Leon Paul Phillips is the pseudonym of Garth Watt Roy, who with his brother Norman founders of prog band 'The Greatest Show On Earth and rumoured to include members of Hawkwind.
Performance is really amazing, very powerful and a disturbing listening experience. 'Ealing Broadway', a trippy downtempo acid funk groover as well as the frantic 'Way Out' have been compiled on the german 'Birds Do It' sampler already. many other tracks like 'Escalator', 'Oxford Circus', 'Return Ticket', 'Straphanger' and 'Commutation' show up with equal aggressive, beaty Psychedelic Rock: mighty slashings on wah wah, heavy-duty fuzz distortion and nasty hammond action over fat rock drums are omnipresent from start to finish.
Also released as "Pop Group" to the title and a different cover, even though it's the same album. Both also have the same catalogue number.
Tracks
1. Escalator - 3:09
2. Mind The Doors - 2:01
3. Oxford Circus - 2:03
4. Ealing Broadway - 2:50
5. Turnham Green - 2:56
6. Way Out - 2:40
7. Return Ticket - 2:51
8. Bond Street Blues - 2:40
9. Poster Parade - 2:55
10.Straphanger - 2:28
11.Communication - 2:30
12.End Of The Line - 2:19
Best known as the frontman for early-'70s hitmakers Christie, singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Christie's career long predated that band. In fact, his earlier group, Outer Limits, should have been just as big, if not bigger than Christie themselves. Formed in the dying days of 1963, the band released three singles, gigged incessantly, and took part in the legendary package tour featuring Jimi Hendrix Experience, Pink Floyd, and Amen Corner. Yet they never managed to land a hit or record an album.
However the Outer Limits did leave behind a slew of demos before folding in 1968, 22 of which features on the first disc of this two-CD set. An incredible songwriter, Christie penned all the band's numbers, and his strong ear for a pop melody and a way with a catchy chorus is self-evident. Recorded between 1966-1968, the songs are stylistically diverse, encompassing R&B, British Invasion pop, and psychedelia. It's a soundtrack of the age, and while certainly influenced by the stars of the day -- notably but not unsurprisingly the Beatles -- still Outer Limits were no mere copyists, having a sound very much their own. "When the Work Is Through" is one of a slew of standouts, in this case a single that has number one written all over it, although it failed to break into the Top 50.
The rambunctious "Help Me Please" could have been a contender, while "Great Train Robbery" should have shot up the chart along with the acid washed "The Dream." The tough "Anyday Now," the harmony drenched "Funny Clown," the bouncy "Look at Me," the California dreaming of "Dancing Water," and the pumping "Run for Cover" are just some of the other highlights found on this stunning disc. Christie now beckoned, and upon its demise, the singer/songwriter launched a solo career, although his projected debut foundered in the mid-'70s, and a second go begun later in the decade also ended up being shelved. It was these aborted efforts that comprise most of the second disc, with another half-a-dozen tracks culled from later in his career. The enclosed booklet provides all the background, taken from discussions with the artist himself.
Finding himself out of musical fashion, Christie continued doing what he did best, writing strong songs and pushing his own stylistic envelope. "Midnight Express" is a case in point, pomp rock on amphetamines driving straight into the discos. '60s pop infuses "Both Ends of the Rainbow," a surprising punk edge cuts through "Tightrope," jazz, classical, and pop harry "Saints and Sinners," a tinge of funk flutters across "Back on the Boards," and new wave sweeps over "Somebody Else." And while the later numbers are not so adventurous, Christie has yet to lose his touch. All told this is a sumptuous set, and a superb tribute to one of Britain's finest composers.
