This group from the Detroit area is probably the weirdest experimental psych outfits from 1970. Originally the band was hired by “Zig Zag Records” to record cover tunes and easy listening, with the intention, “We’re just doing whatever we want,” the result was an overdosed rock concept album… “to give the music back to the people”.
Original copies are rare and pretty unknown among psych collectors until now! The 7 songs with an average length of 7 mins combine different styles of music, from heavy garage rock to bluesy westcoast, drifting into various tripped-out, funk, jazz, fusion elements with humorous/social comments. Structure, feeling and complexity can be compared to experimental Krautrock, while the group´s basic sound is represented better by end-60s US
Hippie Rock as Country Joe & the Fish or The Head Shop (WIS-1024) with its excessive fuzz guitar work, Farfisa organ, amazing vocals by Cleveland´s “Bocky” and several additional instruments, sax, harpsichord, cello, percussion, bells….
Studio work is pretty tricky, lots of unexpected mixing and experiments, with flashes of UK´s legendary "White Noise". – This issue contains a 12 p. colour booklet with a band´s bio, and the cool original album design, made by John Williams who also worked for Zappa - so it can be assumed which influences Zappa used for his 1972, “Grand Wazoo” album?!? Wazoo presents at the highest level of musicianship free & atmospheric rock - a unique kind of musical renaissance!
World In Sound
1. The Beginning / Grand Ol' Land - 8:30
2. Slip On (Jim Finnan, Robert DiPasquale) - 4:50
3. The Way I See It (Felix McDaniel) - 11:18
4. Sleep On (Jim Finnan, Robert DiPasquale) - 7:33
5. Concert - 1:40
6. Arnie Funny Far Fackor - 5:00
7. BH Man - 9:47
8. Grand Ol' Land - 7:21
All songs by Robert "Rocky" DiPasquale, Jim Finnan, John Fraga, George (Konstantine) Katsakis, Felix McDaniel, Vince Scalabrino except where noted.
Wazoo
*Robert "Rocky" Dipasquale (Aka Bocky) - Vocals, Percussion
*Jim Finnan - Keyboards, Trumpet
*John Fraga - Bass
*George (Konstantine) Katsakis - Sax, Vocals
*Felix McDaniel - Guitar, Vocals
*Vince Scalabrino - Drums, Vocals
very keyboard-oriented sample intrigues me! thanks!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations for this blog that has made me discover groups that I did not have the opportunity to listen to. The comments are very good, and they also link to other groups that were related. Magnificent.
ReplyDeleteI am interested in listening to Wazoo because the possible relationship with Zappa has been curious to me. Can you update the link? Thank you so much.
Pepin, "Wazoo - Wazoo 1970", reposted...
DeleteThank you very much Mario. Indeed something has Zappa. I recommend it for people like me who like Zappa.
ReplyDelete