Plasticland - Salon (1987 Pink Dust)

Milwaukee’s very own masters of psychedelia with their third album, released in 1987. This time around we are treated to some Motown injected psych. Short tracks bursting with droning guitars and mellotron laced soundscapes. Vinyl rip.

SALON

Let’s Stomp! • Liverpool Beat 1963

A Liverpudlian treat . . . 

The 16 tracks on Let’s Stomp! were all originally released on the Oriole label in 1963 and produced by John Schroeder. Schroeder , whis is best known for his work with Sonds Orchestral, was one of the first London producers to recognize thee potential of Merseyside. Unlike George Martin who was fed groups by Brian Epstein, Schroeder came to Liverpool to see what was happening. He set up a mobile recording unit in the Rialto ballroom and , over a two-day period, he recorded over twenty Merseyside groups. Two albums were released called This Is Merseybeat and 12 of the best tracks have been included on Let’s Stomp! (From the liner notes)

LET’S STOMP!

Dust - Two Originals

Next up, some great hard rock from this 70’s power trio from New York, Kenny Aaronson, Marc Bell and Richie Wise. The first LP is definitely the stronger of the two in my opinion, not a dud in the bunch, some bluesy moments but they don’t detract from the overall feel of the album. The second LP contains some great rockin’ songs too, like Learning To Die, All In All, Ivory and Suicide. Of course Marc Bell would go on to play drums for Richard Hell & The Voidoids and the Ramones (what a resume).

STONE WOMAN

Rain Parade - Emergency Third Rail Power Trip +

Highly recommended restrained and poignant psychedelia from California’s paisley underground, released in 1983. Band members were David Roback, Steven Roback, Matthew Piucci, Will Glenn and Eddie Kalwa. This collection also contains the Explosions In The Glass Palace EP released in 1984, after David Robacks departure. After several personnel changes and two further albums the band called it quits in 1986. David Roback went on to form Opal and Mazzy Star.

POWER TRIP

T•I•M•E - Time/Smooth Ball

Trust In Men Everywhere, maybe back then . . . now I’m not so sure. Maybe not your top tier psychedelic records, but these two albums from the Bay Area are enjoyable just the same. The first is more of a pop psych album and the second is a heavier affair, they weren’t shy about using phasing either. Top tune picks: Trust In Men Everywhere, I Think You’d Cry, Tripping Into Sunshine and Take Me Along.

TIME

Loose Lips - Talkin’ Trash (TKO 1999)

Just a good rock ’n’ roll album with a punk attitude and enthusiasm that happens to be a lot of fun to listen to. If you are offended by some sleazy and trashy lyrics you may want to skip this one. But if your like me and don’t take things like that too seriously then by all means try this one on.

TUMBLE WITH ME

Country Joe & The Fish - Acid Sound (Boot)

Another band who needs no introductions, if you need one you may be on the wrong blog. This set has a mixed bag of tunes and sound quality, but for the Country Joe & The Fish enthusiast this is a good artifact. There are 4 out-takes from Electric Music For The Mind And Body (1966), 3 from Stockholm (Nov. 17, 1968), 2 from the Bitter End Cafe, NYC (1968), and 5 from the Carousel Ballroom, SF (Feb. 14, 1968).

GIVE ME AN F

The Moving Sidewalks - The Pre-ZZ Houston Roots (1994)

This band shouldn’t need any introductions, The Moving Sidewalks had in it’s ranks one Billy Gibbons, who would along with Dusty Hill and Frank Beard from American Blues go on to form ZZ Top. They released Flash in 1968, one of the best psychedelic albums to come out of Texas. I wish there were some details about this release to share, but the fact is I don’t know squat except that the cover suggests the master tapes were used and it has some unreleased tracks along with the whole Flash album. The sound is very good so they might not be yankin’ my chain on the master tapes thing. Highly recommended!

EVERY NIGHT A NEW SURPRISE

The Kitchen Cinq - Everything But (L.H.I. 12000)

Nice one from Amarillo, TX.  The Kitchen Cinq released this in 1967 on the LHI label. If your looking for screaming fuzz guitars, this ain’t the one your looking for. But if you like your garage with a pop/folk edge this is highly recommended.

