OK - this week all six volumes of "Psychedelic Gems" from the Garden of Delights label. Mostly these are 7" singles from late 60's to mid 70's Germany. A lot of this stuff is great. All files @320 each volume has front and back covers.

Psychedelic Gems - Vol. 1

Hans Werner Kuntze’s Osnabrück CCA label (and sub-labels) mainly featured beat bands but included some psychedelic and progressive groups. Here are DOM, Pax Vobis, The Ooze, The Devils, Blues Ltd. and Scramp.

1. DOM - DOM 05:01 (1972)
2. DOM - Devil’s Grandma 06:29 (1972)
3. Pax Vobis - Questions, As Old As The Humanity 02:37 (1972)
4. Pax Vobis - Ali Ben Muck 05:02 (1972)
5. Pax Vobis - Muffelofen 06:11 (1972)
6. Pax Vobis - Rotkohl 03:35 (1972)
7. The Ooze - Free 05:13 (1970)
8. The Ooze - We’re Living Now 04:16 (1970)
9. The Devils - World Of Empty Wishes 05:05 (1973)
10. The Devils - Way Of Love 07:23 (1973)
11. The Devils - Darkness 07:09 (1973)
12. Blues Ltd. - St. Andrews 04:05 (1971)
13. Blues Ltd. - Butterfinger 03:06 (1971)
14. Scramp - Inside Lookin’ Out 03:22 (1972)
15. Scramp - Who Has Seen The Wind 02:50 (1972)

Part 1 Part 2

Psychedelic Gems - Vol. 2

Featuring the remaining CCA (and sub-label) bands eligible for this series: Alaska Range, The Scorpions (with two so far unreleased tracks backdating to 1971), Lazarus’ Bra, Red Fug and Fifth Dead.

1. Alaska Range - Castles In The Air 02:49 (1970)
2. Alaska Range - Daybreak 04:09 (1970)
3. Scorpions - I'm Goin' Mad 04:43 (1971)
4. Scorpions - Action 03:41 (1971)
5. Lazarus' Bra - Passivity Won't Change The World 07:03 (1972)
6. Lazarus' Bra - If 04:23 (1972)
7. Red Fug - March, 16th 04:38 (1973)
8. Red Fug - The Journey 03:09 (1973)
9. Fifth Dead - A Special Man 03:08 (1973)
10. Fifth Dead - Long Way 03:47 (1975)
11. Fifth Dead - Bumble Bee 03:40 (1975)
12. Fifth Dead - What Can We Do 07:38 (1975)
13. Fifth Dead - Angel and God 02:51 (1975)
14. Fifth Dead - Blue Sky 04:38 (1976)
15. Fifth Dead - Devilking 04:08 (1976)

Part 1 Part 2

Psychedelic Gems - Vol. 3

This third CD in the series contains exclusive tracks unreleased at the time: an almost 25 minute My Solid Ground composition of 1970, a Mr. Grabstein (ex Gäa) track and three early Werwolf demos.

1. My Solid Ground - Flash 24:41 (1970)
2. Mr. Grabstein - Smoke 08:05 (1975)
3. Werwolf - The Song 08:21(1979)
4. Werwolf - My Story 11:30 (1979)
5. Werwolf - The Dreamer 09:22 (1979)

Part 1 Part 2

Psychedelic Gems - Vol. 4

Seven bands who released just one 7" single on small labels or as a private pressing: Chicago Sect, The Empty C, The Hardships, Apple Pie, Yoice (later Analogy), Waterloo and Acid.

