Salvation - Salvation / Gypsy Carnival Caravan (1968 us, spectacular west coast acid psych rock)

Excellent psych from these San Francisco Hippies, great acid leads, some sitar too.

San Francisco psychedelic band Salvation was formed in 1967 by singer Al Linde and guitarist Joe Tate, who first met while students at the University of Washington. Bassist Artie McLean, keyboardist Art Resnick, and drummer Teddy Stewart later completed the original lineup, which at first called itself the New Salvation Army Banned.

After earning featured spots in a series of concerts in Golden Gate Park, the band signed to ABC Records, albeit on the condition they abbreviate their name for fear of legal action from the actual Salvation Army.

Salvation's self-titled debut album followed in 1968, boasting an expansive, eclectic sound highlighted by the first single, "Think Twice."

Opening slots for bands including the Doors, Big Brother & the Holding Company, and Canned Heat followed, and around the time of their second album, 1969's Gypsy Carnival Caravan, Salvation traveled to New York City to headline the Fillmore East and the Village Gate.

But their future was jeopardized after the group's management reputedly ran off with their ABC advance, and in 1970 Salvation dissolved; Resnick later resurfaced in jazz circles with a handful of solo recordings as well as sideman dates behind Nat Adderley, Freddie Hubbard, and others 

by Jason Ankeny

Tracks
1. Love Comes In Funny Packages - 3:01
2. Cinderella - 2:54
3. More Than It Seems - 3:25
4. Getting My Hat - 4:07
5. G.I. Joe (Joe Tate) - 4:41
6. Think Twice (Joe Tate) - 7:10
7. She Said Yeah (Al Linde, Joe Tate) - 3:45
8. The Village Shuck - 2:24
9. What Does An Indian Look Like - 3:40
10.Hollywood 1923 - 3:23
11.Handles Of Care - 5:49
12.Yuk Yuk (Joe Tate) - 7:37
13.In The Evening - 2:42
14.Salvation Jam (Stanley Clayton, Tom Scott) - 9:01
15.Come On Over Here (Joe Tate) - 4:27
16.What'll I Do #42 - 3:59
All songs by Al Linde except where stated

Salvation
*Al Linde - Vocals
*Joe Tate - Guitar
*Artie McLean - Bass
*Teddy Stewart - Drums
*Art Resnick - Organ, Harpsichord
Auxilliary Members
*Tom Scott - Tenor Sax, Flute
*Bill Plummer - Sitar

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Joshua - Opens Your Mind (1970 us, great rough heavy blues psych, Vinyl issue)

When you think of 60's music from California the town of Sacramento doesn’t immediately come to mind. but the state capitol had a fertile music scene having given birth to mind melters blue cheer who paved the way for other locals like Joshua.

Fronted by singer Mick Martin, Joshua were at the center of a scene that, for the most part, ignored the flower power shenanigans going on up north and worshipped at the altar of heavy Rock & Roll.

Along with other locals like Slo Loris and Jericho, Joshua created guitar lead, blues based rock music with lyrics that reflected the current events of the day, war & drugs.

While the band never released any music back in the day, they did record an LP’s worth of material along with some legendary live shows that took place at the university of California at Davis.

Anti-war feelings that still ring true today can be heard on cuts like “The Fist”, “G.I. Peace” and “No Country”. while expanding your mind with drugs is exposed on cuts like “Please Excuse Me” and The Title Track, “Open Your Mind”.

With heavy guitar crunchers in a style that will remind you of one of our earlier release, Stone Garden. it comes in a thick gatefold cover with liner notes by Mick Martin and lots of photos that compliment the mind blowing, full color front cover.

This is a totally unknown band that is not to be confused with any other band by the same name that may have released LP’s in the past. 

Defunct-Rockadelic

Tracks
1. The First (Robbie Smith) - 2:39
2. Open Your Mind - 5:03
3. You Still Hide - 2:57
4. Please Excuse Me - 3:34
5. Man on the Street - 5:15
6. It's a Game - 3:53
7. When You Grow Up - 3:16
8. No Country - 2:50
9. G.I. Peace - 6:14
All songs by Mick Martin except where stated

Joshua
*Mick Martin - Lead Vocals, Harmonica
*Wayne Smith - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Ray Halverson - Lead Guitar
*Larry Sherwood - Bass, Backing Vocals
*Rick Yarrision - Drums

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Rockadrome - Royal American 20th Century Blues (1969 canada, amazing psychedelia, 2010 edition)

A near-mint copy of Rockadrome's lone 1969 LP will probably set you back at least a month's rent - and not a one-bedroom in Wawa (ON), either. Recorded in the early months of 1969 at Art Snider's Sound Canada studios in Toronto and pressed up in very limited quantities, Royal American 20th Century Blues is an impossibly rare psych-rock curio that has sold for upwards of US$1900.

