Iota - s/t 2003

From the archives of the legendary "Suemi" label comes this previously unreleased psych masterpiece by Iota.  This 4-piece band tore up Texas before re-locating to Memphis to record for HI Records in the late 60's. They released two great 45's including the amazing "Within these Precincts" in 1971. Deemed too dark and disturbing for commercial radio, the singles went nowhere and the band called it quits after two years of playing & recording. This release has combined all the finest recordings from El Paso & Memphis, Songs like "Bottle Baby", "Gympses", "R.I.P.", "Love Come Wicked" and the aforementioned "Precincts" are all sadly overlooked.
Wailing guitars, swirling organ, strong vocals and a tight rhythm section all shine on this well produced release. Limited to 600 copies.


 

Christopher - "What'cha Gonna Do?" 1969

One of the rarest Heavy Psych records from America, Chrisopher's "What'cha Gonna Do?" commands over $8,000 in collectors circles. This band (not to be confused with the "Christopher" on Metromedia Records, 1970) comes from South Carolina, which is pretty unique in itself! The record was pressed privately and as few as 100 copies exist.
Pretty typical heavy fuzzed guitars and songwriting typical of the day, however the all-original free-form jams would've easily withstood the test of time had this band been allowed an audience beyond that of their hometown. Exceptional electric blues-based rock coupled with Excellent vocal harmonies wraps the whole thing up in an "Acid-Rock" groove that comes off very inspired.

Frank Smoak - Guitar/vocals
Steve Nagel - Rhythm Guitar/vocals
Bill Mckee - Bass/vocals
Gary Lucas - Drums

Wabash Resurrection - "Get it Off!" 1975

According to Rockadrome, this band has "Underground Southern Renegade, Budweiser, hippy, backwoods rocker vibe written all over it." which, if I do say so myself, is a damn good description!

From Pittsfield, Illinois, the band played the area in and around their home base. Eventually the band released a one-off LP back in '75 on a privater label (doesn't get any more 'underground' than that!)

Not much more is really known about the band. Doug Oakley (drums) passed on back in 2014.

Bud Bailey (vocals/guitar)
Larry "Pipes Lemon (bass)
Doug Oakley (drums)

An article about Doug's passing by a friend of his:

Gomorrah 1969-'73

A real Krautrock gem. Originally a psychedelic pop band from Northern Rhineland, Gomorrah formed in 1969 and were soon taken under the wing of then-fledgling producer/engineer Conny Plank. Aside from Conny's enthusiasm, it's seems that Gomorrah went largely unnoticed at the time. Very typical of the contemporary experimental Krautrock movement of the time, with an almost "Americanized" flair. The lyrics were in English, and the group had a more hard rock guitar style (think: a more psychedelic Black Sabbath, with an eccentric and frenzied Robert Plant on vocals).

Gomorrah came out of Koln, with Helmut Pohl (drums), Eberhard Krietsch (keys), Ad Ochel (guitar), Ali Claudi (guitar). In 1971 the BASF label released the groups debut: "Trauma" in English, wit singer Peter Otten, after the original in German was shelved.

The second and last album: "I Turned To See Whose Voice It was" was released in 1972.
In 1973, it is said that the group quit to join the workforce.

Doctor Downtrip 1969-79

Belgium's Doctor Downtrip came on the scene in 1969 and released an eponymous L.P. that is widely regarded as their best work.
Instead of being content with the typical electric guitar approach, the band branched out with sax and a flutist.
The group would stand out at the Jamelle festival on August 8th, 1971 where they supported Golden Earring and Genesis. At this point, the band had steered away from the psychedelic and began leaning towards Hard Rock. In 1972, the band releases their first single: "Gravitation" b/w "Music For Your Mind".

In turn, CBS would release two singles: "Take My Place" b/w "Depressed" , followed by "Jumpin' in the Air" b/w "Winter's Coming"  On Sat. 22 August, Doctor Downtrip played an early afternoon set at a Jazz festival in Bilzen. Michael Heslop, founder of Burning Plague saw their performance and was apparently so impressed, that he announced his separation from Burning Plague and joined Doctor Downtrip.
In 1973, CBS released their s/t L.P. The following year, CBS released their fourth single, two songs from the L.P.: "Anything Goes" b/w "Better Run Away." 

