Gun (proto-metal, acid rock, psych rock, hard rock, prog rock / England)

Gun were a late 1960s British rock guitar trio who had a single British Top Ten hit, "Race with the Devil" and recorded two albums before disbanding. The band included brothers Paul Gurvitz and Adrian Gurvitz.

Years active: 1967 - 1970

History: 

Gun were renamed in 1967 from The Knack, formed by guitarist/vocalist Paul Gurvitz (born Paul Anthony Gurvitz,  (he was known by the surname Curtis until the early 1970s after which he returned to his original name Gurvitz). The Knack changed their name in the spring/summer of 1966, and the setup was Paul Curtis (Gurvitz) on guitar and vocals, Louie Farrell (born Brian John Farrell,  (who had joined The Knack in mid 1966) on drums, Gearie Kenworthy on bass guitar , Tim Mycroft organ ( Dorset died 1 January 2010), and later for a short while, Jon Anderson of Yes. Gun performed at the UFO Club, supporting bands such as Pink Floyd, Arthur Brown and Tomorrow. Recording sessions at Olympic Studios produced the unreleased single "Lights on the Wall", while in November 1967 they recorded for the BBC alternative music radio programme Top Gear and twice played on air. In early 1968 the band changed its line-up to a trio, with Paul Curtis (Gurvitz) on bass, Louie Farrell on drums and Adrian Curtis (Gurvitz) on guitar.

After being signed to CBS Records in early 1968, the band scored a hit with the opening track from their eponymous album (1968), "Race with the Devil". Jimi Hendrix quoted the song's riff during his song "Machine Gun" at the Isle of Wight Festival in 1970, as did Status Quo on their song "Forty Five Hundred Times" during a stage show at Apollo Theatre in Glasgow in 1976. "Race with the Devil" has been covered by Judas Priest (on the remastered CD version of Sin After Sin), Black Oak Arkansas (on their album Race with the Devil), Girlschool (on their album Demolition), and Church of Misery (on their 1996 demo, released as a split album with Acrimony, and on their full-length LP Vol. 1).

Their debut album's cover is noteworthy as it was the first by Roger Dean. AllMusic described it as having a "distinctive psych-flavoured proto-metal" sound. Their second album, Gunsight was released in 1969. Despite releasing a number of other singles, and an attempt by their record label to identify them with the underground counter-culture, the band had no further hits.

After a short time working separately, the Gurvitz brothers formed Three Man Army in 1971 and recorded three albums. Between 1974 and 1976, Three Man Army became the Baker Gurvitz Army with Ginger Baker, the former drummer for Cream, in the line-up. The trio recorded three albums: Baker Gurvitz Army, Elysian Encounter and Hearts On Fire. During the same period, the Gurvitz brothers recorded two albums under the name The Graeme Edge Band, with drummer Graeme Edge of The Moody Blues: Kick Off Your Muddy Boots and Paradise Ballroom. It was not a touring band, and also featured Baker. Paul Gurvitz now tours as the Paul Gurvitz and the New Army.

Past members: 

- Adrian Gurvitz - guitar

- Paul Gurvitz - guitar, vocals

- Louie Farrell - drums

- Gearie Kenworthy -  bass guitar

- Tim Mycroft - organ

Discography:

- Gun (1968)

- Gunsight (1969)

Rat Race: https://youtu.be/-Ayo55Q92GY : 

Source: Wikipedia

Carol of Harvest (psych folk, prog rock / Germany)

Biography:

Carol Of Harvest was founded in Cadolzburg, Bayern, Germany in 1978 - Alex Schmierer recorded under the revived moniker in 2008

One of the many German bands to release a single album on a private label and watch it grow into a collector's dream. Carol of Harvest played a dreamy blend of Progressive Rock and Folk with female vocals that might be compared with Mellow Candle and early Clannad mixed with Jane, Pentangle and Renaissance. The music has the added edge of long arrangements with Moog synth and acid guitar solos, and in reality has little to do with Krautrock.

The front cover photograph was taken, in Nymphenburg Palace park in Munich, by a friend, Manuel, of Alex Schmierer's then girlfriend Rita.

