Plain and Fancy

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

rep>>> Highway Robbery - For Love Or Money (1972 us, superb heavy psych rock, 2000 reissue)

After a stint with The Boston Tea Party lead guitarist Michael Stevens began looking for another project. Perhaps inspired by Capitol Records' success with a power trio (e.g. Grand Funk Railroad), Stevens decided to build a hard rock trio. He eventually ended up with a line up consisting of singer/drummer Don Francisco who had previously been a member of the California-based Atlee and Crowfoot and bassist John Livingston Tunison IV had been in an outfit by the name of Manitoba Hugger (?).

Stevens and company attracted the attention of managers Robert Cavallo and Joseph Rufallo who'd turned acts like Little Feat and The Weather Report into big names. The pair signed Highway Robbery to their management roster and quickly approached Bill Halverson about producing the band's debut album. Signed by RCA Victor and teamed with Halverson in the production role, all hyperbole aside, these guys managed to write and record one of the great and overlooked hard rock albums of the 1970s.

At least to my ears 1972's "For Love or Money" is a impressive on a number of fronts. With Stevens credited with writing all eight songs, the LP wasn't particularly original, but the band had good taste when it came to appropriating sounds. In this case their recipe borrowed liberally from bands like early Black Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Free, Led Zep and even a little Grand Funk bombast. Those ingredients were then mixed into something that managed to combine hard rock punch with a commercial sheen that was derivative, but still quite attractive.

With the exception of a pair of radio ready power ballads which were supposedly tacked on the album when RCA executives threatened to shelve the set for lack of commercial potential, this album simply didn't let up. Propelled by Francisco's shrieking voice and Stevens' hyperactive guitar, tracks like 'Mystery Rider', 'Fifteen' and 'Lazy Woman' (the latter one of two songs with Tunison handling lead vocals), were simply killer slices of early-1970s metal that match up well with any of the band's better known competition.

Even more impressive, these songs were tuneful and occasionally even boasted lyrics that rose above the typical 'need-my-woman-now' standard you'd expect from long haired freaks. At some risk to my rock credibility (big laugh), I'll even readily admit that the two commercial numbers 'All I Need (To Have Is You)' and 'Bells' were both actually pretty good.

For love or money, Highway Robbery hereby dedicates itself to roar, to drive, to sensitive joy and, above all, the emission of the highest levels of energy rock. Let it be known that Michael Stevens – lead guitarist, vocalist, writer of all material contained herein, child of a gypsy commune – carries out this pledge in the true manner of his forebears.

Further be it known that he is in allegiance with Don Francisco – drummer, lead singer and a New York native whose main influences have been traditional New Orleans-based bands such as Robert Parker & the Royals and Deacon John & the Ivories; and with John Livingston Tunison IV – bassman, vocalist and painter, whose first sound memories are of Muddy Waters and B.B. King. FOR LOVE OR MONEY: signed, sealed and created by the aforementioned Highway Robbery, in this age, on this day, in the name of storming, beautiful rock and roll.

by Scott Blackerby
Tracks
1. Mystery Rider - 3:01
2. Fifteen - 2:56
3. All I Need (to Have Is You) - 4:16
4. Lazy Woman - 5:39
5. Bells - 3:24
6. Ain't Gonna Take No More - 3:56
7. I'll Do It All Again - 4:12
8. Promotion Man - 5:59
All songs by Michael Stevens.

Highway Robbery
*Michael "Mike" Stevens - Guitar, Back Vocals
*John Livingston Tunison IV - Bass, Back Vocals
*Don Francisco - Vocals, Drums

Related Acts
1968 The Boston Tea Party (2010 edition)

Just Paste

rep>>> The Mystery Trend - So Glad I Found You (1966-67 us, marvelous folk psych garage rock, extra tracks edition)

If the Airplane and the Dead were the Beatles and Stones of San Francisco's mid-1960s rock heyday, then the Mystery Trend were its Zombies or Left Banke, peddling craftsmanship and high quality pop songs in an era of burgeoning indulgence. Ahead of anyone else except perhaps the Charlatans, the Trend was the first alternative rock group in the Bay Area, debuting in May 1965.

