Chook - "Cold Feet" b/w "Tables Turn"
Havoc H. 1005 New Zealand, 1971
Chook were a short live Melbourne band in 1971 who
played a commercial brand of progressive rock. They
only released this one single and disbanded shortly after.
Ian Ryan (bass) went on to be the first bass player for
Buster Brown.
The Razz Band - "Some Like it Hot" b/w "Baby Make Love"
No label, Promo/Demo. Writing credits to Kim Fowley & Ronni Lee (Venus and the Razorblades), Not a lot of info on this one.
1977-78?
The Purple Sun - "Doomsday" b/w "Give Your Life"
Rampart Street Records - RSRS-0285 U.S. 1970
C.T. Pilferhogg - "You Haul" b/w "Tight Mama"
Tri State Recording Company - TSRC-1803 U.S. 197?
American hard rock trio Hot Jam were formed in Marshalltown, Iowa, in 1974. The band began playing out almost immediately, building up a large repertoire of original songs which they tested out on club audiences throughout the mid-west alongside a select number of tried and tested audience pleasing covers. Their debut single; "Stormy Monday" b/w "Tobacco Road" was released in 1975 on the Sun Dyl label. The single received a fair amount of radio airplay,from which the band garnered an even more sizable audience, scoring support slots for Heads East, Chicago, and Brownsville Station.
A 2nd 7" was recorded and released in Sun Dyl in 1976, pairing their original "I Love to Boogie" with Grand Funk Railroad's "I Don't Have to Sing the Blues" as the B-side.
After the departure of guitarist Roger Mathias in 1977, the band began it's MKII lineup and recorded another single, this time on Ovation/Tailspin.
The band recorded demos for a full length, however none of the major's took a bite and after more gigging through 78-80, the band folded for good.
Menu was recorded and released in 1970, and as far back as the 60's Freddy Lidquist was known as one of the two premier guitarists (the other being Terji Rypdal), and the "Hendrix" of Norway. Freddy started out as a member of Gibbons in the early 60's, and by 1965 he was the lead guitar player in The Beatnicks, and in 1966 went on to The Vanguards. Replacing Rypdal who went on to play organ until he quit, diving into psychedelia with The Dream. By 1969 Lindquist had quit, returning to The Beatnicks for a couple more singles before leaving for good. (the band then went on to become Titanic)
With hard rock being the new formula, Lindquist went on to form Jumbo, inspired by the likes of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, etc. and released two singles. By 1970, it was his time for a proper solo album and he went on to play a majority of the instrumentation on "Menu."As with many other album's of this type from the era, it went largely unplayed by radio and low sales forced it into eventual oblivion.
After a lengthy career as a session musician, "Menu" was rediscovered in the 1980's and has become a long sought after collectors item since. It was first re-issued in 1991.
From Austin, TX. and Laguna Beach, CA. Wildfire was Randy Love (guitar/vocals), Danny Jamison (bass/lead vocals), and Donny Martin (drums). Love and Jamison had previously been members of Phil Pearlman's band that recorded a rare surf 45 as "Phil and the Flakes"
From 1969-'72, when Wildfire broke up, the band made Austin it's home three quarters of the year during the University of TX fall and spring semesters and returned to Southern California during the summers.
The band was known for their extremely LOUD amplification thanks to powerful Quilter Amps, and high energy songs that left more established bands in awe. When Wildfire determined it was time to cut a demo album they began in California at The Beach Boy's recording studio, putting down bass and guitar tracks. (guitarist Randy Love is Beach Boys' Mike Love's cousin.) A Texas promoter convinced the band that Texas was where they wanted to record, so they returned to Austin eventually ending up at Sonobeat's Josie Studio. (the same place and nearly the same time as Vince Mariani and Cold Sun/Dark Shadows). Sonobeat owner, Bill Josie Sr. produced Wildfire's 8 song album in what was almost certainly the first of Sonobeat's 'work for hire' sessions -- those in which Sonobeat simply provided engineering and studio time for an hourly fee.
Since the band paid for the sessions, the band owned the master tapes and self-released this album. (which has come to be known as "Smokin'"). It was released in a plain white jacket bearing hand numbered stickers.
The initial pressing (the band recalls 100 to 1,000 copies) and rapidly sold out.
According to Pat Quilter, these were the only recordings made with Quilter Amplifiers at top volume.
Sadly, the original master tapes were lost long ago and there isn't a production copy in Sonobeat's archive.
