Jack Bruce - Songs For A Tailor (1969 uk, great prog blues rock, expanded edition)

With a live version of "Crossroads" going Top 30 for Cream, Songs for a Tailor was released in 1969, showing many more sides of Jack Bruce. George Harrison (again using his L'Angelo Misterioso moniker) appears on the first track, "Never Tell Your Mother She's Out of Tune," though his guitar is not as prominent as the performance on "Badge."

The song is bass heavy with Colosseum members Dick Heckstall-Smith and Jon Hiseman providing a different flavor to what Bruce fans had become accustomed to. Hiseman drums on eight of the ten compositions, including "Theme From an Imaginary Western," the second track, and Jack Bruce's greatest hit that never charted. With "just" Chris Spedding on guitar and Jon Hiseman on drums, Bruce paints a masterpiece performing the bass, piano, organ, and vocals. The song is so significant it was covered by Mountain, Colosseum, and a Colosseum spin-off, Greenslade.

One has to keep in mind that the influential Blind Faith album was being recorded this same year (and according to the late Jimmy Miller, producer of that disc, Jack Bruce filled in for Rick Grech on some of the Blind Faith material). Bruce's omnipresence on the charts and in the studio gives the diversity on Songs for a Tailor that much more intrigue. "Tickets to Water Falls" and "Weird of Hermiston" feature the Hiseman/Spedding/Bruce trio, and though the wild abandon of Ginger Baker is replaced by Hiseman's jazz undercurrents, these are still basically two- to three-and-a-half-minute songs, not as extended as the material on Bruce's work on his John McLaughlin/Heckstall-Smith/Hiseman disc Things We Like recorded a year before this, but released two years after Songs for a Tailor in 1971. The history is important because this album is one of the most unique fusions of jazz with pop and contains less emphasis on the blues, a genre so essential to Bruce's career.

Indeed, "Theme From an Imaginary Western" is total pop. It is to Jack Bruce what "Midnight Rider" is to Greg Allman, a real defining moment. "Rope Ladder to the Moon" has that refreshing sparkle found on "Tickets to Water Falls" and "Weird of Hermiston," but Bruce has only John Marshall on drums and producer Felix Pappalardi adding some vocals while he provides cellos, vocals, guitar, piano, and bass. Side two goes back to the thick progressive sound of the first track on side one, and has a lot in common with another important album from this year, Janis Joplin's I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama!

Jack Bruce and Janis Joplin were two of the most familiar superstar voices on radio performing hard blues-pop. Joplin added horns to augment her expression the same time Jack Bruce was mixing saxes and trumpets to three tracks of this jazz/pop exploration. "He the Richmond" deviates from that, throwing a curve with Bruce on acoustic guitar, Pappalardi on percussion, and Marshall slipping in again on drums. But the short one minute and 44 second "Boston Ball Game, 1967" proves the point about the pop/jazz fusion succinctly and is a nice little burst of creativity.

 "To Isengard" has Chris Spedding, Felix Pappalardi, and Jack Bruce on acoustic guitars, a dreamy folk tune until Hiseman's drums kick in on some freeform journey, Spedding's guitar sounding more like the group Roxy Music, which he would eventually join as a sideman, over the total jazz of the bass and drums. "The Clearout" has Spedding, Hiseman, and Bruce end the album with progressive pop slightly different from the other recordings here. As with 1971's Harmony Row, Peter Brown composed all the lyrics on Songs for a Tailor with Jack Bruce writing the music. A lyric sheet is enclosed and displays the serious nature of this project. It is picture perfect in construction, performance, and presentation.

by Joe Viglione

Tracks

1. Never Tell Your Mother She's Out Of Tune - 3:41
2. Theme For An Imaginary Western - 3:30
3. Tickets To Water Falls - 3:00
4. Weird Of Hermiston - 2:24
5. Rope Ladder To The Moon - 2:54
6. The Ministry Of Bag - 2:49
7. He The Richmond - 3:36
8. Boston Ball Game 1967 - 1:45
9. To Isengard - 5:28
10.The Clearout - 2:35
11.The Ministry Of Bag (Demo Version) - 3:47
12.Weird Of Hermiston (Alternate Mix) - 2:33
13.The Clearout (Alternate Mix) - 3:02
14.The Ministry Of Bag (Alternate Mix) - 2:54
All Lyrics written by Peter Brown, Music by Jack Bruce

