Re-issue very rare UK album from 1975 by this UK power trio with Hendrix/Taste/early Quo leanings. Plenty of guitar work and a heavy rock attitude. Somewhere between late '60's acid rock and late '70's metal. Features 5 bonus tracks and a booklet that contains band history and reproduction of UK and European artwork.
Thirty six track celebration of this 1940's Folk supergroup. Focusing their abilities on radical left / anti fascist music, their members included: Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Millard Lampell and Lee Hays. Sis Cunningham, Peter Hawes, Butch Hawes, Bess Lomax, Cisco Houston and Arthur Stern also appeared as guests with this blacklisted group. A wonderful example of early politically active folk music, their subjects include Hitler, urging America's non intervention in WWII ,Trade Unions and anti-Roosevelt themes. Featuring many rare radio session tracks not heard since their original broadcast and all of the tracks off their first two albums, this is the very roots of American protest music. Essential.
This album's almost impossible to describe accurately, like Mortimerwith a brown-eyed soul latin twist, The groove has a tight jangly feel, with nice lows, very catchyhooks, and amazing vocals from Alzo & Udine that kind of feel like Mel & Tim mixed with Joe Bataan mixed with The Young Rascals mixed with Jose Feliciano -- if you need a comparison! A must for everyone! If you enjoyed Mortimer, come on down! if you'd prefer that with a bit of Latinsoul, why certainly!
A vocal harmony act from the '60's that has been unfairly overlooked in the re-issue world. Formed by two sets of brothers at the university of Michigan in Ann Arbor, the quartet signed to Columbia's Date inprint in 1965. This twenty five track compilation features a number of fascinating Dylan, Beatles, Doors and Simon & Garfunkel tunes, many of them appearing on CD for the first time. Soft psyche pop at it's most sumptuous. Random fact: The Arbors moved away from commercial releases in the early 70's and forged a thirty year career recording advert jingles for McDonalds, Texaco, Green Giant and United Airlines.
Released in 1972, this was the last album cut by the orignal line up and their first on Columbia. The return of prodigal son and founding member Jules Alexander boosts the albums quota of original compositions, they also tackle some Lovin' Spoonful, Gofin & King and John Stewart tracks. An overlooked gem from these unsurpassable Californian soft pop legends. Remastered from the master tapes.
Brazilian jazz/bossa singer Astrud Gilberto was the epitome of the swinging Rio beach babe. This album finds her moving into a more softpop psychy version of her sexy style without losing any of the funky playing. Largely covers of everyone who made records in the '60's (The Doors, Bee Gees, Beatles and so on), it is a surprising addition to her back catalogue and one that fully expresses her vocal talents. A welcome return for this rare album.
Is there any need for an introduction to Astrud Gilberto, The Girl From Ipanema, who brought the nonchalant 'Vaga' vocal style of the Brasilian New Wave to international attention and launched a thousand indie-girl records and fantasies in a time and place she never imagined....?? I think not....as we present her finest album....a collaboration with the Space Age, Jetsons-go-Bossa sound of the immortal Walter Wanderley, Brasil's finest organist/arranger and his excellent trio, augmented by American friend percussionist Bobby Rosengarden (of Miles Davis fame) and Bossa Nova master Joao Gilberto on guitar, this is as close as we are going to get to a totally perfect album!.....The wonderfully erotic vaga stylings of the timeless Astrud whisper from the Sci-Fi bachelor party soundscapes and unique arrangements of Walter Wanderley in a way that either grabs your heart, or quite frankly you are dead in the water....maybe only one or two singers can do this for ye....but that's another story!One of the BEST albums ever made anywhere in the world ever anywhere! A MUST HAVE for all fans of Bossa Nova, Jazz, Brasilian music of all types, sexy breathy vocals, let's face it, anyone who isn't actually dead, and some who will rise again specifically to listen to this album!
This unusual and breathtaking album was created in '68 by former Wrecking Crew session man and future star Leon Russell with Marc Benno, Gene Clark, Harpers Bizarre and Gary Lewis. This state of the art psychedelic feast was a complete flop commecially but had proved mighty popular with hip critics of the time. Eleven track re-release remastered and featuring the original banned cover art, the replacement and the UK version in the accompanying booklet. A real must for all West Coast Psych fans this is a delight.
60s pop harmony duo Paul and Barry Ryan, like many other acts of the time (Herman's Hermits, Tremeloes, Chad and Jeremy) experienced trouble when moving from their more mainstream beat sound into popsike/freakbeat-oriented waters, the result being their split in 1968 and the relaunching of Barry as a solo artist with his brother penning all the songs. Marketed as an English Scott Walker or Jimmy Webb, the scintillating orch-pop sound of 'Eloise' snashed to NO.1 and led to a fruitful solo career that stretched into the 70s, including further hits 'The Hunt' and 'Love Is Love'. This remastered album, never before issued on CD, collates the first two of those classic albums, and adds two tracks only found on the German version of the second., as well as featuring new artwork, in-depth liner notes and interviews with Bazza himself.
