LEGS DIAMOND-LEGS DIAMOND-

Released in 1977 this outfit from LA California is, for me, a turning point in American hard/metal rock progression.

As kings at partying in San Antonios frathouse/parking places, where this band had a huge following, their debut album is a really knockout. There are some very heavy influences from late Deep Purple in the songs in a positive way and yet it´s a personal and admirable record. No wondering why Legs Diamond also goes by the moniker “The American Purple”

The producing of the album is top notch with great vocals, guitars and drums. A story that goes around is that Gene Simmons was so impressed by the song”Satin Peacock” that he wanted it for Kiss but that just didn´t happened. That´s  a cool story….  🙂

Whatabout the drummer??

Jeff Poole has been with the band ever since the startup and there´s nothing bad about his playing. It´s definitely better than Peter Criss, who would be the nearest to compare by. Thanks to the good producing of the album you tend to forget about the drums which is good in one way but sad, if you wanted to do a statement on the album.

This album is as good as Montrose debut in 1973. Slick, powerful and very American.  If you´re in for this type of almost AOR this one´s already in you possession, otherwise it´s a good purchase and it´s rather cheap.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

The only thing a drummer to another never ever have in common is the use of snare drums. While guitarists and other must have musicians can actually get along  sometimes, there´s always disagreement among drummers which snare drum to prefer at certain times.

And why is this?? As a drummer the snare drum is the only thing that will seperate you from another. The snare is the signature sound to your prefered playing style and a very personal way to adress your audience.

There´s no way a serious drummer would say, – Oh I´m happy to borrow yours..

To find out what is your preference when it comes to a personal sound and signature there´s only one way to find out. Keep on trying and testing!!

The first choice is to get comfortable with size and depth. A good beginning is to choose a die cast snare with depth of 5-6,5″ and a good batter drumhead that suits your musicstyle. This will probably take sometime because it´s a jungel out there with models this and models that…

The choice of a good die cast snare will cover 85% of all musicstyles and the only thing you´ll need to change would be the choice of drum head batter.

A good tip would be to invest in a Wood Shell snare and a die cast snare. You will be surprised how big the difference is between these two and ultimately with different drumhead batters on them.

Enjoy Reading more from the article in modern drummer.

A real treat for the one who´s lost in  choice and are looking for a personalized sound of one´s snare drum.

Enjoy!

http://www.moderndrummer.com/site/2014/12/need-know-snare-drums/

Released in 1970 this is one historys most underated albums when it comes to Hard/Heavy rock impact. Classic rock magazine even called them “the lost pioneers of Heavy metal” Not bad..

Originated from Houston Texas this four piece band(at the time of this album) put in a lot of Sabbath/blues into their Music. With the vocals howling and great fuzzy guitar to follow it up, this is a treasure for those who are in to hard/psych/Heavy rock from the early 70´s.

Many of the tracks appear on their prevoius release in 1969 but the new additions to this album just verify that you´re in for the real deal. As the saying goes; Don´t mess with Texas, just fits right in. The producing could have been better but it doesn`t suffer that much. Raise the volume and it will be fixed.. 🙂

Whatabout the drummer?? Doug Tull is his name and I must say that the resemblance with Bill Ward of Black Sabbath is striking. Heavy impact, thunderous playing on the drums gives this album the edge it deserves. This is a must listen and here are some nice things to take with you on the way.

What a thrilling thought if the band had tuned down a notch and really went “all in” for some more heavy sound…but that´s what dreams are made for.. 🙂

A stunning piece of work gives me the pleasure to recommend you to buy this album, a really good testament of great American hard/Heavy rock at its best.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

ORANG-UTAN   ORANG-UTAN-

Released only in the US 1970 by Bell records this English outfit is not only bold enough to put a fuzzy ape on the cover, they really deliver too..

Relying upon great bluesy riffs with great Twin guitar playing this is a fiest for anyones ears. Branded as acid/prog/hard and Heavy it´s a bit of a riddle why this is an album that has eluded people, because it´s a great album.

The story goes that no one of the band was informed by the upcoming release of the record in the States and even so they still persuaded fame under the name “Hunter” claimed from the Albert King song. The idea was put up by the producer of the album, Adrian Miller who even stole the material for this one release and convinced their unsuspected manager to trade the bands name to Orang-Utan…Hey where´s the animal rights Group ????

And whatabout the drummer, Joe Seopardie?? As a mainman behind all songs his playing is a bit under avarage. Cautious is the Word here. It lacks a bit of “go for it” and as for comparison to the guitars and bass playing it´s a shame, this could have been much better.

