Salam Mass ' "Witch Burning" 1971

From Prog Archives: "Salem Mass was a short lived American progressive rock band who played a mix of heavy prog a la Deep Purple or Uriah Heep, with space rock/psychedelic influences in plenty of Moog solos and leads (one of the first bands to apply the use of this fantastic instrument), However, the most similar band to Salem Mass is most definitely Black Widow. (as well as lyrically)."
The band played mostly in the Northwest and Canada, and on three occasions, Salem Mass, (occasionally a five piece) lived in Portland. The band was comprised of Jim Klahr (keyboards), Mike Snead (guitar/vocals), Steve Towery (drums/vocals), and Matt Wilson (bass/vocals).

The band "paid their dues" in Southwest Idaho, where they wrote, played. partied, and evolved. The album was recorded in a bar, (!!!) in Caldwell, Idaho called The Red Barn under the watchful eye of it's owner Steve Moore, and was engineered by Lance Parker, a High School buddy of Steve, Mike and Jim.

Te occult vibe disappears after the first two tracks, while they deal wit witch hunting and Devil worshiping, the rest is straightforward rock n roll. This is an album to take drugs to. Or to find yourself on drugs to. (I'm not entirely sure the band would agree to that statement, but when I read it in a review, I just had to include it. At least just for shits and kicks.) This is the only album produced by the band, and it wasn't released officially back then. Some might find this album occult/psychedelic, but that's not really the theme for the entire album. Keyboard driven, and clear progressive elements.

ODA - s/t - a.k.a. "the Black Album" 1973

Formed in San Francisco in 1970, ODA is named after the brothers Oda, namely Randy and Kevin (guitar and drums, accordingly) who, along with Art Pantoja (lead vocals/rhythm guitar), and Kyle Schnieder (bass) released this self titled album (also known as "The Black Album") in 1973.
The album was released on "Loud Phonograph Records" (Loud LD 80011), a small, independent/private label with a limited edition pressing of 1000 copies. Needless to say, the album has become somewhat pricey and sought after to collectors.

The band's biggest claim to fame was to win the local "Battle of the Bands", and later, a video contest for Billboard Magazine.
The degree to which this band has been long overlooked is, to me, surprising. The music is solid hard rock with some truly amazing guitar work and superior song structures. Th opening tune "Mable", sets the tone and there are plenty of high points. "Gabriel", "Give it Up", and "Chance" are just the first to pop into mind. This "first wave" of the band packed it up in 1975.

Randy Oda plays keys as well as guitar, and got a taste of mainstream success as part of Tom Fogerty's band in the late 70's. Oda released a second album: "Power of Love", also released on Loud Records ten years later in 1983 with a notable lineup change. The band folded for good in 1985.

Barnabus - "Beginning to Unwind" 1971

Rock band Barnabus formed in 1970, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England when the pop-cover band The Jay Bee Kay Pee's split up. Lead guitarist John Storer and bass guitarist Kieth Hannock, enrolled drummer Tony Cox from the also recently defunct Rocking Chair Blues Band.

Barnabus started out playing covers from such bands as Black Sabbath, Trapese, and Deep Purple to name a few. But before long they progressed to writing their own material with help from a young lyricist/poet called Les Bates. They played all throughout London, and were the support for several bigger bands of the time: Man, Edgar Broughton, Trapese, they even supported Hawkwind at the Coventry Locarno, and in 1971, recorded an album at Monty Bird's studio in Snitterfield in Stratton upon Avon. Barnabus won the Midlands Heat of the Melody Maker Rock and Folk contest where the judges were Ozzy Osbourne and Toni Iommi.

The band eventually split up a year later, but reformed for a few charity gigs in 2009. All members now play in other bands, but Barnabus still occasionally play the odd gig here and there.
You can read an interview and brief history of the band with band member Tony Cox, as well as check out footage from their reunion gig HERE

Samuel Prody - s/t 1971

Samuel Prody was a hard psyche/heavy blues band formed by Tony Savva (voice), Derek Smallcombe (guitar), John Boswell (drums), and Stephen Day (bass) in London, England in 1969.
In 1970 they released their one and only album, and album being characterized by heavy psychedellia, being compared to Ancient Grease and Sir Lord Baltimore.