The second part of our Them trilogy, detailing the post-implosion fate of Northern Ireland's greatest gift to music until The Undertones! So we've learned over time of the fate of two factions... Van Morrison went to New York to launch a solo career with initial guidance from legendary soul producer Bert Burns... Alan Henderson led the remains of the last line-up away from rainy Belfast to new life of garage/psych in California which you can hear on the "Now And Them" album. From a slightly earlier line-up, brothers Jackie and Pat McAuley enlisted a new crew, remaining true to the tough R&B/beat sound of the Them recordings they had contributed to (like "Gloria" and "Baby Please Don't Go"). Meeting Maverick producer Kim Fowley in Denmark Street's legendary Giaconda coffee bar, they decided to take this sound forward in a series of blistering recordings which developed the beat sound like psychedelia never happened! The crude guitars, the swirling Farfisa, much like The Monks! Combined with the semi-rap lyrical sensibilities Fowley had used in "The Trip", it was an awesome sound... but one out of time.This album, put together for the Swedish market where The Gypsies were a legendary live attraction, never saw a proper release outside Sweden but here it's expanded with their mega-rare single "People Let's Freak Out" featuring Fowley and the infamous Guy Stevens (the original Mod DJ, and producer of both Mott The Hoople and The Clash in his time!) as "The Freaks Of Nature" as well as the mysterious instrumental "The Gorilla" and single mixes of "Gloria's Dream" and the awesome "Secret Police" which could be a hit now! Fabulous stuff! This is the first time on CD or any format for this album in the UK, and the package has been fully remastered. Release includes the mono single mixes with lavish package including detailed notes by Jon 'Mojo' Mills of Shindig! magazine featuring an exclusive interview on the album's history with producer Kim Fowley! A must for all fans of THEM, British beat/R&B and garage punk... a legendary album from a legendary band, especially appropriate in the current climate of garage punk.
Possibly the biggest star EVER in his native Cuba, and a major player as a singer, songwriter and bandleader throughout the Latin world. Beny was the amazing singer on some of Perez Prado's biggest hits, the leader of his own combos, AND a heart-throb superstar solo singer; he dominated the world of Mambo singing from the 1940s onwards. Beny Moré is in short, the greatest singer of popular music Cuba has ever produced. Think Frank Sinatra or Nat "King" Cole combined with Elvis and The Beatles and you'll get an idea of how he's perceived in Cuba, especially by the older generation which became the backbone of The Buena Vista Social Club and how he should be regarded elsewhere. In the 40 years since his death, no Cuban vocalist has emerged to fill his shoes, and he remains as close as ever to the hearts of the Cuban people. Few singers in this hemisphere have consistently matched his interpretive gifts, vocal virtuosity, and comfort with a range of styles. Moré's genius lay in his effortless synthesis of two of the major currents of Cuban song -- Afro-Cuban son and the Spanish-derived guajiro music of the Cuban countryside. He was equally successful with boleros as with mambos and rumbas. Most important is what he conveyed with his singing: a tenderness and direct emotional appeal in his boleros, a hip-shaking exuberance in his mambos, and always from the heart!! Ayaaayumbo!!
The enigmatic Bergen White (Ronny & the Daytonas) delivers this his 1969 soft pop classic with gorgeous vocals and lush string arrangements evocative of the Beach Boys, Harry Nilsson & Bread. This CD re-issue features 6 extra tracks in the shape of rare mono single mixes and outtakes.This is the first time this elusive LP has been issued on CD and conatins a fully detailed history of the recording and period photographs.
A man with a considerable pedeigree- who wrote for the Left Banke, Montage and Stories, starred in the original Broadway run of "Hair", launched his own label, wrote film soundtracks, played Woodstock, and hobnobbed with everyone from The Shnagri Las and the Archies (OK, maybe not the second one) to Steven Tyler. Somewhere along the way he also recorded this superb album (produced by Artie Kornfeld, co-creator of Woodstock), surely one of the true lost greats of late 60s US pop-psych or the acoustic style of Zeppelin III. This will appeal to anyone with an ear for lush yet freakadelic sounds, and features full notes and memorabilia from those who were there, including the Banke's Michael Brown himself!!
Twenty two tracks from The Empress Of The Blues, a huge hit in the 1920's. Real classic blues, her recordings often featured the best backing players around, from Louis Armstrong and Joe Smith toJames P Johnson and Charlie Green. Her elaborate live shows Harlem Frolics and Mississippi Days were smash hits thoughout the decade; The Blues were in and trendy, and Bessie was at the top of her game. Her career was effectively over by 1929 due to the swing in musical fashions and a planned comeback was cut short after her death in a 1935 car crash; she was one of the many acts on the endless chitlin' circuit, in Mississippi. Top drawer emotional blues.
The original Creation band. Once again dear friends, we give you... Biff Bang Pow! Led by Creation Records founders Alan McGee (yes, we all know who he was responsible for inflicting on the world, but never mind) and Dick Green through a dizzying range of styles in their time, from Psychedelia to the further shores of Neil Young, with a line-up that at various times included Andrew Innes, Joe Foster, Ed Ball, Phillip King and many other reprobates who should have been in jail long ago (most of the president's men in fact) the works of Biff Bang Pow! span the Creation years from Living Room to drug psychosis, from scrabbling around to success, with an ease that's almost unnatural.. And they had some damn fine tunes too, despite Alan and Dick's self-depracating nonsense, and there are a fine selection here! Brothers and sisters, the only band on Creation Records who never worried about being dropped, Biff Bang Pow!
A delicious compilation of the renaissance of this great jazz and blues houter, rescued from obscurity in 1951 and given a new lease of life in the genre his hoarse, wailing vocal style actually helped to create: rhythm and blues. Everything essential to the early days of that genre is here: 'Shake Rattle And Roll' (Before a certain Mr Haley ever heard it) 'Flip Flop And Fly' 'Hide And Seek' 'Boogie Woogie Country Girl' and 'Chains Of Love' It is impossible to claculate how much influence, either directly or indirectly, this man has had, and on whom. Let's just say 'loads'. Superb stuff with notes by Dave Penny. Not to be confused with that bloke that goes round calling himself Big Joe Turner nowadays!!
