Davy Graham - Large As Life And Twice As Natural (1969 uk, outstanding blend of blues raga folk psych rock, 2005 remaster)

This is Davy Graham's third adventure on an LP …and along roads that are folk, blues, jazz, Arabic, Indian-and one or two more things. Travelling with a guitar and also Danny Thompson, bass Jon Hiseman, drums, Harold McNair, flutes, and Dick Heckstall-Smtih, saxophones. Travelling like Baudelaire's travellers; 'who move simply to move'. The man himself is equally at home in Edinburgh ('a stately city'); Glasgow ('such warm acid'); or in Athens ('gold and purple in the evening. Smooth as marble hollow solid eyes of panthers. So exhausting for strangers.') But he is never at home in any one place for very long. And this seems to be in exact parallel with his music. For he cannot be pigeonholed: fortunately. 

He is a life-member on the roundabout of alteration. Like his deep-down blues, and you have to accept his setting of a 1000 year old Romeo and Juliet story. Go with him on a musical flight to Morocco ('Jenra' : pavilion'd in splendour) and the return journey will be via an extended raga. But always-I should add-in the company of originality. For after introducing North African music to Western guitar, he has now done the same for India. It's a bit like Dr Bannister running his 4-minute mile and then going off in search of another distance. All of which is quiet disparate, but also very thorough and exciting and satisfying. In the past few years Davy has played his folk at the Edinburgh Festival, his jazz in some of the best clubs in London, his Arabic interpretations in Tangier and his ragas to people who know Ravi Shankar's records. (Unlike those who have gone to India for a 3-week Sitar course, he has investigated the form of ragas.) So far nobody who has listened has found his music a disappointment. And certainly not the many who have brought his two previous LPs.

Following this later collection I know have no idea where his next stop will be. He might take a bicycle to Mexico or slip inside a carrier pigeon's message to Senegal. Or it could be Canterbury. At least I know it will be fascination though as his producer of records, apart from supervising the sessions, I have found myself becoming more and more an editor of the ideas, which zoom out from him like flying saucers, with there origins just as mysterious. He will sometimes break off in the middle of a 'take' that another guitarist might become a Faust for, to tell me about three points of recording and it is preserved there for everyone to buy-he rarely performs it before an audience again. "I have to avoid the cliche," he says. "I want to keep them on the move…"Well on behalf of those of us who have done cur best to keep up with him. I hope he does. 

by Ray Horricks,  Original LP liner notes 

Tracks

1. Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell) - 6:02

2. Bad Boy Blues (Traditional) - 2:17

3. Tristano (Davy Graham) - 4:00

4. Babe, It Ain't No Lie (Traditional) - 2:27

5. Bruton Town (Traditional) - 3:59

6. Sunshine Raga (Davy Graham) - 6:19

7. Freight Train Blues (Fred McDowell) - 4:04

8. Jenra (Davy Graham) - 3:10

9. Electric Chair (Unknown) - 3:10

10.Good Moring Blues (Traditional) - 2:45

11.Beautiful City (Brownie McGhee, Rev. Gary Davis, Sonny Terry) - 2:28

12.Blue Raga (Davy Graham) - 5:23

Musicians
*Davy Graham - Guitar, Vocals
*Dick Heckstall Smith - Saxophones
*Jon Hiseman - Drums
*Harold Mcnair - Flutes
*Danny Thompson - Bass

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Clifford T. Ward - Home Thoughts From Abroad (1973 uk, delicate vocal orchastrated folk mild rock)

Right in the middle of glam rock 1973 came a homely singer/songwriter from the small village of Stourport near Birmingham named Clifford T. Ward who took the charts by storm with a simple love song,  "Gaye",  telling the age-old story of a girl and how much she meant to him. 

This was like a breath of fresh air in the overproduced mid-'70s by its very nature. For here was a man who told simple stories, with beautiful melodies, played with the minimum of fuss. Hot on the heels of the single  - Gaye -  came his second album, Home Thoughts, which Ward was heavily involved with writing and producing, as well as playing keyboards. 

