Undertones (the) - Listening In Radio Sessions 1978-1982

Name: The Undertones
Album: Listening In Radio Sessions 1978-1982
Year: 2004
Style: Punk
Similar Bands: Clash, The Jam, Buzzcocks, The Adverts, Monkees
"One-Word" Review: Standard Punks Who Became Musicians

Based Out Of: Derry, Northern Ireland
Label: Sanctuary Records Group, BBC Music, BMG 

Cover, Sleeve Back

Liner Notes, CD Back

Liner Photo, CD, CD Tray

Liner Notes

Liner Notes

Liner Notes, Song Details

Listening In Radio Sessions 1978-1982 (2004)

1. Get Over You 2:54
2. Top 20 1:59
3. She Can Only Say No 0:36
4. Male Model 1:52
5. Listening In 2:15
6. Family Entertainment 2:35
7. Billy's Third 1:51
8. Here Comes The Summer 2:01
9. Nine Times Out of Ten 2:34
10. The Way Girls Talk 2:42
11. Whiz Kids 2:38
12. Top 20 2:02
13. Girls That Don't Talk 2:22
14. Tear Proof 2:17
15. What's With Terry 3:17
16. Rock n Roll 3:07
17. The Positive Touch 1:55
18. You're Welcome 2:11
19. When Saturday Comes 2:47
20. Like That 2:57
21. Bye Bye Baby Blue 3:23
22. Beautiful Friend 3:05
23. (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet 2:03
24. Untouchable 3:16
25. The Love Parade 4:11
26. Luxury 2:35
27. The Sin of Pride 3:45

Album Rating (1-10): 9.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Michael Bradley - Bass, Vox (The Wesleys, Bernard Lenoir, Ash)
• Damian O'Neill - Guitar, Vox (The Wesleys, That Petrol Emotion, The Monotones, Everlasting Yeahm Wavewalkers, A Quiet Revolution, Tommy Tate & the Torpedoes, X-Valdez, Bernard Leonoir, Qu4tre, Ash, Rare, Mimi, Aujord'hui Madame, Die Toten Hosen, 5 Billion in Diamonds, Eileen Gogan & the Instructions, Baby Shakes)
• John O'Neill - Guitar, Vox (That Petrol Emotion, Rare, Bernard Lenoir, Wasp Factory, Blink)
• Feargal Sharkey - Vox (The Assembly, Peace Together, Kiki Dee, Bernard Lenoir)
• Bill Doherty - Drums (Bernard Lenoir, Baby Shakes)
• Vincent O'Neill  -Backing Vox
• Steve Hammonds - Release Coordination
• Joe Smith - Release Coordination
• Hugh Gilmour - Artwork & Design
• Larry Doherty - Photos
• LFI - Photos
• Jill Furmanovsky - Photos
• Andy Ferguson - Mgmt (Cracks 90 Ltd.)
• Dave Richings - Recording
• Mick Houghton - Liner Notes
• Bob Sargeant - Producer, Engineer
• Dale Griffin - Producer, Engineer
• Dave Dade - Producer, Engineer
• Mike Engles - Producer, Engineer
• Stephen Nelson - Producer, Engineer

Unknown-ness: This album is one of the more recognizable bands i'm "reviewing"...i probably could take it off the list, but i did not know who they were when i bought this album used back in the mid 00s, a couple years before I started this blog. Figured they were a Clash/Jam style band from the clothes and years this compilation represented. And yeah, spot on.

Album Review: This is a nice compilation that travels the evolution of the Undertones, one of the biggest bands from Northern Ireland's, sound. Starting with their first John Peel session in 1978, where Peel had to foot the 70 pound studio bill for the broke band, through to their final (7th) session in 1982, which apparently the band barely remembers doing. It shows the band's growth from a three chord angsty punk band, the standard first origins step for any punk band. The wavering and harmonized vocals took the Beatles sound, sped it up, and overlaid aggressive guitars over the generally catchy hooks and backing beat. Again, I'm not discovering anything new here, it is a stereotypic start for the genre. Over the sessions, the songs got longer, and more intricate and added in more themes of 60's Psychedelia, Motown and Gary Glitter.

Although this is an Undertones compilation, it lacks their most popular track, Teenage Kicks, missing because, as the band states, they recorded it as well as they could have hoped, and felt no need to replicate it (even if Top 20 is on here twice). They broke up after their fourth album in 1983, but reunited in 1999 for Derry reunion gigs, minus Sharkey, who decided against rejoining. They are still an active band (as of 2021) and i would have seen them last year for the first time, it it weren't for that meddling covid.

Stand Out Track: 78 Peel Session (Get Over You / Top 20 / She Can Only Say No / Male Model)

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Website

Facebook

Twitter

Spotify

Spacetruck - Night Rider

Name: Spacetruck
Album: Night Rider
Year: 2003
Style: Indie-Psych
Similar Bands: Redd Kross, French Kicks, Pavement, Soul Asylum
"One-Word" Review: slacker psych rock
Based Out Of: Austin TX
Label: Brachiator Records

Cover & Back

Gatefold, CD Case Back, CD 

Night Rider (2003)

1. The Descent 6:00
2. The Destroyer 3:48
3. Ballad of Sadie Pryor 4:18
4. Pop Queen 4:56
5. Inner St8 5:06
6. New York City Day Dream 4:30
7. Don't Lie to Jesus 6:17
8. Odessa 1:16
9. Rollaway 9:32

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5 

Members & Other Bands:

• Chris "Frenchy" Smith - Producer, Keys, Piano, Mixing, Engineer (Sixteen Deluxe, Young Heart Attack, Dumptruck, Adrenaline Factor, Jet, Speak, The Answer, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, Neal Mehta, Graveltooth, Li'l Cap'n Travis, Mankin, Beth Hart, The Pocket Symponies, Lower Crass Brats, Ringo Deathstarr, Meat Puppets, Thrill Theory, Jackie Venson) 
• Chris Howard - Bass, Vox (Big Breakfast ATX)
• Kyle Hunt - Guitar, Keys, Lap, Steel (The Black Angels, 1986, Ghost of the Russian Empire, Roky Erickson, My Jerusalem)
• Will Rhodes - Guitar, Vox, Keys ('Til We're Blue of Destroy, Andrew Duplantis & Unfaithfuls, Big Breakfast ATX, Sounds Del Mar, Heartless Bastards)
• Cam Rogers - Drums, Vox (Big Breakfast ATX)
• Saxman Ran (Randal Sanden Jr) - Sax (Big Breakfast ATX)
• Tyler Van Aken - Engineer
• Alex Lyon - Asst Engineer
• Jimmy Burdine - Mastering
• Allen Crider - Mastering
• Factor 27 - Design

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. But with the truck name & imagery, year, track names, and recording in Austin TX, i'm going to predict this to be basic bro-y college rock with the influence of country throughout the album.

Album Review: The music feels accomplished: not simply indie garage band fodder that's forgotton a couple years in the future. There are psychedelic & organ tones balanced with some high kicking Detroit RnR. Even "Pop Queen" is trying to sound like Lou Reed / Velvet Underground. They throw some sax and slow the tempo down for "NYC Day Dream" to add some depth to a song with a fun chorus. The short Odessa is also slow, but is much more a country instrumental than anything else on the record.

Not much about this band out there...a couple supporting tours to major acts like Wilco and Tragically Hip right before this record came out. There is enough depth to the album to show they had promise. Most famous from the group is the producer & multi-faceted Chris Frenchy Smith, who produced some big name aughts bands (Toadies, And You Will Know Us By.., Built to Spill, Meat Puppets).

