Luv Machine - s/t 1971

From Rockesteria: Originally released in 1970, "Witches Wand" is about as classic as it get from this magical era in underground music. To this day it remains a firm favorite of 60's Mod and psych at 70's rock clubs up and down the U.K.

Formed in the tropicalclimes of Barbados in 1967, Luv Machine relocated to the U.K. in 1968 in search of fame and fortune in those swinging times. The band started out playing black soul clubs in the midlands area. Their sound was a lot harder-edged than the usual acts that in the initial club circuit where they were being booked.

Influenced by Hendrix, Cream, CCR, and othr more obscur heavy bands of the time, Luv Machine managed to combine elements of rock and soulful psych with a funky progressive groove. Added to this was a Carabbean vibe which made them completely unique from other rivals of the day.

The bands self titled debut album that was released for Polydor in 1971 has become a much revered and collectable item amungst collectors and fans of the era.

Unfortunately the band split before the album was released, which meant it was never given the publicity it deserved. Who knows what may have happened if the situation was different for them.

In 2006, Rise Abouve Relics released the album with an additional 12" of tracks consiting of unreleased demos and b-sides.

Hackensack - 1969 -1974

Nicky Moore is probably best known for being the singer of Samson, who took Bruce Dickenson's place once he joined up with Iron Maiden in 1982. But before all that, there was Hackensack.
Formed by Moore in 1969, Hackensack were considered one of the heaviest live bands of their day. They released one single in 1972, "Movin' On". They began touring as suppoert for Mott the Hoople.
The bands debut album "Up the Hard Way" was released in 1974 and with a strong following, the band played over 270 shows in their lifetime. However this was not enough since the band disolved shortly thereafter.

A live album was recorded by Pye Records at the Cavern Club, Liverpoole in 1973. But it remains unreleased. Live material was released in the 90's titled "Live The Hard Way" recorded for Swiss radio in 1973, along with a show at Nottingham from the same year.
Around the mid-90's, some collections (one live) sprung up on archival labels. But their debut is still held in high regard among collectors of proto-metal and N.W.O.B.H.M. bands.

 

Cain - "A Pound of Flesh" 1975

Cain's musical passport to classic rock obscurity, then posterity, was stamped by their first album A Pound of Flesh. which would be roundly ignored by the world beyond the midwest at the time of it's release, only to appear 30 years later on CD and make the band collectors darlings. Recorded in 1975 A Pound of Flesh represented a half a decades worth of hard graft for the band and a wide gamut of influences that simultaniously intrigued and confused listeners who were lucky enough to secure one of the original vinyl copies. On the other hand, it could be argued that there is something here for everyone. For one thing, Cain's lengthy experience playing blue collar clubs peppered the way from the Twin Cities to Chicago made it second nature to them to wheel out handfuls of no-fuss heavy blues workouts.
Needless to say, though a single world beater does not a classic make, and though it would be extremely convenient to blame all of Cain's woes on their label ASI, the honest truth is that A Pound of Flesh is a very solid, but not spectacular album, worthy of appreciation but not immortality.
(Allmusic)

Cargo - s/t 1972

Released in anonymity to an unsuspecting Dutch public in 1972, Cargo's lone album became a self fulfilling prophecy when it disappeared after minimal radio play and zero live dates to back it up. But Cargo already had hits under their previous name: September, and their talent would not remain buried forever. In subsequent years, the album would become the stuff of dreams  to record collectors. as prog fans ate up their uncanny improvisational transformation of Allman Brothers influences (check out the dual guitar work of the De Hont brothers Jan and Ad ) out of the American south and into a psychedelicized continuum of space and time both Trerestrial and celestial.

DeVries (basss) and english drummer Dennis Whitbread complete the rhythm section.
The music developed here, brought on by stunning twin guitar leads along the lines of Wishbone Ash in their Argus period. The brothers play great co-operative guitar lines which show off their comaraderie and long standing mtual trust.
Sad to see that this is their sole release that came and went with little fanfare.
Re-released on Pseudonym as a 2XL.P. or 2X CD package wit extra bonus tracks.
Well worth your time!!!!

Power of Zeus - "The Gospel According to Zeus" - 1970

Power of Zeus was formed in 1968 by Detroit Vocalist/guitarist Joe Periano shortly after his discharge from the Marine Corps. Joe was joined by bassist/vocalist Bill Jones, drummer  Bob Michalski, and hammond organ player Dennie Webber. Originally going by the name Gangrene, the Cream/Zeppelin/Sabbath influenced heavy rock quartet became the un-official house band at the Wooden Nickle club where they were initially spotted by a local manager. Motown psych-oriented subsidary Rare Earth signed the band on the condition they find a new name. Having decided on Power of Zeus they began work on what would be their sole release, 1970's "The Gospel According to Zeus" LP. The relationship between band and label was strainedwith the former claiming that the ltter had no experience of releasing a heavy rock album and the Motown producers failed to nail the bands crunchier live sound on tape. Certainly the LP is removed from the distorto-trash coming out of fellow Detroit rockers the MC5 and the Stooges, but what it lacks in grime it makes up for in funkiness. Hammond, bass, & drums are to the fore with production as fat and full as you would expect from Motown producers.
The LP was pretty much a flop at the time, but since then it has become a highly sought after item, attaining genuine legendary standards among record collectors.