'For Dancers Only' was the term used to describe the music of Haley and his band when they first broke throughi n the early 50s- there hadn't been such a dancing craze since Swing in the 30s, and Haley was considered the pioneer of the new music. Whether or not he was is questionable (stop muttering at the back, Link Wray fans) but one thing is for sure: his roots stretch back a lot further, to the country and r'n'b charts, before the discovery of rock'n'roll. This compilation charts, for the first time, the rise of Bill and the boys from their backwoods country beginnings to their sudden stardom in 1954 and beyond, thus including both the hits (and their B sides) plus a whole lotta stuff you probabaly never even heard!! Some of these tracks have been paid through the nose for by collectors in the past : now you can get them all on one lavish CD full of memorabilia and info.
One of the classic groups of the late 1940s/early 1950s, The Dominoes were led by Juillard-trained vocal coach Billy Ward, and are the bridge between the earlier Gospel and Ink Spots type of group and the coming world of Doo-Wop, R&B, and Rock'n'Roll.Their original lead singer Clyde McPhatter was coached by Ward to let his Gospel experience explode in a pop context, producing a fresh and startling sound which not only topped the R&B charts, but made them among the first black groups to gain a substantial following among young white kids, laying the ground for Alan Freed's promotion of black music as Rock'n'Roll.Their best known hit "Sixty Minute Man" was not only a vocal tour de force, but the first of the double entendre records which characterised early Rock 'n' Roll. Financial disagreements broke up the original group at the beginning of 1953. Clyde teamed up with Ahmet Ertegun of Atlantic Records and formed his own group: The Drifters, whose genius needs no bigging up here!...however Ward, talent spotter supreme, soon found a new lead singer: Jackie Wilson....the run of hits continued into the later 1950's, when Jackie also left for a meteoric pop/soul career. Here though, are the hits of the original Dominoes with Clyde McPhatter... and there are none better! This album contains all the hits of the original line-up plus the Rock 'n' Roll classic "Sixty Minute Man" all mastered from the original master tapes with detailed liner notes by Kingsley Abbott.
Yes, the Prince Of The Blues, the most genius bona fide 1950s R&B superstar you NEVER heard; ladies and gents we present Billy Wright! Behind the Magnolia curtain, lay a- well, frankly lavender curtain; a world derived in part from the weirdness of the Medecine shows, in which a total one off like Harmonica Frank Floyd could seem quite normal and a culture of sleazy burlesque, strippers, drag acts and open flamboyant homosexuality could flourish in the midst of the segregated South. In this world strode Billy Wright like a colossus; a man whose R&B stylings were legend, who was an immensely influential and big selling artist, and who dressed like Jimi Hendrix, Prince and Kid Creole all in one. In full make up too… and all this in the late 1940s! A huge influence on Little Richard, Elvis, James Brown, and the host of Southern Soulmen who came after, Billy Wright is one of THE blues stylists. Perhaps ignored slightly by the stuffy blues scholar establishment because of his flamboyance and sexuality (bluesmen are supposed to be morose and wear style-free rumpled suits after all!), his close relationship with Little Richard maybe a bit too open to fit comfortably into "Story Of The Blues" type books, but this is Rev-Ola, darn it, and those things only make Billy even more interesting in our eyes! And here for the first time on CD, is his complete run of late 1940s/early 1950s hits; all beautifully remastered in classic RevOla style and wonderfully packaged with full on notes and memorabilia!
Hailing from New York these Blade's were one of the prime East Coast exponents of sunshine pop. Complex baroque harmonies, and gentle psychy effects (similar to the Left Banke) This relase contains their debut US release from 1967 together with 7 non LP tracks making this the definitive collection. Fully informative foldout booklet contains original labels,flyers and period artifacts.
Willie Johnson's life in itself reads like an early blues, blinded at age seven by his own mother in a fight with his errantfather, living as an itinerant preacher and singer, having to live in the burnt out ruin of his ramshackle house after a fire,on a wet mattress, which eventually helped kill him, pneumonia, malarial fever and syphilis being a powerful combo.This upbringing clearly fueled his career and supplied him with one of the best eerie blues howls in the business and led to him writing some of the best religious based blues of the era. This twenty three track compilation brings together magical sounds Blind Willie recorded between 1927 and 1930, including: "Jesus Make Up My Dying Bed", "Can't Nobody Hide Form God", "I'm Gonna Run To The City For Refuge." and "Trouble Will Soon Be Over."
2006 brings a brand new album from these popsters. "My Chain" is already been heralded by critics as the group¹s best set yet. The group¹s newest member Rachel MacKenzie, the first femaleBandit, has brought a new dimension to the group¹s sound. Her beautiful vocals have been compared to Carly Simon and Linda Rondstadt.
1969 "comeback" album from the Canadian revivalist folk singer popular in Chicago and New York in the early '60's. (she had continued to perform live but had stopped recording since '65.) Most famous for composing the song "Morning Dew" that was quickly covered by everyone over the next few years, this album features a heavily orchestrated version of a true folk rock classic, as well as eleven other originals and covers. A true hero of the revivalist scene, this is classic late '60s pop. This album is making its debut on CD, includes liner depth liner notes and new interview material. Features: classic cover song "Everybody's Talkin'", "Winter's Going" and "Time."