Unlike the ex-folkies and beatniks that comprised the rest of the scene, the group, led by keyboardist and songwriter Ron Nagle, were older and came from an art school background, eschewing the jams and free-form modality of other local groups for concise ensemble arrangements. "The kind of writing that was going on in San Francisco then, to me, it was dogshit" says Nagle."Everyone was into this wankingsoloingpsychedelic-droneout. It was very uncool to play three minute pop songs." Nagle and guitarist Bob Cuff were turning out gems like Carl Street and Words You Whisper by the dozen, to the general indifference of crowds at countercultural hotspots like the Matrix or Fillmore.

Consequently, the Trend was a neurotic, uptight set of individuals who lent their quirky pop a garage-band edge. Shows were few and far between for these musical outcasts who preferred cocktails to acid, and Burt Bacharach to Ravi Shankar. In late 1967, while all around were being signed up in a major label feeding frenzy, the group quietly broke up. Nagle went on to release the classic cult album "Bad Rice" before pursuing his chosen vocation as a world-renowned ceramic artist.

The combo's sole vinyl legacy was the barnstorming 1967 single Johnny Was A Good Boy, but for years rumours have persisted of an unreleased album recorded for Kingston Trio manager Frank Werber's Trident Productions. So Glad I Found You finally uncovers these legendary sessions to reveal what could have been, and it's a remarkable batch of material. The bright Spoonful-esque jangle of Ten Empty Cups and One Day For Two reflects an innate pop sensibility that is in stark contrast to fuzz-toned neuroses- laid-bare like Mercy Killing and What If I. There's eclectic covers like Smiley Lewis' Shame Shame Shame and the Who's Substitute, majestic mood music with the bossa nova Mambo For Marion, and a forgotten masterpiece in the epic So Glad I Found You.

And in addition to collecting together the Mystery Trend's entire studio recordings, all resplendent in crystal-clear stereo from the original master tapes, So Glad I Found You adds a brace of illuminating demo cuts, including the cryptic Wake Up Cryin' and erstwhile guitarist Larry West's bewitching Lose Some Dreams, to fully tell the story of this unique group. In tried-and-tested Nuggets fashion, there's the usual bevy of pictures and memorabilia, to illustrate a lengthy sleeve note that draws upon the recollections of several band members. With this long-awaited compilation, a significant chapter, not just in the San Francisco 1960s chronology but in pop music history in general, has finally been closed.

by Alec Palao

Tracks
1. Carl Street (Ron Nagle) - 2:50
2. So Glad I Found You (Bob Cuff, Ron Nagle) - 2:20
3. Words You Whisper (Bob Cuff) - 2:23
4. Johnny Was a Good Boy (Bob Cuff, Ron Nagle) - 2:44
5. One Day for Two (Bob Cuff, Larry Bennett, Ron Nagle) - 2:08
6. Carrots on a String (Bob Cuff, Ron Nagle) - 1:57
7. Ten Empty Cups (Bob Cuff, Ron Nagle) - 2:21
8. Mercy Killing (Ron Nagle) - 3:02
9. Mambo for Marion (Bob Cuff, Ron Nagle) - 2:03
10.Substitute (Pete Townshend) - 3:00
11.There It Happened Again (Bob Cuff, Ron Nagle) - 2:28
12.Shame, Shame, Shame (Miss Roxie) (Ken Hopkins, Reuben Fisher) - 2:26
13.House on the Hill (Bob Cuff, Ron Nagle) - 2:22
14.From the Collection of Dorothy Tate (Ron Nagle) - 2:14
15.Carrots on a String (audition version) (Bob Cuff, Ron Nagle) - 2:05
16.What If I (Ron Nagle) - 2:46
17.Wake Up Cryin' (Ron Nagle) - 3:00
18.Lose Some Dreams (Larry Walorny) - 3:03
19.Empty Shoes (Bob Cuff, John Luby, Ron Nagle) - 4:08
20.Let Me See with My Eyes (Bob Cuff) - 5:51
21.Carl Street (audition version) (Ron Nagle) - 2:36

The Mystery Trend
*Larry Bennett - Bass
*John Luby - Drums, Vocals
*John Gregory - Guitar
*Ron Nagle - Vocals, Clavinet, Piano, Organ
*Bob Cuff - Vocals, Guitar
*Larry West - Guitar (Tracks 17-19)