Home Thoughts opened with the lovely ballad  "Gaye"  and continued in the same vein as the single with piano backed ballads sung with clear, concise lyrics, reflecting Ward's homespun family thoughts, living as an ordinary man with a wife and three children, spurning the attention from the media, refusing to tour or play any live gigs that would take him away from his family, and also shying away from the pop press, interviews, and photographs, except when absolutely necessary. 

Clifford T. Ward had been working as an English teacher at a local school and it was here he developed his love of poetry and words, an asset he brought to his songs, especially  "Where Would That Leave Me"  and  "Time the Magician",   "Home Thoughts from Abroad",  and  "The Open University"  in which he namechecks his favorite authors, and  "Wherewithal",  a song he wrote simply because he liked the sound of the word. But for all the beautiful songs on Home Thoughts, the standout track is the hit single  "Gaye"  with its instantly memorable singalong melody. 

by Sharon Mawer

Tracks
1. Gaye - 3:34
2. Wherewithal - 2:53
3. The Dubious Circus Company - 3:15
4. Nightingale - 2:19
5. Where Would That Lead Me? - 2:44
6. The Traveller - 5:18
7. Home Thoughts from Abroad - 3:17
8. Where's it going to End? - 3:32
9. Time, the Magician - 3:08
10.Give Me One More Chance - 3:40
11.Cold Wind Blowing - 3:07
12.The Open University - 2:19
13.Crisis - 2:19
All songs written by Clifford T. Ward

Musicians
*Clifford T. Ward - Vocals, Keyboards
*Ken Wright - Drums, Percussion
*Derek Thomas - Guitars
*Terry Edwards - Bass
*Richard Hewson - Orhestal Arrangements

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Doug Sahm - Doug Sahm And Band (1973 us, great country folk blues rock)

Doug Sahm began his solo career in 1972, after the Sir Douglas Quintet finished its contract with Smash/Mercury and after Atlantic Records co-owner/producer Jerry Wexler convinced him to sign to his label. Wexler gave the Texas maverick the chance to cut a star-studded, big-budget album, shuffling him off to New York where Wexler and Arif Mardin helmed a series of sessions with an ever-revolving cast of musicians featuring Bob Dylan, Dr. John, David "Fathead" Newman, David Bromberg, and Flaco Jimenez, in addition to such Sir Doug stalwarts as Augie Meyers and the rhythm section of bassist Jack Barber and drummer George Rains (all but the latter were in the last incarnation of the Quintet, raising the question of whether the group was indeed finished or not, but such is the nature of Sahm's discography). 

This group cut a lot of material, which was whittled down to the 12-track album Doug Sahm and Band, released in early 1973. At the time, the record received a push from the label and was generally disparaged because of those very all-stars on whose back it was sold, but the years have been kind indeed to the album, and it stands among Sahm's best. Indeed, the heart of the album is not at all far removed from those latter-day Sir Douglas Quintet albums on Mercury, which isn't much of a stretch since Sahm never really strayed from his signature blend of rock & roll, blues, country, and Tejano, but the bigger band and bigger production give the music a different feel -- one that's as loose as the best Quintet material, but off-handedly accomplished and slyly freewheeling. 

Original reviews noted that there was an overtly country direction on And Band, but that's not really true on an album that has Western swing and rambling country-rock like "Blues Stay Away from Me" and the anthemic "(Is Anybody Going To) San Antone" jutting up against pure blues in "Your Friends" and "Papa Ain't Salty," let alone loose-limbed rockers like "Dealer's Blues" and "I Get Off" or the skipping Tejano "Poison Love," fueled by Jimenez's addictive accordion.

These are all convincing arguments that the larger band allowed Sahm to indulge in all of his passions, to the extent of devoting full tracks to each of his favorite sounds -- something that was a bit different than the Quintet records, which usually mixed it all up so it was impossible to tell where one influence ended and another began. That's still true on And Band -- for instance, witness the brilliant cover of Willie Nelson's "Me and Paul," a country song goosed by soulful horns and delivered in a delirious drawl from Sir Doug -- but much of the album finds that signature Sahm sprawl being punctuated by style-specific detours where Sahm seizes the opportunity to stretch out as much as his guests seize the opportunity to jam with this American musical visionary. 

