Freedom's Children reflects a tiny but fascinating and oft-forgotten scene of South African progressive rock, regularly omitted from prog annals and denied their part in music history. But in their time, Freedoms Children were no less innovative than Atomic Rooster, Egg, or Colosseum and their 1970 release "Astra" was an extremely important if completely missed record. Luckily it was reissued in 1990 and again several times. The original band Julian Laxton's lead guitar (and inventor of his "black box", a much mythologized sound producing device), Nick Martin's organ, bassist/lyricist Ramsay McKay, Brian Davidson's voice, drummer Colin Pratley, Harry Polous on organ and vocals, and Gerard Nel's piano. Many well known musicians played in the band over the years including Trevor Rabin, Mick Jade, and Ken E. Hanson.
Unable to work in certain places due to Apartheid, the band found it difficult to break through, especially outside their country but continued making strides throughout the 1970's. Undoubtedly their most important work and finest effort is "Astra", a spicy and exciting blend of heavy prog mixed with plenty of psych and blues. The disc has been released as many as six times in varying degree's of quality, the last being in 2004.
Freedom;s Children is one of the best of the hard edge prog bands, and a jewel in the South African prog crown, and is highly recommended to fans of earlier, more intense heavy rock bands.
- Atavachron (David) -Prog Archives
For a totally in depth biography check out this article from the South African Rock Encyclopedia
Flower Travelin' Band was formed in Japan, and often went under the moniker of FTB. The band was made up of Joe Yamanaka (from 4.9.1, vocals), Hideki Ishima (from The Beavers, guitars), Jun Kobayashi (from TaxMan, bass), and George Wada (from The Flowers, drums) They were part of the Japanese counter culture noted for their mixture of early heavy metal, mixed with progressive and psych. They received wide acclaim, but failed to achieve commercial success. In 1970, the band relocated to Toronto, Canada They lived there until march, 1972, and disbanded in 1973. While the band's releases have not sold well, they continue to be held in high regard by the music industry. Their albums were never out of print and they continue to be made available on new audiophile formats,
The band reunited in 2007, when hippie influences became popular in Japanese fashion, music, and cinema. The band permanently disbanded after the death of vocalist Joe Yakanama
Zoot were a pop-rock band formed in Adeelaide, South Australia in 1965 as Down the Line. They performed covers of English Mod bands like The Hollies, The Move, The Who, and The Small Faces. Zoot released a few singles for EMI records, and finished second in the Battle Of The Sounds to the Master's Apprentice. They joined other Aussie bands on the national "Operation Starlift" tour, which was a publicity success, but a finantioal disaster.For Zoot it brought public ridicule, peer envy, and scorn from detractors. Much of the criticism was homophobic, "pretty pink pansies", and made the papers when they were assaulted by street thugs resulting in injury. Being labeled as a "Teeny Bopper" band the adopted a more rock style. They changed their name to Zoot, and relocated to Melboune. They had a top five hit on The Go-Set national singles chart with a hard-rock version of The Beatles' "Elanore Rigby" in 1970, but disbanded in 1971.
Mainstay bassist Beeb Birtles went on to form The Little River Band in 1975, and their guitarist and songwriter Rick Springfield (yes, the "Jessie's Girl" Rick Springfield) mover to the US in 1972 and achieved international success as a solo artist and actor.
Zoot reunited for the "Rick Sprigfield and Friends" cruise in 2011.
From Rockesasteria: The album by Mariani called "Perpetuum Mobile" was released in 1970 featuring Eric Johnson. Two thoughts come to mind, either "1970" was a typo and was mrant to say"1980", or this was a different Eric Johnson than the Austin based guitar virtuoso known and worshiped by guitarists all over the globe.
After all, EJ didn't record as a leader until 1985, and he was barely 30 at the time. Ten years earlier he was the guitarist for the rock-fusion group Electromagnets. Something doesn't compute. But it was quickly confirmed that it did. This was the same Eric Johnson that gave the world "Ah Via Musicom." If you do the math, you'll conclude that he was only 15 or 16 at the time he laid down the tracks as a side man For a psychedelic blues band led by it's drummer.
