Wooden Horse - Wooden Horse (1972 uk, charming harmony prog folk)

Issued in the UK in 1972 by York Records,which was a subsidiary of Decca Records,this is the debut album from Wooden Horse. 

Progressive Folk with a somewhat commercial edge in places making it a very accessible album overall. Beautifully constructed songs played out with feel and warmth. This group featured the engaging voice of Susan Traynor who went on to mid 70s Fox fame.

Tracks
1. Crazy Thoughts - 3:00
2. Wake Me In The Morning - 3:08
3. Trees (Malcolm Harrison, Dave Mateer) - 3:28
4. Nothern Beaches - 5:05
5. This Is A Song - 3:28
6. Broken Bottles - 3:46
7. Earthbound Train - 2:49
8. Gentle Mind - 3:02
9. Come Around - 3:31
10.Feel - 4:03
11.Letter - 3:31
13.Loving Man (Malcolm Harrison) - 3:16
All songs by Dave Mateer except where stated

The Wooden Horse
*Susan Traynor - Vocals
*Dave Mateer - Guitar, Vocals
*Malcolm Harrison - Guitar, Vocals
*Steve Marwood - Guitar
*Neil Brockbank - Bass
*Dave Young - Flute, Sax
*Bob Irwin - Drums

1973  Wooden Horse - Wooden Horse II

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Jerry Corbitt And Charlie Daniels – Corbitt And Daniels Live I (1970 us, amazing country southern rock with west coast aura and blues traces, 2011 korean issue)

Jerry has toured and performed concert venues world-wide and has appeared with such artists as Kenny Rogers, Waylon Jennings, Neil Diamond, James Brown, Chuck Berry, Charlie Daniels, Bonnie Raitt, Judy Collins, America, Jesse Colin Young, and many others. His performances have included many network television venues and specials.

Jerry has achieved chart and air-play success as a writer, artist, and independent producer. Among his most successful works are “Grizzly Bear” (written by Jerry) and “Get Together” with the Youngbloods, “Castles in the Air” b/w “Vincent” (Starry-Starry Night) with Don McLean, “Great Big Bunches of Love” with Charlie Daniels, and “Country Boy Blues” and “Snow Job” as a solo artist. 

His credits over the 30 years of his career involve works that have sold over 20 million records, tapes and CD’s. His recording and other projects include albums with Pete Seeger, Norton Buffalo, Charlie Daniels, Cypress Hill, Buffie St. Marie, Rooftop Singers, David Wiffen, Doug Kershaw, Charlie McCoy, Jesse Colin Young, Ramblin'Jack Elliot, The Greenbriar Boys, Joy of Cooking, Brad Bailey, Jennie Muldar, Peter Rowen, Sonny Terry and Brownie MaGee, Billy Cox, Bobby Scott, Bob Johnston, Harrison Calaway,  and projects with Michael James Jackson, Felix Pappalardi, and Robert Cullen, and many others.

His feature film credits include such memorable works as “Radio Flyer”, “Forrest Gump”, “Target”, Ernest Thompson’s “1969, “Pontiac Moon”, “Zabriskie Point”, “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas”, “Jack the Bear”, “Bullworth”, “Millennium”, “The Dish”,  and the soundtrack albums for these films. His other works include many TV sound tracks, including “The Simpsons”, “Tour of Duty”,  “China Beach”, “In Living Color” and “Beverly Hills 90210”, as well as many documentary films, and numerous national television and radio commercials, including spots for General Motors, Levi Strauss, Pepsi, The Gap, Shell and Chevron. Jerry is currently providing music for the new Fox series "Lucky". 

Jerry was an A & R representative for Vanguard Records for 2+ years , and was later courted by Warner Bros. for an A & R position. He turned them down since he was in the process of going independent in his production. He did not want to tie himself to one label since, as an independent producer, he was able to do work for a number of different labels, and was contracted at the time to produce albums of such artists as Charlie Daniels and Don McLean and Janis Ian. Jerry has produced albums for most of the major record labels.

Jerry Corbitt died of lung cancer on March 8, 2014. He was 71...

