Toad Hall - Toad Hall : Class of '68 (1968)

Rate Your Music

Link

Scorpion - S/T (1969)

A strong local Detroit, Michigan, band's only album containing hard rock with a funky edge.

Rate Your Music

Link

Pride - Pride (1970)

Pride never existed, it was just a name to cover the work of sessions players: Earl Palmer, Don Randi, Lou Morrell again, plus Tommy Tedesco and Al Casey on guitar, Arthur Wright on bass, Gary Coleman on percussions, and Nooney Rickett did the three voice parts, overdubbing himself. Axelrod's son, Michael, wrote the lyrics. The album was recorded for Warner, as Axelrod's then manager, Joe Sutton, project (he walked in Warner, said he has a group, Pride, and got a deal ! Nobody checked the group did not even exist!).


Rate Your Music

Link

Calliope - 'Steamed (1968)

Great US Psych. with Paul Goldsmith, Danny O´Keefe, John Simpson and Clyde Heaton.

Rate Your Music

Link

Isis - Isis (1974)

This is an obscure gem. A pastiche of musical influences that defies categorization, which is probably the reason it was not a big seller.
Its got funk, r.& b. sensibilities, with tower of power horns but it is the sum of its parts that fascinates. ISIS is a crazed joyous prog-folk-soul hybrid. Fans of Jethro Tull, Spirit and Curtis Mayfield would certainly like this. A great collage of sounds, powerful vocals, and dynamic guitar runs. This is an all woman group. An all SILVER woman group to be precise. by phnuggle

Rate Your Music


Link

The Winkies - The Winkies (1975)

Recorded well before the release date of '75, The Winkies debut is a credible release of pub rock songs in the same mould as Graham Parker's backing band The Rumour with the R&B roots of Dr Feelgood.

Brian Eno (who The Winkies toured with as his backing band), makes a guest appearance on one track and with production credited to Ten Years After bass player Leo Lyons.

Only available on CD on Japanese import at present and at a silly cost. Anyone remotely interested in this sort of music with that bar room kick, should have a search for head man Philip Rambow's two excellent solo efforts....Shooting Gallery and Jungle Law, of which both better this album by a long stretch.

Rambow of course, went on to be a hit songwriter and gained a number one spot with "There's a Guy Works Down the Chip Shop, Swears He's Elvis" for Kirsty MacColl in 1981. By mojojeff

By request!

Rate Your Music

Link

Los Microwaves

Los Microwaves play quirky synth-pop with a punk attitude, rhythmic ("Time To Get Up") and melodic ("What's That Got To Do"). The band prove a formidable groove machine ("TV In My Eye", "Coast To Coast"), worthy successors of the B-52's and Polyrock.

Despite the seemingly pop settings, electronics can border on dissonance ("Is There Life After Breakfast"), while the group can easily adapt it's style to incorporate the surf stylings of "Forever", the jazzy bassline & keyboards of "Postponed Is Not Forgotten", the synth-brass of "La Voix Humaine", the no-wave of "If You Want It" etc.

Los Microwaves are synth-punks with an uncanny ability for grooves, as well as an intellectual background. By ILY

Rate Your Music


















Los Microwaves - Life After Breakfast (1981)




















Los Microwaves - Radio Heart / Coast to Coast (1979)

Virgin Insanity - Illusions of the Maintenance Man (1971)

USA, psych folk

Rate Your Music

Link

The Group Image - A Mouth in the Clouds (1968)

This eccentric New York hippie collective recorded only one album, which makes its CD debut here. A superb collection of psychedelia, touching on folk, jazz and electronica, it has been compared to Jefferson Airplane, the Mamas & the Papas and Tim Buckley, but ultimately has a sound of its own that makes it a treat for all fans of genuine acid psychedelia. Originally released in 1968. Freak Emporium

Rate Your Music

Link

Hook - Hooked! (1969)

With a crashing organ chord, and a cry of "GOOD GOD!!", the Hook returns with a triumphant second disc. Give them credit for recognizing their limitations. For their second album, the group replaced their drummer, and added a keyboard player. While still missing a bona-fide songwriter, the result is a fuller, more varied sound that still manages to retain their astronomical energy level.

The front side presents them at the absolute top of their game. Three blistering rockers ("Go", a stretched out remake of the debut's "Son of Fantasy", and a cover of The Kinks"You're Lookin' Fine" that gives new meaning to the concept of "potency"), and a surprisingly effective ballad ("Magic in the Air"), that should have been a breakout hit.

Side two cools off a bit, bracketed by two less than stellar compositions ("Hook Can Cook", and "You Don't Have to Stay", the latter an example of a needless misogyny that is sporadically apparent in their catalogue), but redeems itself with a cover of Ike & Tina Turner's "All Around the World", the engaging "A Beautiful Tomorrow", and the slight but endearing "Love Theme in E Major".

Unfortunately, after one further pleasant but forgettable non-album single, the Hook disbanded, with bassist Buddy Sklar becoming a ubiquitous session musician, and keyboardist Dennis Provisor eventually turning up in The Grass Roots. The band's entire catalogue begs for a legitimate CD reissue (which could be accomplished by way of a single disc). The Hook may not have been the best band of their era, but they made the most of what they had, which makes them one of the most compelling. ochsfan

Rate Your Music

Link

Last Call of Shiloh - Last Call of Shiloh (1969)

US xian

Rate Your Music

Link

Aztec Two-step - Aztec Two-Step (1972)

Full info & buy CDs here

Rate Your Music

Link

Lacewing - Lacewing (1970)

From Kent, Ohio, this outfit formed out of the ashes of The Measles, who had once included Joe Walsh before his James Gang days and Joe Vitale, who was also in Chylds and Joe Walsh's Barnstormer. They reverted their name to The Measles after the Mainstream album in 1970.

