Badfinger - Straight Up (1971 uk, power glam pop, 2010 bonus tracks remaster)

Straight Up winds up somewhat less dynamic than No Dice, largely because that record alternated its rockers, pop tunes, and ballads. Here, everything is at a similar level, as the ballads are made grander and the rockers have their melodic side emphasized. Consequently, the record sounds more unified than No Dice, which had a bit of a split personality.

Todd Rundgren's warm, detailed production makes each songwriter sound as if he was on the same page, although the bonus tracks -- revealing the abandoned original Geoff Emerick productions -- prove that the distinctive voices on No Dice were still present. Frankly, the increased production is for the best, since Badfinger sounds best when there's as much craft in the production as there is in the writing. Here, there's absolutely no filler and everybody is in top form.

Pete Ham's "Baby Blue" is textbook power-pop -- irresistibly catchy fuzz riffs and sighing melodies -- and with its Harrison-esque slide guitars, "Day After Day" is so gorgeous it practically aches. "Perfection" is an unheralded gem, while "Name of the Game" and "Take It All" are note-perfect pop ballads. Tom Evans isn't as prolific here, but the one-two punch of "Money" and "Flying" is the closest Straight Up gets to Abbey Road, and "It's Over" is a fine closer.

Still, what holds the record together is Joey Molland's emergence as a songwriter. His work on No Dice is enjoyable, but here, he comes into his own with a set of well-constructed songs. This fine songwriting, combined with sharp performances and exquisite studio craft, make Straight Up one of the cornerstones of power-pop, a record that proved that it was possible to make classic guitar-pop after its golden era had passed.
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Tracks

1. Take It All - 4:28

2. Baby Blue - 3:37

3. Money - 3:30

4. Flying - 2:36

5. I'd Die, Babe - 2:34

6. Name Of The Game - 5:21

7. Suitcase - 2:54

8. Sweet Tuesday Morning - 2:31

9. Day After Day - 3:11

10.Sometimes - 2:53

11.Perfection - 5:09

12.It's Over - 3:35

13.I'll Be The One (Bonus Track) - 2:54

14.Name Of The Game (Earlier Version) - 4:25

15.Baby Blue (US Single Mix) - 3:37

16.Baby Please (Previously Unissued Bonus Track) - 3:05

17.No Good At All (Previously Unissued Bonus Track) - 2:10

18.Sing For The Song (Previously Unissued Bonus Track) - 3:20

Badfinger
*Pete Ham - Guitar, Piano, Vocals
*Tom Evans - Bass, Vocals
*Joey Molland - Guitar, Vocals
*Mike Gibbins - Drums
Guest Musicians
*George Harrison - Slide Guitar
*Leon Russell - Piano On
*Bobby Diebold - Bass
*Klaus Voorman - Electric Piano

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Badfinger - Magic Christian Music (1970 uk, psych pop rock, 2010 remaster and expanded)

Tracks

1. Come And Get It (Paul McCartney) - 2:23

2. Crimson Ship (Pete Ham, Tom Evans) - 3:43

3. Dear Angie (Ron Griffiths) - 2:41

4. Fisherman (Tom Evans) - 2:26

5. Midnight Sun (Pete Ham) - 2:47

6. Beautiful and Blue (Tom Evans) - 2:41

7. Rock of All Ages (Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins) - 3:18

8. Carry On Till Tomorrow (Pete Ham, Tom Evans) - 4:49

9. I'm In Love (Pete Ham) - 2:28

10.Walk Out In The Rain (Pete Ham) - 3:28

11.Angelique (Tom Evans) - 2:28

12.Knocking Down Our Home (Pete Ham) - 3:41

13.Give It a Try (Pete Ham, Tom Evans, Mike Gibbins, Ron Griffiths) - 2:32

14.Maybe Tomorrow (Tom Evans) - 3:01

15.And Her Daddy's A Millionaire (previously unreleased alternate version) (Pete Ham, Tom Evans) - 2:26