1. Chicago Sect - Chain Reaction 03:25 (1968)
2. Chicago Sect - She's Not There 03:05 (1968)
3. The Empty C - Porky's Blues 04:58 (1969)
4. The Empty C - The Night 02:23 (1969)
5. The Hardships - The Work 03:15 (1969)
6. The Hardships - Follow Me 03:25 (1969)
7. Apple Pie - Ballad Of The Crying Man 03:18 (1970)
8. Apple Pie - Maurice 03:02 (1970)
9. Yoice - Sold Out 04:34 (1971)
10. Yoice - God's Own Land 03:34 (1971)
11. Waterloo - The End 05:36 (1976)
12. Waterloo - The Painter 04:51 (1976)
13. Waterloo - Jamming 1 05:40 (1976)
14. Waterloo - Jamming 2 (03:30 (1976)
15. Acid - Acid 03:37 (1979)
16. Acid - She's Alone Again 03:00 (1979)

Part 1 Part 2

Psychedelic Gems - Vol. 5

Just like the fourth CD of the series, this time featuring: The Desperates, Tortilla Flat, Just We, The Giants, Chain, B.S.H. and Tibet. Their 7" singles were released between 1966 and 1976.

1. The Desperates - LSD 02:52 (1966)
2. The Desperates - Stupidity 02:26 (1966)
3. Tortilla Flat - Facts 02:24 (1970)
4. Tortilla Flat - Life 02:25 (1970)
5. Just We - Somethin' Like It 03:30 (1971)
6. Just We - Dallas Woman Blues 03:38 (1971)
7. The Giants - He-He-Ho 05:03 (1972)
8. The Giants - Broken Earth 04:45 (1972)
9. Chain - Greasy 04:34 (1973)
10. Chain - London City 03:10 (1973)
11. B.S.H. - Short Step 02:39 (1974)
12. Tibet - Only Man's Love 03:22 (1976)
13. Tibet - She Is Gone 03:32 (1976)

Part 1 Part 2

Psychedelic Gems - Vol. 6

Seven bands who released just one 7" single on small labels or as a private pressing: The JP’s (pre-Jane), Blackmann Lane, Blackbirds 2000, Caleidoscope Inc., Nyrvana Pancake, Al Capone, and Metamorphosis.

1. The JP's: Save Me 03:33 (1969)
2. The JP's: The War 03:00 (1969)
3. Blackmann Lane - Hunger 03:12 (1970)
4. Blackmann Lane - Lato-Lam 02:55 (1970)
5. Blackbirds 2000 - Let’s Do It Together 02:45 (1970)
6. Blackbirds 2000 - Preludium 02:10 (1970)
7. Caleidoscope Inc. - I’m Waiting For You 03:28 (1970)
8. Caleidoscope Inc. - Kind Of Sadness 03:20 (1970)
9. Nyrvana Pancake - Open Your Eyes 03:39 (1973)
10. Nyrvana Pancake - Lonesome Boy 03:54 (1973)
11. Al Capone - Demon’s Dance 02:37 (1975)
12. Al Capone - Classicer 01:52 (1975)
13. Metamorphosis - You Have An Aim 03:25 (1977)
14. Metamorphosis - Wanna Hear Some Blues 03:58 (1977)

Part 1 Part 2

Well that's it then!

Guy walks into a bar. Er, nevermind!

Various Artists - Heavy Nuggets (2007)

Given away free with the Dec. 2007 issue of Mojo Magazine, this started showing up in used CD stores almost right away - some people have no taste! Well I got one and this thing smokes, every single track is great. You know how when you make your own comps, after a couple listens there's always a track you wish you had left off, and used a different one? Well this comp is perfect - even the track by Slade, a band I have pretty much ignored all these years, is hot. Anybody know where the selection by The Move, "Don't Make My Baby Blue" came from? I'm just asking because it is awesome!!

1. Terry Reid - Tinker Taylor
2. Pretty Things - Old man Going
3. The Open Mind - Magic Potion
4. Mighty Baby - Egyptian Tomb
5. Second Hand - Rhubarb!
6. Leaf Hound - Freelance Fiend
7. Atomic Rooster - Night Living
8. The Move - Don’t Make My Baby Blue
9. Slade - My Life Is Natural
10. Possessed - Climb The Wooden Hills
11. Procol Harum - Long Gone Geek
12. Blossom Toes - Peace Loving Man
13. Luv Machine - Witches Wand
14. Pete Brown and Piblokto - Aeroplane Head Woman
15. Warhorse - Solitude

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These Trails - These Trails (1973)

OK it's time to mellow out a little with this awesome album of psychedelic folk from Hawaii. Great songs. beautiful harmonies, some really alien sounding stuff rubbing shoulders with more traditional material. Not really "Hawaiian" sounding, more like some Brit folk band that was really from Hawaii. Or something. This is really unique - ethereal and dreamy, with odd song structures and arrangements, awesome female vocals courtesy of one Barbara Morgan who also wrote most of the songs. This is Acid Folk with a capital "A". Then a Capital "F" I guess.