Musicians
*Harry Beckett - Trumpet
*Jack Bruce - Organ, Bass Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Cello, Vocals
*Dick Heckstall-Smith - Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone
*Jon Hiseman - Drums
*Henry Lowther - Trumpet
*John Marshall - Drums
*George Harrison - Guitar
*John Mumford - Trombone
*Felix Pappalardi - Percussion, Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
*Chris Spedding - Electric Guitar
*Art Themen - Soprano Saxophone, Tenor Saxophone

1971  Jack Bruce - Harmony Row
1967  Cream - Disraeli Gears

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The Who - Who's Next (1971 uk, masterpiece, double disc japan SHM deluxe edition)

Much of Who's Next derives from Lifehouse, an ambitious sci-fi rock opera Pete Townshend abandoned after suffering a nervous breakdown, caused in part from working on the sequel to Tommy. 

There's no discernable theme behind these songs, yet this album is stronger than Tommy, falling just behind Who Sell Out as the finest record the Who ever cut. Townshend developed an infatuation with synthesizers during the recording of the album, and they're all over this album, adding texture where needed and amplifying the force, which is already at a fever pitch. 

Apart from Live at Leeds, the Who have never sounded as LOUD and unhinged as they do here, yet that's balanced by ballads, both lovely ("The Song Is Over") and scathing ("Behind Blue Eyes"). That's the key to Who's Next -- there's anger and sorrow, humor and regret, passion and tumult, all wrapped up in a blistering package where the rage is as affecting as the heartbreak. 

This is a retreat from the '60s, as Townshend declares the "Song Is Over," scorns the teenage wasteland, and bitterly declares that we "Won't Get Fooled Again." For all the sorrow and heartbreak that runs beneath the surface, this is an invigorating record, not just because Keith Moon runs rampant or because Roger Daltrey has never sung better or because John Entwistle spins out manic basslines that are as captivating as his "My Wife" is funny. 

This is invigorating because it has all of that, plus Townshend laying his soul bare in ways that are funny, painful, and utterly life-affirming. That is what the Who was about, not the rock operas, and that's why Who's Next is truer than Tommy or the abandoned Lifehouse. Those were art -- this, even with its pretensions, is rock 'n' roll.

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Tracks

Disc one

1. Baba O'Riley - 5:01

2. Bargain - 5:33

3. Love Ain't For Keeping - 2:10

4. My Wife (John Entwistle)3:35

5. The Song Is Over - 6:17

6. Getting In Tune - 4:49

7. Going Mobile - 3:43

8. Behind Blue Eyes - 3:42

9. Won't Get Fooled Again - 8:35

10.Baby Don't You Do It (Longer Version) - 8:21

11.Getting In Tune - 6:36

12.Pure And Easy (Alternate Version) - 4:33

13.Love Ain't For Keeping (Electric Version, Townshend On Lead Vocals) - 4:06

14.Behind Blue Eyes (Alternate Version) - 3:30

15.Won't Get Fooled Again (Original New York Sessions Version) - 8:48

Disc two
1. Love Ain't For Keeping - 2:57
2. Pure and Easy - 6:00
3. Young Man Blues - 4:47
4. Time Is Passing - 3:59
5. Behind Blue Eyes - 4:49
6. I Don't Even Know Myself - 5:42
7. Too Much of Anything - 4:20
8. Getting in Tune - 6:42
9. Bargain - 5:46
10.Water - 8:19
11.My Generation - 2:58
12.Road Runner (Ellas McDaniel) - 3:14
13.Naked Eye - 6:21
14.Won't Get Fooled Again - 8:50

The Who
*Roger Daltrey – Lead Vocals, Harmonica
*Pete Townshend – Guitars, Organ, VCS3 And ARP Synthesiser, Backing Vocals, Piano, Vocals
*John Entwistle – Bass Guitar, Vocals,  Piano
*Keith Moon – Drums, Percussion
Additional Musicians
*Nicky Hopkins – Piano
*Dave Arbus – Violin
*Al Kooper – Organ
*Leslie West – Guitar

1965  My Generation (two disc japan SHM-CD remaster)
1966  A Quick One (japan SHM-CD double disc box remaster)
1967  Sell Out (double disc japan SHM expanded edition)

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The Kingsmen - Louie Louie The Best Of (1962-67 us, classic garage roots 'n' roll, 2008 Repertoire release)

Many believe that all starts from a certain hit record by one of America’s pioneering and premiere ‘garage’ bands. Yes, it all kicked off with the raucous sound of ‘Louie Louie’ by The Kingsmen, a smash hit back in 1963. A combination of teenage angst and an insidious ‘hook line’ ensured the number would become a classic and inspiration to future generations of rockers.

