Formed in 1968, Moby Dick was primarily influenced by English hard rock, particularly Led Zeppelin, they were the first Italian band that managed to record an album at Olympic Studios in London in 1973. However, with no recording contract, the album wasn't released until the Akarma issue in 2001. They also had recorded a three song demo at RCA, that only exists on acetate. They are included in this release as a bonus E.P. that accompany's the album. Though they were very good musicians, they could never reach an original style. They had a good live career in their five years together, but ended up sounding like a Zeppelin clone when they recorded.
The three E.P. tracks are sung in Italian sound a bit more original and closer to the time early 70's Italian rock style. But it was their choice to record in English that made the group refuse to record a demo for EMI, who wanted them to sing in Italian. They disbanded not long after the London recordings. And that's about all I know about them.
This album is an air-guitarists wet dream! Serious twin leads the likes of which are found in Judas Priest or Iron Maiden. This is also a VERY obscure and rare record. Pressed independently on a small label out of Illinois, which is also where this band comes from. Recorded in Southern Illinois, the entire album is comprised of only 5 songs. 2 on side A, and 3 on side B. It's got a bit of a southern rock influence ala early Allman Brothers/Lynyrd Skynyrd although the stand out is the guitar. It's been reissued on Akarma, some folks have had rough experiences with some of their re-issues, even suggesting certain releases to be "needle drops" and therefore lacking in sound quality. Others are just fine. Try to listen to it before you buy, (you'll get hooked!) to seif the quality is there. Otherwise, you can always hold out for an original. Just open your wallet nice and big, and don't hold your breath.
Definitely a must have for any hard blues rock collector.
Bakery were an Australian progressive/hard rock band formed in Perth 1970. Bakery's debut album Rock Mass For Love was issued August of 1971 on Astor records which, according to Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane, had been recorded during a mass at St. George's Cathedral in March of '71, and was not indicative of the band's psychedelic hard rock. The Group released two singles "Bloodsucker" (Feb. 1971), and "No dying in the Dark" (July). "No Dying in the Dark was a top 10 hit on the Perth singles chart. The bands influences were Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, and Led Zeppelin.
In Aug. 1972 they released their second album Momento . Following some extensive lineup changes in 1973 the band was on the touring circuit along Australia's East coast. In April of that year, "Living With a Memory" recorded live at the Sunbury Pop Festival appeared on the triple live album The Great Australian Pop Festival, Sunbury 1973 on Mushroom records. They disbanded in early 1975.
The second album, Momento IMHO is way better than the first, and heavy, which the 1st album is not. So I only included their 2nd L.P.
Hard Stuff were an English rock band which included John Du Cann and Paul Hammond, formerly of Atomic Rooster. Also in the lineup: Harry "AL" Shaw, formerly of Curiosity Shoppe and latterly Export., and John Gustafson formerly of Quartermass.
Du Cann and Hammond had left Atomic Rooster due to disagreements with Vincent Crane over the increasingly bluesy, soulful direction he wanted to take the band. Consequently., compared to Atomic Rooster's more progressive leanings, Hard Stuff were based more heavily on aggressive guitar.
Originally, Du Cann, Hammond, and Shaw had formed a band provisionally called Daemon, with the intention of recording and touring under the name of Atomic Rooster. Gustafson was invited to join them on that basis, but, after learning that Crane retained the rights to Atomic Rooster name. the quartet agreed to continue anyway, but under the name Bullet instead.
After recording about half an album's worth of material, Shaw was dismissed from the lineup and never replaced the vocalist, his vocals being recorded over and vocals for the rest of the songs by Du Cann and Gustafson. Both of whom served as lead vocalist for their prior bands. Prior to release of the album they were prompted to change their name again, this time to Hard Stuff, due to a legal disputed with an American band named Bullet.
