PRODIGAL SONS-PRODIGAL SONS-

This american ourfit recorded this album in the early ´70s and there are debate´s about the year of its release. I do suggest the years 1971-1972 and this perhaps fit the soundframe. As an agressive mix of Hard/Blues/Southern/Psych rock with much to ask for in the way it is produce, there are some really great songs on this raw but eatable recording.

The selfproduced impression of the album leans towards to much guitar and and perhaps an agressive distortion on the vocals. But this is a partycracker album with terrific riff´s and very good drive into every song. I like this!! 🙂 You could say it is an odd mix of German Krautrock injected with southern rock steroids….Preeettty cool…:-)

Whatabout the drummer??? Well, as the search goes on worlwide I don´t really know who´s in charge of the battery on this album. The fierce handon beating brings a resemblence to Bill Ward of Black Sabbath with a an ear towards the groove going on in every tune. There are no whats so ever dynamics going on here, just full throttle playing with OK technical skills. The striking abilities are there but the the most impressive input is the fierce drive and no holds bar hitratio….This is serious beating of the drumkit. Just fits like a glove!! 🙂

The mystery surrounding this album makes it an easy pick for the obscure department. The Hard/Southern/Blues/Psych approach sometimes feels to good to be true and there are rumours that this is a much more modern album but this just adds to obscure storytelling. This is an easy record to get with a descent pricetag. If you´re in for this genre it is easy to just crack up the volume on your system and catch along some very nice early inspiring ´70s heavy rock music…..A nice performance !! 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

FRANTIC-CONCEPTION-

This American outfit came together in the mid ´60s and they travelled the great nation in the west and released this highfuelled Hard/Blues/psych/Prog rock album in 1970. A hard mix with great attitude but a severe fail to pinpoint a clear direction with their music, leaves this album with some mysterious questionmarks.

The production is timetypical with a bit of bite towards the guitars and leaving the drums and for that matter, the whole rhythm section in a a backdraft with little impact on the drive and share force. Some tunes are covers on contemporary hitsongs and you can have more than one opinion about the “Hey Joe” massacre. All in all the whole album brings out a feeling of heavy machinery on full throttle…. A bit distorted power input!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Phil “Gordo” Head??  This fellow do possess the gift of personal impact and got some real nice striking abilities. To bad the production of the album don´t bring in the drums to a more dominant position. The technical skills are there but it is the drive and funky playing style that perhaps collects the points on this album. A great effort!! 🙂

Well, if you´re in for the Hard/Blues/Psych/Prog style from the beginning of 1970 this is a true contender in the obscure department. Few albums got the soundframe and cool audioeffects attached to the songs. Great issues are out there for little more then the avarage record but this is such an unusual album that it is worth every penny. The more spins on the turntable the more you will dig it…Not bad at all….The experience only grows stronger with a cold beer in comfortable reach… 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6-GOOD!- WORTH BUYING-

PAICE ASHTON LORD-MALICE IN WONDERLAND-

As none of the above needs any further introduction, perhaps the album does. This record was released in 1976 and is the result of the collaboration between Ian Paice, Jon Lord and Tony Ashton since 1974. Many great names pass through this odd recording that mix Hard/Blues/Prog/ folk rock into one big teaser on the turntable. This is like the surprisingly good tasting drink you never heard of. A sort of good blender effect!! 🙂

The album is produce with a timeless soundframe with no flaws and the balance between the instruments and vocals are just superb. A healthy dose of Deep Purple seasoning and sweet guitar playing from Bernie Marsden makes this the ultimate bastard child of major rockacts from the United Kingdom out of this timeperiod.  A true Classic!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Ian Paice??? Well this is an easy one. Few drummers have such an impact on rockmusic during the ´70s. The technical brilliance is excellent and the striking abilities are match by very few contemporary drummers. Personality and drive is just there and If you don´t got any influence from Mr Paice during the years, than you´re probably a liar or def. This is just as good as it gets so, lay down and indulge the sweet playing from a masterclass drummer. Thank you Sweet Lord .. 🙂

