rep>>> Janus - Gravedigger (1972 uk / germany, stunning heavy progressive rock with psychedelic tinges, 2013 double disc remaster, remixed and expanded)

  

 Janus was born as a progressive rock band made up of English musicians in Krefeld in Germany in 1970, retired broke and unknown in 1973, despite being signed to the prestigious EMI "Harvest" label, alongside such bands as Deep Purple, Pink Floyd, and Edgar Broughton. Re-born in 1990, and just achieving success in 2001.

 

The original band, were Colin Orr (Guitar/Keyboards), Roy Yates (Classical Guitar), Bruno Lord (Vocals), Derek Hyett (Vocals), Mick Peberdy (Bass) and Keith Bonthrone (Drums). Style was truly original, and it has been said that Janus were the originators of the genre that became "acoustic rock". That probably misses the fact, that like the name, the band had two very distinct, schizophrenic, sides. Capable of soft, beautiful melodies, they also cranked out some mega-decibel material, which a few years later would have had them tagged as a punk band.

 

Signed to EMI Harvest in 1970, in 1971 they recorded the classic "Gravedigger" album. Remarkably, the whole album, including mixing was put together in 24 hours of studio time.

For two years, the band lived in Holland, partied on - making the "summer of love" a 36 month event - and managed very few live appearances. The second album, which should have been made in 1972/3 included some dramatic concept pieces, and a 25 minute track "Under the Shadow of the Moon", which included elements that other artists would not make popular until the 1980's. Sadly, EMI never took up the option on the contract, due to the disappointing sales of "Gravedigger", so the album never got further than the rehearsal studio. But keep reading as in 2013 something really strange happened.

 

At the tail of 1973 Janus came to England, and managed to perform to one or two appreciative university audiences, before becoming the only band in history to be thrown out of the Cavern Club in Liverpool (too heavy.... read loud). By 1974 it was time to call it a day, so that was the first end of Janus.

Janus-music 

Tracks

CD 1 (Remaster)
1. Red Sun (Colin Orr) - 8:55
2. Bubbles (Colin Orr, Derek Hyatt) - 3:51
3. Watcha Trying To Do? (Colin Orr) - 3:50
4. I Wanna Scream (Colin Orr, Bruno Lord) - 2:43
5. Gravedigger (Colin Orr, Bruno Lord, Keith Bonthrone, Derek Hyatt, Roy Yates, Mick Peberdy) - 20:50
6. I'm Moving On (Rare Single A Side) (Colin Orr, Roy Yates) - 3:12
7. I Don't Believe You (Rare Single B Side) (Colin Orr, Bruno Lord) - 3:16 

CD 2 (Remix)
1. Red Sun (Colin Orr) - 8:55
2. Bubbles (Colin Orr, Derek Hyatt) - 3:51
3. Watch Trying To Do? (Colin Orr) - 3:50
4. I Wanna Scream (Colin Orr, Bruno Lord) - 2:49
5. Suma Manatilly (Previously Unreleased) (Colin Orr, Keith Bonthrone) - 3:40
6. Sinful Sally (Previously Unreleased) (Colin Orr) - 2:52
7. Gravedigger (Colin Orr, Bruno Lord, Keith Bonthrone, Derek Hyatt, Roy Yates, Mick Peberdy) - 20:50

Janus
*Bruno Lord - Lead Vocals
*Derek Hyatt - Lead Vocals
*Colin Orr - Guitars, Keyboards
*Roy Yates - Guitar
*Mick Peberdy - Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
*Keith Bonthrone - Drums, Percussion, Backing Vocals
Guest Musicians
*Thea Hanson-Orr - Backing Vocals
*Rikki Hanson-Orr - Backing Vocals
*Ben Stafford - Backing Vocals
*Hans Jurgen Fritz "Porky" - Keyboards
*Horst Dieter Krohn - String Arrangements

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rep>>> Left End - Spoiled Rotten (1974 us, hard glam rock)

The rain continued to fall on a September Friday evening in downtown Youngstown, Ohio. The thick air made the last chords of the last song ring on beyond their normal cry. It was over. The young rock group Cherry Paup had finished their last gig. Guitarist Tom Figinsky, keyboardist Fred Dolovy, bassist Rod Buckio and drummer Pat Palombo had come to the end of their four years together. They were billed as The New Teen Sensations from 1964 through 1969…from high school freshmen to now graduating high school seniors. Now, it was a time of passage…from boys to men, from the dreams of rock & roll to the challenges of the real world… from high school heroes to regular faces in the crowd.