16.Mrs. Jones (remix) (Pete Ham) - 2:20

17.Sali Bloo (previously unreleased mono mix) (Pete Ham) - 2:46

18.See-Saw Granpa (previously unissued mono mix) (Pete Ham) - 3:34

19.I've Been Waiting (previously unreleased unedited remix) (Pete Ham) - 5:58

Badfinger
*Pete Ham - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals
*Tom Evans - Guitar, Vocals, Bass  
*Ron Griffiths - Bass, Vocals
*Mike Gibbins - Drums, Vocals
With

*Paul McCartney – Piano, Percussion 

*Nicky Hopkins – Piano 

*Bill Collins – Piano 

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The Remains - The Remains (1966 us, stunning fuzzed-up garage roots 'n' roll, 2007 extra tracks remaster)

 Most 1960s garage rock obsessives collect singles rather than albums for a good reason: While plenty of snarling teenagers could come up with two decent songs at a stretch, a precious few seemed able to brainstorm a dozen tunes without reaching to the bottom of the barrel or resorting to covers of other people's hits. 

But there were exceptions to this rule, among them the Sonics, the Litter, and, especially, the Remains, who never enjoyed much success on the national charts but were fabled heroes in their home town of Boston. the Remains' 1966 album for Epic is a classic, packed with great songs from singer/guitarist Barry Tashian, bassist Vern Miller, and pianist Bill Briggs, and boasting exciting, fiery performances, and if the full firepower of their legendary live shows didn't always come through on tape, even the album's weakest moments made clear the Remains were tougher, smarter, and tighter than the vast majority of their competition. 

The Remains is mid-'60s American rock & roll at it's best, and you don't have to own any paisley clothing to enjoy it. [When Epic/Legacy reissued the album in 1991 (with the band's name augmented to Barry and the Remains), they added a handful of non-LP singles and unreleased tracks and gave the album a crisp digital remix, and against all odds, Epic actually improved a masterpiece. 

If the old analog version sounds harder and dirtier (a good thing for garage rock), the CD allows you to hear more of the details, and nearly every one of the 21 cuts on board is killer stuff (their cover of Don Covay's "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" shows them beating the Rolling Stones at their own game, and after you've heard "Don't Look Back," you'll always wonder why it wasn't a Top Ten hit)

by Mark Deming 

Tracks
1. Heart (Georges Aber, Tony Hatch) - 2:36
2. Lonely Week-End (Charlie Rich) - 3:22
3. Don't Look Back (Billy Vera) - 2:38
4. Why Do I Cry (Barry Tashian) - 2:48
5. Diddy Wah Diddy (Ellas McDaniel, Willie Dixon) - 2:31
6. You Got A Hard Time Coming (Barry Tashian, Vern Miller) - 2:05
7. Once Before (Vern Miller, Chip Damiani) - 2:06
8. Thank You (Barry Tashian) - 3:13
9. Time Of Day (Barry Tashian) - 2:15
10.Say You're Sorry (Bill Briggs) - 2:16 
11.Mercy, Mercy (1966) (Don Covay) - 2:35
12.I Can't Get Away From You (Single A-side,1965) (Vern Miller) - 2:32
13.But I Ain't Got You (Single B-side,1965) (Vern Miller) - 2:07
14.Me Right Now (Single B-side,1966) (Barry Tashian) - 2:25
15.My Babe (Single B-side,1965) (Willie Dixon) - 2:05
16.I'm Talking About You (1965) (Chuck Berry) - 2:08
17.Ain't That Her (1965) (Barry Tashian) - 2:07
18.Baby, I Believe In You (1965) (Barry Tashian) - 2:32
19.When I Want To Know (1965) (Barry Tashian) - 2:07
20.All Good Things (1965) (Vern Miller) - 2:13
Tracks 1-10 Original album (Stereo) 1966
Bonus Tracks 11-20

The Remains
*Billy Briggs - Electric Piano, Vocals
*Chip Damiani - Drums, Vocals
*Vern Miller - Bass, Vocals
*N.D. Smart II - Drums, Vocals
*Barry Tashian - Guitar,Vocals

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Troggs - Archeology (1966-1976 uk, classic garage beat, double disc chronicles series)

A double-CD, 52-track box set that proves there was a lot more to The Troggs than "Wild Thing" and "Love Is All Around." This archetypally primitive British Invasion quartet scored many hits in the U.K. that barely dented the charts in the U.S., like "With A Girl Like You," "Night Of The Long Grass," and the notoriously racy "I Can't Control Myself." They're all here, along with notable album cuts, B-sides, and worldwide post-1968 flops. 

