Hello - this week finishes up the Texas International Pop Festival series, and there's a few other cool albums too - happy downloading and comments are appreciated - been kinda quiet in the comments section lately.

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 10 - Ten Years After

1. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
2. I Can't Keep From Cryin' Sometimes
3. Hobbit
4. Spoonful
5. I'm Goin' Home

Alvin Lee - guitar; Chick Churchill - organ;
Leo Lyons - bass; Ric Lee - drums

Part 1 Part 2

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 11 - Sly & The Family Stone

1. Intro / M'Lady
2. Sing A Simple Song
3. You Can Make It If You Try
4. Stand / Love City / Higher
5. Everyday People
6. Dance To The Music / Music Lover
7. I Wanna Take You Higher / Jam

Sly Stone - organ; Rose Stone - electric piano;
Freddie Stone - guitar;
Cynthia Robinson - trumpet; Jerry Martin - sax;
Larry Graham - bass; Greg Errico - drums

Part 1 Part 2

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 12 - Partial Sets Part 1

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD
1. Intro
2. Are You Ready
INCREDIBLE STRING BAND
3. Introduction
4. Waiting For You
5. Black Jack Davy
SAM & DAVE
6. I've Been Loving You Too Long
7. May I Baby?
HERBIE MANN
8. Tangier
9. Improvisation
CANNED HEAT
10. Intro
11. Bullfrog Blues
12. Rollin' And Tumblin' / Jam
13. talk
14. Blind Owl Blues
LEWISVILLE CHIEF OF POLICE
15. speech

Part 1 Part 2

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 13 - Partial Sets Part 2

DELANEY & BONNIE & FRIENDS
1. We Got To Get Ourselves Together
2. The Ghetto
3. When The Battle Is Over
4. Things Get Better
TONY JOE WHITE
5. Polk Salad Annie
6. Aspen Colorado
7. Can You See The Lightning
8. Roosevelt & Ira Lee
9. Hard To Handle
SWEETWATER
10. What's Wrong / Jam / What's Wrong
11. Why Oh Why

Part 1 Part 2

Bob Dylan - In Concert (1963)

Like old Bob Dylan? Me too! This awesome Dylan bootleg is taken from an acetate of an unreleased live album on Columbia Records. Great quality and a great performance.

1. Last Thoughts On Woody Guthrie
2. Lay Down Your Weary Tune
3. Dusty Old Fairgrounds
4. John Brown
5. When The Ship Comes In
6. Who Killed Davy Moore?
7. Percy's Song
8. Bob Dylan's New Orleans Rag
9. Seven Curses

Tracks 1, 3-4, 8: Town Hall, New York, April 12, 1963
Tracks 2, 5-7, 9: Carnegie Hall, New York, October 26, 1963

Download

L.S. Bearforce - L.S. Bearforce (1983)

The L.S. here is Lotus Schmidt, who had been the drummer for German band Spacebox in the 70's. On this though he plays bass, giving the percussion duties to Guru Guru's Mani Neumeier and conga player Winfried Beck. Banging away on the guitar is Edmund Heimann , and rounding things out is Embryo's Edgar Hoffman on sax, flute, violin, and an Indian woodwind instrument called a nagaswaram. This sounds largely improvisational, and as usual Mani rocks the house - man what a good drummer! This was a vinyl rip I got a few months ago from Mystery Poster & Friends, so thanks to them! It came as one long .wav file, so I separated the tracks and worked them over with Adobe Audition. Came out pretty good I think.

Download

Message - The Dawn Anew Is Coming (1972)

Although located in Germany, Message was basically a British band - only the bassist and drummer were German. They have been compared to Nektar, and in fact Nektar's Taff Freeman contributed vocals and plays mellotron on a cut or two. This is an excellent album, up there with the best of early 70's British melodic prog rock. I posted their second album, Of Books And Dreams, which is also great though a little on the darker side, on Sept. 19, 2005. Check the archives.