It was during a break at the Apartment Nightclub on Youngstown’s south side in the summer of 1972 that an articulate, brash, boastful and at times vulgar gentleman walked into the group’s dressing room.  He announced himself as Steve Friedman and confidently told the group he wanted to manage them.  At first, the guys took Mr. Friedman as just another hawker that was not to be taken seriously.  But Friedman’s obvious knowledge of the music business and his arrogance were appealing to the group.  After a couple of meetings, LEFT END had a management/production contract with Steven Friedman.

The group recorded more demos and Steve began meeting with record company executives in New York City.  By October of 1972, Friedman landed the group a recording contract with Polydor Records.  The contract gave the group a lucrative recording budget that included a minimum of two singles and one album a year for five years.  LEFT END could choose any studio at which to record.  The group unanimously selected Cleveland Recording in Cleveland, Ohio.  Why?  Because that is where Grand Funk recorded its early albums with the great engineer Ken Hamann.  The group finished its winter engagements while writing and testing new material for an album.  Polydor released “Bad Talkin Lady” on its label and the single began to sell nationally.

In the late spring of 1973 LEFT END began recording their first album.  The group continued to perform during this period.  The group recorded on Monday through Thursday.   One night with a few guests on hand, someone noted the total chaos and mess at the large hotel dining table that had been created by sliding several tables together.  There were beer bottles and mixed drink glasses lying on their side surrounded by stacks of china and half-eaten desserts.  The guest said, “Boy, you guys are really spoiled rotten.”  That was it…the perfect name for LEFT END’s first album…Spoiled Rotten.  To fit the image, Dennis changed his name to Dennis T. Menass.

The Spoiled Rotten LP was released by Polydor Records in the late fall of 1973.  It went to #1 on “Album Pix” charts in the tri-state area of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia over night.

The album picked up momentum and began to sell throughout the Midwest.  LEFT END’S live performances also picked up dramatically and they began playing concert venues to “standing room only” crowds.  Steve Friedman strongly supported the group’s spoiled rotten image by equipping the group with dead frogs to throw into the crowd, ping pong ball firing canons and suckers with wrappers that boldly read “YOU SUCK!”  Below in smaller print it read LEFT END.  The group did a mock slow ballad called, “Your Mine” or “The Pimple Song” in which a large weather balloon filled with water, whipped cream, and mustard was wheeled onstage in a small red wagon.  At the end of the song Dennis T. Menass would burst the balloon and those against the front of the stage got the worst of the exploding pimple.

Battles on stage with giant gorillas and “staged” attacking fans that Dennis T. would subdue with beer bottles, whips and clubs became a standard.  The press labeled them “Big Time Wrestling Meets Heavy Rock.”  The group wore lavish “glam rock” costumes of bright silver, gold, black and red.  When in New York City, the group would head to Greenwich Village and SoHo to find the most outlandish boots, belts, and leather outfits.  Dennis T. would change outfits several times during a concert set.  Certain songs commanded a special look.  Of course, the group continued closing their shows with flash pots and pyrotechnics.  LEFT END was known for their introduction tapes that were played prior to the group appearing on stage.  These were comical thematic collections of live and taped recordings compiled by Thomas John and Jerry Starr of what was then WSRD FM Radio (The Wizard).  These intros became very popular with LEFT END fans.  The Cleveland press dubbed them, “The Monster That Ate Cleveland.”

Soon after the Spoiled Rotten album was released, Polydor released the single “Loser” from the album.  The group began performing in large concert venues with the likes of the Eagles, the J. Geils Band, Brownsville Station, the New York Dolls, Trapeze, George Clinton and the Funkadelic Parliament, and dozens of others.  LEFT END appeared in Rolling Stone, Cash Box, Billboard, Cavalier and other national magazines.  They were frequently featured in local periodicals in the tri-state area.

Polydor held a big reception for LEFT END after the group performed in concert at Cobo Arena in Detroit.   The concert was a great success.  LEFT END finished the set with the usual flash pots on stage and added a full blown fireworks display.  The crowd went crazy and literally attacked the group.  Later, at the reception for the group, Polydor executives, still buzzing from the concert, began to lay out plans for the group.  LEFT END had captured the Midwest and there was great interest from east and west coast cities.  Their plan was to take the group to Europe where it was felt that they would be an instant success and then bring them back here as “The Monster That Ate Europe.”

