Alan Hull - Pipedream (1973 uk, grandiose meditative, reflective, folk rock, 2005 remaster and expanded)

With half of Lindisfarne having scampered off to form Jack The Lad, Alan Hull's first solo venture, recorded with cohorts Ray Jackson and Kenny Craddock, was first released in 1973. Reissued to mark the tenth anniversary of Hull's death, Pipedream is by far his most self-assured work: the playing and production beingless folk-driven than on Lindisfarne's classic early albums.

Most of the tracks deal with real-life situations, around themes that permeated much of Hull's writing over the years -booze, relationships, politics - and this gives them an earthy colour. "Breakfast", a morning-after tale of waking up with your mistress, kicks off the album with an energetic humour. The similarly comic "Country Gentleman's Wife" was inspired by the posh housewives he met back in the 60s, as he cleaned windows in one of Newcastle's richer quarters. The story, he once explained, is one that could have happened, but didn't.

Hull was a conscious voice for the underdog and the working man and woman. "Money Game" and "Song For A Windmill" are paradigmatic of his peculiarly northern English take on the protest song: caustic fables of mill owners and brass in pocket. "Drug Song", which became a staple in Hull's live set until his death in 1995, was one of his personal favourites and one he considered (rightly) to be among his best. Although Hull admitted that it was written under the influence, it's neither pro nor anti drugs.

The beautifully cracked and broken "I Hate To See You Cry", which closed the original album, is now followed by some B-sides and tracks from a 1974 BBC session. "Dan The Plan" and "One More Bottle Of Wine" both surfaced on Hull's second solo set, Squire. After Pipedream, Hull never again articulated such pathos and passion.

by Rob Webb 2005

Tracks

1. Breakfast - 3:39

2. Justanothersadsong - 2:54

3. Money Game - 2:48

4. STD 0632 - 3:07

5. United States Of Mind - 3:06

6. Country Gentleman's Wife - 3:36

7. Numbers (Travelling Band) - 3:56

8. For The Bairns - 2:27

9. Drug Song - 3:08

10.Song For A Windmill - 2:47

11.Blue Murder - 5:06

12.I Hate To See You Cry - 3:27

13.Drinking Song - 2:34

14.One Off Pat - 0:50

15.Down On The Underground - 2:39

16.Gin And Tonics All Round - 2:57

17.One More Bottle Of Wine - 3:12

18.Dan The Plan - 4:04

Music and Words by Alan Hull

Bonus Tracks 13-18

Personnel

*Alan Hull - Vocals, Guitar, Piano, Harmonium

*John Turnbull - Guitar

*Colin Gibson - Bass

*Ken Craddock - Piano, Organ, Harmonium, Electric Piano, Guitar

*Ray Laidlaw - Drums

*Ray Jackson - Harp, Mandolin, Vocals

*Dave Brooks - Saxophone 

Related Act

1970-73  Lindisfarne - The Charisma Years (2010 four disc set edition)  

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Various Artists - Shapes And Shadows (1968-72 uk, marvelous psych and other rare flavours, 2014 remaster)

Not content with co-writing some of the most cherished soft-pop hits of the 60s (It’s Not Unusual, The Last Waltz, There’s A Kind Of Hush), Les Reed also funnelled his largesse into establishing the Chapter One imprint. Shapes And Shadows dips an exploratory finger into the label’s archives to reveal that it was a typical independent operation of its era: hardly bursting at the seams with “psychedelic pop” per se, but certainly issuing material indicative of the provender that skulked around the chart perimeter during Chapter One’s momentary lifespan.

If it’s popsike ye seek, try Lifetime by The Bliss, borne on a zephyr of flute (courtesy of Harold McNair) and strings, not dissimilar to the Ramases of Glass Top Coffin. Thereafter, head straight for the Episode Six selections, famously featuring the pre-Purps Ian Gillan and Roger Glover. The rubicund melody and pillowy harmonies of Lucky Sunday establish a UK branch of The Association, while Gentlemen Of The Park is a comparably luscious genuflection at The Beach Boys’ altar.