These are all characteristics of a jam session, which these sessions essentially were -- after all, on this album he only penned three out of the 12 songs -- but relying on covers also points out how Doug Sahm sounds so much like himself, he makes other people's tunes sound as if he wrote them himself. Again, that's something that was true throughout his career, but here it is in sharper relief than most of his records due to the nature of the sessions. And while it's arguable whether this is better than latter-day Sir Douglas Quintet albums -- or such mid-'70s records as Groover's Paradise or Texas Rock for Country Rollers for that matter -- there's no question that this is music that is vividly, excitedly alive and captures Sahm at a peak. It's pretty much irresistible.

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Tracks
1. (Is anybody Going to) San Antone (Dave Kirby, Glen Martin) - 3:10
2. It's Gonna Be Easy (Atwood Allen) - 3:31
3. Your Friends (Deadric Malone) - 5:23
4. Poison Love (Elmer Laird) - 4:21
5. Wallflower (Bob Dylan) - 2:39
6. Dealer's Blues (Doug Sahm) - 2:58
7. Faded Love (B. Wills, J. Wills) - 3:55
8. Blues Stay Away From Me (A. Delmore, H. Glover, R. Delmore, W. Raney) - 4:48
9. Papa Ain't Salty (Grover McDaniel, T-Bone Walker) - 4:30
10.Me And Paul (Willie Nelson) - 3:34
11.Don't Turn Around (Doug Sahm) - 3:28
12.I Get Off (Doug Sahm) - 2:39

Musicians
*Doug Sahm - Vocals, Guitar, Harp, Fiddle, Bass, Organ, Piano
*Bob Dylan - Vocals, Guitar, Harp
*Dr. John - Organ
*Ken Kosek - Fiddle
*Charlie Owens - Steel Guitar
*Willie Bridges - Baritone Saxophone
*Arif Mardin - Electric Piano
*David "Fathead" Newman - Tenor Saxophone
*Wayne Jackson - Trumpet
*Flaco Jimenez Harmony - Accordion
*Atwood - Vocals
*Andy Statman - Mandolin
*Augie Meyer - Piano
*David Bromberg - Dobro Guitar
*Jack Walrath, Martin Fierro, Mel Martin - Horns
*George Rains - Drums

Sir Douglas Quintet
1964-66  The Best Of ....Plus
1969/73  Mendocino

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Bodo Molitor - Hits Internacionales (1969 mexico, rough 'n' hard garage psych)

Globe-trotting artist Bodo Molitor may have been born in Germany, but heêll forever be associated with the psychedelic scene in Mexico. In addition to creating the zoomorphic art for his own bizarre album, he also created the psychedelic art for the Kaleidoscope album, for La Libre Expresion, and for his brother Reinholdês solo album. 

As for –Hits Internacionales”, it has all the ambience and psychedelic delirium of the time, full of devastating fuzz and wacked out rhythms. And then there is Bodoês raspy and savage voice. Impressive. As Antonio Malcara says in his book "Catologo subjetivo y segregacionista del Rock Mexicano", this LP and that of Kaleidoscope are the two most important and representative pieces of Mexican garage rock-psychedelia. Collectors offer thousands of dollars to be able to get an original copy of –Hits Internacionales” in good condition.