Members:

Beate Krause (vocals)

Axel Schmierer (guitars)

Jürgen Kolb (keyboards)

Robert Högn (drums)

Heinz Reinschlussel (bass)

(Helmut Reinschlussel - technic)

Discography:

- Carol of Harvest (1978)

- Ty I Ja (2008)

Somewhere at the end of the rainbow : https://youtu.be/MXRNL80je6c :

Best Live Performance / Jon Lord - intro solo When A Blind Man Cries (Deep Purple)

Jon Lord on keyboard playing an intro solo of "When a Blind Man Cries"  

https://youtu.be/WNWR-bRVJBQ : 

John Douglas Lord (9 June 1941 - 16 July 2012) was an English orchestral and rock composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player known for his pioneering work in fusing rock with classical or baroque forms, especially with Deep Purple.

SONG OF THE DAY / DeWolff - Birth of the Ninth Sun (Live)

 DeWolff - Birth of the Ninth Sun -  Live in Tivoli Vredenburg, Holland (2021)

From March 14 to March 23, 2021 Tivoli Vredenburg was completely dominated by 'DeWolff's Nonagon Marathon'. In ten days, the band played their nine albums in full in chronological order through a livestream marathon. From their very first EP 'DeWolff' to their latest achievement WOLFFPACK. Every evening a different album in a different special setting and with a bunch of guest musicians. A long cherished wish of the band that finally came true!

DeWolff Nonagon Marathon #2 - Strange Fruits & Undiscovered Plants (2009)

Live in TivoliVredenburg - March 15, 2021

https://youtu.be/ulbaEI5tfuw : 

Source: YouTube

Skip Bifferty (psych rock , pop/ England)

Skip Bifferty were an English psychedelic rock band formed in early 1966. The band featured future members of Ian Dury and The Blockheads.

Years active:  1966 - 1969

History: 

Skip Bifferty were formed when Newcastle upon Tyne band The Chosen Few (featuring Alan Hull, later of Lindisfarne) changed their name and recruited a new singer, Graham Bell, to replace Hull. Managed by Don Arden, father of Sharon Osbourne, the band were given a contract by RCA Records. For RCA, the group released a number of psychedelic singles, including "Man in Black" (produced by Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, both then in the Small Faces), and the 1967 album Skip Bifferty, most recently released with bonus tracks as The Story of Skip Bifferty on Sanctuary Records. Some of their songs were covered by established artists such as Cilla Black, The Tremeloes and The Kingsmen, and they built a following on the "live" circuit, including touring with The Who in October 1968.They also appeared in the 1960s cult film Smashing Time, featuring Rita Tushingham.

However, a management dispute with Arden eventually led to the band's demise under that name in November 1968. Early in 1969, under the pseudonym 'Heavy Jelly' and with Paul Nichols replacing Jackman on drums, the band released one single on Island Records, "I Keep Singing That Same Old Song", which received exposure on the Island Records sampler LP Nice Enough to Eat. The name was taken from a joke review in the London magazine Time Out, and confusingly was soon after also used by another group, which featured Jackie Lomax as lead singer, prior to the commencement of his solo career. Uncovered as Skip Bifferty and without a recording contract, the band, now with Fred Wheatley on drums, split soon after.

Members:

Graham Bell: vocals

Mick Gallagher: keyboards

Colin Gibson: bass

John Turnbull: guitar, vocals

Tommy Jackman: drums

Paul Nichols: drums on Heavy Jelly

Discography:

On Love" / "Cover Girl" (1967)

"Happy Land" / "Reason to Live" (1967)

"Man in Black" / "Mr. Money Man" (July 1968)

L.P.: Skip Bifferty (July 1968)

"I Keep Singing That Same Old Song" / "Blue" [as Heavy Jelly] (January 1969)

"Skip Bifferty--The Story of Skip Bifferty " (2003) 

Follow The Path To The Stars:   https://youtu.be/Er40FVq-Ehw : 

Source: Wikipedia

Janis Joplin (Photos)

 

Ramases (prog rock, psych space folk / UK)