The band (guitarists Ron Dove and Mike Clancy, along with bassist Paul Lachapelle and drummer Rick Vallieres) formed in Toronto in 1968, with the older Clancy having once recorded with rockabilly acts Jack Bailey and The Naturals and Jerry Warren and The Tremblers. Royal American... seems to have one foot planted on either side of the Atlantic, flitting from Brit-infused freakbeat ('Very Strange') to acerbic West Coast guitar jams ('Thirteen Miles Down'), sometimes even in the same song (the amazing five-minute title track). Dove's Dylanesque whine on the jangly 'There You Go Again' should by rights be maddeningly annoying, but instead the song could almost be a long-lost Blond on Blonde outtake. And the sombre piano reprise that closes side two is a sober lament - almost frighteningly so - on our own royal American twentieth century futility. The record is not without its detritus, but still, how Royal American 20th Century Blues could have gone so unnoticed remains a mystery.

Snider kept the lads busy later that year, employing them as session musicians on a couple of equally arcane endeavours, Hyde's obscure folk LP on Quality and, a few years later, for Snider's wife's project, the Allen Sisters. But aside from a solo seven-inch by Dove, the band responsible for one of Canada's rarest records was never heard from again. 

by Michael Panontin

Tracks
1. R.A.T.C.B. Teaser - 1:18
2. Very Strange - 3:15
3. Thirteen Miles Down - 2:23
4. Royal American Twentieth Century Blues - 4:57
5. Live And Love Child - 1:41
6. There You Go Again - 3:25
7. Inside Out, Inside In - 3:50
8. T.O. Town - 2:17
9. Ain't It A Shame - 3:17
10.Good Dream - 3:37
11.R.A.T.C.B. Reprise - 4:44
All songs by Ron J. Dove, Mike Clancy

Rockadrome
*Ron J. Dove - Vocals, Guitar
*Mike Clancy - Guitar, Percussion, Keyboards, Vocals
*Paul Lachapelle - Bass, Organ
*Rick Vallieres - Drums, Vocals

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The Neighb'rhood Childr'n - Long Years In Space (1967-68 us, fabulous garage beat folk psych)

From just south of Medford, Oregon in the tiny burg of Phoenix (population 600) came the teen band the Navarros. Guitarist Rick Bolz, drummer John Morrison and bassist George Glenn hooked up with singer/keyboardist Dyan Hoffman. After cutting a rowdy single for an Oregon label called Corby, the band came to San Francisco for a weekend and quickly became psychedelicized, moving as far away from the previous surf and R&B stance as their fuzztone pedals and Farfisa organs would carry them. After losing members to the draft (guitarist Ron Raschdorf and drummer W.A. Farrens replaced the departing John Morrison and temporary guitarist George Campbell), they changed their name to the Neighb'rhood Children. Recording their lone album at Golden State Recorders for release on the microscopic Acta label, 1968 looked to be the year for the band. 

They toured constantly behind the album, working everything from go-go clubs to one-off concerts with the Who, the Grass Roots and a small mini-tour with the Beau Brummels. Upon several close calls on the road, the group found religion and changed their name to White Horse. After finding that no label would release their second album (by all reports much more contemplative, laidback and acoustic than their debut), the group disbanded in 1970. Bolz responded to the years of road burnout by getting back to nature, buying a surplus parachute, turning it into a teepee and living off the land, hunting and fishing, while the others returned to home, hearth and semi-normal lives. 

by Cub Koda

Marinated in such diverse influences as the mind-splintering mushroom folk-rock blast of the Jefferson Airplane and the feel-good pristine pop of the Turtles, original copies of the Neighb’rhood Childr’n’s lone album trade hands these days for sums usually mentioned in ransom notes. Hailing from the tiny town of Phoenix, Oregon, the Childr’n made deep inroads into the early San Francisco scene, opening for the Who, the Grass Roots, and the Beau Brummels and subsequently taking the psychedelic message back to the Pacific Northwest hinterlands—sometimes at great risk to their persons at the hands of small-minded locals. Marked by singer-organist Dyan Hoffman’s wailing vocals and guitarist Rick Bolz’s stinging fuzz leads, the Neighb’rhood Childr’n are one of the most criminally overlooked acts of the entire psych/acid era. 