The Kingsmen came from Portland, Oregon and were headed by singer Jack Ely and guitarist Mike Mitchell. ‘Louie Louie’ was their debut single, written by Richard Berry and recorded by him way back in 1957. The Kingsmen’s version got to Number 2 in the US chart and proved a Top 30 hit in the UK in 1964.

Although the group was the subject of internal dissent after their first big hit, they went on to enjoy more chart success with such songs as ‘Money’ and ‘The Jolly Green Giant’, both included on this 20 track compilation.

Repertoire 

Tracks
1. Louie Louie - 2:46
2. Haunted Castle - 2:48
3. Money - 2:31
4. Little Latin Lupe Lu - 2:27
5. Death of an Angel - 2:35
6. The Jolly Green Giant - 1:59
7. Long Green - 2:39
8. The Climb - 2:32
9. Annie Fanny - 2:07
10.Trouble - 2:23
11.Killer Joe - 2:19
12.The Gamma Coochee - 2:11
13.Little Green Thing - 2:00
14.Little Sally Tease - 2:56
15.Give Her Lovin' - 1:48
16.The Wolf of Manhattan - 2:35
17.Long Tall Texan - 2:47
18.You Can't Sit Down - 3:01
19.New Orleans - 2:25
20.Let the Good Times Roll - 1:53

The Kingsmen
*Jack Ely - Vocals, Guitars
*Lynn Easton - Drums
*Mike Mitchell - Guitar
*Bob Nordby - Bass
*Don Gallucci - Keyboards
*Gary Abbott - Drums
*Norm Sundholm - Bass
*Dick Peterson - Drums
*Barry Curtis - Keyboards

1963-67  The Kingsmen - Best Of (Vinyl edition) 

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Mandrill - Mandrill Is (1972 us, remarkable latin heavy funk jam rock)

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Mandrill’s first three albums were recorded at Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Lady Studios in New York’s Greenwich Village.  Their reputation as a “World Music Group” and “Champions for Peace” began with their self-titled debut album, which contained the epic composition titled “Peace and Love.”  

This amazing suite was performed by the group accompanied by the Symphony of the New World, an 80-piece orchestra, and a 200-voice chorus to a Standing Room Only audience at Philharmonic Hall in New York City.

Their sophomore release Mandrill Is contained the single “Get It All” and the cosmic anthem “Ape is High.”  The third album, Composite Truth, released in 1973, propelled Mandrill’s popularity around the globe with their jam-heavy funk rhythms encapsulated in the song “Fencewalk.”  Their freewheeling approach influenced peers such as Parliament-Funkadelic, Earth Wind & Fire and others. 

 As their popularity grew, so did their appearances on all of the major music TV shows. Mandrill performed on both of Don Kirshner’s series, In Concert and Rock Concert.  On numerous occasions they appeared on Soul Train with Don Cornelius, Midnight Special with Wolfman Jack, Soul! with Ellis Haizlip and Like It Is with Gil Noble.

Mandrill 

Tracks
1. Ape Is High - 5:32
2. Cohello - 1:50
3. Git It All - 4:30
4. Children Of The Sun - 5:00
5. I Refuse To Smile - 4:05
6. Universal Rhythms - 3:24
7. Lord Of The Golden Baboon - 3:33
8. Central Park - 4:05
9. Kofijahm - 3:25
10.Here Today Gone Tomorrow - 4:30
11.The Sun Must Go Down - 3:17
All Songs written and arranged by Mandrill

Mandrill
*Carlos Wilson - Trombone, Flute, Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
*Lou Wilson - Percussion, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals
*Ric Wilson - Saxophone, Percussion, Vocals
*Claude Cave - Keyboards, Vibraphone, Percussion, Vocals
*Fudgie Kae - Bass, Percussion, Vocals
*Omar Mesa - Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
*Charles Padro -Drums, Percussion, Vocals

1971  Mandrill

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Graham Nash - Wild Tales (1973 uk, classic country folk rock)

Graham's second effort, a trip between counrty rock to folk and back to classic forms, Prison song is one of these songs that sticks in your mind and absorb it like the earth smack every drop of the rain, this song was one of my favorites that time and even now gives me the same gentle sentiments.

