Frost* (neo prog rock / England)

Frost* are an English (from East Sussex)  neo progressive rock supergroup, formed in 2004 by Jem Godfrey and members of Arena, Kino, and IQ. Frost* released their first studio album, Milliontown, in 2006, before splitting up. In 2008, Godfrey reformed Frost*, adding Darwin's Radio vocalist and guitarist, Declan Burke, to the lineup, and released their second album, Experiments in Mass Appeal. The band disbanded again in 2011, to reunite later in September, after a brief hiatus.

Frost* released their long-awaited third studio album 'Falling Satellites' on 27 May 2016, to critical acclaim and followed up with their fourth album 'Day and Age' in 2021.

Genres: Neo progressive rock, electronic rock, pop rock

Years active:  2004-2006, 2008-2011, 2011-present

Band history: 

Formation (2004–2005)

Frost* was formed in September 2004, by songwriter, producer and musician Jem Godfrey - better known to the wider world for his work creating chart-topping pop hits for bands including Atomic Kitten - when he made a conscious decision to return to his own musical past writing and playing progressive music, in the band Freefall.

After writing and recording material on his own for several months, and listening to a broad selection of contemporary progressive music, Godfrey first approached John Mitchell of Arena, The Urbane and Kino, (and currently lead guitarist and singer for It Bites). Mitchell then introduced Godfrey to John Jowitt (also of Arena, and additionally IQ and Jadis), subsequently leading to meeting Andy Edwards (ex Robert Plant and IQ). John Boyes, Godfrey's former band-mate in Freefall in the 1990s, and from the band Rook, had already performed significant rhythm guitar work on the early recordings. With the lineup in place, recording of the first album was completed during winter 2005.

When asked in an interview why there is an asterisk next to the band name, Godfrey replied "That is a serving suggestion; if you get to put it on it means 'serve chilled'! or 'may contain nuts'!"

Milliontown (2006):

Frost*'s first album was named after the 26 minute long final track, Milliontown, inspired by the book The Apprentice by Gordon Houghton. The album was released in the United States on 18 July 2006 and in Europe on 24 July. The band went on a brief tour to play a selection from the album, supporting Pallas on a four date tour of the Netherlands and Germany in October 2006.

Dissolution, rebirth, Experiments In Mass Appeal (2006–2009):

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frost*

Current members:

Jem Godfrey - vocals, keyboards, Chapman Railboard (2004-2006, 2008-2011, 2011-present)

John Mitchell - guitars, vocals (2004-2006, 2008-2011, 2011-present)

Nathan King - bass guitar, backing vocals (2009-2011, 2011–present)

Former members:

John Jowitt - bass guitar (2004-2006, 2008-2009)

Andy Edwards - drums (2004-2006, 2008-2011)

John Boyes - guitars (2004-2006)

Declan Burke - vocals, guitars (2008-2009)

Craig Blundell - drums (2009–2019)

Milliontown  : https://youtu.be/PeMjPmN0rbo :

Milliontown Live: https://youtu.be/2U0dD4CLG_4 :

Discography:

Albums:

- Milliontown (2006)

- Experiments in Mass Appeal (2008)

- Falling Satellites (2016)

- Day And Age (2021)

Other:

- Frost* Tour Sampler (2008; only available on tour)

- FrostFest Live CD (2009)

- The Philadelphia Experiment (2010)

- The Rockfield Files (2013; available at The Merch Desk)

- Others EP (2020)

- 13 Winters collection (2020)

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frost*

The Syn (R&B, psych. rock , prog.rock / England)

The Syn are an English band that were active from 1965 to 1967, and then reunited as a progressive rock band in 2004. The band was founded by Steve Nardelli, Chris Squire, Andrew Pryce Jackman, Martyn Adelman and John Painter. Chris Welch, in his book, Close to the Edge: The Story of Yes wrote, "The Syn were very similar to Yes in fact. It was very much a precursor of Yes."

Also known as High Court) 

Origin: England

Genres: R&B, psychedelic rock, progressive rock

Years active: 1965–1967, 2004 - present

Past members:

George Arzimanow

John Painter

Chris Squire

Andrew Pryce Jackman

Martyn Adelman

Peter Banks

Gunnar Jökull Hákonarson

Gerard Johnson

Steve Gee

Paul Stacey

Jeremy Stacey

Gary Husband

Alan White

Shane Theriot

Francis Dunnery

Tom Brislin

Early years:

The Selfs were a rhythm and blues band formed in 1964 in Wembley, London. The band was formed of bassist Chris Squire, keyboardist Andrew Pryce Jackman, drummer Martyn Adelman, and guitarist John Wheatley, and singer Chris Slater. A future line-up included drummer Mike Richardson. The band played their first gigs at The Graveyard, a youth club at St. Andrew's church in Kingsbury, and Blackbirds Cross in Wembley. In 1964, they took part in Ready Steady Win, a music competition run by the producers of the music television show Ready Steady Go! They were beaten in a heat of the competition by the eventual winners, the Bo Street Runners. The Selfs recorded an acetate "Love You" and a cover of the Who's "I Can't Explain".