The Canadian revivalist folk singer's second solo album, first released in 1970. This blend of singer/songwriter folk-rock and MOR country-pop was recorded in Nashville. Featuring three originals and tracks written by Ralph McTell and Jackson Frank. The remastered sound brings this album up to date. Includes: the outstanding break up number "You Don't Know", "White Song", "Streets Of London" and "Sweet Man."
First time on CD collection of the classic sunshine pop of these Californian hitmakers (best known for being writers of all the Monkees' hit material, as well as Boyce being later immortalised by UK late 70s beat revivalists The Pleasers, with whom he had worked, on, er, 'Tommy Boyce') covering their three albums and several 45s for A&M in the late 60s, including the title track (still their best known hit to this day). Remastered, beautifully packaged with ultra rare photos and trade ads, and featuring notes and quotes from recognised Monkees authority Andrew Sandoval as well as Hart and the late Boyce himself. How could one resist such a package? Cheer up, sleepy genies!!
Masters of modern English psychedelic pop with a garage edge. Six of the tracks were cut at Toe Rag and produced by Liam Watson at the famous Toerag Studios (2001-2002) and is their first never-before UK release. Bronco Bullfrog's music is a serious nod in the direction of sixties psych yet, thematically, stays rooted in the present day. A fine slice of retro rock.
One of the world's major eccentrics: stuntman, actor, record breaker, stand-up improv master, and hit songwriter for the Chiffons, the Cyrkle, Del Shannon, the Creation, and the Tokens.Brute Force even released a rare and controversial single, "The King of Fuh," on the Apple label - the rarest on the label as it happens! Here is a slice of full-on Brute, a 1969 performance of improv and songs (sometimes both!)....some songs which should have been hits but for that... twist, and then both sides of his Apple single "The King Of Fuh/No One Knows What's Going On In My Mind But Me" (The latter song was actually a hit for the Shirelles, and is today a Northern Soul staple!).A must for all fans of the eccentric, bizarre, 1960's classic pop and all Beatles completists too! Can't say better than that! A must for all fans of the eccentric, bizarre, 1960's classic pop and all Beatles completists too! Can't say better than that!
A definitive collection of all Buddys demos before he signed to his first commercial recording contract in '56. Includes his first ever recordings from '49 and the four track demo tape he sent to Nashville in December '55 that got him signed to US Decca, twenty six tracks in all. Accompanying Buddy on his demos are country and rock legends Bob Montgomery, Jack Neil, Sonny Curtis and Ben Hall, a few years before the crickets emerged. An absolute treasure of an album, you will find cover versions of Bill Monroe and Elvis as well as early versions of future commercial hits. Includes: "Baby, Won't You Come Out Tonight", "Down The Line", "Queen Of The Ballroom" and "Footprint's In tHe Snow."
Thirty three track anthology of the Academy Award winning actor, author and acclaimed folk singer. His popular radio show Wayfaring Stranger introduced the public to songs like "Lavender Blue", "Blue Tail Fly" and "Foggy Foggy Dew", tracks that had been around for hundreds of years but were unknown to the masses before Ives got his hands on them. Ives was one of the many identified in the infamous 1950 pamphlet Red Channels as an entertainer with supposed Communist ties. His cooperation with the House UnAmerican Activities Committee led to a rift between himself and the rest of the Folk world, a place where his non preachy manner andpleasant voice had always been out of step with the sounds of the times.
What can one say about Jonathan Scott? A beloved Lo-Fi legend who has been on both Creation and Poptones, been played on every hip radio show on three continents, yet never released a record. A big favourite of Alan McGee, a huge influence on everyone, yet lurking in obscurity.Since we were introduced to the wonderful world of Butterscott by the amazing Kim Fowley, nothing has been the same, and now at last, through the wonder of Rev-Ola NOW sound, we share the bizarre soundtrack of that wonderful world with you.Classic pop from the Twilight Zone, an enigma wrapped in an episode of Lancelot Link wrapped in The Banana Splits play the Sex Pistols on your nephew's birthday guitar. You will learn to love Butterscott.
Cab Calloway. International Jazz Hall Of Famer. Broadway actor. Professor of Jive, whose dictionaries of African-American slang were the official reference works in the New York Library for decades. Bandleader and King Of Hi-De-Ho - indeed His Hi-De-Highness of Ho-De-Ho - whose immense popularity allowed him to enjoy a sixdecade recording career, despite the fact that his biggest hits from the 1930s referenced the Harlem drug culture. His signature song "Minnie The Moocher", which first topped the Pop best-seller chart at the height of the jazz age in 1931 and last climbed the R&B chart 47 years later at the height of the disco era, two years before Cabdonned his tails to perform the song memorably on screen in "The Blues Brothers". Revived countless times afterwards in films on both the big screen ("The Mask") and small ("Jeeves & Wooster") and ads galore, inspiring Joe Jackson to release a whole LP as a tribute, titled "Jumpin' Jive" after Cab's massive 1939 hit song of the same name. Cab Calloway who became a hero to millions of British kids in the mid 1980s with his Hula Hoop adverts and is introduced to a new generation of American kids with his appearance in Janet Jackson's "Alright" video in 1989. This compilation, chosen from the best of Cab's 1940s swing era output, includes the powerful 1942 recut of"Minnie" along with his R&B chart hits "The Honeydripper" and "The Calloway Boogie" and covers of big hits like "Shot Gun Boogie", "The Jungle King" and "One For My Baby". Also included is an uber-rare soundtrack recording of "Geechee Joe" from the 1943 blockbuster movie "Stormy Weather". This is THE must-have collection of His Hi-de-Highness, Cab Calloway. Beautiful artwork and notes to delight the eye, with notes from our man in the Tardis, Mr. D. Penny esq.