Group members were floating on clouds anticipating their rise to greater stardom…until communication with Polydor Records suddenly came to a halt.

Leftend-band

Tracks

1. Loser (Tom Figinsky, Dennis Menass) - 3:38

2. Bad Talkin' Lady (Roy Guerrieri, Dennis Menass, Patsy Palombo) - 2:28

3. Spoiled Rotten (Tom Figinsky, Dennis Menass, Patsy Palombo) - 4:15

4. Take It In Stride (Tom Figinsky, Roy Guerrieri, Dennis Menass, Patsy Palombo) - 5:04

5. Sweet Lovin' (Tom Figinsky, Roy Guerrieri, Dennis Menass, Patsy Palombo) - 2:59

6. Every Little Thing (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 3:06

7. Mary-Jo (Tom Figinsky, Dennis Menass) - 3:59

8. Takin' Time (Tom Figinsky, Dennis Menass, Jim Puhalla) - 3:24

9. Whiskey And Rye (Tom Figinsky, Roy Guerrieri, Dennis Menass, Patsy Palombo) - 3:55

10.It's Over (Tom Figinsky, Roy Guerrieri, Dennis Menass, Patsy Palombo, Jim Puhalla) - 4:08

Left End
*Dennis T. Menass - Vocals
*Patsy Palombo - Drums, Percussion
*Tom Figinsky - Lead Guitar
*Jim Puhalla - Rhythm Guitar
*Roy Guerrieri - Bass

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rep>>> Steve Miller Band - Brave New World (1969 us excellent psych rock, 2012 digipak remaster)

By the time the prolific Miller set up shop to record 1969’s Brave New World, the line-up had been slimmed down.  Scaggs and Peterman had departed as 1968 came to a close, but Miller welcomed some very special guests to the new album: returning friend and Miller’s sometimes co-writer Ben Sidran (who had played on Children of the Future), Nicky Hopkins, and Paul Ramon, a.k.a. Paul McCartney!  

Though the songs are tighter and a bit more pop-oriented than on the first two LPs, Miller’s blazing guitar rocked harder than before, and the album’s songs were the group’s most consistent yet.  Produced by Glyn Johns in Hollywood in the midst of his work on The Beatles’ Get Back, Brave New World offered group harmonies on Miller’s optimistic, catchy title track (originally written for an abortive sci-fi concept album; also see the album’s “Space Cowboy”) and Miller and Sidran’s “Celebration Song,” with its “Sha-la-la” refrain.  Their “Seasons” is also one of Miller’s loveliest pieces of music.  

Tim Davis’ breakneck “Hey Baby, Can You Hear Your Daddy’s Heartbeat” is Hendrix-style blues-rock, while the band went back to basics on the bluesy riffs of “Got Love ‘Cause You Need It” and Lonnie Turner’s “LT’s Midnight Dream.”  Nicky Hopkins’ glistening piano chords added a new dimension to the group’s sound on “Kow Kow,” with a familiar-sounding Miller melody set to an absurdist lyric.  

McCartney played bass and drums and sang background vocals on the album closer, the rousing and raucous “My Dark Hour.” Synthesizing blues, rock, pop and psychedelic soul influences into one cohesive LP, Brave New World augured for the band’s more commercial future.

by Joe Marchese

Tracks

1. Brave New World (Steve Miller) - 3:27

2. Celebration Song (Steve Miller, Ben Sidran) - 2:33

3. Can't You Hear Your Daddy's Heartbeat (Tim Davis) - 2:30

4. Got Love 'Cause You Need It (Steve Miller, Ben Sidran) - 2:28

5. Kow Kow (Steve Miller) - 4:28

6. Seasons (Steve Miller, Ben Sidran) - 3:50

7. Space Cowboy (Steve Miller, Ben Sidran) - 4:55

8. Lt's Midnight Dream (Lonnie Turner) - 2:33

9. My Dark Hour (Steve Miller) - 3:07

Steve Miller Band

*Steve Miller - Guitar, Harmonica, Lead Vocals

*Glyn Johns - Guitar, Percussion, Vocals

*Lonnie Turner - Bass Guitar, Guitar, Vocals

*Ben Sidran - Keyboards

*Tim Davis - Drums, Vocals

With

*Nicky Hopkins - Piano

*Paul McCartney (as "Paul Ramon") - Drums, Bass, Vocals

1968  Steve Miller Band - Children Of The Future (2012 Edsel)

1968  Sailor (2012 digipack remaster)
1969  Your Saving Grace (2012 digi pack remaster)
1970  Steve Miller Band - Number 5 (2012 digi pack remaster)