We’re also partial to Spring Never Came Twice by Jason Cord – chest-beating balladry with a paisley cravat – and Big Bare Beat by The British Lion Orchestra: a blaring defector from Les Reed’s Girl On A Motorcycle soundtrack, replete with an inexplicable musique concrète interlude. 

by Oregano Rathbone, 05 November 2014

Artists - Tracks

1. Putney Bridge - What's It All About - 3:15

2. Episode Six - Lucky Sunday - 3:43

3. The Bliss - Lifetime - 2:45

4. Philwit And Pegasus - The Elephant Song - 2:45

5. Jason Cord - Spring Never Came Twice - 2:37

6. Episode Six - Mozart Versus The Rest - 3:00

7. Putney Bridge - Your Turn To Die - 2:36

8. Christopher - The Race - 2:24

9. Sad People - Turn Around - 3:08

10.The Matchmakers - Lover's Congregation - 3:14

11.The Californians - You've Got Your Troubles - 3:16

12.Episode Six - Mr Universe - 4:17

13.Christopher - Sharkey - 2:01

14.The March Hare - Cry My Heart - 2:57

15.Morning Glory - Marjory Daw - 3:07

16.The Bliss - Courtyards Of Castile - 2:56

17.Brother John - Brother John - 2:37

18.Sad People - Lonely Man - 2:39

19.Episode Six - Jack D'Or - 3:15

20.Putney Bridge - The Meaning Of Love - 2:54

21.The Matchmakers - Thank You Baby For Coming - 3:25

22.Morning Glory - Munday Street - 3:50

23.The March Hare - With My Eyes Closed - 2:49

24.Episode Six - Gentlemen Of The Park - 3:12

25.British Lion Orchestra And Les Reed - Big Bare Beat - 2:16

26.Tandem - Shapes And Shadows - 2:31

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Alamo - Alamo (1971 us, solid hard psych blues rock)

Memphis Tennessee not only reeled in country styled rock but also quivered under the savaging thunder of Alamo.The roots of Alamo go back to guitarist Larry Raspberry who played with the Gentrys in 1965 when they charted with “Keep On Dancing”. The strength of Alamo was largely due to the mountainous vox and grinding hammond of ex Cosmos Ken Woodley coupled with the gritty guitar breaks of Larry. Larry Davis played bass while drums was highly charged by Richard Rosebrough.The groups 1971self titled album powers forth with the massive opener “Got To Find Another Way” in the same energized spirit as Scotland’s Writing On The Wall or Germany’s Karthago.

This thunderous opener has Larry ripping the hell out of his axe with no prisoners taken. “Soft And Gentle” is a determined effort from the band to slow down with Larry sliding in a heavy toned Bloodrock manner. Ken Woodley reaps some great riffs on his hammond through “The World We Seek” with Larry not far behind on his gator growling axe. “Been Some Changes” also allows Larry to spit out some riveting leadbreaks that would have suited the likes of Grand Funk or Rare Earth while “Get The Feelin’” is a vibrant supercharge of percussion and bass where each member has his slice of solo.The group disbanded after the album and Larry formed Larry Raspberry & The Highsteppers while Richard Rosenbrough joined Lee Baker &The Agitators.

Hippyland

Tracks

1. Got To Find Another Way - 4:36

2. Soft And Gentle - 6:59

3. The World We Seek (Ken Woodley, Larry Davis) - 3:36

4. Question Raised - 4:43

5. Bensome Changes - 3:34

6. All New People - 4:49

7. Get The Feelin' - 6:01

8. Happiness Is Free (Ken Woodley, Larry Raspberry) - 4:18

All songs by Ken Woodley except where noted

Alamo

*Ken Woodley - Vocals, Organ

*Larry Raspberry - Guitar

*Larry Davis - Bass

*Richard Rosebrough - Drums, Percussion 

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Rontheo - Rontheo (1976 canada / germany, fresh folk rock with psych drops, 2012 korean remaster)

If the unique Rontheo album has succeeded to stay in the top charts of collectors item records - still after 35 years - here are some good reasons for that. Firstly, it is the outstanding quality of its sound recording - not too many of the good folk musicians of the seventies have had the luck to get free access to a full 24-track recording studio for over an entire year.