Graham Nash is from a unique era of singer songwriters who created an amazing musical legacy. This album is a fine example of the closing period of that special era and well worth investigating. 

Tracks
1. Wild Tales – 2:18
2. Hey You (Looking At The Moon) – 2:14
3. Prison Song – 3:10
4. You'll Never Be The Same – 2:48
5. And So It Goes – 4:48
6. Grave Concern – 2:45
7. Oh! Camil (The Winter Soldier) – 2:51
8. I Miss You – 3:04
9. On The Line – 2:35
10.Another Sleep Song – 4:43
All Tracks composed by Graham Nash

Musicians
*Graham Nash - Acoustic, Electric Rhythm Guitar, Electric Piano, Harmonica, Vocals
*Johnny Barbata - Drums
*Joel Bernstein - Acoustic Guitar
*David Crosby - Vocals
*Tim Drummond - Bass
*Harry Halex - Electric Piano, Acoustic Guitar
*Ben Keith - Pedal Steel Guitar, Dobro
*David Lindley - Electric Slide Guitar, Mandolin
*David Mason - Twelve String Guitar
*Joni Mitchell - Vocal
*Joe Yankee (aka Neil Young) - Acoustic Piano

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Bridge - Bridge (1971 canada, stimulating flux of psych country folk rock)

Bridge materialized in April 1971 consisting of three accomplished musicians: Francis and John Webster and Tony Lecaillon. The Webster brothers have been performing together since 1964 when they started a group called "The Marcatos". In 1967 they moved to Toronto where they joined forces with Tony and reorganized "The Marcatos" into a seven-piece group. In 1969 the group recorded an album at Sound Canada. 

The album, entitled David, contained nine original tunes and two commercial tunes, (Hey Jude and House of the Rising Sun), and was played frequently on CHUM FM and other stations. The following Spring Francis and John moved to their farm in the Georgian Bay area where they began cultivating original material and sounds, playing in local churches and nightclubs with great success.

Meanwhile, Tony travelled around England (his native land), and Europe, to open his ears and eyes to the scene there. Francis, John and Tony rejoined last year to produce a unique combination of country, folk, jazz and rock, with original lyrics and music. Bridge answer the question, for anyone who wishes to know, what happened to the Canadian band David after their lone record on Sound Canada in the late 60s. 

Guitarist Francis Webster, bassist John Webster, and drummer Tony Lecaillon from David make up Bridge who recorded this ultra obscure and rare record at the same Sound Canada studios in 1971. Next to each song is a brief description of the musical genre of each ranging from "Ego Trip" to "Country" to "jazz shuffle." 

What this album is differs drastically from what you'd expect from David.The best way to describe Bridge's album would be "Sweetheart Of The Rodeo" on tons of acid! There is no fuzz guitar, but a clean west coast shimmering tone on all tracks, bizarre vocal effects on ; the tripped out "It's My Life" and plenty of weirdness present for the whole album. 

The tracks that are labelled "Country" all have a strange bent to them . despite being early back-to-the-  roots country rock influenced by Graham Parsons and "real" country artists like Hank Williams. The long "Ego Trip" version of Little Richard's "You're My Girl" is great fun and the only good version I've heard of one of his songs. 

There is something here very enjoyable for anyone looking for a bizarre i twisted record of fun music, especially "Brand New Day" with echoes of Spirit and a bit of Freeborne. Very rare and a good one.

by Ben Blake Mitchner

Tracks
1. I Had It But I Lost It - 2:33
2. It's My Life - 3:07
3. Ain't My Day - 3:18
4. Simple Blues Form - 3:18
5. Running Away - 2:28
6. Brand New Day - 4:48
7. You're My Girl - 9:45
8. Born To The Country - 4:12
9. Barnyard - 3:56

Bridge
*Francis Webster - Guitar
*John Webster - Bass
*Tony Lecaillon - Drums

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Mandrill - Mandrill (1971 us, groovy latin jam rock)

Mandrill may have been too good for their own good. The heart of the band were the Wilson brothers - Louis "Sweet Lou", Richard "Dr. Ric" and Carlos "Mad Dog" – who created a tasty blend of soul, blues, rock, Afro-Latin elements and jazz. It was a strongly danceable sound, but the band's often complex rhythms and lengthy solos didn't lend themselves to easily cutting a piece down to a shorter version for radio exposure. Nonetheless. 