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rep>>> The New York Rock Ensemble – Roll Over • Freedomburger (1971-72 us, excellent classic rock with funky psych traces, rare Collectors' Choise edition)

An apocryphal tale says Juilliard Music Conservatory-trained musicians Michael Kamen, Marty Fulterman, and Dorian Rudnytsky decided in the late '60s in New York that they could make bigger bucks as rock stars than as classical musicians. The results of this legendary experiment were inconclusive. Forming the New York Rock and Roll Ensemble, they broke with tradition on their first two albums -- 1968's self-titled debut and Faithful Friends the next year -- by using classical music instruments in rock songs and using rock instruments on classical pieces. 

This fusion, daring at the time, impressed legendary conductor Leonard Bernstein so much that he invited the group to appear at one of his Young People's Concerts with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. For their third Atco release, Reflections, they collaborated with Greek composer Manos Hadjidakis, best known for scoring music for the movie Never on Sunday. Rhythm guitarist Brian Corrigan departed after the third album, and pedal steel guitar player Hank Devito joined. 

The band then shortened its name to New York Rock Ensemble and switched to Columbia. Released in 1971, Roll Over was their most overtly rock album to date and their biggest seller, although they fell well short of Led Zeppelin on the Billboard charts. The band dispersed after Freedomburger, although Rudnytsky, Fulterman, and Corrigan had one final shot with Flattering Foe.... Devito surfaced years later as a stalwart player in the bands of Rodney Crowell and Rosanne Cash. Only Kamen fulfilled the original trio's objective of successfully melding classical and pop music to make big bucks. 

After being music director for David Bowie's Diamond Dogs tour, he went on to a thriving career scoring films. After his score for Brazil gained him wide exposure, he hit the mother lode composing music for the Die Hard and Lethal Weapon series. In 1991, Kamen earned an Academy Award nomination for "(Everything I Do) I Do it for You," the Bryan Adams monster international pop smash hit from Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Kamen has also worked with Eric Clapton, Pink Floyd, Liona Boyd, Sting, Rod Stewart, Metallica, Kate Bush, Belinda Carlisle, the Chieftains, the Cranberries, Roger Daltrey, Eurythmics, John Mellencamp, Jim Croce, and many others.

by Mark Allan

Martin Fulterman, changed his name to Mark Snow and relocated to Los Angeles in 1974. Mark's musical soundtrack composition career began in 1975 with the TV series, Starsky and Hutch and has taken off since then. However he is best known for his work on The X-Files and Millennium, he has made music for many other programs. He took piano lessons at age ten and by the time he was twenty he played both oboe and percussion.

Tracks

1. Running Down the Highway (Clifton Nivison) - 3:27

2. Gravedigger (Martin Fulterman, Michael Kamen)  - 4:51

3. Law and Order (Martin Fulterman) - 3:35

4. Fields of Joy (Hal Fredricks, Michael Kamen)  - 3:46

5. The King Is Dead (Clifton Nivison) - 4:09

6. Don't Wait Too Long (Michael Kamen)  - 3:04

7. Anaconda (Hal Fredericks, Michael Kamen)  - 3:22

8. Beside You (Martin Fulterman, Michael Kamen)  - 3:47

9. Traditional Order (Dorian Rudnytsky) - 6:07

10.Ride, Ride My Lady (Dorian Rudnytsky) - 2:44

11.More Like the Master (Michael Kamen)  - 3:23

12.Magic Lady (Clifton Nivison) - 2:44

13.I'm Sending a Friend to You (Martin Fulterman, Michael Kamen, John McClure) - 2:34