Stand Out Track: Destroyer

Links:

Discogs

Allmusic

iheart page

Rate Your Music

Spotify

Sardina - Presents

Name: Sardina 
Album: Presents
Year: 1995
Style: Indie Pop, Psych Rock, 
Similar Bands: Spinanes, Ass Ponys, Velocity Girl, Edie Brickell, Shins, Of Montreal (early)
"One-Word" Review: incense and underground coffee house pop
Based Out Of: Indianapolis, IN
Label: HitIt! Recordings

Cover & Back, Promo Sticker

CD, CD Back, Liner Notes

Presents (1995)

1. Ding Dong, The Liberty Horse 2:45
2. I'll Be Around 2:49
3. Pickled Frogs 4:08
4. He's On Drugs Again 4:26
5. Cockadoodledoo 4:29
6. The Formula 2:09
7. Hey 3:32
8. Travel And Tourism 3:17
9. Big Man 4:57
10. Antelopes 5:15
11. Wagon Wheel 5:02
12. Messy Moe 4:52

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Michelle Marchesseault - Vox, Guitar (the Gerunds)
• Marty Green - Guitar, Vox, Organ, Clarinet, Clavioline, Casiotone, Piano, Percussion, Record Player, Water Bottle
• P.J. Christine - Bass, Organ, Trumpet, Vox, Percussion (The Gerunds)
• Lonpaul Ellrich - Drums, Vox, Piano, Harmonica, Concertmate, DX7, Loops, Percussion, Record Player, Water Bottle (The Gerunds, Marmoset, United States Three)
• Vess Ruhtenberg - Slide Guitar (United States Three)
• Kent Jolly - Guitar
• George Sarikos - Accordion
• Ken Waagner - Producer
• Chris Shepard - Recording, Mixing
• Gus Mossler - Recording
• Dan Stout - Editing
• Roger Seibel - Mastering
• Bob Plant - Cover Concept
• Al Brandtner - Realization
• Gary Hannabarger - Photography
  

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but will it be classic rock, like the obvious cover & album name riffing on Led Zeppelin's Presence,  even going so far as to credit "Bob" Plant with the cover concept in the liner notes. Probably not. I'm guessing from the creative tribute and the band members, (assuming they are in the cover photo), it will be solid indie pop with a touch of punk sensibility. The promo sticker on the cover, claims hooks, chanting and psychedelia, and the members cover a bunch of instruments, per the liner notes, so this should/could be a complex sonic sound.

Album Review: The album starts out strong, with great pop tracks with hints of garage psych, and even a smattering of country- these are songs that could have been recorded today, and still sound as relevant, fresh, and not dated. But the album slows down as it reaches the conclusion, piling on the slow 4-5 minute methodical foot draggers to put you to bed. While Marchesseault is the focused singer, everyone contributes their voice to the album, giving it a depth of diversity that continues to keep it interesting. The opening track has a Ween meets Mosquitos quality to it. Pickled Frogs has a little bit of a New Pornographers sound. But I wouldn't say any of those bands typifies this band.

From the ashes of The Gerunds, most of the members came back together, auditioned friend & guitarist Marty Green, and founded Sardina. They were on the verge of big things, as evident by the competence and clear sound on their one and only album,  moved to Chicago to pursue stardom, only to have Green quit, leading to the rest band's collapse; all over a 4 year span. Their parody/tribute cover & name even got them an article in People mag, which may have been as much a negative type-cast critique of the band as it could have been a benefit from big-time press.

Stand Out Track: Pickled Frogs

Links:

Discogs

Allmusic

Music Family Tree
Facebook
Willfully Obscure
Balkans via Bohemia
Rate Your Music
Tiny Idols
Junk Magnet

Chicago Reader review

Forty-Fives (the) - Get it Together

Name:(the) Forty Fives
Album: Get It Together
Year: 2000
Style: Garage, Psych, Detroit Rock
Similar Bands: MC5, Who, Jon Spencer's Blues Explosion, Southern Culture on the Skids, The Hives, Makers,  Revern Horton Heat, Flaming Sideburns, Electric Six, Realistics, 
"One-Word" Review: Energetic Western Psych Garage Rock 
Based Out Of: Atlanta, GA
Label: Ng Records, Artemis Records

Cover, Back, Case Back

Liner Notes, Inner Tray, CD

Get It Together (2000)

1. Get Out 3:36
2. Without Love 2:28
3. More Than Ever 2:07
4. Drive All Night 3:25
5. Undercover Man 3:12
6. Drinkin' With No. 3 2:50
7. King of Mexico 1:53
8. Get It Together 3:18
9. All Now 3:13
10. Anytime at All 2:03
11. Ain't That Lovin' You 2:52 (Jimmy Reed cover)
12. Don't Wanna Be the One 3:10
13. When You least Expect It 3:32

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Bryan G Malone - Guitar, Vox (The Pinx, Bad Spell, The Coathangers)
• Mark McMurtry - Bass, Vox (Every Mother's Nightmare)
• Adam Renshaw - Drums, Vox (Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause, Inverted Nipples, Dirtbombs, Dan Sartain, Black to Comm)
• Trey Tidwell - Organ (Myssouri)
• Matt Chiaravalle - Recording, Mixing, Slide Guitar
• Phil Painson - Asst Mixing
• Greg Calbi - Mastering
• Frank Mullen - Inner Photo
• Robert C Lee - Artwork

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but i feel like there have been a billion bands like them...so i'm guessing they sound like something between the Old 97's and Hives / Electric Six. Part of the retro rock scene, with one foot in oldies garage rock and one foot in high energy sweaty Mooney Suzuki style rock.

Album Review: The album is a fine balance of garage guitar wankery and psych revival organ with a little bluesy western vibe thrown in. The presentation is not in your face, but presents its case as here if you want it. They take power pop and spin it through a 50's greaser lense to make their own style of Detroit Rock, just down in Atlanta. The only song that doesn't quite fit the mold they've created is "King of Mexico," which is a simple & playful track in a campy, humorous way, reminding me of Gringo Star.

With three albums to their credit between 1999 - 2004, the band started out in 1998 as a three piece, and brought in Tidwell & his Hammond organ out of the audience from one of their early shows. It quickly became an important part of their sound, which feels duely dated- in a good way- as both a 2000's gritty rock revival, and as an 1960's garage psych outfit.

Stand Out Track: King of Mexico, Anytime At All

Links:

Website
Spotify

Discogs

Facebook
All Music
Band Camp
Oldies . com
Pop Matters

yep rock
Rate Your Music

Bulgogi - Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby

Name: Bulgogi
Album: Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby
Year:2016
Style: Emo, Metal, Prog, Hardcore
Similar Bands: Mr. Bungle, Mr. Big, Gwar, Dillinger Escape Plan, Majin Buu (the DBZ character), Braniac, Blink 182
"One-Word" Review: Terrified Chamber Prog Punk 
Based Out Of: Asheville, NC
Label: none

Insert Cover & Back, Sleeve Cover & Back

CD & Lyrics / Liner Notes

Juan Dissed the Cyclops Baby (2016)

1. School 4:46
2. Hymn 5:30
3. The Drill 6:51
4. Rotten 7:10

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Nick Jones - Producer, Mixing
• Drew Hall - Artwork
• Tim Tsurutani - Guitar, Vox, Lyrics (Forks of Ivy, Tam Tsu, CAW! CAW!)
• Galen Dotson - Bass (Antique Firearms)
• Ryan Comer - Guitar
• Hugh Huffstutler - Drums

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, and from first appearance, i wouldn't have thought they were american until i saw the back of the insert that said Asheville NC. The artwork and color scheme is gothic creepy & earthy, but they seem like a real band with media/arty backgrounds at their live shows from the inner picts. I'm going to guess it's a brand of sludgy dark metal / prog.

Album Review: Overall, there is more falsetto shrieky hair metal sounding vocals that sore over the sometimes prog, chamber or sometimes driving pop-punk. But often, the tone switches to dark, deep hard core grunting...a nice juxtaposition of styles, drawing comparison to the frantic work from Mike Patton and Dillinger Escape Plan. It is very arty and intriguing as the range of vocal pitch is vast. I kinda really like it, but would not be quick/proud to share it with others

This is their third album, but first as a four piece who set out to write a rock opera. With this 4 song ep, they nailed the operatic part of opera, and it is quite theatrical, so it qualifies as a Rock Opera Short. They've quoted influences from Queen, Ween, System of a Down...no surprises there. But Tim moved to Chicago in 2017, so the idea of the band making more music is at least on hiatus as of now.

