Merry Clayton - Merry Clayton (1971 us, fascinating amalgam of blues folk classic rock, 2010 remaster)

The Sophomore album from Merry Clayton, arrived in 1971 and again featured a superb backing ensemble including Preston, Sample, and the James Cleveland Choir. That same year, she also released a cover of the Carole King/Gerry Goffin song "Oh No Not My Baby," which became her second song to crack the Billboard Hot 100 and earned her a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Vocal Performance. That same year, she also starred as the original Acid Queen in the first London production of the Who's Tommy. More high-profile sessions followed, including singing on Carole King's Tapestry, Linda Ronstadt's Linda Ronstadt, the Rolling Stones' Exile on Main St., and Lynyrd Skynyrd's Second Helping, the latter of which found her singing on the classic "Sweet Home Alabama." She also sang on Ringo Starr's Top Five 1974 hit "Oh My My," and the Blackbyrds' 1975 hit "Rock Creek Park," before returning to her solo work with 1975's Gene McDaniels-produced Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow. 

Clayton rounded out the decade with 1979's disco- and gospel-infused Emotion. Though her own recordings slowed over the next decade, she remained a highly sought-after session vocalist, appearing on albums with Irene Cara, the Brothers Johnson, Kenny Loggins, Lou Gramm, and others. She also contributed to several soundtracks, scoring another Hot 100 hit with "Yes" off the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. She branched out, joining Della Reese's all-star gospel group Brilliance and moving into acting with roles in the 1987 Ally Sheedy film Maid to Order and the cop drama Cagney & Lacey. In 1989, she recorded a cover duet of the song "Almost Paradise" with Eric Carmen. 

In 1994, she returned to her solo work with the gospel-inspired Miracles. That same year, she sang on Tori Amos' hit "Cornflake Girl" on Under the Pink. Shen also joined Marianne Faithfull and Darlene Love on the 1996 television show 20th Century Pop for a performance of "20 Rock-Era Standards." More work followed, including sessions with Sparta, Joe Cocker, Holly Robinson, and others. In 2013, she was featured in the documentary about background singers, 20 Feet from Stardom. The film won the Oscar for Best Documentary and the Grammy for Best Music Film. Around the same time, she contributed to sessions for G. Love & Special Sauce's Sugar and Coldplay's A Head Full of Dreams.

In 2014, Clayton was involved in a car crash in Los Angeles that left her with severe injuries to her lower extremities. Consequently, her legs were amputated at the knees. She eventually recovered and returned to work, releasing the 2021 album Beautiful Scars. Co-produced by her longtime friend, A&R legend-Lou Adler, along with legendary gospel vocalist, instrumentalist, and songwriter Terry Young, Beautiful Scars featured songs by Diane Warren and Coldplay's Chris Martin. Also included on the album was a reworked version of Leon Russell's "Song for You," which Clayton first recorded on her  debut album. 

by Matt Collar

Tracks

1. Southern Man (Neil Young) - 3:15

2. Walk On In (Carole King) - 2:44

3. After All This Time (Carole King) - 3:09

4. Love Me Or Let Me Be Lonely (Anita Poree, Jerry Peters, Skip Scarborough) - 3:32

5. A Song For You (Leon Russell) - 4:15

6. Sho'Nuff (Billy Preston, Joe Greene) - 2:44

7. Steamroller (James Taylor) - 3:44

8. Same Old Story (Carole King) - 4:50

9. Light On The Hill (Richard Jones) - 2:40

10.Grandma's Hands (Bill Withers) - 3:30

11.Whatever (Leon Ware) - 2:40

Musicians

*Merry Clayton - Vocals

*Wilton Felder - Bass

*Paul Humphrey - Drums

*David T. Walker - Guitar

*Billy Preston - Keyboards 

*Carole King - Keyboards

*Clarence McDonald - Keyboards 

*Jerry Peters - Keyboards, Vocals 

*Joe Sample - Keyboards

*Abigail Haness - Vocals  

*Patrice Holloway - Vocals 

*James Cleveland - Vocals 

*Curtis Amy - Saxophone

1970  Merry Clayton - Gimme Shelter (2010 remaster)  

Free Text

Just Paste

Merry Clayton - Gimme Shelter (1970 us, impressive blend of rhythm 'n' blues, folk and classic rock, 2010 remaster)