Most of you rockers out there already got this album and if you´ve missed it I do understand. This is perhaps not the first purchase if you´re looking for when good rock music is to be found by this very talented musicians. Great Hard/blues/Prog/folk rock music with catchy tunes and perfect producing makes this album this years most underrated purchase. Great copies are out there for no money at all and then you got reissues to go for if you want a more polished release. Terrific in all departments & worth every penny!! 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-8-EXCELLENT-HEAD ON RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES COLLISION WITH A FREIGHT TRAIN-

RAVEN-BACK TO OHIO BLUES-

This American outfit originated from Columbus Ohio. This drugfuelled frenzy album was released in 1975 by private pressing through the Owl label. Every song on this album contains a fierce attitude towards Hard/Blues/Psych rock with personal input on every instrument with no what so ever clear direction. It is like the “music” just must pop out as it was intended from the idea stage…very colourful…. 🙂

The production is hollow with a direct timestamp from 1975 but the arrengement´s all before it´s time and this is a very good album in that sense. Not so much for overdubbing and retakes and that just fit the album as it´s a one mans project and ideas. Splendid  persuation… 🙂

Whatabout the drummer???? Well even through advance search I haven´t come across this drummers name. Even though this is a competent drummer with avarage striking abilities and good hit ratio, the technical skills are there but as rest of the band you probably figured out that nobody was clear and sober on this recording. Nothing to get excited about but it fits like a glove on this peculiar recording…

So, if you´re in for biker fuelled Hard/Blues/Psych rock with no what so ever comparison this is a truly gem for you to get your hands on. The original pressing is very hard to get and almost impossible to find for a descent dollar. Thanks to reissues we don´t have to worry and there are good copies out there for a fair price. This is one of those very rare obscure albums that brings out the “prepunk” feeling of music and the sense of DIY practice . This one is a true contender for the never ever heard album of all time…just plain fun!! 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6-GOOD-WORTH BUYING-

BEAR MOUNTAIN BAND-ONE MORE DAY-

This outfit originated from Wickenburg Arizona and this is with nodoubt one of Americas most obscure and rare albums from 1971. With a Hard/Blues/Psych/Folk rock inspirered album this is something you recognize and yet not at all.

The production is thin with almost no overdubs and dual effects. The steady pumping distorted bass together with the excellent guitar and well balanced vocals, this is a treat for sensitive ears. Well performed organ/keyboard playing brings the flavour of a very suggestive but laidback approach to all songs. The excellent sound from the drums makes this album a timepiece with great vintage potential. There are none of the songs that stands out and on the other hand no one falls of the wagon. This is a very good record and a rare find! One more bear, please!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Frank Ford??? This is one of those hidden drummers with a great impact on a recording. Terrific striking abilities and superb hitratio. The technical skills are very good but the the real treat is Dynamics and drive. This is just what I Always try to pinpoint. A personal fingerprint that turns this album around from mediocre to a very nice experience. This dude is an A+ drummer and deserves all respect he can get. A very good job!!

If you´re in for American ´70s style containing Blues/Hard/Psych/Folk rock this is just the album for you. AS many of the Contemporary albums from back in the day is a bit “overbaked” in the studio, this one´s  as fresh as a peach. Juicy and delicious!! Original copies of this private label is out there for horrendous figures but for all of us mortals there are reissues for a descent buck. You will also have some beermoney over because this album must be indulged with some brewer´s choice…. 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-7-VERY GOOD-GAME, SET & MATCH-

TEST-TEST-

This outfit originated from Warzaw Poland and this, their sole album, was released in 1974. Best described as an east-european version of Deep Purple, there are several musicstyles collected on a very odd piece of vinyl. Gathered together here are Hard/Prog/Blues/Folk rock Music with a nice and polished (!!) soundframe. Described and promoted as Hardrock back in the day in Poland, that is a bit exaggerated…