Jerry Corbitt-Bio

Tracks
1. Great Big Bunches Of Love (C. Daniels) - 3:44
2. Sweet, Gentle Lovin' (J. Corbltt) - 3:40
3. Till You Come Back Home Again (Jessie Collin-Young) - 3:30
4. Thirteenth Hour (C. Daniels) - 5:28
5. Caldonia (C. Daniels) - 4:39
6. Stormy Monday (Part 1) (Louis Armstrong) - 10:06
7. Orange Blossom Special (Ervint Rouse) - 3:12
8. Thirty-Nine Miles From Mobile (C. Daniels) - 4:55

Musicians
*Charlie Daniels – Fiddles, Lead Guitar
*Jerry Corbitt - Rhythm Guitar, Harmonica, Vocals
*Joe Roman - Keyboards
*Jeffrey Meyer - Drums
*Earl Grimsby - Bass Guitar
"And Friends"

1969  Jerry Corbitt - Corbitt (2015 korean remaster)

1970  Charlie Daniels - Charlie Daniels
1972  Charlie Daniels - Te John Grease And Wolfman (2008 issue)
1973 Charlie Daniels - Uneasy Rider "Honey In The Rock"
1975  The Charlie Daniels Band - Nightrider

1967/69  The Youngbloods / Earth Music / Elephant Mountain (2014 Japan Blu Spec Edition)
1969  Elephant Mountain (Sundazed expanded and 2014 Japan Blu Spec Edition)
1970  The Youngbloods - Rock Festival
1971  Beautiful! Live In San Francisco (Sundazed edition)
1972  High On A Ridge Top (Sundazed remaster)

Jesse Colin Young releases
1972  Together
1973  Song For Juli (2009 remaster)
1974  Light Shine
1976  On The Road (Japan remaster)

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Kaleidoscope - Kaleidoscope (1969 puerto rico / dominican republic, rough garage psych)

The Puerto Rican band Kaleidoscope, who recorded their album in the Dominican Republic and saw it issued in a promotional run of two-hundred copies on Mexico’s Orfeon label. It’s gone on to become one of the sought after artifacts of the late 60s world-rock scene, with clean copies – when the surface – selling for upwards of $8,000.

Like many American '67-'68 psych-garage obscurities in its morose, frequently minor-keyed blend of ominous organ and fuzz guitars. Yet mucho eccentricity and spontaneity make it more interesting than many such relics. That organ really vibrates with a menace, sometimes like a distant cousin to the Doors, but with a more adolescent, untutored sensibility. Although the vocals (all in English) are often lovelorn laments, they drip with snarling attitude veering from don't-give-a-damn bluesiness to abject self-pity, mixing in a psychedelic sense of disorientation that sets the songs aside from the more conventional romantic lyrics of earlier mid-'60s garage bands.

by Richie Unterberger

Cover artwork was created by Bob Molidor an Austrian/German hippy who lived in Mexico that time and also released an album the same year titled "Hits Internacionales"  

Tracks
1. Hang Out - 2:15
2. Ps Come Back - 2:05
3. A Hole In My Life - 2:29
4. Let Me Try - 3:31
5. I Think It's All Right - 2:55
6. Colours - 2:30
7. Once Upon A Time There Was A World - 8:10
8. A New Man - 2:35
9. I'm Crazy - 3:30
10.I'm Here, He's Gone, She's Cryin' - 2:28
All songs by Kaleidoscope.

The Kaleidoscope
Rafael Cruz - Drums
Julio Arturo Fernández - Organ
Pedrín García - Guitar
Frank Tirado - Bass, Vocals
Orly Várzquez - Bass, Guitar, Vocals

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P.C.Kent - Upstairs Coming Down (1970 uk, elegant baroque prog smooth rock, 2015 korean remaster)

In spite of the name, these guys were apparently a full fledged band showcasing the talents of namesake singe/keyboardist Paul Kent, multi-instrumentalists David Richards and Gavin (Spencer) Watson, and drummer John Ward.  The four apparently met while attending school in London, somehow attracting the attention of RCA Victor.