Stand Out Track: School

Links:

Bandcamp

Broadway World

DMME let it Rock

Spotify
Keys and Chord

Rock Times
Musicguy 247
Music Street Journal

Midwest Record

Galen on Reverbnation
Reverb Nation
Asheville Punk Scene

Underground (the) - Psychedelic Visions

Name: The Underground
Album: Psychedelic Visions
Year: 1967
Style: Psych, Garage Rock, Surf
Similar Bands: Led Zeppelin, Rolling Stones, Blue Cheer, Zappa, Blue Magoos, Count Five
"One-Word" Review: Anonymous SurfPsychGarageBlues freakouts
Based Out Of: a recording studio in the US
Label: Berkshire, Stereo Tape Corp

Cover, Cassette

Cassette

Psychedelic Visions (1967)

1. Turn On Your Love Light 2:31 (Bobby Bland cover)
   
2. (We Ain't Got) Nothin' Yet 2:20 (Blue Magoos cover)
3. Psychedelic Visions 2:15 (surf version of Greensleeves)
4. Mind Jammer 3:00
5. The Warper 2:44 (St. James Infirmary instrumental) /
6. Psychotic Reaction 2:54 (Count Five cover)
7. Shout 2:55 (Isley Brothers cover)
8. Psychedelic Dream 2:13
9. Psychotic Vibrations 2:15
10. Tobacco Road 2:05 (John D Loudermilk cover)

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Merk Currie - Writer, Arranger
• Jerry Kennedy - Producer
• Roy Dea - Producer

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but it has all the right words & imagery to be a hippy psych band from the 60's. Usually these sorts of bands that went under the radar, never getting main stream attention came off lighter and not at all like what their packaging was trying to sell. This may or may not be the case. 

Album Review: The album is a great blend of echoey psych garage rock with some surf elements and heavy reliance on the Hammond organ. Five original instrumentals and five covers make up the record. The vocals could be compared to James Brown or a gospel preacher at times. The info of the actual band is hazy and nearly impossible to pin down, and minimal internet help with the bulk being reseller websites. The writer & arranger name Merk Currie is possibly fabricated to avoid listing any real credits (thus royalties), which classifies this as an exploitation album: exploiting the session players as well as the genre. From everything I've seen, this cassette has the track listing backwards...side 1 is side B on the record, and vice versa.

Stand Out Track: We Ain't Got Nothing Yet

Links:

Youtube Full Album

Discogs

Surfadelic

Soundohm

rate your music
deejay

Steve Hoffman Forum

Second Hand Songs

Ten Wheel Drive with Genya Ravan - Peculiar Friends

Name: Ten Wheel Drive with Genya Ravan
Album: Peculiar Friends
Year: 1971
Style: Classic Rock, Psychedelic Funk, Jazz Fusion
Similar Bands: Jefferson Airplane, Janis Joplin, Cold Blood, Blood Sweat & Tears, Lighthouse
"One-Word" Review: Gritty Psych Show Tunes
Based Out Of: New Jersey / NYC
Label: Polydor

Cover, Back, Sleeve, Record

Inner Gatefold, Sleeve, Record

Peculiar Friends (1971)

1. Peculiar Friends 0:19
2. The Night I Got Out of Jail 3:44
3. Shootin' the Breeze 3:19
4. The Pickpocket 3:48
5. No Next Time 4:34 (single) /
6. Love Me 5:05
7. Fourteenth Street (I Can't Gat Together) 5:49
8. I Had Him Down 3:52
9. Down in the Cold 6:09 (single)

Album Rating (1-10): 6.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Aram Schefrin - Writer, Arrangement, Producer, Guitar (Fisher Fidelity Standard Rock Band, DC LaRue, Cris Williamson, LaBelle, Lou Reed)
  
• Michael Zager - Writer, Arrangement, Producer, Keys (Love Childs Afro Cuban Blues Band, Moon Band, M-Zee Band, Fisher Fidelity Standard Rock Band, DC LaRue, Cris Williamson, LaBelle, Take Five, Whitney Houston, Cissy Houston, Mary lou Retton, Elusion, Spinners, Johnny Guitar Watson, DJ Valium, Genya Ravan, Street Corner Symphony, Cryer & Ford, Saint & Stephanie, Dee Edwards, Alvin Fields, more )
• Geyna Ravan - Writer, Arrangement, Vox, Harp (Goldie & the Gingerbreads, Denny Greene, Lou Reed, Blue Oyster Cult, Ronnie Spector, Gamma, Joy Rider. Flowerpot Men, Joey Ramone, Doughboys, Palmyra Delran, Fanny Walked the Earth, Michael Des Barres, Shady Lady, Kracker, Goldie Zelkowitz, Jay-Z)
• Blake Hines - Bass
• David Williams - Drums
• Alan Gauvin - Reeds  (Woody Herman, Bill Wartrous, Pratt Bros Big Band, Killer Force, Thundering Herd, Buddy Rich, Twiggs, Rich Shemaria)
• Dean Pratt - Trumpet (NY Neophonic Orch, Panama Friends & Savoy Sultans, Pratt Bros Big Band, Clifford Jordan, Killer Force, DMP Big Band, NTXSU Lab Band, Joel Kaye, Chris Robison, Buddy Rich, Bill Warfield, Leon Redbone, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton)
• Tom Malone - Trombone (3:00 Lab Band, Black Light Orch, Blood Sweat & Tears, Child is Father to the Man, Dude Skile's Hot Combustion, Gil Evans, Orquesta Palenque, Blues Brothers Band, Brass Attack Horns, CBS Orch, Mon Night Orch, NTXSU Lab Band, RCO All-Stars, SNL Band, Ultimate Onions, World's Most Dangerous Band, Woody Herman, Mylon, OT Zappo, more) 
• Danny Stiles - Trumpet (Sal Salvador, Thad Jones, Mel Lewis, Bill Watrous, Woody Herman, Herman & Puente, Maxwell Davis, Chris Connor, Bill Russo, Peggy Lee, Incredible Jimmy Smith, Oscsar Peterson Trip, Manny Albam, JJ Johnson, Pat Williams, T-Bone Walker, Singers Unlimited, Jake Hanna, Bette Midler, Nat Pierce, James Brown, Gerry Mulligan)
• Frank Frint - Trumpet
• Jay Messina - Engineer
• David L'Heureux - Cover Art, Album Design
• Triano-Gatefold Art
• Lou Podover - Photos
• Chuck Pulin -Photos

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but I always enjoy a nice gatefold album I've never heard: that usually means more care has gone into the album & packaging. I do like the Alice in Wonderland-like artwork, calling them peculiar friends, which is also the album and lead track name. Never heard of the name dropped singer, Genya Ravan, but from the design, I imagine this is pretty straight forward classic rock, maybe with a touch of Psych from the Alice/Mr. Toad's Wild Ride-inspired sketches.

Album Review: The album is definitely a classic rock with powerful female vocals, thinking Joplin/Slick with all the variants present within the classic rock realm: psych, garage, funk, rock, gospel, and even some slow ballads. Even through The Night I Got Out of Jail is a driving, fun rocker, overall this is not for me, but it sounds typical of the sound & period.
The band had already found considerable success and acclaim by this, the third album, and Rayan was ready to leave the band. They had played some big festivals and high profile venues like Fillmore East (where Rayan performed part of the show topless with body paint) and Carnegie Hall. The band survived 6 years total, a lead singer and record label changes, but it was a big starting block for Michael Zager's disco career. The band was also inspirational in the face of a male dominated field for Bette Midler & her writing of The Rose.