Superb and ultra rare '60's soft psych album similar to the Left Banke, and the Frederic! Only 150 copies were pressed of The Canterbury Music Festival's 1968 album on the obscure and collectable BT Puppy label from the U.S. The album is a wilfully secret psych-pop masterpiece filled with lush dreamy harmonies, harpsichords and trippy guitar effects. This official CD contains the complete BT Puppy recordings, including the even rarer singles....and a completely unreleased song, "Pamela". One of the rarest albums in the '60's US softpop/psych genre and great too!
More classic LA soft pop/bossa crossover from this act formed in 1967 by ex Sergio Mendes & Brasil 66 members Jose Suares and Janis Hansen and Fowley protégé Terry Fischer("Popsicles and Icicles") and some fine session players Hal Blaine, Larry Knechtel, etc.This powerful "Brasil 66 meets the 5th Dimension" blend is now available for the first time on CD and has the added bonus of 3 extra cuts. Essential summer sounds!
28 chart busting slabs of doowop from Tin Pan Alley wannabees to blues/gospel moans from the void to the founding classics of rock and roll, from collector's dreams like the Four Blazes to world famous stars of R & B like The Drifters or The Clovers. Even if you haven't heard them before, you'll still know them all!! Mind you, 12 of them did go to Number 1 in the States. All have been beautifully remastered, with plenty of rare memorabilia and detailed notes from genre expert Dave Penny.
Twenty six track compilation that brings together Doo Wop, Blues / Gospel, Tin Pan Alley wannabes and pre Rock n Roll rock n roll from the early '50's. All of these Billboard R&B chart hits are examples of the vocal harmony groups responsible for the music of the next twenty odd years, from the The Drifters, Royals, The Charms, Etta James, Shirley Gunter, to The Clovers and The Vocaleers.
Classic, not to mention extremely rare, early 70s popsike gem from the Brill Building-influenced songwriting duo of Steve Sawyer and Rusty McFinn, accompanied by producer, arranger and all round ideas guru Ron Frangipane. Comparisons have been made to the Family Tree, or Roy Wood, Nilsson, the Beatles, Brian Wilson's work with Van Dyke Parks, even early Genesis- but if truth be known the band display their own unque style here. An album that should grace everybody's jukebox.
The man that never was. Star of the most mysterious, rapidly collectable and expensive late 60's West Coast Rock albums of all time.He was also known as Bobby Jameson.(check the Jameson CD). He worked with Rolling Stones, Frank Zappa, Kim Fowley, Lowell George, Curt Boettcher among other luminaries, but still managed to fall through the cracks in history. Sounding like Arthur Lee backed by a garage version of Tim Buckley's band. A West Coast classic from the twilight zone indeed.
Originally released in 1968 this is a hugely respected and much sought after pop/folk/psychedelic rock crossover monster by an obscure US band. The album flits butterfly-like between the gossamer acoustics of "Cynthia Gerome", the fuzz drenched satire of "Father Getting Old" and the ragtime psychedelia of "30 Poplar". Moving from lush woodwind and string arrangements, to full on acid rock freak outs and delicate jazzy vibes this is an entertaining audio ride. Contains 8 previously unheard bonus tracks.
Never before on CD are these 1968/69 recordings from Illinois brother & sister duo who made 2 albums (Brother & Sister & Next of Kin) of ethereal, eerie spooky songs seemingly from another world with a startlingly contemporary atmosphere.This is a must for fans of the unsettling side of folk music like the Wicker Man innocent eeriness.The CD contains ultra rare photos and in-depth liner notes.
Beautiful folk-baroque pop with ethereal vocals from the duo who brought you 'Brother And Sister' and 'Next Of Kin'- a duo who influenced the Carpenters. Signed by Irving Azoff to Sunlight in 1971 they cut this, their third album, which, like their previous releases they chose to record in their own home, something which gives the music a lo-fi quality that many have aspired to since- but didn't sell many records. Deleted since 1972, never issued on CD before, with liner notes by Chuck Perrin himself, remastered with bonus tracks, and full of photos and interviews, this is one of those hidden gems you'll be eager to tell your friends about. Remember the days when only you and ten other people had ever heard of Nick Drake? Don't miss the chance to discover this masterpiece and then you can delight in telling people you were there first.
The first ever compilation officially released on CD of the works of possibly the definitive 60s 'chanteuse', the breathy waif with possibly more 'presence' than voice, but who inspired a host of devotees from Sarah Cracknell through Letitia Sadier to Beth Gibbons, and whose albums- arranged and musically directed by "A&m sound" men De Caro and Lipuma, were lush and ethereal sonic journeys that crossed into the worlds of Jobim, Mancini. . .even Peter Sellers. The songs featured are pretty much the standards of the day- "A Man And A Woman" (as also interpreted by the Free Design) "Both Sides Now" "How Insensitive" "Everybody's Talkin" "Love Is Blue"- but you've never heard them like this before. The songs especially written for Claudine are also, like her entire career, worthy of investigation. A true 'cult' figure who still fascinates.
