Love Sculpture – Forms & Feelings (1969)

Artist: Love Sculpture
Title: Forms & Feelings
Year: 1969
Format: LP
Label: Parrot

Second and last album by Welsh power trio Love Sculpture led by the immensely talented guitarist Dave Edmunds, who also sings and plays piano, with bassist John Williams and drummer Bob Jones. On this album the band moves away from the Blues-Rock direction, which dominated the debut, moving into the Psychedelic and Progressive genres.

Dominated by the immense success of their single, which presented an instrumental version of Aram Khachaturian’s “Sabre Dance” and was a worldwide hit, the band recorded two more arrangements of classical pieces: Gustav Holst’s “Mars” and Georges Bizet’s “Farandole”, all exceptional showcases for Edmunds’ spectacular guitar playing. The album turned out to be a classic and in retrospective still serves as a great document of the era. Guitar freaks rejoice!  (Jazzis RYM)

Track Listing

1. In The Land Of The Few
2. Seagull
3. Nobody’s Talking
4. Why (How Now)
5. Farandole
6. Sabre Dance [Single Version]
7. You Can’t Catch Me
8. People People
9. Mars
10. Sabre Dance
11. Think Of Love

Repairs – Already A Household Word (1971)

Artist: Repairs
Title: Already A Household Word
Year: 1971
Format: LP
Label: Rare Earth

Can’t tell you much about this six piece, other than they were apparently from Connecticut (at least that’s where their album was released).  The line-up featured multi-instrumentalist Mike Foley, drummer Ace Holleran, guitarist Jim Honeycutt, singer Sukie Honeycutt, multi-instrumentalist Peter McCann, and guitarist Larry Treadwell.

In addition to being released by Motown’s Rare Earth subsidiary, their debut album Already A Household Word was interesting for teaming the group with Rolling Stones producer Andrew Loog Oldham.

Showcasing a largely original collection of material (Joni Mitchell’s “Michael From Mountains” being the lone cover), Peter McCann served as the prime writer, he was responsible for nine of the fourteen tracks.

The majority of McCann’s songs reflected a country-rock (“Lonesome Sorrow”), or folky feel (“Tired Of Feeling”), but he showed himself capable of far more interesting material – witness the cool Free Design-styled “There She Was”. (Bad Cat)

Track Listing

1. O Lonesome Sorrow
2. Measures
3. Sleepwalkin’ Child
4. There She Was
5. Circle Won’t Take Me Around
6. Thinking It Over
7. Walkin’ Down My Road
8. Michael From Mountains
9. Celebration
10. Tired Of Waiting
11. Paper Goodbye
12. Americoround
13. Bummer World
14. Fanciful Funny Man

Repairs – Repairs (1972)

Artist: Repairs
Title: Repairs
Year: 1972
Format: LP
Label: Mowest

Repairs were a Connecticut group consisting of Peter McCann (vocals-keyboards-guitars-string arrangements), Sukie Honeycutt (vocals-keyboards-percussion), Larry Treadwell (vocals-keyboards-guitars-accordion-harmonica-percussion), Mike Foley (vocals-bass-guitar) and T.Ace Holleran (drums-percussion) with addional instrumentation by Bob Bonefant, Barry Marshall, Michael Kaman (woodwind-horns) and David McCann (fiddle).

This is actually Repairs second album, produced by ex Rolling Stones producer Andrew Oldham. Oldham also produced the group’s first album, “Already A Household Word” in 1971 (see above post). The album is an exceptional collection of originals covering a variety of genres including folk, rock and progressive efforts with alternate male and female lead vocals.

Oldham’s production makes for a well polished recording (you’re sure to enjoy this one!!!)  After leaving the Mowest label, the group recorded a third album, “Live” on the independent Kuckuck label in 1974. (Max Collodie)

Track Listing

1. Songwriter
2. Preacher
3. Time
4. Circus Song
5. Off My Mind
6. Travis Pickin’ C
7. Lord Of The Mountains
8. Confessions
9. Fiddler
10. Nowhere
11. Fine & Gentle Lady
12. Timeline

Candle – Candle (1972)

Artist: Candle
Title: Candle
Year: 1972
Format: LP
Label: Green Bottle

Candle is Jeffrey David Hooven: piano, acoustic guitar, vocal; Robert Verne: acoustic guitar, vocal; Davey Wilson: bass, vocal; John Skelton: flute, vocal; L. J.Wolken: accordion; Don Peake: electric guitar; Duane Bryant: drums; Richard Roberts: conga; Andy Narell: steel drum, organ, piano; Doug “Flower” Kraatz: violin, viola; Kaili Vernoff: morale. Obscure acoustic/eclectic ensemble with gentle songwriting, psych/prog overtones, country hippie vibe….. rare….

