The Victims Of Chance – The Victims Of Chance (1969)
Artist: The Victims Of Chance
Title: The Victims Of Chance
Year: 1969
Format: LP
Label: Crestview
Brought To You Courtesy Of The BIG “N”
The Victims Of Chance were an American group featuring a man named Johnny Kitchen. Kitchen, an enigmatic figure, is believed to have been Canadian and to have been a part of the Canadian outfits Crazy People and The Blues Train.
He eventually turned up in Los Angeles and was involved in the recording of the first album by onetime Frank Zappa cohort Larry “Wild Man” Fischer (see June 15, 2011 post). The true identity of the pseudonymous Johnny Kitchen is not known.
The Victims Of Chance LP was recorded in late 1968/early 1969 and was released in the US on Crestview, the label also responsible for the Bob & Earl LP and the Pretty People (see March 13, 2010 post) The music is a mix of blues, folk, prog, and psychedelia. (J.J. Hildreth)
Track Listing
- Victims Of Chance, Part 1 (Instrumental)
- Victims Of Chance, Part 2 (vocal by Torrin Quinn)
- Adventures In Time
- Break Away
- Over & Out (Coda, Side One)
- Tuesday’s Victim
- L.A. To Frisco – Four Eleven Flat
- Funky Sunshine
- Devil’s Prayer
The Crazy People – Bedlam (1968)
Artist: The Crazy People
Title: Bedlam
Year: 1968
Format: LP
Label: Condor
Top caliber Canadian exploito … Seriously, that’s about all the bibliographical info I can provide on this album. Released on the Canadian Condor label (which released an eclectic mix of MOR and rock materials), 1968′s “Bedlam” was produced by Jean Daniel and Jack Millman (the latter was a Vancouver-based television weatherman).
There are no performance credits leaving you to conclude that this was a studio enterprise slapped together in the hopes of capitalizing on prevailing musical tastes.
Musically the collection was all over the place offering up a manic mixture of pysch-propelled sound collages, song snippets (“Winchester Cathedral” buried in ‘Head Games and Other Assorted Crap’) spoken word segments (‘After Six’), backward tapes and other studio effects. It made for a cool album to listen to with good headphones and a couple of beers.
Epitomized by the lead off track “Parade At the Funny Farm” the results included a little bit of everything including a melody that borrowed heavily from Sam and Dave’s “Hold On, I’m Comin” mixed with what sounded like Wild Man Fisher vocal samples.
The second half of “Head Games And Other Assorted Crap” somehow managed to mix a wonderful Association-styled top-40 melody with a wild mixture of channel hoping sound effects. “Head Amusement” could have easily been lifted from an early Steppenwolf LP. Just to make things interesting the instrumentals ‘Raunchy Boog-a-loo’ and ‘The Truth’ had distinctive funky feels (“Raunchy” was one of the standout tracks).
Sure, there was plenty of wasted space here. “Head Job” was a boring spoken word/telephone conversation segment. The goofy and very dated ‘Happy Academy’ and ‘Trans Luv Airlines’ would have sounded at home on a Firesign Theater LP.
Still, one of the better exploito LPs I’ve heard and a fun, if occasionally frustrating listen experience … if these guys had let a little more of their song craft show through the effects rampage then this could have been a major find.
So much for facts. There are multiple theories out there with respect to who these guys were. Some folks have linked the album to Wild Man Fisher.
Seems doubtful to me. Others claim the mysterious Johnny Kitchen who seems to have been responsible for a mid-to-late 1960s mini-industry releasing psych-exploito albums by a host of groups including The Blues Train, The Trio of Tyme, Victims Of Chance, etc. was the brains behind the LP. Who knows. (Bad Cat)
Track Listing
- Parade At The Funny Farm
- Head Amusement
- Raunchy Boog-A-Loo
- After Six
- The Truth
- Head Games And Other Assorted Crap
- Head Job
- Happy Academy
- Trans Luv Airlines
- Let’s Split
String Cheese – String Cheese (1971)
Artist: String Cheese
Title: String Cheese
Year: 1971
Format: LP
Label: Wooden Nickel
Led by female/male vocals and rich harmonies…The Chicago hippie crew “String Cheese” could have been the next “It’s A Beautiful Day” with proper backing and encouragement. Like that San Francisco band, String Cheese’s sound was steeped in sparkling hippie subject matter, strongly delivered by chanteuse Sally Smaller and aided by electric violin & acidy guitar leads.
