Armageddon - s/t 1975

Armageddon's lineup reads like a who's who of 70's heavy rock royalty. It features vocalist Keith Relf of the Yardbirds and Renaissance, Martin Pugh, lead guitarist for Rod Stewart's An Old Raincoat Will Never Let You Down, and Steamhammer, Bobby Caldwell, drummer for Captain Beyond and Johnny Winter, and Louis Cennamo, who was the bass player and bandmate of Relf's in Renaissance and Pugh in Steamhammer.

Armageddon was the last band to feature the Yardbirds' Keith Relf. He had founded Renaissance after the dissolution of the Yardbirds in 1968, and left Renaissance after two albums (actually half way through the second album) - to produce bands like Medicine Head (for whom he also played bass), Hunter Muskett, and Saturnalia.

Pugh Sennamo had broken up Steamhammer in 1973 - they then decided, with Relf (who'd assisted them in the production of the final Steamhammer album) , to leave England for L.A. They tried out a few drummers in California, and decided on Bobby Caldwell to complete the Armageddon lineup.

According to the booklet in the Repertoire Records CD re-issue of the album in 2001, Pter Frampton and Dee Anthony recommended the band to A&M records, and it was likely because he was their top selling act at the time that they signed the band.

Although the band's debut album was well received by critics and fans, the band did no tour to support it, consequently sales suffered, and Relf returned to England due to poor health shortly after the album was released. He died shortly after returning to England, when he was electrocuted while playing guitar, although he did record one more song: "All the Falling Angels" that is included on an album by Illusion called Enchanted Caress. (Illusion was the original name the members of Renaissance chose when they reunited, as the Annie Haslam incarnation of the band that existed at the time).

After Armageddon folded, bassist Cennamo reunited with his Renaissance bandmates (the aforementioned Illusion) and later worked with Jim McCarty in the bands Stairway, and Renaissance Illusion. Drummer Caldwell returned with Captain Beyond for an album and tour.

Pussy - "Invasion" 1972

Pussy was formed immediately after the breakup of Jerusalem by it's founding members Paul Dean and Ray Sparrow, along with Bob Cooke, who was eventually replaced by Brian Goff. They made the decision not to continue under the name Jerusalem out of respect for what Jerusalem was all about at that time in musical history. After all, Jerusalem was a one off moment in time creation and could never be recreated.  Although the musical direction of Pussy was very different to Jerusalem, which is surprising seeing as Paul was the main writer for both bands, (although his liking for riffs is still prominent in places) they continued to keep that raw, "No Rules" edge which set them apart from many bands of the period.

Producer Ian Gillan (Deep Purple, also producer of Jerusalem) was more proactive with Pussy and was actually responsible for many backing vocals on the songs (also played piano on "Feline Woman"/version 2, some percussion, and came up with the idea for "Place in the Sky"). Pussy were a good time band with no pretensions of being super-musicians or technical geniuses. If it seemed like fun it was worth a try, which explains a lot about their sound and direction. On stage, anything could happen, no rules! Of course! They gigged all over Germany and England as major a major support act, very much in the same way that Jerusalem had done.

After the disbanding of Jerusalem - (the rumors over the years said there was a second Jerusalem album - this is not true - it was actually the Pussy album)  - Decca decided to continue the Jerusalem contract for pussy. The first and only Pussy release on Derham was a single "Feline Woman"

The recordings on the "Invasion" album are what was supposed to be the debut Pussy album and various other tracks from 1972-73. (Only 6 of which are posted below)

Kennelmus - "Folkstone Prism" 1971

From Allmusic: "In the early 70's Kennelmus was Arizona's only psych/surf band. Their lone debut album is one of the true rarities of psychedellia and is presented in it's original form, sans any remixes or extra tracks. /the music, just as heralded as the album is rare, is a head on collision of The Chanteys, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Lee Hazlewood, Ennio Marconni, & the Electric Prunes all rolled up into one gigantic head rush. Listing individual tracks is useless as the album was concieved as one long continuous piece of music."
"A true visionary piece of psychedelic noodling. You be the judge, But definitely a band with a sound and style all their own."

Rising Storm (see review): "There's something compulsive about this whacked-out mess of an album by a band that's right up there with the Elevators, The Prunes, and Syd Barret. Or think Cold-Sun with the same peyote driven woozy urgency and the trademark autoharp sustituted with melodica, and you wont be a million miles out."

Exquisite surf guitar driven introduction to this album hooked me, the the apparent, (and rather obvious) blue print for DEVO and without a doubt, Butthole Surfers kept me glued. The vinyl re-issue of this album on Rockadelic Records is already over a hundred bucks... The Sundazed CD issue probably a bit more accessable and less taxing on the wallet. (Unless of course, like me, you're a vinyl junkie)