One of the outstanding characteristics is are the blues solos, changing from a dirty/fuzzed noise to a clean sound to keep with the native structure of blues.
"Excellent Blues-Rock/psychedelic in the being on The Masters Apprentices, Morely Grey, Ancient Grease, and Sir Lord Baltimore. Samuel Prody is VERY much underrated miracle album, which any addict of proto-metal (or classic Hard-n-Heavy and psychedelia) will enjoy. It will definitely please and surprise any fans of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple.

The mastermind behind the band was Tony Savva, London based bassist and vocalist who played in a number of minor bands throughout the 60's.  At one point, Tony auditioned for The Jimi Hendrix Experience. But it was decided thatr the group should remain a three piece. However Mitch Mitchell kept in touch with Tony, and he did the percussion on the "Wild Uncertainty" single. After more than 30 years of unofficial CD releases of the album, Tony has decided to offer a limited CD himself, and he has signed each one of the first 100 of them personally"

Fuzzy Duck - s/t 1971

Fuzzy Duck was an English prog rock group from London, formed in 1970 (a cool name and a cool album cover, when you concider it was released 40+ years ago!). Their eponymous debut was released in 1971, and was only issued in a scarce run of 500 copies. The album reached legendary status by affiliation as it featured Mick Harnsworth of Five Day Week Straw People, Killing Floor, and Andromeda, as well as Crazy World of Arthur Brown keyboardist Roy Sharland, and drummer Paul Francis of Tucky Buzzard (and later, Tranquility). The album is classic keyboard drivin English prog rock in the vein of Soft Machine and Caravan.

The group disbanded soon after the release of the album, but enduring interest of the band led to a shit-load of re-issues on a host of labels, including: Akarma, Repertoire, Esoteric, Psychgressive, Aftermath, Medium, Reflection, Air Mail Archive, as well as unofficial releases without a label. The Akarma re-issue features four bonus tracks previously unreleased (featured here) and excellent repackaging which surpasses the original for quality.

In 1971, vocalist Garth Watt-Roy was asked by the band Steamhammer to provide vocals for their final album Speech (released in 1972 and produced by Yardbirds vocalist Kieth Relf). He also played guitar and sang with East of Eden and, in the 1980's, he played guitar on the Goodbye to the Island album by Bonnie Tyler, as well as with Paul Young and the Q-Tips.
In addition to the L.P., the band released two singles: "Double Time Woman" b/w "Just Look Around You" (1971), and "Big Brass Band" b/w "One More Hour."
A truly exceptional release from a band that sadly only lasted 18 months.

Toad - s/t 1970, "Tomorrow Blue" 1972

In 1970, European psychedelic band Brainticket, out of Basel, Switzerland, was about to release their first album, featuring Werner Frohlich on bass and Cosimo Lampis on drums. They departed the group and formed Toad, with Vittorio 'Vic' Vergeat who was briefly in the space rock band Hawkwind, on guitar. They began writing and recording material for their first album in 1970, and in 1971, Toad released their self titled album and the single "Stay" which did fairly well and made some headway on the Swiss charts, a feat no other hard rock band had ever accomplished in that country.
The album was mixed by legendary British producer Martin Birch (who also produced for Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, and Black Sabbath). The album also features Benjamin 'Beni" Jaeger on vocals, who would leave once the album was recorded.
As their first album was being released in 1971, Toad preformed at the Montreux Jazz Festival that was recorded live by Swiss television, but the footage was lost and to date no other copy has been found.

In 1972 the band released Tomorrow Blue which was more in a blues direction and without a lead vocalist (with Vergeat and Frohlich taking over vocal duties). Like their first album it was produced by Martin Birch. The album also featured Helmut Lipski on violin, who played prominently on the tracks "Blind Chapmans Tales", "Change In Time" and the single "Green Ham." Later that same year the band recorded Open Fire: Live In Basel 1972, which included covers of Hendrix's "Red House" and Band of Gypsies' "Who Knows."

They waited until 1974 to release their third album, Dreams, which featured the popular hit "Purple Haze." After that, their history is largely undocumented except for a live album recorded in Geneva in 1978 and a studio album released in the 90's with different versions of the band. The rest of the 70's & 80's were spent appearing on a few compilations, releasing live albums and fading into relative obscurity. In about 1995, Toad broke up and have not reformed.