Sundazed

Tracks
1. Feeling Zero (Rick Bolz, Dyan Hoffman) - 3:10
2. Long Years In Space (Rick Bolz, Dyan Hoffman) - 2:56
3. Up Down Turn Around World (Rick Bolz) - 2:25
4. Changes Brought To Me (Rick Bolz) - 2:01
5. Please Leave Me Alone (Rick Bolz, T. Ryan, G. Campbell) - 2:38
6. Hobbit's Dream (Rick Bolz, Dyan Hoffman) - 1:55
7. Chocolate Angel (R. Bolz, D. Hoffman, R. Raschdorf, D.A. Farrens) - 2:32
8. Patterns (Rick Bolz, Dyan Hoffman) - 3:23
9. Happy Child (Rick Bolz, Dyan Hoffman) - 2:17
10.Happy World Of Captain K (Rick Bolz) - 2:54
11.She's Got No Identification (M. Murphy, O. Castleman) - 2:34
12.Can't Buy Me Love (Lennon, McCartney) - 3:16
13.That's What's Happening (Rick Bolz) - 2:29
14.Sunday Afternoon (Rick Bolz) - 1:48
15.Feeling Zero (Alternate Version) (Rick Bolz, Dyan Hoffman) - 3:04
16.The Little Black Egg (M. Stone) - 2:38
17.Tomorrow's Gone (Rick Bolz) - 2:00
18.Over The Rainbow (Harburg, Arlen) - 2:37
19.Louie Louie (R. Berry) - 2:33
20.I Need Love (Rick Bolz) - 2:30
21.Yesterday's Thoughts (Rick Bolz) - 1:43
22.Woman Think (J. C. Horton) - 3:59
23.Long Years In Space (Alternate Version) (Rick Bolz) - 2:51
24.Behold The Lillies (D. Hoffman) - 2:30

The Neighb'rhood Childr'n
Rick Bolz - 12 String Guitar, Harmonica, Tambourine, Triangle, Vocals
Wayne Arthur Farrens - Drums, Harmonica, Tambourine, Vocals
Dyan Hoffman - Organ, Tambourine, Vocals
Ron Raschdorf - Guitar, Harmonica, Tambourine, Vocals
George Glenn - Bass

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Crack The Sky - Crack The Sky (1975 us, powerfull prog rock with glam shades, 2002 remaster)

Progressive rock group Crack the Sky was formed in the Ohio River Valley region in 1975 by frontman John Palumbo, guitarists Jim Griffiths and Rick Witkowski, bassist Joe Macre, and drummer Joey D'Amico. According to the website at www.crackthesky.com, the band was originally dubbed ArcAngel, building a loyal following on the Cleveland and Baltimore club circuits before signing to the Lifesong label to issue their self-titled debut LP, which earned critical acclaim for Palumbo's acerbic lyrics and the songs' complex structures and time changes. 

Commercial reward was minimal, however, and after completing Crack the Sky's second LP, 1976's Animal Notes, Palumbo exited to pursue a solo career. D'Amico assumed lead vocal duties on 1978's Safety in Numbers, with singer Gary Lee Chappell featured on the Live Sky release. Crack the Sky then disbanded, but in 1980 Palumbo, Witkowski, and keyboardist Vince DePaul briefly reformed the group to record the White Music album before again dissolving. Palumbo then formed another new lineup for a series of albums including Photoflamingo, World in Motion I, and Raw before reuniting with Witkowski, D'Amico, and DePaul for a series of 1986 live dates at the Baltimore club Hammerjacks and eventually a new 1989 studio LP, From the Greenhouse. Dog City followed in 1990, and Crack the Sky infrequently reunited throughout the decade to come. 

by Jason Ankeny

The astonishing success of Crack the Sky's eponymous first album raised expectations that the band was never able to fulfill for the rest of their career. Critics and audiences alike delighted in the wry, intelligent lyrics, complex and powerful progressive rock, and carefully crafted harmonies. Radio programmers were more ambivalent. Songs like "Ice," "She's a Dancer," and "Surf City" all got nationwide airplay, though none actually became a real hit. 

All of them deserved more attention, but the label never focused their promotional efforts on any one of them, and as a result there was no hit single. (Shades of Moby Grape's first album.) Rolling Stone's designation of Crack the Sky as "Album of the Year" for 1975 helped did as much as anything the record company did, and in retrospect their award was well-deserved. The album still holds up very well, especially the delirious "A Sea Epic," one of the rare examples of a driving and complex progressive rock song with a really good sense of humor. Three years and two albums later, when Crack the Sky did a live album, most of the songs were from this album. They obviously knew where their best material was and played to their strengths. Highly recommended. 

by Richard Fos

Tracks
1. Hold On - 3:00
2. Surf City - 3:54
3. A Sea Epic - 6:33
4. She's a Dancer - 3:54
5. Robots for Ronnie - 4:39
6. Ice - 4:36
7. Mind Baby - 4:32
8. I Don't Have a Tie - 3:04
9. Sleep - 7:48
10.Let Me Go Home (A Visit to the Projects) - 3:25
11.Eileen, I Lean on You - 3:49
12.Hold On - 2:14
13.Dr. Octopus, Pt. 2 - 3:08
All songs composed by John Palumbo