The roots of The Syn are in an earlier north London R&B band called "High Court" including Steve Nardelli on guitar and his school friend George Arzimanow on vocals. The band evolved over time and, in 1965, with Nardelli now handling lead vocals and John Painter on guitar, they changed their name to The Syn.

Shortly after, however, in 1965, The Syn merged with The Selfs, so Nardelli and Painter were joined by Chris Squire (bass), Andrew Jackman (keys) and Martyn Adelman (drums). The band's first gig, at Nardelli's school, Kingsbury County Grammar School, included covers of "Heat Wave" and The Marvelettes' "I'll Keep On Holding On". Paul Korda produced his composition "Merry-go-round" as a demonstration record for the band.

Psychedelic period:

John Painter was replaced by Peter Banks and Martyn Adelman was replaced by Icelandic drummer Gunnar Jökull Hákonarson (born 13 May 1949, Reykjavík, Iceland; died 22 September 2001) usually referred to as Gunnar Jökull or Jökullinn (literally meaning Jökull "glacier"). The band also got a new manager, Peter Huggett, former bass player with Lonnie Donegan. Huggett was later replaced by Kenny Bell as manager.

The band moved away from R&B covers and started writing their own material, led by Jackman and Nardelli. Reflecting the musical changes going on around them, they became more influenced by psychedelic music. They released two singles titled Created by Clive (b/w Grounded) and Flowerman (b/w 14 Hour Technicolour Dream) in 1967.

In 1967, they played in support of The Jimi Hendrix Experience at the Marquee Club in London, attended by many notable rock musicians (including The Beatles) that introduced Hendrix to the music world. The Syn went on to have a long-running residency at the club, supporting bands including Pink Floyd., The Moody Blues, Cat Stevens and Procol Harum before establishing their own weekly headline night at which they launched their Gangster and Flowerman rock operas.

Later line-ups saw a number of different drummers play after Hákonarson returned to Iceland.

Aftermath:

The band split up in 1967. Both Squire and Banks then joined Mabel Greer's Toyshop which was eventually renamed Yes. Nardelli, Jackman and sometimes Squire also worked together after the band split up. Nardelli and Jackman recorded a planned further Syn single, entitled "Sunshine and Make Believe", with session appearances by Tony Kaye on keys and David O'List on guitar. Tapes for this session could not be located in 2004. Jackman recorded another Syn piece with an orchestra, "The Last Performance of the Royal Regimental Very Victorious and Valiant Band", eventually released on the 2004 compilation Original Syn. Another Syn piece, "Mr White's White Flying Machine", was released in 1970 by Ayshea in a session produced by Jackman and with Squire on bass.

Jackman continued to work with Squire, including on his first solo album Fish Out of Water and on Yes's Tormato. Squire has emphasised Jackman's role on Fish Out of Water, saying he offered him co-writing credits, but Jackman declined.

Reunion:

The Syn reunion grew out of two events. In 2003, Martyn Adelman contacted the webmaster of a Yes fan site and agreed to do an interview. Steve Nardelli saw this and was put back in touch with Adelman. With Banks too, they met up for lunch and discussed a reunion. Around the same time, Andrew Jackman died, and there was a desire to mark his passing.

In 2004, the new band started rehearsals. Banks had brought in keyboard player Gerard Johnson, with whom he had worked on several previous projects. John Wetton was originally to have played bass, but pulled out at the last minute and was replaced by Steve Gee (bassist in progressive rock band Landmarq). The sessions produced new versions of old Syn songs "Illusion" and "Grounded" and an extended new version of Yes' song "Time and a Word". Recordings were carried out at the studio owned by guitarist Paul Stacey. However, Banks did not continue on with the group, and gave an explanation on his web site.

Nardelli continued with the band and, in late 2004, he and Johnson had begun recording on a new song "Cathedral of Love" when Nardelli asked Squire if he could play on the tune. Squire did and went on to join the band. Paul Stacey became the guitarist and his twin Jeremy Stacey, the drummer. Adelman had chosen to step away from performing, although he remained associated with the band for a period as a photographer - photography rather than drumming having been his career for over 30 years.