Produced by Sandy Robertson, 1970's "P.C. Kent" featured all original material; Kent, Richards and Watson responsible for penning all eleven tracks.  Musically the set's quite an early-1970s timepiece, bouncing all over the musical spectrum.   As lead singer Kent had a likable and versatile voice, that displayed a bit more Cockney accent than normally encountered on Brit LPs.  That Brit sense of humor was best displayed on the wild 'drunk driving' ode 'One for the Road'.   In spite of the clumsy title 'Little Baby Won't You Please Come Home Honey Child Won't You Just Allow Me One More Chance, Please' started the set off on a commercial high note.

A killer melody and performance would have made this a dandy single.  Similarly, 'Sweet Suzie Brown Boots', 'I'm Hanging On' and 'After Dark' all had commercial potential.  Like any early-1970s outfit these guys also felt the need to show off their blues chops.  Judging by 'Please Please Time' and 'Blues Railway Field' the results were competent, though nowhere near as impressive as their pop moves.   Elsewhere the weird hybrid of English music hall and experimental sound collage moves on 'We Are the Police' would not have sounded out of place on The Beatles' "White Album".  (Kind of neat cover courtesy of  Tony Bond.  Obscure yet commercial and strange enough that this one should appeal to quite a few folks ...

Bad-Cat

Tracks
1. Little Baby Won't You Please Come Home Honey Child Won't You Just Allow Me One More Chance, Please (David Richards, Paul Kent, Gavin Watson) - 2:36
2. Sweet Suzie Brown Boots (Paul Kent) - 3:15
3. Broadened (Ιnstrumental) (David Richards, Gavin Watson) - 1:36
4. Please Please Time (Paul Kent) - 3:31
5. I'm Hanging On (Paul Kent) - 3:05
6. We Are the Police (David Richards, Paul Kent) - 5:07
7. Prelude To Brighton (Paul Kent) - 1:34
8. One for the Road (Paul Kent) - 2:03
9. Suzy (David Richards) - 3:37
10.After Dark (David Richards, Paul Kent) - 2:41
11.Blues Railway Field (Ιnstrumental) (David Richards, Gavin Watson) - 3:25
12.Plastic Wedding (David Richards, Paul Kent) - 4:20

Personnel
*Paul (P.C.) Kent - Vocals, Keyboards, Harpsichord
*Gavin Spencer Watson - Lead, Acoustic  Guitar, Bass, Vocals
*David Richards - Vocals, Keyboards, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Harpsichord
*John Ward - Drums

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The Hot Dogs - Say What You Mean (1973 us, remarkable folk country silk rock, 2003 japan remaster)

The Hot Dogs featured the talents of Memphis-based musicians Greg Reding and Bill Rennie.  keyboardist/guitar player Reding had previously been a member of Village Sound, while singer/bass player Rennie had been in The Poor Little Rich Kids (he was known as Bill Renni).  Along with former Piccadilly Circus guitarist Jack Holder, in 1970 the pair started playing together under the moniker Silver.  The same year the trio went into Memphis' famed Ardent Studios to record some demos. The demos caught the attention of producer Terry Manning who brought in sessions drummer Prouty for backup.  Unfortunately Silver  fell apart before anything could come of it, with Reding and Rennie subsequently paying their bills as touring sidemen for Albert King. 

Back in Memphis, 1972 saw Reding and Rennie renew their relationship with producer Manning and with his support went into the Stax-affiliated Ardent Studios to record an album.  With backing from Holder, guitarist Robert Johnson, and Prouty, 1973's Manning-produced "Say What You Mean" was a surprisingly likeable set of British-influenced power pop.  With Reding and Rennie responsible for much of the material (Manning also contributed several tracks), these guys clearly had an affection for English-styled pop with more than a passing nod to the Fab Four.  In fact, imagine what Badfinger would have sounded like if they'd been from Memphis and you'd be in the right aural ballpark.

The title track 'Say What You Mean' was a gorgeous ballad with a haunting melody and some beautiful harmony vocals.  Even better were the stunning guitar solos (I'm guessing Holder and Johnson were the featured performers).  You had to wonder how this was overlooked as a single. Kicked along by a xylophone (?), 'Morning Rain' started out with a beguiling laidback tropical feel, before taking brief detours into Uriah Heep organ terrain, following by a Hammond B3 cocktail jazz interlude, and ending with a tasteful lead guitar (Terry manning?).  For some reason this one's always reminded me of an early Steely Dan track.  It would have slotted nicely on "Can't Buy a Thrill".