Crack The Sky
*John Palumbo - Lead Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
*Rick Witkowski - Lead Guitar, Percussion
*Joe Macre - Bass Guitar, Vocals
*Jim Griffiths - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Joey D'Amico - Drums, Vocals
Additional Musicians
*Michael Brecker - Horns
*Randy Brecker - Horns
*David Sanborn - Horns
*George Marge - Woodwinds
*Tom Jones - Trombone

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Manassas - Pieces (1971-73 us, remarkabale country folk classic rock, 2009 release)

Pieces is the perfect name for this new Manassas outtakes collection from Rhino.  Nobody had combined country, rock, salsa, blues, and bluegrass like Stephen Stills’ powerhouse 7-piece that formed out from the wake of CSNY and the Burrito Brothers, and their eponymous album was a disconnected smattering of “pieces” itself. This new hodgepodge of unheard treats may be scattered, but it’s right in line with tradition and kicks ass like any Manassas fan would expect.

Pieces collects some leftovers from the Miami sessions that led to the first album (“Witching Hour” “Like A Fox”), warmups and ideas intended for the 2nd Manassas album, Down The Road (“Lies” “Love and Satisfy”), as well as what Stills refers to as “Chris Hillman and Byron Berline teaching me bluegrass” (“Panhandle Rag” “Uncle Pen”). Other tracks are electrified covers from Stephen Stills 1 & 2, the hugely successful solo albums that gave Stephen the freedom to form a band with Doug Sahm level schizophrenia.

There are a number of gems here; “Witching Hour” and “Sugar Babe” are easy classics. Stills throws together the chorus of “Like a Fox” last minute and presages  Manfred Mann’s “Fox On The Run” (which the Country Gentlemen would turn into a bluegrass standard) word for word. Only problem, even with Bonnie Raitt lending her voice, I can’t hear past the Manfred version to this one. On Side B, the bluegrass numbers have no knockout picking, but it’s a treat to hear Stills and Hillman harmonize on “Uncle Pen.” “Do You Remember The Americans,” however, is cooler grass than I’ve ever heard. I wish Stills had recorded an entire album in this vein. ”I Am My Brother” is a sick solo blues to prove Stills’ immense talent and soul.

by Brendan McGrath

Tracks
1. Witching Hour - 5:12
2. Sugar Babe - 4:19
3. Lies (Chris Hillman) - 3:07
4. My Love Is A Gentle Thing - 1:23
5. Like A Fox - 2:58
6. Word Game - 1:35
7. Tan Sola Y Triste (Stills, Nelson Escoto) - 1:23
8. Fit To Be Tied - 3:49
9. Love And Satisfy (Hillman) - 1:57
10.High And Dry - 5:52
11.Panhandle Rag (Leon McAuliffe) - 1:58
12.Uncle Pen (Bill Monroe) - 1:53
13.Do You Remember The Americans - 1:49
14.Dim Lights, Thick Smoke (And Loud, Loud Music) (Joe Maphis, Max Fidler, Rose Lee Maphis) - 2:16
15.I Am My Brother - 3:24
All songs by Stephen Stills except where indicated

Personnel
*Stephen Stills - Vocals, Guitar
*Al Perkins - Pedal Steel Guitar
*Joe Lala - Congas
*Dallas Taylor - Drums
*Calvin Samuels - Bass
*Paul Harris - Piano
*Byrone Berline- Fiddle
*Roger Bush - Bass
*Ricky Roberts - Guitar, Vocals
*Bobby Whitlock - Keyboards
*Bonnie Raitt - Vocals
*Joe Walsh - Guitar
*Chris Hillman - Mandolin

1970  Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills (debut album, 2008 japan SHM remaster)
1972  Stephen Stills - Manassas (2006 HDCD)

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Stephen Stills - Manassas (1972 us, amazing classic rock melted with country folk and blues tunes, 2006 HDCD)

A sprawling masterpiece, if not its sound. Rock, folk, blues, country, Latin, and bluegrass have all been styles touched on in Stephen Stills' career, and the skilled, energetic musicians he had gathered in Manassas played them all on this album. What could have been a disorganized mess in other hands, though, here all gelled together and formed a cohesive musical statement. 

The songs are thematically grouped: part one (side one on the original vinyl release) is titled "The Raven," and is a composite of rock and Latin sounds that the group would often perform in full live. "The Wilderness" mainly centers on country and bluegrass (Chris Hillman's and Al Perkins' talents coming to the forefront), with the track "So Begins the Task" later covered by Stills' old flame Judy Collins. Part three, "Consider" is largely folk and folk-rock. "Johnny's Garden," reportedly for the caretaker at Stills' English manor house and not for John Lennon as is often thought, is a particular highlight. 

