BAND INFORMATION

GLENCOE

FORMED 1972 WITH, AT THE TIME, MICK TRAVIS ON GUITAR AND NORMAN WATT-ROY FROM GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. TO BEGIN WITH, PLAYED MAINLY COUNTRY-FLAVOURED ROCK DUE TO TRAVIS WRITING AND GUITAR WORK. AS A STABLE MATES OF WISHBONE ASH, JOINED THEM AS SUPPORT ON BRITISH TOUR. JOHN TURNBULL, EX-BELL AND ARC AND SESSION MUSICIAN, JOINED AFTER THE TOUR (1972) AND PROVED TO BE SPARK THE BAND NEEDED. SELF TITLED "GLENCOE" (1972) WAS TO BE ENCOURAGING AS A DEBUT SET WITH FANTASTIC REVIEWS, BUT IT WAS "THE SPIRIT" OF (1973) THAT THEY FOUND DIRECTION, IMPRESSIVE ALBUM THAT IS BEST PLAYED LOAD. RECORDED FOUR JOHN PEEL RADIO SESSIONS.

GLENCOE LIVE RESIDENCE AT MARQUEE, LONDON: 24-08-1971/23-05-1972/15-06-1972/01-08-1972/19-02-1973/30-07-1973/13-09-1973. GLENCOE

MAN

GREAT ARRANGEMENTS, FLUID GUITARS OF DEKE LEONARD AND MICKY JONES WITH TERRY WILLIAMS (DRUMS) AND EX-HELP YOURSELF MALCOLM MORLEY (KEYBOARDS), KEN WHALEY (BASS). RHINOS, WINOS & LUNATICS IS BEST STUDIO ALBUM FROM OUR WELSH HEROES WHICH PEAKED AT 24# UK CHARTS IN 1974. BEST THING IS TO GET DOWN TO RECORD STORE FOR DOUBLE CD WITH LIVE CONCERT. MAN

HOKUS POKE

THIS OBSCURE LONDON FOUR-PIECE BAGGED A RESIDENCY AT THE THOMAS A BECKET PUBLIC HOUSE IN THE OLD KENT ROAD.

A DECENT TWIN-GUITAR BAND, WISHBONE ASH AND LITTLE FEET INFLUENCES COME ACROSS ON SOME VERY GOOD TRACKS.

BASSIST SMITH CAMPBELL WENT ON TO CLEAR BLUE SKY AND ROGER CLARKE FORMED SAILING SHOES.

IF YOU HAVE MINT COPY OF VINYL LP IT WILL BE WORTH £150, THE CD HAS ALSO BEEN PUT UP FOR £50. WILL CHERRY RED REISSUE IT? VIDEO

ARCADIUM

THIS ENGLISH DIAMOND CAME OUT AT END OF 1969. THEIR ONLY ALBUM "BREATHE AWHILE" WITH EARLY SOUNDING PROGRESSIVE ROCK LONGER SONGS WITH A BIT OF PSYCHEDELIC. GRAHAM BEST (BASS), ALAN ELLWOOD LEAD (GUITAR), JOHN PARKER (DRUMS) AND MIGUEL SERIDES (GUITAR & VOCALS) PLUNGE US INTO A WORLD WORTHY OF THE DOORS, BUT WITH EXCELLENT HAMMOND ORGAN AND FLUID GUITAR DUELS WHICH ASTONISH MORE THEN THEM!

IF YOU HAVE MINT COPY OF ORIGINAL VINYL RELEASED IN 1969 IT WILL BE WORTH £350. IT HAS ALSO BEEN REISSUED IN 2003 ON BLUE COLOURED VINYL WITH TWO BONUS TRACKS FROM A SINGLE RELEASED IN 1969. A MINT COPY OF THIS REISSUE LP SELLS FOR £45. ARCADIUM

FIELDS

ONLY ALBUM BY THE SHORT-LIVED PROG TRIO FIELDS FORMED BY KEYBOARDIST JON FIELDS AFTER HE LEFT RARE BIRD. JOINED UP WITH GUITARIST ALAN BERRY AND DRUMMER ANDY McCULLOCH. IT IS ACCEPTED AS A CLASSIC OF THE GENRE. FIELDS

BECK, BOGERT, & APPICE

FORMED 1972, WHEN APPICE AND BOGERT LEFT CACTUS AND BECK DISBANDED JEFF BECK GROUP. A THUNDEROUSLY EXCITING POWER TRIO, INSTRUMENTAL IMPECCABLE BUT SUFFERING FROM DEARTH OF GOOD MATERIAL. MADE ONE SELF-TITLED ALBUM BEFORE BREAK UP IN 1974. JEFF BECK

HUGHES/THRALL

MAGNIFICENT PAIRING OF GLEN HUGHES (EX-DEEP PURPLE, BASS/VOCALS) AND PAT THRALL (EX-PAT TRAVERS, GUITAR) BACKED BY FRANKIE BANALI (DRUMS). CLASH OF EGOS OF THE TWO STARS PREVENTED A SECOND ALBUM EVER BEING MADE BUT THE ONE THEY DID MAKE WAS AN ABSOLUTE CORKER.

MOUNTAIN

LESLIE WEST AND MOUNTAIN ARE LEGENDS, THEIR "NANTUCKET SLEIGHRIDE" ALBUM REACHED 43# IN UK CHARTS AND 16# IN USA BILLBOARD CHARTS. ALL THEIR SEVENTIES ALBUMS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR HEAVY ROCKERS AND EIGHTIES "GO FOR YOUR LIFE" HAS STILL SOMETHING TO GIVE.

MOUNTAIN https://sites.google.com/site/undergroundprogressiverock/mountain

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST

THEY HAVE SOLD OVER 12 MILLION ALBUMS WORLDWIDE FROM SEVENTIES, EIGHTIES AND NINETIES WITH THEIR DIFFERENT STYLES OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK. TODAY THEIR CONNOISSEUR FANS KEEP FLAME BURNING, WITH BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST LEGENDARY SONGS PART OF UK, FOLK MUSIC CULTURE.

http://www.bjharvest.co.uk BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST MAGAZINE

STRAY

STRAY WAS ONE OF THE GREAT-UNRECOGNISED BANDS OF THE SEVENTIES WHO TOURED AS SUPPORT TO ANY BAND YOU CARED TO MENTION. FORMED IN LATE SIXTIES BY DEL BROMHAM (GUITAR & KEYBOARDS), STEVE GADD (VOCALS), RITCHIE COLE (DRUMS) AND GARY GILES (BASS). THEY SIGNED TO TRANSLANTIC RECORDS WHEN THEY WERE ALL SIXTEEN, AND CUT STRING OF SUPERB BLUES ROCK ALBUMS ("STRAY", "SUICIDE", "SATURDAY MORNING PICTURES", "MUDANZAS" AND "MOVE IT") BEFORE SIGNING TO DAWN IN 1975. BY THIS TIME GADD HAD LEFT, REPLACED BY PETER DYER BUT IT WAS STILL BUSINESS HAS USUAL. THEY CUT ONE ALBUM FOR DAWN ("STAND UP AND BE COUNTED") AND TWO FOR PYE AFTER DAWN WAS DISCONTINUED ("HOUDINI" AND "HEARTS OF FIRE"). THEY SPLIT IN THE PUNK ONSLAUGHT - ALTHOUGH THEY CAN BE SEEN PLAYING CLUBS AND PUBS OCCASIONALLY AND RELEASING ALBUMS & DVD'S WITH DIFFRENT LINE-UPS. STRAY

KALA

DURING THE PERIOD 1969 - 1979, QUINTESSENCE WERE ONE OF BRITAIN MOST POWERFUL LIVE ACTS. IMMEDIATELY AFTER LEAVING QUINTESSENCE, VOCALIST PHIL 'SHIVA' JONES AND GUITARIST DAVE 'MAHA DEV' CODDING HAD FORMED KALA. BESET BY BIZARRE PERSONNEL ISSUES, AND IN THE HANDS OF A RECORD LABEL WHICH SOMEHOW FOUND DEFEAT IN THE JAWS OF WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A VICTORY FOR ALL CONCERNED, KALA NEVERLESS MANAGED TO RELEASE ONE OVERLOOKED GEM OF AN ALBUM "KALA" (1973) AND A COUPLE OF BLISTERING LIVE TRACKS DURING ITS BRIEF EXISTENCE. THE ALBUM FEATURES SOME TITLES WHICH WERE IN A SIMILIAR VEIN TO QUINTESSENCE, WITH OTHERS NODDING TOWARDS THE POPULAR BOGGIE AND COUNTRY-ROCK OF CONTEMPORISE LIKE FACES. NOW EXQUISITELY REMASTERED BY RON GEESIN, WITH TWO PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED LIVE TRACKS AND TWO NEW VOCALS TAKES, THE CD DEBUT OF KALA'S COMPLETE WORKS HAS BEEN COMPILED WITH THE COOPERATION OF PHIL AND DAVE. THE ACCOMPANYING 16 PAGE FULL-COLOUR BOOKLET INCLUDES EXTENSIVE LINER NOTES BY COLIN HARPER, AN INTERVIEW WITH THE BAND, AND RECOLLECTIONS ON EACH TRACK BY SHIVA JONES.

IGGINBOTTOM WRENCH

IGGINBOTTOM WRENCH WERE AN ENGLISH PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND WITH JAZZ ROCK STYLE, FEATURING STEVEN ROBISON (GUITAR), ALAN HOLDSWORTH, WHO WENT ON TO - TEMPEST, SOFT MACHINE AND UK (GUITAR, VOCALS), DAVID FREEMAN (DRUMS) AND MICKY SKELLY (BASS). THEY WERE MANAGED BY A COMPANY CALLED MIMO, WHICH WAS OWNED BY MICK JACKSON, MO BACON, RONNIE SCOTT AND HIS BUSINESS PARTNER PETER KING. THEY ONLY RELEASED ONE RECORD 'IGGINBOTTOMS WRENCH'.

CROWBAR

CANADIAN BLUES ROCK BAND CROWBAR ARE JUST TOO COOL BY FAR. THEY RECORDED THEIR FIRST ALBUM WITH KING BISCUIT BOY IN 1970 AND FOLLOWED UP WITH THEIR OWN DEBUT SOON AFTER. "BAD MANORS" IS ALBUM INDEED; THERE ARE GREAT SONGS WITH A SENSE OF FUN; FANTASTIC HARMONIES AND OVERALL A COOL AD-LIB TYPE UPBEAT TEMPO. THE BAND REALLY CONGEAL AND CERTAINLY KNOW THEIR PLACE AND THE BANTER IS A JOY TO LISTEN TO.

ALBUMS: BAD MANOR (1971), LARGER THAN LIFE - LIVE'R THAN YOU'VE EVER BEEN (1972), HEAVY DUTY (1973). CROWBAR

SOFT MACHINE

FOUNDED CANTERBURY 1966 WITH RATLEDGE (KEYBOARDS), PLUS ROBERT WYATT (DRUMS), KEVIN AYES (BASS GUITAR), AND DAVID ALLEN (GUITAR). ALLEN LEFT BEFORE "THE SOFT MACHINE" (1968) AND HUGH HOOPER REPLACE KEVIN AYES ON "VOLUME TWO" (1969). THESE EARLY ALBUMS ARE ROCK-BASED, SUBSEQUENT RECORDINGS TENDING INCREASINGLY TOWARDS JAZZ. THE NEXT THREE FEATURED SAXOPHONIST ELTON DEAN, WYATT BEING REPLACED BY PHIL HOWARD AND JOHN MARSHALL ON "FIFTH" (1972). KARL JENKINS TOOK OVER FROM DEAN ON "SIXTH" (1973) AND THEN HUGH HOOPER DEPARTED TO CONCENTRATE ON PRODUCTION. WITH THEIR REVOLUTIONARY STRUCTURES AND HARMONIES, THEIR UNUSUAL JAZZ VOICING, AND FREE-FORM IMPROVISATION, SOFT MACHINE HAVE PRODUCED INFLUENCED THE ROCK SCENE, PARTICULARLY IN EUROPE. THEIR MOST EXCITING PERIOD AND RECOMMENDED ALBUMS ARE; "THE SOFT MACHINE" (1968), "VOLUME TWO" (1969), "THIRD" (1970), "FOURTH" (1971).

FRANK ZAPPA

FRANK ZAPPA TWO MOST COMMERCIALLY SUCCESSFUL ALBUMS THAT WAS RELEASED ARE "OVERNIGHT SENSATION" (1973) & APOSTROPHE (!) (1974). A CLASSIC ALBUMS FILM TWINED THESE ALBUMS FOR DVD VIDEO RELEASE.

UK

MUCH TOO SHORT LIVED, FEATURING PROGRESSIVE ROCK NOTABLES, BILL BRUFORD (DRUMS), ALAN HOLDSWORTH (GUITAR), JOHN WETTON (BASS), TERRY BOZZIO (DRUMS) WHO'S SELF-TITLED 1978 DEBUT ALBUM REACHED 43# IN UK CHARTS. THEY CHALLENGED ALL THE CRITICS BY THE TREND AND CREATED IMAGINATIVE, INTELLIGENT, BOUNDARY STRECHING PROGRESSIVE ROCK. INVENTIVE RHYTHMS, SHIFTING TEXTURES AND TEMPOS AND MOVING MELODIES. UK WERE ONE OF THE PREMIER BANDS OF THE LATE SEVENTIES AND HELPED FORM THE BRIDGE TO THE PROGRESSIVE BANDS OF THE EIGHTIES. ALBUMS: UK (1978), DANGER MONEY (1979), NIGHT AFTER NIGHT (LIVE RECORDING - 1979).

BLACKFOOT SUE

IN THE BOOK "THE PROGRESSIVE ROCK FILES" BY TERRY LUCK BLACKFOOT SUE IS LISTED AS "EARLY PROGRESSIVE ROCK SOUND WITH PRE-DOMINANT ROCK OVERTONES, PARTICULARLY THEIR ON THEIR SECOND LP". "NOTHING TO HIDE" FROM 1973 IS THEIR MAIN ALBUM ALL IN ALL GOOD ROCKING DEBUT. "STRANGERS" RECORDED IN 1974 BUT NOT RELEASED UNTIL 1977 FROM USA ON IMPORT LABEL. "GUN RUNNING" OF 1975 WAS NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED AND REPORTS OF ALBUM HAS BEEN SEEN VIA WHITE LABEL TEST PRESSING AND CAN BE FOUND ON DOWNLOAD SITES. ONE FINALE STUDIO ALBUM CAME IN 1995 ON CD CALLED "TALK RADIO" RELEASED IN GERMANY, BUD RECORDS. THEN SAME ALBUM RELEASED IN BRITAIN CALLED THIS TIME "RED ON BLUE" (1998, HTD RECORDS) WITH ONE EXTRA TRACK. "THE BEST OF BLACKFOOT SUE" ON CD WAS RELEASED IN 1996 ON CONNOISSEUR RECORDS. WE ALSO NOW HAVE "THE SINGLES COLLECTION" WHICH HAS BEEN RELEASED IN 2011 ON CD WHICH YOU GAIN ALBUM TRACKS THAT WAS ISSUED ON 45RPM SINGLES. THEY HAD TWO HIT SINGLES "STANDING IN THE ROAD" 4# & "SING DON'T SPEAK" 36# BOTH 1972 IN UK CHARTS. YOU WILL FIND THAT THE SINGLES THAT CHARTED WAS ON NO STUDIO ALBUMS EXCEPT RE-RECORDED VERSION OF "STANDING IN THE ROAD" ON "TALK RADIO-RED ON BLUE" CD WHICH YOU HAVE TO GET FOR THAT VERSION.

STANLEY CLARKE

BASS DRIVEN SELF-TITLED ALBUM FROM 1974 AND "JOURNEY TO LOVE" (1975) ARE BEST OF JAZZ ROCK/FUSION STYLES. PROGHEADS TO RECORD STORES FOR A CD COPY.

ZIOR

LP'S AND CD'S ARE THE ONLY CHOICE FOR FANS THAT LISTERN TO ROCK, PROGRESSIVE ROCK, HEAVY ROCK, HEAVY METAL, ROCK & ROLL ETCH SO CHECK THIS OBSCURE ONLY ALBUM FROM ZIOR TO YOUR REISSUED COLLECTION OF R&B/HEAVY ROCK MUSIC (BEST TO OBTAIN BONUS CD OF TRACKS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN ON SECOND ALBUM).

DANIEL BAUTISTA

VIDEO http://www.danielbautista.com http://www.jamendo.com/en/album/39593

STACKRIDGE

WHILE CD "BEST OF" WOULD BE INITIAL ENTER INTO STACKRIDGE, "FRIENDLINESS" & "THE MAN IN BOWLER HAT" ARE BOTH CLASSIC ALBUM'S FROM THESE RUSTIC WEST COUNTRY PROGRESSIVE FOLK ROCKERS. RAISE A GLASS OF CIDER FOR STACKRIDGE ALBUMS FROM MORE INNOCENT AND HAPPIER TIMES. STACKRIDGE

PROCOL HARUM

GARY BROOKER (RECORDERS, VIOLIN, PIANO, VOCALS), NICK PALLET (VOCALS, GUITAR), ROOT CARTWRIGHT (GUITARS, MANDOLIN, RECORDERS), DAVID JONES (PERCUSSIONS), GEOFF NICHOLLS (DRUMS), RICHARD CHIPPERFIELD-JONES (BASS, VOCALS).

