Jericho Jones - "Junkies, Monkeys, and Donkeys" 1971 / Jericho - "Jericho" 1972 / 'The Churchills" - 1968

The Churchills (or The Churchills Band) was founded in 1965, and remained active until the mid-1970's. They were part of the rhythm band scene that were active in Israel in the 1970's, especially in Ramla. The band played rock music in English, from psychedelic rock, to hard rock, to progressive rock. They were also active in other countries under the aliases of Jericho Jones, and finally just Jericho. They were one of the first Israeli rock bands.

The band was a leading force in the early Israeli Beat scene, but it was their cooperation with Arik Einstein that helped them cross over into the mainstream of Israeli pop and get recognition. Their collaboration with Einstein proved to be very influential on Israeli rock. It began when the Churchills were invited to work with Einstein on his third solo album Poozy, recorded in 1969. This is considered by many to be the first rock album in Hebrew.

The Churchills played on half the tracks on that album, one of which was a Hebrew version of one of their own songs ("When You're Gone"). Following Poozy, The Churchills played with Einstein at his gigs, and continued to play and produce three more albums with Einstein: Shablul (1970), Plastelina, (1970), and On Avigdor's Grass, (1971). Contributory to The Churchills' sound at the time was the joining of two foreign members: Canadian vocalist Stan Solomon, and British guitarist Robb Huxley (formerly with The Tornadoes).

In 1968, The Churchills released the single "Too Much in Love to Hear" b/w "Talk to Me" (the A-side formerly performed by The Tornados). 1969 saw the release of The Churchills' self titled L.P. and 1970 brought the release of three more singles: "Churchill Sebation Bach", "Signs of You" b/w "Living Loving", and "She's a Woman b/w "Sunshine Man."

1971 saw not only the release of the single: "Time is Now" b/w "Freedom" but also the "Junkies, Monkeys, and Donkeys" L.P., both under the name Jericho Jones. The L.P. spawning the singles "Mama's Gonna Take You Home" b/w "So Come On", and "Freedom" (b-side of "Time is Now").

In 1972, the eponymous "Jericho" was released, with the band shortening their name to the same as the album title. Producing the hit single "Don't You Let Me Down."
You can check out a detailed history of their releases here at: Israeli Records.com

Captain Beyond - s/t 1972 - "Sufficiently Breathless" 1973

The original lineup for Captain Beyond were singer Rod Evans (ex-Deep Purple), drummer Bobby Caldwell (ex-Johnny Winter), guitarist Larry "Rhino" Reinhardt (ex-Iron Butterfly), and bassist Lee Dorman (ex-Iron Butterfly), as well as keyboardist Lewie Gold. Gold left due to personal reasons before the album was recorded. The remaining lineup recorded the self-titled debut album, released in 1972.
Following this album, Caldwell left the band to join Derringer and was replaced by drummer Brian Glascock. Also joining the band around this time were Reese Wynans on keyboards, and Guille Garcia on congas. The record company's chosen producer Giorgio Gomelsky did not like Glascock's drumming, and requested another drummer. Glascock was released and Marty Rodriguez was brought in on drums at the recommendation of Garcia. This six man lineup recorded the bands second album: Sufficiently Breathless. Tension during the recording led to Evans quitting. The original lineup reformed later in 1973 for a U.S. tour, but the band split up at the end of the year, with Rod Evans leaving the music industry all together.

The band reformed in 1976 with Willy Daffern on vocals, and Bobby Caldwell, Rhino, and Lee Dormand completing the lineup. They recorded the bands third album: Dawn Explosion on Warner Brothers, but broke up in 1978.
Reinhadt and Caldwell reformed the band with others in 1998, and released an e.p., and continued to perform and even began touring in 2015.  

Blue Phantom - "Distortions" 1971

From Rockasteria: "This legendary 1971 album was recorded by unknown musicians in Milan, for use as incidental music in films, television, and radio. Almost each and every track is a short, heavy, acid rock symphony .... Disturbing, dissonant, and downright menacing. An astounding blend of creepy grooves and distorted guitar, it was released in tiny numbers in U.K., France, and Italy and is highly sought after by collectors today."

This distortion of sound is now commonplace, but when one considers that MOOG and digital sound were at the time still an experiment, Blue Phantom's sound is nothing less than revolutionary. Many of the tracks from this album were used in the movie: "Sinner: Diary of a Nymphomaniac" directed by Jess Franco in 1972. The music was originally recorded by a composer named Armando Sciascia (under the pseudonym "H. Tical") and performed by unknown session musicians in 1971.

The original release was on Spider Records which was a subsidiary of Sciascia's own Vedette Records label. The name "Blue Phantom" was only coined to give the record some visibility in record shops, as this was one of the rare library music albums released to the general public.

UK vinyl

French CD

Cardeilhac - s/t 1971

From Prog Archives: "Taking their name from a French commune in Haute-Garonne, this Swiss five piece heavy progressive band comprised of Renaldo Hausier (guitars), Dennis Angelini (vocals), J.C. Balsinger (bass), Andro Locher (keyboards/organ), and Gaston Balmer (drums).
Their brief early 70's existence resulted in only one studio album; their poorly produced 1971 eponymous debut which clearly defined a combined influence of heavy U.K. proto-prog bands such as Deep Purple with the typically Teutonic 70's hard rock sound with progressive, occationally bluesy touches.
Locher's abilities in bringing the keyboards to the fore, will please fans of ELP, while the chunkier, heavy guitar will bring bands such as The Nice and even Uriah Heep to mind. Ultimately, their music is considered to have produced little in the way of originality, and nothing is known of the musicians careers after the breakup of the band."

Kin Ping Meh - s/t 1971 / "No.2" 1972 / "No.3" 1973 / "Concrete" 1976

Kin Ping Meh, formed in Mannheim, Germany in 1969 by Joachim Schafer and Werner Stefan, Torsten Herzog, and Kalle Weber. The name is derived from Franz Kuhn's German translation of the Chinese novel "Jin Ping Mei" and means "branch of a plum blossom in a golden vase."

In their early years, the band performed covers by bands like Blood, Sweat, and Tears, and Deep Purple. Once they were discovered by Polydor, they were signed immediately. They broke the scene with the 1970 single Everything's My Way b/w Woman, Too Many People b/w My Dove, and Everyday b/w Alexanra in 1971. 1972  saw the release of their self titled debut album. Schaffer left the band before the first album and was replaced by Willie Wagner, and after it's release, Wagner and Herzog left the band. the band would interchange members throughout the rest of their history. L.P.'s No.2 (1972) & No.3 (1973) respectively. Virtues and Sins (1974), Concrete (1976), and Kin Ping Meh (1977). The band was stellar hard rock/krautrock, with a sound much more hard prog than krautrock really.

The bands strongest efforts are those of their earlier career. Their first two albums in particular, and would appeal to fans of Deep Purple, Birth Control, & Uriah Heep. Pretty solid hard rock all around. Great production, twin guitar driven 70's hard rock that sounded close to more English groups.

*Due to copyright issue, a lot of their material isn't available on youtube (at least, here, in the U.S.) I've compiled a couple playlists from the first two albums, but there are a couple here in their entirety. I've tried to post as much of their more relevant material here, but for the rest, happy hunting!