Two other notables from the "Consider" section are "It Doesn't Matter" (later redone with different lyrics by the song's uncredited co-writer Rick Roberts on the first Firefall album) and "Move Around," which features some of the first synthesizer used in a rock context. The closing section, titled "Rock & Roll Is Here to Stay," is a rock and blues set with one of the landmarks of Manassas' short life, the epic "The Treasure." A sort of Zen-like meditation on love and "oneness," enlivened by the band's most inspired recorded playing it evolves into a bluesy groove washed in Stills' fierce electric slide playing. 

The delineation lines of the four themed song groupings aren't cut in stone, though, and one of the strengths of the album is that there is a lot of overlap in styles throughout. The CD reissue's remastered sound is excellent, though missed is the foldout poster and handwritten lyrics from the original vinyl release. Unfortunately, the album has been somewhat overlooked over the years, even though Stills considers it some of the best work he has done. Bill Wyman (who guested on "The Love Gangster") has said he would have quit the Rolling Stones to join Manassas. 

by Rob Caldwell

Tracks
1. Song Of Love - 3:28
2. Medley - 3:34
..I.Rock And Roll Crazies (Stephen Stills, Dallas Taylor)
.II.Cuban Bluegrass (Stephen Stills, Joe Lala)
3. Jet Set (Sigh) - 4:25
4. Anyway - 3:21
5. Both Of Us (Bound To Lose) (Stephen Stills, Chris Hillman) - 3:00
6. Fallen Eagle - 2:03
7. Jesus Gave Love Away For Free - 2:59
8. Colorado - 2:50
9. So Begins The Task - 3:57
10.Hide It So Deep - 2:44
11.Don't Look At My Shadow - 2:30
12.It Doesn't Matter (Chris Hillman, Rick Roberts, Stephen Stills) - 2:30
13.Johnny's Garden - 2:45
14.Bound To Fall (Mike Brewer, Tom Mastin) - 1:53
15.How Far - 2:49
16.Move Around - 4:15
17.The Love Gangster (Stephen Stills, Bill Wyman) - 2:51
18.What To Do - 4:44
19.Right Now - 2:58
20.The Treasure (Take One) - 8:03
21.Blues Man - 4:04
All compositions by Stephen Stills except where noted

Manassas
*Stephen Stills - Vocals, Guitar, Bottleneck Guitar, Piano, Organ, Electric Piano, Clavinette
*Chris Hillman - Vocals, Guitar, Mandolin
*Al Perkins - Pedal Steel Guitar, Guitar, Vocals
*Calvin "Fuzzy" Samuel - Bass
*Paul Harris - Organ, Tack Piano, Piano, Electric Piano, Clavinette
*Dallas Taylor - Drums
*Joe Lala - Percussion, Vocals
Additional personnel
*Sydney George - Harmonica
*Jerry Aiello - Piano, Organ, Electric Piano, Clavinette
*Bill Wyman - Bass
*Roger Bush - Acoustic Bass
*Byron Berline - Fiddle
*Jerry Garcia - Pedal Steel Guitar

1970  Stephen Stills - Stephen Stills (debut album, 2008 japan SHM remaster)

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The Greatest Show On Earth - The Going's Easy (1970 uk, spectacular prog brass rock, 2012 Esoteric remaster)

The Greatest Show On Earth was an intriguing octet who produced some rather original music in their three year lifespan, including two albums both released on EMI's Harvest label. Now, Esoteric give us the opportunity to hear these two light-hearted albums once again. 

The Going's Easy, their second and final album relased in late 1970. The light and airy Magic Woman Touch became later a hit single by The Hollies. Storytimes & Nursery Rhymes features some of the band's best vocal performances and can be considered to be the highlight on this album on which once again strong progressive rock elements come to the surface. 

The re-release of the second album contains two bonus tracks: Mountain Song and the single version of Magic Woman Touch. However, these tracks have no added value to the original album. Unfortunately this album had little to non-consumer or industry interest which resulted in the split up of the band in 1971. After the decease some of the musicians started to work with acts like Vinegar Joe, Graham Parker, The Darts, Suzi Quatro, Shaking Stevens and The Marmalade. 

by  Henri Strik

Tracks
1. Borderline (Greatest Show On Earth) - 9:18
2. Magic Woman Touch (C. Horton-Jennings, G. Watt-Roy) - 5:10
3. Story Times And Nursery Rhymes (C. Horton-Jennings, G. Watt-Roy) - 4:50
4. The Leader (Greatest Show On Earth) - 5:43
5. Love Magnet (D. Hanson, G. Watt-Roy, Ian Aitchison) - 9:26
6. Tell The Story (M. Deacon, R. Prudence, T. Philpotts) - 4:29
7. Mountain Song (G. Watt-Roy) - 3:32
8. Magic Woman Touch (Single Version) (C. Horton-Jennings, G. Watt-Roy) - 3:54