Shifting gears 'When I Come Home Again' displayed the group's proficiency in the country-rock department.  Nice melody with an incidiously catchy chorus be forewarned that  this one will stick in your head. Time Is All' started out as an acoustic ballad, but exploded into an outright rocker before returning to it's roots.  Not my favorite track, though the guitar solo was pretty hot.

'Another Smile' has a pretty melody and some wonderful harmony vocals from the pair.  Always liked the chiming twelve strings and the handclap percussion on this one. 'Thanks' was one of the track that reminded me of something out of the Badfinger catalog.  Pretty melody and a dazzling guitar solo made this one of the best songs on the album.  Great Rennie bass pattern to boot.

'Take the Time To Let Me Know' was another pretty ballad, but it didn't really go anywhere.  Once again the highlight came in the form of the tasty guitar solo. Manning's 'Feel Real Fine' offered up a weird mix of country and rock influences.  It was definitely weird and almost sounded like a "White Album" outtake. Kicked along by some acoustic slide guitar and harmonica, this was actually one of the catchiest numbers. 

Starting off as another country-tinged number the mandolin-propelled 'Let Me Look At the Sun' came as another major surprise.  Showcasing a fabulous melody and the album's best lead guitar, this was another lost single.  Following a pattern, 'Way To Get To You' opened up with spare acoustic guitars before bursting into a fuller rock arrangement.  Another pretty melody with glorious harmony vocals. 

'Lowdown' ended the album with another out-and-out rocker.  While the song was quite good (another killer guitar performance), on this one Reding and Rennie seemed somewhat uncomfortable singing in the high key.  This one was tapped at their third and final single. All hyperbole aside, this was one of those rare albums that actually seemed to get better the more often you listened to it.  

Bad-Cat

Tracks
1. Say What You Mean (Steve Smith, S.T. Smith) - 6:36
2. Morning Rain (Greg Reding, Bill Rennie, Terry Manning) - 4:50
3. When I Come Home Again (Steve Smith, S.T. Smith) - 2:25
4. Time Is All (Bill Rennie, Jack Holder, Terry Manning) - 3:33
5. Another Smile (Bill Rennie, Terry Manning) - 2:56
6. Thanks (Greg Reding, Bill Rennie) - 5:38
7. Take the Time To Let Me Know (Greg Reding, Jack Holder, Bill Rennie) - 3:35
8. Feel Real Fine (Terry Manning) - 2:59
9. Let Me Look At the Sun (Bill Rennie, Terry Manning) - 2:26
10.Way To Get To You (Greg Reding, Bill Rennie) - 2:24
11.Lowdown (Greg Reding, Bill Rennie, Terry Manning) - 3:41

The Hot Dogs
*Greg Reding - Vocals, Keyboards, Guitar
*Bill Rennie - Lead Vocals, Bass
Guests Musicians
*Jack Holder - Lead Guitar
*Steve Holt - Drums
*Robert Johnson - Lead Guitar
*Terry Manning - Lead Guitar
*Fred Prouty - Drums
*Richard Rosebrough - Drums
*Steve Smith - Keyboards

Related Acts
1970  Terry Manning - Home Sweet Home (2006 remaster)
1972  Cargoe - Cargoe (Japan remaster)

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Charlee - Charlee (1972 canada, sensational groovie hard rock)

Born Rossignuoli Rossi in Naples, Italy in 1948, Walter Rossi and his family moved to Montreal when he was a child, and grew up listening to his mother sing and admired his carpenter father's guitar playing in his spare time. Walter didn't pick up the guitar until after finishing grade school, but soon began spending endless hours on it, taking his first and only guitar lesson at the age of 15.

Barely a year later he began playing at two of the city's biggest R&B clubs with The Soul Mates - at The Grand National and the Esquire Show Bar, where he also saw some of his mentors playing, including King Curtis and TV Mama. The drummer of that band was Buddy Myles, taking a break from Wilson Pickett's touring schedule.