Tracks
1. Sookie, sookie (Don Covey) - 2:16
2. Real real (N.Simone) - 2:17
3. She's a woman (McCartney) - 3:08
4. You don't know (Molitor, Costa) - 2:06
5. St. James Infirmary (Joe Primroge) - 2:30
6. Wen I was seventeen (Lonnie Donnegan) - 3:20
7. I wish i knew how (B.Taylor) - 2:37
8. A girl I knew (John Kay, Morgan Cavett) - 2:24
9. Don't le me be misunderstood (Benjamin, Marcus, Cadwell) - 2:31
10.Laziness (Molitor, Costa) - 1:37
11.The midnight hour (Pickett, Cropper) - 2:42
12.Try minnie try (Molitor, Costa) - 2:10
13.Hello, i love you (Morrison, Manzarek) - 1:56
14.You don't know (Molitor, Costa) - 2:09
15.St. James infirmary (Joe Primroge) - 2:33
16.A girl I knew (John Kay, Morgan Cavett) - 2:22

Musicians
*Bodo Molitor - Vocals, Guitar
*Juan García Aragón - Guitar
*Jorge René González - Organ

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George Kooymans - Jojo (1971 dutch, fabulous smooth rock, from Golden Earring's guitarist)

George Kooymans was the guitarist and co-founder of Golden Earring, the longest-lived and most successful rock group the Netherlands ever produced. Kooymans was born on March 11, 1948, in The Hague, and co-founded an instrumental rock 'n' roll combo, the Tornados, with childhood friend and bassist Rinus Gerritsen in 1961. Not long afterward, a British group of the same name had an international hit with "Telstar," and Kooymans and Gerritsen changed the band's name to the Golden Earrings, after a Peggy Lee song. In 1965, having adopted a British beat style, they became the first Dutch rock group to record a full-length album, Just Earrings, and landed their first hit in their home country, the Top Ten "Please Go" (co-written by Kooymans and Gerritsen). 

Three years later, they scored their first Dutch number one with "Dong-Dong-Di-Ki-Di-Gi-Dong," and followed it with another chart-topper, the Kooymans-penned epic "Just a Little Bit of Peace in My Heart." In 1970, Kooymans branched out into songwriting for other groups, penning Earth & Fire's Dutch hit "Seasons." Meanwhile, his main band shortened its name to Golden Earring and set about revamping its sound to keep up with the times, eventually settling on a straightforward, hard-rocking brand of AOR. Kooymans (like lead singer Barry Hay) made a brief detour into solo recording in 1971, cutting an album called Jojo that was released on Polydor. 

Hay and Kooymans co-wrote much of Golden Earring's material, including the international smash "Radar Love," which broke them in America in 1974 and remains an album rock radio staple. Golden Earring's overseas momentum slowed as quickly as it had picked up, but they continued to record prolifically in their home country. Punk and new wave forced them to retool their sound once again, and they returned to international prominence in 1982 with the album Cut and the U.S. Top Ten hit "Twilight Zone," a Kooymans composition that had actually been planned as a solo release at first. 

Golden Earring returned to a major label in 1990 and recorded a string of successful albums and singles that lasted right up into the new millennium. In 1995, Kooymans and Hay discovered female rock singer Anouk, and wrote material for her 1997 debut album, Together Alone, which made her a star in the Netherlands. Golden Earring celebrated their 40th anniversary in 2001, and Kooymans reached the Dutch charts in 2010 with On Location, recorded as part of a duo with American singer Frank Carillo. 

by Steve Huey

Tracks

1. South Side Lady - 3:03

2. Day And Night - 4:12

3. Lay It On Me - 3:02

4. For Gail - 3:57

5. Lovin' And Hurtin - 2:37

6. Low Rider - 5:58

7. We're Just Marking Time (G. Kooymans, B. Birkman) - 3:34

8. A Drifter's Love - 3:58

9. Spending All My Time With You (G. Kooymans, B. Birkman) - 2:03

10.Don't Be Lonely - 3:34

All songs by George Kooymans except where stated

Musicians

*George Kooymans - Guitar, Vocals

*Jan Hollestelle - Bass

*Hans Hollestelle - Guitar

*Louis Debij - Drums

*Frans Doolaard - Steel Guitar

*Paul Natte - Organ

*Cesar Zuiderwijk - Backing Vocals

*Eelco Gelling - Guitar

*Helmig Van Der Vegt - Piano

*Rinus Gerritsen - Organ

*Bertus Borgers - Sax

with Golden Earring
1966  Winter-Harvest
1968-69  Miracle Mirror
1969  On The Double
1972  Together
1973  Moontan