14.Kiss Your Future (Andrian Barber, Michael Kamen, Clifton Nivison) - 2:40

15.A Whiter Shade of Pale (Gary Brooker, Keith Reid) - 3:36

16.Willow Tree (Michael Kamen)  - 2:30

17.Shuffle (Clifton Nivison) - 1:57

18.Barrell Full of Wine (Dorian Rudnytsky) - 2:35

19.Carry Me Up (Michael Kamen)  - 3:41

20.Roll Over (Clifton Nivison) - 3:09

21.Raise Your Barriers (Martin Fulterman, Michael Kamen, Clifton Nivison) - 2:54

22.Goodnight Irene (Huddie William Ledbetter, John A. Lomax) - 2:52

Songs 1-10 from "Roll Over", LP 1971

Songs 11-22 from "Freedomburger" LP 1972

The New York Rock Ensemble
*Michael Kamen - Keyboards, Oboe, Arp, Synthesizer, Vocals
*Μartin Fulterman (Mark Snow) - Drums, Oboe
*Clifton Νivison - Lead Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
*Dorian Rudnytsky - Bass Guitar, Cello, Piano, Trumpet, French Horn
*Hank DeVito – Pedal Steel Guitar (only on “Roll Over”)

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rep>>> Morly Grey - The Only Truth (1972 us, exciting psychedelic guitar rock, 2010 bonus tracks edition)

Since its rediscovery in the early '80s, Morly  Grey's “The Only Truth” album has become known  mostly as the quintessential hard rock/psychedelic collectable, skyrocketing in value and inspiring countless bootleg versions. For brothers Mark and Tim Roller, everything had been building up to Morly Grey since the Alliance, Ohio, natives both got into rock 'n' roll as preteens in the 1950s.

First came guitar-playing, then came the Beatles for initial inspiration and then came a series of late '60s bands: the Chads, Popcorn Treaty and Rust, As the brothers' first group to play professional gigs, Rust was a turning point for the Rollers (then in high school)—gigging regionally at clubs in Cleveland, Akron, Salem and their hometown as the quintet played an assortment of Cream, Hendrix, the Doors and similar covers.

It was a start, but the Roller brothers were getting bored. "We were just doing cover music iike everybody was doing, but we wanted to do something different that we weren't copying anybody, we were doing all our own writing/' Mark recalled. Consequently, when attrition reduced Rust to a core trio of Mark, Tim and drummer Paul Cassidy in late 1969, the three knew exactly what they wanted to do: original music. Adding ex-Coming Generation guitarist Randy Byron, the band was renamed Morly Grey.

Tracks

1. Peace Office (Tim Roller, Paul Cassidy) 5:30

2. You Came To Me (Mark Roller) 4:12

3. Who Can I Say You Are (Mark Roller) 3:40

4. I'm Afraid (Paul Cassidy) 4:32

5. Our Time (Tim Roller) 6:29

6. After Me Again (Mark Roller) 3:07

7. A Feeling For You (Mark Roller) 2:33

8. The Only Truth (Mark Roller) 17:02

... "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" (Traditional, arranged by Morly Grey)

9. None Are For Me (Tim Roller) 10:21

10.Come Down (Paul Cassidy) 8:59

11.Love Me (Tim Roller, Mark Roller, Paul Cassidy) 3:39

12.I'll Space You (Mark Roller) 3:47

13.Be Your King (Mark Roller, Paul Cassidy) 2:33

Bonus Tracks 9 - 13 previously unissued  

Morley Grey 
*Tim Roller - Guitar, Vocals
*Mark Roller - Bass, Lead Vocals
*Paul Cassidy - Drums, Vocals
*Bob Lanave - Drums, Percussion, Vocals

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rep>>> Trees - On the Shore (1970 uk, beautiful progressive folk, 2nd album 2008 double disc remaster)

Having honed their repertoire on the road, Trees returned to the studio in October 1970 to cut their second and last LP, the masterful On The Shore. Another beautifully-judged blend of original and traditional material, it received extravagant praise but failed to break through commercially, spelling the end for the band’s original incarnation.

It makes its long-awaited reappearance on vinyl here, as a deluxe double LP set. Featuring a gatefold sleeve packed with rare images, a lavish 12-page booklet with an introduction from their guitarist David Costa and a detailed band history, and numerous bonus tracks, it is the fullest edition of this classic album ever assembled.