Best known for singing on the Rolling Stones' classic song "Gimme Shelter," Merry Clayton is a powerful, gospel-influenced vocalist who's had a long and successful career as backup singer, solo artist, and actress. A member of Ray Charles' Raelettes in the early '60s, Clayton rose to fame singing backup on the Rolling Stones' 1969 anti-war anthem "Gimme Shelter." The song gained immediate popularity, eventually reaching the status as one of the best songs to emerge out of the Vietnam era. Clayton covered her own version of the song for her 1971 debut album, Gimme Shelter, and built upon her success, releasing several more albums and continuing to sing for artists like Carole King, Linda Ronstadt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and many more. Raised in the church, she also sang in a gospel group with Della Reese and got into acting, appearing in film and on TV. Following her appearance in the Oscar-winning 2013 documentary 20 Feet from Stardom, Clayton was involved in a car accident that resulted in the amputation of her legs. Ever resilient, she recovered and in 2021 completed her return to the spotlight with the ebullient studio album Beautiful Scars.

Named Merry in honor of her birth on December 25, 1948, Clayton grew up in New Orleans in a religious, musically inclined family, the daughter of Eva B. Clayton and Reverend A.G. Williams Clayton, Sr. Beginning at the age of five, she sang with her siblings (including percussionist Sam Clayton) at her father's New Zion Baptist Church. After a family move to Los Angeles, the then-teenaged Clayton caught the attention of vocal group the Blossoms, members of whom took her under their wing and encouraged her to pursue a music career. Often mistakenly billed as "Mary," Clayton quickly found work singing backing vocals. In 1962, she made her recorded debut duetting with Bobby Darin on the song "Who Can I Count On? (When I Can't Count on You.)." Around the same time, she released the Jack Nitzsche-produced solo single "The Doorbell Rings." In 1963, she also recorded the original version of "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's in His Kiss)," which would become a Top Ten hit for Betty Everett the following year. 

More work followed, including a stint as a member of Ray Charles' backing vocal group the Raelettes. She also sang on tracks with a bevy of iconic performers, including Pearl Bailey, Phil Ochs, Burt Bacharach, Tom Jones, Joe Cocker, Linda Ronstadt, and Carole King, as well as appearing on several tracks off Neil Young's debut album. However, it was her 1969 session on the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" that solidified her reputation. Recorded during a late-night session with producer Nitzsche, the song heavily featured Clayton (who was pregnant at the time) throughout, including on the chorus, which found her harmonizing with Mick Jagger. Although never officially released as a single, "Gimme Shelter" helped land Rolling Stones' album Let It Bleed at number three on the Billboard 200 and became an iconic anti-war anthem of the Vietnam era. Regularly played at the Stones' live shows, it is largely considered not just one of the group's best songs, but one of the best songs of the '60s.

In 1970, Clayton followed her success with the Rolling Stones by releasing her debut solo effort, Gimme Shelter. Produced by Lou Adler, the album found her backed by a bevy of soul and funk musicians, including keyboardists Billy Preston and Joe Sample, guitarist David T. Walker, drummer Paul Humphrey, and others. Her version of "Gimme Shelter" peaked at number 73 on the Hot 100. That same year, she sang a version of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" which was included on the soundtrack of director Robert Altman's film Brewster McCloud, and she contributed two songs to Donald Cammell and Nicolas Roeg's film Performance, which also starred Jagger. 