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Barry Hay - Only Parrots, Frogs And Angels (1972 dutch, great prog folk rock with blues drops, from Golden Earring vocalist)

Barry Hay is the lead vocalist of Golden Earring, one of the most popular Dutch rock bands of the 20th century. In addition to his decades of output with Golden Earring, he released solo albums from time to time. Born August 16, 1948, in Faizabad, India, he moved to the Netherlands at age ten. In 1967 he joined the lineup of Golden Earring (then known as the Golden Earrings), a Dutch rock band based in the Hague that had been founded in 1961 and that had made its recording debut in 1965. 

The Hay-fronted lineup experienced decades of international success. The band evolved stylistically with the changing times, most notably progressing from psychedelic rock during the late '60s to hard rock in the 1970s. Best known stateside for their 1973 rock radio classic "Radar Love" and their 1982 early MTV staple "Twilight Zone," Golden Earring were one of the first European rock bands to tour the United States and did so repeatedly over the years. 

While only moderately popular internationally, the band scored several chart-topping hits in the Netherlands: "Dong Dong Diki Diki Dong" (1968), "Back Home" (1970), "Radar Love" (1973), "Twilight Zone" (1982), and "When the Lady Smiles" (1984). As a solo artist, Hay released full-length albums including Only Parrots, Frogs & Angels (1972), Victory of Bad Taste (1987), and The Big Band Theory (2008).

Among these solo album efforts, Victory of Bad Taste spawned the minor hit single "Draggin' the Line," while The Big Band Theory, featuring the Metropole Big Band, was the most successful from a commercial standpoint, reaching number two on the Dutch albums chart. 

by Jason Birchmeier

Tracks
1. Xeña - 8:41
2. Sometimes Three Times - 6:15
3. Oh Lordy I'm Gonna Try - 5:01
4. Roll Another Rock - 4:44
5. I Want To Be With You - 5:43
6. Did You Really Mean It? - 4:40
7. Once Upon A Time - 6:36
8. March-Xeña - 0:45
All song by Barry Hay

Musicians
*Barry Hay - Vocals, Guitar, Sax
*Jan Hollestelle - Bass
*Hans Hollestelle - Guitar
*Louis Debij - Drums
*Frank Van Der Kloot - Guitar
*Ron Westerbeek - Organ
*Herman Van Veen - Violin, Vocals
*Patricia Paay - Vocals
*Robert-Jan Stips - Keyboards, Electronic Effects
*Jose Van Iersel - Vocals
*Gonnie Van Dijk - Vocals
*Cesar Zuiderwijk - Bongos
*Dick Vennik - Sax
*Snowflake Strings - Strings
*Harry Van Hoof - Organ, Harpsychord

with Golden Earring

1968-69  Miracle Mirror
1969  On The Double
1972  Together
1973  Moontan

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The Family Tree - Miss Butters (1968 canada, sophisticated psychedelia, Rev Ola extra tracks edition)

It’s great to see an album like Miss Butters finally getting the reissue treatment it deserves. The Family Tree was the product of the genius of Bob Segarini, and their only album is a fantastic and interesting conceptual piece with tunes as memorable as any Broadway musical (only really cool).

This record is a must for any Nilsson fan, not alone for some of the similar feels, it was recorded at the same studio as Aerial Ballet, using the same arranger for orchestra parts, same producer, and Harry even wrote a track. A Nilsson album in spirit, but unlike anything he was capable of creating. The Miss Butters recording is superb in its production, the equal of any Beatles record, and soars with string arrangement, backing vocal, and complex song structure.

