Wednesday, September 25, 2013

My Solid Ground (psych krautrock, space rock, hard rock / Germany)

This group has long been one of the more obscure Krautrock bands, even though their single eponymous album from 1971 has become legendary, even though much of the record is fairly conventional hard-rock.

Bernhard Rendel, only 14 years old at the time, started My Solid Ground in 1968 in Russelsheim, near Frankfurt, Germany. Prior to this, his mother encouraged his interest in music and guitar, and she continued to support him even as his music became louder and harder. The group began to practice at the home of Rendel's parents, and his family also helped arranged live performances. With their musical talent and an elaborate lightshow, the band soon became a popular in the region around Frankfurt. In 1968 the members were Bernhard Rendel (guitar), Teddy (vocals), Manfred Fischer (bass) and Willy Waid (drums).



By 1970 after a few lineup changes, the group gelled with Kalrheinz Dorfler on bass, Andreas Wurching on drums, and Ingo Werner on organ. In late October of that year they recorded the track 'Flash' the Morfelden Studio in Frankfurt, and used it to win second place in an amateur competition hosted by Sudwestfunk (SWF) Radio.

In February and April of 1971, they recorded their self-titled album, which was released by the Bacillus label later that year. In June of 1971 My Solid Ground entered the studios of SWF in Baden-Baden for a live radio broadcast. Because of legal issues they could not play any of the pieces from the LP, so they debuted entirely new material. Though the group now had nationwide success, they were frequently losing members. By 1972 the band consisted of Rendel with a totally new lineup. That year they moved to Frankfurt where they lasted until 1974, when Rendel dropped My Solid Ground to pursue academics. He has since become a lecturer on music at Muinz University, as well as producer and composer. When Long Hair Records decided to release the SWF session on CD in 2001, Rendel was encouraged to go back into the studio to record some solo an LPs-worth of additional tracks, a 2001 version of My Solid Ground, and these were added to the CD.

My Solid Ground (Full Album): http://youtu.be/LneduxXyt9I:




The opening track on their self-titled LP certainly lives up to the album's reputation: a 13-minute epic of dark, heavy space rock with crunching guitars and acid riffs, distorted vocals, lots of long droning keyboards - imagine a mix of early Floyd ("One of These Days") and  Thirsty Moon. However, the rest of the album (or most of it) is fairly mainstream, being made up of rather conventional hard rock. A recent re-release CD version includes some excellent bonus tracks, among which is a 24-minute psychedelic Krautrock tour de force featuring incredible guitar soloing. Recommended to fans of early Pink Floyd.


Personnel:

- Karl-Heinrich Dorfler - bass
- Bernhard Rendel - vocals, guitar
- Ingo Werner - organ, piano, Mellotron
- Andreas Wursching - drums




Friday, September 20, 2013

Widsith (folk, psych / USA)

Widsith is a rootsy pair from Hicksville on Long Island, NY – Bob Teer, song writer, on lead vocals and guitars, and Ed McCafferty on vocals, electric, acoustic, bottleneck and steel guitars, plus a bit of bass! They recorded one and only LP album "Maker Of Song" (This is a private press released in 1972 by the Alithia label (Alithia 9101)) .The duo seem to do a bit of overdubbing in the studio – expanding out their sound with a mix of guitars, some rhythms, and other elements – but there’s still a pretty stripped down sound overall, as if you’re catching Teer and McCafferty trading lines back and forth on the stage. 

Other musicians featured on the album "Maker of Song":  Mark Jacobson: Flute, Dennis Garcia: Bass and vocals, Tony Pacheco: Congas and percussion, Harry Barber: Keyboards, Ian Bennet: Tenor Sax and Bobby Colomby of “Blood, Sweat and Tears” fame: Drums.







Singer In The Marketplace  (1972): http://youtu.be/tRkRSCo-Q7A




Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Lou Reed - Rock and Roll Heart (documentary)


Rock and Roll Heart traces Lou Reed's career from the formation of the Velvet Underground to rock icon to his more recent artistic endeavors. Includes lots of rare and vintage footage along with interviews with David Bowie, John Cale, Patti Smith, Thurston Moore, David Byrne, Jim Carroll, Maureen Tucker, Suzanne Vega, Dave Stewart and Philip Glass. An excellent documentary (and the only one) about this hugely influential and uncompromising American artist. Directed by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders for American Masters and screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 1998.

http://youtu.be/TjPuF-CYuic





Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Rainbow Ffolly (psych pop, psych garage / UK)

Rainbow Ffolly were an English psychedelic pop band who released only one LP, Sallies Fforth, in 1968. Their only single, "Drive My Car", failed to garner much success on the charts, and they disbanded shortly thereafter.

Jonathan Dunsterville and his brother Richard Dunsterville of Farnham Common were inclined toward music and performing at an early age, and during the early '60s, formed a band called the Force Four, specializing in Everly Brothers-style harmony material. Jon was at college when he met Stewart Osborn, a drummer, who in turn knew a bassist named Roger Newell. Out of this a new group, the Rainbow Ffolly, was formed; they had a light, fun touch, very much in the spirit of early 1967; a close, cohesive sound in which all four members sang, with Jon Dunsterville serving as songwriter. 