From Texas we have the extraordinary Clique. Produced by Los Angeles-based Soft Pop legend Gary Zekley (of Yellow Balloon and Jan & Dean fame!) fresh from his work with those other brilliant Texans, the Fun & Games. Containing strains of bubblegum, psych, pop rock, and soft pop, this fantastic album also features the original version of "Superman," the fab Zekley-penned tune later turned into a mega-hit for R.E.M. Also features songs written by Smokey Roberds of the Parade, (who had a hit with 1967's "Sunshine Girl"), Tommy James of Shondells fame (who also produces some of the bonus tracks), and Mr. Zekley himself. If this isn't enough, the album-- originally released during the final hours of the White Whale label in 1970--also features the Top 20 smash, the Tommy James-penned "Sugar On Sunday." - Sounding nice in RevOlaPhonic sound (it says here), looking beautiful with rare previously-unpublished photos and comprehensive liner notes in full inimitable Rev-Ola splendour, the album features rare sides never before on compact disc, including the unlikely hit cover of The Thirteenth Floor Elevators "Splash1"! A must for all fans of Soft Pop, Psych, and West Coast 1960's craziness! Not to be confused with the UK band of the same name.
The Clovers were the one vocal group in the history of Rock and Roll music whose hit making talent spanned the entire spectrum of the first great age of this art form. Beginning in the early days of Black Rhythm & Blues during the post World War II forties, the 'Moondog Years' when White America discovered the music, the days of Elvis inspired pop idolatry, right up until the coming wave of Beatlemania which ushered in the progressive rock" era, the Clovers were a constant.Hit after Hit (just wait and see how many of these songs you know!), written by the cream of R&B songwriters; million sellers covered again and again by the likes of Elvis and all who followed, The Clovers never surrendered, never went away... and now here they are again, with their Greatest Hits from their immortal first run, when they helped create ROCK'n'ROLL itself!... and as a bonus, we presentan early version of the greatest hit from their second run, ‘Down In The Alley’ - with it's immortal refrain: ready now! changa ta changa ta changa ta changa! ta changa! Featuring all their monster hits from the birth of Rock'n'Roll, meticulously remastered in true Rev-Ola style and beautifully packaged with detailed notes and rare memorabilia, this is a must for all fans of classic R&B and the wildest of early Rock'n'Roll.
For the first time on CD ever (2005) 27 tracks from the early days of McPhatter's reign at the top of the R'n'B tree. His number 1's with both the Dominoes and the Drifters are included here, as well as several solo hits, b-sides, album tracks and songs never before issued on CD. Fans of Sam Cooke, Otis Redding- or even the first wave of white rock and rollers such as Elvis- dig this, as Clyde was THE influence on ALL those artists, and the first singer to really take rhythm and blues into the mainstream. "Money Honey", "Lucille", "I'd Be Satisfied" "Such A Night"- you may know the tunes, well, they were heard here first. Complete with notes, rare photos, and artwork all repackaged in the classic Rev-Ola style. Definitive and perfect.
Absolutely fascinating compilation of pre rock'n'roll rock'n'roll- if you can call it that. Yes boys and girls, most think it was either Bill Haley or Link Wray who laid down the first phantom chords that became the devil's sacred music, but the history of what we call rock'n'roll stretches back waaaaaaaaaaaaay further, to the mid 40s, when it was called either Hillbilly Boogie or Cat Music. The fact that there was no central figure to spearhead this scattered movement probably explains why it never took off, but it left its indelible mark on American music forever and thus gave birth to most of what we hold dear today. Some of the musicians rocked on well into the next two decades, so you will be familiar with Merle Travis, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Bob Wills, Faron Young (who had a UK Top 10 hit as late as 1970!!), Tommy Scott and Skeets McDonald, but not necessarily Shorty Long, Hawkshaw Hawkins, Hardrovk Gunter, The Carlisles or Little Jimmy Dickens, but that's half the fun!! Buy this album and discover where it all started- the journey of a lifetime.
And here we are with the second volume of our hit comp series Country Goes Rock n Roll...So you thought Country Rock started with Sweetheart Of The Rodeo and Safe At Home maybe?...well, you were wrong! Ha Ha! Number one...you never hear of ROCKABILLY bub?..or CountryBoogie?..but even that is the tip of the iceberg....by the early 1950s country boogie and rockin'jazzing stuff of all types simmered in the hills....and here the NEW BREED of 1950s country/hillbillyartistes take it all into the modern day...Stars like Wanda Jackson, Johnny Burnette, and good goshalmighty ELVIS hisself explode along with a raft of wild-youth country contenders and cult figures....some of the earliest outings of the legendary Ray Campi join hit sides a go go as once morecountry goes Rock n Roll....volume one was a featured pic forever on Mark Lamarr's vital radioshow, watch this one surpass it!!- Volume 2 of our definitive Country Rock Roots series....
For the first time on CD here is Curt's long-lost much talked about 1974 solo outing due to be released on Elektra Records before they pulled the plug. Grasping hold of a new acoustic format as firmly as he had the baroque softpop of his earlier work, he created the tracks here on this disc. The contents include all the finished tracks, work in progress mixes, and as a bonus Curt's original demos of "It's Sad World" and his very first hit with the Association, "Along Comes Mary" plus a full band demo from his Ballroom/Millenium period. Curt heaven!
Named after the Cities Dale Hawkins was travelling between when he recorded this album in 1969, this is a classic album featuring an array of stars including James Burton, Joe Osbourne, Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, Mouse & The Traps and Wayne Jackson. Best known for his production and songwriting for other people from the late '50's onwards, few realised he made an album of his own. Ten tracks ranging from Rockabilly, R&B and Blues, recorded with the assisstance of artist he had worked with or was friendly with. Never before released on CD, it has been remastered especially.