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Syn

The Syn - Grounded - 1967 :   https://youtu.be/e0yYhajX9mQ

Discography: 

Albums:

- Original Syn Yes Services Limited edition  (2004)

- Syndestructible  (2005)

- Original Syn  (2005)

- Armistice Day (2007)

- Big Sky (2009)

- The Syn Live Rosfest (2015)

- Trustworks - Umbrello (2016)

- Flowerman Rare Blooms From The Syn - Cherry Red/Grapefruit (2021)

Singles:

"Created By Clive" / "Grounded" (1967)

"Flowerman" / "14 Hour Technicolour Dream" (1967)

"Cathedral of Love"  (2006)

Mick Softley (folk / England)

Mick Softley was born on 26 September 1939, South Woodford, Essex, England and died on 1 September 2017 (aged 77) in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He was an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. A figurehead during the British folk scene, Softley set up his own folk club, released three albums and worked with performers such as Mac MacLeod, Donovan, and Maddy Prior. 

Donovan covered two of Softley's songs ("Goldwatch Blues" and "The War Drags On") in 1965. Dave Berry also covered two of Softley's songs ("Walk Walk Talk Talk" and "I Love You Baby") in 1966. 

Genres: Folk 

Instruments:  Guitar 

Years active Early 1960s - 2017

Softley grew up in Essex near Epping Forest. His mother was of Irish origin (from County Cork) and his father had East Anglian tinker roots, going back to a few generations. Softley first took up trombone in school and became interested in traditional jazz. He was later persuaded to become a singer by one of his school teachers, and this led to him listening to Big Bill Broonzy and promptly changed his attitude to music, to the extent of him buying a mail-order guitar and some tutorial books and teaching himself to play.

By 1959, Mick Softley had left his job and home, and spent time travelling around Europe on his motorbike, with a friend, Mick Rippingale. He ended up in Paris, where he came into the company of musicians such as Clive Palmer, Ramblin' Jack Elliott, and Wizz Jones. Here he improved his guitar skills and spent time busking with friends until his return to England in the early 1960s. He set up a folk club at The Spinning Wheel in Hemel Hempstead. It was shut down by the police after only a year, however, for "various reasons", mainly health and safety; a very small basement room, with only one way in (and out). Softley did not look back on this time favourably claiming during production he had gone "through a lot of hells and no heavens, a terrifying amount of personal pain" to the extent that he quit the music business for over four years. During this time he survived as a market trader in Hemel Hempstead, fathered two children, in 1963 and 1964, and still played gigs frequently in folk clubs around the south east. He returned to life on the road in 1968. Due to contractual issues he never received any royalties in the later years.

Softley began singing in 'The Cock', a pub in St Albans, which was a hang out for beatniks and hippies and attracted musicians down from London. Informal sessions were common. This was where he met a young Donovan Leitch, to whom he taught cross-picking guitar techniques. (Leitch later cited Softley as a "major influence").

Donovan was soon snapped up by a record label and shot to stardom, but this enabled him to bring Softley to the attention of producers and record companies. His first release was the 1965 single "I'm So Confused", released by Immediate Records.

He went on to work with Peter Eden and Geoff Stephens, and his debut album Songs For Swinging Survivors, which was a purely folk record. The album featured only Softley and his acoustic guitar and includes the songs "The War Drags On" (covered by Donovan on his Universal Soldier EP), and Softley's own interpretations of Billie Holiday's "Strange Fruit", and Woody Guthrie's "The Plains of the Buffalo".

Time Machine: https://youtu.be/C15LXv4uEDI :

Discography:

- Songs For Swingin' Survivors (1965), 

- Sunrise (1970)

- Street Singer (1971)

- C'est la Fête à Malataverne (1971), Expression Spontanée – one track, "Time Machine"          record live in French folk festival

- Any Mother Doesn't Grumble (1972)

- Capital (1976)

- Mensa (1978)

- War Memorials (1985)

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mick_Softley

Best Live Performances / Pink Floyd - Live at Pompeii (1972)

Pink Floyd live in Pompeii

Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii is a 1972 concert documentary film featuring the English progressive rock group Pink Floyd performing at the ancient Roman amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy, directed by Adrian Maben. Although the band are playing a typical live set from this point in their career, the film is notable for having no audience.

The main footage in and around the amphitheatre was filmed over four days in October 1971, using the band's regular touring equipment, including studio-quality 24-track recorders. Additional footage filmed in a Paris television studio that December made up the original 1972 release. The film was then re-released in 1974 with additional studio material of the band working on The Dark Side of the Moon, and interviews at Abbey Road Studios.

The film has subsequently been released on video numerous times, and in 2003 a "Director's Cut" DVD appeared which combines the original footage from 1971 with more contemporary shots of space and the area around Pompeii, assembled by Maben. A number of notable bands have taken inspiration from the film in creating their own videos, or filming concerts without an audience.