by Matt Collar

Tracks

1. Country Road (James Taylor) - 3:45  

2. Tell All the People (Robby Krieger) - 2:54  

3. Bridge Over Troubled Water (Paul Simon) - 5:47 - 

4. I've Got Life (Galt MacDermot, Jerome Ragin, James Redo) - 3:27 

5. Gimme Shelter (Mick Jagger, Keith Richards) - 3:30  

6. Here Comes Those Heartaches Again (James Cleveland) - 3:03  

7. Forget It I Got It (Jimmy Miller, Gary Wright) - 2:53 

8. You've Been Acting Strange (Billy Preston) - 3:16  

9. I Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Away (Merry Clayton, Billy Preston) - 4:19  

10.Good Girls (Billy Page) - 2:43  

11.Glad Tidings (Van Morrison) - 2:40

Personnel

*Merry Clayton - Vocals

*David Cohen - Guitar

*Gary Coleman - Percussion 

*Victor Feldman - Percussion 

*Paul Humphrey - Drums

*King Errisson - Congas 

*Lou Morrell - Guitar 

*Orville 'Red' Rhodes - Guitar

*Billy Preston - Organ, Piano

*Joe Sample - Organ, Piano

*Louie Shelton - Guitar

*David T. Walker - Guitar

*Bob West - Bass 

Free Text

Just Paste

The Mirage - Tomorrow Never Knows Singles And Lost Sessions (1966-68 uk, delicate swinging psych pop, 2006 release)

Although an unauthorized Mirage CD compilation (You Can't Be Serious) combining some of their singles with unreleased material made its appearance around 2000, this official anthology is preferable for its better sound quality and thorough liner notes. Tomorrow Never Knows -- The Pop Sike World of the Mirage: Singles & Lost Sessions is still not a complete document of the group, featuring just six of the tracks that appeared on their eight singles (some of which were issued under different names than the Mirage), though it does offer a whopping 17 unreleased cuts, some of which didn't show up on You Can't Be Serious. 

As a band obviously inspired by the Beatles, the Hollies, and to a lesser degree by the Who and the Kinks, the Mirage were more convincing emulators than most, though they still weren't as original or as inspiring as their role models. The best comparison might be to the Hollies as they were moving from British Invasion pop to psychedelia-influenced pop -- there's more ambition at work here than the average British Invasion group, but it's not nearly as far out or cutting edge as the Beatles and the Who were by the late '60s. If you're looking for comparisons, some of them are in-your-face; "You Can't Be Serious" can't fail to bring to mind "Nowhere Man"-era Beatles with a dash of the Hollies. 

Meanwhile, the demo of "Lazy Man" is a rip-off of "Rain"; although it was rearranged so that the similarity was far more subtle by the time it had been re-recorded for a 1967 single, the rearrangement in turn borrowed heavily from the Who circa "Happy Jack." There's also their brave interpretation of "Tomorrow Never Knows" for a 1966 single, and while that track has its novelty value as a cover of a Lennon-McCartney tune rarely done by other artists, its far more basic rock arrangement can in no way stand up to the brilliant psychedelic original. 

The Mirage's strongest suit was probably their slightly spooky, almost churchy story-songs, like "The Wedding of Ramona Blair" (the most famous of their official 45s among '60s collectors) and "Mrs. Buzby." These are strong enough to make this release of some interest to those who treasure that time when British Invasion pop/rock, mod, and psychedelia crossed to some extent, though the Mirage were more competent executors of those trends than innovators.