Dana's first album, recorded in 1967- several years before Bowie, blues or 'Ammer 'Orror were even glints on the horizon. At this point in her career Dana was a regular on the same folk circuit that spawned Sandy Denny, Bridget St John and the likes, and was much enamoured of Donovan and Cat Stevens. This debut, therefore, reflects her 'Swinging London'/soft pop sensibilities perfectly, and features the lady's own compositions alongside those of Billy Nicholls and the aforementioned Mr Leitch. Arranged by Mike Vickers,features the guitar work of Jimmy Page and produced by Beat god Wayne Bickerton, this album has never been released in the UK on ANY format anywhere, and features wonderful packaging including pictures of the lovely Dana (now one of the world's top blues singers) arranged by Gered Mankowitz.
Solo album by famous 60's UK film star (the star of cult classics, 'Blow Up', 'Fragment Of Fear', 'Barbarella', 'Deep Red' and 'Unman, Wittering And Zigo'). Produced in L.A. by the Byrds manager and producer and featuring the Byrds, the album is a stunning collection of Folk Rock with a psychedelic edge. As well as the Columbia rejected Gene Clark song "Back Street Mirror", the album includes a number of bizarre Hemmings originals. Gorgeous orchestral psychedelic Folk Rock with the Byrds at their raga rock peak, topped off with vocals from the man who brought you 'The A Team' 'Airwolf' and 'Diagnosis Murder'! Stranger things have happened.
Mainstays of the more innocent end of the Sunset Strip folk rock boom of the '60's with their splendid harmonies and, slabs of fuzztone US band The Deep Six have become a legendary LA act. The recordings featured Jim Messina, David Gates & Glen Campbell. This comprehensive CD (17 tracks) contains their album, all the singles and a fully informative booklet. just what's needed for the Sunset Strip weather.
First ever appearance on CD of this 'lost' album by the 'black sheep' of the Medway set, who found themselves pushed into a corner and somewhat disenfranchised for their rejection of what they saw as the 'conservative' values of Billy Childish and his cohorts. Not for this lot the purist retro-garage recycling of any band with 'Thee' in the name (not that there's ANYTHING wrong with that kinda stuff): instead the music of choice was a textured blend of the jangling guitar pop of the Smiths, Soft Boys and REM mixed with full-on 60s Mod rock sensibilities (Pete Townshend was their idol), which left them very much a fish out of water at the time of this, their one and only album. Long sought after as a 'lost classic', now remastered with singles (including the excellent 'Strawberries Are Growing In My Garden' which matches Nick Nicely's 'Hiily Fields' for 80s psych perfection) and appearing for the first time ever on CD, it appears that as usual, the public had totally the wrong idea, as the album has stood the test of time to become recognised as a milestone. The packaging also features liner notes, photos and track-by-track comments from the band, all of whom are still alive somewhere. Produced by Allan Crockford of the Prisoners.
Joey Stec (Millennium), Ralph Scala (Blues Magoos) go nuts on this 1969 recording and believe themselves to be Sam & Dave as well as Hayes & Porter. They take a selection of their musical peers into a Blues Brothers fuelled Dexys-tastic trip into Soul Passion. With everyone from ex-Ikettes to the International Submarine Band-ers to some of Derek's Dominoes Jey and Ralph are loving every minute of it.
Dick Campbell with another Rev-Ola rediscovery! The enigmatic Dick Campbell... singer, songwriter, producer and one of the most famous humorists in the 1960s music business. It's sometimes difficult to tell whether he means something seriously or not. The quality of the music remains the same as ever... outstanding! Dick had never had any intention of being a folk rocker, The Beach Boys and The Four Seasons being more his thing, but the idea of making a record with these outstanding musicians AND getting paid was too much to turn down! Dick would go on to produce many classic mid-west garage bands, and write and record the amazing fairy tale album Beyond A Shadow Of A Doubt with Gary Usher and Curt Boettcher, as well as be publishing A&R for Harry Nillson and Paul Williams AND writing songs for the Cowsills to boot!
Dick Campbell was part of the legendary Gary Usher/Curt Boettcher circle. Backed by the Butterfield Blues Band on this album from 1965 it's an amazing collection of electric folk rock with a psyche twinge. Cool
Most people know Doc Pomus as the man behind several of the biggest hits of the 50s and 60s ever recorded by other people- 'Can' t Get Used To Losing You' 'Teenager In Love' 'Sweets For My Sweet' 'Viva Las Vegas' 'A Mess Of Blues' and so forth. But how many of you know that this white middle class Jew from Noo Yawk was actually one of the 1940s finest blues shouters and jazz jumpers, and actually cut some of the earliest rock and roll sides? Strange but true. . And here they are for your delectation, remastered and beautifully packaged. Once hard, never forgotten- check in for an appointment with the Doc.
Yeah! At last on Cd we bring you Don & The Goodtimes, stars of "Where The Action Is", Dick Clark's answer to both The Monkees AND Shindig! which was built around Paul Revere and The Raiders, and co-starred The Hard Times, Monkees crony Keith Allison and others. Don (Galluci) himself had been the underage keyboardist on The Kingsmen's immortal ‘Louie Louie’ - too young to even tour the hit, but he hit back with a new band a couple of years later, scoring a plethora of regional and national hits on the legendary Jerden group of labels, and being picked out by old mates The Raiders for their big TV break. Signing to Epic, the hits continued with this classic of Los Angeles psychedelic pop, produced and arranged by the amazing Jack Nitszche, architect of Spector's Wall Of Sound and the X Factor on the Rolling Stones’ first run of Andrew Loog Oldham produced hits; a masterpiece of Softpop/Sunshine Pop/Superpop, with their garage roots showing all over the place, and Jack's magic touch bringing it all together. Amazing stuff! A total must-buy! And yes, fact fans, Don Galluci's second shot at Rock'n'Roll legend, after ‘Louie Louie’ was producing The Stooges on the bizarre, crazed, drug damaged whirlwind of legend that is "Funhouse"!!! Two out of two, not bad!