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Creative Rock - Gorilla (1972)

First album from this German band that doesn't sound all that "German". Very much in the vein of American acts like Blood Sweat and Tears or Chicago or even like the British band Colosseum. Very jazzy with a great singer, lots of brass and an awesome rhythm section. No guitar shortage though, some good stuff in that department along with some nice flute here and there. If you are into horn-rock this is right up your alley.

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Exmagma - Exmagma 3 (1975)

Recorded in 1975 and only released a few years ago, this is more of the experimental, avant-garde, inventive jazz rock that this German trio is known for.

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Faithful Breath - Back On My Hill (1980)

"The origins of Faithful Breath are somewhat obscure. Originally they were a symphonic rock band, in fact one of the earliest of the genre in Germany. Their debut album FADING BEAUTY has indeed justly become revered as a classic, having lengthy side-long suites, composed of a melodic, oft-sedate and dramatic rock, driven on by vast washes of keyboards (lots of Mellotron and synthesizers) and lengthy involved instrumentals, merging in with mysterious songs with a science fiction fantasy concept. Several years on (and after many line-up changes, in fact they were a guitar/keyboards/drums trio at one point) they returned with the album BACK ON MY HILL, which presented a less esoteric but still interesting rock music with contrasting LP sides: one of shorter hard-rock based tracks, and the other a lengthy suite spurred on by majestic Mellotron orchestrations. [bonus track on this CD]" (The Crack In The Cosmic Egg"

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Troya - Point Of Eruption (1976)

First posted this a long time ago but have since gotten the CD so this is a fresh rip with scanned booklet. Anyway this is soft symphonic rock comparable to their German contemporaries like Epidaurus, maybe Novalis. Cosmic Dreams calls this a "minor classic"

Bitrate 320 w/artwork Download

OK that's it then - see ya.

Hello! Thanks for all the great comments lately!

Brian Auger - Brian Auger's Oblivion Express (1970)

"After the last throes of Trinity, Brian decided to form a new band from scratch and allow for more instrumental space in his music. And what a departure this was from the Trinity days. Here the music took a more severe turn away from his previous sound while remaining accessible, but being much more energetic as well and combined jazz and rock even further. With Dean and McIntosh as a solid rhythm section, Brian had to look for a guitarist that wouldn’t be tempted to overdo his own antics on the keyboards and eventually he chose Jim Mullen. With the artwork depicting our favourite Ogre unleashing his Oblivion Express out of his chest and straight into your face and ears, it’s easy to see that Brian is the boss with the majority of the compositions to his name. Certainly one of the better hard Hammond-driven rock albums coming out of the early 70’s from England, Brian Auger's Oblivion Express is a 100 MPH album that gives no rest." (Hugues Chantraine progarchives.com)

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Hoelderlin - Live Traumstadt (1978)

"This is a very underrated German progressive rock band! The double-album “Hoelderlin Live - Traumstadt” is their finest work and showcases the band at their pinnacle. It’s still considered as one of the milestones in the German rock history and has some similarities with other German progrock band Grobschnitt concerning the long solos, visual effects, costumes and humor. The music was recorded in the Wuppertaler Opernhaus in October ’77, the 2-LP was released in ’78. The band was hit by multiple changes in the line- up, on "Traumstadt" the musicians were Joachim Grumbkow (keyboards and vocals on “Streaming”), Pablo Weeber (all guitars), Michael Bruchmann (drums), Cristoph ‘Nops’ Noppeney (lead vocals and violin) and Hans Baar (bass). All the nine melodic tracks have their own climate and features fluid accellarations, nice interludes, pleasant keyboards (string-ensemble, electric piano, organ and clavinet) and great interplay between electric guitar and violin. But the focus is on the solowork: fiery (“Sun Rays”), biting (“Soft Landing”) and howling (“Die Stadt”) on the electric guitar and exciting (“Streaming”) and spectacular (“Die Stadt”) on the violin. Many solos are supported by the wonderful and distinctive sound of the string-ensemble, a compelling combination! Recommended, especially to fans of the violin playing of Jean Luc Ponty and Eddie Jobson." (Erik Neuteboom progarchives.com)