Mandrill created some great music during their decade or so of playing and writing. While the Wilsons were the clear creative force, they were ably assisted by Omar Mesa, Claude "Coffee" Cave. Charlie Padro and Bundie Cenac. Between them, they played more than 20 instruments. The Wilsons were in high school in Brooklyn. New York, when they joined the school band. After they got more proficient on their instruments, the three brothers began to play in small clubs around their neighborhood until they were drafted into the military in the '60s. One Wilson, Ric also attended medical school and v/as one of the few physicians to divide his time between medicine and music. 

After meeting their military obligations, the Wilsons got more serious about their music. Placing an ad for other players in New York's "Village Voice", they got more than 200 responses. They included guitarist Mesa and the other members of the original 1968 line-up. Most of the players were experienced musicians with diverse backgrounds and musical interests that helped define the varied sound of what the Wilsons decided to call Mandrill. By 1971. Mandrill was signed to Polydor Records. Their debut album, "Mandrill" (Polydor 4050), was released in early 71. 

While the album was a Top 50 seller, singles taken from it didn't sell. Things looked up with "Mandrill Is" (Polydor 5025), which came out in the spring of 1972. It sold well and so did the single "Get It AH" (Polydor 14142). which moved into the Billboard rhythm and blues Top 40 in the fall of 72. Mandrill had their biggest hit in the spring of 1973 with "Fencewalk" (Polydor 14163), a Top 30 R&B single that just missed the pop Top 50. "Composite Truth" (Polydor 5043), which spawned "Fencewalk", was a Top 30 album and would be their biggest-selling release. It also contained another hit in the Top 30 "Hang

Loose" (Polydor 14187). 

Their record sales resulted in a busy touring schedule, which was fine with the guys in the band. In a 1973 interview Ric Wilson said they wanted to stay as busy as possible. Added Carlos, "Our music is for the people. If we don't keep playing we lose touch." Mandrill proved they were still in touch with a fourth best-selling album - "Just Outside Of Town" (Polydor 5059) - in the fall of 73. It contained two popular singles: "Mango Meat" (Polydor 14200) and "Love Song" (Polydor 14214). In 1974 they did better on the singles charts, especially with "Positive Thing" (Polydor 14235), which went Top 30 on the R&B charts. 

While times had changed for Mandrill, when they were at their peak the band produced a tasty melange of styles that may have been a challenge for radio programmers. But anyone who saw them live or heard their albums got the message to their music. This collection of some of their best work shows how good they were.

by Mark Marymont

Tracks
1. Mandrill - 4:20
2. Warning Blues - 4:33
3. Symphonic Revolution - 5:22
4. Rollin' On - 7:41
5. Peace And Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) Movement I (Birth) - 1:50
6. Peace And Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) Movement II (Now) - 1:45
7. Peace And Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) Movement III (Time) - 2:15
8. Peace And Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) Movement IV (Encounter) - 6:05
9. Peace And Love (Amani Na Mapenzi) Movement V (Beginning) - 2:05
10.Chutney - 3:07

Mandrill
*Carlos Wilson - Flute, Trombone, Guitar, Vocals
*Lou Wilson - Percussion, Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Vocals
*Ric Wilson - Saxophone, Percussion, Vocals
*Claude Cave - Keyboards, Vibraphone, Percussion, Vocals
*Bundie Cenas - Bass, Percussion, Vocals
*Omar Mesa - Guitar, Percussion, Vocals
*Charles Padro -Drums, Percussion, Vocals

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The Allman Brothers Band - Dreams (1968-89 us, integrated classic masterpiece, 4 disc box set)

Spanning four discs and nearly 100 tracks, Dreams is one of those rare box sets that tells a story while delivering the definitive word on its subject. Gathering pre-Allman's recordings from the clan, including cuts by the Allman Joys, selecting the hits from the classic years, and adding stray cuts by solo projects to the mix. 

It's a smart move and it results in a terrific box that truly offers the definitive word on one of the longest-running dramas in Southern rock. Yes, the Allmans reunited rather successfully after this box, so none of that material is here, but it's not missed, this is the story of the band. 

