Well guess what? In a couple days this blog will be two years old! I made the first post on August 29, 2005. Happy Birthday to us, and many thanks to all of you, especially those of you have taken the time over the last couple of years to say hello.

Guru Guru - Hinten (1971)

I don't know whose ass that is in the cover - and I don't want to! Guru Guru's second album is a wild ride into acid-space, almost completely instrumental, with four tracks hovering around the 10-minute mark. Great kraut jamming, totally chaotic. Not relaxing in the least!

High VBR w/artwork Download

Dorian Gray - Idahaho Transfer (1976)

Hopelessly obscure band from Meinerzhagen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany released only one album in 1976, in a limited run of 200 copies. Raw keyboard/guitar based progressive rock with great male and female vocals in German. Could have been produced a little better but the enthusiasm and musicianship of the players makes this a satisfying listen. Very nice.

Bitrate 320 w/scans Download

Jefferson Airplane - Long John Silver (1972)

The last studio album from the Airplane, I think it was slagged by critics at the time, and sales weren't all that good. All the members were involved in side projects and it was clear that The Airplane was landing soon. But every song on this album is strong, and this is an underrated gem. Jorma Kaukonen's guitar and Papa John Creach's violin at times intertwine beautifully. The cover of the original LP could be made into a stash box! I wonder if there are any of those stash boxes still around?

High VBR w/scanned booklet Part 1 Part 2

Altona - Altona (1974)

"This sextet began their recording career as Thrice Mice. As such, they made one album for Phillips in 1971. Some years later they renamed themselves Altona, now expanded to a septet. Altona was the name of a suburb of Hamburg (perhaps this was the place where they came from?). A typical Altona song lasted for 5-7 minutes, had lots of sax and guitars and was largely based on blues and jazz rock. Their albums were produced by one Klaus Bohlmann. Altona were among the better jazz-rockers of the mid-seventies, although they never really excelled. Check them out if progressive jazz-rock appeals to you." (Cosmic Dreams At Play)

Bitrate 256 w/artwork Download

Cold Heat - Heavy Funk Rarities 1968-1974

Alright how about something different, for this blog anyway. We can't listen to psych/prog all the time can we? This is an awesome collection, just like the cover says, of heavy funk/soul tracks, mostly mastered from 45's I think. 16 great tracks from bands you never heard of!

1. The Thing - Carleen & The Groovers
2. Free Your Mind - Amnesty
3. The Stretch (edit) - Detroit Sex Machines
4. Loaded To The Gills (edit) - Michael Liggins & The Supersouls
5. Go For Your Self (edit) - Kenny Smith & The Loveliters
6. Slipping Into Darkness - Dayton Sidewinders
7. James Brown Medley - The Apollo Commanders
8. Cold Heat - Lil' Lavair and The Fabulous Jades
9. The Cissys Thang - The Soul Seven
10. Color (original 7" version) - L.A. Carnival
11. Don't Go - The Aristocrats
12. Drugs Ain't Cool (instrumental) - Ebony Rhythm Band
13. Mr. Chicken (alternate take) - The Soul Seven
14. Street Scene - Leon Mitchison
15. Scorpio - Kashmere Stage Band
16. The Sad Chicken - Leroy & the Drivers

High VBR w/covers Part 1 Part 2

OK later!

OK sorry I'm so late this week - I couldn't get to my Blogger start page on Monday and was gone all day yesterday.

The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation - Last Two Albums (1969-1970)

This 2-for-1 CD has the last two albums from this band, "To Mum, From Aynsley And The Boys" and "Remains To Be Heard". "To Mum..." is actually the last album, and "Remains" was issued posthumously, with Dunbar appearing on only a few tracks. Great stuff regardless.

High VBR w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Family - Fearless (1971)

"Fearless" was Family's fifth album, and maybe it's most innovative. Great musicianship throughout, with the bass and vocals of new member John Wetton fitting into the complex arrangements very nicely.

High VBR w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Violence Fog/Jerusalem - SWF Sessions Vol 6 (1971)

This split CD features two bands from Southern Germany that were popular in their day, but never recorded an album, leaving only these tracks recorded in the studios of radio station SWF. Hippy-dippy psych/prog Krautrock, some nice jammin' tunes. Not great but both bands are minor gems. Couple members of Violence Fog went on to be in Jud's Gallery, whose SWF CD I posted some time back.

High VBR w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Osibisa - Paris Theatre, London, 1972

Featuring original guitarist Wendell Richardson, this stereo soundboard recording originally made for the BBC was recently rebroadcast on cable radio in Switzerland. Many thanks to the original uploader, who did a great job editing out the radio station promos.