Stand Out Track: The Night I Got Out of Jail

Links:
Full Youtube Album
Wiki
Discogs
Allmusic
Underappreciated Rock Guitarists
Rock Tour Database
Robert Christgau
Rate Your Music
Who Sampled
Billboard
Urban Dictionary
Sputnik Music

Sunshine Company (the) - s/t

 Name: The Sunshine Company
Album: S/T
Year: 1968
Style: Oldies, Pop, Psych
Similar Bands: Essex Green, Camera Obscura, Easybeats, Monkees, Bee Gees, Belle & Sebastian, Harpers Bizzare, Mamas & Papas, Association
"One-Word" Review: Hippy Loungey Pop
Based Out Of: Los Angeles, CA
Label: Imperial Records, Liberty Records

Cover, Sleeve Advert, Record

Back, Sleeve Advert, Record

The Sunshine Company (1968)

1. Look Here Comes the Sun 2:53 (John and Terence Boylan) (Single)
2. Reflections on an Angel 2:38  (single b-side)
3. Love, That's Where It Is 2:09 (T.Kaye, B. Schwartz, J.Fine)
4. Sunday Brought the Rain 2:41 (Gregg Allman)
5. I Can't Help But Wonder 2:11(Tony Michaels, Vinny Gormann)
6. I, To We, and Back Again 3:33 /
7. It's Sunday 2:15 (single) (Les Baxter)
8. You Don't Know Her Like I Do 3:10 (Steve Gillette)
9. Your Heart is Free, Just Like the Wind 2:27 (Chevallier-Thomas-Rivat-Shakespeare)
10. If You Only Knew 2:50 (Curt Boettcher)
11. Darcy Farrow 2:35 (Ian & Sylvia, Steve Gillette) (b-side single)
12. Without Really Thinking 3:36

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Joe Saraceno - Producer
• George Tipton - Arrangements
• Maury Mandeau - Arrangements (John Bettis, Malina Reynolds, Steve Gillette, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Sevrin Browne, Mary Catharine Lunsford, Steve Martin Brothers)
• Larry Sims - Arrangements
• Lanky Linstrot - Engineer
• Woody Woodward - Art Direction
• John L. Eastman - Illustration
• Linda Graham - Poem
• William E McEuen - Mgmt (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)
• Mary Nance - Vox
• Larry Sims - Bass (Loggins & Messina, Feather, Chris Hillman)
• Merel Bregante - Drums (Loggins & Messina, Feather, The Dirt Band, Chris Wall, Don McCalister, Eric Hanke, Sarah Pierce, Severin Browne, Chris Hillman, Steve martin, Gertrude Bradley,  Robert Jetton, Michael Brewer, Rich Rodgers, Cliff Sarde, John McEuen, Austin Lounge Lizards, Volunteer Fire Ants, Dale Watson, Jeff Hughes, James Durst, Bret Graham, Paul Cotton, Mandolin Bros, Regan Brown, Kelly & Ellis, Mike & Pam Martin)
• Douglas Mark - Guitar (Redeye)
• Dave Hodgkins - Guitar (Grains of Sand, Redeye)

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but they look like your typical late 60's hippy, happy, shiny love band, so i'm guessing this will be upbeat bubblegum pop...maybe a little psych, too?

Album Review: So the album doesn't deviate much from it's cover image and genre. It will sometimes fall backwards on the ultra light bachelors vocal bands or loungey elements. Their name alone puts them solidly in the niche genre built around similar sounding bands, "sunshine pop." Their name was actually taken from the brand of snacks/crackers that shares the same name, and only materialized once they had a nationally charting single (Happy). They only lasted about 2 years recording 3 and a half albums, perhaps because the label greatly forced their creative hand in a different direction than what the band wanted. 

Stand Out Track: I Can't Help But Wonder, Love, That's Where it Is

Links:

Youtube album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Best Of Liner notes

all but forgotten oldies

rate your music

Soul Survivors - When the Whistle Blows, Anything Goes

Name: Soul Survivors
Album: When the Whistle Blows, Anything Goes
Year: 1967
Style: Oldies, Psych, R&B/Soul
Similar Bands: Box Tops, Animals, Zombies, Association, Sam & Dave, Paul Revere & the Raiders
"One-Word" Review: Quirky Psych Rock N' Blue-Eyed Soul Roll 
Based Out Of: Philadelphia
Label: Crimson Records, Inc

Cover, Record

Record, Back

When the Whistle Blows, Anything Goes (1967)

1. Do You Feel It 3:46
2. Please Please Please 3:29
3. Too Many Fish in the Sea...Shake 5:53
4. Dathon's Theme 2:46
5. Taboo-India 3:43 /
6. Expressway (To Your Heart) 3:33 (single)
7. Respect 2:43 (Otis Redding cover)
8. A Change is Gonna Come 3:48
9. Hey Gyp 4:54
10. The Rydle 2:36

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands: 

• Howard Michaels - Bio
• Joe Forglone - Drummer (Steeplechase, Duane Allman)
• Paul Venturini - Organ (Privilege, Duane Allman)
• Chuck Trois - Guitar 
• Charles Ingui - Vox (Dedications, Cindy & Roy, Felix Cavaliere, Duane Allman)
• Richard Ingui - Vox (Dedications,Cindy & Roy, Felix Cavaliere, Duane Allman)
• Kenny Jermiah - Vox (Dedications, Duane Allman)
• Nat Segall - Producer
• Joe Tarsia - Engineer
• Richard Price / Snyder Studio - Album Design
• Shelly Roseman - Cover Photo

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band. Even with their sticker on the cover, promoting Expressway To Your Heart, i can't say i know this band. The look is a little out there, scattered and varied with a little bit psych (especially the font) and a little bit R&B-Disco

Album Review: The band itself is little bit garage, a little bit soul / r&b, all catchy oldies rock. Single "Expressway..." sounds a little like "Soul Man," was the first hit single from Gamble & Huff, and was inspired by the Schuylkill Expressway. They cover Otis Reddings version or Respect, the same year that Franklin's ground breaking version was released. "Taboo-India" is an off instrumental, with some yelling that sounds like it might shift into the Italian song  "L'urlo Negro" by the Blackmen. Per the back of the record, the band met via an accident on the NJ Turnpike and hanging out / recovering in a nearby diner afterwords where they discovered a mutual admiration for soul music (thus Soul Survivors in 1966). They basically stopped performing & recording after a few years absence of a follow up hit in the mid 70's. It was not until after they were referenced in a Steely Dan song (Hey 19) that they returned to playing & writing in 1987. Richie Inqui passed away in 2017, but the rest still work with the Hooter's Drummer David Uosikkinen's Philly Tribute Supergroup "In the Pocket."

Stand Out Track: Expressway (To Your Heart)

Links:

Spotify full album
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Richie Ingui Obit 1-12-17

Ingui Obit Best Classic Bands 1.14.17

All but forgotten Oldies

way back attack

Rate Your Music

Shadows (the) - Jigsaw

Name: The Shadows
Album: Jigsaw
Year: 1967
Style: Instrumental, Surf, Pop, Psych
Similar Bands: Ventures, Beatles, Peter Frampton, Rick Nelson, Bobby Fuller Four, Association
"One-Word" Review: Surf Skiffle
Based Out Of: London England
Label: EMI, Gramophone, Columbia

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Jigsaw (1967)

1. Jigsaw 2:33
2. Tennessee Waltz 2:50 (Pee Wee King / Redd Stewart cover)
3. Prelude in E Major 2:42
4. Cathy's Clown 2:27 (Everly Brothers Cover)
5. Stardust 3:06 (Hoagy Carmichael cover) (Single)
6. Semidetached Suburban Mr. James 2:48 (Mannfred Mann cover) (Single)
7. Trains and Boats and Planes 2:15 (Bacharach cover)/
8. Friday on my Mind 2:47 (Easybeats cover)
9. Winchester Cathedral 2:49 (New Vaudeville Band cover)(Single)
10. Waiting for Rosie 2:14
11. Chelsea Boot 1:52
12. Maria Elena 3:07 (Lorenzo Barcelata cover)
13. With a Hmm-Hmm on My Knee 1:57
14. Green Eyes 3:05 (Nilo Menendez cover)