Download

Pacific Sound - Forget Your Dream! (1972)

Pacific Sound were four guys from Switzerland who made just this one album which is a psychedelic classic. The music is not near as dark as the gruesome cover might suggest, though there are a couple tracks that remind you of the doomy side of early Procol Harum. Great organ playing throughout. Lotsa influences on this one, the first track really reminds me of something, but I can't place it. Ha! I just got it - Spencer Davis' "I'm A Man"!!

Download

Muck Groh - Mucke Fuck (1979)

OK don't be shocked by the title - I don't speak German, but as far as I can tell "Mucke Fuck" is a treat of some kind, at least it seems to be something to eat! I could be wrong, I probably am. Maybe one of our German friends will tell us more. Anyway, the album - it's awesome! Muck Groh was a founding member of Ihre Kinder, who went on to form the great band Aera. This is some brilliant jazzy, quirky, eccentric rock performed by some excellent musicians. Gets better with each listen. For another great Muck Groh album check the archives for Jan. 28 2007 and download "Grotesk".

Download

OK see you next week.

Howdy! Continuing on with the Texas International Pop Festival, one more week to go probably, and some other stuff. Happy Downloading and don't forget to leave a comment, and buy it if you like it - if you can find it!

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 7 - Spirit

1. Rehearsal Theme
2. I'm Truckin' / Fresh Garbage / Poor Richard
3. Caught / Jams
4. Groundhog Day
5. Policeman's Ball / Drums / Mechanical World
6. I Got A Line On You
7. Aren't You Glad

Jay Ferguson - vocals; Randy California - guitar;
Mark Andes - bass; Ed Cassidy - drums;
John Locke - organ

Download

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 8 - B.B. King

1. Introduction
2. Sweet Sixteen
3. Please Accept My Love
4. band intros
5. Everybody Wants To Know Why I Sing The Blues
6. Don't Want A Soul Hanging Around
7. What's Wrong Little Mama
8. How Blue Can You Get
9. Whole Lot Of Lovin'
10. Everyday I Have The Blues

B.B. King - guitar; Alberto Jaquinto - piano;
Kenneth Moore - bass; Sonny Freeman - drums;
John Browning - trumpet;
Booker Walker - alto sax; Louis Hubert - tenor sax

Download

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 9 - Johnny Winter

1. Introduction
2. Mean Town Blues
3. Black Cat Bone
4. Mean Mistreater
5. Talk To Your Daughter
6. Leland Mississippi Blues
7. I Can Love You Baby

Johnny Winter - guitar
Tommy Shannon - bass
John Red Turner - drums

Download

Cream - The Alternative Album (1966)

This Cream bootleg has 11 tracks, 10 of which were recorded in September 1966, 9 of which are alternate versions of songs that appeared on "Fresh Cream", and a song called "You Make Me Feel" which was not released. The eleventh track is a beer commercial recorded in 1967. My rip @ 320 w/scans

01 - Lawdy Mama (2:03)
02 - Rollin' And Tumblin' (4:39)
03 - Sweet Wine (3:09)
04 - Cat's Squirrel (3:12)
05 - The Coffee Song (2:49)
06 - Toad (4:22)
07 - You Make Me Feel (2:43)
08 - Wrapping Paper (1:07)
09 - Fallstaff Beer (1:02)
10 - I Feel Free (3:09)
11 - White Room (4:14)

Download

Toad - Toad (1972)

The first album from Swiss hard rock group Toad is a must-have for anyone that likes early 70's rock. Guitarist Vic Vergeat just smokes, and the rest of the band are no slouches either. I've posted a couple other things by them, Rarities and Live At St. Joseph 1972 , so if you downloaded those, you know these guys were great! My rip @ 320 w/ scans.