Live at Pompeii (full concert): https://youtu.be/fhDfmUnN1vY :

Track listing:

   1. "Pompeii"

   2. "Echoes, Part 1"

   3. "Careful with That Axe, Eugene"

  4.  "A Saucerful of Secrets"

  5.  "One of These Days"

  6.  "Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun"

  7.  "Mademoiselle Nobs"

  8. "Echoes, Part 2"

Source and more info:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Floyd:_Live_at_Pompeii

ALBUM OF THE WEEK / Universe - Universe (1971)

Universe - Universe (1971)

Tracks:

1. Twilight Winter

2. Cocaine

3. Universe

4. Rolling

5. Spanish Feeling

6. The Annexe

7. Bleak House

8. Track Four

British heavy bluesrock band, based in Cardiff, Wales, formed in 1968 as 'Spoonfull'. In 1970 the band changed its name to 'Universe' and eventually disbanded in 1972. 

Members:

Steve Finn (guitar, vocals, harmonica) 

Mike Lloyd Jones (lead guitar) 

John Healan (bass) 

Mike Blanche (organ) 

Rob Reynolds (drums, 1968 -1970) 

Steve Keeley (drums, 1970 -1972)

Universe: (Full Album): https://youtu.be/4kSma2pgcaI

Forever More (prog rock / UK)

Forever More was a late 1960s and early 1970s progressive rock band, featuring Alan Gorrie, Mick Strode (aka Mick Travis), Onnie McIntyre (aka Onnie Mair) and Stuart Francis. The principal songwriters for Forever More were: Alan Gorrie and Mick Strode, writing either as individuals or co-writing. Alan Gorrie, Onnie McIntyre, and Stuart Francis all originated from Scotland, whereas Mick Strode was born in Oldbury in the West Midlands. The band toured extensively in the United Kingdom and in Europe. They recorded two LPs: "Yours" and "Words on Black Plastic".

Formation of Forever More, 1969

Scottish musicians Alan Gorrie, Onnie McIntyre and Stuart Francis had previously been part of a band called Hopscotch, alongside two other Scottish musicians, namely pianist/vocalist Graham Maitland and vocalist Hamish Stuart (later of Crocodile, and Sir Paul McCartney's Wings). Mick Strode, meanwhile, had been the lead guitarist in various bands in the Midlands and in London, most notably with Robert Plant and John Bonham in the final 1968 lineup of their pre-Led Zeppelin group Band of Joy. Early in 1969 in Shepherd's Bush, London, Mick Strode met Alan, Onnie, and Stuart of Hopscotch; and soon afterwards the four of them formed Forever More. All of Forever More also played as session musicians in various studios in London.

Morphing and Evolution of Forever More:

Shortly before disbanding in 1971 Forever More, by means of a simple name change, morphed into a band called Glencoe. The line-up was still the same: Mick Strode, on lead electric guitar, had already incorporated his mandolin playing and acoustic guitar into their live performances; and all four members were offering vocal harmonies, although Alan Gorrie remained the principal singer with Mick Strode singing solo on some numbers, especially on his own compositions. Since Alan Gorrie played both bass and piano, Onnie McIntyre would sometimes switch to playing bass for live performances.

Not long after Forever More's change of name to Glencoe, however, Onnie McIntyre and Alan Gorrie decided to leave the band. Determined to continue as Glencoe, Mick Strode and Stuart Francis set about recruiting two new members for their band. The first musician who joined them was Graham Maitland, a pianist who had previously played with Stuart Francis, prior to Forever More's formation. The second new member was a very young bass player called Norman Watt-Roy, whose audition to join Glencoe is described in Dr.Sonja Strode's book (2011). This line-up toured widely in the United Kingdom until April 1972 when guitarist/songwriter Mick Strode decided to leave the band. Strode was replaced by John Turnbull and they released 2 further albums "Glencoe" (1972) and "Spirit Of Glencoe" (1973).

Having left Forever More in 1972, Alan Gorrie and Onnie McIntyre formed the Average White Band, teaming up with Scottish saxophonists Roger Ball and Malcolm Duncan who had been part of Jimmy Litherland's Brotherhood (later known as Mogul Thrash). Together with trumpeter Mike Rosen, they were known as the Dundee Horns. In the heyday of Forever More it was not unusual for this brass section to jam with Forever More whenever their gigs coincided.

Past members:

Alan Gorrie : bass guitar, piano, vocals

Onnie McIntyre (aka Onnie Mair) - guitar, vocals

Mick Strode (aka Mick Travis): guitar, vocals

Stuart Francis: drums, vocals

Discography:

- Yours (1970)

- Words on Black Plastic (1971)

- Forever More: Yours + Words On Black Plastic (2007)

Forever More : https://youtu.be/iEfjT--Eh58

Back in the States:  https://youtu.be/WV5SdUz2yM0

Source: Wiipedia

Dragonwyck ( psych, garage, space rock / USA)

Dragonwyck started in October 3, 1969 in Cleveland , Ohio. The original members were Bill Pettijohn (vocals), Mike Gerchack (bass, vocals) Jack Boessneck (drums), Tom Brehm (guitar) and Kenneth Staab (keyboards, vocals). In the five years of performing in the Cleveland area, Dragonwyck recorded three albums: "Dragonwyck" in 1970, "Chapter 2" in 1973, and "Fun" in 1974, and a 45 RPM single "Lovin' the boys/The music" in 1974.