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• David Steen - Cover Photo
• Jim Goff - Cover Design
• Norrie Paramor - Producer
• Peter Vince - Engineer, Writing
• John Rostill - Bass (Tom Jones, Ritchie Francis)
• Cliff Richard (Harry Webb) - Writing (Drifters, Band Aid II, Mit Chor Und Orch, Anti-Heroin Project, And Strings, Pat Carroll, Aleksander John, Dave Pope, Garth Hewitt, Olivia Newton John, Network 3, BA Ronertson, Craig Pruess, Shelia Walsh, Janet Jackson, Phil Everly, Mike Batt, Elton John, Dave Clark, Van Morrison, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Claudia Jung, Darren Day, Tim Rice, Sir John Betjemen, Lulu, Helen Shapiro, Helmut Lotti, Cilla, many)
• Hank Marvin (Brian Rankin) - Guitar (Drifters, Chesternuts, And Strings, Vipers Skiffle Group, Marvin-Welsh-Farrar, Flair, Dennis Waterman, Des O'Connor, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Wings, BEF, Shakin' Stevens, Jean-Michel Jarre, Alan Jones, Darren Day, Jane McDonald, Jet Harris, Dire Straits, Peter Frampton, Jay-Z, Leo Sayer, Jason Donovan, more )
• Bruce Welch (Bruce Cripps) - Guitar (Drifters, Chesternuts, And Strings, Marvin-Welsh-Farrar, Olivia Newton-John,  more )
• Brian Bennett - Drums (Oh Boy! House band, Marty Wilde, Tommy Steele, And Strings, Collage, Heat Exchange, James Aldenham, Les Play Boys, Krew Kats, Thunder Company, Wally Asp, Wasp, Mark Wirtz, Al Stewart, Gunhill, Marvin-Welsh-Farrar, Olivia Newton-John, Labi Siffre, Georgie Fame, Alan Hawkshaw, The Gentle Rain, Michael de Albuquerque, Nick Ingram, Camilo Sesto, Garth Hewitt, Sassafras, Alvin Stardust, Bruce Forsyth, Glenn Cardier, Dennis Waterman, Flair, Chris Spedding, Walker Bros, Sutherland Brothers, Allan Heiding, Eddie Cochran, Roger Whittaker, The Players, Darren Day, Local Heroes, Robin Beck, Survivors, East Tennessee State Univ. Bluegrass Band, Vibratos, Mohawks  more )

Unknown-ness: Never heard of the Shadows. Picked this up while on honyemoon in London, so this is a Great Britian pressing. I liked the simple layout of the name & logo & font, plus the play on the album name and puzzled together photo. See one member has buddy holly glasses, so i'm guessing it is a pop vocal band from the 60's

Album Review: So this is a very popular instrumental (mainly) band, at least in the UK, as they are the fifth sellingist band over there, right behind Presley, Beatles, Madonna & the gentleman they are also the backing band for, Cliff Richard (who was the British answer to Presley). Their peak popularity was just before the Beatles, (whom were greatly influenced by them), and they have pioneered some of rock's greatest assets, from instrumentation and band set (lead, rhythm, bass & drums) up to live performance choreography. They were forced to change their name from the Drifters to Shadows in 1959 thanks to a single released in the states, clashing with the vocal group of the same name.  They have also performed in many films and tv shows: even in pantomime and marionette forms. Musically, they combined and spotlight elements of pop, rock, surf, ballads, and jazz. This collection of songs are mostly covers, with all the aforementioned genres added in together; jazziness particularly on their originals, and some country as well. The title track is just a masterpiece ahead of its time.

Stand Out Track: Jigsaw

Links:
Wiki

Discogs

Allmusic

Britannica

facebook

encyclopedia.com

Road (the) - s/t

Name: The Road
Album: s/t
Year: 1970
Style: Psych Oldies & Bubblegum Pop, Funk, R&B
Similar Bands: Bee Gees, Stones, Beatles, Tom Jones, Zombies, Hollies, 
"One-Word" Review: 60's Wedding Cover Band on drugs
Based Out Of: Buffalo, NY
Label: Kama Sutra, Buddah Records , Viewlex Inc

Cover, Promo Sleeve, Record

Back, Promo Sleeve, Record

The Road (1970)

1. She's Not There 3:43 (single, Zombies Cover)
2. Love Is All 3:21
3. Love It Is 4:42 (J. Geils cover)
4. A Taste of Honey 2:32 (Ric Marlow cover)
5. I Can Only Give You Everything 2:47 (single b-side, Them cover)/
6. Dance To The Music 5:29 (Sly & Family Stone cover)
7. Never Gonna Give You Up 3:11 (Jerry Butler cover)
8. Mr. Soul 2:40 (single, Neil Young cover)
9. In Love 1:55 (single b-side)
10. See You There 2:12
11. Rock N Roll Woman 2:52 (Stephen Stills cover) 
12. The Grass Looks Greener on the Other Side 2:31 (single)

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Hal Wheeler - Arrange, Conducted
• Bill Radice - Engineer
• J. Pinto / Joey Reynolds / Rencore - Producer
• Jerry Hudson -Lead Vox (Madmen, 6 Pact, Mellow Brick Rode)
• Phil Hudson - Lead Vox (6 Pact, Mellow Brick Rode)
• Joseph Hesse - Bass (Mellow Brick Rode, Just Us 5)
• Jim Hesse - Organ (Mellow Brick Rode, Just Us Five, Caesar & The Romans)
• Ralph Parker - Lead Guitar (Madmen, 6 Pact, Mellow Brick Rode)
• Nick Distefano - Drums (Mellow Brick Road, Just Us 5, Marie Osmond, Billy Joe Royal, Janie Frickie, Johnny Rodriguez, David Loggins, Marshall Chapman, Wheetstone Bridge)
• James S. Bush Jr - Cover Photo
• Silver & Morris - Prepared
• Frank Iannello - Album Design
• Gordon James - Photography

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but from the logo/font, hairstyles and their clothes, plus being on Buddah Records, I imagine it will be some Psych/Bublegum Pop

Album Review: The Road, as shortened / updated form of their previous name Mellow Brick Rode, was a band of solid musicians who made their own arrangements on other people's songs for the most part (3 tracks are written by band members). Their arrangement of the Zombie's "She's Not There" was their biggest hit, making top 40 lists in and around their home of Buffalo NY. They never toured further than Massachusetts, per direction from their management, but their reach was across the country. The were comfortable being an ever-present act in the Buffalo area. They had one more album after this one for Kama Sutra records, and after that were then were not a band for many years like an on/off light switch with a revolving door of members. There is brass present on this record, but no mention of who played on it with a credit(s).

Stand Out Track: She's Not There

Links:

Spotify full album
Wiki

Discogs

Rate Your Music

top shelf oldies

Buffalo Music HoF

Jerry Hudson 2019 obit

Listening Post song of the day

Western NY Music

Otto's Chemical Lounge - Spillover

Name: Otto's Chemical Lounge
Album: Spillover
Year:1985
Style: Garage Psych Rock
Similar Bands: Husker Du, Meat Puppets, Soul Asylum, MC5, Cows, Butthole Surfers
"One-Word" Review: Freak Out Psych-Sludge Rock
Based Out Of: Minneapolis, MN
Label: Homestead Records, Dutch East India Trading, LSR Records

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Spillover (1985)

1. Masturbation 1:45
2. Spillout 2:32
3. Shine 2:19
4. Shakin' All Over 2:22 (cover Johnny Kidd & the Pirates)/
5. Duquette Stomp 2:21
6. Departure Blues 3:48
7. Slow Death 2:49 (Cover: Flaming Groovies)
8. Me and My Mind 2:14

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Paul Osby - Writer, Guitar, Vox, Producer (Todlachen, Blue Hippos)
• Dale T Nelson - Lead Vox (Hearsemen, Sheepherders, The Little Ones, Noble Mice)
• Al Schroeter - Bass (Blue Hippos, Junkboat, Patches & Gretchen, Germaine Gemberling)
• John Anglim - Drums (Bludgeon, Halo of Flies, H*O*F, Lydia Lunch, Haze XXL)
• Grant Hart - Producer, Vox (Husker Du, Noble Mice, Nova Mobb, Yanomamos, The Strangemen, Sugar, DYS, Haze XXL, H*O*F, Arsenal, Patti Smith, Melvins, Superdrag)
• Terry Katzman - Producer, Engineer, Percussion, Vox (Cerveza Muscular)
• Steve Fjelstad - Engineer

Unknown-ness: Never heard of them, but the band name reminds me of Ned's Atomic Dustbin, so i was into seeing what this was all about. Looks low budget and maybe a little psych, just from their logo and name. It doesn't look like anyone in the band is names Otto.