‘An exceptionally intoxicating brew of gothic folk songs, eastern-tinged guitars, male-female vocal interplay and solid drum grooves. Impeccable stuff’

Shindig magazine

A splendid fusion of austere English folk and the fluid guitar lines of America’s West Coast, and as good as anything produced by their contemporaries in the field’

Record Collector

Tracks

1. Soldiers Three (Traditional) - 1:51

2. Murdoch  (Bias Boshell) - 5:10

3. Streets Of Derry (Traditional) - 6:09

4. Sally Free And Easy (Cyril Tawney) - 1:12

5. Fool  (Bias Boshell, David Costa) - 10:12

6. Adam's Toon (Adam De La Halle) - 5:22

7. Geordie  (Traditional) - 5:06

8. While The Iron Is Hot  (Bias Boshell) - 3:21

9. Little Sadie  (Traditional) - 3:11

10.Polly On The Shore  (Traditional) - 7:31

Bonus Disc

1. Soldiers Three (Traditional) - 1:50

2. Murdoch - 6:36

3. Streets Of Derry (Traditional) - 7:34

4. Fool - 5:24

5. Geordie (Traditional) - 5:09

6. Little Sadie (Traditional) - 2:40

7. Polly On The Shore (Traditional) - 6:09

8. Forest Fire - 4:06

9. Little Black Cloud - 2:14

Songs 2,4,8,9 written by Bias Boshell

Tracks 1-7 remixed

Track 8 BBC Session 1971 

Track 9 Demo 1970 

Trees
*Bias Boshell - Guitars, Piano, Acoustic 12-String, Vocals
*Celia Humphris - Vocals, Keyboards
*Barry Clarke - Lead Guitar
*Unwin Brown - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
*David Costa - Acoustic Guitar, Electric 12-String, Dulcimer
Guest Musicians
*Tony Cox - Bass (on track 4)
*Michael Jeffries - Harp

1970  Trees - The Garden Of Jane Delawney (2008 Sony)

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rep>>> The Travel Agency - The Travel Agency (1968 us, elegant pop psych early prog, 2012 remaster and expanded)

The Travel Agency formed in San Francisco and released their self-titled LP, produced by Bread's James Griffin,  on LA's Viva Records in 1968. Drummer Frank (real name Francisco) Lupica joined  a little later, prior to the LP.  Lupica had previously been in Us, a Bob Segarini-led  garage band who'd recorded for the Autumn label in 1965  but whose sole 45 was not released due to a dispute over  arrangements between Segarini and the label they split soon after and Segarini went on to lead a succession of more successful  bands (Family Tree, Roxy, Wackers).

Side One is the stronger; the haunting and stately  neo-prog keyboard intro which blossoms into the poppy  What's A Man, strong fuzztone on Cadillac George,  and gentler love songs Lonely Seabird and So Much Love.  There are fast commercial rockers (Make Love and Old Man)  and catchy pop (That's Good). Perhaps because of this diversity  and the lack of band identity, thanks to the absence of  any member info or credits, the album was overlooked and remains underrated. 

Steve Haehl and Frank Lupica reappeared  a couple of years later in Shanti, whose eponymous  Eastern-influenced LP was released in 1971. Two tracks thereon  were composed by non-member Mike Aydelotte, aka Michael Sage  when he was in Travel Agency. Lupica went on to a solo career and,  billed as Francisco, performed one-man shows all over California  playing numerous exotic instruments including a self-built electrified I-beam; adorned with keyboards and other devices, he dubbed it  the Cosmic Beam. In 1976 he released his proto-new age LP,  Cosmic Beam Experience. 

In the same year he was musician and  composer for Tanka, a very short animated film about  Tibetan thank gas (images from the Tibetan Book Of The dead)  alongside former Shanti bandmates Ashish Khan and Pranesh Khan; 

in 1979 he was sound effects creator for Star Trek The Motion Picture; and in 1998 his music was used and sampled in the film The Thin Red Line. He played viola the Deep Song CD by Ranee Lee.

by Max Waller with thanks to Jeff Jarema.

Tracks
1. What's A Man - 5:06
2. Sorry You Were Born - 3:08
3. Cadillac George - 4:42
4. Lonely Seabird - 3:21
5. So Much Love - 3:02
6. Make Love - 2:25
7. That's Good - 6:57
8. I'm Not Dead - 2:17
9. She Understands - 3:10
10.Come To Me - 3:16
11.You Will Be There - 2:16
12.Old Man - 2:12
13.Time – 2:35
14.Made For You – 2:09
15.Emit – 2:34
16.What's A Man – 3:08
17.She Understands – 3:07
All songs by Steve Haehl, Michael Sage, Frank Lupica
Bonus Tracks 13-17