The core membership of Dragonwyck began in 1965 when drummer Jack Boessneck, guitarist Tom Brehm and organist John Hall formed their first band, The Mortycyans, whose name was fashioned after the English band The Undertakers. With the singer Roy Baker, the bass player Pat Osines and the rhythm guitarist Ned Fairfield, The Mortycyans played a mixture of American and British rock at schools functions, C.Y.O dances, fraternity parties and V.F.W Legion Posts throughout the west Cleveland suburbs. In 1967, John hall left the band to attend Northwestern University, and was replaced by John Chandler. A year later, both Roy Baker and Neil Fairfield left the band to attend college. At that point, The Mortycyans callled it quits.

In 1968, Tom Brehm, Pat Osines, the drummer Gary Sanger, the organist Skip Foster and the singer Greg Reese formed the short lived band Sunrise. The band performed music by The Small Faces and Procol Harum. When Greg Reese left the band, the singer Bill Pettijohn auditioned. Bill was uncomfortable with the high vocal range of the Sunrise song list and during a break he asked Tom to listen to a song he wrote called "Fire climbs". The band learned "Fire climbs" that night and soon booked time at Landon Magnetic Sound, a 2-track recording studio in Garfield Heights, Ohio. The sound engineer was George Stage. At Landon Magnetic Sound, Sunrise recorded "Fire climbs", "Flowers grow free", "The vision", "Anything I'd give" and "Ancient child". Although crude, these 1968 Sunrise recordings became the early sound of Dragonwyck. By 1969, the bands membership evolved to include The Mortycyans drummer Jack Boessneck, the bass player Mike Gerchack and the keyboardist Kenneth Staab. On October 3, 1969 Sunrise changed their name to Dragonwyck.

Their line-ups varied, but keymembers on all albums are Tom Brehm playing guitars and Bill Pettijohn singing.

Dragonwyck's intention was to write, perform and record their own music. Their musical style moved towards progressive rock. Their first album was released in 1970 for only 85 copies, as a demo LP. Musically they combine the elements of both British and American psychedelic sound with heavy metal tones. The mood of their music is dark and mystical, and their sound is dominated by guitar and Hammonds, Moogs and Mellotrons. This music was dark and hauting, with Doors-like vocals and keyboards and heavy fuzz-psych guitar. On January 20, 1970 they recorded a Kenneth Staab song, "God's dream", at Landon Magnetic Sound, where Sunrise had recorded. Landon Magnetic Sound was now a 4-track studio. The sound engineer again was George Stage. Dragonwyck soon returned to Landon Magnetic Sound to record an entire album.

In October 3, Dragonwyck celebrated its first year as a band and, on October 23, Kenneth Staab quit and moved to Florida. Kenneth Staab died in 1973.

During 70s, the original Dragonwyck performed in the Cleveland Ohio area at D'Poo' and Die, Mickey Finns, Pandora's Box in Elyria, The Electric Boathouse in Mainsfield, Admiral Bimbo's in Westlake and J.B.'s in Kent, where Glass Harp was the houseband at that time.

In 1976 Tom Brehm and producer Bill Cavanaugh started the band called Flying Turns, to continue the musical direction of the album "Fun".

Band leader Tom Brehm reformed Dragonwyck with a new and younger lineup in 2006 and embarked on a short European tour before fading once again into obscurity.

Dragonwyck 1970 (full album): https://youtu.be/Kg2V1vxsIGk :

Source: https://progmusicparadise.blogspot.com/2019/07/dragonwyck-psychedelic-progressive-rock.html  and Progarchives.com

Janis Joplin - Woodstock performance 1969

Woodstock:  Janis Joplin

Complete Woodstock 1969 recordings of Janis Joplin :   https://youtu.be/H3DlFjKo9H8

Performed Sunday morning, August 17, 1969:  2:30–3:30 am

Woodstock '69 :

Joplin appeared at Woodstock in the late hours of Saturday, August 16, 1969. She performed until the early morning hours of Sunday, August 17. Despite her reportedly not even knowing of the festival's existence, the Woodstock promoters were advertising her as a headliner. She thus became one of the main attractions of the historic concert.

Joplin informed her band that they would be performing at the concert as if it were just another gig. When she and the band were flown in by helicopter with the pregnant Joan Baez and her mother from a nearby motel to the festival site and Joplin saw the enormous crowd, she instantly became incredibly nervous and giddy. Upon landing and getting off the helicopter, Joplin was approached by reporters asking her questions. She deferred them to Caserta as she was too excited to speak. Initially Joplin was eager to get on the stage and perform, but she kept getting delayed as bands were contractually obliged to perform before her. Faced with a ten-hour wait after arriving at the backstage area, she shot heroin with Caserta and was drinking alcohol, so by the time she hit the stage, she was "three sheets to the wind".Joplin took the stage following Creedence Clearwater Revival. On stage her voice became slightly hoarse and wheezy and she found it hard to dance.