EVERYTHING BUT

The Strawberry Alarm Clock - Incense And Peppermints (1967 UNI 73014)

Here it is, the album that is responsible for starting my music collecting career. $25 dollars back in the late 70’s, quite an obscene amount to pay for my meager income at that time. So having said that this is one of my favorite soft psych albums of all time. The only album I would rate higher than this would be the Creation of Sunlight album on Windi records. This is the original Incense And Peppermints album, not the cheesy greatest hits package pooped out by MCA in the early nineties. This classic album deserves better, much better and I hope someday it gets a proper reissue treatment. All of their other material has been reissued by Collectors’ Choice Music a few years back and is still available. If you would like to discover more SAC seek out Wake Up . . . It’s Tomorrow (their second album), things get kinda patchy after that.

SMELL THE INCENSE

The Tempos - Speaking Of . . . 1966 (Justice 104)

Not only the best album on the Justice label (by a country mile) but one of my favorite garage albums period, but that’s just my opinion. Some good originals mixed with some surf and r’n’b covers with a wonderful garage edge make this a real gem. This album just has that great lo-fi garage sound we all crave.

DIG

Euclid - Heavy Equipment 1970 (Flying Dutchman AMS-12005)

Good early hard rock album from 1970, these guys rock pretty hard. They avoid the excessive Vanilla Fudgisms and get right down to rockin’ there are a few psychedelic elements that drift in occasionally, but it is welcome giving the songs a bit more dimensionality. I really dig Jay Leavitt’s drumming he can really stomp. Ralph Mazzola from Lazy Smoke plays guitar, Gary Leavitt on guitar and vocals, Maris on bass and vocals round out the band. This would sit nicely along with Pentagram and Dust. And as always if you like this buy it here.

TURN IT UP

The Cobblers - 1966 (Studio City SC 1060)

Another Wisconsin garage 45, this one is from Oshkosh. Band members included Ron Spanbauer, Pat Nugent, Mike Meidl, Bob Weisapple, Bob Misky and Nick Christas. They travelled to Minneapolis to record this one. This is the only record by The Cobblers, they later changed their name to Syndicate and released another 45 on the Appleton based Tee Pee label (Next 21st of May b/w My Baby Kicked The Bucket). The A side of the Syndicate 45 can be heard on the just released Psychedelic States: Wisconsin on the Gear Fab label.

ENJOY 

The Smoke - 1968 (Sidewalk 5912)

Not to be confused with the My Friend Jack Smoke, or any other Smoke out there. This is a wonderful slice of pop-psych from the left coast circa 1968. Complete with orchestration and mild psychedelia, obviously someone was inspired by Sgt. Peppers, but this album can stand on it’s own without being a cheap imitator. With memorable songs like Fogbound, Cowboys and Indians, October Country are sure to please your ears. However my favorite pick goes to Hobbit Symphony, with it’s searing guitars segueing into some fine psychedelic instrumental parts, not typical of the remainder of the album however.  

ENJOY  

Teddy Morgan & The Pistolas - Lost Love And Highways

Released in 1999 on Hightone Records.

Teddy Morgan’s previous outfit, the Sevilles, trafficked in solid, if unspectacular, blues-rock one or two degrees removed from the blandness of a Sixth Street happy hour. Now fronting the Pistolas, his Lost Love and Highways is an eyebrow-raising 90-degree turn back to the soil, adding a goodly amount of  country grit and axle grease resulting in a most pleasing album. Cruising the interstate between Steve Earle and Dave Alvin, Lost Love and Highways burns twang like rubber, especially on the opener “Bullet From A Gun” and “Ain’t Waitin’ No More.” Loveable Louisiana legeng Lazy Lester pops up for som sweet harmonica work on “A Word About A Woman,” but the real catalyst here is the trio’s road-polished tautness. Rootsier than a cypress swamp, Lost Love and Highways is a pleasant surprise, and a fine record to put on for that next trip down the blacktop. (review from the Austin Chronicle by Christopher Gray, found on the web)