Although, great songs, terrific producing and a lot of head nodding overall. If you´re in to hard/blues/prog rock this is a must have record and it outplays almost any record from this timeperiod. There are some great reissues for small cash out there so do not hesitate…

Don´t forget to raise the volumeknob a few notches when you play it because that´s what this album deserves.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

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

MASTER´S APPRENTICES-CHOICE CUTS-

Released in 1971 and recorded in London by the fall in 1970, this is a milestone in Australian proprog history.

After winning a music competition in may of 1970, the band got the oppertunity to go to England and record an album and try to conquer the british musicscene. As they never really got through to the common people, the album they made is never the less tremendous. Reviews and musicpress hailed the album as ” standing out from the pile”

The songs are a bit mixed in style with much Heavy bottom and some tendensies to oversteer to almost prog. Mixing blues/hard rock with progression gives a unique standing by comparision of the Australian progscene, no album get you to the other side of things like this one does. This is a good album in that sense.

Jim Keays vocal abilitys reminds me of Geddy Lee in Rush but with a bit more feeling, awesome. The guitar of Doug Ford is the force behind the band, good riffs and melodies and catching solos. The Bassguitar playing are second to none. If I didn´t know that he where selftought you could have fooled me, this is great playing and delivering.

Whatabout the drummer, Colin Burgess?? The first thing that strikes me is that it´s not Colin who´s in charged here. A bit anxious plying from time to time but nothing to get upset about. Mr.Burgess doesn´t leave the feeling that you just experienced something out of this world. A bit boring…

It would be easy to recommend you to buy this album.. but; if you´re not interested in this borderline Music between/prog/blues/hard rock you should go for their runner up album   ” A toast to Panama red” but more of that album further on up the road.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD!-WORTH BUYING-

The ultimate thing in this World would be the invention of a drop-free stick. I wonder how many times, especially on overload, the harder you engage in playing the slippery the sticks get. But no worries, here´s the tip of day.

It´s a simple thing to just get yourself a nice can of drummers wax to rubb in to your eehh.. stick(s)…and why not? Guitarists and bass players are always complaining about bad strings, fuzzy sound etc, etc…so it´s time to recognize the problem of slippery sticks.

Personally i´m not a big fan of drummers gloves, this abomination should be banned from planet Earth. It´s enough that Matt Sorum thinks there cool to take a stand against them…

There are times when humidity, moist and other factors out of your Control  makes you drop a stick and  it´s always bad timing when this occurs.

Here´s one for you drummers out there, a piece of Sex wax for your rough palms!!

I know there are other brands but this one´s highly recommended and use to serve surfers and their boards and that´s just plain cool…

Do notice the recommendations and DO NOT EAT or CHEW..just in case 🙂

My final tip of the day about slippery sticks comes from Mikkey Dee, notorius drummer with Motörhead;

“-Just pour a bottle of Coca-Cola in a bowl and dip your hands in it, let it dry out and you got yourself the best sticky surface when it comes to slippery sticks”

A good and clean enviromental way to get the grip.

Enjoy.

http://www.musicroom.com/se/id_no/0443296/details.html

MEGATON-MEGATON-

Released in 1971 this album is a true mystery. Little is know of the origins of the musicians that´s contributing to this Heavy/hard/prog rock tasting jewel.

This one/off experience by Les Humphries and Jimmy Bilsbury, who made their fame in europe by singing more or less schlagers and fine tuned melodies, is an all forgotten gem when it comes to copying the time periods mastodonts, Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath.

When you dissect this album it´s a funny, good production with great playing, awesome singing and great tunes overall. Yet I wonder why someone names a song”Coo Cooki Choo”?? Or sings about “waiting for the teapot”….. WTF!!… Hilarious… 🙂

The album does seem to have a serious approach when it comes to the musicians who, apparently, no one knows who they are. There just the ghosts behind the band. Strange..

Some of the guitar playing is up with the best of ´71. A lot of flute, congas and other overdubs gives the songs a touch prog with a sprinkle of glamdust over it. Not bad but very difficult to Place in a category.

Drummer?? Who ever this is, there are no complaints from my side. Good delivery, clean sound and not over shadowing anything.  A very nice job.

If you have an interest in early Heavy/hard/prog rock from Britain a lá 1971 this ones for you. Good Clean rocksongs that would fit in your record collection.