Founded in 1974 and disbanded in '76, Warlord never really received any recognition in it's native Britain. Here is a 2002 release of unreleased material from the mid-seventies from this underground doom band. Heavy duty Sabbath/Black Widow style. Formed by Ivan Coutts (keyboards) when he left The Blacksmiths in search of new blood to take it a step further. He met John Alexander, a guitarist from a band called the Falling Leaves along with vocalist Richard Roffy.
The band never got a chance to record an album.
This release includes demos made from 1974 to 1977, with some additional live material, along with liner notes and a full band history.
The band was revived briefly in 1977 only to record a few demos and then finally folded.
An interesting piece of first hand metal history.
Cleveland acid rock combo The Damnation of Adam Blessing A.K.A. Damnation, was formed in 1968. Often the band would lend support to locals The James Gang, as well as act's such as Janis Joplin, Alice Cooper, Grand Funk, and Eric Clapton to name but a few.
T.DOAB was formed from the remnants of two garage bands: The Society, and Dust (not to be confused with the New York trio Ft. Marc Bell of the same name) who were led by front man Adam Blessing (Bill Constable), and included guitarists Jim Quinn, Bob Kalamasz, bassist Ray Benich, and drummer Bill Schwark. The band eventually signed with United Artists and released their debut self titled album in 1969, which saw the band touring in support of The Faces. The band's second effort; "Second Damnation" followed the next year and 1971's "Which is Justice, Which is the Thief."
The group also released another album under the name Glory (not to beconfused with the San Diego band of the same name and of the era) in 1973 on the U.A. subsidiary Avalanche before disbanding. http://damnationofadamblessing.net/ https://www.facebook.com/The-Damnation-of-Adam-Blessing-120585534622784/ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-damnation-of-adam-blessing-mn0002294454
Friedhof (German for "graveyard"), made just this one LP (another LP in the trend of "one and done" in true 1971 fashion) in their short active period in early 70's Germany. The album is a collection of five tracks which represent a hard guitar driven psychedelic rock (definite nods to Blackmore, et.al) It could also be labeled a "jam band" of sorts. A definite must for guitar fans and fans of any type of chaotic, loud, frenzied type musical mayhem. Intense? Yes. Obscure? YES. Fun, Hell yes. The album is extremely well balanced and any of these songs could be called a highlight.
A definite shame these guys only made the one LP before vanishing into obscurity.
File under Power Trio/Kraut/Proto-Metal.
Play loud.
I fucking love it.
Jodo was formed from a band called Axe, who had a minor hit with a song called "Running Wild", and who's sole album was only released in the U.S. at the time. Killer heavy rock with ultra loud fuzzed out guitars and melodic vocals. Engineered by Marin Birch (Black Sabbath, Deep Purple, B.O.C.) and produced by Derek Lawrence (Depp Purple, Green Bullforog). Some great stoner blues with socially conscious lyrics, gritty with a heavy blues swagger.
Recommended to those who like Orang-Utan, Black Cat Bones, Stonehouse, or Cactus.
"One of the best heavy rock albums from the 70's, A very good surprise!" - John Sykes
According to their webstite, Mind Doctors were formed in the early 70's (exact date is unknown) comprising Marin Weaver (guitars) and Dave "Doc" Wadley (keyboards).
Both had previously been involved in assorted heavy progressive rock groups, Martin in Dark, and Wicked Lady, and Dave in Soft Thrust, and Back to Zero. In the 60's, Dave also worked with Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath fame.
They apparently teamed up after a night of heavy drinking and a common disdain for the music industry, and collectively came up with crossover "Head" music, comprised of all styles of music, giving Dave an appropriate outlet to exorcise his callsical stylings, and making way for extensive synthesizer pieces.
The instrumental album is comprised of various "soundscapes" with an occasional tone of space rock a'la Hawkwind, mixed obviously with more classical stylings. http://mind-doctors.co.uk/index.php
Flax, a Norweigian heavy metal band was formed in 1972 and is believed to be Norway's first of the genre. Their first album, "One" (1976) wasn't a big seller, therefore it is yet another hard to find collectors item released on Vertigo. (a label famous for long sought after releases). Strong theatrical heavy rock along the lines of Deep Purple, ("Machine Head" era) and to a lesser degree Uriah Heep and Queen. Their music contained the occational symphonic elements, in true heavy metal fasion.