In 1976 the band shortens their name to just "Downrip" and released a second L.P. "If you Don't Rock Now" and three years later: "Downtown" along with the single "Brand New Cadillac" b/w "Dedicated to You."

Rog and Pip - - A.K.A. The Zips & others

Guitarist Roger Lomas and singer/guitarist Pip Whitcher, (Rog & Pip) were members of Convertry freakbeat legends The Sorrows Along with other members of the band they relocated to Italy in the late 1960's due to the huge popularity over there. However, home-sick the found themselves back in the U.K. before the decades end.
The pair continued writing material together, eventually becoming a partnership that lasted well into the 70's. During this time, they recorded a vast amount of material mainly, at the state of the art AIR Studios. Fortunately, budding producer and eventual Grammy winning Lomas, made sure they kept tapes from everything they

The Sorrows

recorded. The fruits of which here can be heard for the very first time.

Starting with a Sabbath/Zeppelin-esque proto metal blast of a debut single "From A Window" b/w "Warlord" they released a string of singles under various guises such as Rog & Pip, Renegade, & The Zips. The sounds they produced progressed with the times, yet they always maintained a gritty and aggressive tone whether performing bulldozing metal or cutting edge glam rock

Ellison s/t -1971

Formed in Montreal, Canada in 1967 by school mates Vincent Marndola and Richard Arcand as a band called "Jimmy Peace." In '69 they replaced original drummer with Roger Cager, and added a 2nd guitar with Christian Trembaley, and thus, Ellison was in business.
The band gained a good following in the Montreal and Quebec areas. Managed by Jean-Claude Borsseau. They recorded their first and only album in 1971. Produced by Alexandra Dumas & Ives Hammel and was originally released on the Trans-World Records imprint.

There lists very little information in regards on how well, or poorly the record sold. And even beyond that, it is completely unknown how many copies were produced, and the actual number of LP's is still unknown.

Elliso broke up in 1973, and all the members went their separate ways

The Iron Maiden - "Maiden Voyage" 1969

I don't even feel the need to say "not to be confused with the band of the same title" because I think it's pretty safe to assume, it is most definitely not.
However, all is not lost, do not touch that dial. In fact, what we do have here is a pretty decent specimen of early forms of Metal/heavy psych/and yes, even folk, which went hand in hand with most hard bands of this time period.
The band's beginning, takes us to Basildon, U.K. where in 1966, Cream High School Hall which inspired the band to get busy real quick on a band of their own (I can believe that.)   Their earlier days, the group went under the names/Aliases: Growth, Stevensons Blues Department, & Burn. The band began playing regular support for Fleetwood Mac, and Jethro Tull.
The difference however, with this "Iron Maiden," in place of the "Metal as Fuck" Murray & Smith twin leads, is a "Metal as Fuck" guitar/bass pairing that could suck yer face off, add some quirky, off key, off beet, straight up riffing that never knocks itself back, the vocals of Robert Plant singing Zappa, and it's this: The "Original Iron Maiden."
Truth is, of the many flavors that runs through this album, The biggest being blues-driven hard rock with even some "boogie woogie" to it are all pretty standard
Until
The songs can generally end up anywhere but it usually lands in what I believe is the pure and simple sound of Heavy Metal forming. Amazingly in different ways, the root system for hook/pauses, just little musical subtleties are being chiseled away within the construct of the soon to be the new-standard heavy metal formula.

There is a great bio of the band at Rise Above Records

NOTE: It took a unnecessarily long time for me to play this record for the first time just a few years ago. I admit I was completely and improperly shit-headed to deny myself an album that could have brought me as much, if not more pleasure than it, or the "other" band do now.
I was wrong. I was dumb.
Kids are dumb.
Not all kids, but a good hunk of them, and it's not their fault. Most of them even today are being weened by the likes of Garth Brooks, and that other piece of shit, who am I thinking of? The "Sad "Bastard-anti-gun hippi" douche..?

Look, kids, the point is, never EVER NEVER disregard any band based on their hometown, or lack thereof, or because they got stuck with a shitty album cover that was put into place without a stitch of artist input, or, simply because it shares a name with a different band.
Combine that, and your whole "Because They did it first" bullshit, and YOU are part of the problem, man!
Fuck you. .