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Os Mundi - Os Mundi (2004)

I haven't been able to find out much about this CD, like when the tracks were recorded - progarchives says they were recorded during the band's "late period", and since the band broke up in 1975, that's as good a guess as any - 1975. With seven players in the studio (and a female chorus on one cut), these tracks have a really full sound. The music is great - jazzy, experimental, sometimes a little 'funky'.

Track Listings

1. Deef Bass (8:56)
2. It's All there (4:22)
3. Morining Song (5:10)
4. Peter und der Wolf (12:07)
5. Waber Waber (6:46)

Total Time: 37:21

Line-up/Musicians
Ute Kannenberg - Vocals
Udo Arndt - Guitar
Harald Skorepa - Keyboards
Michael "Fame" Günther - Bass
Konstantin "Bommi" Bommarius - Drums
Ludolf Kuchenbuch - Saxophone
Klaus Henrichs - Saxophone

Bitrate 320 w/covers Download

Popol Vuh - Letzte Tage - Letzte Nächte (1976)

"A sumptuous, pastoral, mystical album that pursues on the way launched by the seminal "Eisnjäger & Siebenjäger" and "Seligpresung". Popol Vuh are at the summit of their career. The atmosphere is totally fascinating, perfectly controlled emotionally with very pleasant, spiritual moments. We are far from their two first challenged "ethnic" electronic, meditative works and really more into guitars / piano / female vocals combination. The vocal melodies of the soprano Djon Yun are especially beautiful and ethereal. Daniel Fichelscher's dreamy and clean guitar playing is pretty effective and well accompanied by the serenity of Florian Fricke's piano playing. Next to the massive "Hosianna Mantra", "Seligpresung" and "Eisnjäger & Siebenjäger" this one is the fourth classic album offered by the band." (Philippe Blache progarchives.com)

1. Der grosse Krieger (3:15)
2. Oh wie nah ist der Weg hinab (4:36)
3. Oh wie weit ist der Weg hinauf (4:30)
4. In deine Hände (3:00)
5. Kyrie (4:38)
6. Haram dei Raram dei Haram dei Ra (1:30)
7. Dort ist der Weg (4:30)
8. Letzte Tage ~ Letzte Nächte (4:20)

Total Time: 30:19

Line-up/Musicians

Florian Fricke - Piano
Daniel Fichelscher - Guitar, Percussion
Djong Yun - Vocals
Renate Knaup - Vocals
Al Gromer - Sitar
Ted De Jong - Tamboura

Bitrate 320 w/covers Download

Lorus - Deluge (2007)

This band, Lorus, sent me a Mp3 copy of what I guess is their first album. A lot of you will surely like this - I stole this review from CD Baby, where you can buy it for only 8.99 USD!

"What would happen if Tool, Melvins and Mogwai all had a gangbang in the back of a tour bus? Their bastard offspring would be called Lorus. Raised by King Crimson with a little strict discipline from Mr. Bungle, Lorus is an avant metal band formed by guitarist Dylan Burr and keyboardist Alan Lawrence. Lorus' music blends divergent genres and synthesizes them with a heavier end, finding new and groundbreaking avenues for heavy music. Playing alongside Dylan and Alan is bassist Chris Brown, Lorus most recent addition, sets an anti-circular, driving tempo. Accessible, inexplicable, experimental, lugubrious and other .75 cent words. How can one band be both? Check www.lorusband.com and here for show dates and deeper explanation." http://cdbaby.com/cd/lorus

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Later!