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Tracks

Disc One

1. Shapes Of Things - The Allman Joys - 2:48

2. Spoonful - The Allman Joys - 3:40

3. Crossroads - The Allman Joys - 3:33

4. Cast Off All My Fears - The Hour Glass - 3:25

5. Down In Texas - The Hour Glass - 3:07

6. Ain't No Good To Cry - The Hour Glass - 3:06

7. B.B. King Medley: Sweet Little Angel/It's My Own Fault/How Blue Can You Get - The Hour Glass - 7:06

8. Morning Dew - The 31 February - 3:46

9. God Rest His Soul - The 31st Of February - 3:56

10.I Feel Free - The Second Coming - 3:31

11.She Has Funny Cars - The Second Coming - 4:48

12.Goin' Down Slow - Duane Allman - 8:47

13.Dreams - 4:55

14.Don't Want You No More - 2:25

15.It's Not My Cross To Bear - 4:56

16.Trouble No More - 3:48

17.Dreams - 7:15

Disc Two

1. Statesboro Blues - 4:06

2. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man - 4:57

3. Midnight Rider - 2:58

4. Dimples - Live - 5:02

5. I'm Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town - Live - 9:23

6. Revival - 4:04

7. One More Ride - - 2:41

8. Whipping Post - Live - 22:53

9. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed - Live - 12:58

10.Drunken Hearted Boy - Live - 6:54

Disc Three

1. You Don't Love Me/Soul Serenade - Live, Previously Unreleased - 19:28

2. Blue Sky - 5:10

3. Little Martha - 2:13

4. Melissa - 4:02

5. Ain't Wastin' Time No More (Live) - 4:46

6. Wasted Words - 4:21

7. Ramblin' Man - 4:48

8. Southbound - 5:10

9. Jessica - 7:30

10.Midnight Rider - Gregg Allman - 4:26

11.One Way Out - Live - 7:59

12.Long Time Gone - Dickey Betts - 4:30

Disc Four
1. Can't Lose What You Never Had - 5:52
2. Come And Go Blues - Gregg Allman Band - 4:46
3. Bougainvillea - Dickey Betts and Great Southern - 7:13
4. Can You Fool - Allman and Woman - 3:19
5. Good Time Feeling - Dickey Betts and Great Southern - 4:28
6. Crazy Love - 3:44
7. Can't Take It With You - 3:34
8. Just Ain't Easy - Live - 5:01
9. In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed - Live - 10:52
10.Angeline - 3:40
11.Things You Used To Do - 3:42
12.Nancy - Dickey Betts - 3:51
13.Rain - Gregg Allman - 3:03
14.I'm No Angel - Gregg Allman Band - 3:41
15.Demons - Gregg Allman Band - 3:28
16.Duane's Tune - Dickey Betts Band - 5:51

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Boot - Boot (1972 us, steady psychedelic hard rock)

Now here are four guys who had a true passion for rock - sticking together through for twelve years which included several band name changes, hundreds of concert dates, and precious little commercial success. Hailing from Port Richey, Florida, bassist Dan Eliassen and drummer Jim O'Brock put their first band together in 1972.  

Originally known as The Kingsmen, they opted for a name change when the Washington-based Kingsmen scored a hit with 'Louie Louie'.  Morphing into The Allusions, Eliassen, O'Brock and a changing cast of players continued to perform at local school dances and teen centers. By 1966 the lineup featured Eliassen, O'Borck, and lead guitarist Bruce Knox and rhythm guitarist Mike Mycz. 

 They'd also opted for another name change (The Split Ends') as well as moving away from performing largely cover material to penning their own stuff.  Signed by the local CPF Records, they also made their recording debut with a 1966 single  'Rich with Nothin' b/w 'Endless Sun'. The 45 proved a regional hit, opening the door to wider exposure including an opening slot on Dick Clark's Happening '67 tour.  That in turn saw them offered an opportunity to compete on Clark's 'Happening '68 television band contest.  

In 1969 the quartet decided on another image and name change - this time adopting the moniker Blues of Our Time - quickly abbreviated to Boot.  With a repertoire of largely original material, the band hit the road playing clubs and concerts nearly non-stop for the next four years.

Released by the Texas-based Agape label, the band debuted with 1972's cleverly-titled "Boot".  Co-produced by Mike Stone and Peter Thomason, the album was recorded in Nashville, Tennessee at James Brown's Starday/King Studio.  With all four members contributing material the album offered up a mixture of blues-rock and blues-rock, with an occasional stab at a more commercial tune.  