Previously, Miss Butters was presented in an unapproved stereo mix on vinyl. The CD reissue has remastered audio from the master tapes presented in original mono (and really, really nice sounding). This is a masterful reissue from Revola for a record that truly deserves it. Bravo.

by Brendan McGrath 

Tracks
1. Birthday/ Dirgeday - 1:29
2. Melancholy Vaudeville Man - 2:02
3. Any Other Baby - 3:27
4. Sideshow - 3:21
5. Mrs. Mcpheeny (Has Flu In Her Chest And Has Needed A Rest For So Long) - 4:11
6. Butters Lament (Harry Nilsson) - 2:14
7. Simple Life - 3:38
8. Slippin' Thru My Fingers - 2:47
9. Nine To Three - 2:53
10.Lesson Book Life - 1:57
11.Nickelodeon Music - 2:04
12.Miss Butters - 4:18
13.Underture - 1:33
14.Keepin' A Secret - 2:19
15.Do You Have The Time? - 2:10
16.She Had To Fly - 1:49
17.He Spins Around - 2:36
All songs by Bob Segarini unless as else stated
Bonus Tracks 14-17

The Family Tree
*Bob Segarini - Guitar, Vocals
*Bill Trochim - Bass
*Jimmy De Cocq - Guitar, Keyboards
*Michel Dure - Vocals, Keyboards
*Vann Scater - Drums

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The Fraternity Of Man - The Fraternity Of Man (1968 us, impressive experimental psych blues folk rock)

The short-lived Fraternity of Man is undoubtedly best known for the pro-pot anthem "Don't Bogart Me," which showed up during an unforgettable scene in the genre-defining biker film Easy Rider (1969). The original quintet included an overhaul of the Lowell George-led Factory, featuring Martin Kibbee (bass), Warren Klein (guitar/sitar/tamboura) and Ritchie Heyward (drums/vocals).

George split and became a very temporary Mothers of Invention member, while the other three joined up with Freak Out (1966) era Mother Elliot Ingber (guitar). The personnel was completed with the addition of Lawrence "Stash" Wagner (vocals/guitar) and the band recorded its 1968 self-titled release Fraternity of Man.

Another Frank Zappa connection could be found in the guise of Tom Wilson, who produced the Mother's earliest studio efforts. As one might anticipate, there are several prominent musical dynamics carried over into the Fraternity of Man from its former incarnation. The stoner wake-n-bake anthem "In the Morning," as well as "Blue Guitar" and "Plastic Rat" retain the psychedelic garage rock that pervaded much of the Factory's sound.

The band's variation of Zappa's "Oh No" -- titled "Oh No I Don't Believe It" -- is a gassed-up rocker replete with Ingber's nimble lead fuzz fret work. Those decidedly more belligerent outings are contrasted by the intricate and Baroque qualities of "Wispy Paisley Skies" and the aforementioned steel guitar-driven "Don't Bogart Me."

However, the comfortable misfit rockers "Candy Striped Lion's Tail," "Field Day," or the slightly perverse R'n'B-flavored "Bikini Baby" are among the best sides on the album.The latter was revived on the utterly dismissible dash for cash EP titled X (1995).

by Lindsay Planer

Tracks
1. In the Morning - 3:57
2. Plastic Rat - 3:44
3. Don't Bogart Me - 3:03
4. Stop Me Citate Me - 2:54
5. Bikini Baby - 2:08
6. Oh No I Don't Believe It (Frank Zappa) - 6:23
7. Wispy Paisley Skies - 2:20
8. Field Day - 2:59
9. Just Doin' Our Job - 2:22
10.Blue Guitar - 3:36
11.Last Call for Alcohol - 3:25
12.Candy Striped Lion's Tails - 4:24
All songs by Fraternity Of Man except where stated

The Fraternity Of Man
*Martin Kibbee - Bass
*Warren Klein - Guitar, Sitar, Tamboura
*Ritchie Heyward - Drums, Vocals
*Elliot Ingber - Guitar
*Lawrence "Stash" Wagner - Vocals, Guitar

1969  The Fraternity of Man - Get It On!

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Honeybus - She Flies Like A Bird The Anthology (1967-73 uk, fascinating colorful psychedelia melted with folk and country, double disc release)

In a perfect world, every reissue would be as thoughtfully and lovingly compiled as Castle/Sequel's excellent She Flies Like a Bird: The Honeybus Anthology is. There have been various reissues of the group's recordings, including reissues of their 1970 album Story, and See for Miles had previously released a 25-song compilation, Honeybus at Their Best, but this impressive two-CD set easily outshines them all. 