Unfortunately, their debut album was also their last. Lead, 12-string guitarist and co-vocalist Lawrence Wendelken wrote most of the songs on String Cheese, and there are some truly tasteful arrangements contained within. “Soul Of Man”, for example, benefits from lush, live arrangements with folksy acoustic guitar picking and sparse drums, while a Larry and Sally voice trade offs and harmonies shine on the winding road that is the human experience.
Meanwhile, the harpsichord-led intro to “Woke Up This Morning” comes straight out of a renaissance court, progressing to a summery, psychedelic electric sitar jam with lyricism glowing in sunshine-induced optimism. There is some serious talent on display here. The winding acid guitar throughoutthe album is a highlight …
After their debut album failed to register a blip in the marketplace due only to poor promotion and not lack of talent, “String Cheese” promptly faded away. (Esterdamin)
Track Listing
- For Now
- Crystal
- We Share
- Here Am I
- Empty Streets
- Forage
- Soul Of Man
- Certain Kind Of Day
- Woke Up This Morning – Coming
Area Code 615 – Area Code 615 (1969)
Artist: Area Code 615
Title: Area Code 615
Year: 1969
Format: LP
Label: Polydor
Area Code 615 was a Nashville studio supergroup (615 is the Nashville telephone area code) formed in 1969 in the wake of Bob Dylan’s Nashville Skyline album, on which some of the future members played.
They were a who’s who of Nashville session stars: Charlie McCoy, Mac Gayden, Weldon Myrick, Kenny Buttrey, Bobby Thompson, Wayne Moss, Buddy Spicher, Norbert Putnam, and David Briggs.
This lineup appeared on both of their albums, Area Code 615 in 1969 and Trip in the Country in 1970. Subsequently, Moss formed Barefoot Jerry, and Putnam and Briggs became producers. (William Ruhlmann)
Track Listing
- Southern Comfort
- I’ve Been Loving You Too Long
- Hey Jude
- Nashville 9, NY 1
- Lady Madonna
- Ruby
- Medley: Crazy Arms/Get Back
- Why Ask Why
- Lil’ Maggie
- Classical Gas
- Just Like A Woman
Area Code 615 – A Trip In The Country (1970)
Artist: Area Code 615
Title: A Trip In The Country
Year: 1970
Format: LP
Label: Polydor
Musically “Trip In the Country” was probably a little too eclectic for it to ever get airplay, though all eleven tracks served as a wonderful showcase for the member’s individual talents. Standout players included guitarist Mac Gayden and the band’s rhythm section – drummer Kenny Buttrey and bassist Norman Putnam. (Bad Cat)
Track Listing
- Scotland
- Always The Same
- Stone Fox Chase
- Russian Red
- Judy
- Gray Suit Men
- Katy Hill
- Sligo
- Sausilito
- Welephant Walk
- Devil Weed And Me (Buffalo Nerd)
Bethlehem Asylum – Commit Yourself (1970)
Artist: Bethlehem Asylum
Title: Commit Yourself
Year: 1970
Format: LP
Label: Ampex
So what else can I tell you? Well, the line up that recorded “Commit Yourself” consisted of sax player Charles Dechant, keyboardist Christian Gandhi, lead guitarist Danny Finley, bassist Jimm Neiman, and drummer Helm. Signed by the New York-based Ampex label, there 1970 debut was produced by Dechant.
Featuring six original works, the predominant sound’s horn-propelled jazz-rock. That description won’t exactly endear it to many folks and I’ll readily admit that it left me somewhat cold.