Album Review: The songs on here are gritty and dirty, unrefined and raw. A fuzzy noise version of MC5, and early Soul Asylum (fellow Minneapolitans). The vocals feel like an afterthought, and are mixed low in the production. The band continues to play on occasion in the twin cities (2020). Their first single came out on Husker Du's label, Reflex. So Husker Du's Grant Hart was one of the producers for this album, but their Du connection goes back to Osby's earlier band Todlachen, who also recorded with Bob Mould for Reflex Records, but it was never was released.

Stand Out Track: Shine

Links:

Youtube full album

Discogs

Allmusic

first-avenue

facebook

punk vault

band to band

Rate Your Music

MN Punk

83 poster

Green on Red - Gravity Talks

Name: Green on Red
Album: Gravity Talks
Year: 1983
Style: Psychedelic, Garage
Similar Bands: Bob Dylan, Jonathan Richman, Dead Milkmen, Inspiral Carpets, Electric Prunes, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Three O'Clock, REM, Dream Syndicate
"One-Word" Review: Jangle-Psych-Pop Dylan-meets-Jagger
Based Out Of: Tuscon AZ & LA, CA
Label: Slash, Warner Brothers

Cover, Record

Record, Back

Gravity Talks (1983)

1. Gravity Talks 2:33
2. Old Chief 3:26
3. Easy Pieces 2:19
4. Deliverance 5:44
5. Over My Head 3:00
6. Snake Bit 4:24 / 
7. Blue Parade 4:30
8. That's What You're Here For 2:03
9. Brave Generation 4:12
10. Abigail's Ghost 2:38
11. Cheap Wine 4:09
12. Narcolepsy 5:34

Album Rating (1-10): 8.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Chris D - Producer (Fleasheaters)
• Dan Stuart - Vox, Guitar (Danny & Dusty, Serfers, The Slummers, Beat Farmers, Alpha Blue )
• Chris Cacavas - Keys, Guitar, Vox (Serfers, Alpha Nord, Edward Abbiati, Junkyard Love, Slivers of Hope, Dragon Bridge Orch. Dream Syndicate, Pedestrians, True West, Giant Sand, Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3, Viva Saturn, John Wesley Harding, Russ Tolman, Tom Stevens, Pat Thomas, Rich Hopkins & The Luminarios, Watercolors, Danny & Dusty, Plastic Pals, Lowlands and Friends, Blue Rose Rockestra, Leaving Trains, Naked Prey, Divine Horsemen, Dancing Hoods, Zebra Stripes, Droogs, Sonya Hunter, River Roses, Chris Burroughs, Wellsprings of Hope, Vva Saturn, Ghosthouse, Flowerporneos, Jon Wajl & the Amadans, Crashing Dreams, Band of Blacky Ranchette)
• Jack Waterson - Bass, Vox (Serfers, Black Dynamite Sound Orch, Venice Dawn, Two Lane Blacktop, Pat Thomas, Tom Stevens, Viva Saturn, Adrian Younge, Bilal, DJ Shadow, Hellenes, Midnight Hour, Ghostface Killah)
• Alex Mac Nicol - Drums (Lydia Lunch, Deep Six, )
• Matthew Piucci - Guitar, Consultant (Rain Parade, Boat Club, Crazy Horse, Rainy Day, Hellenes, Viva Saturn, True West, Fool Killers, Billy Talbot Band, FIR, Windbreakers, Cat Heads, Steven Roback, Doc Vox, Donovon's Brain)
• Steve Wynn - Long Distance Sage (Dream Syndicate, Danny & Dusty)
• Pat Burnette - Engineer
• Jane O'Neil - Photography
• Jeff Price - Art Direction

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, and they look like a typical, quirky jangle-pop college radio band. I mean, a stuffed armadillo by a campfire in the back photo?

Album Review: The album starts off with a bouncy, catchy garage-psych keyboard with a vocal cadence of Dylan. Also hints of Half Japanese and Dead Milkmen for their rough production values. While this meandering psych album all but embraces the "Paisley Underground" & "New Sincerity" tags, the apparently went on to become part of the cowpunk/roots scene in LA, paving the way for acts like Son Volt & Wilco.

Stand Out Track: Gravity Talks, Easy Pieces

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
website
Schoolkids Records
allmusic
trouser press
rate your music
Robert Christgau
sa-wa-ro
it starts with a birthstone
sputnik Music

CoConuts - s/t

Name: CoConuts
Album: s/t
Year: 2010
Style: Noise, Experimental, Psych, Noise
Similar Bands: Liars, Belly
"One-Word" Review: Dark, Echoing Drone + Grating Noise
Based Out Of: Brooklyn NY
Label: No Quarter

 Cover, Record, Download, Liner Notes

Back, Record, Insert Back

CoConuts (2010)

1. Intro 0:57
2. Silver Lights 6:34
3. Lost Bitches 9:33
4. Dark World 6:49
5. When She Smiles 2:51
6. Dean's Blues 6:53

Album Rating (1-10): 5.0

Members & Other Bands:

• Jordan Redaelli - Bass (Bird Blobs, White Hills)
• Tim Evans - Guitar (Bird Blobs, DeGreaser, Flying Phallas, La Scrimmioa, Modra, Mouth, Sea Scouts, Super Glue, NinetyNine, Chris Smith, White Hills)
• Daniel Mitha - Drums (Ones, One/Hands, YKEO, Matt Pond PA, Crank Sturgeon/Paisano)
• Mike Fellow - Recording Mixing
• Paul Gold - Mastering
• Throne Boogie - Images
• Popular Noise - Typeset

Unknown-ness: Never heard of the band. Not much to go on with the cover, name, and lack of year/song titles on the back. So i'm guessing it's something minimal, no wave perhaps?

Album Review: At first listen, the album is all feedback noise and sludgy bass...it took me a couple listens to recall that there were vocals. But with more listens (perhaps just a closer listen), reveals some beauty to the chaos. Labeled as Psych music, most of the reviews label the record as driving, drudging, sludgey, heavy. All agreed. The two friends from Australia and NYC drummer only put out this one record. Part of the Lost Bitches song reminds me of Belly's mystical nightscape songs. Otherwise, I don't have much knowledge of other bands to relate here.

Stand Out Track: Lost Bitches

Links:
Bandcamp
Discogs
when she smiles Pitchfork review
myspace
Impose Mag
forced exposure
rate your music

Spikes (the) - 6 Sharp Cuts

Name: The Spikes
Album: 6 Sharp Cuts
Year: 1985
Style: Blusey Garage Psych Rock
Similar Bands: Doors, Black Rebel Motor Cycle, Animal Bag, Guided By Voices
"One-Word" Review: Stumbley Acid Rock
Based Out Of: Australia
Label: Big Time Records, Greasy Pop Records

 Cover, Record

Back, Record

6 Sharp Cuts (1985)

1. Flashback to Acid Beach 5:29
2. Ain't No Friend of Mine 2:48
3. Bloodmud 4:54 /
4. Romance 3:14
5. Scars & Angels 3:45
6. Hollywood 6:58

Album Rating (1-10): 6.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Ian List - Vox, Guitar, Bass (The Assassins, Dagoes, The UV's)
• Greg Swanborough - Drums, Harmonies
• Doug Thomas - Guitar, Casualty Vox (The Dagoes, The Assassins, The UVs, Contrapunctus, Vinyl)
• James Tizard - Bass, Lead Guitar
• Bob Allan - Producer
• Gayle Hutchison - Cover Concept & Art

Unknown-ness: Never heard of this band, but I love the artwork, the color scheme, the patterns and angles. It just looks like it is going to be a great slice of new wave / art rock.