Primitive they may have been, but The Troggs -- who wrote most of their own material -- did not lack a flair for hard pop hooks, and could display a surprising delicacy in their ballads. Several of their obscure singles and album tracks are equal in worth to their hits, like the gothic but pretty "Cousin Jane," and the witty light psychedelia of "Maybe the Madman" and "Purple Shades." Some of the '70s hard rockers and glammish novelties are unimpressive, and 52 songs is arguably excessive. But there are a fair number of obscure gems to be found on this well-annotated package. 

by Richie Unterberger 

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Lost Girl (Reg Presley) - 2:34

2. The Yella In Me (Reg Presley) - 2:42

3. Wild Thing (Chip Taylor) - 2:38

4. From Home (Reg Presley) - 2:21

5. With A Girl Like You (Reg Presley) - 2:10

6. I Want You (Colin Fretcher, Larry Page) - 2:19

7. Jingle Jangle (Reg Presley) - 2:31

8. Our Love Will Still Be There (Reg Presley) - 3:12

9. I Just Sing (Reg Presley) - 2:12

10.I Can't Control Myself (Reg Presley) - 3:07

11.Gonna Make You (Colin Fretcher, Larry Page) - 2:51

12.Any Way That You Want Me (Chip Taylor) - 2:59

13.66-5-4-3-2-1 (Reg Presley) - 2:37

14.Give It To Me (All Your Love) (Reg Presley) - 2:17

15.I Can Only Give You Everything (Mike Coulter, Tommy Scott) - 3:27

16.You Can't Beat It (Reg Presley) - 2:25

17.Last Summer (Reg Presley) - 2:58

18.I Want You To Come Into My Life (Reg Presley) - 2:27

19.Cousin Jane (David Matthews, Larry Page) - 2:28

20.Night Of The Long Grass (Reg Presley) - 3:10

21.Girl In Black (Colin Fretcher, Larry Page) - 2:04

22.Too Much Of A Good Thing (Terry Fogg, John St. John Gillard) - 2:50

23.Seventeen  (Reg Presley) - 2:42

24.Her Emotion (Reg Presley) - 2:32

25.My Lady (Reg Presley) - 3:01

26.All Of The Time (Reg Presley) - 2:11

27.Somewhere My Girl Is Waiting (Artie Wayne) - 2:50

Disc 2
1. Love Is All Around (Reg Presley) - 3:01
2. When Will The Rain Come (Ronnie Bond) - 2:43
3. Little Girl (Reg Presley) - 2:59
4. Maybe The Madman (Chris Britton) - 2:14
5. Surprise, Surprise (I Need You) (Reg Presley) - 2:50
6. You Can Cry If You Want To(Reg Presley) - 2:53
7. Hip Hip Hooray (John Carter, Geoff Stephens) - 2:19
8. Purple Shades (Reg Presley) - 2:26
9. Heads Or Tails (Chris Britton) - 3:44
10.Evil Woman (Larry Weiss) - 2:57
11.That's What You Get Girl (Reg Presley) - 2:02
12.I Don't Know Why (Reg Presley) - 2:53
13.Easy Loving (Valerie Avon, Harold Spiro) - 3:01
14.Lover (Chris Britton) - 2:28
15.Come Now (R. Bond, C. Britton, T. Murray, R. Presley) - 2:22
16.The Raver (Reg Presley) - 2:49
17.Everything's Funny (Chris Britton, Reg Presley) - 2:14
18.Feels Like A Woman (Reg Presley) - 3:34
19.Queen Of Sorrow (Richard Moore) - 2:43
20.Strange Movies (Reg Presley) - 2:57
21.I'm On Fire (Richard Moore) - 2:15
22.Good Vibrations (Mike Love, Brian Wilson) - 3:21
23.Summertime (Ronnie Bond, Tony Murray, Reg Presley) - 3:23
24.I'll Buy You An Island (Chris Britton, Reg Presley) - 3:12
25.Get You Tonight (Richard Moore) - 2:48