by Richie Unterberger

Tracks

1. Tomorrow Never Knows (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) - 2:37

2. You Can't Be Serious - 2:00

3. Gone To Your Head - 2:05

4. I Want Love (David Hynes, Ray Glynn) - 2:24

5. Hold On - 2:22

6. Can You Hear Me (Dee Murray) - 2:58

7. One More Time - 1:59

8. That I Know - 2:19

9. The Wedding Of Ramona Blair - 2:14

10.Lazy Man - 2:23

11.Ebaneezer Beaver - 2:22

12.Mrs Busby - 2:33

13.I See The Rain - 2:07

14.Lonely Highway (Ray Glynn) - 2:45

15.Hello Enid - 2:12

16.Is Anybody Home - 2:44

17.What Do I Care - 2:11

18.How's Your Pa (Alan Longstaff, Kirk Duncan) - 2:59

19.Lazy Man - 3:02

20.See My World - 2:53

21.Katherine - 2:07

22.Ebaneezer Beaver - 2:03

23.Go Away (Allan Clarke, Graham Nash, Tony Hicks) - 1:52

All songs by David Hynes except where indicated

Track 23 featuring Graham Nash

The Mirage

*Dee Murray Oates - Lead Guitar, Vocals

*Pete Hynes - Lead Vocals

*Ray Glynn - Guitar, Vocals

*Pat Hynes - Bass

*David "Dave" Hynes - Drums, Vocals

*Kirk Duncan - Keyboards

*Jeff Peters - Bass

Related Acts

1970  Jawbone - Jawbone (2007 Rev Ola remaster)   

1972  Brown's Home Brew - Brown's Home Brew (2020 korean remaster)  

Free Text

Just Paste

Morning Glory - Two Suns Worth (1968 us, fine paisley folk psych, 2007 edition)

A seemingly endless tidal wave of groups swept along the Californian coast in the wake of Jefferson Airplane in the late ’60s and Morning Glory is one of the more noteworthy bands who lived in the shadow of the great “White Rabbit”. The band cut their one and only record in May 1968. Produced by Abe “Voco” Kesh (best known for his work with Bay Area psychedelic rockers Blue Cheer) and engineered by John Cale.

The album is a solid, tightly arranged set of lysergic love which puts the stereo effect to head-swimming use while combining barrelhouse psych-organ, upfront drum fills and female-male harmonies, to ensure that trippy vibe keeps you guessing. And numbers as good as the haunting, Eastern-influenced psych-folk melancholia of “Jelly Gas Flame” and the dreamy pop of the harpsichord-led “I See a Light” ensure that this is one obscure vinyl artifact which is actually worth digging up.

by Alan Brown, 8 January 2008 

Tracks

1. Need Someone - 4:28

2. I Cry - 2:34

3. Hey Little Girl - 2:22

4. Stone Good Day - 4:00

5. Even When I'm Up I'm Down (Danny NuDelman) - 5:20

6. Jelly Gas Flame (Danny NuDelman) - 4:38

7. I See A Light (Danny NuDelman, Gini Graybeal) - 3:12

8. Live For Today - 3:12

9. Point Of No Return (Larry Gerughty) - 5:02

10.So Glad Being Here - 3:37

All compositions by Bob Bohanna except where stated

 

Morning Glory

*Danny NuDelman - Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals  

*Gini Graybeal - Lead Vocals, Cymbal, Tambourine

*Larry Gerughty - Organ, Piano, Harpsichord, Vocals 

*Bob Bohanna - Bass, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals 

*Allen Wehr - Drums 

Free Text

Just Paste

Matthew Fisher - Matthew Fisher / Strange Days (1979/81 uk, splendid silky rock vibes)

The self-titled album from 1979 is a superb album, full of heartfelt ballads. 'Anna', for example, combines the slightly folksy singer-songwriter image with big, bold, and slightly epic arrangements that give you the 'small man on a big stage' feel that would, for example, be so successful for the likes of Andrew Gold. In fact, you could draw comparisons between the two here.

Strange Days (1981) offers more power pop sensibilities with a lush production - and lots of double tracked vocals combined with the more new wave music fashion of the period. A higher energy suite of songs, in fact. This album doesn't quite have the dramatic focus of the earlier album but there is still much to like here with a suite of light and airy songs presented with lots of energy. In mastering terms, there is a touch of compression residing within the mids but the effect is quite subtle so that the effect is used more to emphasise detail than to intrude upon the whole soundstage.