The studio, located in the German town of Wiesbaden, had been provided by the prestigious and century-old music editor Breitkopf & Hartel. No other than the composer Peter Muhlbauer - also the editor's delegate producer - had written the fine vocal arrangements which give the album its unique and special character. Unfortunately. due to internal management issues, the company closed down its folk division after only 1,000 copies of the album had been printed and sold.

Ever since they met in 1974 at the fanmous "Steckdose" - a renowned folk club in Germany's Saarland - Rontheo have been touring and recording with different formations, such as Noah's Road Show, Jacara, Abbittibbi, The Groove Merchants and many others, sometimes together, sometimes apart, all over Europe, Canada, and the USA.

Presently, Ron lives in the Rocky Mountains in Washington State, where he plays with his band Franken Horse. Theo works with two other folk musicians, Jesse Ens and the country singer Bobby Dove; he lives in the Appalachian Mountains near Montreal, Quebec. 

CD Liner Notes

Tracks

1. Music - 3:51

2. Live! - 4:09

3. Lady From Heaven - 2:54

4. Do It Again (Theo Busch, Walter Krennrich) - 3:28

5. By The Side Of A Clear Crystal Fountain - 3:46

6. Zyclus (Theo Busch) - 3:55

7. Although It's Fine - 4:45

8. Clouds Everywhere - 5:17

9. Tomorrow Will Know - 6:46

All songs by Ronni di Tomaso except where indicated

Rotheo

*Ronnie di Tomaso - Guitars, Vocals

*Theo Busch - Violin, Guitar, Percussions, Organ

*Yedz - Guitar

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Mike Fiems - I Would Drem (1974 us, impressive mixture of sunshine folk, 2012 japan remaster)

Wanting to “mellow” out in the early ’70s, Link Wray’s elder brother Vernon moved to Tucson, Arizona. There, he reassembled the infamous Wray brothers’ Three Track Shack, rechristening it his “Record Factory.” There, he recorded his classic, Wasted. In December 1973 and January 1974, he welcomed a Tucson-based songwriter named Mike Fiems into the Factory, where he served as the producer of Fiems’ I Would Dream. While the LP — recently posted in its entirety by the Tyme-Machine — shares a certain dusty sensibility with Wasted, also released on Tucson’s Vermillion Records in scarce quantity, I Would Dream is an entirely different beast than Wray’s busted heart record.

Mastered by a mysterious “Graybeard,” this is kaleidoscopic sunshine pop as played by sand-caked types. Fiems augments his natural child incantations with folk, soft rock and Sonoran country timbres. He plants his feet in two worlds, one wistful and one jagged. Opener “I Would Dream” sounds appropriately dazed, that is until Fiems curses and steers his sidemen — bassist Charlie Gould and guitarist/drummer Bill Kennedy — into rougher territory.

The lyrics, written by Fiems and his wife (or sister?) Coleen, are alternately naturalistic and doggedly rowdy. “The world is my woman, woman and my child,” Fiems sings on “My Lady,” with a piano that bears a resemblance to the elegiac barroom piano featured on Wray’s “Lonely Son.” Occasionally the record veers into theatrical territory: “Sing It” sounds like it wouldn’t be out of place in the hippie-fied Broadway musicals of the day. But mostly, Fiems mines a unique intersection between cosmic wanderings and rural grooves.