Throughout her performance she frequently spoke to the crowd, asking them if they had everything they needed and if they were staying stoned. She pulled through, however, and the audience was so pleased they cheered her on for an encore, to which she replied and sang "Ball and Chain". Her performances of "Kozmic Blues" and "Work Me, Lord" at Woodstock are notable, though her voice breaks while she sings.

Janis Joplin Band Members:

Janis Joplin: vocals

Terry Clements: tenor saxophone

Cornelius "Snooky" Flowers: baritone saxophone

Luis Gasca: trumpet

John Till: guitar

Richard Kermode: keyboards

Brad Campbell: bass

Maury Baker: drums

Janis Joplin Woodstock Setlist:

- Raise Your Hand: https://youtu.be/TZodp57vITk

- As Good as You've Been To This World: https://youtu.be/HWDxkx7Jhwc

- To Love Somebody: https://youtu.be/k19r0riS794

- Summertime: https://youtu.be/cI75VAn8JMM

- Try (Just a Little Bit Harder): https://youtu.be/dBJnoMP1Uyc

- Kozmic Blues: https://youtu.be/NVC1y-51exc

- Can't Turn You Loose: https://youtu.be/RCIGi0DS380

- Work Me, Lord: https://youtu.be/6agb04hmrBE

- Piece of My Heart: https://youtu.be/1Vz8cvJPZRs

- Ball and Chain: https://youtu.be/h66qXAK-q3o

 Complete Woodstock 1969 recordings of Janis Joplin :   https://youtu.be/H3DlFjKo9H8

David Bowie - rare and unreleased tracks from 1970-1971

Divine Symmetry (rare and unreleased tracks from 1970-1971)

As 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the release of David Bowie’s album Hunky Dory I thought I would put together a mix of rare and unreleased music from this period. 

Considering the Bowie estate have been marking the 50th anniversary of albums with some sort of archival release of unreleased music (as they did with 2019’s Conversation Piece box set and 2021’s Width Of A Circle), it’s likely that at least some of this material would be released in some shape or form in the next 12 months. Like the period in the run up to Space Oddity, Bowie was a very prolific songwriter in the period from late 1970 to the release of Ziggy Stardust with many of the songs recorded ultimately left on the sidelines. Unlike the songs recorded in run up to Space Oddity, a good portion of that music has surfaced through unofficial means, though some songs continue to elude the bootleggers including Black Hole Kids, Only One Paper Left, It’s Gonna Rain Again and King of the City.

The demo version of Quicksand, as well as (most of) Lightning Frightening were previously released on the Ryko reissues of Hunky Dory and The Man Who Sold The World respectively, though those disks have been out of print for about 30 years. Bombers was from the 1971 BOWPROMO promotional disk, which was previously officially released as a Record Store Day exclusive in 2017. The Glastonbury Fayre clips were sourced from the 2019 documentary film David Bowie: Finding Fame.

This mix doesn’t comprise of every recording available from the period, but features at least one version of every unreleased song in circulation. If this list was more thorough you’d have to sit through at least five versions of Looking For A Friend.

https://youtu.be/1EJQ5d2HwfE : 

NOTE: This mix originally included the alternate take of Eight Line Poem, as well as most of the alternate mix of the chatter leading up to Andy Warhol. Both of these were copyright striked resulting in the video being blocked worldwide. I have since removed these tracks from the mix though curiously you can still find the tracks elsewhere on YouTube. Both are sourced from the 1971 BOWPROMO promotional disk.

0:00:00 - 0:04:42 Quicksand (Demo)

0:04:42 - 0:07:41 Rupert The Riley

0:07:41 - 0:11:44 Lightning Frightening (The Man)

0:11:44 - 0:12:03 Oh! You Pretty Things (Excerpt, Glastonbury Fayre, 23 June 1971)

0:12:03 - 0:15:21 Oh! You Pretty Things (Sounds Of The Seventies: Bob Harris, 21 September 1971)

0:15:21 - 0:18:24 Tired Of My Life

0:18:24 - 0:18:54 Life On Mars? (Excerpt, Demo)

0:18:54 - 0:22:16 Kooks (Sounds Of The Seventies: Bob Harris, 21 September 1971)

0:22:16 - 0:24:56 The Supermen (John Peel: In Concert, 3 June 1971)

0:24:56 - 0:27:52 Bombers (BOWPROMO mix)

0:27:52 - 0:30:43 Andy Warhol (Sounds Of The Seventies: Bob Harris, 21 September 1971)