Vic Vergeat - guitars
Cosimo Lampis - drums
Werner Froehlich - bass
Benj Jäger - vocals

Part 1 Part 2

Iron Claw - Dismorphophobia (1970-1973)

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the little birdies are going tweet-tweet - love is in the air! Why not listen to some Iron Claw? Mean and nasty underground rock made by a bunch of heavy-riffing malcontent teenage Scots, big on the Sabbath and Budgie influences, though the sound is more varied. This is great downer rock with some brilliant guitar playing, occasional use of mellotron and synthesizers. I might have heard some harmonica and sax too. This is essentially the same bunch that recorded as Antrobus. Their split album with Flying Hat Band was one of the first things I ever posted on this blog, in Sept. 2005.

Part 1 Part 2

Dzyan - Electric Silence (1974)

Buried under all this hard rock is Dzyan's third and final album, a genuine krautrock masterpiece! I just checked Amazon, and a used copy of this is going for 100 USD! What does that mean? I don't know. This is a brilliant, ambitious release, with music ranging from jazz fusion to space rock to eastern tinged rock, with everything blending together for a delicious psychedelic stew. Or maybe a freaky salad. Dzyan are not one of the big names in krautrock but they should be, all three of their albums are equally great. You can get their other two from the archives - I posted "Time Machine" on 9 January 2006, and "Dzyan" on 16 October 2006. Get all three!!

Download

JPT Scare Band - Sleeping Sickness (1973-1976)

Man I can't stop with the hard rock. Well I guess I can, this is the last one this week! Containing tracks from their first two vinyl-only albums, this thing is a frenzy of pounding drums, heavy bass, over-the-top, feedback-drenched fuzzed-out guitar playing. These guys were a power trio right up there with the best bands of the early seventies, bands like Blue Cheer, Cactus, even Cream and Hendrix! One guy reviewing this at Amazon even mentioned Hairy Chapter!! If they'd had the sense to relocate from Kansas City Missouri, get a different manager maybe, these guys would be household names today.

Part 1 Part 2

Führs & Fröhling - Ammerland (1978)

OK after all this brain-burning hard rock, it's time to calm down a little. Führs & Fröhling are, of course, two-thirds of the German symphonic prog group Schicke Führs & Fröhling. This is a classical guitar player and a string synth player making music that could possibly be described as a precursor to New Age Music. With titles like "Gentle Breeze" and "Dance Of The Leaves" it's not hard to figure out what's going on. The eight tracks on this album are lush, gentle soundscapes that are very, uh, relaxing! Beautiful and romantic, that's what this is.

Download

OK - Later!

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 7 - Spirit

1. Rehearsal Theme
2. I'm Truckin' / Fresh Garbage / Poor Richard
3. Caught / Jams
4. Groundhog Day
5. Policeman's Ball / Drums / Mechanical World
6. I Got A Line On You
7. Aren't You Glad

Jay Ferguson - vocals; Randy California - guitar;
Mark Andes - bass; Ed Cassidy - drums;
John Locke - organ

Download

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 8 - B.B. King

1. Introduction
2. Sweet Sixteen
3. Please Accept My Love
4. band intros
5. Everybody Wants To Know Why I Sing The Blues
6. Don't Want A Soul Hanging Around
7. What's Wrong Little Mama
8. How Blue Can You Get
9. Whole Lot Of Lovin'
10. Everyday I Have The Blues

B.B. King - guitar; Alberto Jaquinto - piano;
Kenneth Moore - bass; Sonny Freeman - drums;
John Browning - trumpet;
Booker Walker - alto sax; Louis Hubert - tenor sax

Download

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 9 - Johnny Winter

1. Introduction
2. Mean Town Blues
3. Black Cat Bone
4. Mean Mistreater
5. Talk To Your Daughter
6. Leland Mississippi Blues
7. I Can Love You Baby

Johnny Winter - guitar
Tommy Shannon - bass
John Red Turner - drums

Download

Cream - The Alternative Album (1966)

This Cream bootleg has 11 tracks, 10 of which were recorded in September 1966, 9 of which are alternate versions of songs that appeared on "Fresh Cream", and a song called "You Make Me Feel" which was not released. The eleventh track is a beer commercial recorded in 1967. My rip @ 320 w/scans