Hi-Fi World, April 2018

Tracks

1. Can't You Feel My Love - 4:19

2. Give It A Try - 3:34

3. Back In Your Arms Again - 3:31

4. Only A Game - 4:13

5. Why'd I Have To Fall In Love With You - 4:14

6. Looking For Shelter (Linda Fisher, Matthew Fisher) - 3:50

7. Anna - 4:40

8. Miss Suzie - 2:59

9. Just How Blind - 4:17

10.Running From Your Love - 4:21

11.Something I Should Have Known (Chris White, Matthew Fisher) - 4:17

12.Without You (Chris White, Matthew Fisher) - 4:29

13.Living In A Dream (Chris White, Matthew Fisher) - 3:34

14.Why Can't You Lie To Me (Chris White, Matthew Fisher) - 3:40

15.Only Yourself To Blame (Chris White, Matthew Fisher) - 3:27

16.Desperate Measures - 3:16

17.Can't Stop Loving You Now - 4:09

18.She Makes Me Feel (Chris White, Matthew Fisher) - 3:55

19.Take Me For A Ride (Chris White, Matthew Fisher) - 3:36

20.Strange Days (Chris White, Matthew Fisher) - 4:35

All compositions by Matthew Fisher except where indicated

Tracks 1-10 from 1979 LP "Matthew Fisher"

Tracks 11-20 from 1981 LP "Strange Days"

Personnel

*Matthew Fisher - Multi Instruments, Orchestral Arrangements

*Rod Argent - Vocal Harmony

*Ron Asprey - Alto Sax 

*Steve Bingham - Bass

*Barry DeSouza - Drums

*James Dewar - Vocal Harmony

*Mo Foster - Bass

*Mick Grabham - Electric Rhythm Guitar

*Alan Jones - Bass

*Dill Katz - Bass

*Dave Mattacks - Drums

*Paul Westwood - Bass

*Peter Van Hooke - Drums

*Terry Popple - Drums

*Graham Preskett - Arranger, Orchestral Arrangements

*Tim Renwick - Guitar

*Henry Spinetti - Drums

*Dave Nevin - Vocal Harmony

*Val Stokes - Vocal Harmony

*Steve Stroud - Vocal Harmony

*Stephanie de Sykes - Vocal Harmony

*Clare Torry - Vocal Harmony

*John Verity - Vocal Harmony

*Pete Zorn - Vocal Harmony

Related Acts

1967  Procol Harum (2012 Japan HQCD and 2015 deluxe double disc set)  

1971  Green Bullfrog - The Green Bullfrog Sessions  

1975  Bobby Harrison - Funkist  

Free Text

Just Paste

Badfinger - Wish You Were Here (1974 uk, glistening powerful rock, 2014 japan SHM and 2018 remaster and expanded)

Wish You Were Here was Badfinger’s second and last album for Warner Brothers, and as with their album, Badfinger, was originally released in 1974. This was to have been their breakthrough album. The reviews were great, and it had entered the charts with a bullet but  then it was pulled due to contract disputes with Warner Brothers, mismanagement of money by their manager, and other legal issues. The album disappeared off the shelves, their tour was cancelled, and an album that was to have been a classic was somewhat forgotten.

Chris Thomas was once again at the producers helm (as he was with their two previous albums Badfinger and Ass), and with this album he produced a rock masterpiece. It is interesting that in two short years he would be producing The Sex Pistols.

For this rerelease, Real Gone Music have added a previously unreleased song (“Queen Of Darkness”) and a number of outtakes and works in progress. But it is the original album that still holds up and is the main reason to purchase this new version of the album. Here Badfinger were firing on all cylinders. At this time, Badfinger were Mike Gibbins (drums), Joey Molland (guitar), Tom Evans (bass), and Pete Ham (lead guitar).

There is not a weak song on the album, and it features two incredible medleys: “Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke” and the brilliant “In The Meantime/Some Other Time”. These are cornerstones of this classic album. But really, all the songs are melodic, well produced, and show their excellent musicianship. The album is a rock album in the classic sense of the word, and is instantly accessible.