CONCEIVED 1967 AS OUTLET FOR GARY BROOKER-REID COMPOSITIONS, RAPIDLY FOUND THEMSELVES WITH MASSIVE WORLDWIDE HIT, "A WHITER SHADE OF PALE" & "HOMBURG" BOTH IN 1967 ALSO 1968 USA HIT "SHINE ON BRIGHTLY". RAY ROWYER (GUITAR) AND BOBBY HARRISON (DRUMS) WERE REPLACED BY ROBIN TROWER AND BJ WILSON, FORMER ASSOCIATES OF BROOKER IN PARAMOUNTS, AND GROUP RECORDED "PROCAL HARUM" (1969, 26#UK, 47#USA), ALTHOUGH PERFORMING INFREQUENTLY. VISITED AMERICA FOLLOWING YEAR FOR FIRST OF NUMEROUS TOURS AND AMASSED CONSIDERABLE FOLLOWING THERE. "SHINE ON BRIGHTLY" (1968, 24#USA) AND "A SALTY DOG" (1969, 27#UK, 32#USA), STILL CONSIDERED BY MANY AS THEIR MOST SUBSTANTIAL ACHIEVEMENTS, ESTABLISHED THEM FURTHER. MATTHEW FISHER, ORGANIST AND PRODUCER OF "A SALTY DOG", LEFT MID-1969 (FOR SOLO ARTISTS AND PRODUCER) CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY BASSIST DAVID KNIGHTS. CHRIS COPPING, ANOTHER EX-PARAMOUNT, TOOK BOTH THEIR PLACES AND AS QUARTET THEY MADE "HOME" (1970, 49#UK, 34#USA) AND "BROKEN BARRICADES" (1971, 42#UK, 32#USA) AFTER WHICH GUITARIST ROBIN TROWER, WHOSE FRUSTRATION WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY EVIDENT WITH EACH RECORDING, LEFT TO FORM JUDE AND LATTER ROBIN TROWER BAND. REPLACED BY DAVE BALL, AND BASSIST ALAN CARTWRIGHT WAS ADDED TO THE LINE-UP INVOLVED IN "IN CONCERT WITH THE EDMONTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA" (1972, 5#USA, 48#UK), ONE RECORDING OF A CONTINUING SERIES OF EXPERIMENTS WITH ORCHESTRAS. SOON AFTER, MICK GRABHAM TOOK OVER ON GUITAR AND WHAT THEN A STABLE AGGREGATION PRODUCED "GRAND HOTEL" (1973, 21#USA), THEIR MOST SATISFYING WORK. NOTED FOR KEITH REID'S SCHOLARLY LYRICS AND GARY BROOKER'S SUPERB PIANO PLAYING WHICH MADE HIGHLY RECOMMEND "GRAND HOTEL" ONE OF PROCOL HARUM FINEST ALBUMS. FURTHER CHART SUCCESS WITH ALBUM "EXOTIC BIRDS AND FRUIT" (1974, 86#USA), "PROCOL'S NINTH" (1975, 41#UK, 52#USA) & SINGLE "PANDORA'S BOX" (1975, 16#UK).

"WELLS ON FIRE" (2003)

FROM PROCOL HARUM 12TH AND LAST STUDIO ALBUM WE HAVE GEOFF WHITEHORN (GUITAR, 1991 - PRESENT) WHO WAS IN CHAPEL FARM THE ORIGINAL BAND WHICH BECAME FANTASY BY WHICH TIME HE HAD LEFT. CHAPEL FARM FOUR RECORDINGS FROM 1970 APPEARED ON FANTASY "VIVARIATUM", COLLECTION CD OF UNRELEASED TRACKS WHICH HE WROTE "FIRE-FIRE" AND CO-WROTE "AFTERTHOUGHT". GEOFF WHITEHORN WAS ALSO ON REMAINING SIX TRACKS WITH THE REFORMED FANTASY (1976 - 1977). NOW WE HAVE GEOFF WHITEHORN ON PROCOL HARUM "THE WELLS ON FIRE" WHICH HAS "SHADOW BOXED", THAT COULD HAVE BEEN A HIT SINGLE IN BETTER DAYS. AND WITH REST OF SONGS ON THIS ALBUM, ADULT ORIENTED ROCK MUSIC FOR ALL'S COLLECTION.

"IN CONCERT WITH THE DANISH NATIONAL CONCERT ORCHESTRA AND CHOIR" CD IS THE CULMINATION OF MANY YEARS PLAYING AND VENTURES WITH ORCHESTRA'S AND SUCCEEDS BRILLIANT. THE DVD IS A TREASURE. PROCOL HARUM

PINK FLOYD

YOU REALLY CAN'T CALL ANY PINK FLOYD ALBUMS OBSCURE EXCEPT TITLE "OBSCURED BY CLOUDS" AND THEY WERE UNDERGROUND WHEN IT WAS RELEASED. THE COPY OF LP WAS WELL WORN USED BY TWO LODGINGS. NOW HAVE SUPERB CD IN FOREVER FORMAT. https://sites.google.com/site/undergroundprogressiverock/pink-floyd

FANTASY

ONE OF FAVOURITE'S FROM RECORD COLLECTORS IS TO DISCOVER OBSCURE ALBUM THAT IN THIS CASE IS PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND FANTASY "PAINT A PICTURE" (1973) WHICH HAS LONG BEEN HAILED AS A MASTERPIECE OF CLASSICALLY INFLUENCED, QUINTESSENTIALLY ENGLISH PROGRESSIVE ROCK, PACKED WITH GOOD MUSIC IN BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST DIRECTION. FANTASY'S SECOND ALBUM, "BEYOND THE BEYOND", WAS TO RECEIVED A BELATED RELEASE IN 1992 ON CD WHICH CONFIRMS FANTASY EARLY PROMISE. FANTASY

OMEGA

PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND OMEGA WAS FORMED EARLY 1968 IN HUNGARY AND RELEASED AT LEAST 34 ALBUMS. THEY TRAVELLED TO ENGLAND AND RECORDED "THE HALL OF FLOATERS IN THE SKY" THAT WAS RELEASED IN 1975, WHICH ALSO FEATURED SOME WELL ARRANGED ORCHESTRAL ACCOMPANIMENT.

ANVIL

AMAZINGLY ANVIL'S MUSIC MATCHES THE IMAGE - HEAVY AS HELL WITH A TOUCH OF CLASS WITH A COMPARISON WITH THE SUPERIOR NWOBHM BANDS SPRINGS TO MIND, THE ALBUMS WELL WORTH IT.

NORMAN HAINES BAND

"DEN OF INIQUITY" IS A DELIGHTFUL ALBUM WITH KEYBOARDS BY NORMAN HAINES WHO WAS IN REGGAE/PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND LOCOMOTIVE. A PARLOPHONE, 1971 LP IN MINT CONDITION SELLS FOR £600 & 1993 CD EVEN SELLS FOR £30, BUT YOU CAN GET LATTER ESOTERIC LABEL REISSUE FOR £9 WITH SIX BONUS TRACKS. NORMAN HAINES BAND

FISH

"13TH STAR" THE FISH ALBUM TO BUY. HE'S VOICE HAS BECOME VINTAGE INSTRUMENTAL. DEFINING ALBUM OF FISH SOLO YEARS. GIVE IT A GO.

"RAINGODS WITH ZIPPOS", AMPHIBIOUS ACROBATICS ABOUND ON THIS 1999 DISH FROM FISH. THE BACKING MAY BE HEAVIER, AND IT'S A REAL IN YOUR FACE PRODUCTION, BUT THIS IS TYPICALLY FISH, AND ONE MAN'S FISH IS ANOTHER POISSON. FANS WILL LOVE THIS AND RIGHTLY SO, CONTAINING STRONG INVENTIVE, SONGS WITH APPROPRIATE LYRICAL WIZARDRY, JUST THE JOB.

HEAD EAST

HEAD EAST IS VERY GOOD USA HEAVY ROCK BAND. THE ALBUM "FLAT AS A PANCAKE" (1974) IS THEIR'S ONLY ALBUM TO BE CERTIFIED GOLD BY RECORDING INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA.

HEAD MACHINE

"ORGASM" (1970) IS A GREAT ALBUM BY HEAD MACHINE WITH HAMMOND ORGAN AND FUZZED GUITARS, HEAD MUSIC TO ENJOY WITH YOUR LADY.

SAMSON

LIKE THE GUYS IN SAXON, GUITARIST PAUL SAMSON WAS AN OLD STAGER. BUT THERE'S AN ARGUMENT TO BE MADE THAT "MR ROCK 'N' ROLL" BY SAMSON (THE BAND) WAS THE FIRST BONA FIDE NWOBHM SINGLE - IT CERTAINLY PRE-DATED DEF LEPPARD'S "GETCHA ROCKS" OFF EP. "SURVIVORS" IS A SPRAWLING RECORD ON WHICH SAMSON WERE CLEARLY TRYING TO FIND THEIR NICHE. MOST PEOPLE WILL POINT TO THEIR SECOND RECORD, "HEAD ON" AS BEING BETTER, BUT IN TERMS OF NASCENT NWOBHM-NESS "SURVIVORS" HAS THE EDGE.

THE VOCALS OF BRUCE DICKINSON, ARE VERY IMPRESSIVE.

DIAMOND HEAD

"LIGHTING TO THE NATIONALS" THE ORIGINAL VERSIONS OF THIS ALBUMS ARE MASSIVELY COLLECTABLE: 12 - INC VINYL RECORDS THAT CAME IN WHITE SLEEVES SIGNED BY MEMBERS OF THE BAND. SOME HAD ALL FOUR SIGNATURES, OTHERS DIDN'T, SO WHO KNOWS HOW MANY VARIATIONS THERE WERE. "LIGHTING TO THE NATIONALS" IS A REAL TOUR DE FORCE. AND IS PROBABLY THE MOST PROFESSIONAL AND WELL-ROUNDED OF ALL THE EARLY NWOBHM RELEASES. GUITARIST BRAIN TATLER NONCHALANTLY PLUCKS CLASSIC RIFF AFTER CLASSIC RIFF OUT OF THE AIR.

FM

"TOUGH IT OUT", THE SECOND ALBUM FROM BRITISH MELODIC ROCKERS FM (FRONTED BY STEVE OVERLAND, A SUPERLATIVE, SOULFUL BLUES-ROCK VOCALIST) WAS FIRST RELEASED BACK IN 1989. ON THE ENSURING TOUR THE FOUR-PIECE HEADLINED LONDON'S HAMMERSMITH ODEON. IT LOOKED (FALSELY, IT TURNED OUT) AS THOUGH FM HAD FINALLY ACHIEVED THE BREAKTHROUGH THEY LOOKED LIKE MAKING. HARDER-EDGED THAN THEIR INDISCREET DEBUT, ITS SUBLIME COMBINATION OF SINGALONG ANTHEMS AND SWOON-INDUCING BALLARDS WERE JOINED BY THE SEEMING OBLIGATORY DESMOND CHILD CO-WRITE "BAD LUCK". THE ALBUM ALSO BENEFITED FROM A SUPERB PRODUCED BY DOKKEN/QUEENSRYCHE COLLABORATOR NEIL KERNON. ALL THESE YEARS LATER, THE ALBUM'S MERE TWO WEEKS STAY IN THE UK CHART (PEAKING AT NUMBER 34) IS STILL MYSTIFYING.

GLASS HAMMER

GLASS HAMMER "SHADOWSLANDS" (2004) IS A FIVE TRACKS MASTERWORK. EACH OF FIVE TRACKS IS KEYBOARDS PLUS GUITAR SOLOS AND PERCUSIONS WITH MALE & FEMALE VOCALS. A TRESURE OF USA PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUM.

IQ

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=37374

CRESSIDA

CRESSIDA ARE ONE OF EARLIEST EXPONENTS OF SYMPHONIC ROCK. COMBINED WITH LENGTHY, THOUGHTFUL ARRANGEMENTS. "ASYLUM" IS ONE OF BETTER OBSCURE ALBUMS TO BUY ON CD.

LINDISFARNE

FOLK ROCK AND UNDERGROUND ROCK WAS SOME OF GENRES THAT CAN BE SAID OF LINDISFARNE MUSIC. "DINGLY DELL", "FOG ON THE TYNE" AND "NICELY OUT OF TUNE" ARE THE ALBUMS TO BUY. THEY RELEASED OTHER ALBUMS OF GOOD SOUNDS. LINDISFARNE

DAVE DEE DOZY BEAKY MICK AND TICH

"THE VERY BEST OF DAVE DEE DOZY BEAKY MICK AND TICH". WHEN YOU DIVE INTO SOME GOOD OLDE BRITISH ROCK 'N' ROLL THEN THIS CD IS PORT TO DROP OFF. ROCK 'N' ROLL TO BE PLAYED LOAD.

ANOTHER INCENTIVE APART FROM HIT SINGLES, THEIR IS ALSO STUDIO RECORDINGS OF LIVE FAVOURITES WHICH INCLUDES A GREAT VERSION OF "STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN/PINBALL WIZARD".

JANIS IAN

A GOOD FOLK LP FROM USA SOCIETY CHILD IS JANIS IAN SELF-TITLED FIRST ALBUM WHICH REACHED NUMBER 29# USA CHARTS IN 1967. NICE ONE FOR PROGRESSIVE FOLKISH. AT 16 YEARS OLD AND NICE VOICE FROM JANIS IAN IN 1967 WHILE MURRAY THE K FILLED HIS AIRWAVES WITH THE TRACKS NIGHTLY.

GRATEFUL DEAD

"AMERICAN BEAUTY" RELEASED IN 1970 AND REACHED 30# IN USA CHARTS WAS MANY WAYS THEIR CROWNING ACHIVEMENT, WITH TRACKS THAT WAS TIGHTLY CONSTRUCTED OBESERVENT PIECES, AND INCLUDED THE AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL "TRUCIN" RECOUNTING THEIR ADVENTURES AND MISHAPS THAT YEAR.

GRATEFUL DEAD

GRYPHON

RECORDED IN 1974 AS THE FOLLOW-UP TO THEIR DEBUT SELF-TITLED COLLECTION, MIDNIGHT MUSHRUMPS HAS BEEN REISSUED AT LEAST EIGHT TIMES WORLDWIDE DURING THE CD ERA, AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT IT'S OLDE WORLDE CHARM HASN'T DIMINISHED WITH TIME. BUILT AROUND THE EPIC NINETEEN-MINUTE TITLE TRACK COMMISSIONED BY SIR PETER HALL FOR HIS PRODUCTION OF THE "TEMPEST" AT THE OLD VIC, "MIDNIGHT MUSHRUMPS" STILL SOUNDS HUGELY AMBITIOUS IN ITS MUSICAL VISION AND SCOPE. IT RANGES THROUGH A VARIETY OF APPROACHES, TAKING IN MEDIVAL, BAROQUE AND CHURCH MUSIC INTERLACED WITH THEIR OWN TAKE ON PROGRESSIVE ROCK, FOLK AND CLASSICAL SOUNDS, TOPPED OFF WITH A DEDCIDEDLY GOTHIC ATMOSPHERE RUNNING THROUGH THE ENTIRE NINETEEN-MINUTE PIECE. WITH CRUMHORNS, RECORDERS, HARMONIUM, PIANO, HARPSICHORD, BASSON, GUITARS AND DRUMS, IT ALL SOUNDS REMARKABLY FRESH AND BOLD.

WEST, BRUCE & LAING

"WHY DONTCHA" VINYL LP ALBUM RELEASED IN NOVEMBER 1972, 26# USA BILLBOARD CHARTS.

WHEN GUITARIST-SINGER LESLIE WEST AND DRUMMER CORKY LAING BRANCHED OUT FROM THE MOUNTAIN SIDE, THEY TEAMED UP WITH CREAM BASSIT-SINGER JACK BRUCE AND CONSPIRED TO CREATE AN ELECTRIC ROCK MIX. THE OPENING TITLE TRACK OF THIS DIGIPAK CD FROM 2007 UK, LIKE THE WHO, WITH WEST'S BELLOWING VOCALS MATCHING THE POWER-TRIO'S BACKING. BRUCE TAKES OVER ON THE HIPPYISH, CHORAEL-FRAMED "OUT IN THE FIELDS", AND HONOURS ARE SHARED THEREAFTER. "THE DOCTOR" OFFERS CATCHY RIGGING AND THROBBING RHYTHM, BUT THE HARMONICA-FED "TURN ME OVER" COULD BE FROM THE ITALIAN JOB THEME, AND THERE'S BOOGIE PIANO TO THE FORE ON THE LIKES OF "PLEASURE". "SHAKE MA THING" DOSE WHAT IT SUGGEST, BUT "LOVE IS WORTH THE BLUES" TEMPERS THINGS BEFORE THE CLOSING SWEET CHORALE OF "POLLUTION WOMEN". ONE MORE STUDIO ALBUM WAS RELEASED "WHATEVER TURNS YOU ON" (JULY 1973) AND LIVE ALBUM "LIVE AND KICKIN" (MAY 1974). WEST, BRUCE & LAING

THE ELECTRIC FLAG

"AN AMERICAN MUSIC BAND" ELECTRIC FLAG'S SECOND ALBUM WITH GENRES AND STYLES OF BLUES ROCK, JAZZ-ROCK, FUNK / SOUL, RHYTHM & BLUES, PSYCHEDELIC; COULD BE IN SIXTIES UNDERGROUND STEW. RELEASED IN 1968 IT ALSO CAME IN MONO. NICE ONE TO KEEP JUST IN CASE OF A HAPPENING.