By early 1967, they acquired a manager, John Sparrowhawk, and decided to try for a recording contract. They booked time at the Jackson Recording Studio, owned by Malcolm and John Jackson, the sons of disc jockey Jack Jackson, and put a demo tape together.
Their first five songs were so accomplished that they were persuaded by the Jackson brothers to come up with seven more songs, all ostensibly for a full-length demo reel. 

Jon Dunsterville and his wife Jane came up with the most ornate cover art (and some of the cleverest of the decade) that they could in keeping with the "rainbow" in the band's name, and Sallies Fforth (as it was christened) was released. It turned out not only not to be bad, but pretty good, although the group wished, long after its release, that they'd been allowed to go back in and complete some tracks. The guitar parts were what bothered them the most, on tracks like "Come on Go," where they never did the overdubs that they'd intended.


The group played concerts in support of the record and even did a tour of Germany, making their first overseas appearance at the Star Club in Hamburg in a month-long engagement. the Rainbow Ffolly also performed at the Playboy Club in London, which was then a new recreational institution and always attracted a lot of attention. The group took chances, and some of them paid off, at least musically. They were able to bridge the gap between the lighter weight but elegant harmony groups, such as the Bystanders and the Montanas, and what have since come to be called the freakbeat bands (the Troggs, etc.), with their more heavyweight sounds. In a sense, they were like the Beatles in that respect, although based on Sallies Fforth, they didn't have as easy a time generating the heavier instrumental sound needed to compete with the hard-rocking psychedelic outfits of the era.


Members:

John Dunsterville
Richard Dunsterville
Roger Newell

Stewart Osborn


Sun Sing: http://youtu.be/XwK0G-L_HSQ




Discography:

Sallies Fforth - 1967





Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Krokodil (psych rock, krautrock / Switzerland) (including the album: The Psychedelic Tapes)

Krokodil (German for "Crocodile") were constantly promoted by the labels they signed to as a Krautrock band, yet though they had the spirit of Krautrock in their veins, the truth was that they were Swiss! Naturally, Liberty tried to present them as the Krautrock answer to The Groundhogs. Well, Krokodil did have blues origins, they really knew how to rock-it and had a flair for the experimental, so they did have the same sort of attitude as The Groundhogs. But, all that aside, Krokodil were innovators in their own right, not at all copyist, except for maybe their John Mayall type roots. Like most Swiss bands, Krokodil were an unlikely combo, mostly of German-Swiss extraction, with one Englishman: Terry Stevens. Early on, the quoted "Swiss Bob Dylan" Hardy Hepp seemed to be in control, his softer folk and blues mix, and Mojo Weideli's harmonica, gave them a more down-to-earth sound.

After Hardy's departure for a solo career, Krokodil really blossomed with the extraordinary “An Invisible World Revealed”, an album that took on all sorts of ethnic and fusion elements, becoming like a hybrid of Amon Düül II, Man and Third Ear Band, all mixed into that unique Krokodil style. Ethnic elements had figured in earlier Krokodil recordings, but not so much as here, where the sitar, tablas and flute are heavily featured. Krokodil had become the finest of Swiss Krautrock bands.

A change of label, to Bacillus, their next album “Getting Up For The Morning” offered a similar blending of rock, blues and ethnic styles, though in a more condensed and song-based concoction. The double album “Sweat & Swim”, though it had a couple of duff tracks, also contained some of their best, not least so the 17 minute cosmic-ethnic trip "Linger" recalling the masterworks of “An Invisible World Revealed”.



Personnel:

Hardy Hepp (violin, piano, vocals)
Düde Dürst (drums, percussion, vocals)
Walty Anselmo (sitar, lead guitar, vocals)
Terry Stevens (bass, guitar, vocals)

Mojo Weideli (harmonica, flute, percussion)


An Invisible World Revealed 1971 (full Album): https://youtu.be/v0Z0NJENwwY









Discography:

Albums:

Krokodil  (1969)
Swamp (1970)
An Invisible World Revealed (1971)
Getting Up For The Morning (1972)
Sweat & Swim (1973)
Krokodil (1977 re-recordings?)





=============================================================

1970-1972 were the psychedelic years of the Krokodil from Switzerland. During this early period the band recorded a lot of magical songs both live and in the studio which are now after more than thirty years released for the first time.

Long trippy space rock with a West Coast/Kraut Rock edge, feature fluid acid guitar work, flute and effects. The CD includes a great version of "Pharoah Sanders "The Creator Has a Mater Plan" plus other gems.