The Travel Agency
*Steve Haehl - Guitar, Vocals
*Michael S. Aydelotte aka Michael Sage - Bass
*Francisco (Frank) Lupica - Drums

Related Acts

1971  Shanti - Shanti

1976  Francisco - Cosmic Beam Experience (2005 reissue)

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rep>>> Terence - An Eye For An Ear (1969 canada, mindblowing mixture of soulful pop psych 'n' garage, Fallout 2008 reissue)

Terry Black was the Fabian of Canada and covered buttloads of Barri Sloan songs in his pop career and  had six top 40 hits in Canada as a teenager, as well as recording the cult Black Plague LP in 1966. His parents moved him to Los Angeles and he was slated to play Elvis' brother in a movie, but the deal fell through. 

This album is an attempt to go heavy ‘n’ get cred, with lotsa Hendrix rip-offs and baritone over-the-top-soul vocals (think 'Wind Cries Mary' or the Ides of March 'Vehicle'). It's got blasting fuzz solos, swinging drum breaks, lots of organ whooshing, big time brass riffs here and there. 

Tracks

1. An Eye for An Ear  - 3:39

2. Rap - 3:17

3. Second City Song - 2:52

4. Power - 3:45

5. Exiles - 2:22

6. Fool Amid the Traffic - 4:23

7. Priscilla - 2:21

8. Lighting Frederick's Fire - 4:29

9. The Emperor (Richard Gael, Eric Robertson) - 4:27

10.Does It Feel Better Now - 2:41

All songs by Richard Gael, Patrick Riccio II except where stated

*Terence (aka Terry Black) - Vocals, Guitar

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rep>>> Caedmon - Caedmon (1978 uk, rocked out spiritual acid folk with prog flashes and male, female vocals, 2006 edition)

The Scottish group Caedmon’s only Ip rested in relative obscurity for years until one of the 500 copies turned up in the early ’90s. The band was contacted, a few stray copies were unearthed, and collector mania set in, aimed at procuring what some were proclaiming to be the best folkrock album ever recorded, Christian or otherwise. So does Caedmon live up to all the hype? Absolutely yes! Wow! 

The professional standards set by this custom are so astonishing all other Christian folk albums sound anemic by comparison. The production, the arrangements, the playing, the songwriting, the enamoring vocals of lead singer Angela Naylor – everything on this album is A+ throughout. ‘Ten Maidens Fair’ opens in the roguish tradition of Steel eye Span as it tells Christ’s parable amid cascades of mandolin that duel with biting fuzz guitar – a frequent combination here that has lent folks to describing Caedmon’s music as “acid” or psychedelic folk. ‘Maker Man’ has a cool jazzy feel with some nice bongo accompaniment that’s prominent throughout the Ip. 

‘Death Of A Fox’ introduces the proficient cello playing of Ken Patterson. This song is truly “progressive folkrock” – a fast aggressive piece with a melodic center section that combines classical mood with traditional Scottish jigs and reels One of the males takes over lead vocals for ‘Sea Song’, a touching ballad that evokes an air of sadness as a lone electric lead plays over soft keyboards and acoustic guitar. ‘Asian’ follows with a vengeance and some of the most lethal fuzz on the album. ‘Living In The Sunshine’ jams with a touch of funky syncopation. ‘Storm’ on the other hand is an intricate and mesmerizing folk/psych masterpiece that cites Mark 4:35-41 as its inspiration. 

Mandolin and cello compete at breakneck speed in ‘Columbus Song’ which tells the story of a conflict between a druid and holy man. ‘Smile On Your Face’ provides some straightforward jamming British folkrock, while ‘Caedmon’s Hymn’ closes the Ip with a solemn meditative prayer backed by recorder and floating harmonies Two additional songs appear on a 45 that was originally included with the Ip – ‘Beyond The Second Mile’ (yet another evocative ballad that provides Angela’s most captivating vocal performance yet) and the Negro spiritual ‘Give Me Jesus’. Got all that? OK, the bad news: in the rare event that a copy does turn up it’s usually in the $1200+ range, Sigh. Ah, but there’s good news, too: the album was re-issued in 1994 on both vinyl and CD (and for considerably less than a house payment, too!). 