MR. BROWN

THE MUSIC OF THIS SIX-MEMBER SWEDISH, MR. BROWN "MELLAR TRE OGAON" IS PURE SYMPHONIC ROCK AND LARGELY LIKE CAMEL AND BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST. "SUICIDE" STARTS SLOW SPACE ROCK WHICH DRAWS TO PINK FLOYD. MAINLY INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM, WHEN SUNG IT IS IN A SOFT WAY. "RECALL" IS HIGHLIGHT OF THE ALBUM. THERE ARE PARTS THAT SOUND LIKE BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, WHICH LIKE THEM STRENGTH OF THE SONGS LAYS IN THE OVERALL ARRANGEMENTS.

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, CAMEL AND PINK FLOYD FANS WOULD LIKE THIS ALBUM HAS A TOP UP.

THE SUMMARY OF THIS ALBUM IS CONSISTING OF VERY NICE PROG LIGHT SONGS.

MOSTLY AUTUMN

MOSTLY AUTUMN WAS FORMED IN 1998. THE GROUPS EARLY INFLUENCES WERE GENESIS, RENAISSANCE, PINK FLOYD, BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST AND FOLK MUSIC. LATER ALBUMS INCLUDED MORE CONTEMPORARY INFLUENCES. ONE OF MORE NOTABLE PROGRESSIVE ROCK BANDS IN 21ST CENTURY AND COULD BE ONE OF LAST ROCK LEGENDS BANDS. "PAST THE CLOCK" IS A THREE CD COMPILATION FROM TEN YEARS OF THE BAND.

FOREST

MEDIEVAL-HIPPIE MINSTRELSY WITH GROUP PLAYING HARMONIUM, PIPES, WHISTLES, ORGAN, VIOLIN, CELLO, GUITARS AND MANDOLIN. THROUGH RECOMMENDATION OF TOP DJ JOHN PEEL FOREST FOUND A HOME ON HARVEST THE PIONEERING PROGRESSIVE ROCK LABEL. RECOMMENDED TO PROG FOLK FANS. FOREST

GEORGE DUKE

"FACES IN REFLECTION" IS JAZZ ROCK WITH JOHN HEARD FUNKY BASS, NDUGU CHANCLER DRUMS UP A STORM AND KEYBOARDS BY GEORGE DUKE. IF YOU LIKE EARLY YEARS OF FUSION, BEFORE THERE WAS FORMULAS, WHEN MUSICIANS BORROWED FREELY FROM JAZZ ROCK, PROGRESSIVE ROCK, EXPERIMENTAL ELECTRONICS AND PSYCHEDELIC JAMS, THEN THIS ALBUM FOR YOU. GEORGE DUKE

FOGG

"THIS IS IT", I FIND THIS A VERY OBSCURE BAND & LP. RELEASED IN GERMANY ON EMIDISC LABEL BY EMI RECORDS LTD IN 1974 (1971 FROM THEIR INFORMATION ON LABEL). PLAYED BY THESE'S GEORDIE'S WHO ARE DEREK ROOTHAM, CHRIS MCPHERSON, DAVID ROBSON AND ROBERT PORTEOUS. THE MUSIC IS HEAVY ROCK 'N' ROLL WITH TOUCHES OF PROG ROCK & 1971 PUB BAND VENUES. FOGG ALSO PLAYED ONCE AT MARQUEE, LONDON, 03-01-1976. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN SOUND BUT COULD BE INTEREST TO URIAH HEEP OR ROCK 'N' ROLL LINDISFARNE KIND OF MUSIC? HEIDI ESSER FROM ALBUM NOTES SAID 'FOGG IS A GREAT BAND'. NICE IF THIS ALBUM COULD BE ISSUED ON CD WITH BONUS TRACKS OF THEIR SEVEN SINGLES (WHICH "DOING THE BEST I CAN" WENT TO NUMBER 1 IN GERMANY AND THE REASON IT WAS RELEASED THEIR) AND BETTER ALBUM SLEEVE. INTERESTINGLY DEREK ROOTHAM (GUITAR AND DAVID ROBSON (BASS GUITAR) JOINED GEORDIE FOR THEIR 1978 ALBUM "NO GOOD WOMAN" WHILE IT IS LIKE AN ENJOYABLE RECORD BY THESE GEORDIE, IT WAS THE LAST ALBUM BY BRAIN JOHNSON BEFORE HE TROT OFF TO AC/DC. FOGG

MILES DAVIS

"IN A SILENT WAY" (JULY 1969). THE ALBUM WHERE JAZZ FUSION WAS BORN WITH JOHN MCLAUGLIN ON GUITAR. IN MOST CRITICS TOP 100 BEST PROGRESSIVE ROCK ALBUMS. THIS IS A WONDERFUL JAZZ ALBUM AND ONE OF MY MOST LIKED FUSION RECORDS. www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=11942

"BITCHES BREW" (JUNE 1970, 71# UK & 35# USA)

www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=38223

TUDOR LODGE

ESOTERIC RECORDINGS ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUCE THE RELEASE OF A NEW REMASTERED EDITION OF THE SELF TITLED ALBUM BY TUDOR LODGE. THE BAND WAS A FOLK ROCK OUTFIT WITH PROGRESSIVE LEANINGS FROM BERKSHIRE WHO TOOK THEIR NAME FROM A PUB IN THE READING AREA. COMPRISING AMERICAN LYNDON GREEN ON VOCALS AND GUITAR, ANN STEUART ON GUITAR, PIANO, FLUTE AND VOCALS AND JOHN STANNARD ON GUITAR. TUDOR LODGE RECORDED ONLY ONE ALBUM IN THEIR BRIEF LIFE FOR THE LEGENDARY VERTIGO LABEL IN 1971, NOW SOUGHT AFTER BY COLLECTORS, WHICHED FEATURED GEUESTS SUCH AS DRUMMER TERRY COX FROM PENTANGLE. THIS ESOTERIC RECORDINGS REISSUE RESTORES THE ORIGINAL ALBUM ARTWORK AND HAD BEEN NEWLY REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL ALBUM MASTER TAPES. AS AN ADDED BONUS, THIS REISSUE INCLUDES THE RARE BONUS TRACK "THE GOOD TIMES WE HAD", THE B SIDE OF THE BAND'S ONLY SINGLE.

FRUUPP

"FUTURE LEGENDS" RELEASED ON CD 23/02/2009 BY ESOTERIC RECORDINGS. ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN OCTOBER 1973 ON PYE'S DAWN LABEL, "FUTURE LEGENDS" WAS THE DEBUT RELEASE BY NORTHEN IRISH PROGRESSIVE ROCK MASTERS FRUUPP. A WONDERFUL EXERCISE IN SYMPHONIC AND MELODIC ROCK, THE ALBUM WAS HIGHLY ACCLAIMED UPON RELEASE LAUNCHING THE BAND ON A LIVE CAREER THAT SAW THEM SHARE THE BILL WITH SUCH LUMINARIES AS GENESIS. FUTURE LEGENDS IS NOW RE-MASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL TAPES AND INCLUDE THE TRACK "ON A CLEAR DAY" WHICH ONLY FEATURED ON THE FIRST 100 COPIES OF THE ALBUM. WITH ALL THE ALBUMS FROM FRUUPP'S CATALOGUE RELEASED IN FEBRUARY 2009, THIS IS CERTAIN TO APPEALTO ALL LOVERS OF CLASSIC PROGRESSIVE ROCK THE WORLD OVER. FRUUP

STRAY DOG

THE 1973 SELF-TITLED DEBUT FROM A BAND WHO BECAME CULT FIGURES ON THE BLUES-ROCK SCENE, MAINLY BECAUSE THERE WAS A REAL CRUNCH TO THE MUSIC. GREG LAKE (OF EMERSON, LAKE AND PALMER) SIGNED THEM TO THE BANDS MANTICORE LABEL, AND HE PRODUCED THREE OF THE TRACKS ON THIS ALBUM. RELEASED ON CD 26/10/2009 (ALONG WITH "WHILE YOUR DOWN THERE") IS THE FIRST TO BE ISSUED ON THE REACTIVATED MANTICORE LABEL, UNDER LICENSE TO CHERRY RED RECORDS AND MANAGED BY THE PEOPLE WHO BROUGHT YOU ESOTERIC RECORDINGS AND ATOMHENGE.

ARMAGEDDON

SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM NEWLY REMASTERED CD RELEASE FOR THIS CLASSIC ALBUM FEATURING MARTIN PUGH, LOUIS CENNAMO & BOBBY CALDWELL FROM 1975. BOOKLET WITH PHOTOS & LINER NOTES. ARMAGEDDON WAS ONE OF THE GREAT UNSUNG BANDS OF THE MID 1970S. FORMED IN 1975, THE GROUP FEATURED THE VOCAL TALENTS OF KEITH RELF (FROM YARDBIRDS & RENAISSANCE), ALONGSIDE GUITARIST MARTIN PUGH (FROM STEAMHAMMER), BASSIST LOUIS CENNAMO (FROM STEAMHAMMER) AND DRUMMER BOBBY CALDWELL (FROM CAPTAIN BEYOND). ORIGINALLY RELEASED BY A&M RECORDS IN 1975. ARMAGEDDON SOLE ALBUM FEATURED SOME AMAZING MUSIC RANGING FROM THE LED ZEPPELIN-ESQUE "PATHS AND PLANES AND FUTURE GAINS" TO THE PROGRESSIVE ROCK OF "SILVER TIGHTROPE" AND "BASKING IN THE WHITE OF THE MIDNIGHT SUN". THE MUCH OVERUSED TERM LOST CLASSIC IS, IN THE CASE OF THIS RECORD, MOST APT. THIS ESOTERIC REISSUE HAS BEEN RE-MASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL TAPES AND RESTORES THE ORIGINAL ALBUM ARTWORK AND WILL APPEAL TO LOVERS OF PROGRESSIVE AND CLASSIC ROCK.

BAKER GURVITZ ARMY

FORMED BY FORMER GUN AND THREE MAN ARMY MEMBERS ADRAIN GURVITZ (GUITAR, VOCALS), PAUL GUVITZ (BASS, VOCALS) AND VIRTUOSO DRUMMER GINGER BAKER, BAKER GURVITZ ARMY RECORDED THREE ALBUMS OF THE FINEST BRITISH ROCK MUSIC OF THE MID-70S (BAKER GURVITZ ARMY '1974', ELYSIAN '1975', HEARTS OF FIRE '1976) .

SELF TITLED 1974 DEBUT FEATURED SUCH CLASSIC AS "HELP ME", "MAD JACK", "INSIDE OF ME" AND "MEMORY LANE", EARNING THE BAND A LOYAL AND INCREASING FAN BASE.

DARRYL WAY

"CONCERTO FOR ELECTRIC VIOLIN" WAS RECORDED BY CURVED AIR AND WOLF VIOLINIST DARRYL WAY FOR ISLAND RECORDS AND WAS SUBJECT OF MUCH CRITICAL ACCLAIM AND A FEATURE ON ITV'S "SOUTH BANK SHOW" UPON ITS RELEASE IN 1978. A UNIQUE FUSION OF ROCK AND CLASSIC MUSIC, THE ALBUM MADE FULL USE OF SYNTHESISER TECHNOLOGY TO PRODUCE A TRULY UNIQUE WORK OF CLASSICAL PROGRESSIVE ROCK. FOR THE RECORDING SESSIONS DARRLY WAS JOINED BY FORMER CURVED AIR COLLEAGUE FRANCIS MONKMAN AND DRUMMER IAN MOSLEY (FORMELY WITH WOLF AND LATER TO JOIN MARILLION).

FUZZY DUCK

FEATURING GARTH WATT-ROY (GUITAR, VOCALS), ROY SHARLAND (ORGAN), MICK HAWKSWORTH (BASS) AND PAUL FRANCIS (DRUMS), THE BAND SIGNED TO GORDON MILLS' MAM LABEL, RECORDING AN ALBUM AND TWO SINGLES FOR THE IMPRINT. ALTHOUGH THEIR RECORDS FAILED TO SELL AT THE TIME OF RELEASE, FUZZY DUCK'S RECORDED OUTPUT BECAME SOUGHT BY COLLECTORS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

WITH THEIR HEAVY ORGAN DRIVEN PROGRESSIVE ROCK WINNING OVER NEW LISTENERS IN THE ENSURING YEARS. FUZZY DUCK

CAN

"EGE BAMYASI" FROM 1972 WAS THE ONLY CAN ALBUM BOUGHT UNTIL ONLY RECENTLY. WAS VERY MUCH USED ALBUM WITH TRANCE & HYPNOTIC FOCUSED ON MELODY.

FORMED 1968, COLOGNE, WEST GERMANY, WITH MALCOLM MOONEY ON VOCALS, THEY RECORDED AND PRIVATELY DISTRIBUTED "MONSTER MOVIE" BEFORE MOONEY WAS TAKEN ILL. THEIR SPARSE STYLE, BASED ON REPEATED RHYTHMIC FIGURES AND SIMPLE HARMONIES, WAS EMPLOYED AS BASIS OF LONG, HYPNOTIC IMPROVISATION SEVERAL OF WHICH CAN BE FOUND ON "TANGO MAGO". "EGE BAMYASI" HOWEVER IS THEIR MOST INTERESTING RELEASE, BEING LESS INDULGENT AND PATCHY. ALSO KNOWN FOR THEIR FILM MUSIC (DEEP END AMONG OTHERS), CAN'S WORK IN THIS FIELD CAN BE SAMPLED ON "CAN SOUNDTRACK". ONE OF MOST IMPORTANT KRAUTROCK GROUPS. THE ONLY UK CHART ENTRY IS A SEVEN INCH SINGLE VINYL "I WANT MORE" 26#, 28TH AUGUST 1976. CAN KRAUTROCK

RARE BIRD

"AS YOUR MIND FLIES BY" - RARE BIRD WAS THE FIRST ACT TO BE RELEASED ON TONY STRATTON'S SMITH'S GLORIOUSLY ECLECTIC LABEL CHARISMA RECORDS AND PERHAPS BEST REMEMBERED FOR THEIR EXCELLENT 1970 HIT SINGLE "SYMPATHY". LIKE FELLOW CHARISMA STABLE MATES VAN DER GRAAF GENERATOR, RARE BIRD WAS FORMED AROUND THE PRINCIPLE OF KEYBOARD DOMINATED PROGRESSIVE ROCK WHICH ESCHEWED THE USE OF GUITARS. FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THEIR SELF-TITLED DEBUT ALBUM (1969) AND SINGLE ("SYMPATHY"), THE BAND RECORDED THIS CLASSIC SECOND ALBUM IN SUMMER OF 1970. "AS YOUR MIND FLIES BY" FEATURED THE EPIC "FLIGHT", A LEGENDARY PIECE WHICH DOMINATED THE ALBUMS SECOND SIDE. AN EXCELLENT WORK, THE ALBUM MET WITH MUCH SUCCESS, WITH BILLBOARD MAGAZINE IN AMERICA DECLARING RARE BIRD TO BE IN THE TOP TEN BEST NEW ACTS OF THE YEAR.

"EPIC FOREST" - THOUGH IT MADE LITTLE IMPACT ON ITS ORIGNAL RELEASE IN 1972, RARE BIRD "EPIC FOREST" HAS SINCE BEEN WIDELY ACCLAIMED AS A CLASSIC. WHEN GRAHAM FIELDS LEFT IT CAME SOMETHING OF A SHOCK TO FANS. ALONGSIDE THE ADDITION OF SECOND LEAD VOCALIST/GUITARIST ANDY 'CED' CURTIS AND GOLD DECISION TO TAKE UP THE AXE THAT OWED MUCH MORE TO TO THE LUSH HARMONIES OF CROSBY, NASH AND YOUNG AND THE DUELLING GUITARS OF WISHBONE ASH THAN ELP OR YES, WEAVING MORE WEBS OF MUSICAL DELIGHT AND THIS TIME FOLLOWING MOODY BLUES IN TERMS OF MUSICAL ABILITY. IN PURELY COMMERCIAL TERMS IT FAILED TO CAPITALISE ON THE SUCCESS OF RARE BIRD FIRST TWO ALBUMS YET IT CONTAINED NO SHORTAGE OF SONGS THAT AFFORDED GOULD AND CURTIS SCOPE TO DOVETAIL THEIR GUITAR TO THRILLING EFFECT. RARE BIRDS MUSIC IS GOOD FOR YOUR HEAD. IT CAN CARRY YOU ALONG ON A WAVE OF DRIFTING SOMETIME EPHEMERAL, HAUNTING THOUGHTFULNESS AND VOCAL HARMONIES AND WITHOUT WARNING PLUNGE YOU INTO THE REALMS OF CONTROLLED ROCK, AS WITNESS THE LENGTHY AND TANTALISING TITLE TRACK. TRACKS LIKE "TURNING THE LIGHTS OUT" , "BABY LISTEN" AND "TURN IT ALL AROUND" WITH THEIR EXACT CONSTRUCTION, PRECISE CLARITY AND PERFECT PRESENTATION DEMAND THE LISTENER'S ENTIRE ATTENTION. AN EXTREMELY TASTY ALBUM. RARE BIRD

INCREDIBLE HOG

INCREDIBLE HOG IS A CULT BAND FOR FANS OF BRITISH ROCK AND PROG OF THE EARLY 70'S. THEIR VOLUME 1 ALBUM (RELEASED IN 1973), HAS GONE ON TO BE HERALDED AS A CULT CLASSIC OF PROTO METAL MEETS HEAVY GLAM/BLUES ROCK, WITH ORIGINAL COPIES DEMANDING VERY HIGH SUMS OF MONEY.