Hard stuff toured across Europe Particularly Germany and Italy, often as support for Deep Purple or Uriah Heep. Their success was curtailed by a car crash in which Du Cann and Hammond were seriously injured. Although their second album went ahead, the band wee soon to fold. Harry "Al" Shaw emerged in the 1980's in a N.W.O.B.H.M.B. band called Export
B.F. Trike formed when three members of late 60's psych band Hickory Wind decamped to Nashville in 1971 and started an album for RCA. Eschewing the psychedelic sound of their previous band the trio turned up the fuzz guitar and produced ten tracks of great heavy rock. The tapes were then shelved for eighteen years (!!!) until Rockadelic issued them in 1989 in a limited edition vinyl (100 made) and CD. The vinyl is now long gone and commands astronomical sums at auction, so your best bet is to go with the CD. The question, therefor, is it worth it? Well, in this case it might well be, as the songs are catchy, well played and sung, they have great fuzz tone solos, the rhythm section is restrained where it needs to be as well as up front on the heavy rockers. The whole album hangs together extremely well. Why RCA refused to issue this at the time we'll never know. But be thankful we can at least hear it. (Rockasteria)
Formed in 1970, Jenghiz Kahn were short lived, but their album "Well Cut" has been in demand among collectors. This contained the archetypal heavy progressive rock of the times, sometimes similar to Uriah Heep or May Blitz. The band was formed in the southern part of Begium in 1970, out of the ashes of The Tim Brean Group and Les Partisans. "Well Cut" was released quite quickly and sounded very heavy but full of dynamics. Some longer songs gave the band an adventurous feel, and unveiled possible influences from Iron Butterfly and Vanilla Fudge. The bass was up front in the mix, making it still sound fresh. Their relatively short history, they gained a good live reputation, so they played a lot of gigs and festivals.
They shared bills with Black Sabbath, Yes, Wallace Collection, Stray, Genesis, & The Tremolos. Some new material was written in '71, but the group would drift apart due to the lack of improvement abroad. "Well Done" turned out to be their only solitary release.
I'm really starting to dig this Icelandic stuff. Heavy psych rock from '73 with wild acid guitar and English lyrics. The original L.P. released in Iceland sells for about $600, so you may want to seek out the repress from Austria. Even though it's only an edition of 500 copies. It's got some great zoney stoner moments, the second track in, "Himalaya" is worth the price of admission itself. It ranges from weird funk-psych jams to outer space rock. Pretty hard to find, but worth it! (the repress sells for $20 to $50)
Brother T. & Family are all of the original members of Lucifer's Friend, with the exception of John Lawton. Straight forward heavy blues rock, with a bizarre ballad that sounds like a spot on Elvis Presley impersonation. Procal Harem type organs, some really decent lead guitar riffs. The Gear Fab catalog classifies the songs as "bizarre", so I'm not far off on my take on it. Released on the German Retsjam label in 1970. Another strange variation of Lucifer's Friend (one of the many.) Because it was released in Germany, it carries with it the Krautrock stamp of approval. A lot of reviews out there, but not a lot of info.
An extremely rare release on the Playboy Label (yes, the same Playboy as the Hugh Hefner rag) Female vocals on a fairly straight forward hard rock backdrop. Their sole album was released in 1973. Even though there's little variation, the formula works well. Distorted guitars, organ, all the elements of an early 70's rock band. There's really not a lot of info on this one, and only 1 pic.
Formed in Japan in early 1971 by guitarist Eiryu Kou who would later join the legendary Blues Creation after the end of this band. Ranmadou had a very short career, yet the band managed to record two albums. They were around until 1972, when they folded. Their first: 1971 - Summer, was recorded live in 1971, but never saw release until 1989 on CD. In 1972 they released a self titled album, of which only three track are present in this live recording. These live recordings bring powerful, dirty, and typical blues rock of the time, and like most Japanese bands of the era, it's definitely a notch above your typical blues rock. They also have some psychedelic moments among intense guitar riff and solos. Vocals sung sometimes in English, sometimes in Japanese. Highly recommended for not only fans of 70's blues rock, but anyone into the Japanese scene of the time.
Active from 1970 to 1972. Instead of me trying to write some brilliant (or NOT so brilliant) piece about Short Cross, I'm going to post a link to Rockesteria where you can read a first hand account of the bands history and their formation from Velpo Robertson., a member of the band.
Jerusalem, a five piece from Britain only released one album. It came in 1972 on Derham records and was produced by Ian Gillian of Deep Purple. Their only other release that decade was a 45 single of a tune not featured on the L.P. titled "Kamikazi Moth" and featured a song from the album "Frustration" as the B-side. After the band split up, three members formed the band Pussy, and released a single on Derham called "Feline Woman."
Ian Gillians thoughts about the band as well as working on the album:
"This is the first album by Jerusalem. A band that excites me very much; they are rough, raw, and doomy, with their own strong identity. As they are young and a bit green, they don't follow many rules, so their material is almost crude - but still immensely powerful in content.
I believe that, whenever possible, the work of writers and players in their formative stages should be recorded; before inhibition and self consciousness set in, before fire and aggression die down and while they are still absorbing influences and doing thing that others might consider "uncool." Most important though before they develop that self imposed rigidity which effects so many. I hope none of these things happen to Jerusalem, we'll have to wait and see. This album is just in case.
I hope you like it as much as I do.