01 (00:00) The Creator Has A Master Plan (1970) 
02 (09:26) Stehaufmädchen Part 1 (1970) 
03 (10:36) Marzipan (Live) (1972)
04 (18:43) Stehaufmädchen Part 2 (1970) 
05 (19:50) You're Still A Part Of Me (Live) (1972) 
06 (25:40) Stehaufmädchen Part 3 (1970) 
07 (26:50) Odyssey In Om (Live) (1972) 
08 (57:24) Raga (1971)

Line Up:

Bass, Electric Guitar, Percussion, Vocals  - Terry Stevens (2)
Drums, Congas, Vocals - Düde Dürst
Electric Guitar, Sitar, Bass, Vocals - Walty Anselmo
Harmonica [Mouthharp], Flute, Percussion, Vocals - Mojo Weideli
Violin, Organ [Farfisa], Recorder, Vocals - Hardy Hepp (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6)


Remastered: Pirmin Weder (2013)


The Psychedelic Tapes 1970 - 1972: https://youtu.be/dG5cevo6tTc







Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Frumious Bandersnatch (psych blues rock / USA)

Frumious Bandersnatch was a psychedelic rock band in the late 1960s. The band was named after a character from the Lewis Carroll poem "Jabberwocky". Based out of San Francisco, California. The band was active from 1967 to 1969. 
Their initial three-song EP produced a minor underground hit with the song "Hearts to Cry". A recording of their live work, titled A Young Man's Song, was released on the Big Beat label.

The band was formed across the bay from San Francisco in Contra Costa County, and changed personnel several times in their brief lifespan (1967–69). Interest from several record companies came to naught, and the band's only release was a three-song EP on their own label, pressed in a quantity of 1000 and distributed locally.

Four members of Frumious Bandersnatch (Bobby Winkelman, Jack King, Ross Valory, and David Denny) would be regular members of the Steve Miller Band. Valory, along with fellow Frumious Bandersnatch member George Tickner and manager Herbie Herbert would join with ex-Santana members Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie to form the band Journey in 1973.


Members:

David Denny – Guitar
Jack King – Drums
George Tickner – Guitar
Ross Valory – Bass

Bobby Winkelman – Rhythm Guitar, Bass


Cheshire: http://youtu.be/1wMYQB4c08g




Hearts To Cry:  http://youtu.be/Dz7dYgEUQZE





Discography:

1967 – Untitled EP; self-produced

1995 – The Berkeley EP's (compilation, 3 songs featured); Big Beat UK
1996 – A Young Man's Song; Big Beat UK
2003 – Golden Songs of Libra, Get Back
2007 – Love Is the Song We Sing: San Francisco Nuggets 1965–1970 (compilation, feat. "Hearts to Cry"); Rhino Records



Monday, September 2, 2013

Progressive Rock from Italy

Prog rock - Italy: http://youtu.be/-b1TAXgE-9g






TRACK LIST

01. (B&w) Le Orme: Sguardo...
02. (B&w) Le Orme: Contrappunti
03. (B&w) PFM: Impressioni di Settembre
04. (B&w) PFM: Dove... Quando...
05. (B&w) PFM: La Carrozza Di Hans
06. (B&w) PFM: La Luna Nuova
07. (Col) PFM: Four Holes...
08. (Col) PFM: Celebration
09. (Col) PFM: Mr 5 Till 9
10. (Col) PFM: Alta Loma
11. (Col) PFM: Chocolate Kings
12. (B&w) Banco: Requiescat In Pacem
13. (B&w) Banco: Canto Nomade Di Un Pastore Errante Dell'Asia
14. (B&w) Banco: Leave Me Alone


Monterey International Pop Festival (Part 4 of 4)


BONUS PERFORMANCES
Performances from the Monterey Pop Festival not released on the original documentary by D.A. Pennebaker. Nearly two hours of bonus footage from the Criterion Collection release of Monterey. The Festival that marked the beginning of the summer of love and spurred one of musics most creative and influential era's. This includes performances by:

The Association- "Along Comes Mary"
Simon and Garfunkel- "Homeward Bound" 3:55 "Sound of Silence" 6:46
Country Joe and the Fish- "Not So Sweet Martha Lorraine" 10:00
Al Kooper- "Wake Me, Shake Me" 15:20
The Butterfield Blues Band- "Driftin' Blues" 22:50
Quicksilver Messenger Service- "Dino's Song" 27:34
The Electric Flag- "Wine" 30:51" 
The Byrds- "Chimes of Freedom" 33:40 "He Was A Friend of Mine" 37:36 "Hey Joe" 40:30
Laura Nyro- "Poverty Train" 42:55
Jefferson Airplane- "Somebody To Love" 48:24 
The Blues Project- "Flute Thing" 52:29
Big Brother and the Holding Co. w/ Janis Joplin "Combination of the Two" 1:03:07
The Buffalo Springfield- "For What It's Worth" 1:08:57
The Who- "Substitute" 1:12:30 "Summertime Blues" 1:16:19 "A Quick One" 1:19:57
The Mamas and The Papas- "Straight Shooter" 1:28:14 "Somebody Groovy" 1:32:00 "I Call Your Name" 1:34:53 
(Hilarious antics of Mama Cass) 1:38:46 "Monday, Monday" 1:40:36
Scott McKenzie- "San Francisco" 1:44:30
The Mamas and The Papas and Scott McKenzie- "Dancin' in the Street" 1:48:05

All rights credited to Criterion Collection

http://youtu.be/OiQN3pQ6EwM




See also: part 1, 2 and 3 (October 29, 2012)