GRANICUS

SELF-TITLED ALBUM RELEASED IN 1973, USA, CLEVELAND BY THIS OBSCURE ROCK OUTFIT. THAT'S UNFORTUNATE SINCE THE SHORT LIVED BAND ARE VERY GOOD. RELEASED A FOLLOW UP ALBUM IN 2010. GRANICUS

HOME

ESOTERIC RECORDINGS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RELEASE OF THE CLASSIC 1972 SELF TITLED ALBUM BY HOME. THE BAND FEATURED A LINE UP OF MICK STUBBS (GUITAR, PIANO, LEAD VOCALS), LAURIE WISEFIELD (LEAD GUITAR, VOCALS), CLIFF WILLIAMS (BASS, VOCALS), AND MICK COOK (DRUMS) AND FORMED IN LONDON 1970. SIGNING TO CBS RECORDS THEY RECORDED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM IN 1971. THEIR SECOND SELF-TITLED ALBUM WAS RELEASED IN 1972 AND INCLUDED THE CLASSIC TRACK "WESTERN FRONT". THIS ESOTERIC REISSUE HAS BEEN RE-MASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES AND RESTORES THE ORIGINAL ALBUM ARTWORK.

WISHBONE ASH

PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND WISHBONE ASH, STARTED WITH SELF TITLED DEBUT ALBUM IN DECEMBER 1970 34# UK. THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY "PILGRIMAGE" IN SEPTEMBER 1971 14# UK. WISHBONE ASH AND ONE OF ROCK/PROG ROCK GREATEST ALBUMS "ARGUS" IN MAY 1972 3# UK. THEN MORE CHART ACTION WITH WISHBONE FOUR 12# UK & 44# USA, "LIVE DATES" WHICH WAS DOUBLE ALBUM IN DECEMBER 1973 82# USA (SOLD MILLIONS WORLD WIDE). THEN CAME THEIR CLASSIC ROCK ALBUM "THERE'S THE RUB" 16# UK & 88# USA WITH THEIR COUNTRY ROCK/PROG ROCK SOUND. THE NEXT 7 STUDIO ALBUMS & "LIVE TAPES 2" REACHED TOP 61 OF UK ALBUM CHARTS. "TWIN BARRELS BURNING" BEING LAST CHART ALBUM 22# UK IN 1982 BEING HEAVY METAL STYLE OF THE TIME (BUT MUST BE SAID A GOOD ALBUM). WISHBONE ASH CONTINUED WITH RELEASING FIVE MORE STUDIO ALBUMS UP TO 1996, BUT DID NOT CHART. THEY CARRIED ON TREADING THE BOARDS AND RELEASING ALBUMS INTO 21ST CENTURY.

FLYING CIRCUS

FLYING CIRCUS SIGNED TO EMI RECORDS IN LATE 1968 AND MADE ONE OF THEIR FIRST APPEARANCE AT AN OUTDOOR CONCERT IN SYDNEY'S DOMAIN ON AUSTRALIA DAY 1969. THEIR FIRST HIT SINGLE IN AUSTRALIA WAS WRITTEN BY BUZZ CASON & MAC GAYDEN, NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE, USA, ROCK SINGER, COMPOSERS, MUSICIANS. THE TRACK WAS CALLED "HAYRIDE"' RELEASED IN EARLY 1969 AND WAS LABELLED BUBBLEGUM GROUP BECAUSE CHIPMUNKS SOUND. ALTHOUGH THEIR STAGE PERFORMANCE AND ALBUMS WAS IN COUNTRY ROCK VEIN. OF NOTE IS SIDE 2 WHICH WAS A BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST COVER "EARLY MORNING". FLYING CIRCUS RELEASED TEN SINGLES (OF WHICH HAD FIVE HIT SINGLES IN AUSTRALIAN CHARTS), ONE EP AND 5 STUDIO ALBUMS UP UNTIL 1974 WHEN THEY RUN THEIR COURSE. "PREPARED IN PEACE" WAS ONLY ALBUM RELEASED IN BRITAIN ON HARVEST LABEL IN 1970, WITH NOD TO UNDERGROUND COUNTRY ROCK. BEING JUST AS GOOD LP THEN CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG "DEJA VU". THE ONLY COMPLAINT IS ALBUM COVER SLEEVE, THE WORST EVER WHICH HAS BEEN EDITED FOR VIEWING.

FLYING CIRCUS WAS ACTIVE 1968 - 1975, IN FOLK ROCK, SOFT ROCK, PSYCHEDELIC POP, UNDERGROUND COUNTRY ROCK GENRES. FLYING CIRCUS

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST FEATURING LES HOLROYD

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST THROUGH THE EYES OF JOHN LEES

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST DISTINCTIVE CAREER ENDED IN 1997 WITH THEIR LAST ALBUM AND NOT ONE DUD IN FORTY YEARS AFTER FORMATION. THEREFORE, THEY ENCLOSED THE OUTPUT IN A LEGENDARIES STATUS. THEY CLEVERLY TOPPED IT WITH LES HOROLYD AND JOHN LEES SOLO ALBUMS WITH A BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST IN THEIR OWN BAND NAME. BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST FEATURING LES HOLROYD "REVOLUTION DAYS" (WITH MEL PRITCHARD) RELEASED IN 2002, IS MELODIC HEAVY ROCK OF NEW MATERIAL. WHILE, BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST THROUGH EYES OF JOHN LEES (WITH WOOLLY WOLSTENHOLME) RELEASED "NEXUS" IN 1999. THIS ALBUM IS A MIX OF RE-RECORDINGS OF OLD HARVEST LABEL TRACKS WITH NEW ARRANGEMENTS & NEWLY COMPOSED SONGS, ALL WITH BENEFIT OF ARRANGEMENTS FROM WOOLLY WOLSTENHOLME. "STARBRIGHT" IS VERY GOOD. IT IS SUPERFLUOUS TO RATE THESE ALBUM, JUST HOTFOOT IT TO A GOOD RECORD STORE. BOTH LES HOLROYD & JOHN LEES CONTINUE TO TREAD THE BOARDS AND RELEASE NEW LIVE CD'S & DVD'S. BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST

MANDALABAND

IN THE MID-1970'S MANDALABAND STOOD 0UT AS ONE OF THE MOST INTRICATE AND MUSICALLY ASTONISHING GROUPS. ALAN 'FLUFF' FREEMAN ONCE BOWED AND KISSED THE FEET OF MAIN MAN DAVID ROHL SUCH WAS HIS LOVE OF THEIR RECORDS. "RESURRECTION" BRINGS TOGETHER THEIR FIRST TWO ALBUMS, REMIXED AND REMASTERED. AND THEY'RE UTTERLY SPELLBINDING. AMAZINGLY 1975'S MANDALABAND 1 WAS RECORDED WITHOUT ROHL. HE'D WRITTEN MOST OF IT, THEN FELL OUT WITH LABEL OVER THIER CHOICE OF JOHN ALCOCK AS PRODUCER. BUT IT IS A BEAUTIFUL, INSPIRING RECORD BASED ON THE TIBETAN PEOPLE'S STRUGGLE AGAINST CHINESS OPPRESSION. THE EASTERN INFLURENCE IS OBVIOUS AS ARE THE NEO-CLASSICAL ELEMENTS. MOST OF THE BAND AT THE TIME EVENTUALLY LEFT TO FORM SOFT ROCK BAND SOFT CAFE. ROHL, THOUGH, RETURNED AND CALLED ON PALS FROM BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST, 10CC, THE MOODY BLUES AND STEELEYE SPAN FOR 1978 MANDALABAND II "THE EYE OF WENDER": PROPHECIES, A TOLKIEN-ESQUE ODYSSEY ABOUT A GEMSTONE WITH MAGICAL PROPERTIES. THE MUSIC IS NOT FAR REMOVED FROM MIKE OLDFIELD'S "OMMADDAWN", DISPLAYS AS REAL VISUAL AURA. SADLY MANDALABAND NEVER GOT THE SUCCESS THE MUSICAL SWEEP AND AMBITION IT DESERVED. BUT NOW UPDATED, THESE TWO ALBUMS SOUND BETTER THEN EVER. UPLIFTING YET SO FULL OF VIRTUOSO MOMENTS.

TRAFFIC

AFTER BLIND FAITH AND AN EVEN BRIEFER TENURE IN ANOTHER 'SUPERGROUP', GINGER BAKER'S AIRFORCE, WINWOOD BEGAN WORK ON A SOLO ALBUM. BUT HAVING ENLISTED TRAFFIC DRUMMER JIM CAPALD AND SAX/FLUTE PLAYER CHRIS WOOD, WINWOOD SOON BOWED TO INEVITABLE AND RE-FORMED THE BAND. HIS DECISION WAS QUICKLY VINDICATED; "JOHN BARLEYCORN MUST DIE" WAS TRAFFIC'S FIRST GOLD CERTIFIELD ALBUM IN THE USA. AS A TRIO, THE GROUP MIXED FLUID, EXPERIMENTAL JAZZ ROCK WITH ENGLISH FOLK THEMES, REWORKING A TRADITIONAL SONG DATING BACK TO 1465 FOR THIS ALBUM'S TITLE TRACK.

JAGUAR

"POWER GAMES" RELEASED IN 1983 FOR NWOBHM OF THE TIME. UNDERRATED BACK THEN AND STILL IS. EARLY THRASH HEAVY METAL FROM UK; FAST, METAL, RAW AND FIERCE FOR NO ATTEMPT AT COMMERCIAL SOUND.

FIST

VINYL LP "BACK WITH A VENGEANCE" (RELEASED BY NEAT RECORDS IN 1982) WAS BOUGHT AT A RECORD FAIR FOR £1 IN EARLY EIGHTIES. THEY ARE FROM NWOBHM AND WAS REFRESHING, CONSIDERING SOME OF RUBBISH FROM ROCK/POP WORLD AT TAIL END OF SEVENTIES. FIST RELEASED ANOTHER ALBUM "TURN THE HELL ON" (NEAT RECORDS IN 1980). THEY WAS ACTIVE 1977 - 1985.

IN 2005 ANOTHER ALBUM WAS RELEASED CALLED "STORM", WITH THE NAME FIST USED BY ONLY TWO ORIGINAL MEMBERS. THIS VERSION WAS ACTIVE 2001 - 2006.

KONCHORDAT

WHEN CHASE & DAVE EXTOLLED THE VIRTUES OF MARGATE, WE BET THEY NEVER FIND PROGGERS KONCHORDAT LURKING IN THE SEASIDE TOWN. THE BAND DESCRIBE THEIR SOUND AS 'MAJESTIC, BOLD AND OFTEN EPIC IN SCALE' - AND THEY'E NOT FAR WRONG. THE 20-MINUTE TITLE TRACK "ENGLISH GHOSTS" IS STATELY AND MASTERFUL, WHILE STYX-LIKE CLOSER CODA? SHOWCASE THEIR HEAVIER SIDE.

JONATHAN KELLY

FOLK-SINGER WRITER, CAME TO BRITAIN 1969 FROM HOMELAND EIRE, WHERE HE WAS BORN IN DROGHEDA, JUST OUTSIDE DUBLIN. NEVER QUITE ACHEVED SUCCESS SUGGESTED WITH APPEARANCE AT 1971 CAMBRIDGE FOLK FESTIVAL, THOUGH DURING 1972 ESTABLISHED RESPECTED REPUTATION THROUGH SUPPORT TO STRAWBS AND GIGS AT BICKERSHAW FESTIVAL. "TWICE AROUND THE HOUSE" COMPRISE SONGS ABOUT EARLY LIFE IN DUBLIN.

I BOUGHT THIS ALBUM "TWICE AROUND THE HOUSE" AND "WAITING ON YOU" (VINYL LP) IN SEVENTIES AT A RECORD FAIR FOR £1EACH. LP'S WAS PUT ON RECORD PLAYER AS A FOLK-ROCK ALBUM WHILE THE BEASTIES CREW WOULD DRINK PINTS OF KEG OR BITTER AND KEG - WICKED. BUY THE ALBUMS YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED.

FAIRFIELD PARLOUR

THEIR ALBUM, "FROM HOME TO HOME" RELEASED IN 1970, WAS A PRETTY GOOD AMALGAM OF SIXTIES-INFLUENCED POP ("THE GLORIOUS HOUSE OF ARTHUR" AND "IN MY BOX") AND SOME SOMBRE SONGS ("ARIES" AND "THE DRUMMER BOY OF SHILOH"). IT IS NOW QUITE A SIGNIFICANT COLLECTABLE.

CLOUDS

THE LIFESPAN OF CLOUDS WAS 1966 -1971 AS A SCOTTISH ROCK BAND, WHICH HAS SOME PSYCHEDELIA/PROGRESSIVE ROCK SIXTIES HISTORY TO THE BAND. CLOUDS CONSISTED OF IAN ELLIS (BASS GUITAR), HARRY HUGHES (DRUMS), AND BILLY RITCHES (KEYBOARDS. THEIR STUDIO ALBUMS WAS "SCRAPBOOK" (1968), "UP ABOVE OUR HEADS" (1969, ONLY RELEASED IN USA) AND "WATERCOLOUR DAYS" (1971). BGO RECORDS RELEASED IN 2010 "UP ABOVE OUR HEADS - CLOUDS 1966-1971" COMPILATION ON TWO CD'S OF THEIR THREE ALBUMS AND NINE BONUS TRACKS. ONE OF BONUS TRACKS IS FROM FOLK ROCK/SOFT ROCK, SIMON AND GARFUNKEL "AMERICA". CLOUDS PROGRESSIVE ROCK VERSION IS EIGHT MINUTES LONG, THAT PRE-DATES PROG ROCKERS YES VERSION.

MUSE

"THE RESISTANCE" WAS RELEASED ON 14/09/2009 WITH GENE NEW PROGRESSIVE ROCK. "THE RESISTANCE" BEGINS WITH ONE OF THE MOST STRAIGHT FORWARD ROCK SONGS THAT ARE FEATURED ON THE ALBUM, "UPRISING". IT HAS SEEMING FUTURISTIC DANCE BEAT WHICH WAS THE BRAINCHILD OF BASSIT CHRIS WOLSTENHOLME. HE LAYERED THE BEAT UNDERNEATH FRONT MAN WHICH HAS CONSISTENTLY BUILT UP OVER THE COURSE OF MUSE'S PREVIOUS FEW RECORDS. "THE RESISTANCE" IS CERTAINLY NO EXCEPTION IN ANY MATTER. THE LYRICS ARE DEMANDING FROM BOTH SIDES. WHAT BELLAMY IS SPECIFICALLY REFERRING TO IN SOME OF THE SONGS IS 'ANYONE GUESS ABOUT THE SUBJECT MATTER. THE VOLATILE DISPOSITION OF THE WORLD IS USED AS AN ALLUSION TO ADD MORE SPICE AND VIVACITY TO THE ALBUM. BELLAMY NEVERTHELESS MAKES IT CRYSTAL CLEAR ON "THE RESISTANCE" THAT LOVE IS OUR ULTIMATE RESISTANCE. THE SONG IS PURPOSEFULLY DERIVED FROM THE LOVING RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN JULIA AND WINSTON FROM ORWELL'S 1984. THE LYRICS DEPICT A PERPLEXING STATE OF MIND AND EVEN ECHOES ORWELL'S IDEAS ABOUT HOW LOVE IS THE PERFECT DEPICTION OF REBELLION. ONCE AGAIN, THE SONG AND THE ALBUM ITSELF SEEM TO PORTRAY A REAL LIVE PERFORMANCE WITH ITS LIVELINESS AND EPIC PROPORTIONS. THE SOARING TRACKS ABOUT DEFIANCE ALSO COME FROM THE THOUGHT FALLING IN LOVE. INDEED, THE ALBUM HAS SO MUCH TO OFFER. ITS TWISTED LYRICS THAT CONVEY EVERYDAY MESSAGES MAKE IT ONE OF THE MOST CRYPTIC AND INTELLIGENT ALBUMS EVER PRODUCED.

LED ZEPPELIN

WHEN I HOTFOOT IT TO RECORD STORE WITH CRISP MELODY MAKER IN MY HAND TO BUY LED ZEPPELIN "IV" IN 1971 I FOUND LP IN UNDERGROUND ROCK SECTION. THE EFFUSIVE PRAISE FOR THIS ALBUM WAS SPREAD WORLDWIDE. EVEN IN SARAWAK IT WAS PLAYED.

LED ZEPPELIN

COLIN SCOTT

"OUT OF THE BLUE" RELEASED IN 1974 IS A STERLING ALBUM WITH MELLOTRONS AND IS MENTION ON PLANETMELLOTRON.COM

WARHORSE

DESPITE BEING DISMISSED FROM DEEP PURPLE, NICK SIMPER PROVES THAT HE HAD WHAT IT TOOK IN THE WORLD OF HEAVY ROCK. THIS ALBUM POSITIVELY BURNS, WITH EACH TRACK PROVIDING A SUPERBLY CRAFTED SIMPER BASS LINE, COMPLEMENTED BT THE SOARING VOCAL WORK OF ASHLEY HOLT AND THE BRILLIANT AXE WIELDING OF GED PECK. THE EXCITEMENT OF THE PIECE BEARS SLIGHT RESEMBLANCE TO AN "IN ROCK" (DEEP PURPLE), OR A "VERY 'EAVY VERY 'UMBLE (URIAH HEEP) SO IF YOU'RE A FAN OF EARLY BRITISH HARD ROCK, THEN THIS ALBUM IS ESSENTIAL. WARHORSE MAY NOT BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF EVERY CONVERSATION ON EARLY METAL BANDS, BUT IT DOSE NOT MEAN THAT THEIR TALENT SHOULD BE FORGOTTEN. FANTASTIC.