Ancient Grease - "Women and Children First" 1970

From Allmusic: "Ancient Grease is a cleaver moniker for a band, although Strawberry Dust were rather baffled to find themselves so named on their 1970 debut album: "Women and Children First." "Dust's" reputation as a rousing live act was already cemented by several years of playing cover songs around the South Wales club circuit, which is where drummer John Weathers came across them. Impressed, he oversaw their demo, which landed the band a deal at Mercury, then co-wrote, arranged, and co-produced their full length. And thus begins the 'Racing Cars' story, for 'Dust/Grease' featured both the band's future front men, Gareth "Morty" Mortimer, and guitarist Grahm Williams. However, this album is very much a child of it's time, only hinting at what's to come.

 It's a heady mixture of pub rock, hard rocking R&B, blues, psychedelia, San Francisco prog rock, with nods to the British hard rock scene along the way, 'Dust/Grease' hit just about every musical touchstone of their day. Incidentally, Weathers' "Eyes of Blue" bandmate, Phil Ryan, provides fabulous keyboard work on the gorgeous "Where the Snow Lies Forever", the genre-bending "Odd Song", and presumably the rest of the album, although no keyboardist is credited. The album's title track captures the excitement they engendered on stage, "Freedom Train", their propensity to roan around genres, "Mother Grease the Cat", their proggy best, "Prelude to a Blind Man", their pubby predilections and bluesy fair, "Time to Die", their emotive power, and "Mystic Mountain", their pop sensibilities.

Even though "Women and Children First" is a strong set, there are flaws, from the so-so production of the set's cohesion, a reflection of too many song writers stirring the musical pot. 'Dust/Grease' were ferociously talented musicians, but they were still a cover band trying to find their own sound. 

They never got the chance. Mercury failed to properly promote "Women.." and it sank without a trace. The band followed it into oblivion, as the members departed swiftly for new projects." 

- Jo-Ann Greene

American press

The Love Depression - s/t 1968

The Love Depression was a teenage trio from Venezuela that signed a three album deal but only put out the one in 1968. The album was pretty much the band's standard set, and as such, reveals that they were essentially a cover band with a passion for soul.

The lone original, "Gonna Ride" kicks the album off. It's a ferocious blasting tune once it hits the chorus, and the whole album is woth the price of admission just for that number. Guitarist Alvaro Falcon going certifiably crazy via overdubs (in interesting contrast, the band is also good at simply cutting out fully for dramatic pauses). Bassist/singer Jesus Toro's slight accent tinges an otherwise standard -enough rock/blues delivery of the time, while the whole song ends on a wonderfully 'let the tape slow down all the way' note.
The band shows their Hendrix influence tackling "Highway Child", 51st. Anniversary", and "Stone Free". Similarly, trying out Cream's notorious example of proto-arena wank, "Toad", is clearly flat out inspired or flat out nuts, right down to drummer Richard Rumaitire's over-the-top Ginger Baker impersonation.

Coeur Magique - "Waken Tanka" 1971

Founded by guitar virtuoso Claude Olmos in Paris, France in 1970, Coeur Magique released only one L.P. in 1971. Typical psychedelic rock of the era, with passages of harder rock. Very guitar driven, with some interesting drums/percussion of an almost Santana kinda vibe. French lyrics. Not too much out there by means of band history, or any story for that matter. A bit of investigation turned up a list of members, but that's really about it. If you've any additional info, don't hesitate to drop a line and I'll update this entry accordingly.  Claude Olmos - Guitar/percussao/marimba, Harry Suer - vocals, Didier Lessage - bass, Laurent Marino - drums/percussion.