This album is a first on two counts, it marks the recording debut of Candle and it’s the initial release of Charlie Greene’s “Green Bottle” label. The total feel of the album can be summed up in one wordpleasant. There is nothing harsh or grating about Candle’s music, their forte being multi textured ballads, poignant little vignettes highlighted by emotion-filled vocals and richly constructed backings. Especially captivating is “Sleepy Lylah” (Billboard Magazine)

Track Listing

1. You Belong
2. You Really Don’t Know How To Love Me
3. She Only Wants To Be A Lady
4. Country Magic
5. Gracious Living
6. Every Night The Sun Goes Down (Without You)
7. Sleepy Lylah
8. I Wish It Would Rain

Glencoe – Glencoe (1972)

Artist: Glencoe
Title: Glencoe
Year: 1972
Format: LP
Label: Great Western Gramophone

Glencoe consisted of Stewart Francis (drums-vocals), Graham Maitland (keyboards-vocals), John Turnbull (guitar-vocals) and Norman Watt-Roy (bass-vocals).

An effective mixing of speed, power and melody that sits very comfortably together. Maitland piano work sets a driving air to their music that is truly enjoyable. With the added rhythm of Norman Watt-Roy on bass and Stewart Francis on drums, the group’s sound is filled to capacity.

Glencoe made three albums; this one, the much better “Spirit of Glencoe” and the great “Loving Awareness” (although the name “Glencoe” was dropped, the band is the same).  (RYM Reviews)

Track Listing

1. Airport
2. Look Me In The Eye
3. Lifeline
4. Telephonia
5. It’s
6. Book Me For The Flight
7. Hay Fever
8. Questions
9. Sinking Down A Well

David Axelrod – Song Of Innocence (1968)

Artist: David Axelrod
Title: Song Of Innocence
Year: 1968
Format: LP
Label: Capitol

Trying to put a tag on the music of legendary producer David Axelrod is almost impossible as his music,especially early offerings such as this,straddles so many genres.You get funk,jazz,classical and rock all thrown into the melting pot to create a rather unique sound that has had a large influence on many people.
Nowhere has this been more apparent than in hip hop and trip hop where this LP has been heavily sampled.If you are a fan of those two genres prepare to hear a lot of familiar breaks when you hear this record for the first time.

The LP itself was heavily influenced by the poetry of William Blake hence there is a dark brooding feel throughout and Axelrod uses layers of strings playing minor keys to obtain this mood.The drums and percussion drive the music on and there are some fantastic guitar breaks. (bruklover RYM)

Track Listing

1. Urizen
2. Holy Thursday
3. The Smile
4. A Dream
5. Song Of Innocence
6. Merlin’s Prophecy
7. The Mental Traveller
   

Folly’s Pool – Folly’s Pool (1977)

Artist: Folly’s Pool
Title: Folly’s Pool
Year: 1977
Format: LP
Label: Century

Here’s another little musical gem, this time featuring the indisputable talents of guitarist and singer/songwriter Steve Ono and his chums in Folly’s Pool. Follys Pool is one of Fresno, California’s longest running original bands. Formed in the 70s they are still going strong. Please visit their website at follyspool.com

“Folly’s Pool was from Fresno, California and is another of the literally hundreds o private pressings which appeared in on the specialist label Century Records label (Century 44675), although it must be said that there can’t be many other bands on that label having the level of recording quality and impressive musicianship (the Lubbock Texas Colours, The Search Party and maybe The Goddard Stage Band come to mind) that is shown on this record.

Under the stewardship of Fresno-born Ono, the band takes us on a tour de force of acoustic-based rural rock with folk, progressive and country influences often to the background.

At times Folly’s Pool sounds like they’re trying to be The Eagles or Loggins & Messina, but in many ways this does the band a disservice as they have successfully created an individual approach to their music which often turns the ordinary into the exceptional (the cunning transformation from folk to progressive of ‘Jig In A’ is worth the price of admission alone).