01 - Lawdy Mama (2:03)
02 - Rollin' And Tumblin' (4:39)
03 - Sweet Wine (3:09)
04 - Cat's Squirrel (3:12)
05 - The Coffee Song (2:49)
06 - Toad (4:22)
07 - You Make Me Feel (2:43)
08 - Wrapping Paper (1:07)
09 - Fallstaff Beer (1:02)
10 - I Feel Free (3:09)
11 - White Room (4:14)

Download

Toad - Toad (1972)

The first album from Swiss hard rock group Toad is a must-have for anyone that likes early 70's rock. Guitarist Vic Vergeat just smokes, and the rest of the band are no slouches either. I've posted a couple other things by them, Rarities and Live At St. Joseph 1972 , so if you downloaded those, you know these guys were great! My rip @ 320 w/ scans.

Vic Vergeat - guitars
Cosimo Lampis - drums
Werner Froehlich - bass
Benj Jäger - vocals

Part 1 Part 2

Iron Claw - Dismorphophobia (1970-1973)

The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, the little birdies are going tweet-tweet - love is in the air! Why not listen to some Iron Claw? Mean and nasty underground rock made by a bunch of heavy-riffing malcontent teenage Scots, big on the Sabbath and Budgie influences, though the sound is more varied. This is great downer rock with some brilliant guitar playing, occasional use of mellotron and synthesizers. I might have heard some harmonica and sax too. This is essentially the same bunch that recorded as Antrobus. Their split album with Flying Hat Band was one of the first things I ever posted on this blog, in Sept. 2005.

Part 1 Part 2

Dzyan - Electric Silence (1974)

Buried under all this hard rock is Dzyan's third and final album, a genuine krautrock masterpiece! I just checked Amazon, and a used copy of this is going for 100 USD! What does that mean? I don't know. This is a brilliant, ambitious release, with music ranging from jazz fusion to space rock to eastern tinged rock, with everything blending together for a delicious psychedelic stew. Or maybe a freaky salad. Dzyan are not one of the big names in krautrock but they should be, all three of their albums are equally great. You can get their other two from the archives - I posted "Time Machine" on 9 January 2006, and "Dzyan" on 16 October 2006. Get all three!!

Download

JPT Scare Band - Sleeping Sickness (1973-1976)

Man I can't stop with the hard rock. Well I guess I can, this is the last one this week! Containing tracks from their first two vinyl-only albums, this thing is a frenzy of pounding drums, heavy bass, over-the-top, feedback-drenched fuzzed-out guitar playing. These guys were a power trio right up there with the best bands of the early seventies, bands like Blue Cheer, Cactus, even Cream and Hendrix! One guy reviewing this at Amazon even mentioned Hairy Chapter!! If they'd had the sense to relocate from Kansas City Missouri, get a different manager maybe, these guys would be household names today.

Part 1 Part 2

Führs & Fröhling - Ammerland (1978)

OK after all this brain-burning hard rock, it's time to calm down a little. Führs & Fröhling are, of course, two-thirds of the German symphonic prog group Schicke Führs & Fröhling. This is a classical guitar player and a string synth player making music that could possibly be described as a precursor to New Age Music. With titles like "Gentle Breeze" and "Dance Of The Leaves" it's not hard to figure out what's going on. The eight tracks on this album are lush, gentle soundscapes that are very, uh, relaxing! Beautiful and romantic, that's what this is.

Download

Hello - three more volumes of the Texas International Pop Festival this week, plus some other cool stuff. Here we go and don't forget to leave a comment - you can say thanks or whatever in any language.