Wish You Were Here was the last album featuring the four members. 

by Aaron Badgley

Tracks

1. Just A Chance (Pete Ham) - 2:57

2. You're So Fine (Mike Gibbins) - 3:03

3. Got To Get Out Of Here (Joey Molland) - 3:30

4. Know One Knows (Pete Ham) - 3:16

5. Dennis (Pete Ham) - 5:15

6. In The Meantime/Some Other Time (Mike Gibbins, Joey Molland) - 6:46

7. Love Time (Joey Molland) - 2:18

8. King Of The Load (Tom Evans) - 3:30

9. Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke (Pete Ham, Joey Molland) - 5:18

10.Queen Of Darkness (Tom Evans) - 2:38

11.Just A Chance (Pete Ham) - 3:18

12.You're So Fine (Mike Gibbins) - 3:04

13.Got To Get Out Of Here (Joey Molland) - 3:28

14.Know One Knows (Pete Ham) - 3:20

15.Dennis (Pete Ham) - 6:04

16.In The Meantime/Some Other Time (Mike Gibbins, Joey Molland) - 6:57

17.Love Time (Joey Molland) - 2:36

18.Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke (Pete Ham, Joey Molland) - 5:29

Bonus tracks 10-18 only on 2018 Real Gone version

Badfinger

*Pete Ham - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards

*Joey Molland - Vocals, Guitar

*Mike Gibbins - Drums, Keyboards, Vocals On 

*Tom Evans - Vocals, Bass

With

*Average White Horns - Horns On "Just A Chance" And "Should I Smoke"

*Mika Kato - Japanese Spoken Words On "Know One Knows" 

1969  Iveys - Maybe Tomorrow
1970  Badfinger - Magic Christian Music (2010 remaster and expanded)
1970  Badfinger - No Dice (2010 remaster and expanded)
1971  Badfinger - Straight Up (2010 remaster and expanded)

1968-75 Pete Ham - Golders Green  

1970-74  Pete Ham - 7 Park Avenue

Free Text

Just Paste

Sleepy John - Sleepy John (1970 us, rough psych jam rock with heavy swirling organ coupled with fuzzed out guitars, 2004 release)

Hard-driving Lewiston, ID, rock quartet Sleepy John came together at the tail end of 1969, formed by David Lee (keyboards, vocals), Tom Williams (drums), Jim Bartlett (bass, vocals), and Frank Trowbridge (guitar, vocals). Lee and Williams had begun playing together all the way back in 1963 in the Lounj Men, a first band for both teenagers. Like a majority of the garage combos that popped up in that year, the appearance of the Beatles on the American scene was their stimulus and model, though they mostly played instrumental rock & roll on the order of the Ventures. When Lee's family moved to Boise in 1965, he met Trowbridge and, over the subsequent few years, the two formed a pair of beat outfits, the Wondering Kind and Destiny, until the threat of the military draft convinced the friends to relocate to Seattle.

Coincidentally, that very same month Williams, Jim Bartlett, and guitarist Clark Osterson had decided to move their band, Free, from Valhalla, ID, to Seattle as well. In a fortuitous bit of synchronicity, they found themselves bunking in the same boarding house as Trowbridge and Lee. Free found limited success in the summer of 1969 playing the regional open-air festivals, while Lee's new outfit, Silver Bike, worked the local club circuit. When Osterson decided to leave Free, Williams and Bartlett persuaded Trowbridge to return to Lewiston and start a new band. Silver Bike broke up at about the same time, and with Lee also joining the fold, the newly christened Sleepy John -- named after Tennessee "crying" bluesman Sleepy John Estes -- became a four-piece.

Having formed out of the ashes of several working bands, Sleepy John immediately drew from wellspring of developed original material, much of it in a straightforward hard rock vein, though with interesting strains of prog rock and country music, and some subtle satirical inclinations. Improvisation was the quartet's forte, and its communal Sleepy John House was a hot spot for area musicians who wanted to jam. This helped the group, by early 1970, to develop a distinctive sound and, using connections made during the members' previous stay in Washington, to earn key gigs in neighboring Spokane (to where they would eventually relocate), after which they landed steady work throughout the Northwest and Canada, opening for and sharing stages with Badfinger, the Zombies, Moby Grape, and the Mothers of Invention, among others. Frank Zappa was so impressed with their music that he requested Sleepy John to play several dates with his recent discovery, Wild Man Fischer. That spring and summer, the band also completed two separate recording sessions, laying down enough material for an LP's worth of their original songs, all engineered by their friend Paul Speer of fellow Idaho band Stone Garden. Those recordings went unreleased at the time but would eventually form the basis for the 2004 Gear Fab retrospective CD Sleepy John.