by J. Woodbury

Tracks

1. I Would Dream (Colleen Fiems, Mike Fiems) - 2:13

2. I'll Be  Star - 4:07

3. Touch Me (Colleen Fiems, Mike Fiems) - 2:53

4. Seven Years (Colleen Fiems, Mike Fiems) - 3:55

5. Desert Sands - 3:42

6. Feelin Fine - 2:37

7. My Lady - 3:10

8. Life In The City - 2:54

9. I'm Here (Colleen Fiems, Mike Fiems) - 2:15

10.Sing It (Colleen Fiems, Mike Fiems) - 3:09

11.How Will It Be - 3:30

All songs by Mike Fiems except where noted

Personnel

*Mike Fiems - Twelve-String Guitar, Acoustic, 6-String, Rhythm Guitars, Percussion, Bass, Vocals, Piano

*Bill Kennedy - Drums, Percussion, Electric, Acoustic Guitars

*Charlie Gould - Bass, Lead Guitar (Track 9)

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Gringo - Gringo (1971 uk, exceptional prog rock, 2012 remaster)

Gringo were formed in 1970 from the ashes of Toast and Utopia and played with Black Widow before they record their sole album. It was released through MCA in the summer of 1971 and then they shared the stage with Caravan and Barclay James Harvest. The self-titled album of Cringo is one of the best examples of the Canterbury prog scene without a trace of jazz and the peculiar, almost androgynous lead vocals of Synge fitting perfectly with those of the rest members. Off this magnificent album, two songs stand out, Cry the Beloved Country and I’m Another Man.

Although plans had been laid for a second album with Jon Hiseman as producer, the band split permanently in the summer of 1972 and the four members followed different paths. Synge (as Casey Synge) sang as a session musician in Leigh Stevens, Pilot, Lou Reed, Mott The Hoople, Cockney Rebel, Marsha Hunt and Maggie Bell, Henry Marsh (guitar, keyboards, vocals) was the founding member of Sailor, Simon Byrne (drums, vocals) released a solo album and John G. Perry (bass, vocals) did important things as a member of Aviator, Caravan, Spreadeagle and Quantum Jump while his debut solo album, the stunning Sunset Wading, is one of the most interesting and prominent records of the Canterbury prog scene.

Prog Rocks

Tracks

1. Cry The Beloved Country - 5:55

2. I'm Another Man - 4:16

3. More And More - 4:43

4. Out Time Is Our Time - 5:06

5. Gently Step Through The Stream - 3:55

6. Emma And Harry - 3:56

7. Moonstone - 4:40

8. Land Of Who Knows Where - 4:06

9. Patriotic Song - 5:18

10.I'm Another Man - 3:39

11.Soft Mud - 3:16

All songs by Casey Synge, Henry Marsh, John Perry, Simon Byrne

Gringo

*Casey Synge - Vocals

*Henry Marsh - Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

*John Perry - Bass Guitar, Vocals

*Simon Byrne - Drums, Vocals

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Druid - Toward The Sun (1975 uk, fine prog rock, 2015 japan SHM remaster)

Formed in 1971 by old schoolmates Dane Stevens and Cedric Sharpley, along with local bass player Neil Brewer, Druid spent years playing clubs as a trio before winning a competition by Melody Maker for the best unsigned band. At this point they added Andrew McCrorie-Shand, a recent London College of Music graduate.

The Melody Maker prize included new instruments and a recording contract, and their debut album appeared in July 1975 among envious whispers by rival bands and music publications. The band had a difficult time shaking the charge of hype, and they were also charged in some quarters as being Yes soundalikes -- Starcastle in the U.S. was later to be tarred with the same brush. () - In fact, Druid was an opening act at a number of Yes concerts. The Yes comparison, though an obvious one, is not entirely accurate. While Dane's vocals are clearly styled after Jon Anderson, and Neil Brewer's bass has the classic pick-driven Rickenbacker growl associated with Chris Squire, the rest of the band departs from the formula; McCrorie-Shand's unadorned keyboard parts, for example, have little in common with the lavishly baroque flash of Rick Wakeman or the martial Hammond pounding of Tony Kaye.