0:30:43 - 0:34:15 How Lucky You Are (Miss Peculiar)

0:34:15 - 0:34:38 Changes (Excerpt, Glastonbury Fayre, 23 June 1971)

0:34:38 - 0:38:22 Shadow Man

0:38:22 - 0:41:31 Looking For A Friend

0:41:31 - 0:45:39 Man In The Middle

0:45:39 - 0:49:09 Changes (Demo)

0:49:09 - 0:51:31 Buzz The Fuzz (The Sunday Show: Introduced by John Peel, 5 February 1970)

0:51:31 - 0:54:18 Fill Your Heart (Sound Of The Seventies: Bob Harris, 21 September 1971)

0:54:18 - 0:56:42 Right On Mother

0:56:42 - 1:00:36 Amsterdam (Sounds Of The Seventies: Bob Harris, 21 September 1971)

Source: YouTube by Fish Magick May 7th 2021

Best Live Performances / Genesis - Paris Bataclan 1973 long version

Genesis, live at the Bataclan, Paris, 01/10/1973, 16mm master. 

(From YT: ikhnaton: 

Well, I think it's time to release this film. In collaboration with the Genesis Museum, I present to you: Genesis, live at the Bataclan, Paris, 01/10/1973, 16mm master.

 

Long version: https://youtu.be/8qMsr7jjQF0 :

1. The Musical Box 

2. Supper's Ready 

3. The Return of the Giant Hogweed 

4. The Knife

5. Interview

Source: YouTube

Martha Wainwright , Rufus and Martha and Kate McGarrigle - Proserpina

Martha Wainwright:

Martha Wainwright's soaring yet delicate harmonies take center stage in her performance of elegy "Proserpina," written by her late mother, the legendary folk singer Kate McGarrigle, in filmmaker Matthu Placek's intimate video. 

Taken from her forthcoming album Come Home to Mama, the track was recorded in Sean Lennon's New York home studio and continues a lifelong musical dialogue between Wainwright and McGarrigle, who passed away in 2010. "It's the last song my mother wrote, and of course I also think that she wrote it for me, and for Rufus," explains Wainwright, referring to her critically acclaimed crooner brother, Rufus Wainwright. "We wrote songs together, ever since we were children. As we sing her songs, I think her voice can be heard in ours, literally through our pipes."  Placek's single-take film was inspired by the premise of "Proserpina," which recounts the story of the creation of the seasons by the Roman goddess Ceres, who withholds the world's bounty for six months every year in protest about her daughter's abduction by Pluto, lord of the underworld. "It's all about Martha's performance," says the director, who has also produced music videos for Trixie Whitley and Hannah Cohen. "Martha's vocal range is insane, it's outrageous—I've never seen anyone like her."

Martha Wainwright: Proserpina : https://youtu.be/zAFFA3g17J0 : 

Rufus and Martha Wainwright:  https://youtu.be/ykxeEg_s_Iw

Kate McGarrigle - Proserpina:  https://youtu.be/ITyTquxTjhQ : 

SONG OF THE DAY / Rufus Wainwright - Martha

Rufus Wainwright performing "Martha" on KCRW :

After writing his first opera, renowned singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright returns to our studio to perform songs from his new album, "All Days Are Nights": Songs for Lulu on our piano. He joins us on Morning Becomes Eclectic.

Martha: https://youtu.be/fwGTZpv1aUc : 

BEST LIVE PERFORMANCES - Steve Hillage (1977)

Steve Hillage performing at the Otto Hahn Schule Bensberg for Rockpalast, Germany 20th March 1977

Steve Hillage - Live in Germany (1977) : https://youtu.be/HkVF_YM0i-w :

 

The Band: 

- Steve Hillage / Guitar, Vocals 

- Miquette Giraudy / Synthesizer, vocals, Tibetan bell 

- Clive Bunker / Drums 

- Colin Bass / Bass, vocals 

- Christian Boule / Rhythm Guitar and Glissando guitar 

- Phil Hodge / Keyboards 

- Basil Brooks / Synthesizer, Sequencer, Flute 

The Set:

1. Salmon Song

2. Solar Music Suite

3. Lunar Music Suite

4. Meditation of the Dragon

Source: YouTube

Frumpy (progressive rock/krautrock / Germany)

Frumpy was a German progressive rock/krautrock band based in Hamburg, which was active between 1970–1972 and 1990–1995. Formed after the break-up of folk rockers The City Preachers, Frumpy released four albums in 1970–1973 and achieved considerable commercial success. The German press hailed them as the best German rock band of their time and their vocalist Inga Rumpf as the "greatest individual vocal talent" of the contemporary German rock scene. They disbanded in 1972 although the various members all worked together at various times over the following two decades and they reunited again in 1989, producing three more albums over five years after which they disbanded once more.