The high standard of everything the band plays (the stunning electric guitar solos are particularly fine) makes this album one to play and savor.” (Howard Hales Broom)

Track Listing

1. Folly’s Pool
2. Fallen Pony
3. Just A Memory
4. Jig In A
5. Before The Gates Of Elessaar
6. Kathleen
7. West Of The Skies
   

Dust – Hard Attack (1972)

Artist: Dust
Title: Hard Attack
Year: 1972
Format: LP
Label: Kama Sutra

Graced with a classic Frank Frazetta painting, New York power trio Dust’s second and last album Hard Attack only earns its epic cover art on a handful of heavy cuts, best being the killer “Suicide”, along with the monstrous epic “Learning to Die”, instrumental “Ivory”, and “All in All”. Otherwise, the remainder of the 1972 record is surprisingly mellow and not all that exciting.

Post-Dust, drummer Marc Bell moved on to Estus and Richard Hell & The Voidoids before settling with The Ramones, singer/guitarist Richie Wise became a successful producer, and bassist Kenny Aaronson joined Stories and then Derringer, eventually becoming a popular session and live touring musician in the ’80s along with being a member of the one-off HSAS (Hagar, Schon, Aaronson & Shrieve) semi-supergroup in 1984. (HellBentForLager RYM)

Track Listing

1. Pull Away/So Many Times
2. Walk In The Soft Rain
3. Thusly Spoken
4. Learning To Die
5. All In All
6. I Been Thinkin´
7. Ivory
8. How Many Horses
9. Suicide
10. Entrance
    

Dust – Dust (1971)

Artist: Dust
Title: Dust
Year: 1971
Format: LP
Label: Kama Sutra

First album by US Prog group Dust, which consisted of guitarist/vocalist Richie Wise, bassist Kenny Aaronson and drummer Marc Bell. They played ambitious self-penned material written by the guitarist, who displays some amazing guitar licks throughout the album.

The band had a “heavy” sound (for those days) and the compositions are dramatic and well developed, and in retrospect sound surprisingly fresh forty years later. This is one of those forgotten gems, which keep popping out as reissues and keeping the Prog fans happy. Warmly recommended! (Jazzis RYM)

Track Listing

1. Stone Woman
2. Chasin’ Ladies
3. Goin’ Easy
4. Love Me Hard
5. From A Dry Camel
6. Often Shadow Felt
7. Loose Goose
   

Attila – Attila (1970)

Artist: Attila
Title: Attila
Year: 1970
Format: LP
Label: Epic

I have always disliked the organ, but god damn does Billy make it sound good on this album. The heavy, distorted riffs are good enough, but that constant wah just pushes it over the edge making it sound just perfect. The uptight music snobs who get upset at the slightest bit of dissonance really have no business listening to this.

This WILL upset your mainstream music tastes. Unless you like Deep Purple In Rock AND Sir Lord Baltimore’s Kingdom Come (see November 2, 2010 post), you will not like this album, so don’t even bother. And anybody who compares this to Led Zeppelin doesn’t know the first thing about heavy rock. This has absolutely nothing to do with Jimmy Page or Robert Plant.

It’s influenced very directly by Jon Lord’s distorted riffs combined with Sir Lord Baltimore’s wild, bombastic vocals and lyrics and general chaos. SLB are quite obscure, but they’re fellow New Yorkers that Billy Joel was undoubtedly inspired by. There are even a couple moments that remind me of the early, hard-edged ELP; obviously since Billy must’ve only heard the debut by the time he recorded this album.

Anyway, this album is a treat for anybody who loves the sound of heavy wah riffs. “Tear This Castle Down” is the most catchy and instantly lodges itself into your head. “Holy Moses” is a close second due to that insane heavy wah riff repeated more prominently than most riffs on the rest of the album. “Wonder Woman” is the best example of the pompous, SLB-style vocals, which are on their own quite annoying, but they somehow fit perfectly with this unique, short-lived style of heavy rock. (Andrupchik RYM)

Track Listing

1. Wonder Woman
2. California Flash
3. Revenge Is Sweet
4. Amplifier Fire: Part I – Godzilla Part II – March Of The Huns
5. Rollin’ Home
6. Tear This Castle Down
7. Holy Moses
8. Brain Invasion