From the ensuing meeting, a week before his 19th birthday, he was auditioning for Pickett during a live show at Toronto's Massey Hall. He was hired as his new guitar player (making him the only white member of the band) after one song. At first he found it difficult to move to New York. His father didn't approve of it and he didn't have a green card, so he simply shipped his guitar to New York ahead of himself, and followed on a bus full of weekend tourists.

He spent nearly two years with Pickett's band before tiring of the road rigors. That, plus his father's failing health prompted Rossi to move back to Montreal, turning down offers to play with Little Richard and Janis Joplin in the process. He joined The Influence, moved to Toronto, and before long were opening for Steppenwolf and The Doors. They cut one self-titled album at Bell Studios in New York.

But when that band ran its course after a little more than a year, he moved back to New York and got reacquainted with Buddy Myles, joining The Buddy Myles Express. They recorded toured the college circuit and recorded one album, producing the hit "Them Changes" (later covered by Jimi Hendrix). But by 1971 he decided to strike it out on his own, moved back to Canada, settling in Toronto. Putting together the power trio Charlee, they were signed to RCA and they recorded an eponymous debut album, launched on CHOM FM. They sold 6,000 copies of the record from only one local record store in one week. "Lord Knows I've Won" was released as a single and got decent airplay at home and in pockets in the US (most notably Dayton, Ohio), but spent three weeks in the #1 spot in Australia.

Canadian-Bands

Tracks
1.Wizzard (Walter Rossi, Danny Ippersiel) - 3:29
2.Lord Knows I've Won (Walter Rossi, Danny Ippersiel) - 2:45
3.Just You and Me (Walter Rossi) - 3:32
4.A Way to Die (Walter Rossi, Danny Ippersiel) - 6:50
5.Let's Keep Silent (Walter Rossi, Danny Ippersiel) - 3:28
6.Wheel of Fortune Turning (Walter Rossi) - 6:32
7.It Isn't the First Time (Jack Geisinger) - 6:09
8.Let's Keep Silent (Walter Rossi, Danny Ippersiel) - 1:57

Personnel
*Walter Rossi - Guitar, Vocals
*Jack Geisinger - Bass
*Mike Driscoll - Drums, Percussion
*Barry Keane - Drums
*Harry Marks - Bass
*Mark Smith - Bass

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Fuse - Fuse (1969 us, terrific hard rock with prog touches, 2001 bonus tracks edition)

Fuse offers a fascinating glimpse into the musical beginnings of Rick Nielsen and Tom Petersson before superstardom beckoned as members of Cheap Trick, but it also stands on its own as a prime example of keyboard driven psychedelic pop, circa 1969.

Fuse was the predecessor of the famous 70's hard rock american band Cheap Trick, earlier called The Grim Reapers. As Fuse a solitary album was issued prior to guitarist Rick Nielsen and bassist Tom Petersson allying themselves with ex NAZZ members vocalist Robert 'Stewkey' Antoni and drummer Thom Mooney for a revised NAZZ.

Great tunes, my favorites being 4/4 3/4, Show Me and To Your Health. Rick Nielsen mainly plays Keyboards on this, but he does display some early signs of songwriting ability as in Show Me and To Your Health.

The singer was only 17 years old when this was released, what a strong voice for a kid!!! Tom Peterson has to be one of the most UNDERrated Bass players in popular rock.

Just listen to his tight, chunky-bass on this album, and he was only 19 years old! Each track is different, nothing seems repetitive. That is to say, the guitarist, keyboards everyone sounds different on each track. Do not expect to hear any "Cheap Trick sounding" material on this album. It is Hard-rock, a bit progressive, hard hitting music.