With the release of their second album in the spring of 1976, the band distanced themselves from their production and Melody Maker connections. It couldn't make up for the weaker material on their sophomore effort, and the band finally called it quits. Cedric Sharpley was to find success soon afterwards, though, by joining up with a new and unusual band led by an strange fellow named Gary Numan.

by Paul Collins

Tracks

1. Voices (Andrew McCrorie-Shand, Dane Stevens) - 8:14

2. Remembering (Dane Stevens, Neil Brewer) - 5:24

3. Theme (Andrew McCrorie-Shand, Cedric Sharpley, Dane Stevens, Neil Brewer) - 5:26

4. Toward The Sun (Dane Stevens) - 5:08

5. Red Carpet For An Autumn (Andrew McCrorie-Shand, Neil Brewer) - 3:09

6. Dawn Of Evening (Andrew McCrorie-Shand, Neil Brewer) - 10:03

7. Shangri-La (Dane Stevens, Neil Brewer) - 10:08

Druid

*Dane Stevens - Guitars, Vocals

*Andrew McCrorie-Shand - Keyboards, Choral Arrangements

*Neil Brewer - Bass

*Cedric Sharpley - Drums, Percussion

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Dragonwyck - Fun (1974-76 us, essential art prog psych rock, 2008 remaster)

This previously unreleased album from 1974 rounds off the World In Sound trilogy of Cleveland´s most celebrated 70s "art-psychedelic" rock groups. It´s Dragonwyck´s most professional piece of music and truly decent pioneering in combining 60s psych compositions with tape looping (comparable to the "Dark Side of The Moon" album) and symphonic elements: "Fun is what the name implies; hard work, a lot of sweat. Orchestrated rock that is orchestrated without an orchestra". Sure they were inspired by the conceptions of giants, like Genesis, 70s Pink Floyd, Gentle Giant or Yes and express a few Doors / Bowie-flashes to sound finally as a unique collage of detailed studiowork. 

Compared to the time when it was recorded it´s innovatively produced and became a great artistic statement with finally 10 original cuts (plus 2 bonustracks/8 p. colorbooklet). You´ll hear prog-psych and crazy symphonic perversions with weird vocals/voices, powerful guitars, violin and lots of keyboards. While the first album (WIS-1023) was minimalistic dark/heavy and strong Doors influenced, the second (WIS-1030) created more "British Invasion"-sounds a la Moody Blues or King Crimson, to make this third album the most variative and unexpected one.

Tasty Odds 

Tracks

1. The Music (Jack Boessneck, Tom Brehm, Bill Pettijohn) - 3:04

2. One More Goodbye (Jerry Moran, Bill Pettijohn) - 3:53

3. He Loves You (Bill Pettijohn) - 2:45

4. I Shall Stay (Tom Brehm) - 3:54

5. Relics (Tom Brehm, Bill Pettijohn) - 4:17

6. Doncha' Cry (Jerry Moran, Bill Pettijohn) - 3:21

7. You Gotta Have Fun (Bill Cavanaugh) - 1:00

8. Ain't That The Way She Goes (Tom Brehm, Jerry Moran, Bill Pettijohn) - 2:59

9. A Dream For Me (Jerry Moran, Bill Pettijohn) - 3:30

10.Forever (Tom Brehm) - 4:22

11.Not Over: Flying Turns (Bill Cavanaugh) - 5:07

12.I Am You (Jon Simonell) - 5:05

Tracks 11-12 as the Flying Turns

Dragonwyck

*Tom Brehm - Guitars, Violin

*Tim Layman - Bass

*Scott Barnes - Bass

*Dale Flanigan - Drums

*Butch Roth - Drums

*Bill Pettijohn - Lead Vocals

*Jerry Moran - Keyboards 

*Peggy Cella - Vocals

Flying Turns

*Bill Cavanaugh - Guitars, Vocals

*Tom Brehm - Guitars, Electric Violin

*Jerry Moran - Keyboards 

*Jon Simonell - Keyboards, Vocals 

*Michael McBride - Drums 

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Fenton Robinson - I Hear Some Blues Downstairs (1977 us, awesome electric chicago blues)

Fenton Robinson was heralded as one of the most progressive guitarists in Chicago as well as one of the true intellectuals on the scene–a Tolstoy and Kafka reader also known as ‘The Mellow Blues Genius.’ He was one of the first acts to be signed to Alligator Records, and his considerable talents as a singer, instrumentalist, and songwriter were well showcased on his second album for the label. 