01. Beautiful Seven - 7:04
02. Spirits Up Above - 7:38
03. Y Sharp - 7:34
04. The Dawn - 7:03
05. Woyaya - 5:21
06. Survival - 6:56
07. Kokorokoo - 5:57

High VBR w/artwork Download

Krokodil - Getting Up For The Morning (1972)

Fourth album from these Swiss progsters - a great blend of rock, blues, and ethnic styles, continuing in the same vein as "An Invisible World Revealed", though a little more song oriented. These guys were simply a great band, almost every track on every album is worth having.

Bitrate 320 w/artwork Download

Alright see you!

Here we are again! Another week of great downloads -

The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation - First Two Albums (1968-1969)

After quitting John Mayall's Bluesbreakers, and after a stint in the Jeff Beck Group, drummer Aynsley Dunbar formed his own band. This 2-for-1 CD has the first two albums - "The Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation" and "Doctor Dunbar's Prescription". Often overlooked, or even slagged as 'ordinary', by critics, this is some damn fine low-key, low-down British blues. Although Dunbar is best known for his work with Frank Zappa, Ozzy Osbourne, Journey and Jefferson Starship, the four Aynsley Dunbar Retaliation albums are very very cool.

High VBR w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Baby Huey - The Baby Huey Story (1971)

James Ramey, otherwise known as Baby Huey, weighed 400 pounds and died of a heart attack not long after the tracks for his first album were completed. Produced by Curtis Mayfield and featuring an awesomely tight band, The Babysitters - this is a great mix of soul, horn-rock, and rhythm and blues. Baby Huey was a gritty and talented singer, and he knew when to leave the band alone - there are some sublime instrumental jams on this thing, including a brilliant cover of The Mama's & The Papa's "California Dreaming". The first track, "Listen To Me" is a real stand-out, along with a 9 minute version of Sam Cooke's "A Change Is Gonna Come". This album is too short by far, this is some great stuff. I scanned the very informative booklet.

High VBR w/artwork Download

Arktis - Tapes (1975)

Having failed to attract the interest of any major labels, Arktis released a limited pressing of "Tapes" in 1975 as a promotional effort. Consisting of tracks recorded in their rehearsal space in 1974-1975 I find the music is powerful - Klaus Blachut's guitar playing is great, the band is gung-ho, and Karen Toppig's tough vocals are a perfect match to the music. The band broke up after this also failed to attract any attention. What a shame, these guys were real good.

Bitrate 320 w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Cyklus - Planet Of Two Suns (1979)

Featuring guitarist Jens Fischer, who would later play on the Tri Atma albums, this is some very tasty progressive jazz-fusion. The other members of Cyklus had played or would play with Aera, Muck Groh, Eloy, and maybe Kraan, not sure about that one. Whatever, this is definitely worth checking out.

Bitrate 192 w/covers Download

Love Cry Want - Love Cry Want (1972)

Love Cry Want was a fusion band located in Washington D.C, USA in the early 70's, led by guitarist/inventor Nicholas who plays a heavily processed guitar otherwise known as a synth guitar. There are two percussionists on this, Joe Gallivan and Jimmy Molneiri. Hammond organ is played by Larry Young, who played on the first three Tony Williams Lifetime albums, Miles Davis' Bitches Brew and others. Anyway, this was recorded live in Lafayette Park - directly across the street from the White House! The music was so loud, so wild, that President Nixon personally had the concert cut short. What was he afraid of? Listen to this monster of psychedelic jazz/free rock and find out.

Bitrate 192 w/small front cover Download

Midnight Circus - Midnight Circus (1972)

Midnight Circus was an obscure German duo, helped out here by guest musicians, who played a gentle, cosmic kind of progressive folk, similar to Witthüser and Westrupp but with English vocals and a bit more rock oriented. Atmospheric and sometimes dark, this is very appealing, the tracks featuring mellotron might bring to mind early King Crimson. Some sweet guitar, recorder, and trumpet (!).

Bitrate 320 w/front cover Download
Check the comments for a link to better covers, courtesy of Barmaleyy!

OK Bye! See you next week.

Hello boys and girls -

Masters Of The Airwaves - Masters Of The Airwaves (1974)

Never having had an official CD reissue, this is an album I have been on the lookout for ever since I got my first internet connection. Well last month I found it ... twice! I found a low bitrate vinyl rip on a p2p program, then when looking for info on the band (hardly any!) I found a professional vinyl to CD-R transfer available for purchase. This is it. Anyway, very little info on this band that seems to have been from Northern California, USA. A great album of 70's melodic rock, good songs, well played and produced. What makes this band a little different is a homemade guitar played by Jimmy Berick. Different websites say this was a 12, 14, and even 28 string double-necked (pedal steel) guitar. Whatever it was, it lends the already good original material an exotic, soaring, majestic feel. You know how sometimes when you look for something for a long time and when you finally get it you wish you hadn't, because it's not really as good as you remember? Well that didn't happen to me here - this thing is pretty damn good.