Just Paste

1971 Grateful Dead - Skull and Roses (2001 HDCD expanded)

Monday, September 14, 2026

rep>>> Kingfish - Kingfish (1976 us, tuneful country jam rock, feat Bob Weir)

Despite the familiar cover artwork, this is allahtogether a different animal than the Dead’s last album, featuring a mix of country, soft rock and a few tunes with Bob Weir on vocals that, yes, inevitably draw comparisons to the Dead and New Riders. In fact, the opening “Lazy Lightnin’/Supplication” actually made its way into the Dead’s live set for a short time. For my money, Weir’s contributions to Kingfish form the highlights of their first album. “Lazy Lightnin’” and “Home To Dixie” blow by like a cool breeze, and his reading of Marty Robbins’ “Big Iron” is country at its best. Even the closing “Bye And Bye,” which gets a reggae reading reminiscent of Jerry Garcia, is likely to please Deadheads.

The rest of the record, sung and written mostly by Matthew Kelly, Dave Torbert and Tim Hovey (plus a couple of John Carter/Tim Gilbert songs held over from their old Horses days), is occasionally interesting but generally uneven. “Wild Northland” and “Good-Bye Yer Honor” feel like holdovers from the old NRPS days, while songs like “This Time,” “Hypnotize” and “Jump For Joy” are unremarkable in an era that produced Poco, Firefall and, of course, Eagles.

Although it’s tempting to see Kingfish as New Riders Mk. II, the Riders had a raison d’être outside of Jerry Garcia and the Dead. Kingfish lacks the strong presence of a John Dawson or the sterling performance of a Buddy Cage (lead guitarist Robby Hoddinott seems like a fish out of water most of the time). Although it’s not on a par with the first NRPS album, Deadheads fishing for something Weir’d should be happy enough with the net results, especially given their dearth of options after Ace, but the first NRPS album is the better of the ancillary Dead adventures.

by Dave Connolly, August 2, 2013

Tracks

1. Lazy Lightnin' (John Perry Barlow, Bob Weir) - 3:02

2. Supplication (John Perry Barlow, Bob Weir) - 2:56

3. Wild Northland (Tom Hovey, Dave Torbert) - 2:24

4. Asia Minor (John Carter, Tim Gilbert, Tom Hovey, Scott Quigley) - 3:32

5. Home To Dixie (John Perry Barlow, John Cutler, Matt Kelly, Weir) - 3:52

6. Jump For Joy (John Carter, Tim Gilbert) - 3:49

7. Good-Bye Yer Honor (Tom Hovey, Matt Kelly, Dave Torbert) - 2:56

8. Big Iron (Marty Robbins) - 4:30

9. This Time (Matt Kelly, Dave Torbert) - 4:23

10.Hypnotize (Matt Kelly, Dave Torbert) - 4:35

11.Bye And Bye (Trad., Arr. John Perry Barlow, Bob Weir) - 4:03

Kingfish

*Bob Weir - Guitar, Vocals, Lead Vocals (Tracks 1,2,5,8,11)

*Matthew Kelly - Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals

*Dave Torbert - Bass, Vocals

*Robby Hoddinott - Lead Guitar, Slide Guitar

*Chris Herold - Drums, Percussion

With

*Steve Evans - Bass

*Barry Flast - Piano, Vocals

*Pablo Green - Percussion (Track 10)

*Anna Rizzo - Vocals

*Jim Sanchez - Drums

*J.D. Sharp - String Symphonizer (Tracks 1, 9, 10)

Related Act

1969 Grateful Dead - Live/Dead

1969 Dana Gillespie - Box Of Surprises (Rev Ola 2008)

rep>>> Dana Gillespie - Foolish Seasons (1968 uk, wondrous folk beat baroque psych, 2006 remaster)

Although she would eventually become most known as a blues singer, at the outset of her recording career in the mid- to late '60s, Dana Gillespie flirted with pop/rock, folk-rock, and mildly psychedelic baroque pop. All of those styles can be heard on her obscure 1968 debut album, Foolish Seasons, which was oddly issued in the U.S. but not in the U.K., despite the heavily British-European cast to the production and arrangements. The melange of approaches makes for an indecisive direction and uneven quality in certain respects. Yet at the same time, it makes the record an undeniably interesting, at times even exhilarating, slice of eclectic late-'60s Swinging London-tinged pop.