Freedom - "Through the Years" - 1971

Freedom was a psychedelic rock band from the late 60's and 70's featuring founding members of Procal Harem.
Ray Royer and Bobby Harrison has both performed on Procal Harums hit A Whiter Shade of Pale were kicked out of PH by vocalist Gary Booker and were replaced by Robin Trower and Barry Wilson. Royer and Harrison then formed Freedom with Steve Shirly and Tony Marsh, who was immediately replaced by pianist Mike Lease, releasing two German singles andthe soundtrack for the Tinto Brass/ Deno DeLaurentiis film Attraction. (also known as Black on White).
In 1968 Harrison overhauled the entire lineupand began recording with a more hard rock sound scoring dates with Black Sabbath, Jethro Tull, and the James Gang. The acheived great renown for their version of the Beatles '"Cry Baby Cry" on their Second album: Freedom at Last. Further lineup changes occurred before the band splintered in 1972, with Harrison going on to SNAFU.

 

Discography: 

Black on White (1969)

Freedom at Last (1970)

Freedom (1970)

Through the Years (1971)

Is More Than A Word (1972)

Dryewater - "Southpaw" - 1974

Now a highly regarded collectors piece by fans of early 70's hard rock, Dryewaters "Southpaw" was released to little fanfare on the J.T.B. Label (independant) in 1974. The North Carolina four piece pressed only 500 copies of the album (fewer still with covers!), if that isn't bad enough, the band destroyed copies that didn't sell, adding an even bigger obstacle to obtaining one.
Maybe they had higher expectations for the album, as the songwriting would lead you to believe. The ten original compositions show a very confident release by a very prolific lineup. Strong rythm guitar dominates the L.P. but also evedent is some melodic slightly progressive keyboard work that both underpins the occational acid guitar solo maintains the overallmomentum of the work.
With a strong rhythm section and great vocals this album makes for a strong roller coaster ride.
(Forced Exposure mailorder)

Personnel:
Garland Walker Stidham
Richard Drye
Robert Blair
Shaye Drye

Badge & Company - s/t 1977

SOUTHER BLUESROCK AT IT'S BEST!!!
Badge & Company was a psychedelic blues rock band from Augusta. The band formed in 1976 with members Randy E. Coven (vocals. bass & fiddle), lead guitarist Terry D. Williams, and drummer Virgil Eugene Martin.
A psychedelic blues delight ala Moving Sidewalks, and early ZZTop. This southern rock trio surgically strike at what other like-genre bands feign. This little 'ole album is soul quenching. A primed side of beefed up Texan psychedelia and weirdness smothered in southern blues. ( http://www.numusi.de/)

Lincoln St. Exit - "Drive it" 1970

The band that would become XIT (Crossing of Indian Tribes) a native American psych band from Albequerque, New Mexico who released four albums in the 70's, on Rare Earth and Canyon Records.
Lincoln St. Exit were the southwests lead garage/psych band of the late 60's early 70's. "Drive It" is their sole album, ranging from psych heavy/blues ridden "Dirty Mother Blues" to the easy goin' "Soulful Drifter" in between there are songs that reflect the times, the Vietnam era vibe hangin' over the U.S. Guitarists Mike Martin and R.C. Gariss are backed by the rhythym section of Marc Suazo (bass), and Lee Herres (drums). The band opened for many a headliner tha passed through the southwest.

The band regrouped in the 90's under Tom Bee.
Tom Bee was born in the New Mexico boarder town of Gallup, and is known for starting the first Native American owned and operated label: Sound of America Records.

Colonel Bagshot - "Oh!, What a Lovely War." 1971

Colonel Bagshot was an English rock band from Liverpool, England. Originally called "Colonel Bagshot's Incredible Bucket Band" they were initially a 6 piece, eventually settling on four members.
The last lineup consisted of Brisan Farell (vocals, guitar, stylophone), Ken Parry (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Dave Dover (vocals, bass guitar, keyboard), & Terry McCusker (drums, vocals). The band released several singles and the one L.P. , which included their best known song, "Six Days War". Later remixed bt D.J. Shadow called "Six Days."

Discography

L.P. "Oh! What a Lovely War" (Cadet Concept , 1971)

Singles:

• "OHappy Day" (Disques Vogue, 1969)
• "Smile" (Parlophone, 1971)
• "Georgia Fireball" (Parlophone, 1971)
• "Dirty Delilah Blues" (Polydor, 1971)
• "She's My Son" (Polydor, 1973)

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.