High VBR w/artwork Download

Brainstorm - Last Smile (1974)

This was the last album from an excellent German jazz-rock group fronted by Roland Schaeffer, who would go on to be a mainstay of Guru Guru. An excellent live recording of complex, inventive jazz-rock, sounding somewhat like a Canterbury band ... that had Frank Zappa for a leader!

Bitrate 192 w/artwork Download

Faust - Faust (1971)

First album from Faust, another German band that seems to have taken inspiration from Zappa's Mothers Of Invention! One of the first German groups to use the recording equipment itself as an instrument, this is full of studio wizardry, eerie sound collages, tape edits, unusual songs/not-songs. Highlight is 16 minute "Miss Fortune" which was taken from a live performance that must have left the audience bewildered.

Bitrate 256 w/artwork Download

The Chambers Brothers - Love, Peace And Happiness (1969)

The Chambers Brothers were early purveyors of "psychedelic soul", but this double album was kind of schizo - the only psych is the side-long title track which is a full on psychedelic epic. The rest of the album is conventional gospelly R & B, done very well.

Bitrate 256 w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Joy Unlimited - Schmetterlinge (1971)

German band Joy Unlimited's first release was supposedly an album of blues covers, and after hearing vocalist Joy Fleming sing, that would seem to be a natural. This second album, though, is a step in the progressive, or at least not-blues-based, direction. A complex concept album, this is supposed to have been a suite of some kind I guess. What sounds like a huge ensemble puts out a versatile and ambitious album, ranging from raunchy blues to psychedelic rock to free jazz.

Bitrate 320 w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Van Der Graaf Generator - H To He, Who Am The Only One (1970)

Van Der Graaf Generator's 3rd album. Powerful prog, mostly dark and doomy sounding, with expressive vocals.

High VBR w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

OK see you!

Masters Of The Airwaves - Masters Of The Airwaves (1974)

Never having had an official CD reissue, this is an album I have been on the lookout for ever since I got my first internet connection. Well last month I found it ... twice! I found a low bitrate vinyl rip on a p2p program, then when looking for info on the band (hardly any!) I found a professional vinyl to CD-R transfer available for purchase. This is it. Anyway, very little info on this band that seems to have been from Northern California, USA. A great album of 70's melodic rock, good songs, well played and produced. What makes this band a little different is a homemade guitar played by Jimmy Berick. Different websites say this was a 12, 14, and even 28 string double-necked (pedal steel) guitar. Whatever it was, it lends the already good original material an exotic, soaring, majestic feel. You know how sometimes when you look for something for a long time and when you finally get it you wish you hadn't, because it's not really as good as you remember? Well that didn't happen to me here - this thing is pretty damn good.

High VBR w/artwork Download

Brainstorm - Last Smile (1974)

This was the last album from an excellent German jazz-rock group fronted by Roland Schaeffer, who would go on to be a mainstay of Guru Guru. An excellent live recording of complex, inventive jazz-rock, sounding somewhat like a Canterbury band ... that had Frank Zappa for a leader!

Bitrate 192 w/artwork Download

Faust - Faust (1971)

First album from Faust, another German band that seems to have taken inspiration from Zappa's Mothers Of Invention! One of the first German groups to use the recording equipment itself as an instrument, this is full of studio wizardry, eerie sound collages, tape edits, unusual songs/not-songs. Highlight is 16 minute "Miss Fortune" which was taken from a live performance that must have left the audience bewildered.

Bitrate 256 w/artwork Download

The Chambers Brothers - Love, Peace And Happiness (1969)

The Chambers Brothers were early purveyors of "psychedelic soul", but this double album was kind of schizo - the only psych is the side-long title track which is a full on psychedelic epic. The rest of the album is conventional gospelly R & B, done very well.

Bitrate 256 w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Joy Unlimited - Schmetterlinge (1971)

German band Joy Unlimited's first release was supposedly an album of blues covers, and after hearing vocalist Joy Fleming sing, that would seem to be a natural. This second album, though, is a step in the progressive, or at least not-blues-based, direction. A complex concept album, this is supposed to have been a suite of some kind I guess. What sounds like a huge ensemble puts out a versatile and ambitious album, ranging from raunchy blues to psychedelic rock to free jazz.

Bitrate 320 w/artwork Part 1 Part 2

Van Der Graaf Generator - H To He, Who Am The Only One (1970)

VDGG's third album, and some reviewers say this is their first 'mature' release. Alternately doomy and melodic, experimental and