Troggs
*Ronnie Bond -  Drums
*Chris Britton - Lead Guitar
*Reg Presley - Lead vocals
*Peter Staples - Bass

1966  The Troggs - From Nowhere (2003 bonus tracks) 
1967  The Troggs - Cellophane (2003 bonus tracks) 

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The Troggs - Cellophane (1967 uk, beat psych, 2003 Repertoire bonus tracks issue)

First released in 1967, this album really does invoke the spirit of the Swinging Sixties with it's soft-rock folk-psychedelic feel throughout. Featuring 'Love Is All Around', 'My Lady' and 'Little Red Donkey' and 12 bonus tracks (including both sides of solo singles from Trogg's drummer Ronnie Bond and leader Reg Presley!). 

Tracks
1.Little Red Donkey - 2:13
2.Too Much Of A Good Thing - 2:47
3.Butterflies And Bees - 1:54
4.All Of The Time - 2:08
5.Seventeen - 2:38
6.Somewhere My Girl Is Waiting - 2:49
7.It's Showing - 2:54
8.Her Emotion - 2:28
9.When Will The Rain Come - 2:40
10.My Lady - 2:57
11.Come The Day - 1:52
12.Love Is All Around - 2:58
13.That's What You Get Girl - 1:59
14.I Don't Know Why - 2:50
15.Easy Loving - 2:58
16.Give Me Something - 3:25
17.Lover - 2:24
18.Come Now - 2:18
19.The Raver - 2:46
20.You - 2:32
21.Ronnie Bond - Carolyn - 2:31
22.Ronnie Bond - Anything For You - 2:35
23.Reg Presley - Lucinda Lee - 3:05
24.Reg Presley - Wichita Lineman - 3:05

The Troggs
*Ronnie Bond -  Drums
*Chris Britton - Lead Guitar
*Reg Presley - Lead vocals
*Peter Staples - Bass

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The Troggs - From Nowhere (1966 uk, classic garage beat, 2003 repertoire extra tracks edition)

The Troggs were one of the great singles artists of the 1960s with a string of classics that started with Wild Thing. They never really achieved the same level of success with their albums. This debut From Nowhere was their most successful long player reaching number 6 in the UK and remaining on the chart for sixteen weeks. It contains some of the early singles and b-sides as well as additional tracks. However, this CD has a different running order to the original UK release and is more similar to the German release. However, the Kitty Cat Song, Ride You Pony and Evil were all found on the UK and not the German releases.

Chip Taylor's Wild Thing was the Troggs' breakthrough. One of the most recognisable riffs in music it prompted a cover by Jimi Hendrix. Surely this is track is unique with its ocarina solo. The band's first single Lost Girl and its b-side The Yella in Me are included. Lost Girl was originally released on the CBS label before Larry Page gained the band a two-single Fontana deal. Listening to this track now it is hard to imagine why it was not a hit as it is certainly one of the most powerful with a driving bass riff and crazy guitar solo.

The driving drums and bass of I Just Sing make it one of the album's best tracks. It stands out from the known singles and shows the Troggs could stand outside the pop market and produce more unusual or innovative tracks. The Jaguar and the Thunderbird is sung by drummer Ronnie Bond. Guitarist Chris Britton delivers the vocals on the standard Ride Your Pony.

Your Love is reminiscent of the Kinks' All Day and All of the Night. Its chopping guitar chords pushing the song forwards.

A cover of the Kingmen's Louie Louie is perfectly suited to the Troggs' style. Ironically, the riff from Louie Louie translated well into Wild Thing!

