Guitar, Vocals

*Terry Sylvester - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals

With

*Gary Brooker - Organ And Piano (Track 11)

*Mick Abrahams - Pedal-Steel Guitar (Track 1)

*Jim Jewell - Saxophone

*Madeline Bell, Doris Troy, Liza Strike - Backing Vocals (Track 1)

*John Scott - Arrangements, Conductor

1966 The Hollies - Bus Stop / Stop! Stop! Stop! (2011 remaster)

1974 The Hollies - Hollies (2009 remaster with extra tracks)

Saturday, November 1, 2025

Royal Aircoach - Open Up Your Mind (1968 us, fascinating garage psych rock, 2022 remaster)

Gargantuan, untamed riffs initiate an extinction-level event in your ear canal with this staggering platter of soundwave plowing ‘60s thunder. Royal Aircoach created a teenage riot all over the northeast, with a lone 45 as the only recorded evidence of their sonic sedition. But the arrival of Open Up Your Mind turns the Royal Aircoach rap sheet from a single charge to a floor-length list of crimes against complacency! On colored vinyl!

“I liked it loud and buzzy,” says guitarist Bobby Greene about the ruckus he kicked up with Royal Aircoach in the late ‘60s. For a couple of precious years, the Topsfield, MA band created a teenage riot all over the northeast, and were expanding their minds and their sound with tracks like the eight-minute metaphysical epic “Death Of Man.” Greene remembers, “We probably had smoked a couple of joints and we started having this philosophical talk about how man was destroying himself.” The weed-enhanced skull session led to a slowly unfolding epic awash in fuzzed-out guitar riffs and spooky organ frills, with Connolly on incantatory vocals.

“We were listening to ‘Hey Jude,’ recalls Greene. “Somebody broke the rule, ‘Okay, your song doesn’t have to be two minutes and 58 seconds.’” When Royal Aircoach unspooled the outsized tune in concert, its headiness was underscored by a DIY fog machine that was basically a batch of liquid nitrogen and a vacuum cleaner set on reverse.

by Jim Allen

Tracks

1. Wrapped Up In Your Mind - 2:59

2. Wondering Why (Alan Gagnon, Ed Goodoak, Robert Greene) - 2:59

3. Webs Of Love (Jeffrey Skinner, Robert Greene) - 3:38

4. When I Return (Robert Greene) - 7:23

5. Lies Ain't Right - 2:20

6. Waking Skies - 2:33

7. Wax Theory - 2:36

8. Looking Out (Robert Greene) - 2:45

9. Death of Man (Mark K. Connelly, Robert Greene) - 7:53

Songs 1,5,6,7 written by Ed Goodoak, Robert Greene

Royal Aircoach

*Alan Gagnon - Bass

*Gil Van Geyte - Drums

*Jeffrey Skinner - Lead Vocals (Tracks 1,3,6)

*Mark K. Connelly - Organ (Tracks 1,4-9), Lead Vocals (Track 9)

*Robert Greene - Guitar, Backing Vocals, Lead Vocals (Tracks 4,5,7,8)

*Rick Noon - Rhythm Guitar (Tracks 2,3)

*Mike Saulnier - Organ (Tracks 2,3)

1968 40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed And Ready To Serve (2013 reissue)

Friday, October 31, 2025

Stan Webb's Chicken Shack - The Creeper (1978 uk, awesome funky blues rock, 2002 remaster)

"The Creeper" is a 1978 blues-rock album by Stan Webb's Chicken Shack. It was recorded in late 1977 and released in 1978 on the Ariola record label. This is maybe Chicken Shack's hardest rccking album, with Stan Webb sharng much of the song writing with Robbie Blunt.

Produced by Tony Ashton, who also contributed on keyboards. The bassist Paul Martinez had previously collaborated with Tony Ashton in P.A.L. release, he also was a member raw rock band Hackensack, drummer Ed Spevock had worked with Babe Ruth, Pete Brown's Piblokto! and The Alan Ross Band, Robbie Blunt, who plays the guitar was in that rather cool band Bronco featuring the great Jess Roden, is involved. The acoustic version of the classic “Stop Knocking My Door” is truly moving. This fine work showcases Stan's excellent form during this period.

Tracks

1. The Creeper - 3:36

2. Delilah - 4:08

3. Riding With The Devil - 3:52

4. Think (Don D. Robey, Jimmy McCracklin, Deadric Malone) - 2:14

5. Stop Knocking My Door (Stan Webb) - 4:53

6. Blue Vein - 3:58

7. It's Easy If You're Lonely - 4:57

8. The Guitar Playing Derelict - 4:14

9. Dr. Brown (Buster Brown) - 3:00

10.Red Haired Lady (Stan Webb) - 3:16

Songs 1-3,6-8 written by Stan Webb, Robbie Blunt

Chicken Shack

*Dave Winthorp - Tenor, Soprano Saxes

*Stan Webb - Guitars, Vocals

*Robbie Blunt - Guitars

*Edd Spevock - Drums

*Paul Martinez - Bass Guitar

*Tony Ashton - Keyboards

1969 Chicken Shack - O.K. Ken? (2014 remaster)

1969 Chicken Shack - 100 Ton Chicken (2013 xpanded)
1970 Accept (japan remaster and expanded)
1973 Unlucky Boy (2013 reissue)
1974 Go Live "Goodbye Chicken Shack"
1978 Stan Webb's Chicken Shack - That's The Way We Are (2015 edition)

1981 Chicken Shack - Roadies Concerto (2015 release)

1967-68 Remo Four - Smile

1969 Ashton Gardner And Dyke - Ashton Gardner And Dyke
1970 Ashton, Gardner And Dyke - The Worst Of
1971 Ashton, Gardner and Dyke - Let It Roll / Live

1972 Ashton Gardner Dyke And Co - What A Bloody Long Day It's Been

1970-71 Bronco - Country Home / Ace Of Sunlight (2010 remaster)

1969-72 Hackensack - Give It Some

1974 Hackensack - Up the Hard Way (2002 remaster)

1975-78 Stretch - The Best Of Stretch Why Did You Do It (2007 release)