That said, there are at least a couple of interesting moments including the atypical folk-ish “Child Of The Mountain”, “Talkin’ ‘Bout Love” which was an attractive slice of blue-eyed soul, and Finley’s nice guitar throughout the rocking “It’s About” (easily the standout track). (Bad Cat)
Track Listing
- Child Of The Mountain
- Sailboat Ride
- Earth
- Sea Rider
- Talkin’ ‘Bout Love
- It’s About
Bethlehem Asylum – Bethlehem Asylum (1971)
Artist: Bethlehem Asylum
Title: Bethlehem Asylum
Year: 1971
Format: LP
Label: Ampex
A very bizarre album from a Georgia (?) band. Most of it is average Southern rock with blues touches, nothing special. But there’s a couple of long, extended tracks with Moog synthesizers and saxophone that seem to be mostly inspired by Soft Machine!
I don’t know if I’d recommend it per se—my own enjoyment of this particular disc is rather limited—but it sure is one oddball record! (Progbear RYM)
Track Listing
- Lady Author
- The Year’s Biggest Rain
- Another Time, Another Place
- I Know A Lonely Man
- Ring My Bell
- Blind Man’s Bluff
- Tales From The Citadel (Vol. 1)
Strongbow – Stronbow (1975)
Artist: Strongbow
Title: Strongbow
Year: 1975
Format: LP
Label: Southwind
Strongbow were an American progressive rock band from Ohio. They released their lone album in 1975 which for various reasons never got much attention. The music they play is something between hard rock close to Foreigner and some progressive elements, more specific some heavy prog arrangements are here as well.
Tight musicianship, 2-3 pieces are really great like: “Sister Sea”, “Move Over Gloom”, “Wine Eyes” and the final track “Hazy May” a track influenced a bit from the blues genre. Anyway a pretty decent album, nothing ground breaking here but still pleasant all the way. The album as far as i know, has yet to be re released on CD. 3.5 stars, a good one, nothing really special but worth investigating. (b olariu RYM)
Track Listing
- One Armed Bandit
- Sister Sea
- The Only One Around
- Move Over Gloom
- How Can I Be Loving You
- Wine Eyes
- Hazy May
The Mustang – Organ Freakout! (1968)
Artist: The Mustang
Title: Organ Freakout!
Year: 1968
Format: LP
Label: Somerset
The liner notes of this sterling entry in the Alshire label’s bargain-bin catalog speak for themselves: “When the Mustang mounts the Hammond — and the ‘amps’ start cookin’ — look out baby — it’s an organ freakout.
All the same artistry and down-home abandon of Frisco ’67 come screaming out of the speakers. Call it Soul — call it electronic soul — HERE’S WHERE IT’S HAPPENING.” What — still not sold? Check out that cover — the go-go chicks in their miniskirts are grooving to the middle-aged cat in the suit.
The Mustang gets more tail than a toilet seat, baby. He’s the Hendrix of the Hammond, the Ovid of the organ, and if cuts like “Old Time Religion Gone New,” “Joshua Got Busted,” and “Tennessee Waltz Frug” don’t convince you to turn on, tune in, and drop out — or some combination thereof — then keep on truckin’ back to Squaresville.
Because the Mustang is psychedelia…the Mustang is counterculture…the Mustang is love (p.s., the title does not refer to the kind of organ freakouts that afflict adolescent boys as they struggle through puberty). (Jason Ankeny)
Track Listing
- Golden Gate Freakout
- Tennessee Waltz Frug
- Wild Flowers ’67
- Old Time Religion Gone New
- Amen
- Joshua Got Busted
- Haight Ashbury Time
- California Time
- The Acid Test
- Swing Low Sweet Truth
Psychedellic Guitars – More (1967)
Artist: Psychedellic Guitars
Title: More
Year: 1967
Format: LP
Label: Custom
“Psychedelic Guitars” wasn’t enough!!! No, there had to be “More” solid exploito trash psych. This album is not as gritty and raw as the first, sounding a bit more folk-rockish. (J.J. Hildreth)
Track Listing
- Another Trip
- Really Got It Bad
- Out Of Touch
- The Letdown
- Psychedelic Ago-Go
- Flower Power
- Can You Dig It
- Sit In
- Lost In Space
- Psychedelic Venture