One of the benefits of reissuing the album on CD is that it provides an opportunity to include additional tracks that were not on the original album such as non-album singles and b-sides like I Want You. With a Girl Like You was the follow-up to Wild Thing and the Troggs' only number one hit in the UK although Wild Thing hit the top spot in the US at the same time.

This was almost an afterthought, having been recorded in a few minutes at the end of the session that produced Wild Thing. The song introduces the classic Troggs backing vocals that later reappeared on the superb I Can't Control Myself. The latter track was also a big hit for the band and was released on Larry Page's Page One label. This song was banned in Australia and was close to being banned by the BBC because of its second line "your slacks are low and your hips are showing." The Troggs had become at producing raunchy songs, Wild Thing possibly an example, but Gonna Make You and the later Give It To Me proved the point.
Making-Time

Tracks
1. Wild Thing (Chip Taylor) - 2:34
2. The Yella In Me (Reg Presley) - 2:38
3. I Just Sing (Reg Presley) - 2:09
4. Hi Hi Hazel (Bill Martin,Phil Coulter) - 2:43
5. Lost Girl (Reg Presley) - 2:31
6. The Jaguar And The Thunderbird (Chuck Berry) - 2:01
7. Your Love (Larry Page,Michael Julien) - 1:52
8. Our Love Will Still Be There (Reg Presley) - 3:08
9. Jingle Jangle (Reg Presley) - 2:26
10.When I'm With You (Reg Presley) - 2:23
11.From Home (Reg Presley) - 2:20
12.Louie Louie (Richard Berry) - 3:01
13.The Kitty Cat Song (Jimmy Roach,Joe Spendel) - 2:11
14.Ride Your Pony (Naomi Neville; Nom De Plume Of Allen R. Toussaint) - 2:24
15.Evil (Shelby S. Singleton Jr.) - 3:13
16.With A Girl Like You (Reg Presley) - 2:05
17.I Want You (Larry Page,Colin Frechter) - 2:13
18.I Can't Control Myself (Reg Presley) - 3:03
19.Gonna Make You (Larry Page,Colin Frechter) - 2:46
20.As I Ride By (Ronnie Bond) - 2:02

The Troggs
*Ronnie Bond -  Drums
*Chris Britton - Lead Guitar
*Reg Presley - Lead vocals
*Peter Staples - Bass

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Grateful Dead - Live/Dead (1969 us, classic west coast psych)

The Grateful Dead's fourth title was likewise their first extended concert recording. Spread over two LPs, Live/Dead (1969) finally was able to relay the intrinsic sonic magnificence of a Dead show in real time. Additionally, it unleashed several key entries into their repertoire, including the sidelong epic and Deadhead anthem"Dark Star" as well as wailing and otherwise electrified acidic covers of the Rev.

Gary Davis blues standard "Death Don't Have No Mercy" and the R&B rave-up "(Turn on Your) Lovelight." Finally, the conundrum of how to bring a lengthy performance experience to the listener has been solved. The album's four sides provided the palette from which to replicate the natural ebb and flow of a typical Dead set circa early 1969.

Tomes have been written about the profound impact of "Dark Star" on the Dead and their audience. It also became a cultural touchstone signifying that rock music was becoming increasingly experimental by casting aside the once-accepted demands of the short, self-contained pop song. This version was recorded on February 27, 1969, at the Fillmore West and is presented pretty much the way it went down at the show. The same is true of the seven remaining titles on Live/Dead.

The rousing rendition of "St. Stephen" reinvents the Aoxomoxoa (1968) prototype with rip-roaring thunder and an extended ending which slams into an instrumental rhythmic excursion titled "The Eleven" after the jam's tricky time signature. The second LP began with a marathon cover of "(Turn on Your) Lovelight," which had significant success for both Bobby "Blue" Bland and Gene Chandler earlier in the decade.