After a spiritual awakening and prior to the second recording session, Bartlett left Sleepy John to join the popular Christian band Wilson McKinley, a leader in the early-'70s Jesus rock movement. L.A. transplant John "Bosco" Jackson, who had gone to high school with the Turtles' Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman and played in a pre-Steppenwolf combo with John Kay, took over bass duties, and the band continued to sustain its regional popularity. It would last more or less into 1972, when the quartet slowly and quietly dissolved. Lee moved to Seattle and joined Stone Garden. Trowbridge formed Blind Willie with another bunch of expat southern Idahoans and had success on the Northwest rock circuit. Lee and Williams also hooked up again in the successful retro '50s revue, Louie & the Rockets, which eventually became the Unholy Rollers and then just the Rollers. With a revolving door membership -- including stints by Paul Speer and Trowbridge -- and pronounced comedic elements, the Rollers had a successful eight-year run throughout the United States and Canada before the onset of disco stalled its momentum.

by Stanton Swihart

Sleepy John interview by Klemen Breznikar

Tracks

1. River - 5:34

2. Al Capa Strong - 4:59

3. Nothing - 5:00

4. Dragons - 4:17

5. Prelude To A Dream - 3:50

6. Seasons - 9:27

7. Losing My Plow - 2:13

8. Hard Workin' Woman - 2:54

9. I Just Happen To Be (In Love With You) - 3:40

10.Monday Blues - 5:36

11.You Say - 6:18

12.Trying To Fly - 3:26

13.Blue Sky - 3:43

14.Cowboy - 2:18

15.Searching For The World - 8:18

All songs by Jim Bartlett, David Lee, Frank Trowbridge, Tom Williams

Sleepy John

*Tom Williams - Drums 

*David Lee - Keyboards, Vocals 

*Frank Trowbridge - Guitar, Vocals

*Jim Bartlett - Bass, Vocals 

Free Text

Just Paste

Darius - Darius II (1967-71 us, beautiful bluesy psych acid folk, 2002 release)

Second unreleased Darius album - it continues the story of the famous Chartmaker record. On the electric tunes Darius is again backed by the legendary “Goldenrod“ guys, and several other interesting LA guest musicians! This album includes Darius´ only 45 rpm (Hello Stranger/ I Don´t Mind) and cuts from acetates to become a 15 track collection of sunny psychedelic Westcoast emotions – ranging from beautiful folk over to 2 min. fuzz Rock´n´Roll tunes, psychedelic jams and perfectly arranged orchestrated stuff.