"I Hear Some Blues Downstairs", which in addition to the catchy title track also includes a remake of the classic ‘As the Years Go Passing By,’ which Robinson recorded in its original version for Duke Records in 1959. Sidemen on the album included Bill Heid, Steve Ditzell, Larry Exum, and Ashward Gates, with a horns arranged by one of Chicago’s other most advanced guitarists, Reggie Boyd.

Tracks

1. I Hear Some Blues Downstairs - 4:14

2. Just A Little Bit (Ralph Bass, Buster Brown, John Thornton, Fats Washington) - 4:34

3. West Side Baby (Dallas Bartley, Johnny Cameron) - 5:03

4. I'm So Tired - 3:53

5. I Wish For You - 3:13

6. Tell Me What's The Reason (Florence Cadrez) - 3:19

7. Going West - 3:43

8. Killing Floor (Chester Burnett, Howlin' Wolf) - 3:37

9. As The Years Go Passing By (Deadric Malone) - 4:48

All compositions by Fenton Robinson except where stated

Musicians

*Fenton Robinson - Guitar, Vocals 

*Billy Brimfield - Trumpet

*Earl Crossley - Tenor Sax 

*Steve Ditzell - Rhythm Guitar

*Larry Exum - Bass

*Ashward Gates, Jr. - Drums

*Bill Heid - Keyboards

*Bill MacFarland - Trombone

*Reggie Boyd - Horn Arrangements

1974  Fenton Robinson - Somebody Loan Me A Dime  

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Sam Apple Pie - East 17 (1972 uk, fine blues rock, 2005 remaster)

In 1970 they played the first Glastonbury Festival, after which Morley and Charles left to form Help Yourself and Steve Jolly to join Procol Harum offshoot Freedom. After several more line up changes, the band recorded their second album East 17 in 1973, with Sam Sampson and Bob Rennie from the first album supported by Andy Johnson and Denny "Pancho" Barnes on guitars, and Lee Baxter Hayes on drums.

They disbanded in 1974, but reformed the next year. During the hiatus, from mid 1974 to February 1975, the band members performed with Vincent Crane as Vincent Crane's Atomic Rooster. Further line up changes included bassist Gary Fletcher, who subsequently joined The Blues Band and drummer Martin Bell. The band continued into the late 1970s, changing its name to The Vipers, Gary Fletcher on GTA agency site Retrieved 11 November 29 (not to be confused with the new wave band of the same name) before disbanding.

Tracks

1.Good Time Music (John Sebastian) - 3:48

2.Louise (Andy Johnson, Sam Sampson) - 4:59

3.Out On The Road (Andy Johnson, Sam Sampson) - 4:28

4.Route 66 (Bobby Troup) - 2:32

5.She's The Queen (Andy Johnson, Lee Baxter Hayes) - 4:36

6. Old Tom (Andy Johnson, Sam Sampson) - 4:04

7.Flying (Andy Johnson, Sam Sampson) - 5:27

8.Call Me Boss (Andy Johnson, Lee Baxter Hayes) - 4:38

9.Another Orpheus (Andy Johnson, Denny Barnes, Bob Rennie, Lee Baxter Hayes, Sam Sampson, Eckersley) - 4:58

Sam Apple Pie

*Sam "Tomcat" Sampson - Harmonica, Vocals

*Bob "Dog" Rennie - Bass

*Andy Johnson - Guitar

*Denny "Pancho" Barnes - Lead Guitar

*Lee Baxter Hayes - Drums

1969  Sam Apple Pie (2003 digipak expanded and 2013 japan remasterd editions)  

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