The production is Clean with cool Dynamics towards the vocals and instruments. The compressed soundframe does make the timewearness appearent. The benefit though is the great breaks and will put your knowledge about Eastern europe rock Music up to date. The cover of “Smoke on the water” is just hilarious with Polish/English accent but at the same way a great reminder that Music is a global phenomenom…..excellent!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummers, Henrik Tomala & Ryszard Gromek?? As this album is a cut of several tracks, the first five pieces are a bit raw with personal striking abilities and very good Dynamics. Perhaps This is the better part of the record and it belongs to Mr Gromek. The second part of the record is more Heavy influenced and the drumming is comming towards more of a Power input with less personal reflection. To compare would be unfair but both drummers enjoys great hitratio and technical skills. A great performance due to the fact that almost all western rock Music was banned by the goverment and so forth the musical influences from the rest of the World. With this taking in consideration, this is a very nice effort and experience.. 🙂

So, if you´re in for ´70s Hard/Prog/Blues/Folk rock Music this is a very good contender. Cool guitar-riffs and breaks makes this a very good Blueprint for interesting Music in the genre all in all. As some songs are in their native tounge, this makes the album an even more cool record to get you focused on the musical input. There are great original copies out there for no Money at all and this one´s really delivers in obscure department! Why not try this one at the Music quiz next time?? Bet you get away with a very pleasent evening and many opinions!! 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

PEACE & QUIET-PEACE & QUIET-

This american outfit was formed in Miami Florida and this their sole album was released in 1971. This is just the contrary to the album title with saltwater flavoured Hard/Psych/Southern rock with some excellent vocal tributes.

The production is super with a splendid rhythmsection with a smokin´hammond organ on top to release the fury of this forgotten top notch album. The songs are strong with a good distance towards more heavier Psych-influences of the timeperiod and the album benefits from that approach. There are few low water marks but the softer tunes are way into the Everglades swampland and perhaps they should have ditch a tune or two out there! 🙂 You need a good piece of patience investigating  this album but it will pay off….

Whatabout the drummer, Reuben David Ferguson?? This fellow fit this outfit perfectly and maybe this is just the itch at my back. There are some good striking abilities displayed but there are also to much input with poor Dynamics to upset my ears. The technical skills are avarage with no fuzz to talk about. The hitratio is also a mediocre affair. Perhaps a more personalized drummer with more dynamics and drive could have persued a better outcome? That is my belief. This is more like taking a shower in Cold water..not nice but effective..

If you looking for a lost timepiece with Hard/Psych/Southern rock this is a strong contender. Few albums deliver such a spectrum of songs. The quality waries but you do get some personal input with both violin and I think accordian in some places..not bad but maybe this one was left out from the radio playlist´s… 🙂 Original presses are out there for a handsome piece of your Money but also reissues and maybe a better investment, if you´re not a hardcore fan of American Hard/Psych/southern rock that is…

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

THE ELECTRIC TOILET-IN THE HANDS OF KARMA-

This outfit from Tupelo Mississippi, released this album in 1970. As a Hippie fuming record it consists of Prog/Psych/Country/Blues/funk rock with ideas that perhaps not many bands back in the day would even try to attempt to release on an album.

The production is hollow with a bit of ´60s soundframe. But there are some great passages with terrific vocal efforts and the album contains some pretty good songs with exciting mixes between styles. I just love the input of gospel choruses and high pitch refrain singalong. The hammondorgan is just up with best of the timeperiod. This is absolutely one of history´s most obscure albums and it does the job in a very good way! A surprise album with the name suggesting a lot of Bullshit… 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Jimmy Morgan?? As an avarage fellow with skillful detection for mediocre input this is just a passage through history. There is just plain hitratio and the striking abilities are like a monday morning. If there are some technical skills beyond plain drumming 1-0-1, this fellow is hidding it very well. The extra Point goes out for being in the most obscure album I´ve until this day reviewed. Great timing!! 🙂