Vince Mariani was a good enough drummer to seriously audition to take Mitch Mitchel's place for the Jimi Hendrix band. Instead, he was persuaded by record label owner and Austin producer Bil Posey to start his own band. Since he had jammed with Johnson previously, he enlisted young Eric to be his guitar player, along with singer/bassist Jay Podolnick. The band was somewhat like cream, and gave Eric plenty of room to shine, however, this was Vince's band and he was mainly in the spotlight. The band went on to tour to promote their album with the likes of Deep Purple, but the album din't make much of an impact. After a few years. the band broke up and the players went on to other projects. Eric especially, did very well for himself.
Gun, a late 60's British hard rock trio, after signing to CBS Records in 1968 the band scored a hit on their eponymous first album with "Race With the Devil" a British Top 10 hit, and was released as a single as well. They recorded two albums before disbanding. Two of it's founders, brothers Paul & Adrian Gurvitz went on to form Three Man Army and released three L.P.'s.
After joining up with Ginger Baker (Cream, Blind Faith) as Baker Gurvitz Army they recorded three albums. During the same time period, the Gurvitz brothers recorded two albums with drummer Graeme Edge (Moody Blues) under the name The Graeme Edge Band. Their debut album's cover is noteworthy as it was the first by Roger Dean. Allmusic describes it as having a distinct psych/proto metal sound. Thei second album, "Gun Sight" was released in 1969. Thier top 10 hit "Race With the Devil" was covered by Judas Priest on the expanded version of "Sin After Sin", Jimi Hendrix quoted the song's riff on his song :Machine Gun" at the Isle of White Festival, it was also covered by Black Oak Arkansas (on their album titled "Race With the Devil), Girlschool (on their album "Demolition"), and Church of Misery on their 1996 demo and (on their full length "Vol, 1").
Third full length by this Dutch band, and a personal favorite. Lotta cool moments from long live blues jams, to songs reminiscent of Bad Company at times, to straight up proto-metal like the opening track. The L.P. was released in 1970, making it their latest and final album. The band lasted only 5 more years after it's release. Hard to imagine this being released in 1970! The album at first was self-titled, and later on named "Jointhouse Blue." I imagine the addition of the title was to differentiate it from their second album, which is also self titled. The first half of the record are some killer songs, and the latter half is one long live bluesy jam session. Consistently awesome.
Dutch band founded in 1967 by members of The Tea Set, the group produced three moderate hits in 1967-68, "Not Just a Flower in Your Hair", "We Will Be There After Tea", and "Snowflakes On Amsterdam." All in a psychedelic pop style. After the recording of the first L.P. "National Disaster", guitarist Ray Fenwick had to return to England due to an expired work visa. There he went on to form The Spenser Davis Group. The band went through numerous lineup changes throughout the late sixties. After scoring a top 10 hit "Dont You Leave" from the album "Emotion, the band changed their name to After Tea. The band switched up their style to an R&B type, and 1968 was full of continuous lineup changes and in 1969 the band scored another hit "Ma Belle Anie." (#5 in the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970). But then another lineup change ensued, (the band was like a revolving door of musicians!) By the time the group scored a Dutch #1 hit "She Likes Weeds", which was banned in the U.S. due to drug connotations, (of course) , but the band denied this allegation, claiming that the first two lines of the chorus were literally taken from the film "The Ipcress File, the lineup had stayed fairly stable for a few years. Subsequent sales began to sell less and less at this point, and in 1975 the band decided to call it a day. A plethora of lineups in the 1980's began touring again, mainly on the oldies circuit.
An Australian rock band formed in August, 1971 by founding mainstay Dave Tice (ex-Head) on lead vocal. Fellow founders also from Head were Paul Bazbi on drums, John Baxter on guitars, and Peter Wells on bass guitar, and Alex Millano on lead vocals (only for 1972's Dead Forever). Balby was replaced on drums by Jimmy Economou. Their next two albums Volcanic Rock, (July, 1973), and Only Want You For Your Money (June 1974), were also issued by Vertigo Records. After 1975, lineup changes resulted in a more commercialized sound and the band broke up in 1977.