She Flies Like a Bird collects all of the band's original mid- to late-'60s recordings for their label, Deram, adding a rare Italian single, "La Cigona (She Sold Blackpool Rock)" b/w "Chi Sei Tu (Ceilings No. 2)" and a half-a-dozen previously unreleased BBC sessions. One of these -- "Maxine's Parlour" -- was written by obscure introspective singer/songwriter Bill Fay, whose very first single was issued by Deram in 1967; it was never issued as a Honeybus single, having already been promised to labelmates Crocheted Doughnut Ring. Another of the BBC tracks -- "Like an Old-Time Movie" -- was penned by John Phillips. 

Additional highlights include previously unreleased demos and several tracks from an unreleased 1973 album, Recital; Honeybus had recorded an album's worth of material for Warner Bros., but, due to contractual harangues, they decided to have Recital pulled before it was scheduled for release. Several early-'70s non-album tracks (some of them were previously issued on the band's out of print Old Masters, Hidden Treasures compilation) are also included. 

The eight-panel CD booklet unfolds to reveal insightful annotations by noted authority David Wells. Graphic designer Paul Bevoir has also done a wonderful job with his clever assemblage of rare or previously unused photos, all of the band's single sleeves and labels, sheet music, and various clippings and adverts (one side of the foldout is in color, the other is in black and white). 

The double-CD jewel case is housed in a nicely designed sleeve slipcase, too. There are 50 tracks in total, spread out over both CDs. Some fans might grouse that Sequel could have also found a way to include post-1970 solo recordings by various members (especially tracks from Pete Dello and friends' Into Your Ears or Colin Hare's highly regarded March Hare). Until that happens, She Flies Like a Bird is the most definitive Honeybus release yet. 