THREE MAN ARMY

THREE MAN ARMY THIRD ALBUM HAS BECOME A CLASSIC ALBUM SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 1973 FROM A RECORD STORE. "THREE MAN ARMY 2" (THAT WAS THEIR THIRD ALBUM) WAS PLAYED MANY TIMES IN SEVENTIES IN THOSE, HEAD BANGING DAYS.

BROTHERS ADRAIN GURVITZ (GUITAR, VOCALS) AND PAUL GURVITZ (BASS PLAYER) HAD DISBANDED THEIR TRIO, GUN, AND THEY HOOKED UP WITH SPOOKY TOOTH DRUMMER MIKE KELLIE BY THEIR SIDE, INTO A NEW HEAVY ROCK ADVENTURE - A PROJECT WHICH PROVED TO BE WELL AHEAD OF ITS TIME. THREE MAN ARMY MADE THEIR DEBUT IN 1971 ON "THIRD OF A LIFETIME" WITH BUDDY MILES (DRUMS, ORGAN, BASS) AS A FAMOUS GUEST STAR. THE EVERY-WAY EASILY WRITTEN MATERIAL MADE PEOPLE SIT UP AND TAKE NOTICE. ABOVE ALL, BECAUSE OF THE EXCELLENT RHYTHM CRAFT (SOUND) AND SHAPED THEIR MOST DRAMATIC HARD ROCK SOUND OF HIGHEST CALIBRE. THREE MAN ARMY WERE EVALATED UP TO THE LEVEL OF CULT STARS ON THE BRITISH UNDERGROUND CIRCUIT. THE WELL-IN-DEMAND SESSION DRUMMER, TONY NEWMAN, WAS RECRUITED FOR THE RECORDING OF "THREE MAN ARMY" AND "THREE MAN ARMY 2" IN 1973.

ALBUMS: "THIRD OF A LIFETIME" (1971), "THREE MAN ARMY" (1973), "THREE MAN ARMY TWO (1974), "3" (2005).

MELLOW CANDLE

FEATURING GIRL SINGERS CLODAGH SIMONDS AND ALISON WILLIAMS, MELLOW CANDLE NEVER ACHIEVED COMMERCIAL SUCCESS THEY DESERVED SPAWNING A LENGENDARY PSYCHEDELIC FOLK-ROCK ALBUM AKIN TO FAIRPORT CONVENTION OR FOTHERINGAY. TOURING TO SUPPORT THIN LIZZY (SIMONDS PLAYED ON LIZZY'S ALBUM "SHADES OF A BLUE ORPHANAGE" AND HORSLIPS, THE BAND HAD A SHORT LIVED EXISTENCE. CLODAGH SIMOND LATER WENT ON TO PLAY AGAIN WITH MIKE OLDFIELD AND JADE WARRIOR AND THIS RELEASE SERVES AS EVIDENCE OF THE TALENTS OF BOTH SIMONDS AND THE BAND WHO DESERVED FAR MORE COMMERCIAL SUCCESS THEN THEY ATTAINED. NOW RIGHTLY REGARDED AS A CLASSIC OF THE GENRE, ESOTERIC RECORDINGS ARE PROUD TO ADD "SWADDLING SONGS" TO THEIR CATALOGUE.

GROUNDHOGS

FORMED 1963 AS BLUES BAND COMPRISED MCPHEE (BASS, KEYBOARDS, VOCALS), PETER CRUICKSHANK (BASS), JOHN CRUICKSHANK (VOCALS, HARP), BOB HALL (PIANO), DAVID BOORMAN (DRUMS). DISBANDED 1965 WITHOUT RELEASING ALBUM. RE-FORMED 1968 WITH FIRST TWO PLUS KEN PUSTLENIK (DRUMS) AND STEVE RYE (VOCALS, HARP). EXPONENTS OF BLUES, AS "SCRATCHING THE SURFACE" (1968) ILLUSTRATE. RYE LEFT AFTER THAT AND GROUNDHOGS BECAME THREE-PIECE BLUES BAND. AFTER "BLUES OBITUARY" (1969) STARTED TO DEPART FROM BRITISH BLUES. "THANK CHRIST FOR THE BOMB" (1970, 9# UK) DEALS WITH POLITICAL IDEALS OF BAND'S WRITER MCPHEE. DURING THIS PERIOD, ESTABLISHED REPUTATION THROUGH CONSISTENT GIGGING."SPLIT" (1971, 5# UK) CONCERNS INSANITY, BUT PROVED SO POPULAR ALWAYS DEMANDED OF BAND. "WHO WILL SAVE THE WORLD ? THE MIGHTY GROUNDHOGS" (1972, 8# UK) NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO EVALUATE POSITION (BUT TODAY HAS BECAME HARD ROCK FAVOURITE), THOUGH BY NOW THEY ADDED KEYBOARDS TO LINE-UP. THEN PUSTLENIK LEFT. "HOGWASH" (1972) HAS BECAME FANS CLASSIC. EARLY 1973 BAND STOP GIGGING. THEN REPORTED SPLIT, AS MCPHEE RECORDED SOLO "THE TWO SIDES OF MCPHEE" (1973). MCPHEE CONTINUED GROUNDHOGS WITH ANOTHER GEM "SOLID" (1974, 31# UK).

RHINOCEROS

FORMER MEMBERS: ALAN GERBER (VOCALS, PIANO). DOUG HASTINGS (GUITAR), JERRY PENROD (BASS), BILLY MUNDI (DRUMS, PERCUSSION).

ORIGINALLY PUT TOGETHER BY DOORS PRODUCER PAUL ROTHCHILD FROM VARIOUS NAME GROUPS. MICHAEL FONFARA CAME FROM ELECTRIC FLAG, BILLY MUNDI FROM MOTHERS OF INVENTION, DANNY WEISS FROM IRON BUTTERFLY AND DOUG HASTINGS FROM BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD. FORMED AT WHEN JAZZ-ROCK WAS HEAVILY IN VOGUE, FEATURED HEAVY ORGAN CHORDING, AND LOT OF PERCUSSION WITH STRONG JAZZ/R&B INFLUENCES. SHORT (1 MINUTE 57 SECONDS) BUT EXCEPTIONALLY EFFECTIVE INSTRUMENTAL "APRICOT BRANDY", CONTAINED ON "RHINOCEROS", BECAME STANDARD BBC RADIO 1 PROGRAMME-LINK.

ALBUMS: RHINOCEROS (1968), SATIN CHICKEN (1969), BETTER TIMES ARE COMING (1970).

TERPANDRE

TERPANDRE IS A SUPERB PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND THAT PERFORMS A FULLY INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC BUILT AROUND THE MELODIC WORKS OF TWO KEYBOARDS (PIANO, MELLOTRON, AND OTHERS), BERNARD MONNERI'S GUITAR, AND PATRICK TILLEMAN (VIOLIN). INITIALLY RECORDED IN 1978, THE BANDS EPONYMOUS ALBUM WAS ISSUED THREE YEARS LATER, AND INCLUDES BEAUTIFUL TRACKS, BOTH STRONG AND ENERGETIC, AS WELL AS SOME MORE MELANCHOLIC AND ETHEREAL OTHERS. THE MUSEA REISSUE INCLUDES, AS USUAL, A PARTICALARLY COMPLETE BIOGRAPHY AND TWO BONUS TRACKS RECORDED LIVE ON JANUARY 31ST, 1977. A MASTERPIEICE TO BE URGENTLY REDISCOVERED !

TERPANDRE

HARD STUFF

FORMED 1971 AS BULLET, CANN AND HAMMOND PREVIOUSLY WITH ATOMIC ROOSTER. CANN WROTE ATOMIC ROOSTER'S "DEVIL'S ANSWER" HIT. SINGED TO DEEP PURPLE OWN PURPLE LABEL. GUSTAFSON WITH THE MERSYBEATS AND THE BIG THREE BEFORE HARD STUFF. ESSENTIALLY A HARD ROCK BAND. DISBANDED 1973.

ALBUMS: BULLETPROOF (1972), BOLEX DEMENTIA (1973).

BACK DOOR

BACK DOOR STARTED AS TONY HICKS (DRUMS), RON ASPERY (SAXOPHONE), AND COLIN HODGKINSON (BASS). PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN JAZZ-ROCK TRIO FROM BLAKEY, YORKSHIRE, ROSE TO FAME LARGELY ON STRENGTH OF PHENOMENAL FIRST ALBUM "BACK DOOR" LARGELY DUE TO BASS PLAYING OF HODGKINSON, WHOSE REVOLUTIONARY TECHNIQUE-INCLUDING FULL CHORDING -UNSURPASSED. AFTER DISCOVERY BY PRESS, SIGNED TO WARNER BROTHERS AND REISSUED IN 1973 FROM ORIGINAL ALBUM THAT WAS PRINTED PRIVATELY. TILBROOK REPLACED ORIGINAL DRUMMER FOR THIRD ALBUM IN 1975. BACK DOOR

JODY GRIND

A VERY DARING, EXPERIMENTAL, JAZZ-INFLUENCED GROUP, TYPICAL OF THE PERIOD, DOMINATED BY THE POWERFUL WORK OF TIM HINKEY. RELEASED TWO ALBUMS, "ONE STEP ON" (1969), AND "FAR CANAL" (1970) BOTH NOW REISSUED ON CD BY AKARMA.

POINT BLANK

HISTORY HASN'T BEEN KIND TO THIS SEXTET. IN FACT DESPITE THE FACT THEY SOLD RECORDS IN CONSIDERABLE QUANTITIES, MOST PEOPLE HAVE EITHER FORGOTTEN OF THEIR EXISTENCE OR NEVER HEARD THEM IN FIRST PLACE. BUT, AS THIS DEBUT PROVES, THEY COMBINED THE USUAL ROOTS OF SOUTHERN ROCK - BLIUEGRASS, COUNTRY AND BOOGIE - WITH AN AMAZINGLY BRITISH INFLUENCE. THE ALBUM ALSO SHOWCASE HOW GOOD THE POINT BLANK COULD BE ON STAGE, WITH THREE LIVE TRACKS PEPPERED THROUGHOUT, GIVING A REAL INSIGHT INTO WHY THE TEXANS ACTUALLY ENJOYED A DECENT RUN THROUGH THE LATER 1970S.

MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA

'BIRDS OF FIRE' (1972)

"A PERSON WOULD BE A MORON NOT TO APPRECIATE (JOHN) MCLAUGHLIN'S TECHNIQUE," FRANK ZAPPA ONCE SAID. "THE GUY HAS CERTAINLY FOUND OUT HOW TO OPERATE A GUITAR AS IF IT WERE A MACHINE-GUN." 'BIRDS OF FIRE' WAS THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA AT THEIR BEST, A MULTI-INDREDIENT FUSION-JAZZ, ROCK, BLUES, CELTIC FOLK, INDIAN CLASSIC - CHURNED OUT AT AN AMAZING BREAKNECK SPEED. STAGGERING, AND KEYBOARDS PLAYER JAN HAMMER AND VIOLINIST JERRY GOODMAN WERE ALSO VIRTUOSOS. THE TELEPATHIC INTERPLAY AND IMPROVISATION IS A JOY TO HEAR.

'THE INNER MOUNTAIN FLAME' (1971)

WHEN THE MAHAVISHNU ORCHESTRA RELEASED THIS DEBUT ALBUM IT WAS SOMETHING OF A REVELATION. AT TIMES CHALLENGING IN ITS VIRTUOSITY, LIKE MANY OF THE RECORDS MENTIONED HERE IT'S AN ALBUM THAT REWARDS REPEATED AND ATTENTIVE LISTENING. OPENER 'MEETING OF THE SPIRIT' AND THE BEAUTIFUL PIANO/VIOLIN 'DIET A LOTUS ON IRISH STREAMS' STAND AT OPPOSITE SIDES OF A COLOURFUL MUSICAL PALETTE THAT PRODUCES SOME QUITE STUNNING MOMENTS BY THIS BRILLIANT BAND.

'BETWEEN NOTHINGNESS AND ETERNITY' WAS BOUGHT ON ITS RELEASE IN 1973 VIA NON-DOLBY CASSETTE AND WAS/STILL IS, PLAYED SO MANY TIMES IT SEEMS I WAS AT THE CONCERT.

MARK- ALMOND

MID-1969 JOHN MAYALL DEFIELD ROCK TRADITION AND FORMED BAND WITHOUT DRUMMER OR ELECTRIC GUITARIST. LINE UP WAS JON MARK (TRUMPET), JOHNNY ALMOND (SAXOPHONE, FLUTE), AND STEVE THOMSON (BASS). JOHN MAYALL BLUESBREAKERS 'TURNING POINT' (1969) ALBUM REFLECTS CHANGE IN STYLE. ALTHOUGH STICKING TO BLUES ARRANGEMENTS, CONTENT WAS NEARER JAZZ. WHEN JONNY ALMOND AND JON MARK LEFT THEY FORMED MARK-ALMOND IN THE SAME STYLE WITH MAVERICK JAZZ ROCK INFLUENCE, KIND OF DILUTED MIDDLE-COURSE BETWEEN THE ROUGH AND SMOOTH OF BRITISH JAZZ ROCK. MARK- ALMOND SELF TITLED DEBUT ALBUM IS NOW ACCLAIMED A GREAT RELEASE AMONGST TOP JAZZ ROCK ALBUMS, AND THOSE WHO LIKE DIFFERENT STYLES OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK.

ALBUMS: 'MARK-ALMOND' (1970), 'MARK-ALMOND II' (1971), 'RISING' (1972), '73' (1973),

'TO THE HEART' (1976), 'OTHER PEOPLES ROOMS' (1978), 'TUESDAY IN NEW YORK' (1980), 'THE BEST OF... LIVE' (1981), 'THE LAST & LIVE' (1981), 'NIGHTMUSIC' (1996)

FOGHAT

'BOOGIE MOTEL' IS THE EIGHTH STUDIO ALBUM BY BLUES-ROCK BAND FOGAT, RELEASED IN 1979. IT WAS RECORDED AT THE BOOGIE MOTEL STUDIOS I PORT JEFFERSON, NY. IT IS CERTIFIELD GOLD IN USA. THE COVER ART IS BY JIM BAIKIE. FROM THIS ALBUM, ONLY "THIRD TIME LUCKY (FIRST TIME I WAS FOOLED)" WAS INCLUDED ON "THE BEST OF FOGHAT"

BLOYDWIN PIG

GROUP: MICK ABRAHAMS (GUITAR), JACK LANCASTER (SAXOPHONE, FLUTE), ANDY PYE (BASS), RON BERG (DRUMS).

FORMED BY MICK ABRAHAMS IN NOVEMBER, 1968 ON LEAVING JETHRO TULL, PLAYED FUSION OF BLUES/JAZZ NOT UNLIKE ORIGINAL JETHRO TULL. BOTH "AHEAD RINGS OUT" AND "GETTING TO THIS" GOOD ALBUMS WITH EXCELLENT PLAYING FROM EX-JAZZ MAN LANCASTER. WHEN ABRAHAMS QUITE, PETER BANKS JOINED FOR SHORT WHILE UNTIL BLODWYN (AS THEY WERE KNOWN) SPLIT ALTOGETHER IN 1970.

BEES MAKE HONEY

FIRST CAME TOGETHER AT UNIVERSITY IN DUBLIN PLAYING COUNTRY AND WESTERN MUSIC. STARTED ON LONDON PUB CIRCUIT AUTUMN 1972 TO BECOME PIONEERS OF SO-CALLED PUB ROCK. FOLLOWED EGGS OVER EASY WITH RESIDENCY AT TALLY-HO PUB, KENTISH TOWN. INGRAND TRADITION OF BRITISH PUB BANDS, PLAY CLEAN UNCOMPLICATED ROCK.

IAN DURY

I WOULD PUT "NEW BOOTS AND PANTIES" IN UNDERGROUND ROCK SECTION BECAUSE THE MUSIC CAN'T BE PIGEON-HOLED. THE LEGENDRE BASS PLAYER NORMAN WATT-ROY CAME FROM SOME OF BEST PROG ROCK ALBUMS, FROM BANDS LIKE - GREATESTS SHOW ON EARTH, GLENCOE, AND LOVING AWARENESS. THE MUSIC FROM "NEW BOOTS AND PANTIES" WAS MIXTURE OF UNDERGROUND ROCK, PLUS - PUB ROCK, ROCK 'N' ROLL, FUNK AND MUSICAL HALL. I CAN REMBER ONE NIGHT AT CAT WHISKY NIGHT CLUB WITH "IF I WAS WITH A WOMAN" ON THE DECK. AFTER SPENDING SOME TIME HONING HIS CHOPS IN THE LONDON PUBS (WITH KILURN AND THE HIGHROADS WHERE NUCLEUS OF BAND FORMED IN CANTERBURY WHERE IAN DURY WAS A TEACHER AND KEITH LUCAS THEIR GUITARIST A STUDENT), "NEW BOOTS AND PANTIES!" SAW THE LARGER THAN LIFE IAN DURY STEP OUT ON HIS OWN. DISTINCTLY BRILLIANT - CHECK OUT THE LYRICS OF "BILLERICAY DICKIE" AND "WAKE UP AND MAKE LOVE TO ME" FOR CONCLUSIVE PROOF - IT'S ALSO THE ALBUM THAT INCLUDED "BLOCKHEADS", THE SONG THAT GAVE HIS NEW BACKING BAND THE NAME.