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 4 - Rotary Connection

1. Lady Jane
2. Ruby Tuesday
3. Stormy Monday / The Whole Creation / Stormy Monday
4. Sunshine Of Your Love
5. Let The People Talk

Minnie Ripperton - vocals; Sidney Barnes - vocals;
Jon Stocklin - guitar; Ken Venegas - organ;
Jeremiah - bass; Bobby Simms - drums

Part 1 Part 2

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 5 - Santana

1. Evil Ways
2. You Just Don't Care
3. Shades Of Time
4. Jingo
5. Treat
6. Soul Sacrifice

Carlos Santana - guitar; Greg Rollie - keyboards, vocals;
Dave Brown - bass; Michael Shrieve - drums;
Michael Carabello - percussion; Jose Areas - percussion

Download

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 6 - Led Zeppelin

1. Train Kept A-Rollin'
2. I Can't Quit You
3. Dazed And Confused
4. You Shook Me
5. How Many More Times - part 1
6. How Many More Times - part 2
7. Communication Breakdown

Robert Plant - vocals; Jimmy Page - guitar;
John Paul Jones - bass; John Bonham - drums

Part 1 Part 2

Various Artists - Brain Festival Essen (1977)

This is a first-class vinyl rip of a 2 record set, featuring artists on the Brain label, performing at a festival in Essen, Germany in 1977. There is also a double album from the festival in 1978 - I'll put that up in a couple weeks.

01 Gate - Friedrichstr. 18 - 7:19
02 Novalis - Wer Schmetterlinge Lachen Hort - 9:11
03 Release Music Orchestra - Rico - 6:50
04 Jane - Expectations - 5:39
05 Jane - Out In The Rain - 6:06
06 Message - River Field - 5:38
07 Guru Guru - I'm Really Into Rock 'n' Roll, Man - 4:46
08 Guru Guru - All We Need - 5:44
09 Ruphus - Second Corner - 6:32
10 Ruphus - No Deal - 7:43

Part 1 Part 2

Fraternity Of Man - Fraternity Of Man (1968)

Fraternity Of Man is probably best known for the track "Don't Bogart Me" which appeared on the soundtrack for the film Easy Rider, which is on here, but for some of the rest of the album, you'd swear you were listening to some early Mothers Of Invention. In fact there is a cover of Zappa's "Oh No I Don't Believe It". Guitarist Eliot Ingber had been in the Mothers during the recording of "Freak Out", and would later become Winged Eel Fingerling in Captain Beefheart's Magic Band. This is some great L.A. psychedelic/weird rock - the drug references in the often funny lyrics are over the top. These guys loved their pot. Paranoid about the police too. If the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers had a favorite band it was probably Fraternity Of Man.

Download

Guru Guru - Känguru (1972)

Känguru is Guru Guru's third album, and possibly the best featuring the classic early line-up of Mani Neumier, Uli Trepte, and Ax Genrich. Consisting of four tracks, ranging from 10 to 15 minutes, there is a wide variety of things going on here - weird humor, power chords, jazz phrasing, spacy jams, chaotic noise - and some great rock. One of the better albums from rock and roll's most insane "power trio".

Download

Electric Sandwich - Electric Sandwich (1972)

I uploaded this and then realized that I had posted it already, last July! Well screw it - here it is again!!
No historical information is known about Electric Sandwich, though they are reputedly ex-Vinegar. Typical of many Krautrock bands of the era, they drew on a wide range of influences: jazz, blues, psychedelia, etc., and molded their own fusion with that typically cosmic yet powerful edge. Their sole album is oddly balanced, opening with the lengthy Xhol/Kollektiv-like instrumental "China" with excellent electric sax, and thereafter establishing a more unique brand of song fronted by a gruff vocalist, in a blues and jazz accented progressive blend. Really, every track on the album is different, though a recognizable Electric Sandwich style does ride throughout.

Download

Home - The Alchemist (1973)

Home were formed in London UK in 1970. The band were centred around the fine guitar work of Laurie Wisefield, and the voice of Mick Stubbs, the band's principal songwriter. They released three albums between 1971 and 1973. The first two albums contained competent and reasonably original songs, some with progressive leanings.