by Bryan Thomas

Tracks

Disc 1

1.Delighted To See You - 2:31

2.The Breaking Up Scene - 2:31

3.(Do I Figure) In Your Life - 2:32

4.Throw My Love Away (Cane) - 2:19

5.I Can't Let Maggie Go - 2:54

6.Tender Are The Ashes - 2:43

7.Girl Of Independent Means (Cane) - 2:44

8.How Long (Single Version) (Hare, Kircher, Cane) - 2:39

9.She Sold Blackpool Rock (Cane) - 4:30

10.Would You Believe (Hare) - 3:24

11.Story (Cane) - 4:01

12.Black Mourning Band (Cane) - 3:13

13.Scarlet Lady (Hare) - 2:41

14.Fresher Than Than The Sweetness In Water (Cane) - 3:05

15.He Was Columbus (Cane) - 2:45

16.Ceilings No. 1 (Cane) - 3:37

17.Under The Silent Tree (Cane) - 3:59

18.She's Out There (Hare) - 2:58

19.She Said Yes (Cane) - 3:33

20.I Remember Caroline (Hare, Cane) - 2:38

21.How Long (LP Version) (Hare, Kircher, Cane) - 3:03

22.Ceilings No. 2 (Cane) - 4:00

23.The Right To Choose (Cane) - 3:01

24.She Is The Female To My Soul - 2:56

25.For Where Have You Been - 3:01 

Disc 2
1.Pete Dello Radio Interview 1:06
2.(Do I Figure) In Your Life (BBC Session) - 2:26
3.Like An Old Time Movie (BBC Session) (Phillips) - 2:52
4.Maxine's Parlour (BBC Session) (Fay) - 2:08
5.She Comes To Me (BBC Session) (Hare) - 2:26
6.I Can't Let Maggie Go (BBC Session) - 2:50
7.Ain't That Jsut Bonnie For Me (BBC Session) - 2:28
8.Francoise (BBC Session) - 2:09
9.La Cigona (Cane) - 4:33
10.Chi Sei Tu (Cane) - 3:25
11.For You - 2:52
12.Little Lovely One - 2:21
13.Be Thou By My Side (Cane) - 3:40
14.Julie In My Heart - 2:22
15.Big Ship (Hare) - 2:58
16.Hear Me Only - 4:04
17.Texas Gold - 3:58
18.Madam, Chairman Of The Committee - 3:14
19.Jug Of Water - 3:14
20.Proof Enough - 2:38
21.Like Me Like You Used To Do - 1:48
22.Lovely Ladies And Things - 3:27
23.Caterina - 2:37
24.Slow Rock - 4:12
25.Music - 3:15
26.In The End Is My Beginning - 3:32
All song by Pete Dello except where noted

Honeybus
*Pete Dello - Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
*Ray Cane - Vocals, Bass, Keyboards
*Colin Hare - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
*Pete Kircher - Drums, Vocals
*Jim Kelly - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Lloyd Courtenay - Drums (In "Story" Album only)

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Sid Rumpo – First Offense (1974 aussie, fine hard blues rock with psych and prog shades)

The Sid Rumpo album 'First Offense' was released in 1974. By this time my guitar playing was getting stronger, I almost felt I could play. Somehow this band just evolved. We started talking about in 1971 but two of the guys were students finishing off degrees.

When we eventually gathered together late in 1971 at a house in Mount St, Claremont, we were Bob Searls - guitar and vocal, Ken Wallace - piano and percussion, Owen Hughes (ex Jellyroll Bakers) - bass, and myself on guitar and harmonica. We were lacking a drummer. I think we tried out a few local guys and either we didn't like them or they didn't like us. This led to placing an ad in the musical section of the local Sunday paper. 

The results were well worth it. The day Noel Herridge walked though the door it was a dream come true. He been driving around Australia in a Kombi and just happened to be in Perth at the right time. He had great experience playing with Broderick Smith and Paul Lever in blues bands in Melbourne. He had an awesome feel, just what we were after so it became Noel Herridge - drums.

To cut a long story short, we were very successful in Perth. We were lucky to have three of us who were constantly writing songs; Bob, Ken and myself. We played a lot of gigs and I think opened up the rock scene in Perth to the extent that more venues were booking more rock bands. We won a Hoadley's Battle Of The Bands (not too sure if I should have mentioned that), and in November 1972 we moved to Melbourne to try out in the "big smoke". 

We arrived in Melbourne late in 1972 and quickly went about trying to become established in the local scene. We were signed by Mushroom pretty quickly and appeared at Sunbury1973. We also recorded some live gigs at the Garrison. 

 A trip back to Perth allowed us to be the support band for John Mayall at the WACA. I got to talk with his drummer Keef Hartley, who made some fabulous albums with his own band. In our early days, we did a couple of his tracks. His first few albums are just great, I still listen to them.

By about August 1973 I was pretty burned out or freaked out or whatever and decided to return to Perth. I was a partner in 78 Records and went straight back into the business.

The guys picked up a great new guitarist, Mick Elliot, who I think was a better fit than I was. I wanted to improvise and the other guys wanted to rock a lot more. Mick was a great rock guitar player and the band progressed to recording an album, known as First Offense that charted. They also played Sunbury 1974. 

by John Hood

Tracks
1. Spotlight - 5:56
2. Breakin' My Back - 4:14
3. Spider Curry - 1:43
4. Sailing - 8:31
5. The Riddle - 5:14
6. Don't Bug Me Boogie - 3:59
7. Song With No Trees - 8:13
8. Poor Man's Orange - 2:00
All songs by Sid Rumpo

Sid Rumpo
*Mick Elliot - Guitar, Vocals
*Robert "Rob" Searls - Guitar, Vocals
*Ken Wallace - Piano, Percussion
*Noel Herridge - Drums, Percussion
*Owen Hughes - Bass
*John Hood - Guitar

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