Headstone - "Still Looking" 1974

From Rockesteria: "Headstone consisted of three Fiynn brothers and a friend Torn Applegate who recorded this, their sole album at the Rome Recording studios in Ohio in 1974." Interestingly, the Rome Studios, which still exist today, was run by Jack Casey and provided studio time to mostly Christian bands at the time, although there is no evidence that Headstone were a Christian assemblage. Ohio was full of rock bands in the early 70's many of whom released their own material and the albums have withstood the test of time. This album is good old fashioned hard rock of the B.O.C., Steppenwolf, ZZ Top variety mixed with some catchy pop rock numbers. This album is full of fuzz and extended guitar solos and most of the tracks are well constructed with tempo changes and a strong Hammond driving the whole thing. Vocals sound a bit AOR and with proper production would have been at home on FM radio along the lines of maybe Styx. (Although the bands sound nothing alike). There are some sealed original copies floating around in collectors circles, almost as if someone stumbled upon an unopened shipment. Bidding starts around $230.00.

Phantom - "Phantom's Devine Comedy" Vol.1 & "The Lost Album" 1973&74

Phantom, a psychedelic rock band from Detroit, Michigan, USA, active in the early to mid-1970's, previously known as the Walpurgis. They released one album, Phantom's Divine Comedy Vol.1 in 1974. The musical instrumentation, mystic lyrical themes, and the vocalist's penchant for "Jim Morrison-esque" style vocals led some believers that this was the new effort from the deceased Doors' bandleader. The speculation was further fueled by the members using simple pseudonyms on the albums credits. To this day, there is great confusion and misinformation about the names of the band members themselves. From Allmusic: "How do you rate an album like this? On originality, it gets one. But as a hint at what a new Dorrs album would sound like it gets 9 out of 9." It is rather striking the similarities between the two, only on the second offering here, the "Lost Album", the vocals take on a bit more of a gruff Tom Waits sort of tinge. Mixed with Morrison, of course.

Take it with a pinch, and it's kinda fun.  

Iggy Pop, Phantom, and Robbie Kreiger