Very roughly speaking, Gillespie echoed the material and vocals of fellow British woman pop/rock singers such as Marianne Faithfull and Dusty Springfield at points, though her voice was at once both huskier and smokier than the young Faithfull's, and gentler and more whispery than Springfield's. The styles tried on for size include the breezy psych-pop of "You Just Gotta Know My Mind," a Donovan composition that Donovan himself never recorded; the very Faithfull-esque (in the good sense) wispy folk-pop of "Tears in My Eyes" and Gillespie's own composition "Foolish Seasons"; the sunshine pop-influenced orchestral arrangements of "Life Is Short" and "London Social Degree," both penned by cult British pop/rocker Billy Nicholls; the gothic Euro-pop of "Souvenirs of Stefan," which vaguely recalls the likes of Françoise Hardy; and the downright catchy, sexy, mod pop of "No! No! No!" Further unexpected turns are taken with the almost pre-goth blues-pop death wish "Dead," and the haunting, eccentric cover of Richard Fariña's "Hard Lovin' Loser."

Sure, there are a couple of icky-sweet pop clunkers along the way (including Gillespie's sole other self-penned number on the album, "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not"). On the whole, though, it's an extremely likable (if somewhat stylistically confused) album, with nonstop unpredictably luscious and imaginative production. The U.K. 2006 CD reissue on Rev-Ola has thorough historical liner notes, including many quotes from Gillespie herself.

by Richie Unterberger

Tracks
1. You Just Gotta Know My Mind (Donovan Leitch) - 2:09
2. Tears In My Eyes (Tony Waddington, Wayne Bickerton) - 2:28
3. Life Is Short (Billy Nicholls) - 2:32
4. Souvenirs Of Stefan (Les Reed, Les Vandyke) - 3:40
5. Can't You See I'm Dreaming (Tony Waddington, Wayne Bickerton) - 2:58
6. No! No! No! (Michel Polnareff) - 2:49
7. He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not (Dana Gillespie) - 2:01
8. London Social Degree (Billy Nicholls) - 2:08
9. Dead (Joe Huffman, Moses Dillard) - 3:09
10.Foolish Seasons (Dana Gillespie) - 2:12
11.Where Will You Be (Andy Kim, Jeff Barry) - 2:10
12.Hard Lovin' Loser (Richard Farina) - 3:50

*Dana Gillespie - Vocals

Sunday, September 13, 2026

rep>>> Dana Gillespie - Box Of Surprises (1969 uk, fantastic swinging bluesy folkish psych rock, 2008 remaster with extra tracks)

On her ’69 sophomore longplayer, Dana takes over the songwriting credits, taking full advantage of it. With Savoy Brown behind her, and Mike Vernon in the producer’s chair, one would guess that the result must’ve been as blue as blues can get, while it’s just as stylistically varied as Foolish Seasons.

With the above personnel made obvious only by the title tune, there’s also at least two tracks (Like I’m A Clown, I Was A Book) worthy of the mod-stompin’ shoulda-been-a-hit tag , already stuck firmly onto previous year’s You Just Gotta Know My Mind.

She revisits the acid folk of the debut LP’s title tune, and gets even moodier with the pair of ballads recalling The Zombies (When Darkness Fell), or The Swinging Blue Jeans’ take on You’re No Good with and additional Eastern touch to it (I Would Cry).

As a bonus, we get four sides of pre-debut singles, of which Page’s freaked-out fuzz solo in ‘65’s Thank You Boy makes the addition worthwhile on it’s own.

by Garwood Pickjon

Tracks

1. Box of Surprises - 4:26

2. Like I'm a Clown - 2:16

3. Taffy - 3:13

4. When Darkness Fell - 4:21

5. For David, The Nest Day - 4:29

6. If You're Dreaming - 2:13

7. Foolish Seasons - 2:30

8. Grecian Ode - 3:34

9. By Chasing Dreams - 3:06

10.I Was a Book - 2:03

11.Describing You - 3:04

12.I Would Cry - 4:41

13.Thank You Boy (Barry Mason, John Carter, Ken Lewis) - 2:05

14.You're a Heartbreak Man - 2:20

15.Pay You Back With Interest (Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks) - 2:50