The Greatest Show On Earth
*Mike Deacon - Organ, Piano, Vocals
*Dick Hanson - Trumpet, Fluggelhorn, Percussion
*Colin Horton-Jennings - Lead Vocals, Flute, Acoustic Guitar, Bongos
*Tex Philpotts - Tenor, Alto, Saxophone, Percussion
*Ron Prudence - Congas, Drums
*Garth Watt-Roy - Vocals, Acoustic, Electric Guitars
*Norman Watt-Roy - vocals, Bass
*Ian Aitcheson - Tenor, Baritone, Saxophone, Percussion

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Wakefield - The Lost Warthog Tapes (1970-71 us, tremendous heavy acid jam brass rock)

We started in Pueblo Colorado, in about 1968 or '69. Ron, Carl and Charlie started jamming together at Ron's house which soon turned into regular practice sessions. Carl and Charlie were close friends and had been in other bands. They also lived close to each other so they saw each other often. A couple of months later, Charlie went to one of their practices and was very impressed with the band, especially with this new guitar player they had, a 16 year old kid from Fountain, Colorado, named Bobby Barth. That is when Charlie joined the band. The band went through several members during that time. Rose Mary Duran sang in between knitting. Steve Brown played the bass for a few months.

We had another female vocalist for a couple of gigs, Beatrice Oven I think was her name? I remember we always called her BO. We played at the Southern Colorado State College student union a few of times and also in the little mountain town of Salida, Colorado a couple of times. Carl was playing organ in this incarnation and Tom Snowbrick played trumpet. Mike Carrroll and Steve Moore had played together in another band and joined our band at the same time. Mike played trumpet and Steve played organ and French horn. When Mike and Steve joined. Carl moved back to bass. The band then consisted of Bobby Barth on lead guitar and vocals, Ron Struthers on sax, flute and vocals, Mike Carroll on trumpet, flute and vocal (later Mike also played guitar and piano), Steve Moore on organ, French horn and vocals, Carl Marcon on Bass and vocals, Charlie Ferrill on Drums.

That was the incarnation of "Wakefield" that started playing around the state. We played shows in Colorado Springs with a fake "Zombie's" and one incarnation of "Fleetwood-Mac" We also played several high school proms in Pueblo. We got our first "steady gig" at the "New Gnu" a restaurant/night club at the Vail ski area. Six nights a week, a few hundreds dollars, a meal a day at the restaurant and use of a condo in East Vail. That was the start of what would be a pattern of working at ski areas over the next couple of years.

From there, we got an offer to go to Seattle, Washington for three weeks We played at a club down by the University in Seattle called the Warehouse. That gig ended with us getting fired for being a non-union band in a union town. We sued the owner and lost A couple of years later we played at that club again with much better results Shortly after the Seattle mess we decided to move from Pueblo to the northern part of the state, Boulder or Fort Collins or Denver. We went to Denver and Boulder and did four auditions on the same day. One at "La Pitcheau", a 3.2 bar on West Mississippi Ave. in Denver, a second at the "Skunk Creek Inn", the third at another 3.2 bar in the college town of Boulder and I think the fourth one was the "Psychiatrist" in the Cherry Creek district of Denver. 

We actually got hired at all four clubs!! We didn't know at the time that two of the dubs, Skunk Creek Inn and La Pitcheau, were owned by the same group of people: Al Roth and his dad and his uncle, Nate FeW. As a side line, Nate Feld, Allen Roth and Al's dad were the money behind Barry Fey. Barry had great ideas but no money. When we called Al's office and wanted to be put straight through to Al instead of being on hold for a long time, we'd tell the secretary that we were Barry and we would be put through immediately. Of course, it pissed Al off to no end. Al was a club owner/club manager at that time, not really a booking agent or artist manager but he became our manager and later became an agent.

About this time, Steve quit the band and we auditioned several people but decided that we were better off just having one of other guys in the band fill in on keyboard when we needed it. It was about this time that we did a recording session at "Fred Arthur Studio" on East 17th Ave. in Denver. Fred Arthur is best known for recording radio and TV commercials but he did do some classical music. I think we were the first rock band to record there, maybe the only one. The tapes from that session have not been found.

We met Brent Lewis around this time. He was from San Francisco and did an act called "Putee". He played congas and bongos and had an immense sound system. We toured with Brent for several months. He would play our breaks. Traveling with Brent was a guy named Paul Zamucen. Paul had been a trap drummer in several bands in the San Francisco area. He also played congas. 

We played several Santana songs and asked him to sit in on them. From then on he sang, played congas, timbales and tympanis. It was around this time that we did a recording session at a low budget studio at the comer ot about 42nd and Sheridan in Denver called "Warthog Studio". Many of the songs on this CD were recorded there. Chuck Berry played several times at me "Skunk Creek Inn* and we were hired to be his back up band on those gigs. We were the opening act for 'War* at the Skunk and another show at Colorado State University. 