Bubble Puppy - "A Gathering of Promises" 1969

Bubble Puppy was formed in 1966 in San Antonio, TX by Rod Prince and Roy Cox who had previously played together in a band called The Bad Seeds. Looking to form a "top gun rock band" based on the concept of dual lead guitars, Prince and Cox recruited Todd Potter, an Austin Texas gymnast, saxophonist, and guitarist. With the addition of Danny Segovia and Clayton Pulley the original lineup of Bubble Puppy was complete. The name "Bubble Puppy" was taken from "Cenrifugal Bumble-Puppy", a fictitious children's game in Aldous Huxley's Brave New World. Bubble Puppy's debut gig was opening for The Who in San Antonio in 1967.
After a few lineup changes (drummer Clayton Pulley being replaced by Craig Root, and the departure of Danny Segovia), the final roster settled at Rod Prince and Todd Potter on lead guitars, Roy Cox on bass guitar, and David "Fuzzy Fore" on drums. In the spring of 1967, Bubble Puppy moved to Austin, TX, and signed a record contract with Houston based International Artists, home of the 13th Floor Elevators, and Red Crayola.
The use of twin lead guitars was pioneered by Prince and Potter as exhibited in live performances as early as 1967. Two years later, English counterparts Wishbone Ash and the U.S.A.'s Allman Brothers would begin using the same technique with great success.
Bubble Puppy scored a U.S. top 20 hit with their single "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass" in 1969, the name was a misheard line from an episode of the Beverly Hillbillies. The single peaked at #14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and # 15 (RPM) in Canada. The song was also covered internationally by MGMT, a popular American psychedelic band, and by The Mooche in the U.K. In 1969 Bubble Puppy released their debut full length A Gathering of Promises. However, despite the group's earlier success with "Hot Smoke and Sasafrass", they parted ways with the record label in 1970.
Signing Nick St.Nicholas of Steppenwolf as a manager, Bubble Puppy moved to Los Angeles in 1970. Their name was changed to Demian, (this was to avoid contractual obligations with their former record company, but also because their name associated them with bubblegum music).
The Group signed with ABC/Dunhill records and released a self titled L.P., but it's failure to perform in the charts led to financial difficulties at the record company and the bands demise in 1972.

Les Goths - "Reve De Silence" 1968

This is an unreleased album recorded for EMI France from Les Goths. Preceded by two singles for EMI: "I Remember" b/w "Turnover", and "Les Jour Etait Gris" b/w "Out of the Sun" in 1968. The band was comprised of brothers Gino (guitar/vocals) & Bruno Frascone (drums/vocals), & Bernard Faucher (bass). The band started out a four piece, until their producer, Yves Jouniaux, dismissed their drummer as he felt the chemistry as a trio was superior.

 The two singles reached cult status in France. In addition to the two singles, the band recorded a 10 track album that never saw release until 2011 on Shadocks Music.

Musically, you can hear their influences of Cream and Hendrix, with guitar parts reminiscent of Randy Holden. This French psychedelic band recorded probably one of the best albums from that period in France. Incredible heavy psych with both French and English vocals. 

Detailed info about the band is somewhat scarce, but you can read an interview with Bruno Frascone HERE

Elysian Field - s/t

Garage/Hard rock band Elysian Field, from Louisville, KY,  was spawned from the ashes of Soul Inc. in 1969. With a sensationally gritty sound that was only enhanced by the band members' 'studio-musician' virtuosity on their instruments. Guitarists Wayne Young and Frank Bugbee were just as revered locally as Hendrix or Beck was nationally, Marvin Maxwell could hold down a deep-pocket groove as well as Al Jackson, and bass player Jim Settle had a soul filled throat that let fly granular vocals akin to Felix Cavalier's.

In early '68, the band had a hit with "I Belong to Nobody", a song by Bugbee that featured a more sophisticated pop sound than the band usually employed. By spring of that year, Bugbee, Maxwell, and Settle left the band to form their own supergroup of sorts. The new band entered the stidio almost immediately and emerged with "Kind of Man" which was released nationally as a single on Imperial records. While shopping for a record deal, the trio had begun playing gigs around Louisville, relying on their old Soul Inc. repertoire. Settle left the band and was replaced by bassist/vocalist Gary Johnson who had been part of the popular Louisville band The Oxfords. Imperial records asked the band to change it's name, and so they became Elysian Field.

The bands sound was completely different than that of Soul Inc., and they gained a reputation for their musical prowess. However the record company wanted to mold Elysian Field into a more

pop/rock outfit, and all but one of the many demos submitted to the record company were rejected and in their place, Imperial sent down other songs for the band to record, prompting Bugbee to leave the band. He was replaced by two guitarists, Mark Miceli and Dennis Ledford. By the time recording had resumed in 1969, Settle had returned to the band, and Bugbee had assumed the role of producer. The discrepancy between the band's live sound and their studio work frustrated the group, who had by now taken a more hard rock stance. With their live set becoming more and more energetic. But Imperial records wasn't interested in the approach the band was taking and cancelled their contract. They auditioned for Capitol, but nothing ever became of it, prompting Miceli and Ledford to leave in 1970. Elysian Field became a four piece wit the addition of Rudy Helm,. Again, more recordings were made, but none of them were ever picked up, and Elysian Field was laid to rest in 1971.