16.Adam Can You Beat That - 1:53

All compositions by Dana Gillespie except where stated

Musicians

*Dana Gillespie - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards

*Chris Youlden - Guitar, Piano, Vocals

*Lonesome Dave Peverett - Guitar, Vocals

*Kim Simmonds - Guitar, Harmonica, Piano

*Bob Hall - Piano

*Rivers Jobe - Bass

*Tony Stevens - Bass, Percussion

*Roger Earl - Percussion, Drums

*Jimmy Page - Guitar (Track 13)

rep>>> Lone Star - Lone Star • Firing On All Six (1976-77 uk, heavy riffs, strong melodies soaring keyboards funk bass solid drumming, 2004 remaster)

This traditional UK hard rock quintet was formed in 1975 by Kenny Driscoll (lead vocals), Tony Smith (guitar), Paul ‘Tonka’ Chapman (b. 9 June 1954, Cardiff, Wales; guitar), Pete Hurley (bass) and Dixie Lee (drums). Specializing in dynamic heavy rock, they attracted considerable attention with their Roy Thomas Baker-produced debut, offering an approach and sound not dissimilar to early Queen’s pomp/hard rock formula. Driscoll was replaced by John Sloman in 1977 before the release of Firing On All Six. This album pushed the dual guitars of Chapman and Smith to the forefront and concentrated on heavier material. Shortly after its release the band disintegrated, with Sloman joining Uriah Heep, Chapman replacing Michael Schenker in UFO and Dixie Lee teaming up with Wild Horses.

The first album was compared to their second album "Firing On All Six" a more progressive hardrock-album with a great touch. This album is even better than their second album that I gave four stars. So this album is worth four strongs stars without any doubts. Roy Thomas Bakers production is really nice and is a mix between the sound of Led Zeepelins rocknroll, the harmonyvocals of Queen and the edge of a young and horny Uriah Heep. It's damn strange that the band didn't break big time cause this album sits on all the ingredients that an album of this era should consist. If you love the boombastic 70's and missed Lone Star... Well buy the album at once. If you loved and still love the band and don't have the Rock Candy-reissues - by them today as they are really nice with a fat bookletand bonustracks. Marvellous album. The song "Lonely Soldier" is one of the best songs in the pompgenre of the 70's.

In1977 the original vocalist Kenny Driscoll was replaced by 20-year old newcomer John Sloman (ex-Trapper). The band's second album, Firing on All Six, produced by Gary Lyons bettered its predecessor and reached No. 36 and the band did high profiles gig on such venues like The Reading Festival. If you havent heard Lone Star before and enjoy the huge "pompesque" arenasound of the 70's this album is a must. The opening track "The Bells Of Berlin" is a killer, "Hypnotic Mover" sounds like a mix between Queen and Uriah Heep and the soft "Seasons In Your Eyes" flirts with the sound of Supertramp.

by Pär Winberg 2012-10-06

Tracks

1. She Said She Said (Joh Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 8:29

2. Lonely Soldier - 5:09

3. Flying In The Reel - 4:54

4. Spaceships - 6:44

5. A New Day - 5:14

6. A Million Stars - 3:50

7. Illusions - 3:12

8. The Bells Of Berlin - 6:55

9. The Ballad Of Crafty Jack - 3:41

10.Time Lays Down - 4:49

11.Hypnotic Mover - 4:27

12.Lovely Lubina - 3:36

13.Seasons In Your Eyes - 4:13

14.Rivers Overflowing - 4:57

15.All Of Us To All Of You - 4:55

Tracks 2-7 written by Kenny Driscoll, Tony Smith

Tracks 8-15 written by Dixie Lee, John Sloman, Paul Chapman, Peter Hurley, Rick Worsnop, Tony Smith

Tracks 1-7 taken from "Lone Star" release 1976

Tracks 8-15 taken from "Firing On All Six" released 1977

Lone Star

*Kenny Driscoll - Lead Vocals (Tracks 1-7)

*John Sloman - Lead Vocals (Tracks 8-15)

*Tony Smith - Guitars, Vocals

*Paul Chapman - Guitars

*Rick Worsnop - Keyboards, Vocals

*Peter Hurley - Bass

*Dixie Lee - Drums, Vocals, Percussion