The band saw a hiatus between 1976 and '78, when thet returned with a single: "What Cha Gonna Do" b/w "Pain in the Ass" (another version of which, is included on their debut album) and in the 80's released two more albums. 1980's Monster Tapes, and 1986's Flax Tracks. Their history is riddled with frequent lineup changes.
Grand Theft, a supposedly joke band which is rumored to be the alter ego of a band called Bluebird, have only two live performances, a self released 7" single, and one self released album (lacking any cover art) in their repertoire. The single, and the album are complied here along with 4 "rehearsal" tracks, and additional material which was meant for a second album that never saw fruition. You gotta love it just for the cover alone, which depicts a rat with wings bearing a significant resemblence to the image of Appolo, the sun god a'la the Swan Song logo.
Replicating the cliches of bands like Zeppelin and Grand Funk, albeit a humorous pisstake, the music is pretty damn good
considering how serious the members took it (or didn't), with names like Crowbar Mahoon and P.K. Skins. A roadie named Cheese Toaster took vocals occationaly, and the band later hired on Loudus Volumus on 2nd guitar.
Alocal radio station took to playing their sole single "Scream (It's Eating Me Alive)" which resulted in a loyal local following (again, they only played live twice in their entire history!). I'ts actually a fuzzed out damn good time.
"Ben the Rat Meets Led Zeppelin" is a personal favorite, with the lyrics telling the story of a big rat going to the "House of Zeppelin" where he encounters a semi coherent Jimmy Page who proceeds to plug his guitar into his rectum to rip out some riffs. Priceless.
Originally from Texas under the name "Aphrodite", W.G. "Snuffy" Walden (guitar/vocals), Alan Roberts (bass/keys/vocals), and Randy Reader (drums) moved to Denver, Colorado and became quite popular under their new moniker, Stray Dog. They were introduced to Neville Chesters, a former road manager for Emerson Lake and Palmer who convinced them to go to London where, along with a friend and fellow tour manager Lorenzio Mazzio leading to Greg Lake signing them to E.L.P.'s label Manticore records. Randy Reader was replaced by Leslie Sampson. Lake produced three tracks on the band's 1973 self titled debut album, with the rest of the band producing the rest.
In March 1973 British music magazine NME reported that Stray Dog were to support ELP on their world tour which was due to commence in Germany at the end of that month.
Stray Dog's follow up album While You're Down There (1974) was co-produced by Austin Godsey and the band. A change in lineup (adding Tim Dulaine -guitar/lead vocals, and Louis Cabaza on keyboards) changed the band's sound from a blues based power trio to a more subdued commercial AOR rock sound.
Leslie Sampson (drums) had played earlier with Noel Redding in "Road."
After the demise of Stray Dog, Snuffy Walden (guitar/lead vocals) went on to write and produce several American television theme songs.
You can hear the beginning of what would end up as 'sludge metal' in the grooves of this disc. Totally heavy rock from Oklahoma with plenty of distorted guitars and great organ. Some of the softer passages have a kind of Allman Brothers feel goin' on. As Rockesteria puts it: "The kind of music where the crunch of the guitars and the drums buries the sound right into your chest if played loud enough."
Drummer Bill "Willy" Daffer eventually went on to play with the reformation of Captain Beyond.
J. Martin (Moby) Anderson - bass/vocals
Glen Ray Townsend - guitar/vocals
George Michael (Mike) Graham - lead vocals
James Patrick Graha - organ/vocals
Danny Cornett - drums (originally)
Bill (Willy) Daffer - drums (on the last 4 songs recorded)
From Rob Wills' PUREPOP: "at the crossroads of Junkshop Glam and Punk'd out Boogie"
Castle Farm were from Rumford, Northeast London. The band released a single "Hot-rod Queen" b/w "Mascot" on Farm records (FARM 1).
Castle Farm developed a loyal following and were soon gigging all over London and throughout Essex and Kent. After moving on to the college circuit, the bought a six-wheel Tranny from Badfinger, and began traveling as far as Winchester and Leeds. Supporting acts such as Rory Gallagher, Deep Purple, Savoy Brown Blues Band, among others.
Forming a grudge with the music industry as a whole, who, in those times, would sign a band just to shelf them so as to squash competition with whoever they were promoting at the time, they funded their own single and pressed 2,000 copies of "Hot-Rod Queen."
They did record enough material for a full length release, but alas it never came to pass.
Collected and released as "The Studio Sessions", their music is for the most part, available for the first time.
Great rock and roll with slide guitar (a'la Rose Tattoo).