This re-issue includes both songs from the single. Obviously I’ve gone to great lengths here to describe this wonder Still it’s difficult to put these sounds into words that do it justice – there’s so much emotion and depth in here that can only come through the listening experience. I certainly hope you’ll have that opportunity.

by Ken Scott

Tracks

1. Ten Maidens Fair (Ken Patterson) - 4:17

2. Maker Man (Ken Patterson) - 3:15

3. Death Of A Fox (Jim Bisset) - 4:18

4. Sea Song (Simon Jaquet) - 5:35

5. Aslan (Simon Jaquet) - 4:15

6. Beyond The Second Mile (Sam Wilson) - 6:45

7. Living In The Sunshine (Jim Bisset) - 3:27

8. Storm (Angela Naylor, Jim Bisset, Ken Patterson, Sam Wilson, Simon Jacquet) - 6:06

9. Columbus' Song (Jim Bisset) - 2:21

10.Smile On Your Face (Simon Jaquet) - 4:35

11.Caedmon's Hymn (Jim Bisset) - 4:15

12.Give Me (Traditional) - 4:15

Caedmon
*Angela Naylor - Vocals
*Simon Jaquet - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
*Jim Bisset - Vocals, Electric Guitar
*Ken Patterson - Vocals, Piano, Cello
*Sam Wilson - Vocals, Bass

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rep>>> Aardvark - Aardvark (1970 uk, great heavy progressive rock, 2011 remaster)

The group Aardvark remains one of those numerous bands who released a single album in the early seventies and subsequently sunk without a trace. However the band still retain a certain amount of interest amongst progressive rock enthusiasts because of their particular heavy styled progressive rock that was completely keyboard based with the band making do without the use of any guitar. 

The band itself was a studio band with most compositions entrusted to the hand of Dave Skillin and were based in the Midlands. Strangely enough, though the band dispensed with any guitars, they had trouble with the recruitment of a keyboardists and one could say that they were mainly a studio band with very little live dates to their name. 

Because of their very brief history, very little can be said about the band and it is their album that speaks volumes for what they were all about. However, there are a couple of interesting anecdotes related to this band and for those musos who try to connect musicians and bands through the ages, Aardvark had a number of musicians who would later go on to make names for themselves with various other outfits. 

The album was released in 1970 on the Deram Nova label in both mono and stereo versions as (S)DN 17 with a value on today's market of 50.00 British sterling. Though titled Aardvark, it is also known as Put It In Your Pipe And Smoke It. In all probability the title was withdrawn because of its obvious drug references, with the title track reduced to just Put It In You Pipe. 

Steve Milliner previously played keyboards with Black Cat Bones, a London based blues-rock based band who only released one album during their brief tenure together. The band is rather more well-known because both Paul Kossof and Simon Kirke played in the band before leaving to form legendary band, Free. 

Dave Skillin would eventually join prog-band Home, another Forgotten Sons candidate whilst I could not find anything related to Frank Clark. Stan Aldous is also known for the work he had done previously with garage band Odyssey. 

Throughout the brief Aardvark history, the band also went through a number of keyboardists. Amongst these one finds Paddy Coulter, Dave Watts, who would later play with Jackson Heights and Affinity and the late Peter John Wood. Wood would go on to play with Quiver, The Sutherland Brothers, Al Stewart and Natural Gas. 

The band Aardvark are also involved in one of the myths of British psychedelia. The group Tintern Abbey only released one single throughout their recording span, Beeside/Vacuum Cleaner, for Deram (DM 164) in 1967. Considered as one of the most collectable items from this particular musical period, it has long been rumoured that the band had recorded a second single, How Do I Feel Today which was never released yet which was supposedly circulated amongst collectors. 

In fact the single was never recorded and the name of the single was actually an unissued Aardvark single that was meant to be released on independent label as Rubble 12. However the tapes were lost by Deram and the band used the name of the Aardvark title, created a fictitious cover and thus deceived countless numbers of psychedelic fans all over the world!

by Nigel Camilleri

Tracks
1. Copper Sunset - 3:17
2. Very Nice Of You To Call - 3:39
3. Many Things To Do - 4:20
4. Greencap - 6:02
5. I Can't Stop - 5:26
6. Outing - Yes - 9:50
7. Once Upon A Hill (Stan Aldous) - 3:03
8. Put That In Your Pipe And Smoke It - 7:13
All songs by Dave Skillin except where noted.

Aardvark
*Stan Aldous - Bass
*Frank Clark - Drums
*Steve Milliner - Keyboards, Recorder, Vibraphone
*Dave Skillin - Vocals

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