It was however the third album, "The Alchemist" which was the band's masterpiece. This concept album is one of the forgotten gems of progressive rock, telling a tale of supernatural events and the reaction of those placed in fear by them. Musically, the album sees the band taking an enormous leap forward. Sadly, the momentum was lost as quickly as it came, and "The Alchemist" proved to be Home's final album. (biography taken from progarchives.com)

- Mick Cook - Drums, Percussion, vocals
- Mick Stubbs - Guitars, piano, lead vocals
- Cliff Williams - Bass guitar, vocals
- Laurie Wisefield - Electric guitar (lead), Acoustic guitar, steel guitar, vocals

Download

Van Der Graaf Generator - Bless The Baby Born Today (1971 + 1976)

This boot is short and sweet.

BBC In Concert
Excellent quality broadcasts

1. Killer 11:06
2. Darkness 7:16
3. La Rossa 9:59
4. Still Life 7:24

Tracks 1-2: July 12, 1971
Tracks 3-4: April 30, 1976

Peter Hammill - vocals, David Jackson - sax,
Hugh Banton - organ, Guy Evans - drums

Download

The Move - Sound Of BBC (1967-1968)

Great compilation of broadcasts from BBC and Danish TV. Quality is OK, keep in mind these are 40 years old, from television!

1. Don't Throw Stones At Me
2. Open My Eyes
3. Walk Right Back
4. Falling Forever
5. Curly
6. She's A Woman
7. Lightning Never Strikes Twice
8. Hello Susie
9. Time Machine
10. Brontosaurus
11. Sound Of Silence
12. Night Of Fear
13. Kilroy Was Here
14. Hey Girl
15. I Can Hear The Grass Grow

Tracks 1-11: BBC, 1967 & 1968
Tracks 12-15: TopPop, TV-Byen, Gladsaxe, Denmark, May 20, 1967

Download

OK that's enough for this week - see you later!

Hello boys and girls - starting a new series this week, the Texas International Pop Festival. This festival took place at the Dallas International Motor Speedway in Lewisville Texas on August 30th and 31st, 1969. There are 13 volumes in the set, each volume featuring one artist. Well except for the last two, which have a couple tracks each by multiple acts. These are soundboard recordings with a bitrate of 320, front and back covers. I'll post a few each week until they're done. They vary in length.

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 1 - Chicago Transit Authority

1. Intro / Introduction
2. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is
3. South California Purples
4. Beginnings
5. 25 or 6 To 4
6. announcements
7. I'm A Man

Tracks 1-5: August 30, 1969
Tracks 6-7: August 31, 1969

Robert Lamm - keyboards, Terry Kath - guitar,
Peter Cetera - bass, Danny Seraphine - drums,
Walter Parazaider - woodwinds,
Lee Loughnane - trumpet, James Pankow - trombone

Download

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 2 - The James Cotton Blues Band

1. Intro / Cut You Loose
2. Fallin' Rain
3. Heart Attack
4. Knock On Wood
5. Nine Below Zero
6. Dust My Broom
7. The Creeper
8. Turn On Your Lovelight
9. Please Please Please

James Cotton - vocals, harmonica, Luther Tucker - guitar,
Bill Nugent - sax, Bob Anderson - bass, Barry Smith - drums

Part 1 Part 2

Texas International Pop Festival Vol. 3 - Janis Joplin & The Kozmic Blues Band

1. Intro / Raise Your Hand
2. As Good As You Been To This World
3. Try (Just A Little Bit Harder)
4. Maybe
5. To Love Somebody
6. Summertime

Janis Joplin - vocals, Snooky Flowers - sax,
Sam Andrews - guitar, Brad Campbell - bass,
Lonnie Castile - drums, Richard Kermode - keyboards,
Terry Clements - sax, Luis Gasca - trumpet

Download

Christine Perfect - Christine Perfect (1970)

After appearing on two Chicken Shack albums, "Forty Blue Fingers" and "OK Ken?", and before being convinced by her husband John McVie to join Fleetwood Mac, Christine Perfect made her first solo album which was not a commercial success. In later years she called this album a "contrived farce", referring to her lack of creative control. Nonetheless this is a very mellow, sweet album, featuring guest appearances on a couple tracks by members of Chicken Shack and Fleetwood Mac. A real standout is "I'd Rather Go Blind" from her days with Chicken Shack. Also a cover version of Danny Kirwan's "When You Say" from Fleetwood Mac's "Then Play On". Kirwan also co-produced this album. Contrived farce or not, this is a very very good album. My rip @ 320, with scans.