This is a very good album, played by a bunch of Rockford kids, and is highly recomended.

by J.D. Kammerer

Tracks
1. Across The Skies (Rick Nielsen, Joe Sundberg) - 4:35
2. Permanent Resident (Joe Sundberg, Craig Myers) - 4:24
3. Show Me (Rick Nielsen) - 4:17
4. To Your Health (Rick Nielsen) - 6:00
5. In A Window (Rick Nielsen, Joe Sundberg) - 5:54
6. 4/4 3/4 (Joe Sundberg, Craig Myers) - 4:2
7. Mystery Ship (Rick Nielsen) - 3:23
8. Sad Day (Rick Nielsen) - 5:49
9. Hound Dog (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 2:55
10.Cruisin' For Burgers (Joe Sundberg, Craig Myers) - 5:01

Fuse
*Rick Nielsen - Guitar, Keyboards
*Tom Petersson - Bass
*Joe Sundberg - Vocals
*Chip Greenman - Drums
*Craig Myers - Guitar

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Taste Of Blues - Schizofrenia (1969 sweden, exciting blues psych jazzy prog rock, 2010 issue)

Taste Of Blues was formed in Malmö in 1967. American singer Don Washington replaced Stridsberg in time for the recording of Schizofrenia. The psychedelic title track takes up the entire first side of the album and features creative guitar work from Rolf Fredenberg. The other highlight is the more structured "Another Man's Mind". The band broke up soon after the album’s release and Claes Ericsson and Patrik Erixson went on to form Asoka.

Taste of Blues challenges their listeners with a saucy concoction of the late 60s psych sound as well as something entirely original and free. It might just be a stretch to call this one Krautrock, but when one jumps in at the deep end here, the overt improvisations beyond the relative blues banner up front, is downright uncanny. Loads of CAN reminding moments, and this is well before CAN even developed their legendary monotonous rhythm based structure.

Schizophrenia opens with the title track, which is a feast of krautocking hypnotising rhythms and then flips over to a more bluesy style on the 2nd side whilst still retaining a sonic playfulness. The booklet holds a complete history of the band.

Tracks
1. Schizofrenia (Claes Ericsson, Rolf Fredenberg) - 16:52
2. A Touch Of Sunshine (Claes Ericsson, Don Washington) - 03:16
3. On The Road To Nidaros (Claes Ericsson, Rolf Fredenberg) - 01:33
4. Another Kinda Love (John Mayall) - 04:05
5. Another Mans Mind (Claes Ericsson, Rolf Fredenberg, Don Washington) - 04:50
6. What Kind Of Love Is That (Claes Ericsson, Don Washington) - 02:11

The Taste Of Blues
*Don Washington - Vocals
*Rolf Fredenberg - Guitars
*Claes Ericsson - Organ, Violin
*Robert Moller - Bass
*Patrik Erixson - Drums

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The Rascals - Anthology (1965-72 us, marvelous rhythm 'n' blues soul beat psych, two disc set)

Boasting all of the Rascals' essential hits as well as many enjoyable album tracks, this two-CD set does a fine job of summarizing the New Yorkers' accomplishments. Whether the Rascals are tearing into rockers like "You Better Run" (covered by Pat Benatar in 1980) and the Olympics' "Good Lovin'" (a frat rock staple) or expressing their love of soul music (both Northern and Southern) on "Groovin'," "A Beautiful Morning" and "I've Been Lonely Too Long," the package shows us just how dynamic they could be.

The Rascals' cover of Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour" is hard to resist, and it should be noted that their version of Sir Mac Rice's "Mustang Sally" was recorded before the song became a major hit for Pickett. Sadly, things broke down for the Rascals commercially in the early '70s, but the socially aware soul-pop songs "Love Me," "Saga of New York" and "Brother Tree" show that they still had some creative life left in them. And they indicate that with the right guidance and input (working with someone like Curtis Mayfield, maybe?), the band could have made a comeback and become an important part of the '70s soul-pop scene. From obvious choices to surprises, Anthology: 1965-1972 is a package that both rock and soul aficionados should savor. 