by Jo-Ann Greene
Tracks
Disc 1 The Outer Limits
1. When The Work Is Through - 2:34
2. Just One More Chance - 3:02
3. Help Me Please - 2:28
4. Great Train Robbery - 3:39
5. Sweet Freedom - 2:54
6. The Dream - 3:22
7. Stop - 3:48
8. Everything I Touch - 3:09
9. Anyday Now - 3:35
10.See It My Way - 3:13
11.Funny Clown - 2:50
12.Listen - 3:18
13.Paper Jake - 3:22
14.Days Of Spring - 2:46
15.Epitaph For A Nonentity - 3:28
16.Man In The Middle Of Nowhere - 2:19
17.It's Your Turn Now - 3:53
18.Dancing Water - 3:07
19.Look At Me - 2:42
20.Run For Cover - 3:54
21.Mr. Magee's Incredible Banjo Band - 3:58
22.Tomorrow Night - 3:42
All songs by Jeff Christie
Disc 2 Floored Masters - Past Imperfect
1. Turn On Your Lovelight - 3:39
2. Both Ends Of The Rainbow - 3:49
3. You've Got The Love - 3:13
4. Midnight Express - 3:52
5. Troubadour - 4:52
6. Back On The Boards - 3:30
7. Another Point Of View - 3:26
8. You And Me - 4:24
9. On The Same Side - 5:05
10.Saints And Sinners - 4:03
11.Take Me As You Find Me - 3:02
12.Tightrope - 3:41
13.Somebody Else - 2:43
14.In A Rich Man's Shoes - 3:41
15.Jody - 3:36
16.Shine On - 2:34
17.Turning To Stone - 3:58
18.It Ain't Easy - 3:08
19.Shake Off These Chains - 4:43
20.Back In The Jungle - 3:14
21.Yuletide Lights - 3:37
All songs by Jeff Christie
Musicians The Outer Limits
*Jeff Christie - Lead Vocal, Lead Guitar, Piano, Organ
*Gerry Layton - Sax, Rhythm Guitar (1966)
*Gerry Smith - Bass, Vocals
*Stan Drogie - Drums, Vocals (1966-67)
*Steve Isherwood - Guitars, Vocals (1967)
*Rod Palmer - Drums (1968)
Train were a Danish group that relocated to United States where they were signed by Vanguard. Teamed with producer Geoff Turner, by the time their 1970 debut "Costumed Cuties" hit the streets the band seems to have effectively been reduced to a duo consisting of Lenox and Keider (the two names prominently featured in the liner notes). Largely penned by Lenox (Gordon contributing one selection), musically the set wasn't bad. Keyboard dominated rockers, Lenox had a decent voice that was well suited for material such as "Oink Oink", "Dreams and Realities" and the title track.
By the time of Local Anasthetic (1971), Nirvana was just Campbell-Lyons and session players, Spyropoulos leaving to pursue a solo career. Campbell-Lyons recorded and released a second, once again essentially solo, album under the Nirvana name, Songs of Love and Praise. The album failed to sell, and neither of two singles achieved much in the way of airplay or sales action. He worked for Vertigo as an A&R man and producer at the same time, handling some of their more minor acquisitions, the most impressive of which may well have been Dr. Z, while Mike Absalom was certainly the most obscure.
by Steven McDonald
“Songs Of Love And Praise“ contained re-recordings of “Rainbow Chaser“ and “Pentecost Hotel“, along with some fine new material, notably “Please Believe Me“,“I Need Your Love Tonight“ and “Stadium“, which were all written by Campbell-Lyons. On this and all Nirvana albums, he was assisted by a flexible group of close friends
Tracks
1. Rainbow Chaser (Alex Spyropolous, Patrick Campbell-Lyons) - 2:54
2. Please Believe Me - 3:10
3. Lord Up Above - 4:12
4. She's Lost It - 5:00
5. Nova Sketch (Alex Spyropolous, Patrick Campbell-Lyons) - 1:50
6. Pentecost Hotel - 3:11
7. I Need Your Love Tonight - 3:32
8. Will There Be Me (Cas Thomas) - 2:15
9. Stadium - 7:10
All songs by Patrick Campbell Lyons except where stated
For their third album they asked the English producer Gus Dudgeon, he didn't really change their sound but some things are different now. There are vocal harmonies, there is some guitar for the first time and the production is tighter. What remains is that this is another great album. The highlight of the album is Chappaqua, which is maybe the definitive Solution track. But the jazzy Whirligig is also a brilliant one. Sad to say, this is their last real great album, after this one they went downhill.