Album Review: This Australian band takes inspiration from classic psych rock and the Doors, but I'm not into their result, as it feels to fall flat...its fair to say this is not my go to genre, either. They were an important band in Australian Music Culture, if nothing more for the fact that Doug Thomas ran a the Greasy Pop record label that put their section of South Australia (Adelaide) on the map, particularly with a compilation called "An Oasis in a Desert of Noise".

Stand Out Track: Ain't No Friend of Mine

Links:
Discogs
Adelaide Music
Greasy pop Records Wiki
South Aus. Memory
Rate Your Music
Facebook
Adelaide Review: Greasy Pop

Wackers (the) - Shredder

Name: Wackers
Album: Shredder
Year: 1972
Style: Psych, Folk
Similar Bands: Cecilio & Kapono, Beatles, Dave Edmunds, Kinks, Bonzo Dog Band
One-Word Review: Breezy-Psych-Folk
Based Out Of: Monreal, Quebec
Label: Elektra

 Cover, Back, & Record

Gatefold & Record

Wackers - Shredder (1972)

1. Day & Night 3:06
2. Hey Lawdy Lawdy 3:54
3. I'll Believe in You 3:14
4. Puttin' Myself to Sleep 2:20
5. Eventually, Even You Even Me 3:34
6. Coming Apart 3:57 /
7. It's My Life 3:32
8. Beach Song 2:42
9. Buck Duckdog Memorial Jam 10:10
10. Last Dance 3:04

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Robert Segarini - Guitar, Vox, Bass, Drums, Percussion (Roxy, Ratz, Family Tree, Dudes, Cats & Dogs, Rosebuds, The Us )
• Randy Bishop - Guitar, Keys, Bass, Cowbell, Percussion, Vox (Roxy, Rosebuds)
• Michael Stull -  (Gods Country, Butts Band)
• Bill 'Kootch' Trochim - Bass, Congas, Guitars, Percussion, Kootch (Dudes, Family Tree)
• Ernie Earnshaw - Drums, Percussion, Vox (Royale Monachs, The Forte' Four, Six the Hard Way, BigFoot, Rolling Bob, 6680 Lexington)
• Mark Abramson - Producer
• JP Lauzon - Guitars, Percussion, Piano
• Jerry Mercer - Drums (Mashmakhan, April Wine)
• Fred Otnes - Shredder Art
• Robert L. Heimall - Photography, Art Direction & Design
• Frankie Hart - Backing Vox, Percussion
• Janet Abramson - BackingVox
• Jack Schaeffer - Clarinet, Sax
• Dan-Yen Mantor - Claves, Congas, Shaker
• Nelson Vipod - Engineer
• Adam Holzman - Low D Assist
• Richard Knowles - Tech

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band. From the artwork, it reminds me of Terry Gilliam's Monty Python opening, so I imagine the music will not be serious, and perhaps even comical in nature...or maybe just really drug influenced (psychedelic).

Album Review: The album is a strong mixture of folk, psych, power pop, and spaced out jamming. Lots of Beatles & Kinks inspiration. The band was from California, but moved to Quebec before recording this record. Funny thing, was the record was not meant to be the Wacker's third album, but was supposed to be a side project for the creative force. Once Elektra heard the songs, they pushed for the production as a full Wackers album (not The Incredible Duck Brothers). The recordings were also influenced by Monty Python cast members hanging out with the band while recording in the studio for two of the six weeks (MP was on their first North American tour).

Stand Out Track: Eventually, Even You Even Me

Links:
spotify
wiki
Montreal Gazette
Shredder Liner Notes
Rate your Music
Discogs
Allmusic
Steve Hoffman Music Forum
Canadian Bands

Cherry People - s/t

Artist: Cherry People

Album: s/t

Year: 1968

Style: Psychedelic Pop

Similar Bands: Byrds, Hullaballoo, Turtles, Archies, Association, Cowsills, Bee Gees, Monkees

One Word Review: Harmonized Style Array

Based Out Of: Washington, DC

Labels: MGM, Heritage

 

 Cherry People - Cover & Back, Record

 Cherry People - Center Fold-out, Record

Cherry People - Info

Cherry People (1968)

1. And Suddenly 2:06
2. Girl on the Subway 2:52
3. On To Something New 2:22
4. Imagination 1:54
5. My Hyde 2:39 /
6. Do Something to Me 2:13
7. Ask the Children 2:08
8. I'm the one Who Loves You 2:06
9. Don't Hang Me Up Girl 2:53
10. Light of Love 2:40

Album Rating (1-10): 7.0

Members & Other Bands:
Punky Meadows - Guitar (Bux, Angel, The English Settlers)
Chris Grimes - Guitars Vox (The English Settlers, Jimi Hendrix)
Rocky Isaac - Drums (Fallen Angels, Bux, Jimi Hendrix)
Dougy Grimes - Vox (The English Settlers)
Jan Zukowski - Bass (Nobody's Children, Nighthawks, Fabulous Hubcaps)
Ron Haffkine - Producer
Barry Oslander - Producer
Jerry Ross Productions
Jimmy Wisner - Arrangement
Joe Renzetti - Arrangement
Val Valentin - Director of Engineering
Neil Ceppos - Engineer
Bob Golden - Cover Photo
Stephan Paley - Liner and Inside Photo
Dick Smith - Art Direction

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band, but I like the weight, coloring, and psychedelic look of this boy band. Short songs, most likely bouncy, upbeat and catchy seem to be what they're going for, I'm guessing. No year on it, but I assume it is somewhere in the late 60's. Excited to see what this sounds like.

Album Review: The biggest thing that any of Cherry People did was be part of the backing band with Jimi Hendrix when he recorded five songs. This was the result of trying to get a meeting with Jerry Ross to be released from their contract in NYC after a west coast tour, and ending up blowing off steam at an open mic/jam night where Hendrix also showed up.

“And Suddenly” was their one and only hit single, which reached #44. It begins with a little Bee Gee’s sense, and perhaps a little R&B. Then after the family harmonies, it finds its groove with a light sing-song, cheerful melody. It feels a little Monkee’s-ish, too.

“Girl on the Subway” is instantly psychedelic pop. It is very thematic, with a complicated barrage of harmonized parts and layers. It is happy and polite and very non-threatening. The trumpet takes center stage when the song reaches the instrumental break.As the song winds down, the trumpet takes over, and steals all the attention, in a somewhat jarring way.

“On To Something New” was the b-side to “Light of Love.” It harkens back to a male vocal group of the 50’s or early 60’s, with swirling harps and strings and a lofty soaring harmony. This song was made to appeal to the parents of the teens they were trying to sell the record to.

“Imagination” was the B-Side to “And Suddenly.” It too is a quiet, delicate vocal band throwback to a style that was nearly extinct. It is still theatric with flutes and sound stage flourishes and swirls.

“Mr. Hyde” was the b-side to a single. It is a more updated sound for the era, a slightly psych harmony, with a very Cowsills collaboration as the chorus kicks in. It has a bit of a marching pace, spurred on by the drumbeat.

“Do Something to Me” starts off side two with an upbeat, dancey song. It has a little bluesy vocal style, with a simple clap-along-tempo. It feels a little like a Belle & Sebastian song, with a different vocal style. There is an urgency and hunger to the vocals that feels like real emotion. This is the real star on this album, and sounds like a completely different singer/band.

“Ask the Children” is a bouncy, fun child’s-dream-like song. Lots of bubble gum pop harmonies, and it builds well into the chorus, which is just a psychedelic-vocal breakdown, not really delivering on the build.

“I'm the one Who Loves You” was a single. It has a smooth sexy glide, a little bond-theme-like. The backing vocals actually sound a little disco, well before disco was a thing.

“Don't Hang Me Up Girl” starts out seeming like a light, older style, but the pace picks up a snappy little groove, and hangs on some call and response harmonies. The song has its feet planted in the two different styles, and does a pretty good job of making it work.

“Light of Love” was a single, tapping into organ psychedelica of the time. The song is a pretty basic example of pop at the time that Herman’s Hermits or ? and the Mysterians (and the like) were making.