by Alex Henderson

Tracks

Disc 1

1. I Ain't Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore (Lori Burton, Pam Sawyer) - 2:46 

2. Good Lovin' (Rudy Clark, Arthur Resnick) - 2:32 

3. Do You Feel It (Felix Cavaliere, Gene Cornish) - 3:24 

4. Mustang Sally (Sir Bonny Mack Rice) - 3:22 

5. Baby Let's Wait (Lori Burton, Pam Sawyer) - 3:24 

6. In the Midnight Hour (Steve Cropper, Wilson Pickett) - 4:05 

7. You Better Run - 2:28 

8. What Is the Reason - 2:26 

9. I've Been Lonely Too Long - 2:07 

10.Come on Up (Felix Cavaliere) - 2:45 

11.Too Many Fish in the Sea (Eddie Holland, Norman Whitfield) - 2:19 

12.Love Is a Beautiful Thing - 2:34 

13.Groovin' - 2:31 

14.A Girl Like You - 2:48 

15.Find Somebody - 3:42 

16.How Can I Be Sure - 2:55 

17.If You Knew - 3:07 

18.I'm So Happy Now (Gene Cornish) - 2:50 

19.Easy Rollin' - 2:55 

20.Rainy Day - 3:29 

21.It's Wonderful - 3:24 

22.Silly Girl - 2:44 

23.Finale: Once upon a Dream - 3:53 

24.A Beautiful Morning - 2:34 

All songs by Eddie Brigati, Felix Cavaliere xcept where indicated

Disc 2 
1. People Got to Be Free - 3:01
2. Island of Love - 2:23
3. Look Around - 3:03
4. A Ray of Hope - 3:43
5. Heaven - 3:24
6. See - 4:48
7. I'd Like to Take You Home - 2:37
8. Temptation's Bout to Get Me (James Diggs) - 3:31
9. Nubia - 3:44
10.Real Thing - 2:45
11.Carry Me Back - 2:52
12.Right On - 3:48
13.Ready for Love - 3:09
14.I Believe - 3:58
15.Glory, Glory - 3:33
All songs by Felix Cavaliere except where noted

The Rascals
*Felix Cavaliere - Lead Vocals, Organ, Piano, Guitar
*Eddie Brigati - Vocals, Conga, Drums, Percussion
*Gene Cornish - Vocals, Guitar, Bass
*Dino Danelli - Drums
Additional Musicians
*Richard Davis - Bass
*Ron Carter - Bass
*Chuck Rainey - Bass
*Gerald Jemmott - Bass
*Harold Cowart - Bass
*Joe Bushkin - Piano
*Buddy Lucas - Harmonica
*Mel Lastie - Trumpet
*Joe Newman - Trumpet
*King Curtis - Tenor Sax
*Steve Marcus - Soprano Sax
*Danny Labbarte - Soprano Sax
*Joe Farrell - Saxophone
*Seldon Powell - Saxophone
*Hubert Laws - Flute
*Gene Orloff And His Strings - Strings
*David Brigati - Vocals
*Cissy Houston, Tosha Thomas - Background Vocals
*The Sweet Inspirations - Background Vocals

1968  The Rascals - Once Upon a Dream (Japan remaster)
1969  The Rascals - See (Japan remaster)
1971  The Rascals - Peaceful World (Japan remaster)
1972  The Rascals - Island Of Real (Sundazed issue)
Related Act
1967  The Young Rascals - Groovin'  (2007 remastered and expanded)

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The Monocles And The Higher Elevation - The Spider The Fly And The Boogie Man (1965-69 us, fabulous garage beat surf folk psych, 2008 release)

Hailing from Greeley, CO, the Monocles served as an unwitting example of the strange effect LSD had on America's youth during the mid- to late 1960s. Early on, the Monocles started out as a fairly ordinary pop-rock outfit, playing stuff like "Sound of the Surf," "Heartbreak Hill," and "Treat Me Nice" that would raise no eyebrows at a typical teen club gig or high school dance. Then in mid-1966 the Monocles began to change; they cut a tune called "Psychedelic (That's Where It's At)" that doesn't sound all that freaky until you get to the guitar solo, but it led to some truly bent sessions later on, most notably the twisted psychodramas of "The Spider and the Fly," "The Boogie Man," and "The Diamond Mine" (the theme song for Dave Diamond's Los Angeles radio show). 