Dutch Progressive Rock of the Seventies
Tracks
1. Chappaqua (Hans Waterman, Tom Barlage, Willem Ennes) - 10:33
2. Third Line Part 1 (Guus Willemse, Tom Barlage, Willem Ennes, Frankie Fish, Michiel Pos) - 1:40
3. Third Line Part 2 (Hans Waterman, Tom Barlage, Willem Ennes) - 5:44
4. A Song For You (Guus Willemse, Frankie Fish) - 3:53
5. Whirligig (Guus Willemse, Tom Barlage, Willem Ennes) - 9:03
6. Last Detail Part 1 (Guus Willemse, Tom Barlage, Willem Ennes, Frankie Fish, Michiel Pos) - 2:50
7. Last Detail Part 2 (Guus Willemse, Hans Waterman, Tom Barlage, Willem Ennes) - 2:41
8. Black Pearl Part 1 (Guus Willemse, Tom Barlage, Michiel Pos, Frankie Fish) - 1:15
9. Black Pearl Part 2 (Tom Barlage, Willem Ennes) - 5:01
The Solution
*Tom Barlage - Flute, Alto, Soprano Sax
*Willem Ennes - Piano, Electric Piano, Organ, Synthesizer
*Guus Willemse - Vocals, Bass, Electric Guitar
*Hans Waterman - Drums With
*Michiel Pos - Tenor Saxophone, Acoustic Guitar
*Frankie Fish - Vocals
The UK Nirvana consisted of writers Patrick Campbell-Lyons and George Alex Spyropoulos, and together they released three albums under the 'Nirvana' name.
Their second album 'All of Us' was their strongest in terms of commercial success and musical consistency, opening with the psychedelic classic 'Rainbow Chaser', with its swirly 'phased' production and beautifuly innocent lyrics. This was Nirvana's only hit single reaching no. 34. Next on the album is the excellent 'Tiny Goddess', a catchy gentle song full of sweeping orchestration and drops of harpsichord. This led into the 'The Touchables (All of Us)' which was the theme song from the film. Now forgotten, 'The Touchables' was a typical English film of the 'swinging' 60's, similar to other films of the period such as 'Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush'.
The catchy psychedelic pop comes thick and fast after this with songs like 'Melanie Blue', the bouncy 'Girl in the Park' and the eccentric 'Frankie the Great', the late 60's production by Chris Blackwell being perfect. After their third album 'To Markos III' the group split. Like so many excellent bands of the time (The Misunderstood being the prime example), they never achieved the success they deserved, and they have since been overshadowed by Cobain's Nirvana.
'All of Us' is a beautiful late 60's psychedelic-pop album, full of eccentric English imagery and catchy songs, definately an unsung classic.
Tracks
1. Rainbow Chaser - 2:38
2. Tiny Goddess - 4:03
3. The Touchables (All Of Us) - 2:59
4. Melanie Blue - 2:40
5. Trapeze - 2:49
6. The Show Must Go On - 2:40
7. Girl In The Park - 2:41
8. Miami Masquerade - 2:48
9. Frankie The Great - 2:29
10.You Can Try It - 3:18
11.Everybody Loves The Clown - 2:00
12.St. John's Wood Affair - 4:18
13.Flashbulb (Single B-Side) - 2:15
14.Oh! What A Performance (Single B-Side) - 3:09
15.Darling Darlene (Single B-Side) - 2:49
16.C Side Of Ocho Rios (Single B-Side) - 2:13
All Songs written by Patrick Campbell-Lyons, Alex Spyropolous.