Dismissed.

"Page 45" Singles No.14 - The Mooche / Spread Eagle / Harlequin / Trans

The Mooche - "Hot Smoke & Sassafrass" b/w "Seen Through A Light" 45
Pye Records 7N. 17735 Vinyl 7" 45 RPM Single, U.K., 1969

Spread Eagle - "Pleasure Feelings b/w "To Tired To See"
PGP RTB - S 53 635, PGP RTB - S53565
Vinyl 7" 45 RPM Single Yugoslovia, 1972

Harlequin - "Trees" b/w "What's Your Pleasure"
Headsong - None
Vinyl, 7" 45 RPM Single
U.S. 1974

Trans "GamarnasSang"
Taken from the compilation:"Vad Gor Egentligen Algerna Pa Vintern" Various Artists
Scam Records LPS-L001 Vinyl L.P.
Sweden, 1974

Phafner - "Overdrive" 1971

One of the most collectible and expensive albums you can search for today, was recorded in a basement in Iowa in 1971.
The band, Phafner, never did get too far, or should I say far enough? The band, comprised of farm boys from Marshalltown, Iowa, consisted of two sets of brothers: Dale Shultz (guitar) & James Shultz (bass), Steve Smith (lead guitar) & Greg Smith (vocals), along with drums by Steve Gustafson.
In one of the greatest examples of D.I.Y ethic the band recorded six songs in a local basement, and pressed only 50 copies of the album (on Dragon Records) to attract label interests.

50 copies? Yup. Now you know why it's so sought after, hardly any were made. But, that doesn't mean that it's not good. In fact, if you're into guitar driven blues based hard rock with fuzz, (basically, the reason I started this page) this album pack just as many punches as any other you'd find in the racks. Compared toi the likes of Josephus, and early Edgar Winter.

There's a great story about the discovery of this long defunct band and it's LP and accommodating single that can be read here at PUREPOP

It's way too often when doing research for this page and writing about the albums featured here that you'll find a truly great band who's only put out 1 album, and the fallen into obscurity. Leaving one to wonder "what if" that album got just a little more attention, a little more label support, distribution, promotion. Within it you'll always find great musicianship, originality, passion, and as much fire as any of the big guys.
Phafner's Overdrive is no exception.

 

Bloody Mary s/t - 1974

At one point, all rumors of this band/album led to the story of this as being the lost 3rd album from Sir Lord Baltimore. However those rumors have all been put to rest with the clarification that the only ties to this album ans SLB are that this band was booked into the same studio that SLB was recording their 2nd album in, and Bloody Mary asked SLB's drummer, John Garner to sing on a couple tracks, to which he obliged. (Although, Garner himself has stated to the contrary, that he'd no clue about the album or the band until he was asked about them) However to that extent, the trail of this band grows very cold very quickly. The music is actually really good for guitar/organ driven hard rock of the time, and has had many reviewers giving it a 4/of 5 general rating. Not unlike works from Heep or Deep Purple. Another mystery on Arty Ripps short-lived and famous Family Records label.
All seven titles are credited to "Bloody Mary", offering no insight to it's members. Anyone with further info on this release is encouraged to contact Heavy 70's, and give us a bot more to go on.
Great album though.

Life - "Spring" 1971

Life started as an American trio called The Wedge, who befriended Embryo's Christian Burchard and producer Julius Schittenhelm, who helped find them a German drummer (Marcel Mohr) and bassist (Gernot Pilz) to record their LP, and the prestige of a release by CBS.
The two other artists which came from The Wedge was Karl Gebhardt, a.k.a. Kal X Blue a.k.a. Linus, and Laverne "Jason" Miller.
The band disintegrated in the midst of an Italin tour, and left master tapes of recordings already in progress for a second album lost for the ages. During his research for the re-issue of "Spring" (on CD) Julius Schittenhelm discovered the tapes that he had produced, along with other recordings in a Munich cellar. From these recordings, three were included as bonus tracks on the CD and the rest will supposedly be used for future releases.
For a more detailed history, check out this article at Rockasteria

Single for: "Telephone Book" b/w "Talkin' ' bout a woman"