Ramases (real name Kimberley Barrington Frost) , born 1 January 1934 (Sheffield, UK) died 2 December 1976, adopted his name after claiming to have been visited by the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramesses sometime during a car journey near his home in Sheffield, England. He began dressing and behaving in an eccentric manner, wearing silk robes and shaving his head, in the style of the Hare Krishna religious sect. He recorded his sublime "Space Hymns" (1971) album at Strawberry Hill Studios at Stockport near Manchester with his wife Dorothy (who he renamed Selket), together with the musicians Eric Stewart, Graham Gouldman, Kevin Godley and Lol Creme, who famously went on to form the Pop/Rock band 10cc, although this religiously-inspired album is far removed from anything 10cc ever recorded. Renowned album cover artist Roger Dean designed the spacey album cover. A second album "Glass Top Coffin" followed in 1975 which failed to achieve commercial success. Tragically, Kimberley Barrington Frost took his own life in 1976 in a fit of depression, aged 42, which makes this marvellous legacy of music he left behind all the more poignant in its appeal. 

Album "Space Hymns" features complete band 10CC , Recorded at Strawberry Studios Manchester, England.

Among the members of the new group he had formed, the nucleus of the future 10CC group (Godley Creme Gouldman & Stewart) played central roles and many superb harmonies and inventive, catchy hooks of this "Space Hymns" album will remind you of the pop-extraordinaire group that later graced the hit charts of the mid and late 70's. An absolutely delightful cult status album every proghead should own, that was a followed a few years later by a much less famous second album "Glass Top Coffin" (but without the 10CC members) which still has moments of brilliance. 

"It was reported by many reviewers and re-issue liner note writers that Ramases' real name was Martin Raphael. However in May 2012, Dorothy, better known to Ramases fans as Sel (or Selket), advised that her late husband, Ramases (real name Barrington Frost) and Martin Raphael were not the same person."

Personnel:

Ramases: Lead vocals 

Sel: Lead vocals 

Eric Stewart: Lead guitar and moog synthesizer

Lol Creme: Lead guitar and moog synthesizer

Kevin Godley: Drums & flutes

Graham Gouldman: Guitar & bass guitar

Martin Raphael: Sitar

Discography: 

- Space Hymns (1971)

- Glass Top Coffin (1975)

Live Child: https://youtu.be/T8HpI4QkaoI : 

Source: ProgArchives

Joni Mitchell Woman of Heart and Mind (documentary)

 Joni Mitchell - documentary

https://youtu.be/T95l3_eai88 : 

Pink Floyd / History (documentary)

Documentary:

https://youtu.be/16OUjIcoJ0Y

SONG OF THE DAY / Jakko Jakszyk - Islands

Jakko Jakszyk - Islands

https://youtu.be/pLU9g1CTrPo : 

Musicians:

Jakko M. Jakszyk - vocals, electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards, mellotron, bass guitar

Mel Collins - alto and tenor saxes, flute

Danny Thompson - double bass

Ian Wallace - drums

ALBUM OF THE WEEK / King Crimson - Islands (1971)

Islands is the fourth studio album by English band King Crimson, released in December 1971 on the record label Island. Islands is the only studio album to feature the 1971-1972 touring line-up of Robert Fripp, Mel Collins, Boz Burrell and Ian Wallace. This would be the last album before an entirely new group would record the trilogy of Larks' Tongues in Aspic, Starless and Bible Black and Red between 1973-1974. This is also the last album to feature the lyrics of co-founding member Peter Sinfield.

Progressive rock, jazz fusion

Full Album:  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXhfRoiJBIissE6cOh0bqouyvin6IflJs

Formentera Lady: https://youtu.be/H7mehbm60YQ :

Musicians: 

Robert Fripp: Guitar, Mellotron, Peter’s Pedal Harmonium and sundry implements

Mel Collins: Flute, Bass Flute, Saxes & Vocals 

Boz Burrell: Bass Guitar, Lead Vocals & Choreography 

Ian Wallace: Drums, Percussion & Vocals 

Peter Sinfield: Words, Sounds & Visions

Featured players

Keith Tippett: Piano

Paulina Lucas: Soprano

Robin Miller: Oboe 

Mark Charig: Cornet

Harry Miller: String Bass

Engineer: Andy Hendrikson

Cover Design & Painting: Peter Sinfield

Equipment: Vick & Mike

Recorded at Command Studios, Piccadilly, London

Outer cover illustration ‘Trifid Nebula in Sagittarius’ by courtesy of The Institute of Technology and Carnegie Institution of Washington

Source: Wikipedia, YouTube