Australian musicologist Ian McFarlane noted: "there was nothing subtle about Buffalo's primal heavyweight sound, but it was delivered with a great deal of conviction ...combining dense, occult riffing ... with the progressive blues chops ....the band certainly captured the arrogant disposition of the times with a thunderous fasion." Along with billy Thorpe and the Aztecs, and Blackfeather, Buffalo pioneered Australia's heavy metal, pub rock, and psychedelic rock movements. Peter Wells died on 27, March, 2006. Aged 58.
Dead Forever is Buffalo's debut album of pure Australian proto-metal Recorded and released in 1972. It is considered the first Australian Heavy Metal album, displaying not only the bands pension for hard rock jam's, but their more psychedelic traits as well. Significantly, this was the first release of a non-European band on the legendary Vertigo label. The album was re-mastered and reissued on Australian label Aztec in 2006 with additional bonus tracks including an A side and B side from the pre-Buffalo band "Head. "It's just as good as their follow up, only mixing more psych into the fold.
Volcanic Rock is the second album in Buffalo's catalog recorded and originally released in 1973 on the Vertigo Label. The album, is stylistically harder, heavier, and much more raw than their first.-- marking a turning away from the bands progressive style of their sound. Volcanic Rock had successfully been recorded in a "live in the studio" fashion, with only the vocal and guitar overdubs added later in the sessions.
The album courted controversy when it was released. Illustrated by J. Phillip Thomas, the artwork was designed as a vertically opened gatefold cover, with the the top half of the cover (i.e. The front cover) depicting an androgynous human standing atop of a volcano holding a very phallic rock, with the lower half of the cover (i.e. the back of the cover) as the lower half of a female torso (from the rear) menstruating molten lava. Inevitably, it led to accusations of misogyny towards the band and stores either refusing to stock it, or display it on their shelves as a result. Despite this, the album is regarded by critics and fans as the bands most musically accomplished effort, and as a result is a very sought after item in the collectors market. The album was remastered and re-issued by Australia's Aztec Records on CD with additional tracks. (It also happens to be my personal favorite of the catalog)
I Only Want You For Your Body is Buffalo's third album. Again released on Vertigo. It's much harder and heavier than their second L.P. "Volcanic Rock." By this album, Buffalo had all but abandoned the psych and progressive aspects of their music and delivered a more modern heavy metal style. On the aspects of this album, Buffalo took heavy metal away from it's blues rock beginnings, with some passing similarities to future bands, including those of the NWOBHM. For the second time, Buffalo courted controversy with their album art, featuring a partially nude obese woman tied to a torture rack. Though this was hardly new territory for Buffalo having been through controversy over the artwork featured on "Volcanic Rock." Adding further fuel to the accusations of misogyny, and a lyrical shift such as "I'm a Skirt Lifter, Not a Shirt Raiser." a formula that would later be adopted by other Aussie bands AC/DC, The Angels, and Rose Tattoo.
As with the above entry, the album was remastered and reissued on Aztec in 2005.
This is the only album from this Virginia band. A collectors item before being re-issued on CD, this is yet another one of those one album wonders from the early 70's where you wish there was a follow up. So much great music happening at that time that this one fell through the cracks. This is great prog from 1971 just as good as anything coming out of England at the time.
The music can be described as equal parts symphonic prog, and hard space rock. Not very derivitive, but the organ work is somewhat Emersonian. This is your basic guitar/synth/bass lineup with drums added. The added percussion only makes what was already good, great. The album features two epic as well as to shorter tracks. Al members aside the drummer do vocal work. Lovely organ playing and vocals join the rhythm section and are mixed with a menacing guitar. "40 second thing in 39 seconds" is a minute long. The song is literally an afterthought or "filler that works."Great compositions, great playing and great production for 1971. More people need to hear this album, it truly is a masterpiece of prog.
Fruupp originated in Northern Ireland but developed a strong following in Britain. From 1071 to 1976 they released a number of albums including Future Legends, (1973), Seven Secrets (1974), The Prince of Heavens Eyes (1974), and Modern Masquerades, (1975). They were very popular among the student scene and as a Support group. ( they supported Genesis and Queen on their U.K. tour in 1974. Most of the artwork on their album covers was created by bassist/singer Peter Farelly. The band broke up in December 1976.