With Ron "Pigpen" McKernan at the throttle, the Dead barrel their way through the work, reproportioning and appointing it with fiery solos from Garcia and lead vocal raps courtesy of McKernan. "Death Don't Have No Mercy" is a languid noir interpretation of Rev. Gary Davis' distinct Piedmont blues. Garcia's fretwork smolders as his solos sear through the melody. Likewise notable is the criminally underrated keyboard work of Tom Constanten, whose airy counterpoint rises like a departing spirit from within the soul of the song.

The final pairing of "Feedback" -- which is what is sounds like it might be -- with the "lowering down" funeral dirge "And We Bid You Goodnight" is true to the way that the band concluded a majority of their performances circa 1968-1969. They all join in on an a cappella derivative of Joseph Spence and the Pinder Family's traditional Bahamian distillation. Few recordings have ever represented the essence of an artist in performance as faithfully as Live/Dead.

It has become an aural snapshot of this zenith in The Grateful Dead's 30-year evolution and as such is highly recommended for all manner of enthusiasts. The 2001 remastered edition that was included in the Golden Road (1965-1973) (2001) box set tacks on the 45 rpm studio version of "Dark Star" as well as a vintage radio advert for the album.
by Lindsay Planer

Tracks
1. Dark Star (J. Garcia, M. Hart, R. Hunter, B. Kreutzmann, P. Lesh, R. "Pigpen" McKernan, B. Weir) - 23:15
2. St. Stephen (Jerry Garcia, Robert Hunter, Phil Lesh) - 6:45
3. The Eleven (Robert Hunter, Phil Lesh) - 9:39
4. Turn on Your Love Light (Deadric Malone, Joseph Scott) - 15:30
5. Death Don't Have No Mercy (Rev. Gary Davis) - 10:30
6. Feedback (Grateful Dead) - 8:52
7. And We Bid You Goodnight (Traditional) - 0:36

Grateful Dead
*Tom Constanten - Keyboards
*Jerry Garcia - Guitar, Vocals
*Mickey Hart - Drums, Percussion
*Bill Kreutzmann - Drums, Percussion
*Phil Lesh - Bass, Vocals
*Ron "Pigpen" McKernan - Keyboards, Vocals
*Bob Weir - Guitar, Vocals
*Robert Hunter - Lyrics

Grateful Dead - Skull and Roses 1971 (Original Double Vinyl release)

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Eric Burdon And The Animals - The Twain Shall Meet (1968 uk, amazing psychedelic rock, 2003 digi pack bonus tracks issue and 2013 japan SHM remaster)

Repertoire REPUK 1022 (2004) Again, Repertoire has done an excellent job with their remaster and restoration of this classic psychedelic-era Animals collection. The sound is bright and punchy without being excessively heavy and loud - you'll want to play this one!

This second true step into the psychodelic explorations of Eric Burdon and the Animals (the first being Winds Of Change) is indeed a "strange trip" which wanders through topical tunes, blues, rock, and some radio hits. Songs like "Closer To The Truth" one could definitely call `head music' and is reflective of much of the music of the time (such as that of the Airplane). There are also roaming instrumentals like "We Love You Lil" which serve as links that connect the album together. "Sky Pilot" is by far the staple of the album. This tune became hugely popular with and still holds a special place for soldiers who experienced Vietnam first hand. Eric and his Animals had already become quite popular with those serving in Vietnam with earlier tunes such as "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place," and hearing "Sky Pilot" again clearly brings back a certain sentiment. The truly psychedelic and iconic "All Is One" nicely wraps up the original album and conveys Eric's peace-and-brotherhood mood during this stage of his career - and life. The bonus tracks are also a nice addition and round out the CD.

As many Animals' fans know, their recordings in the post-Mickie Most production era suffered from poor production values and often were very poorly engineered. One of the best features of this remaster is that much of the poor quality of the original tapes has been overcome. Of particular note is the classic mentioned above, "Sky Pilot." Fans will surely remember the generally poor sound quality of the original recording - particularly in Eric's intro vocal - with no real improvement on subsequent re-issues. Here, the song lives again and has been restored about as well as I believe it can be. (Gone, however, is that original tremolo/echo effect from Eric's vocal on the line, "How high can you fly?"). The quality of the sound holds throughout this CD remaster.
(A note for the purists and collectors out there: the single versions of "Sky Pilot" included as bonus tracks are not the US versions. The A and B side versions included in this package are 4:22 and 3:02, respectively. The US versions are 2:55 and 4:30, respectively).