EAST OF EDEN

SOME OF MUSICIANS THAT PASSED THROUGH THE GROUP; GARTH WATT-ROY (GUITAR), JEFF ALLEN (DRUMS), MARTIN FISHER (BASS), DAVE ARBUS (VIOLIN), RON CAINES (SAXOPHONE, KEYBOARDS, VOCALS), GEOFF NICOLSON (GUITARS, VOCALS), ANDY SHELDON (BASS GUITAR), GEOFF BRITTON (DRUMS). JOE O'DONNELL (VIOLIN) JOINED END OF 1973 WHEN DAVE ARBUS LEFT.

FORMED 1968 AND BECAME ESOTERIC CLUB BAND WITH SLIGHT JAZZ AND EASTERN INFLUENCE. WENT THROUGH NUMEROUS LINE-UP CHANGES BUT ALWAYS DOMINATED BY DAVE ARBUS. EAST OF EDEN ARE ONE OF MOST FASCINATING EARLY PROG ROCK / JAZZ ROCK BANDS. HAD A HIT WITH "JIG A JIG" (1970) AND BECOME MORE STRAIGHT FORWARD BAND. EARNED GREATER REPUTATION ON THE CONTINENT ESPECIALLY FRANCE.

ALBUMS: "MERCATOR PROJECTED" (1969), "SNAFU" (1970), "THE WORLD OF EAST OF EDEN" (1971, COMPILATION), "EAST OF EDEN" (1971), "NEW LEAF" (1971). "ANOTHER EDEN" (1975), "HERE WE GO AGAIN" (1976), "IT'S THE CLIMATE" (1978), "SILVER PARK" (1979), "KALIPSE" (1997), "ARMADILLO" (2001), "GRAFFITO" (2005). EAST OF EDEN

EKSEPTION

EKSEPTION ARE A DUTCH PROGRESSIVE ROCK BAND THAT WENT ON TO PRODUCE SPECIALIZED CLASSICAL ROCK. "BINGO!" IS A RARE AND DELETED ALBUM FROM 1974 AND OFFER COOL AND GENTLE SYMPHONIC CLASSICS. SO IF YOU LIKE TO CHILL FOR A WHILE AND ENJOY AN ELECTRIX MIX THIS ALBUM IS IDEAL.

BUDGIE

CAME TOGETHER 1968 ON INSPIRATION OF BURKE SHELLY, UP UNTIL RELEASE OF "SQUAWK" (1972), CONCENTRATED ATTENTIONS ON HOME-LAND OF WALES. "SQUAWK" BROUGHT THEM WIDER RECOGNITION NATIONALLY. ADOPTING MUSICAL STYLE OF HEAVY RIFT-ROCK. ALL MCA RECORDS ARE RECOMMENDED, OR SAMPLE "BEST OF BUDGIE" (1976).

LESLEY DUNCAN

INITIALLY A SONGWRITER, SUBSEQUENTLY SINGER WITH SEVERAL UNSUCCESFUL SINGLES TO HER NAME. MOVED INTO FIELD OF SESSIONS WORK AND, OVER A NUMBER OF YEARS, SUCCEEDED IN RISING TO SOME DEGREE OF PROMINENCE AS BACKGROUND SINGER. HOWEVER, SOON AFTER ELTON JOHN INCLUDED HER COMPOSITION "LOVE SONG" ON HIS "TUMBLEWEED CONNECTION" LP, SHE RETURNED FROM RETIREMENT AND MOTHERHOOD TO RECORD "SING CHILDREN SING" (1971). UTILIZED HER APPRENTICESHIP BY PROVIDING ALL BACKING VOICE HERSELF. ALTHOUGH A THOROUGHLY ENDEARING DIARY OF PARENTAL OPTIMISM, THE MORE MELANCHOLY AND LESS DOMESTIC OUTLOOK INDICATED BY "EARTH MOTHER" (1972) PROVIDES MORE ABSORBING LISTENING. BOTH ARE EXEMPLARY IN THEIR USE OF ARRANGEMENTS AND IT SEEMS PROBABLE THAT IT IS THE DIFFICULTIES INVOLED OF REPRODUCING THEM, COUPLED WITH HER OWN RETICENCE, WHICH LIMITED LIVE APPEARANCE TO THREE IN PREVIOUS THREE YEARS. MARRIED TO PRODUCER JIMMY HOROWITZ. "EVERYTHING CHANGES" (1974) IS A BEAUTIFUL RECORD - EVERY SONG IS EXCELLENT. NICELY PRODUCED. THE FOLLOW UP "MOON BATHING" (1975) IS THE SAME NICE VOICE AND A GEM. THE LAST ALBUM WAS RELEASED IN 1977 CALLED "MAYBE IT'S LOST". LESLEY DUNCAN FIRST SINGLE AND RECORD WAS IN 1963 WITH "I WANT A STEADY GUY" WITH B SIDE OF "MOVING AWAY" WHILE HER LAST SINGLE AND RECORD RELEASED IN 1982, IS A GOOD VERSION OF BOB DYLAN SONG "MASTERS OF WAR" WITH B SIDE "ANOTHER LIGHT BURNS OUT"

SAM GOPEL

SAM GOPEL "ESCALATOR" CD REISSUE. THE SAM GOPEL ALBUM WAS ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN 1969 ON STABLE LABEL IN THE UK, THIS CONTAINS PSYCHEDELIC ACID ROCK WITH BURNING FUZZED GUITARS, PLUS MIDDL EASTERN & BLUES INFLUENCE; THE BAND FEATURES LEMMY KILMINSTER (MOTORHEAD, HAWKWIND) AND WAS PRODUCED BY TREVOR WALTERS. TWO BONUS TRACKS FROM A RARE 7" ARE INCLUDED. ABSOLUTE MONSTER ALBUM AND MUST FOR ANY LEMMY OR SIXTIES ACID PSYC ROCK FANS.

AGNES STRANGE

AGNES STRANGE "STRANGE FLAVOUR" CD. REISSUE OF RARE 1975 UK HARD ROCK BOOGIE TRIO WITH LOADS OF RAW LEADS AND TOUGH ATTITUDE. BOOKLET HAS LINER NOTES AND PHOTOS. CONTAINS 3 BONUS TRACKS

AGNES STRANGE "THEME FOR A DREAM" HAS BEEN RELEASED ON CD. UNRELEASED SECOND ALBUM TRACKS FROM THIS SEVENTIES UK BAND, INCLUDING 7 BONUS TRACKS FOR A TOTAL OF 70+ MINUTES IN 1974 OR PRIOR. AGNES STRANGE

DULCIMER

BEFORE WE GET TO THE TRIO GROUP NAMED DULCIMER, THEIR NAME CAME FROM TRADITIONAL ENGLISH STRINGED FOLK INSTRUMENT, PLAYED ON ITS BACK (HAWAIIAN GUITAR FASHION) AND NORMALLY PLUCKED WITH QUILL HELD IN RIGHT HAND. OWING TO POOR ACOUSTIC QUALITY, NOW LITTLE USED EXCEPT FOR PURIST OR EXOTIC VALUE. MOST FAMOUS INSTANCE OF DULCIMER IN ROCK CONTEXT WAS BRAIN JONES' USE FOR ROLLING STONES "PAINT IT BLACK" (1966) SINGLE. ALSO USED BY JONI MITCHELL AND QUEEN ELIZABETH 1ST GAVE IT A BASH. IMAGES OF DULCIMER MUSICAL INSTRUMENT ARE ON MISCELLANEOUS PAGE.THEIR IS CD OUT BY MARK GILSTON "ENGLISH COUNTRY DANCE TUNES FOR DULCIMER, VOLUME 2".

FOLK-GROUP DULCIMER WERE A LONG-STANDING COLLECTIVE CONSISTING OF THREE MUSICIANS, ALL MUTIL-INSTRUMENTALISTS: DAVE EAVES, PETER HODGES AND JEM NORTH. THE BAND'S ORIGINS ARE SKETCHY, BUT THEY RECORDED THEIR DEBUT "AND I TURNED AS I HAD A BOY" (1971) AS A TRIO UNDER THE DIRECTION OF TROGGS MANAGER LARRY PAGE. THE ALBUM MADE LITTLE IMPRESSION AT THE TIME BUT IS WIDELY SOUGHT-AFTER BY SERIOUS UK FOLK MUSIC COLLECTORS TODAY. THE ALBUM HAS BEEN REISSUED SEVERAL TIMES ON BOTH VINYL AND CD.

THE BAND RECORDED TWICE MORE IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES BEFORE FADING INTO OBSURITY, BUT NEITHER "ROOM FOR FOUGHT" OR "LAND FIT FOR HEREOS" (WITH RURAL ENGLISH AUTHOR FRED ARCHER) WOULD FIND THEIR WAY INTO OFFICAL RELEASE UNTIL YEARS LATER.

DULCIMER HAD A RESURGENCE OF SORTS IN THE NINETIES THANKS TO SMALL PRESIDENT RECORDS LABEL, WHO RELEASED A TRIO OF THE BAND'S ALBUMS AS WELL AS THE SHELVED "ROOM FOR THOUGHT" ("A LAND FIT FOR HEREOS" HAD BEEN ISSUED THANKS TO THE BANDS OWN FINANCING IN 1980).

THEIR MUSIC HAS BEEN DESCRIBED AS PROG FOLK & FOLK-ROCK AND IS MOSTLY ACOUSTIC, BUT THE BAND'S PENCHANT FOR ODD THEMES, CREATIVE ARRANGEMENTS AND OCCASIONAL PROGRESSIVE FORAYS MERITS THEM INCLUSION HERE IN THE ARCHIVES. DULCIMER WILL APPEAL TO FANS OF UNDERSTATED, ACOUSTIC DRIVEN MUSIC WITH CLASSIC FOLK INSTRUMENTATION SUCH AS MANDOLINS, FLUTE AND OF COURSE DULCIMER.

DULCIMER ARE; DAVE EAVES (ACOUSTIC GUITAR, WOODWINDS, VOCALS), PETE HODGE (ACOUSIC GUITARS, MANDOLIN, DULCIMER, VOCALS), JEM NORTH (BASS, ASSORTED PERCUSSION).

SPOOKY TOOTH

GARY WRIGHT (KEYBORDS), MIKE HARRISON (KEYBOARDS), CHRIS STEWART (BASS GUITAR), MICK JONES (GUITAR), MIKE KELLIE (DRUMS).

INTEGRAL PART OF BRITISH UNDERGROUND ROCK SCENE AND CHARACTERIZED BY CONTRASTING WRITING AND SINGING STYLES OF WRIGHT AND HARRISON. FORMED DURING LATE SIXTIES PROGRESSIVE BOOM, BAND ACTED AS SPRINGBOARD FOR SEVERAL NOTABLE BRITISH MUSICIANS. ORIGINALLY SPOOKY TOOTH PRODUCED BAND'S MOST REQUESTED MATERIAL THROUGH ALBUMS "IT'S ALL ABOUT" (1968) AND "SPOOKY TWO" (1969) WITH A LINE UP OF GREG RIDLEY (BASS GUITAR) AND LUTHER GROSVENOR (GUITAR) PLUS KELLIE, HARRISON AND WRIGHT. "SPOOKY TWO" ACKNOWLEDGE BY CRITICS AND FANS AS HIGH-POINT WITH TRACKS LIKE "BETTER BY YOU" AND "EVIL WOMAN". ANDY LEIGH REPLACED RIDLEY ON "CEREMONY" (1969) AND BAND EXPERIMENTED WITH ELECTRONICS THROUGH ASSIOCATIONS WITH PIERRE HENRY. RESULTS WAS BIZARRE MIXTURE OF AVANT-GARDE AND SPOOKY ROCK. "THE LAST PUFF" (1970) RECORDED WITH FORMER GREASE BAND MUSICIANS HENRY McCULLOUGH, CHRIS SUTTON, AND ALAN SPENNER. WRIGHT HAVING LEFT TO FORM SHORT-LIVED WONDERWHEEL. SPOOKY TOOTH THEN DISBANDED, BUT REFORMED 1973 AFTER WRIGHT AND HARRISON BECAME DISSATISFIED WITH SOLO CAREERS. THUS CONSTITUTED THEY CUT "YOU BROKE MY HEART SO I BROKE YOUR JAW" (1973) AND "WITNESS" (1973). GREG RIDLEY WENT TO HUMBLE PIE. LUTHER GROSVENOR TO MOTT THE HOOPLE. JOINED BY VOCALIST MIKE PATTO FOR "THE MIRROR" (1974) BUT DISINTEGRATED LATER SAME YEAR.

CARAVAN

"IN THE LAND OF GREY AND PINK" (1971)

CARAVAN AT THEIR VERY BEST, AND AN ALBUM THAT'S WIDELY AND DESERVEDLY SEEN AS PROG ROCK CLASSIC. "GOLF GIRL" REFLECTS THE ENDEARING WHIMSICAL SIDE OF THE BAND, AND "WINTER WINE" FLOWS ALONG ON A SUBLIME MELODY, BUT THE HIGHLIGHT IS EASILY THE WONDERFULLY CONCEIVED AND EXECTUTED "NINE FEET UNDERGROUND", THE ALBUM'S DYNAMIC CENTREPIECE.

"IF I COULD DO IT AGAIN I DO IT ALL OVER YOU" (1970)

CARAVAN'S MIGHTY 1970 WORK IS THE EPITOME OF THE PROG STYLE KNOWN AS 'CANTERBURY SCENE' HUGE SWIRLING ORGAN SOLOS, BEAUTIFUL MELODIC VOCALS DELIVERED WITH A UNIQUE 'ENGLISH-NESS' THAT TYPIFIED CARAVAN, EARLY SOFT MACHINE AND HATFIELD AND THE NORTH. "IF I COULD DO IT AGAIN I DO IT ALL OVER YOU" WAS RELEASED BY DECCA IN 1970 AND REISSUED IN 2001 BY DECCA ON CD THAT HAVE BEEN REMASTERED AND FEATURE EXTRA BONUS TRACKS.

BADFINGER

"NO DICE" (1970) - FORMED BY A COUPLE OF ROUGH HOUSE TYPES - SWANSEA'S PETE HAM AND SCOUSER TOM EVANS - BADFINGER (A DISCARDED TITLE FOR "WITH A LITTLE HELP FROM MY FRIENDS") SINGED TO BEATLES' APPLE RECORDS AND RELEASED "NO DICE" IN 1970. RAW BY LATTER STANDARDS, IT HAD ALL THE BEST SONGS. "WITHOUT YOU", WAS LATER COVERED BY HARRY NILSSON AND, UM... MARIAH CAREY, AND "NO MATTER WHAT, STILL GETS RADIO PLAY IN USA. DESPITE THE HITS, MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVAAPORATED FROM THE BAND'S ACCOUNT IN 1974 SINKING THEM AND THEIR LABEL. THE SUBSEQUENT DEBTS, BICKERING AND LAW SUITS EVENTUALLY LED BOTH HAM AND EVANS TO HANG THEMSELVES.

VARDIS

UK, THREE-PIERCE HEAVY METAL (1979 - 1985)

YORKSHIRE-BASED BOOGIE-METAL MAESTROS RECOGNISED FOR GUITARIST STEVE ZODIAC'S SNOW-WHITE HAIR. A FRENETIC COVER OF HAWKWIND "SILVER MACHINE" AND BLACKFOOT SUE "STANDING IN THE ROAD". SPECTACULAR FOUR ALBUM CAREER.

RECOMMENDED: "100MPH" (1980), "QUO VARDIS" (1981).

BLONDE ON BLONDE

AN UNUSUAL BAND WITH AN EVEN MORE UNUSUAL BLEND OF MOSTLY ROCK WITH SOME CLASSICAL INFLUENCES. A FINE EXAMPLE OF EARLY ENGLISH STYLE PROGRESSIVE ROCK.

ALBUMS: "CONTRASTS" (1969), "REBIRTH" (1970), "REFLECTIONS ON A LIFE" (1971), "BLONDE ON BLONDE" (1972).

NIGEL MAZLYN JONES

"SHIP TO SHORE" (1976) IS THE FIRST ALBUM BY NIGEL MAZLYN JONES, GUITARIST, SINGER AND SONGWRITER. THE GUITAR STYLE AND SOUND, INVOLVING USE OF HARMONICS AND EXTENSIVE ELECTRONIC TREATMENTS, IS ALREADY FULLY FORMED. THE ALBUM WAS RECORDED IN MARCH 1976 IN BIRMINGHAM AT NEST STUDIOS, PRODUCED BY NIGEL MAZLYN JONES AND ENGINEERED BY JAKE COMMANDER AND KIM HOLMES. IT FEATURES CONTRIBUTIONS BY THEN MEMBERS OF DECAMERON, MADRIGAL AND STEVE ASHLEY'S BAND. THE ALBUM WAS REISSUED ON CD IN 2002 ON KISSING SPELL (KSCD 942), WITH ADDITIONAL TRACKS IN THE FORM OF EARLY RERECORDINGS OF SONGS INTENDED FOR THE LP BUT FOR WHICH THE VINYL LP FORMAT DID NOT ALLOW SPACE.