The album was remastered and re-released in 2009 with bonus tracks liner notes etc. and by 2012 the Pussy album was released as well. Both on Rockodrome records. After reforming,
they released an album of new material in 2009, and are still together to this day
Red Dirt was formed in East Yorkshire, England in 1968. In 1970, they released an album on Fontana records and the record sold very poorly (I think only around 100 copies). Suffice to say, they never did another after this one. I've seen it described as a "hard folk", which I think is fairly accurate. And although it does have a lot of quieter moments, it does have a lot of heavier blues moments and there are a few real killer heavy numbers on it as well. "Death Letter" is one, as well as "Brain Worker" which has great slow paced, heavy riff work. The vocals fit well with it. Raspy, powerful, gusto!
Japanese blues/hard rock every bit as awesome as any other Japanese band of the time. Japan really had it goin' on! Often labeled the 'Japanese Black Sabbath' which, depending on your opinion can either be good or bad, I don't really hear it. What I do hear is quality awesomeness. The Japanese made thei psych/blues/hard rock much like the make their guitars, better quality than any other by far. Speaking of guitars, there's a lot of killer guitar work on this platter.
Too Much originated in the port city of Kobe, where they sucked up all kinds of wester music arriving on boats from the States and the U.K.The band derived their name from a rock festival of the same name that took place in Kyoto near the end of 1970 featuring the awesome Blues Creation as one of the performing acts. Yet another group that released one album and then disintegrated. It's too bad, this album captures you right from the gate with a sonic wall the does start out a bit like Sabbath minus the vocals, and ends on a 12 minute psychedelic type jam.
If you're into Japrock, then this one is a must have.
Boomerang's self titled first album also turned out to be their last, like so many others of the time. A second album was recorded, but as of yet hasn't seen the light of day. Features Vanilla Fudge's Mark Stein on vocals and organ, Boomerang is clearly inspired by the white knuckled intensity of Led Zeppelin's first two albums. Like every other guitar player of the day, Ricky Ramirez was thrust into the role of guitar hero whether he liked it or not. (press clippings suggest he was but 15 years old at the time), and, despite falling short of headline status, he handled himself convincingly enough throughout, even contributing a nifty backwards guitar solo. As for the bands frontman and centerpiece, Mark Stein's bluesy tunes reveal just how much Deep Purples David Coverdale borrowed from his bluesy style. Also like Depp Purple's Coverdale-fronted Mark III lineup, Boomerang offered frequent sparring matches between Stein and bassist Joe Casmir. The two trade vocal licks with particularly successful results. The group showed their ability to mesh with stringed instruments ala Allman Brothers on 'Brothers coming home'. All of the above make this album an obscure delight for 70's rock enthusiasts. (Allmusic)
Co-produced by Louie Austin and Deep Purple's Jon Lord, 1972's Sammy offered up a competent, if slightly worn set of 1970's rock. Sammy were a short lived supergroup, featuring members of Audience, Quartermass, The Herd, Silverhead, Episode Six, and Ginhouse. Sporting a brass driven hard rock sound, the band released their sole album in 1972 to an apathetic record buying public. Though the band toured relentlessly for two years, their efforts were not met with success and the band folded by the end of 1974. In retrospect, this was a stellar effort despite the two prog interludes that are featured. At times the band sounded a bit like Audience, and there were elements of Deep Purple scattered throughout. This isn't a suprise considering the album was produced by Ian Gillan. In fact, drummer Mick Underwood would later join Gillan's solo project for a number of years. He ould also form Strapps, and a re-vamped Quartermass in the 90's. (60's & 70's Rock)
A band from Marin County that once went by the name Red Mountain, moved down to L.A. after the guitar player met an agent who promises a contract and a place to live. Being a bit green, they pictured mansions & the lot. Instead they ended up living 10 to a small one bedroom that was so crowded the guitar player & his "old lady" moved in with his local grandmother, who, makes the two get married before they can live together. The agent gets them a deal with Christen, Pat Boone's production company who gets them graveyard shift at a recording studio. Only instead of recording they decide to ingest copious amounts of "party favors." They end up putting a demo together and shopping around to major labels who show absolutely no interest. They did however, land a slot on the soundtrack of "The Velvet Vampire" (the fourth best lesbian vampire flick ever made)
Oh yeah, the music, the album is incredibly diverse. It was all recorded between 1969 and '72. Blending blues rock into a few psychedelic jams. It starts off kinda slow due to inferior production, but soon gains momentum. Some of the best stoner jams I've heard. All in all, it's a pretty rockin' release that would fit in any 70's hard rock collection. Re-released on CD with a shit load of bonus material.