OK I'm back!

Necronomicon - Tips zum Selbstmord (1972)

I first posted this almost exactly two years ago! Well I finally broke down and bought the CD, this is a fresh rip with complete scans. Anyway this thing is great - complex, powerful and sinister - surely one of the best albums from early 70's Germany.

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Popol Vuh - Aguirre, The Wrath Of God (1976)

"Aguirre is an absolute masterpiece in the electronic-space genre and in all kind of meditative, celestial music. None other records in popular music can equalize this classic in term of implication in beauty. The choir played on the Moog we can hear on the title track is incredible. It's definitely transcending music, the ascending music to heaven. With the next tracks we come back to the unique and special psych-folk compositions which represents the mark of the band. Very floating and dreamy." (Philippe Blache, progarchives)

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Stonewall - Stoner (1974)

Amazing stoner rock from this New York City band - little seems to be known about them, one source says the music was recorded in 1971 and 1972, not released until 1976. Whatever, this thing rocks from beginning to end - great songs, only one clocks in at over five minutes, and that's one of the two bonus tracks. All killer no filler as they say. This one needs to be played LOUD!!

Bitrate 320 w/artwork Download

Touch - Touch (1969)

"TOUCH may have possibly been the first American progressive rock band, although there are counterclaims from supporters of equally neglected/forgotten United States Of America and now the hindsighted claims for ZAPPA & The MOTHERS OF INVENTION. However, (unlike USA and ZAPPA) on hearing much of TOUCH’s small catalogue of progressive music one might be forgiven for saying it was influenced by the early British prog bands, but for the facts they were formed in the mid 60’s and released their only complete album 'Touch' in early 1969 in the USA/mid 1969 in the UK. In other words their music, their ideas and their special album, predates CRIMSON’s « In The Court » and the first RENAISSANCE album.

Lead by the former garage pop/rocker Don Gallucci, (inventor of the timeless Louie Louie keyboard riff in 1963 when 15, then with the Kingsmen), he brought together guitarist Joey Newman and vocalist Jeff Hawks into Don & The Goodtimes. With TV appearances, they had a pop hit « I Could Be So Good To You ». But exposed to more ambitious bands, such as JEFFERSON AIRPLANES and the BEATLES expanding the language of rock, and The GOODTIMES themselves increasing in their music maturity, Gallucci and Newman felt compelled to move away from the limitations of 3 minute pop songs. As a result the innovative, seminal and specifically, archetypal prog song, 75, was written in early 1967. Musically and name-wise Don & The Goodtimes metamorphosed into TOUCH, while their fans thought they looked and had gone weird. John Bordorano and Bruce Hauser were added on drums and bass respectively. By late 1967, (to quote the band) "they had freed themselves of musical suppression and had a release of pent up creativity resulted in a flood of new musical ideas, while hallucinogenic experiences and metaphysical philosophy had given those ideas shape". And also during the end of 1967/early 1968 they had recorded their eponymously titled album.

Praise for TOUCH’s music came from many well known rock artists, e.g. Hendrix (who part bank rolled studio costs of the recording), and Mick Jagger. Glowing endorsements as to the influence of TOUCH have been made subsequently by Jon Anderson and Kerry Livgren – see the liner notes of the Renaissance Records reissue on CD. And the album as an import, was played heavily by the DJs in the London underground clubs – where future British prog stars relaxed in the early hours of the morning, after a hard days night gigging." (Dick Heath progarchives)

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Ultimate Spinach - Behold And See (1968)

Terrific album of late 60's psychedelic rock - weird song structures, off the wall lyrics, use of unusual instruments. Reverb, feedback, drone. Second album by this band from Boston Mass is almost a perfect picture of east coast psychedelia. Very trippy, man!

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Walrus - Walrus (1970)

Only one album from this British outfit, which made progressive music with touches of jazz and blues. Lots of horns, some flute. Nice version of "Coloured Rain" by Traffic. A real solid effort.

Bitrate 320 w/artwork Download

OK see ya!