What happened to these guys? It's anyone's guess if they were ingesting the dreaded lysergic acid, but they certainly learned the benefits of sounding like you were gobbling the stuff by the fistful, and there are some prize moments of small-town psychedelia lurking on The Spider, the Fly and the Boogie Man, a collection of 31 rare and unreleased sides from the band. In the summer of 1967, the Monocles changed their name to the Higher Elevation, but while the new name may have sounded a bit more trippy, by this time the band had scored a deal with Liberty Records and their material developed a far greater degree of polish, with sharper playing and exacting harmonies, though there are some fine examples of psychedelic pop ("Odyssey" and "Crazy Bicycle") and sunshine pop ("Here Comes Sunshine" and "Summer Skies") featured here, as well as a solid cover of the Lovin' Spoonful's "Good Time Music" which supposedly features John Sebastian on tambourine and backing vocals.

Given that neither the Monocles or the Higher Elevation ever released an album, this is a surprisingly thorough summary of their career, including a well-detailed liner essay by Les Peterson (though someone needs to tell the folks at Fab Gear that small grey type on a black page doesn't make for easy reading), and is likely to remain the definitive anthology of their recorded work. 

by Mark Deming

Tracks
1. KLZ Jingle (The Monocles) - 0:19
2. Let Your Lovin' Grow (The Monocles) - 1:57
3. You Don't Know (The Monocles) - 2:18
4. A Little Bit Less (The Monocles) - 2:54
5. On The Other Side Of Happiness (Jon Floth, John S. Carter Jr) - 2:50
6. Looking Glass (The Monocles) - 2:38
7. Boogie Man (Jon Floth, Don Hirschfield, Tom Behm, Rick Hull) - 1:54
8. Psychedelic (That's Where It's At) (Jon Floth, Robb Casseday, Don Hirschfield, Tom Behm, Rick Hull) - 2:19
9. The Spider And The Fly (Stevens, Strong) - 2:06
10.The Diamond Mine (Dave Diamond) - 2:15
11.Crazy Bicycle (Jon Floth, John S. Carter Jr) - 2:48
12.Here Comes Sunshine (William R Baughn, Frank Slay Jr) - 2:52
13.Thoughts Of Lila (Jon Floth) - 2:20
14.Country Club Affair (John S. Carter Jr, Timothy B. Gilbert) - 2:18
15.Summer Skies (John S. Carter Jr, Timothy B. Gilbert) - 2:08
16.Odyssey (Jon Floth, John C. Phillips) - 2:55
17.Highway 101 (Jon Floth, Roy Robert Freeman, John C. Phillips, Frank Slay Jr) - 2:32
18.Crazy Bicycle (Alternate) (Jon Floth, John S. Carter Jr) - 2:46
19.Wizard Of Love (Charles Hatfield, Paul O'Lone, Gary Young) - 2:20
20.Good Time Music (John Sebastian) - 3:03
21.Country Club Affair (Alternate) (John S. Carter Jr, Timothy B. Gilbert) - 2:16
22.What Is It (The Monocles) - 1:44
23.Sound Of The Surf (The Monocles) - 3:16
24.Heartbreak Hill (The Monocles) - 2:07
25.Where Is My Life (The Monocles) - 2:31
26.Treat Me Nice (The Monocles) - 2:30
27.Boogie Man (Instrumental) (Jon Floth, Don Hirschfield, Tom Behm, Rick Hull) - 1:55
28.Looking Glass (Instrumental) (The Monocles) - 2:39
29.A Little Bit Less (Instrumental) (The Monocles) - 2:55
30.Psychedelic (That's Where It's At) (Instrumental) (Jon Floth, Robb Casseday, Don Hirschfield, Tom Behm, Rick Hull) - 2:19
31.Boogie Man (Alternate) (Jon Floth, Don Hirschfield, Tom Behm, Rick Hull) - 2:47
Tracks 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21 as The Higher Elevation.

The Monocles
*Jon Floth - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Rick Hull - Bass, Vocals
*Robb Casseday - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
*Don Hirschfield - Piano
*Kevin McIlhenny - Drums
*Tom Behm - Drums, Vocals
*Peter Johnson - Keyboards

The Higher Elevation
*Jon Floth - Lead Guitar, Vocals
*Rick Hull - Bass, Vocals
*Peter Johnson - Keyboards, Vocals
*Tim McDonald - Vocals
*Bob Saunar - Drums
*Rich Sallee - Bass
*Jim Krug - Drums

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