On the whole, this album is indeed a "strange trip" through the blues-meets-psychodelia brand of music that occurred during the late sixties, and the style and energy of this disc clearly capture the period. While the two tunes not principally sung by Eric Burdon do not contribute much to the overall collection, they do help maintain the continuity and mood. Taking the whole package into consideration, I would give this remaster `two thumbs up' and would definitely recommend it - particularly to fans of the later stage of the Animals.
by Adamus67

Tracks
1. Monterey 4:40
2. Just the Thought 3:51
3. Closer to the Truth 4:35
4. No Self Pity 4:55
5. Orange and Red Beams 3:46
6. Sky Pilot 7:23
7. We Love You Lil 6:45
8. All Is One 7:37
Bonus Tracks (Singles Versions)
9. Sky Pilot, Part 1 4:22
10.Sky Pilot, Part 2 3:02
11.Monterey 4:25
12.Anything 2:52
13.It's All Meat 2:09

Personnel
*Eric Burdon - Vocals
*John Weider - Guitar, Violin
*Vic Briggs - Guitar
*Danny McCulloch - Bass, Vocals
*Barry Jenkins - Drums

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American Blues - Is Here (1968 us, psych blues rock with pre ZZ Top members, Akarma edition)

American Blues is perhaps better known for its members than the music itself.... American Blues were a 1960s Texas-based garage band who played a psychedelic style of blues rock music influenced by the 13th Floor Elevators.

They are most famous for including two future members of the band ZZ Top in their ranks, ZZ Top and Frank Beard. From 1966 to 1968, they played the Dallas-Fort Worth-Houston circuit and headlined in three clubs all called "The Cellar", in Dallas at clubs such as "The Walrus" on Mockingbird Lane, and in Houston at "Love Street Light Circus Feel Good Machine" on Allen's Landing, as late as 1968. Around 1968 the band (the two Hill brothers and Beard) decided to leave the Dallas--Fort Worth area, relocating to Houston. At this time, however, guitarist Rocky Hill wanted to focus on "straight blues", while his brother Dusty wanted the band to rock more. Rocky left the band, and was soon replaced by Billy Gibbons, of Houston psychedelic-rockers Moving Sidewalks, becoming the band ZZ Top.

As teenagers living in Dallas, Texas, brothers Dusty (guitar) and Rocky (bass) Hill played in a series of local bands, including The Starliners and The Deadbeaters. Their efforts attracted little notice until they formed The Warlocks, who managed to release a pair of unsuccessful local singles. By 1968 the lineup had expanded to include former Cellar Dweller drummer Frank Beard and keyboard player Dough Davis. Simultaneously, the band decided The Warlocks had run their course. Opting for a new name (The American Blues) and a new sound, the group was signed by the local Karma label.

Recorded at Robin Hood Brian's Studio, the quartet's 1968 debut "The American Blues Is Here" teamed them with producer Scotty McKay. Rather raw and ill-focused, the album found the band fumbling around for a style. Taking stabs at a variety of genres, including blues (check-out the weird reworking of Tim Harden's "If I Were a Carpenter"), psych and hard rock, the results weren't particularly ground breaking. Needless to say, sales proved non-existent, though the album attracted the attention of major label MCA.

by Adamus67

Tracks
1. If I Were A Carpenter - 5:26
2. All I Saw Was You - 3:46
3. She'll Be Mine - 1:51
4. Fugue For Lady Cheriff- 2:14
5. It's Gone- 2:00
6. Keep My Heart In A Rage - 2:40
7. Mercury Blues - 4:15
8. Melted Like Snow - 3:15
9. Mellow - 2:08

The American Blues
*Dusty Hill - Bass
*Frank Beard - Drums
*Rocky Hill - Guitar, Vocals
*Doug Davis - Keyboards

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Eric Burdon And The Animals - Winds of Change (1967 uk, great psych rock, 2003 extra tracks issue and 2013 japan SHM double disc remaster)

Everything changes , nothings changed'....Eric Burdon former lead singer of 'The Animals '. A five piece r'n'b band from Newcastle . The group hit the big time with a cover of 'House of The Rising Sun', produced by Mickie Most. Other big hit's followed such as 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' and my personal fave 'We Got to Get out of this Place'. The Animals toured the US in 1964 as part of the British R'nB/Pop invasion .