Tracks

1. Don't You Get The Feeling Pt. 1 - 3:07

2. New Start - 2:56

3. I Don't Mind - 2:13

4. Summer Is Over - 2:43

5. Soul Proud - 2:45

6. 44th Floor (Bobby Jameson) - 3:15

7. Beauty - 7:08

8. I Just Don't Understand - 3:41

9. No One Like You - 2:39

10.Hello Stranger (Barbara Lewis) - 2:07

11.Best Girl - 2:39

12.For Now I Love You - 3:03

13.Warm - 2:35

14.Quiet Morning - 2:55

15.Don't You Get The Feeling Pt. 2 - 3:14 

All songs written by Robert Joseph Ott "Darius" except where stated

Musicians

*Robert Joseph Ott "Darius" - Vocals, Guitar

*Jerry Scheff - Bass 

*Joe Osbourne - Bass

*Ed Green - Drums 

*Toxey French - Drums 

*Ben Benay - Guitar

*John Rhys - Guitar 

*Mike Deasy - Guitar

*Michael Henderson - Horn 

*Roy Catron - Horn 

*Ollie Mitchell - Horn  

*Larry Knectel - Horn 

*Armand Kaproff - Strings 

*Bill Krudsch - Strings 

*Bobby Bruce - Strings 

*Harold Dickrow - Strings 

*Israel Baker - Strings 

*Jesse Ehrlich - Strings 

*Leonard Malarsky - Strings 

*Nathan Gershman - Strings 

*Ray Kelley - Strings 

*Sid Sharp - Strings 

*Tibor Zelig - Strings

1969  Darius - Darius (2001 release)  

Free Text

Just Paste

Michael Angelo - Michael Angelo (1976-77 us, wondrous laidback folk psych, 2009 korean bonus tracks reissue)

A brilliant American musician Michael Angelo's self titled debut album has been acclaimed as a masterpiece of soft rock & psychedelic rock. Originally released on Guinn label in 1977, it is an exquisite panorama of folk, soft rock blended with psychedelic sounds. Michael Angelo also has a really nice voice and an impressive scope of musicianship, playing all of the instruments except drums all by himself with some real chops as a pianist and lead guitarist. His Gothic, minor key, nine-eight ballad 'Field of Lonely Eyes' suggests a scope of psychedelic songwriting of The Music Machine. The CD comes out with 7 bonus tracks. Should appeal to fans of The Shoes and similar melodic mid 70s poppy sound as well. 

Tracks

1. Flight Of Pegasus - 4:00

2. Oceans Of Fantasy - 2:50

3. The World To Be - 2:29

4. Lost In The Pain - 2:59

5. Checkout - 2:47

6. Bon Jour Mr. VIP - 2:38

7. Journey (To Find Who We Are) - 2:33

8. Inner Reflections - 3:11

9. Field Of Lonely Eyes - 2:07

10.Future - 5:02

11.Sorcerer's Delight - 2:49

12.Nubian Queen - 3:05

13.January Came Too Soon - 2:33

14.Time Warp - 2:53

15.The Very First Time - 3:20

16.This Is The Night - 3:01

17.Love Is Too High - 2:39

18.Spirits Of Mercury - 3:10

19.S.O.S. Titanic - 3:47

Words and Music by Michael Angelo

Musicians

*Michael Angelo - Vocals, All Instruments (except Drums)

*Frank Gautieri - Drums (Tracks 11-19)

*Eddie Branigan (Track 19)

Free Text

Just Paste

Darius - Darius (1969 us, imaginatively arranged and produced psych folk, with flourishes of flamenco guitar, odd echo-tinkles, and some dynamic organ and bass hooks, 2001 release)

The legendary Darius album, originally released on Chartmaker Records in 1969; those original albums sell nowadays for at least 500$. Darius, the psychedelic "King", is an extraordinary songwriter, poet and singer with a remarkably sensitive voice. His identity was a secret for over 30 years, the detailed booklet-bio tells his story. His backing band are the fantastic musicians of Goldenrod, Jerry Scheff, Ben Benay and Toxey French, well known in the LA studio-scene (Doors, Elvis...). The ten original cuts catch the spirit of mystic-loner folk music and distorted garage-psych rock'n'roll on Sunset Strip Hollywood by the late '60s.

Tracks

1. Shades Οf Blue - 2:16

2. Dawn - 2:23

3. Mist-Veiled Garden - 3:06

4. I'm The Man - 2:40

5. I Feel The Need Τo Carry On - 2:43

6. Dirty Funky Situation - 3:04

7. Blow my Mind - 2:36

8. Sweet Mama - 2:36

9. Ancient Paths - 2:31

10.Hear What i Say - 3:19

11.Don't You Get The Feelin' - 2:35

12.A Woman Like You - 2:29

13.Peace And Love - 4:44

All songs written by Robert Joseph Ott "Darius"

Bonus Tracks 11-13

Personnel

*Darius (Robert Joseph Ott) - Vocals, Guitar

*Ben Benay - Lead Guitar, Arranger

*Mike Deasy - Guitar

*Jerry Scheff - Bass

*Toxey French - Drums

Free Text

Just Paste