This album is just for the hardcore fans of Prog/Psych/Country/Blues/funk rock mixed into one big barrel. This is not something you put on your turntable to impress your saturday night date unless the person is an old school Hippie. An original copy is almost impossible to find but no worries! There are plenty of reissues out there for no Money at all. This one is in it for the race of the most unlikely record of all time. In a Good way!! 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-6-GOOD-WORTH BUYING-

ASHBURY-ENDLESS SKIES-

This American outfit which consisted of brothers Randy and Rob Davis with friends, was formed in Tuscon Arizona in 1980. This, their debut album, was released in 1983. It contains a wellorganized set of songs bending from Hard/Prog/Folk/Southern rock to more Heavy influences in some Points during the album. This is like having a nice cup of coffee with a cupcake flavoured with music at the side…Yummy!!

As this is a very good produced album with terrific vocals and nice guitar harmonies, there is splendid interaction between the participant musicians also. A welldeserved resurrection of the band came in later years with apperances in several festivals with much bigger acts such as Bon Jovi and Alice Cooper. The album is such a treat for a soft evening listen that you almost will forget any invited Company…. A Splendid effort!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Dave Carpenter?? As good as it could be with a Cold Coca Cola in the desert heat during the day, this is just what it is! A perfect solution for the record at the moment but no what so ever after impact, to bring back to the rehearsal room. The striking abilities are fine and the technical skills are good but there here we do lack the personal input and drive. Nothing wrong with the drumming but this is not a drummers record. To bad, with another drummer with more personal style and drive, this would have change the destination significantly…….Well you can´t Always get what you want. 🙂

Persuaders of obscure Hard/Prog/Folk/Southern rock from America already got this album on it´s radar or in the collection. Great copies are out there and there are reissues for a descent dollar. As a timepiece it is one of those truly forgotten masterpieces. no what so ever recognizion back in Europé, makes this a golden ticket towards easy listening but yet great rock Music. This is a true obscure gem!! 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-7-VERY GOOD!-GAME, SET & MATCH-

WINTERHAWK-REVIVAL-

This american outfit got together for the first time in 1977 and released this their full length debut in 1981. After a tenure in college Jordan Macarus got together with his earlier bassplayer Doug Brown and with a new drummer they recorded this early ´80s masterpiece. A mature Hard/Heavy/Prog/Blues rock record that certainly does speak for itself. The overlooked release back in the day makes this a true “in between layer” recording.

A great producing job makes this a very nice album that seems to have survived all time wearness and the great songs are perfectly represented with terrific interaction between the vocals and guitar overdubs. This is a very good album and one of those glowing lights that shows the path to enlightment amongst obscure bands and albums. Top notch!! 🙂

Whatabout the drummer, Scott Benes?? As the belief in astralplanes and afterlife this drummer is a true exception that this demensions must excist. A phantom-drummer with clear resemblence towards Neil Peart with fantastic striking abilities and a hitratio that just puts the Word “Divine” in an Another aspect. The drive and technical skills are amongst the best from this timeperiod and there is nothing lacking in Mr. Benes performance. This just great drumming at top World level so I just bow my head and enjoy the ride along with the turntable. One of the best experiences of my Life!! I´m lost for Words….happy, happy, happy 🙂

Well, if you do like this genre in Music there is probable cause to Think that you already own this masterpiece. If you don´t there are good original copies out there but be prepared to pay a handsome sum of Money. Reissues are available and a much better option because the risk of playing this album over and over until there is no plastic left is eminent. What the heck, treat yourself with a bag of crisps and a case of beer to enhance the experience… the wonderful World of Music!! 🙂

VINYLRATING/GRADE

-8-EXCELLENT-HEAD ON RIGHT BETWEEN THE EYES COLLISION WITH A FREIGHT TRAIN-