Redbone is a rock band created in 1969. The band was formed in Los Angeles, California by the brothers Pat and Lolly Vegas, two Native Americans, in 1968. Two other native americans joined them, Tony Bellamy on rythm guitar and Pete DePoe on drums. They produced a few hits, among which the single Maggy, The Witch Queen of New Orleans and Come and Get Your Love who recently (2014) made it's comeback in the Guardians of the Galaxy movie.
The fourth "Redbone" album "Already Here" released in 1972, is the perfect continuation of the third one. And a great Redbone one. Some wonderful songs, they stay in mind and live within you, giving you energy and hapiness.
"Bloodletting" was recorded in 1976, but for some reason was not released to the general public until 1979. Strange, because it is a great album, despite the fact that half of the album's songs are cover versions and Ollie has no writing credits. Every track is strong, and the band has a fuller sounding production than on the "Below The Belt" debut.
All of the original compositions are credited solely to Mike, and the "The Blizzard", "Rich Man's Daughter", and "Big City Fever" are perhaps some of the catchiest tunes he wrote on his own. He redid "Rich Man's Daughter" for the 1977 Boxer album, "Absolutely".
"Bloodletting" includes four great cover tunes. "Hey Bulldog" rocks hard and includes some great guitar. "Dinah-Low" is a fantastic version of the Terry Stamp/Jim Avery song from Terry's 1975 "Fatsticks" album, which both Ollie and Tony Newman played on. Perhaps the star track on the album, though, is the live version of Leonard Cohen's "Teachers". It is a smoking performance by the band, which features a bit of Ollie jamming alone towards the end.
Unlike the first album, other musicians guested on "Bloodletting". Chris Stainton was acknowledged in large print on the album cover for his keyboards. Boz Burrell (King Crimson, Alexis Korner, Bad Company et al.), Bobby Tench (Jeff Beck Group et al.), and Tim Hinkley (Bo Street Runners, Jody Grind, Alexis Korner et al.) all played in Chapman/Whitney's Streetwalkers and were involved in the Hinkley's Heroes jam band, which Mike Patto was also involved with. The three are only listed in small print on the record label, so their contributions to "Bloodletting" are unclear -- likely just backing vocals and minor instrumentation.
Grand Funk Railroad's 1970 somewhat eponymous album, their second for Capitol, is characteristic of the classic rock radio sound that would permeate the airwaves of the late 20th century. Grand Funk Railroad was a seminal force in giving the friendlier side of the heavy rock sound its charm and making it stick.
Built on fuzzed-out blues riffs, simple lyrics, and at times seemingly unnecessary jamming, Grand Funk's songs are mild in nature. Slightly toothier than Foghat or Bad Company, Grand Funk's major influence is from the loose, blues-based power trio formula of bands such as Cream and the Jimi Hendrix Experience. Grand Funk combines rawness with radio-friendly melodies and vocal harmonies that would become their trademark sound.
Hordes of bands to come, from Foreigner to Bon Jovi, would emulate Grand Funk's sound and style, focusing on good-time rocking material while attempting a few token social commentary pieces. This is a great album as far as early hard rock goes, and as Grand Funk Railroad would move farther and farther away from the type of roughness and loose arrangements found here, it is well worth picking up as an example of one of their early efforts.
by Jeff Schwachter
Tracks
1. Got This Thing on the Move - 4:38
2. Please Don't Worry (Don Brewer, Mark Farner) - 4:19
3. High Falootin' Woman - 3:00
4. Mr. Limousine Driver - 4:26
5. In Need - 7:52
6. Winter and My Soul - 6:38
7. Paranoid - 7:50
8. Inside Looking Out - 9:31 (John Lomax, Alan Lomax, Eric Burdon, Bryan "Chas" Chandler)
9. Nothing Is The Same (Demo) - 5:39
10.Mr. Limousine Driver (Extended Version) - 5:28
All songs written by Mark Farner except where noted.