"Stand-Out" Track: Do Something To Me

Links:
Wiki
Discogs
Guardian- strange albums on spotify
FB
Allmusic
Rateyour music
badcat records

Aorta - s/t

Name: Aorta
Album: s/t
Year: 1969
Style: Psych, Jazzy Rock
Similar Bands: Jefferson Airplane, Bonzo Dog Band, Blood Sweat & Tears, Strawberry Alarm Clock, Kinks
"One Word" Review: Swirling Cinematic Jazz
Based Out Of: Chicago
Label: Columbia, Dunwich Productions

 Aorta - Cover & Back

Aorta - Record, Gatefold Image & Lyrics

Aorta (1969)

1. Main Vein 2:17
2. Heart Attack 2:30
3. What's In My Mind's Eye 2:47
4. Magic Bed 2:37
5. Main Vein II 1:25
6. Sleep Tight 4:38
7. Catalyptic 3:32/
8. Main Vein III 0:42
9. Sprinkle Road to Cork St 3:06
10. Ode to Missy Mxyzosptlk 3:08
11. Strange 4:18
12. A Thousand Thoughts 3:48
13. Thoughts & Feelings / Main Vein IV 4:07

Album Rating (1-10): 8.5

Members & Other Bands: 
Jim Nyeholt - Orchestra Arrangements, Bass (Rotary Connection, Exceptions, Coven, Minnie Riperton)
Ron Coro - Album Design
Billy Herman - Drums (The New Colony Six, Dick Campbell, Exceptions, Johnny Cuomo, Iridescence)
Jerry De Clercq - Recording Engineer
Glen Kolotkin - Remix Engineer, Special Effects
Bobby Jones - Guitars, Vox (Bobby Jones & New Life / Super Choir, Jesse Davis, Joe Cocker, Bonnie Bramlett, Barry Goldberg)
Jim Donlinger - Keys, Vox, Producer (Rotary Connection, James Vincent, Electric Concept Orch, Lovecraft, Exceptions, Coven, Minnie Riperton )
Shabolt-Todd - Photography
Bill Traut - Special Effects, Producer
Bryce Robertson - Production Asst, Recording Engineer
Skeet Bushor - Production Asst
David Kalmbach - Recording Engineer
Barney Beck - Special Effects

Unknown-ness: I've never heard of this band, but I like the completeness and utter embrace of the band name, artwork, and songs. Its quite the concept album from 1969, so I can only imagine it is some sort of proto-Prog Rock. The songs are not too long, so it can't be too jammy, which is great.

Album Review: Aorta was a locally popular Chicago band, part of a psychedelic, rock scene in Chicago that also has an early version of Chicago as part of its relative bands. One member of an early stage of Aorta was Peter Cetera of Chicago. This incarnation of the band does not contain any original members of the preceding band Kal David and the Exceptions that evolved into Aorta. The album has been described as a mix of Psych, Soul, Jazz, Folk and Rock. There was only one follow up before the band members set out in different directions, coming back for a reunion once in a while.

“Main Vein” begins the concept album with two overlapping heartbeats, and then a mountainside chorus signing main vein washes over the sonic spectrum. Then a slow jam, sort of early Bee Gees-like begins, and the chorus of singers all give their own version of the title in lyric form repeats with electric guitars wailing lightly in the background. It is the wall of vocals continually washing over the surface like a tide that really gives the song its texture.

“Heart Attack” is a nice psychedelic song, with a toy keyboard melody in the beginning, and an emotional guitar played in echo of the vocal melody with its own twists and turns. The instrumental increases the psych vibe with the style of organ chosen, and the jazzy bass and marching drum beats. But it is the organ that is given spot light in the instrumental. The electric guitar plays its one note on repeat.

“What's In My Mind's Eye” features classical strings in the beginning. It straddles the line of disco and psych. The shuffling tempo mixed nicely with the warped warbly vocals. The melody in the verse reminds me of the Kinks. There are a bunch of melodic sections strung together, not always cohesively, to create a complex song. The reverb and back skipping effect bubbles away into a pure bubble sound to end the song.

“Magic Bed” is a straight forward folky pop melody with layered harmonic vocals and a Strawberry Alarm Clock style. It too is mystical and psychedelic thanks to the echoing vocals and keyboards. There is a breakdown in the middle of the song creating the image of a vaudevillian pier with barkers and games to be played. The song breaks character every once in a while to give a little familiar melody a chance to work its way in.

“Main Vein II” is a spiraling dream sequence reprise of the opening track. The song then thrashes as the dream becomes a stressful nightmare, with orchestral, back skipping arrangements coming and going, and the song finishes out with a sullen dark tone.

“Sleep Tight” brings a carousel’s light and magic (and slight psych tone) to wake up from the previous track. The melody has a crooner’s tempo to it, and it is in the chorus where the sound grows from psychedelic music to prog. After two minutes, the song breaks down, changing direction, as it slows down for a slow-motion psych bath of vibrating notes and gothic chamber keys. It is the gothic tomb vibe that carries the song out to the end.

“Catalyptic” begins with the same gothic tone, with a slightly adjusted melody. Drums and a slow swooping bass line are added, and the song oscillates from side to side until the drums kick in and the song takes on a full blown garage psychedelic sound. When the vocals are not sung in chorus, they have layers of distortion enveloping them. Here too, almost in a show tune sense, the time signatures change rapidly, as the distinct sections of the songs take their turns, like it was written for a musical. The chorus of vocals offers a Shhhh, and the song reboots, with a more creepy organ and haunting effects and bassline added. The tempo pulses, speeding up until a gong ends the side.

“Main Vein III” takes the album’s theme song to a medieval route, with a wind up musical box sound, and whispy, folky melody. Static overcomes the track in a cold wind, and the song abruptly gives way.

“Sprinkle Road to Cork St” and is introduced with more medieval wood winds, then opens up with a Kinks-like melody. After about a minute, the melody is abandoned for a break, then a slowly rising string section brings us back to the melody. The song goes for a pause again, and a vast cinematic orchestra revs up for a few seconds before it winds down mechanically. A whisper of wind blows through to end the track.

“Ode to Missy Mxyzosptlk” was the B-Side to Strange. It is a psychedelic lounge song. It has a nice upward melody and a grand Tom Jones-like hook in the chorus. Halfway through the song, the melody calms down for a few seconds, as if to recharge the battery before the wailing electric guitars take over, bridging us back into the chorus. The song ends with a machine gun drum section.

“Strange” was a single, written by a band member that had just left: Dan Hoagland.  This song transitions from the previous song with a similar machine gun tempo, but a squelching, blurping synth sound. Then the song marches on with a nice blend of electric psych guitar, general power pop melody, and jazzy break beats. The bare bones of this song are generic enough for the times (and would be outstanding if written today), but the production flourishes give it a weird edge, and perhaps the breakdown, and eccentricities did not make it as smooth of a song that appealed to the masses. Out the other end of the instrumental comes the evolving, catchy chorus. The song ends, but sci-fi sound effect whoop up and carry the track seamlessly to the next.
“A Thousand Thoughts” continues the effects from the first song, but they lighten up the mood, with a orchestral version of a Beach Boys style-song. Bells and strings waft sparsely over the song that slowly finds its ground and gently picks up the pace as it grooves forward. The vocals grow gruffer, and move further from the front as the music grows to take over. The song returns to the Beach Boys style melody sung in cinematic lounge style. The song ends with a phone ringing and a baby crying, which transitions to the next track without pause.

“Thoughts & Feelings / Main Vein IV” has a tinkling on the organ keys at the beginning while the phone and baby both fade out and are forgotten. The first lyrics directly reference these two things, and the bold psychedelic call and response song combines all the elements that have come before: bold harmonized vocals, and the electric guitar wailing, and bits of psychedelic production and progressive piano and chord changes. The vocals choose an odd emotional path, when they hold the word “down” for an extended segment, as if the vocals have fallen down. This is followed up by a layering of prog guitars that transitions to the final rendition of a psychedelic Main Vein, and perhaps the best version of the four on the album.

Stand Out Track: Ode to Missy Mxyzosptlk

Links:
Wiki
Allmusic
Discogs
Rising Storm
Chicago Area Bands