KHAN

"SPACE SHANTY" IS BEST KNOWN AS THE ALBUM THAT FIRST BROUGHT THE GUITAR PLAYING TALENTS OF GUITARIST STEVE HILLAGE TO PUBLIC PROMINENCE, KHAN'S SOLE ALBUM IS A SPLENDID EXAMPLE OF A FUSION OF CANTERBURY FLAVOURED ROCK COMBINED WITH JAZZ AND SPACE ROCK INFLUENCES. ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN 1972 BY DERAM RECORDS, THE ELECTRIC DISC IS THE ALBUM'S FIRST APPEARANCE ON CD IN BRITAIN FOR OVER TEN YEARS AND HAS BEEN REMASTERED FROM THE ORIGINAL MASTER TAPES. THIS EXPANDED EDITION INCLUDES TWO PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED BONUS TRACKS AND EXTENSIVE LINER NOTES AND IS SURE TO APPEAL TO ALL FANS OF STEVE HILLAGE AND ADDITION TO SPACE ROCK SECTION OF YOUR RECORD COLLECTION. JAZZ-SPACE PROG ROCK WITH ABSOLUTE HIGHLIGHT OF STEVE HILLAGE GUITAR WORK !

BEGGAR'S OPERA

"ACT ONE". NAMED AFTER THE EPONYMOUS POEM OF JOHN GAY (FROM 1728), BEGGAR'S OPERA WERE FORMED IN LATE SIXTIES IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND AND WERE SIGNED BY VERTIGO LABEL. THEY DEBUTED IN 1970 WITH AN EXCELLENT FIRST LP "ACT ONE". BEGGAR'S OPERA CLEARLY MIXED CLASSICAL MUSIC WITH HEAVY ROCK, RESULTING A SPECTACULAR WORK.

"WATERS OF CHANGE" (1971). THIS IS HIGHEST QUALITY MELODIC PROGRESSIVE ROCK. MUST BE PUT ALONG WITH GENESIS, YES, GENTLE GIANT. IN MY TOP 20 VINYL LP.

CHRIS SQUIRE

YES-LIKE IN EVERY POSSILBLE ASPECT, CHRIS SQUIRE "FISH OUT OF A WATER" IS AN ALBUM THAT'S TYPICAL OF HIS BAND'S PROGRESSIVE FORMULA: SOFTENED KEYBOARD A LA PATRICK MORZA, STEADY YET ATMOSPHERIC PERCUSSION WORK FROM BILL BRUFORD, AND A SMATTERING OF FLUTE AND SAXOPHONE THAT ACCOMPANIES A SMALL ORCHESTRA, WHICH INCLUDES EFFECTIVE HORN AND HARP WORK. SQUIRE'S GUITAR PLAYING IS STANDARD, COMING TO LIFE THE MOST ON "SILENTLY FALLING" AND "LUCKY SEVEN" WITH THE FORMER BOOSTED BY, A RATHER DAZZLING SYNTHESIZER SOLO FROM MORAZ. EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE FEW SURPRISES LAID OUT ON THE ALBUM'S FIVE TRACKS, THE ELEMENTS COMPOSITION OF PURE SEVENTIES PROGRESSIVE ROCK IS STREWN ACROSS EACH SONG FROM START TO FINNISH. SQUIRES EVEN SOUNDS LIKE JON ANDERSON, ESPECIALLY ON "HOLD OUT YOUR HAND" AND EACH OF THE SONG'S MELODIES CATERS TO SQUIRE'S VOCAL ASCENT. "FISH OUT OF WATER" HARBOURS SOME FIRM INSTRUMENTALS AND VOCAL CROSS-BREEDING WHILE REMAINING WELL WITHIN THE PROGRESSIVE ROCK NORM.

TIGER

"GOING DOWN LAUGHING" (1976). FOR THE MOST PART TIGER PLAYS A KIND OF SLOW AND SOFT PROGRESSIVE ROCK, WITH LOTS OF MELODY AND WITH SUBTLE INJECTIONS OF JAZZ AND FUNK. THERE ARE FEW BURSTS OF UP TEMPO JAZZ FUSION (FOR EXAMPLE IN THE VERY BEAUTIFUL "WAITING FOR THE SNOW"), SOME MORE POWERFUL ROCK PASSAGES AND THERE ARE SOME COMPOSITIONS THAT WERE BUILT ON A FOUNDATION OF CLASSIC FUNK ROCK (EXAMPLE "GAMBLIN GAMBLER"). BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT'S A RATHER LAID BACK AFFAIR WITH LOTS OF DREAMY AND MELANCHOLIC PASSAGES. IT'S ALL VERY PERFORMED, IT'S SMART AND ARTFUL, DRAMATIC AT TIMES BUT NEVER POMPOUS OR OVERDONE. THE AVERAGE TIGER COMPOSITION IS A LENGTHY ONE, CLOCKING IN AT SEVEN MINUTES ON AVERAGE, AND CERTAINLY TAKING ITS TIME TO BUILD UP. IN THIS ASPECT, BUT ALSO A BIT IN STYLE AND FEEL, THEY RESEMBLE "ARGUS" - ERA WISHBONE ASH, I'M MENTIONING WISHBONE ASH, EVEN THOUGH THE RESEMBLANCE IS VAGUE ESSENTIALLY BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW ANY OTHER BAND THAT SOUNDS EVEN REMOTELY LIKE TIGER. TIGER HAS TWO (YES, TWO) VERY GOOD VOCALIST THAT COOPERATE WELL TOGETHER. THE FIRST ONE IS A MELODIC SINGER WITH A CLEAR-VOICE. IT'S THIS SECOND SINGER WHO'S OF NOTE, AS IT'S A MAN CALLED NICKY MOORE, WHO WOULD LATER GO ON TO BECOME THE SINGER OF THE NWOBHM-BANDS SAMSON AND MAMOUTH (AMONG OTHERS). ALBUMS: "GOING DOWN LAUGHING" (1976), "TIGER" (1976).

SPIRIT

FORMED LOS ANGLES 1965 AS THE RED ROOSTERS, THEY BECAME SPIRIT WHEN RANDY CALIFORNIA (GUITAR, VOCALS), MARK ANDRE (BASS) AND JAY FERGUSON (VOCALS) WERE JOINED BY JOHN LOCKE (KEYBOARDS) AND ED CASSIDY (DRUMS), CALIFORNIA'S STEP FATHER IN 1967. THEIR SELF-TITLED FIRST ALBUM (1968, 31# USA) WAS A GROUND BREAKING RELEASE THEN AND STILL SOUNDS FRESH AND AHEAD OF THE GAME TODAY, ESSENTIAL LISTENING, WHICH CONTINUED WITH SECOND ALBUM "THE FAMILY THAT PLAYS TOGETHER " (1968, 22# USA) AND "CLEAR SPIRIT" (1969, 55# USA). BASING STYLE ON FERGUSON'S SONGS AND JAZZ AFFILIATIONS OF NEW RECRUITS, THEY RECORDED QUARTET OF EXCEPTIONAL ALBUMS BEFORE BREAKING UP DURING RECORDING OF "THE TWELVE DREAMS OF OF DOCTOR SARDONICUS" (197O), WHICH WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PIECED TOGETHER BY PRODUCER DAVID BRIGGS. FOLLOWING THE SPLIT, ANDES AND FERGUSON FORMED JO JO GUNNE, CALIFORNIA CONVALESCED AFTER A RIDING ACCIDENT BEFORE MAKING SOLO ALBUM "KAPTAIN KOPTER AND THE TWIRLYBIRDS" (1972). WITHOUT RANDY CALIFORNIA, LOCKE AND CASSIDY CONTINUED SPIRIT IN THE COMPANY OF THE TEXAN STACHELY TWINS, THE LATTER UNIT LASTED ONLY UNTIL THE SESSIONS FOR "FEEDBACK" (1971, 63# USA), AT WHICH POINT LOCKE AND CASSIDY QUIT, LEAVING STACHELYS TO CARRY ON THE BAND'S NAME IF NOT REAL SPIRIT. REFORMED WITH RANDY CALIFORNIAL AND VARIOUS MEMBERS THAT ALSO INCLUDE CASSIDY, ANDES, LOCKE AND KNIGHT; THESE VARIOUS MEMBERS WITH RANDY CALIFORNIAL RELEASED "SPIRIT OF 76" (1975), "SON OF SPIRIT" (1975), "FURTHER ALONG" (1976), "FUTURE GAMES" (1977), "SPIRIT LIVE" (1979), "THE ADVENTURES OF KAPTAIN KOPTER & COMMANDER CASSIDY IN POTATOLAND" (1981, 40# UK - DISBANDED AGAIN IN 1978 BUT RE-FORMED TO RE-RECORD OLD UNISSUED LOST ALBUM "JOURNEY TO POTATOLAND" FROM 1973). RE-FORMED FOR MORE RE-RECORDINGS/MIXES "THE THIRTEENTH DREAM" (1984). RANDY CALIFORNA RELEASED SOLO ALBUM IN 1982 WITH THEN PRESENT AND PAST MEMBERS OF SPIRIT "EURO-AMERICANS". LONG A CULT GROUP, PARTICULARLY AMONG MUSICIANS. SPIRIT'S EARLY RECORDS SHOWCASE EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE OF DISTINCTIVE WHICH RISE, IN "THE TWELVE DREAMS OF DOCTOR SARDONICUS" TO CLASSIC STATUS.

FLASH

THIS BAND WAS FOUNDED BY YES MAN TONY BANKS (GUITAR) AND ANOTHER YES MAN TONY KAYE (KEYBOARDS), WITH COLIN CARTER (VOCALS), RAY BENNETT (BASS) AND MIE HOUGH (DRUMS).

THEIR SELF- TITLED DEBUT WAS RELEASED IN 1972 AND SOUNDED LIKE YES ALBUM BUT IN A FEEL-GOOD HIPPY TRIP. THIS IS ALBUM THAT'S ESSENTIAL MUST BUY FOR PROG ROCKERS. ALSO TWO MORE NICE ALBUMS, "IN THE CAN" (1972), "OUT OF OUR HANDS" (1973).

CARLOS DEVADIP AND MAHAVISHNU JOHN MCLAUGHLIN

CARLOS BECAME DEVOTEE OF INDIAN GURU SRI CHIMNOY, RECORDING THE "LOVE DEVOTION SURRENDER" (1973, 7# UK, 14# USA) ALBUM WITH THE SIMILARLY CONVERTED JOHN MCLAUGHLIN. WAS OBTAIN AFTER SEEING ADVERT IN MUSIC PAPER AT THE TIME. A MUST HAVE FOR HIPPY & PROGRESSIVE ROCKERS LP COLLECTION WITH DOUBLE SLEEVE & FIREWORKS GUITAR. JOHN COLTRANE "A LOVE SUPREME" (1965) IS ONE OF MY FAVOURITE JAZZ RECORDS AND I LOVE CARLOS AND JOHN "LOVE SUPREME" TRACK ON THE ALBUM. LOVE AND PEACE.

HUMBLE PIE

FORMED 1968 AS RATHER LIGHTWEIGHT ROCK BAND CENTRED AROUND PETE FRAMPTON (GUITAR, VOCALS), EX-HERD, WHO WAS JOINED BY STEVE MARRIOT(GUITAR, VOCALS) FROM THE SMALL FACES, GREG RIDLEY (BASS, VOCALS) FROM SPOOKY TOOTH, AND JERRY SHIRLEY (DRUMS) FROM THE WILDS OF ESSEX. LABELLED AS A SUPER-GROUP AT FIRST BUT DID NOT GAIN INITIAL SUCCESS THAT WAS HOPED FOR. TENDERED TO FEATURE BOTH ACOUSTIC AND ROCK NUMBERS ON STAGE AND RECORDED "AS SAFE AS YESTERDAY" (1969, 32# UK), HIT SINGLE WITH "NATURAL BORN BOOGIE" (SEPT 1969, 4# UK) AND ANOTHER ALBUM " TOWN AND COUNTRY" (1969) UNTIL DEPARTURE OF FRAMPTON 1971 WHO WANTED TO CONCENTRATE MORE ON OWN MATERIAL. FRAMPTON WAS REPLACED BY DAVE CLEMPSON FROM COLOSSEUM AS BAND HEADED TOWARDS HEAVIER ROCK POLICY EVIDENT ON "PERFORMANCE - ROCKIN' THE FILLMORE LIVE" (1971, 21# USA, 32# UK) AND MADE USA SINGLES CHARTS WITH "I DON'T NEED NO DOCTOR - LIVE" AT NUMBER 73 TAKEN FROM SAME ALBUM. THIS WAS TOPPED WITH ONE OF BEST STUDIO HEAVY ROCK ALBUMS OF ALL TIMES "SMOKIN" (1972, 6# USA, 28# UK). ALSO BY THIS POINT STARTED TOURING STATES. IN 1973 TRIFLED WITH A REVUE-TYPE HARD ROCK / SOUL SHOW INCORPORATING THREE GIRL SINGERS CALLED THE BLACKBERRIES WITH HALF LIVE HALF STUDIO DOUBLE ALBUM "EAT IT" (13# USA, 34# UK). THE BLACKBERRIES LEFT EARLY 1974. ANOTHER ALBUM THAT IN 21ST CENTURY WOULD BE GRADED TOP 20 ALBUM FROM 1974 "THUNDERBOX" (52# USA). HUMBLE PIE HAVE ESTABLISHED THEMSELVES AS ONE OF THE MOST SOLID ROCK BANDS.

TICKET

UNDERGROUND HARD ROCK BAND FROM NEW ZEALAND THAT HAS BEEN CLAIMED THEIR TWO ALBUMS FROM 1972 "AWAKE" AND "LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE" ARE EXCELLENT AND MUCH SOUGHT AFTER. YOU CAN LISTEN TO THEM ON YOUTUBE. https://sites.google.com/site/undergroundprogressiverock/home/ticket

CZAR

http://www.czar.org.uk/1.html CZAR

BEDLAM (COZY POWELL)

BEDLAM SELF-TITLED ALBUM RELEASED IN 1973 - HARD ROCK.

BEDLAM (ORIGINALLY KNOWN AS BEAST WHEN IT FORMED IN 1972) WAS A BRITISH HARD ROCK BAND FEATURING SINGER FRANK AIELLO (FROM TRUTH), GUITARIST DAVE BALL (FROM PROCOL HARUM), BASSIST DENNIS BALL (FORMELY WITH JOHN LONG BALDRY, AND DRUMMER COZY POWELL (FORMERLY WITH JEFF BECK). THEY MADE ONE SELF-TITLED ALBUM PRODUCED BY FELIX PAPPALARDI (PRODUCER OF CREAM, MEMBER OF MOUNTAIN) IN 1973, BREAKING UP IN 1974. FANTASTIC HARD ROCK / BLUES ALBUM FROM A BAND THAT HAD EVERYTHING LED ZEPPELIN HAD WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE LUCKY BREAKS. FEATURING COZY POWELL ON DRUMS, THIS BAND KICKED UP A STORM - CHECK OPENER "I BELIEVE IN YOU" OR "THE BEAST"...THAT'S A HELL OF A BAND.

VELVETT FOGG

VELVETT FOGG 1969 SELF-TITLED ONLY ALBUM IS A GREAT AND VERY MUCH FORGOTTEN PSYCHEDELIC CLASSIC. ONE FOR RECORD COLLECTORS TO PURCHASE ON RE-ISSUED LP.

MOLLY HATCHET

BY THE TIME "FLIRTIN' WITH DISASTER" (1979, USA19#, 3X MULTI-PLATINUM) REACHED STORES, MOLLY HATCHET WERE ALREADY BONA-FIDE FORCES TO BE RECKONED WITH ON THE SOUTHERN ROCK CIRCUIT, WITH A FAN BASE ON PAR WITH CONTEMPORARIES LIKE SKYNYRD AND THE ALLMANS (WHO THEY COVERED ON THEIR EPONYMOUS RECORD). WITH FRANK FRAZETTA ALBUM COVER THAT CLEARLY SENT A MESSAGE THAT THE BAND MEANS BUSINESS -- THE BUSINESS OF HARD PARTYING AND EQUALLY AS HARD ROCKING. "FLIRTING WITH DISASTER" IS A 40 MINUTE TOUR DE FORCE SPEARHEADED BY A TRIPLE GUITAR ATTACK AND THE RASPY THRILLBILLY GROWL OF DANNY JOE BROWN. THE ALBUM SLOWLY BUILDS FROM "WHISKY MAN" INTO THE CLASSIC ROCKER "IT'S ALL OVER NOW" AND PEAKS WITH THE BRILLANT TITLE TRACK. LARGELY CONSIDERED BY MANY TO BE HACHET'S FINEST MOMENT COMMITTED TO ANALOG TAPE. IT'S HARD DRIVING ROCK RECORD, PLAIN AND SIMPLE WITH NO FRILLS OR LOFTY CONCEPTS. JUST TEN SONGS DESIGNED TO KEEP ROCKING UNTIL THE SUN COMES UP OVER THE FLORIDA SWAMPLANDS. AND IT DOSE THE JOB BETTER THAN MOST OF ITS CONTEMPORARIES.