Defintive a  rooster in the henhouse…

VINYLRATIN/GRADE

-5-OK!-WORTH EXPLORING-

GOMORRHA-I TURNED TO SEE WHOSE VOICE IT WAS-

This album was released in 1972 and the last album from Krautrock kings of Gomorrha.

Barely recognized back in the day the impact from this album always get full acclaim when it comes to top lists of the 70´s most influential prog bands.

Hard driven riffs mixed with heavy dosage of english blues, organ and gritty vocals gives this record an unbelieveble tour de force of Krautrock/prog smash in the face.

Great guitar solos makes an extra cool dimension to explore so, hats of to guitarists Ade Ochel and Ali Claudi. The producer is Conny Plank, a legend in Krautrock at Brain records and this is a good piece of work. Some misfits here and there but the overall result is stunning. Great vocals, great guitarsound, an organ sounding like a racecar and the drums are just beautiful….Big smile, Big smile…

 And what about the drummer??

Helmut Pohl is one of the founding members of this outfit from Rhineland Germany. His great fowarding on the drums are in a league of its own. Drivin´the band in some complex tunes are a real treat for any drummer and to keep up in a technical, fast action, playing style is just hard candy adult style!!! Really great playing.

It´s easy to recommend you to buy this album. The cover doesn´t reveal much but as most good albums, don´t judge by the cover…this is a Diamond in the rough!!

This is one of the great Krautrock/prog/hard rock albums and it is difficult to find a comparison record from this time period.

The sad thing is that Gomorrha disbanded one year later and no one contuinued with music. Such a shame.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

7-VERY GOOD-GAME, SET AND MATCH.

BIRTHA-BIRTHA-

Released in 1972 this is a debut that will give your prejudices a bit of a wobble. The first time I heard this record I was convinced that it was a female singer with a bad boy band..WRONG!! This is one of the best albums by female asskickers you´ll ever hear!!

This band originated from LA California and formed in 1968. Heavy touring and club gigs got Dunhill Records interested and an album debut was cut in early ´72. This album has got almost everything a good rock/funk album should have. Great producing makes it good even by todays standards, the guitar by Shele Pinizzotto is awesome. Bassplayer Rosemary Butler got the right groove together with keyboard player Sherry Hagler. All Girls share the vocals and it´s a really nice treat for your ears, excellent!!

And now to one of the greatest i´ve ever heard, the drummer Oliva “Liver” Favela. This drummer deserves a chapter of her own.

I use to let my friends guess who´s the drummer  without revealling the the name and I get suggestions like Ian Paice, Simon Kirke,  Carmine Appice etc…It is with great joy when i tell them who´s playing, this is a Mammoth drummer!!

Her style is fresh, fast, persistant, clear strikes and fantastic dynamics. I always get on a good mood when I turn this album on, very inspiring. In my opinion she brings out the best of all four bandmembers. She´s got balls…Plenty of it!!

Standout song would be the single track “Free Spirit” Another great passway is the drumfills in “Judgement day”  Splendid!! To bad the album suffers from some cheesy ballads but hey! Nobody´s perfect…

Birtha released another album before disbanded in 1975 but this is the one to get.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

6-GOOD-WORTH BUYING-

CREATION-WITH FELIX PAPPALARDI-

Released in 1976 this album is either called as the headline or the other way round if you got the US edition.

This blues outfit originated from Japan called “Blues Creation”and  had already released an acclaimed album back home in japan and came in contact with Felix Pappalardi during Mountains japanese tour in 1973.

Back in ´75 guitarist Kazud Takeda got in touch with Mr. Pappalardi and they got together and co-wrote this album.

The album is as rollercoaster blend of psychadelic ballads, hardrock and fusion songs.The most obvious thing is the lack of sheer power and attitude. There is some really brilliant playing from the guitarist and some songs has got Mountain DNA in them but you just got to admit that this is not the best produced album in 1976.

Sometimes I just wondered if there´s a malfunction on my HiFi. Dull, muffed  is the soundpicture through the whole album, the guitar has got a jazz sound to it and that´s not helping….

The drummer, Masayuki Higuchi, doesn´t make you wanna strip your clothes and run around naked. Avarage playing with a cautious attitude gives a perfect fit for the album in a non positive way. More volume and attitude during production would make this album climb a bunch of notches.

The album is not a total loss. There are some good things to pick up but it´s just to much of a pendulum to give it a go for purchase. It just stumbles from bad to cheesy.

VINYLRATING/GRADE

CHEESY-AVARAGE-