A year later the group had split in two , boozers on one side , facing opposite Burdon and guitarist Hilton Valentine , Valentine first dropped acid with Brian Jones in New York. Soon after he introduced Burdon to LSD. The tension's in the group led to a split .. 1966. Burdon relocates to California .Putting together the 'new' Animals......'Winds of Change is the debut album. The title track is anchored by a fluid bass line with a repetitive violin and sitar on top . The song pays homage to musical icons past and present Robert Johnson to Jimi Hendrix circa 1967 .

I'm guessing Hendrix had blown 'em away at Monterey by then. Track two 'Poem By The Sea', the album's pivotal track , Burdon recites poetry over music drenched in echo and reverb. Very trippy . 'Paint it Black' is a great cover Burdon's r'nb roots are all over this one. 'The Black Plague' epic poem based on the Black Death , the story revolves round castle dwellers too scared to venture outside the walls, end up starving to death. ...'Yes I'm Experienced' is an affirmative reply to Hendrix. 'San Franciscan Nights' and 'Good Times' are two slices of timeless sixties pop psych.. 'Winds of Change' is a pretty good album .....All songs written by Eric Burdon, Vic Briggs, John Weider, Barry Jenkins, and Danny McCulloch. Produced by: Tom Wilson.
Reached #42 in US charts (released in UK in Oct'67 - did not chart).

While the two MGM LP commercial releases in the USA (SE-4484 and E-4484) and MGM's Special Disk Jockey USA version (also carrying the catalogue number E-4484) featured gatefold covers with inner notes by Eric Burdon, Kojak's copy of this LP is numbered SE-4484 and has "manufactured and distributed in Australia under licenece" printed on the back of the album sleave.

The New Animals: The new world different from the old with new jewels to be consumed, new frontiers to be won, and much more love to be given. The recognition of pain and ecstasy to know that they are both there in the pit of my stomach, and can be turned on or off as easily as a stereo colour TV set. I love you all, and want you to gain something from these new sounds as I gain from listening to my saints in past years. If you feel alone and confused and unhappy discontented, just know that I (and there are many like me) love you, and maybe you will know why I am happy contented and unconfused. The games I play are mostly games of children (not all) happy games, games of love, games of mystery, games of wonder, please excuse my games of fear and jealousy, I'm only human after all and still a student of life. Maybe the next production will be all games of love, but by then I could be in another world ... (from the front cover of the album).
by Adamus67

Tracks
01. Winds of Change 3:59
02. Poem by the Sea 2:15
03. Paint It Black 5:56
04. The Black Plague 5:55
05. Yes I Am Experienced 3:36
06. San Franciscan Nights 3:16
07. Man-Woman 6:02
08. Hotel Hell 4:12
09. Good Times 2:57
10. Anything 3:19
11. It's All Meat 2:00
Bonus Tracks
12. Good Times (Mono Single Version) 2:57
13. Ain't That So (Single B-Side, UK) 3:24
14. San Francisco Nights (Mono Single Version) 3:16
15. Gratefully Dead (Single B-Side, UK) 3:59

Tha Animals
*Danny McCulloch - Bass
*Barry Jenkins - Drums
*Vic Briggs - Guitar, Piano, Vibes
*John Weider - Guitar, Violin
*Eric Burdon - Vocals

1964-67  The Animals - The Complete French EP
1967  Eric Is Here
1968  The Twain Shall Meet (2013 japan SHM double disc remaster)
1966-68  Roadrunners! Rare Live And Studio Recordings

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