GREENSLADE

BRAINCHILD OF DAVE GREENSLADE (KEYBOARDS), FOUNDED NOVEMBER 1972 WITH TONY REEVES (BASS GUITAR). BOTH WHERE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF COLOSSEUM, FORMER WITH BAND UNTIL ITS DEMISE AND RESPONSIBLE FOR SUCH COMPOSITION AS VALENTYNE SUITE, LOS ANGELES.TONY REEVES QUIT BAND 1970 TO CONCENTRATE ON PRODUCTION, BUT WAS PERSUADED BY GREENSLADE TO RETURN TO LIVE WORK. DAVE LAWSON (KEYBOARDS, VOCALS) PREVIOUSLY WITH ALAN BOWN AND EPISODE SIX; ANDREW McCULLOCH (DRUMS) WITH KING CRIMSON ("LIZARD" PERIOD"), ARTHUR BROWN AND FIELDS. SELF-TITLED "GREENSLADE" (1973) ILLUSTRATE COMPLEXITY OF ARRANGEMENTS, AND MARRIAGE OF VARIOUS MUSICAL STYLES WITH EMPHASIS ON KEYBOARD WORK. CONSIDERED BAND WITH HIGH ORIGINALITY.

THE TWIN KEYBOARD LEAD GREENSLADE ESCHEWED GUITARS AND PRODUCED A DISTINCTIVE IDENTITY ALL THEIR OWN. "TEMPLE SONG" FROM THEIR DEBUT ALBUM "GREENSLADE" (1973) WITH ITS BLEND OF MELLOTRON AND SYNTH IS EXCELLENT WHILST "BEDSIDE MANNERS" (1973) AND "SPYGLASS" (1974,UK34#) IS UNIFORMLY GOOD. LAST STUDIO ALBUM "TIME AND TIDE" (1975). REFORMED NAME IN YEAR 2000 FOR STUDIO ALBUM "LARGE AFTERNOON". ONLY LIVE ALBUM FROM SEVENTIES RELEASED IN 2000 CALLED "LIVE (1973 - 1975)".

AND LIVE ALBUM RECORDED IN 2001 "LIVE FULL EDITION" RELEASED IN 2002.

OSIBISA

MOST SUCCESSFUL OF WHAT COULD BE LOSELY TERMED THE [AFRO-ROCK] BANDS.

GAINED CLUB REPUTATION BEFORE "OSIBISA" (1971, UK11#, USA55#), WHICH SET THE STYLE ON PERCUSSION AFRICAN RHYTHMS OVERLAID WITH HYBRID COMBINATION OF ROCK, SKA, AND JAMAICAN MUSIC. ORIGINALLY BROKE UP WITH DEPARTURE OF SPARTICUS R. WENDALL RICHARDSON, AND LOUGHTY AMAO AND NEVER QUITE REALIZED EARLY POTENTIAL WITH RE-FORMED NEW LINE-UP. THEIR BEST MUSIC IS FOUND ON "WOYAYA" (1971, UK11#, USA66#).

NICK DRAKE

BORN IN MYANMAR IN 1948, SINGER-SONGWRITER NICK DRAKE GREW UP IN ENGLAND AND TOOK UP THE GUITAR AT 16. HIS MELANCHOLY MUSIC CAUGHT THE EAR OF ASHLEY HUTCHINGS FROM FOLK ROCK BAND FAIRPORT CONVENTION, WHO HELPED DRAKE GET A RECORDING CONTRACT. HIS THREE ALBUMS, "FIVE LEAVES LEFT" (1969), "BRYTER LATER" (1970), AND "PINK MOON" (1972) WERE REDISCOVERED AFTER DRAKE'S DEATH FROM A DRUG OVERDOSE IN 1974.

DUFFY

"SCRUFFY DUFFY" - HEAVY ROCK PROGRESSIVE ROCK (AND SOMETIMES ACOUSTIC ) SOUNDS ARE FEATURED ON THIS VERY DESIRABLE ALBUM, AND THE GROUP HAVE BECOME QUITE A FIRM FAVOURITE AMONGST ROCK AND BLUES AUDIENCE. "JUST IN CASE YOU'RE INTERESTED" (1975) IS DUFFY SECOND ALBUM CONTINUES THE BAND'S HEAVY SOUND OF THEIR DEBUT, INCLUDING MORE BALLADS AND A NICE COVER OF ANIMALS "DON'T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD"

GRAND FUNK

A WELL MADE AND LISTENABLE HEAVY ROCK LP. THE ALBUM FOR A GOOD TIME.

http://www.grandfunkrailroad.com/cd_atgitwb.htm

SAMUEL PRODY

http://samuelprody.com

APRIL WINE

AS SUGGESTED BY ITS TITLE, "HARDER FASTER" (1979, USA64#, CANADA25#) SEES VETERAN CANADIAN ROCKERS APRIL WINE TAKING THINGS UP A NOTCH WITH RELENTLESS SLABS OF HARD ROCK IN "I LIKE TO ROCK" AND "LADIES MAN". ALSO ON HAND IS A MEMORABLE COOL GROOVER CALLED "SAY HELLO". A CURIOUS COVER VERSION OF KING CRIMSON'S "21ST CENTURY MAN" AND THE DUAL PERSONALITY OF "TONITE", WHICH ALTERNATES BETWEEN QUIET BALLADRY AND ALL-OUT RIFFING. BAND LEADER LEADER MYLES GOODWYN EVEN RELINQUISHES THE SPOTLIGHT IN A RARE SHOW OF DEMOCRACY TO SECOND GUITARIST BRAIN GREENWAY ON THE IMPRESSIVE "BEFORE THE DAWN". ULTIMATELY, THIS IS A CONSISENTLY STRONG ALBUM WHICH SETS THE STAGE FOR WHAT BE APRIL WINE'S BEST EFFORT, THE FOLLOWING YEAR'S "THE NATURE OF THE BEAST" (1981, USA26#, CANADA11#).

SUTHERLAND BAND & QUIVER

SOMETIMES WE ALL TREAD INTO WORLD OF SOFT ROCK AND SUTHERLAND BROTHERS & QUIVER "REACH FOR THE SKY" IS ONE OF BEST FROM IT'S GENRE WHICH REACHED 26#UK ALBUM CHARTS IN MAY 1976, SINGLE FROM ALBUM "ARMS OF MARY" REACHED 5#UK IN APRIL 1976. THEIR "DREAM KID" (1973) ALBUM IS NOW A UNDEERGROUND ROCK CLASSIC.

"LIFEBOAT" RELEASED IN 1973 IS ANOTHER OBSCURE UNDERGROUND ROCK ALBUM TO FIND WHICH HAD A HIT SINGLE IN 1973, USA, WITH "YOU GOT ME ANYWAY" (48#USA, 25#CANADA).

GOLDEN EARRING

THIS 1973 OUTING IS THE ALBUM "MOONTAN" THAT RAISED GOLDEN EARRING TO AN INTERNATIONAL LEVEL OF POPULARITY, PRIMARILY ON THE STRENGTH OF THE HIT SINGLE AND ENDURING RADIO FAVOURITE "RADAR LOVE". HOWEVER, THERE IS MUCH MORE TO THIS ALBUM THAN JUST THAT HIT. IN MANY WAYS, "MOONTAN" IS LIKE A SUMMATION OF EVERYTHING THE GROUP LEARNED ON THEIR FIRST THREE ALBUMS. IT PRESENTS A SIMILAR COMBINATION OF PROGRESSIVE ROCK EPICS, HEAVY ROCKERS, AND SONGS THAT COMBINE BOTH ELEMENTS, BUT EVERYTHING IS RAISED TO A NEW LEVEL OF INSPIRATION AND POLISH. IT STARTS WITH A BIG BANG THANKS TO "CANDY'S GOING BAD", A PIERCE THAT STARTS OFF AS THUNDEROUS, POUNDING ROCKER BUT TRANSFORMER MIDWAY INTO A BLUESY INSTRUMENTAL MOOD PIERCE. OTHER HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE HIT SINGLE "RADAR LOVE", A RELENTLESS ROCK TUNE WITH A LEFT-FIELD INSTRUMENTAL BREAK IN WHICH TRIBAL DRUMS DUEL WITH A BIG BAND-STYLE HORN SECTION, AND "JUST LIKE VINCE TAYLOR", A GUITAR-SLINGING SLICE OF BOOGIE ROCK THAT PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE FALLEN ROCK IDOL OF THE TITLE. THE ALBUM ALSO INCLUDES WHAT MAY BE THE GROUP'S FINEST PROG EFFORT IN "VANILLA QUEEN": THIS CLASSIC BUILDS FROM PULSATING, OMINOUS VERSES DOMINATED BY SYNTHESIZERS INTO A HARD-ROCKING CHORUS AND ALSO THROWS IN A STARK ACOUSTIC GUITAR MIDSECTION BEFORE CLIMAXING IN A FRANTIC BAND JAM AUGMENTED BY BLARING HORNS AND AN EVER-SPIRALLING STRING SECTION. IN THE END "MOONTAN" IS A NECESSITY FOR GOLDEN EARRING FANS, AND A WORTHWHILE LISTEN FOR ANYONE IN 1970S ROCK AT ITS MOST ADVENTUROUS.

BAKERLOO

THIS BRITISH PROGRESSIVE BLUES-ROCK ENSEMBLE, LED BY CLEM CLEMPSON (PRODIGIOUS GUITARIST WITH A STYLE REMINISCENT OF ALVIN LEE), RELEASED THEIR FIRST AND ONLY SELF-TITLED ALBUM IN 1969. FEATURING "BIG BEAR FFOLLY" (A FAST INSTRUMENTAL THAT GAVE CLEMPSON- FUTURE COLOSSEUM - AND RHYTHM SECTION TERRY POOLE AND KEITH BAKER - BOTH OF MAY BLITZ - A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF THEIR CONSIDERABLE CHOPS), "THIS WORRIED FEELING", AN ANGUISHED BLUES NUMBER CARRIED OUT WITH EXTREME CLASS, AND AN INSPIRED COVER OF WILLIE DIXON'S CLASSIC "BRING IT ON HOME". THIS BAND DESERVES TO BE LIFTED FROM THE UNDER-BRUSH OF 70'S BRITISH HARD ROCK AND PLACED ALONGSIDE THE GREATS OF THE GENRE.

OPETH

OPETH'S FIFTH STUDIO ALBUM "BLACKWATER PARK" IS THE BAND'S FIRST STEP TOWARDS NORTH AMERICAN SUCCESS. PRODUCED BY STEVEN WILSON (PORCUPINE TREE) AND MIXED/ENGINEERED BY FREDRIK NORDSTORM (DREAM EVIL), "BLACKWATER PARK" IS A LANDMARK ACHIEVEMENT FOR THE BAND, WITH ITS SILKEN PROGRESSIVE ROCK AMBIENCE COUNTERBALANCING THE BAND'S TRADEMARK BLISTERING DEATH METAL BRUTALITY. OVER THE COURSE OF EIGHT TRACKS, OPETH DISPLAYS MAMMOTH AMOUNTS OF MUSICAL PROWESS, FROM THE TEN MINUTE OPENER, "THE LEPER AFFINITY", ON THROUGH THE EMOTIVE TITLE TRACK THAT CLOSES THE SET.

PALLAS

BEST KNOWN FOR CREATING DRAMATIC MUSICAL EPICS LIKE THEIR "ATLANTIS SUITE".

MELODIC ARRANGEMENTS FULL OF LUSH KEYBOARDS, POWERFUL GUITAR AND HUGE ENDINGS. PALLAS FORMED IN ABERDEEN, SCOTLAND IN 1976. THE ALBUM "THE SENTINEL" (1984) WAS PRODUCED BY EDDIE OFFORD, WHICH HAS BECOME ONE OF BEST AND LOVED ROCK ALBUMS FROM NEW WAVE OF BRITISH PROGRESSIVE ROCK.

ALBUMS: "ARRIVE ALIVE" (1981, "THE SENTINEL" (1984), "THE WEDGE" (1986), "BEAT THE DRUM" (1998), "THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIBLE" (2001), "THE BLINDING DARKNESS" (2003), "THE DREAMS OF MEN" (2005), "XXV" (2010).

EP: "THE PALLAS EP" (1978), "THE KNIGHTMOVES" (1985).

EDDIE JOBSON

EDDIE JOBSON MADE EXCELLENT PROG SOLO ALBUM AFTER LEAVING UK. ON LEVEL WITH EMERSON & WAKEMAN, AND EVEN MORE. IT HAS MAGNIFICENT PIANO AND SYNTH PASSAGES.

JO JO GUNNE

FORMED 1971 WHEN JAY FERGUSON (PIANO, LEAD VOCALS) AND MARK ANDES LEFT SPIRIT. MATT ANDES (GUITAR, VOCALS) WAS BROTHER OF EXITING MARK WHO LEFT IN SEPTEMBER 1972 AND REPLACED BY JIMMY RANDALL (BASS GUITAR, VOCALS). BASED IN LOS ANGELES, HAD BRITISH HIT SINGLE WITH "RUN RUN RUN" (1972, 6#). SUCESSFUL IN USA AND 1974 "JUMPING THE GUNNE" IS FAVOURITE WITH BRITISH HARD ROCK ALBUM BUYERS.

TREES

TREES PLAY A MORE PROGRESSIVE FORM OF FOLK-ROCK, VERY MUCH LIKED BY BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST AND PINK FLOYD FANS. "ON THE SHORE" (1971) IS ANOTHER GEM ! WITH COOL FEMALE VOCAL PROG ROCK.

JIM LEVERTON & GEOFFREY RICHARDSON

IN THE LINER NOTES, GEOFFREY RICHARDSON EXPLAINS HOW JIM LEVERTON IMAGINED DRIFTING ACROSS A BEACH HAUNTED BY HAPPY, HOLIDAYING FAMILIES, AND THE END OF PIER SHOW'S CONCEPT GREW FROM THERE. THIS EXPLANATION IS NEEDED BECAUSE THE SET ITSELF WILL FIT FEW PEOPLE'S VIEWS OF A NOSTALGIC STROLL DOWN AN ENGLISH BROADWALK, OR ANONE'S IDEA OF AN OLD-FASHIONED PIER SHOW. THE LAID-BACK, SUNNY AFTERNOON-FEEL OF "RHAPSODY FOR HEDGECLIPPERS" AND THE FOLKSY COVER OF "SAY IT AINT SO, JOE" COULD, IN A PINCH, CONJURE UP A LAZY SEASIDE DAY, AS MIGHT THE DREAMY "EVERY TIME IT RAINS", IF NOT FOR ITS MANY BLUESY INFECTIONS.

TWELFTH NIGHT

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOev5NdAg3c

FEMME FATALE

THE BEST GIRL FRONTED HEAVY ROCK ALBUM FROM FEMME FATALE SELF-TITLED ALBUM FROM 1988.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ZhqyuuFbto

HELP YOURSELF

CLICK HERE FOR HELP YOURSELF INFORMATION

JEAN-LUC PONTY

IN 1976, WHEN "AURORA" WAS RECORDED, FUSION WAS ON ITS WAY OUT. BUT THAT DIDN'T HINDER PONTY IN THE SLIGHTEST-HE WAS JUST BEGINNING. "AURORA" WAS THE GODDESS OF THE DAWN, AND PONTY'S ELECTRIFYING VOLIN SIGNALLED HER ARRIVAL WITH BURSTS OF BRILLIANT LIGHT AND FIRE. ACCOMPANIED BY GUITARIST DARRYL STUERMER, KEYBOARDISTS PATRICE RUSHEN, BASSIST TOM FOWLER (LIKE PONTY, ANOTHER FRANK ZAPPA ALUMNI), AND DRUMMER NORMAN FEARRINGTON, PONTY TRADES OFF EVERYTHING FROM KILLER JAZZ ROCK "IS ONCE ENOUGH" AND ALMOST -COUNTRY- INFECTED FUSION "RENAISSANCE" TO RAVISHING ACOUSTIC/ELECTRIC BALLADS THE DREAMY "LOST FOREST". THOUGH VIRTUALLY ALONE IN MAKING IT A FUSION INSTRUMENT, PONTY HAS SINGLE-HANDEDLY INVENTED A NEW VERNACULAR FOR THE VIOLIN. PONTY EVENTUALLY AUGMENTED HIS SOUND WITH VARIOUS ELECTRONIC DEVICES AND MID IMPLEMENTATION, AND "AURORA" CONTAINS SOME OF HIS FIRST TANTALIZING STEPS FORWARD.

SARACEN

SARACEN ARE ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING BANDS TO COME FROM THE NWOBHM. MANY DID NOT REALLY CARE ABOUT THEM SINCE THEIR SOUND WAS NOT SO CLOSE TO THE MOST POPULAR REALITIES OF THE PERIOD LIKE: IRON MAIDEN, RAVEN, ANGEL WITCH, HOLOCAST, SAXON OR DEF LEPPARD. SARACEN SOUND WAS INDEED CLOSER TO SYMPHONIC HARD ROCK. THE MOST INTERESTING RELEASE FROM THE BAND WAS THEIR DEBUT ALBUM "HEROES SAINTS & FOOLS", ORIGINALLY RELEASED IN 1981, WHICH ENTERED THE BRITISH CHARTS TOP 50 IN 1981. THE GROUP THEN DISBANDED IN 1985 AFTER THE RELEASE OF THEIR SECOND ALBUM "CHANGE OF HEART". 20 YEARS LATER THE GROUP REUNITED AND RELEASED INDEPENDENTLY THE "RED SKY" ALBUM IN 2003. ALSO RELEASED: "VOX IN EXCELSO" (2006) AND "MARILYN" (2011).