Years active: 1970 -1972, 1990 -1995

Formation:

All of the band members met as performers with Germany's first folk rock band The City Preachers [de], formed by Irishman John O'Brien-Docker in Hamburg in 1965. In 1968, the band had split, with O'Brien-Docker and several other members parting company. Singer Inga Rumpf, a distinctive "un-feminine" sounding vocalist often compared favourably with Janis Joplin, continued to use the band name with a line-up including drummer Udo Lindenberg, singer Dagmar Krause, French organist Jean-Jacques Kravetz and bassist Karl-Heinz Schott. In the spring of 1969, Lindenberg left to pursue a solo career and was replaced by Carsten Bohn, who by November that year had grown disappointed with Krause and called for the band to pursue a new creative direction, "a fusion of rock, blues, classical, folk and psychedelic."

Reforming in March 1970 as Frumpy (a play on Rumpf's surname inspired by seeing the word "frumpy" in a CBS record catalogue) the new line-up of Rumpf, Bohn, Kravetz and Schott debuted at the Essen International Pop & Blues Festival in April 1970, where two of their songs "Duty" and "Floating" were recorded and released on the live compilation album Pop & Blues Festival '70. This was followed by more tour dates in France, Germany and the Netherlands, an appearance at the Kiel Progressive Pop Festival in July 1970, and at the Open Air Love & Peace Festival at Fehmarn, September 6, 1970.

Recordings: 

They recorded their debut album "All Will Be Changed" in August 1970. To promote the album the band embarked on a fifty-night German tour with Spooky Tooth, as well as playing supporting slots with Yes, Humble Pie and Renaissance. The album received both critical acclaim and commercial success.

Initially the band played without a guitarist, which was unusual in the rock genre, and the band instead made great use of Kravetz's "spacey organ excursions" and his powerful Leslie Rotating Speaker System, a sound modification and frequency modulation device. Rumpf said: "In the beginning we were happy enough as a quartet. I played and composed exclusively on an acoustic guitar. It was only later that we began to write songs that called for a guitar." In 1971, just before the band started recording their second album, called simply 2, they recruited former Sphinx Tush guitarist Rainer Baumann to the line-up. The album, "heavier and more mature progressive rock with classical overtones in Kravetz's organ ([and] occasionally mellotron) work," repeated the success of the first, and gave the band a hit single with "How the Gipsy Was Born", which would become their "signature tune." The German music magazine Musikexpress dubbed Frumpy as the best German rock act of the year, while Inga Rumpf, variously described as "smoky", "demonic" and "roaring," was declared by national newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung to be the "greatest individual vocal talent" of the German rock scene so far.

More info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frumpy

Past members:

Inga Rumpf [de]

Jean-Jacques Kravetz

Rainer Baumann [de]

Karl-Heinz Schott

Carsten Bohn

Erwin Kama

Thomas (Carola) Kretschmer [de]

Discography:

- All Will Be Changed (1970)  

- Frumpy 2 (1971)

- By the Way (1972)

- Live (1973)

- Inga Rumpf – Second-Hand Mädchen (1975)

- Now! (1990)

- News (1991)

- Live NinetyFive (1995)

How the Gypsy was Born: https://youtu.be/gqq2tBk49Fs :

Source: Wikipedia

SONG OF THE DAY / Henrik Freischlader Band - The Memory of Our Love

Henrik Freischlader Band - The Memory of Our Love

Henrik Freischlader (born 3 November 1982) is a German blues guitarist, singer-songwriter, producer, and autodidactic multi-instrumentalist from Wuppertal, Germany. He has been the supporting act for Joe Bonamassa, B.B. King, the late Gary Moore, Peter Green, Johnny Winter and other blues legends.

His style of music cannot be considered pure blues. He often blends in musical styles such as rock, jazz, soul, and funk, even though blues is the basis of all of his songs. His guitar-playing is influenced by Gary Moore, Stevie Ray Vaughan, B.B. King, Peter Green, Albert Collins and Albert King. As he grew up, Freischlader taught himself how to play drums, bass guitar, guitar and other instruments.

Since his first album, Henrik Freischlader has been using Realtone amplifiers culminating in a signature amp. Freischlader's main guitar is a Haar Stratocaster copy in sunburst that has a Fender decal on its headstock. Further, he uses various Gibson Les Pauls and a Fender Telecaster.

During his teenage years, he started his career as a blues guitarist and singer in bands such as Lash and Bluescream. In 2004, he formed the Henrik Freischlader Band and released his first album The Blues in 2006.

The Memory of Our Love: https://youtu.be/yYSMsuhFpWg :

Band:

Henrik Freischlader guitar, vocals

Theofilos Fotiadis bass guitar

Moritz Fuhrhop piano, keyboard, Hammond organ

Björn Krüger drums

Source: Wikipedia