The band was blessed with three decent singers.  Nothing more than a guess on my part, but judging by the songwriting credits (assuming whoever wrote the track probably handled lead vocals), Mycz seemed to have the tougher-rock voice in the group while Eliassen was gifted with more commercial chops.  Knox fell somewhere in the middle with a modest country-rock feel to his voice.  Knox also showed himself to be n immensely talented lead guitarist - check out his lead work on ''..

Bad-cat

Tracks
1. Hey Little Girl  (Mike Mycz) - 4:05
2. Danny's Tune  (Dan Eliassen) - 5:25
3. Liza Brown  (Bruce Knox) - 2:47
4. Andromeda   (Dan Eliassen) - 5:15
5. Destruction Road (Jim O'Brock, Mike Mycz, Bruce Knox, Dan Eliassen) - 5:06
6. Reach Out (Mike Mycz) - 3:14
7. What Are They Doing To Me  (Jim O'Brock, Mike Mycz, Bruce Knox, Dan Eliassen) - 3:34
8. What You're Missing  (Mike Mycz) - 4:03

Boot
*Dan Eliassen - Vocals, Bass
*Bruce Knox - Guitar, Vocals
*Mike Mycz - Guitar, Vocals
*Jim O'Brock - Drums, Vocals

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Justine - Justine (1970 uk / us, beautiful acid folk pop, 2008 Sunbeam release)

Though this obscure 1970 LP falls into the general folk-psych-rock category, its focus is so all-over-the-place that it's hard to get a read on it. At times the record seems very influenced pop and whimsical psychedelia,by the side of American folk-rock, particularly in the blends of male and female vocal harmonies, which are extremely reminiscent of the Mamas and the Papas' approach in places. 

Yet there are also songs that have a more specifically British, gentle reserved acoustic quality; a character portrait of "Mr. Jones" with a whimsical British feel; and occasional off-the-wall burning fuzzy psychedelic guitar. At its most mature, it's slightly similar to, if an obscure reference point is allowed, the folk-prog-rock recordings that Giles, Giles & Fripp made as they were morphing into King Crimson (though not nearly as inspired). 

The first track 'Flying' lives up to it's title with flute fluttering, swooning strings and tight harmonies. The songs mix the innocent, quirky and strange to heady effect. The songs are fairly unique in folk as they mix in horns which expands the mix giving a warmth that folk sometimes finds hard to achieve. In the last track they create a classic that lives up literally to it's title of 'Amazing Journey'. It starts with folk guitar, introduces fuzz guitar then wah wah builds to a crescendo and drops back to a delicate folk ballad within the first minute. It builds up introducing 'A Day In The Life' style strings and massed vocals. 

Towards the end it explodes with a staggeirng number of layers that Roy Wood in The Move was expert at. Strange effects come in, wild guitars solo, flutes, horn and strings abound and a propulsive rhythm section drives the whole thing explosively as the singer moves from folk whispers into Robert Plant style wails. An excellent track on a most enjoyable album which shows the link between the earlier psychedelic sound and the later musical indulgence of progressive rock.

Beautiful rock-psychedelic-folk-pop songs with great harmonies. Several items are very good and show all the skills of the band. A great album to listen calmly, slowly, enjoying every note and nuance of the songs, make sure a smile on your face, and possibly the goosebumps on your arms. Air rather melodic, like a 

nice summer breeze. This disc contains an unsettling psychedelic buildup that gradually explodes into a strong sense of satisfaction. You'll notice many classical music influences West Coast, but this album is recorded in London in 1970. All tunes are composed by John and Keith.

by Adamus67

Tracks
1. Flying/Love You More Than Is Good for Me To/Nostrils - 7:25
2. She Brings the Morning with Her - 3:18
3. Back to Boulder - 5:07
4. Traveller -
5. See Saw (John McBurnie, Laurie Styvers, Keith Trowsdale) - 2:31
6. Mini Splurge/Mr. Jones/Is That Good. That's Nice - 10:54
7. Clocks/Hey I Used to Know You - 5:02
8. Unknown Journey - 7:07
9. Leave Me Be - 3:54
10. Clown - 2:39
All songs by John McBurnie, Keith Trowsdale except where noted

Justine
*John McBurnie - Vocals
*Laurette Stivers - Vocals
*Keith Trowsdale - Guitar, Vocals
*Bethlyn Bates - Vocals
*Valerie Cope - Vocals
With
*Dougie Wright - Drums
*Chris Gibb - Drums
*Jerry Hovell - Bass

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