Download

My Solid Ground - My Solid Ground (1970)

One reviewer called this "one of the ten best krautrock albums of all time" - or something similar; I can't find the review now. A couple of the tracks are on the heavy side - the opening track "Dirty Yellow Mist" is 13 minutes of a simple guitar riff backed by brilliant keyboard playing, percussion, and other-worldly sounds - very cosmic. "The Executioner" is much shorter, but very disturbing in a way, with great lead guitar and keyboards. The rest of the album is hard rock, very inventive and original, sometimes aggressive, sometime very Pink Floyd like - I mean, there's pink pigs on the cover. Bonus tracks include tapes from the rehearsals and some alternate mixes, including a 24 minute version of one of the album tracks, "Flash". All in all this probably is one of the best 70's German albums - too bad the members seem to have disappeared from the music scene after recording this.

Part 1 Part 2

Neuschwanstein - Battlement (1978)

"Incredible masterpiece of 70's progressive epic-symphonic rock. This Genesis/Camel/Eloy style German band sings the lyrics in English. The singer sounds remarkably like Peter Gabriel with a German accent. The music is filled with beautiful lush Mellotron, acoustic and electric guitars, flute and tasteful moog synth work similar to Genesis and Camel. The energetic drumming and bass work however, sounds more German, similar to bands like Eloy and Epidaurus. Very nice music from this incredible band. Highly recommended!!" (Review by dalt99 - progarchives.com)

Download

Niagara - S.U.B. (1972)

Niagara was the brainchild of German drummer Klaus Weiss. The first self-titled album was all percussion, but the second, this one, included instruments and was much more in the conventional jazz rock vein. Still, there are four percussionists credited, including Udo Lindenberg and Danny Fichelscher of Amon Düül II, so this is jazz rock with a real emphasis on percussive rhythm. All instrumental with lots of funky guitar and bass runs, some great flute, sax, and other horns, this might remind some people of Can or maybe early Embryo. This is a vinyl rip that I cleaned up pretty good!

Download

The Nice - Swedish Radio Sessions (1967)

The Nice were booked to play live on Swedish radio in the fall of 1967, prior to the release of their debut album while they were still a quartet. Organist Keith Emerson was not yet the dominant force he became following the departure of guitarist Davy O'List, who is quite prominent on this session. The music is a bit of a mishmash, with Bob Dylan's "She Belongs to Me" starting a bit erratically but finally coming together. Their own composition "Flower King of Flies" has a more subtle vocal by bassist Lee Jackson than the studio version they eventually released. The version of jazzman Charles Lloyd's "Sombrero Sam" seems a bit like filler, but the booby prize of the evening is a cover of Vanilla Fudge's overwrought "You Keep Me Hanging On." A quick take of their own "The Thoughts of Emerlist Davjack" is followed by the gem of the date: a 12-minute workout of "Rondo." This version of "Rondo" easily eclipses all the other versions by the Nice . Considering the vintage of this long overlooked music, the sound is quite good, so any fans of the Nice should consider this to be a lost treasure worth acquiring.

Download

Wishbone Ash - Fighters and Warriors

This bootleg is a great-sounding stereo soundboard of Wishbone Ash at the Paris Theatre in London on May 25, 1972 doing material mostly from their album "Argus".

1. Time Was
2. Blowin' Free
3. Warrior
4. Throw Down The Sword
5. The King Will Come
6. Phoenix

Andy Powell - guitar
Ted Turner - guitar
Martin Turner - bass
Steve Upton - drums

Part 1 Part 2

OK see you next week - as always comments appreciated!