Their album is a West Coast-influenced affair which ranges from folk tracks like Time To Go to more atmospheric numbers such as Rebirth and on to heavier rock cuts like Epicycle and Play For You. The 45 is from the album and is by far the best track. Fuzz, Acid & Flowers


Rate Your Music

Link

Frummox - Here to There (1969)

Read the amazing story here

Rate Your Music

Link

The Dimensions - From All Dimensions (1966)

Super rare privately pressed garage album by this band from Illinois. Released in 1966 it's a strong selection of high energy rock and roll psychedelic garage with cover versions of "Gloria", "Route '66", "I Need You" and other similar numbers all performed with a powerful intensity. Classic US '60's sounds. Freak Emporium

Rate Your Music

Link

Raik's Progress - Sewer Rat Love Chant (1967)

Drawing on wild and woolly influences as diverse as Capt.Beefheart, Them and the Animals, these San Joaquin Valley boys helmed by Steven Krikorian,later to reinvent himself as hitmaking Tonio K cut an albums worth of material best described as jawdropping!Tracks such as "Sewer Rat Love Chant" and "Why Did You Rob Us","and "Tank" have been gathering dust since..God know's when!Now this brilliant unearthed 60's album has got it's first release and contains the band's quirky garage recordings,circa 66. Freak Emporium

Rate Your Music

Link

Jelly Bean Bandits - S/T (1967)

Hailing from Newburgh in New York State with one of Mainstream's better albums came the Jelly Bean Bandits. More punk than psychedelic it includes some searing guitar and good effects. The album contains the classic Generation, which was arguably their finest moment with a bizarre intro about flying saucers giving way to a driving assault on the senses with searing guitar, powerful vocals and sound effects.

Originaly known as The Mirror, they managed to score a three-album deal with Mainstream on the basis of three demo tracks. Unbeknown to label boss Bob Shad, these were the only songs the band had written and a week-long marathon song-writing session ensued, before they were whisked into the cavernous Columbia Studio "A" to record the album in a generous twelve hours stretch.

Mainstream pulled the plug before the band could start on their second album, although a demo for one track, Salesman was recorded, and the other material written back in '68 may yet see the light... the band are still in touch and have released a second album in the same style & manner as they had intended to do thirty years ago... "look to the skies... the flying saucers will always be there!"

For more information check the bands website:- http://www.jellybeanbandits.com

(Vernon Joynson/Max Waller w/thanks to Mike Raab/Billy Dee)


Rate Your Music

Link

Filet of Soul - Freedom (1970)

Cool psych

Rate Your Music

Link

Elephant's Memory

Although chiefly remembered these days for their role as John Lennon's loose and ragged backup band on his Some Time in New York City album from 1972, Elephant's Memory have a bit more to their history than that. Formed in 1967 by drummer Rick Frank and saxophonist and clarinetist Stan Bronstein, who reportedly met on the New York City strip-joint circuit, the group specialized in an eclectic Frank Zappa-like mix of psychedelia, jazz, and acid-tinged rock, and delivered a truly bizarre stage show complete with inflatable stage sets. Their first album, simply called Elephant's Memory, was released in 1969 on Buddah Records, a label more famous for bubblegum pop groups than whacked-out horn bands.

Two tracks from the LP, "Jungle Gym at the Zoo" and "Old Man Willow," found their way onto the Midnight Cowboy movie soundtrack later that year, which gave the group some visibility, but it didn't exactly translate into sales for the debut album. A second LP, 1970's Take It to the Streets, had even less commercial impact. Then came John Lennon and Some Time in New York City, and Elephant's Memory had their moment in the sun. They released a third album, also called Elephant's Memory and featuring David Peel, on Apple Records later that year, then backed up Yoko Ono on 1973's Approximately Infinite Universe. Angels Forever, which turned out to be the group's swan song, appeared in 1974.

Elephant's Memory left behind what is probably best described as a footnote legacy, since they will undoubtedly always be linked chiefly to Lennon and Ono. An impressive number of musicians passed through the band in its seven-year run, including Frank and Bornstein, as well as Carly Simon (yes, that Carly Simon, who was a member of the group for about six months), Jon Sachs, Gary VanScyoc, Michal Shapiro, Chris Robinson, Martha Velez, John Ward, Chester Ayres, Myron Yules, Richard Sussman, Wayne "Tex" Gabriel, Daria Price, and John Labosca. Footnote they may be, but Elephant's Memory made more of an impact than anyone ever might have suspected from a scuffling New York City street band. ~ Steve Leggett, All Music Guide

Rate Your Music





















Elephant's Memory - S/T (1968)




















Elephant's Memory - Take It To The Streets (1974)




















Elephant's Memory - S/T (1972)

The Fantastic Dee-Jays - The Fantastic Dee-Jays (1966)

Above-average local beat-garage LP by Pittsburgh maniacs who later transformed into the Swamp Rats. Two killer tracks (also out on 45) have been comp'd on Hipsville vol 1 but there's some other good stuff too, though more beat than garage. Some tracks have a lo-fi dawn of man feel, such as "Apache". They had several 45s as well. The old boot reissue has some sleeve wear from the copy that was used. [PL] Acid Archives

Rate Your Music

Link