During 70, 71 and 72, we played in Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Montana, Oklahoma, Arizona, California, Washington, Idaho, Illinois and Michigan. It was on one ot the Seattle trips that we did a recording at a studio associated with the agent that helped book the club dates up there. That session started after we got through playing about 1:30 am and went all night. At that session we did "Something is Coming', "Bring It On" and "How Does it Feel*. We finished the basic tracks and over dubs in about 8 hours.

In late 72 Ron left the band. We changed managers and moved our base of operations to Seattle, Washington. From there we played Vancouver, BC, Spokane, Ellensburg, and several other towns in the state of Washington. During our time in Seattle we played a club north of down town called "The Aquarius". It was a bar/dance club that had major acts several time a week. We got to play shows with the Eric Burdon Band, Bach man/Turner Overdrive, James Cotton Blues Band, and several other national acts.

In 73, we took a job in Anchorage. Alaska. Three months starting in September through December. It was quite an adventure. What happened in those three months could fill a book and most of the stories are almost unbelievable, but we were there and we know they are true. After that we went back to Seattle and did several Showcases for agents and record people. We got a couple of bites from one of the Showcases and decided to go to LA and do a Showcase there. We arranged tor two nights at "The Whisky A Go-Go". We sent our manager there for several months lining up-agents, record people and management companies to come to the show.

There was a mix up and the place was double booked for that weekend so we made a deal with the other band. We would do one night and they would do the other. I don't remember if any people of consequence showed up but if they did they didn't approach us. Total bust. We came back to Denver very disappointed and down . We played a couple of times in Oklahoma City after that. Apparently some body from Shelter Records came and heard us. Our manager went up to Tulsa and met with them. He didn't tell us the whole story, but he turned down their offer because there was no "up front" money.

A couple of years later Bobby Barth said he ran in to someone from Shelter who said they still had a contract for us on his desk. But that was long time ago. Our last big show was in Pueblo in June of 1974. We were second billed at the first stadium show ever held in Pueblo The heacfliner was "Red Bone". By then we were down to a three-piece band- Bobby Barth, Carl Maroon, and Charlie Ferrill. Shortly after that we each went our own way. Bobby Barth went on to play with many notable acts since then. Axe and Blackfoot being the most famous. 

by Charlie Ferrill, Denver, Colorado, August, 2002

Tracks
1. Bring It On - 4:50
2. Something Is Coming - 4:10
3. How Does It Feel? - 3:54
4. I Will Always Come Back - 4:32
5. Old Man - 11:06
6. I Know - 3:10
7. Water - 8:18
8. Snowchild - 9:45
9. In My Mind - 8:03
10.Landgrabber - 4:40
11.You And I - 6:07
12.Let's Get Loaded - 3:27
13.Youll Find Your Man - 4:56
14.Rollin' Down The Highway - 0:33
All Songs written by Wakefield

Wakefield
*Bobby Barth - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Mike Carroll - Trumpet, Flute, Guitar, Piano, Vocals
*Charlie Ferrill - Drums
*Carl Marcon - Bass, Vocals
*Steve Moore - Organ, French Horn, Vocals
*Ron Struthers - Saxophone, Flute, Vocals
*Paul Zamucen - Percussion
*Rose Mary Duran - Vocals
*Steve Brown - Bass

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Them - The Story Of Them Featuring Van Morrison (1964-66 ireland, pioneer garage blues, two discs set)

Them were a formidable, popular group in their own right before singer Van Morrison went on to even greater fame. This Belfast five only produced two LPs and a potful of 7" singles during its ascendance in the molten heat of the British Invasion. But they did manage two Top 40 hits in America in 1965 (the enduring number 24 "Here Comes the Night," later covered glam-style by David Bowie on Pin Ups, and number 33 "Mystic Eyes") and two Top Ten hits that same year in their native Britain ("Here Comes the Night" and a cover of Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go"). And is there a single bar band in America that doesn't play "Gloria," shouting "G-L-O-R-I-A" just like the 19-year-old Morrison in 1964? Moreover, the group's West Coast U.S. tour of arenas like the Fillmore in the spring of 1966 had the Ulster youths commanding bills that included such admiring support groups as the Doors, Captain Beefheart & the Magic Band, the Grass Roots, and the Association. At one of them, Frank Zappa even joined them on-stage. 

Clearly, Them's tough, heavily American blues captivated, a direct result of the vicious voice of Morrison. It was even more a weapon on this tougher-sounding material than it's been since he became a solo star. Although the band chose songs to cover by John Lee Hooker, Jimmy Reed (twice), T-Bone Walker, Ray Charles, Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and Fats Domino, as seen here (as well as others by Bob Dylan, Simon & Garfunkel, and Bobby Troup), the real precedent for the white-hot, gnashing growl in Morrison's teenage voice was Howlin' Wolf. Here's a red-throated snarl not even other great '60s English white soul singers -- such as the Small Faces' Steve Marriott or the singer for the Action -- could match, one even more unsettling than the Animals' Eric Burdon. 