HERE

Sons Of May “Morning Dew” b/w “Tossin’ And Turnin’” (Sonic 2746)

Here is good 45 from Rhinelander Wisconsin circa 1967. Great version of “Morning Dew” backed with an average version of “Tossin’ And Turnin.’” From the same studio who brought us Gord’s Horde “I Don’t Care” (reissued on Pebbles Vol. 15 and most recently on the Gear Fab compilation  Psychedelic States Wisconsin) on the glorious Hodag label in 1966. I don’t know anything about the band or if they were even from Rhinelander. If anybody knows please do share.

Morning Dew

Tossin’ And Turnin’

The Von Zippers - Wow' em Down at Franzl's

Great slab from the Barons of the Beer Barrel Beat outta Calgary, Canada. Great lo-fi punk 'n' roll, the way it should be. Check out their other great albums Blitzhacker, Bad Generation and The Crime Is Now . . . get 'em all.

HERE

Invasion Of The Insectoids! A Dozen Deadly Doses of Lethal Garage Punk #1

A pretty decent and obscure garage punk compilation. With the likes of The Satelliters and Mondo Topless along with some more obscure bands.

HERE

Nine Pound Hammer - Hayseed Timebomb (1994)

How about some southern style punk rock from Kentucky? The first record from Blaine Cartwright (Nashville Pussy) and Nine Pound Hammer . . . and it rocks from start to finish. Almost like a punk rock Lynyrd Skynyrd. This CD also manages to crack me up every time I listen to it due to the hilarious lyrics (and song titles). Don't get me wrong this is not in any way cheesy! Discover for yourself, I believe this is out presently out of print.

ENJOY REPSONSIBLY

Make sure to check out the new Nashville Pussy album, due for release on March 3rd stateside and February 3rd in Europe

Shakin' In Athens

Some quite excellent Greek sixties tunes for you all to enjoy!

HERE

The Wizards From Kansas

This was an obscure country-influenced band whose sole album contained fine versions of classic period songs such as High Flying Bird and Codine, as well as some excellent original compositions. Country Dawn and Misty Mountainside have a great groove not unlike the Dead at times, She Rides With Witches is also a outstanding track.

HERE @256

And if you like it buy it HERE

Wilson McKinley - Spirit of Elijah

And now for something completely different. Here is a really good laid back christian rock album from 1971, in the late 60’s early 70’s style. One of the best in the genre! 

HERE

The Ramrods - Gimmie Some Action

Awesome ’77 punk rock from Detroit! It just doesn’t get much better than this . . . my only gripe is it’s too short. If you can find this buy it!

HERE

Total Raunch - 100% Boss Garage From The Sixties

Some sixties garage goodies!

Enjoy and Covers

And if you like it by all means Buy It Here

The Finks - Fill' Er Up And Go!

The sound of waves crashing. The smell of sweat-drenched cardigans draped casually over the tops of superheated amplifiers...Girls, beer, mystery, and madness-all here in the high-octane sound of The Finks. So what are you waiting for? Here’s the key, rev-up the turntable, and take an unforgettable “spin” with The Finks today! [From the liners]

HERE @ 256

The Vipers - Outta The Nest!

Classic 80’s NY garage!

HERE

The Stallions - Hey Baby, It’s The Stallions (Junk 1995)

Here is one rockin' punk record for you all from 1995. Combine Supercharger with The Lewd and a pinch of 60’s garage and your gettin’ there. Great angry version of “Why” by The Dirty Wurds.

HERE

The Legends - Let Loose! (Ermine 101 1963)

Here’s a good early rocker from The Legends from Milwaukee. Recorded in Chicago for Ermine recrords and released in 1963. Great version of Gene Vincent’s “Say Mama.” Enjoy!

LET LOOSE!

Hello and welcome!

This is my first attempt at a music blog, so please be patient while an old dog learns some new tricks.

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