Noah was Salem, Ohio based hard psych rock group that recorded a concept album in 1972 that remained unissued in its time. Guerssen is releasing a 2LP/CD/Digital reissue of the Noah’s ‘Brain Suck’ album including bonus tracks of Sound Barrier [pre-Noah].
Formed in the late 60s in Salem, Ohio, out of the ashes of two garage bands, the Markees and the Sound Barrier (of the legendary ‘Hey, Hey’ 45 on Zounds), Noah consisted of Mark Scheuring (guitar and lead vocals), Larry Davis (drums), Paul Hess (bass and backup vocals) and Danny Hall (keyboards and backup vocals). In 1972 the band recorded in just two days a concept album titled ‘Brain Suck’ at Cleveland Recording studios with engineer/producer Ken Hamann (of Grand Funk Railroad and James Gang fame).
Noah’s music was dark and heavy, featuring killer Hammond organ, hard guitar and powerful vocals. This is truly a major find for anyone into hard psychedelia. In the words of Steve Krakow (Plastic Crimewave): “it conjures the heavy, doomy vibe of Blue Cheer’s “Fruit and Icebergs” suite; the bluster of Sir Lord Baltimore (but maybe with Keith Emerson on keys); and a biker ferocity found on the Fraction ‘Moonblood’ Lp. I’m also imagining Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, or Vanilla Fudge on some bad drugs with a Mothers-like malignance”.
The LP sessions were never released properly (in fact a truncated vinyl edition with some songs missing and late Sound Barrier demos added was released in 1995 by Al Simones on his Head Records label, without the band’s knowledge) so this is the first time that the ‘Brain Suck’ album is released as originally intended by the band. The Noah album project was mastered by Javier Roldon at Vacuum Mastering.
by Klemen Breznika
Tracks
1. Brainsuck - 7:32
2. Avocados Grumbled - 5:18
3. Goodbye Earth - 7:25
4. Wish I Knew My Name - 5:56
5. Maybe You’ve Changed / Trouble / Still No Reason - 14:35
6. Why Should I Care - 3:31
7. We Wanna Be Free - 6:07
8. Nature’s Lament - 4:43
9. Hey, Hey 2:33
10.(My) Baby’s Gone 2:51
11.I Can’t Explain - 2:28
12.Greasy Heart - 3:23
13.Black Mother Nature - 3:25
All Songs written by Danny Hall, Larry Davis, Mark Scheuring, Paul Hess
Track 1-5 original LP "Brain Suck" 1972
Tracks 6-12 Singles and Unreleased Demos, 1967-1971
Noah
*Danny Hall - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
*Terry Davis - Bass, Lead Vocals
*Mark Scheuring - Guitar, Lead Vocals
*Paul Hess - Lead Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals
*Larry Davis - Drums
With
*Chuck Jackson - Lead Guitar (Tracks 9-10)
*Pat Pshsniak - Lead Vocals (Track 12)