Talk about making the hairs on your neck stand up! It's actually a pity, then, that Them relied so heavily on others' material (as did everyone else circa 1964), for the two dozen originals stand up well. In addition to "Gloria," Morrison was well on the road to his later genius when he penned "Could You, Would You" and "Hey Girl." True, his material could stand to rock & roll more, just as the Yardbirds held fast to Chicago blues but made their beat stomp. But still he comes on like some swamp-dwelling, moonshine-drinking, big man on the prowl. Them were raw and ready, and digitally brought back kicking and screaming from the original analogue master tapes, they are an eerie thing of bluesy beauty. 

by Jack Rabid

Tracks 

Disc 1

1. The Story Of Them Parts 1 & 2 - 7:18

2. Don't Start Crying Now (Moore, West) - 2:03

3. Gloria 2:35 

4. Philosophy - 2:35

5. One Two Brown Eyes - 2:34 

6. Baby Please Don't Go (Williams) - 2:40

7. Here Comes The Night (Berns) - 2:46 

8. All For Myself - 2:47

9. One More Time - 2:48

10.Little Girl - 2:47

11.I Gave My Love A Diamond (Berns) - 3:02

12.Go On Home Baby (Berns) - 2:32 

13.My Little Baby (Berns, Farrell) - 2:00 

14.Mystic Eyes - 2:41 

15.Don't Look Back (Hooker) - 3:20 

16.If You And I Could Be As Two - 2:51 

17.I Like It Like That - 3:16 

18.I'm Gonna Dress In Black (Gillon) - 3:29 

19.(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 (Troup) - 2:22 

20.Just A Little Bit (Gordon) - 2:21

21.You Just Can't Win - 2:21

22.Bright Lights, Big City (Reed) - 2:30

23.Baby What You Want Me To Do (Reed) - 3:26

24.I'm Gonna Dress In Black (Gillon) - 3:34 

25.One More Time - 2:45 

26.Little Girl - 2:47 

Disc 2
1. How Long Baby (Gillon) - 3:37
2. (It Won't Hurt) Half As Much (Berns) - 3:01
3. Something You Got (Kenner) - 2:31
4. Call My Name (Scott) - 2:20
5. Turn On Your Love Light (Malone, Scott) - 2:19
6. I Put A Spell On You (Hawkins) - 2:36
7. I Got A Woman (Charles) - 3:12
8. Out Of Sight (Wright, Brown) - 2:21
9. It's All Over Now Baby Blue (Dylan) - 3:47
10.Bad Or Good - 2:06
11.Hello Josephine (Domino, Bartholomew) - 2:04
12.Don't You Know (Scott) - 2:22
13.Hey Girl - 3:00
14.Bring 'Em On In 3:13
15.Times Gettin' Tougher Than Tough (Witherspoon) - 2:12
16.Stormy Monday (Walker) - 2:40
17.Friday's Child - 3:27
18.Richard Cory (Simon) - 2:43
19.My Lonely Sad Eyes - 2:28
20.I Can Only Give You Everything - 2:39
21.Could You, Would You - 3:08
22.Bring 'Em On In - 3:41
23.Richard Cory (Simon) - 3:47
24.Call My Name (Scott) - 2:18
All songs written by Van Morrison except where stated

Them
*Van Morrison - Lead Vocals
*Ronnie Milling - Drums (63 - 65)
*John McAuley - Drums (65 - 66)
*Billy Harrison - Guitar
*Jackie McAuley - Keyboards (63 - 65)
*Peter Bardens - Keyboards (66)
*Alan Henderson - Bass Guitar

Themology
1967  Them - Now And Them
1967  Belfast Gypsies
1968-69  Them - Time Out Time In
1969-70  Truth - Of Them And Other Tales
1971  Them
1971  Them In Reality

Van Morrison
1967  Blowin' Your Mind! (extra tracks edition)
1971  Tupelo Honey (Japan SHM remaster)

1974  It's Too Late To Stop Now (Japan SHM remaster)
1974  Veedon Fleece  (Japan SHM remaster)

Peter Bardens 
1970  The Answer (2010 esoteric remaster with extra tracks)
1971  Write My Name In The Dust (Japan remaster)
1979  Heart To Heart (Japan remaster)
1973  Camel - Camel

1965-66  The Wheels - Road Block
1970-71  Rod Demick And Herbie Armstrong - Little Willie Ramble
1971  Jackie McAuley - Jackie McAuley...Plus  (2009 Esoteric extra tracks issue)

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