Not what it appears, this weird release from 1968 features most of the musicians involved went onto play on the excellent album 'Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & Clark' an adventurous take on a traditional format with sound effects and a dash of exotic instruments such as tabla and harpsichord. Traditional bluegrass played by musicians firmly rooted in the work of pioneers like Flatt and Scruggs, the Stanley Brothers and Bill Monroe but with a twist. As a bonus you get the full version of 'Runaway Country' from the film Vanishing Point.
The man who created the rise of the theremin by using the instrument on stage,on record and in film.These early,almost forgotten masterieces of early elecronica feature the eerie tones of the theremin accompanied by the sweeping exotic orchestrations of Les Baxter and Billy May. Originally issued on 78 rpm records. Imagine that on the gramophone!
Pre-British Invasion American garage combo featuring Randy Meisner, later of the Eagles, that, like many of their peers, sought to stake their own claim in Rock n'Roll. Forgotten, until now, this is a must for any garage fan. Never before on CD!!
Yes, the veteran big band alto saxophonist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, whose career was given a newlease of life in the early 1950s with his arousing, bump-and-grind, jazz-for-strippers rehashes of oldswing era hits like "Flamingo", "Temptation" and "Sleep". This compilation ignores those oft-releasedhits in favour of Bostic's prime R&B years as one of the hottest saxophone men in the business, worshipped by everyone from Charlie Parker on down. His bands attracted the likes of jazz-gods-in waiting Stanley Turrentine, Benny Golson and John Coltrane (on his first paying gig), but these hot tracks feature solid R&B players like John Hardee, Count Hastings and Rene Hall. In among the breath-takingly fast jump instrumentals are great vocal performances from RogerJones, Clyde Terrell and Bostic and the band ensemble. An evocation of a thousand sweaty Saturday nights in Harlem and LA's Central Ave of a Kansas City where Big Joe Turner bossed it....where the coming stars of Jazz cut their teeth on a music EVERYONE loves as soon as they hear it.. Earl Bostic- just try and keep your feet from dancin'! First time on CD collection of this classic artist. A must for all closet jazzers and Rockers- 28 insane sax-sational tracks!
Second album by the Sultry performer, first released in 1953. This album gives her plenty of chances to show off her multi lingual tongue, she sings in French, Turkish, Spanish, Swahili as well as English. Her sexiness and predatorial public appearance is never far from the surface, "I Want To Evil", "Let's Do It" and "My Heart Belongs To Daddy" all lends itself to her playful character. Effectively acting her way through the album, it would become a good representative of her career overall, palyful, powerful and a femme fatale.
The Ecstasy Of Saint Theresa released the first ever 90,s Czech indie records, quickly getting the attention of John Peel and recording what became a legendary session for his Radio One show. Here for the first time is the definitive story of this seminal group, from the classic Peel session via their film soundtrack work to their latest project, a collaboration with British Sea Power, "It's A Lovely Day Tomorrow", otherwise unavailable outside the Czech Republic and British Sea Power shows! As the Czech Republic bravely enters the EU, Rev-Ola presents another chance to hear their incredible story from the start.
The cream of Brazil's movers and shakers in the Tropicalia movement, and more or less the peak of Lobo's recorded career. His first album to be released outside Brazil, produced by Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66, (who else?) and featuring the cream of the A&M gang (such as Airto Moreira on drums), this was a quantum leap for such a hitherto traditional artist. Lani Hall provides English lyrics, and Gracinha Leporace the arrangements: as for the tracks themselves, such as 'Crystal Illusions' 'To Say Goodbye' (his trademark) and his rendition of 'Hey Jude', say no more!!! Put simply, this is an album fans of Latin music hold sacred as a bible and it's easy to see why. Never before released outside Brazil on CD, the package includes not only the original sleevenotes by Leonard Feather, but brand new ones by BMX Bandit Duglas T Stewart., written in consultation with all those involved.
Yet another Elvis compilation, we hear you cry. Ah, but they're all different in one way or another- and in this case we have the never previously-released radio sessions the man himself laid down in 1955, comprised of his breakthrough R'n'B and country chart hits interspersed with audio verite moments. Follow the progress of the man who would be King, as he develops from hillbilly cat to the total and utter figurehead of all that was rock and roll. Remastered and repackaged with memorabilia aplenty.
Fairly self explanatory- every track the King ever cut for the legendary Sam Phillips at the equally legendary Sun label in Memphis, prior to his signing to RCA. Here are the roots of rock and roll at their purest and most undiluted- when the country boy picked up his guitar, entered a studio and crystallised the whole essence of what was about to become America's own and greatest contribution to music. He may not have been the first to rock and roll, but boy did he make an impact. Practically everyone in the world knows the name Elvis- or at least should- and here are 31 of the reasons why, including acetates, live tracks, radio sessions and alternate takes. Thanyuvermuch.
There isn't an awful ot one can say about Elvis, the King himself, other than that he was and still is The King. Here, therefore, are 27 tracks, all on one CD, from his early days at Sun Records, that made his name in those intial years. Right from his very first studio session to his first nationwide hit, these tracks document the seed-sowing of what we now know, and take as read, as rock and roll. Now all digitally rmastered in the classic Rev Ola sound, plus takes in progress and studio conversations between Presley, Moore and Sam Phillips in a lavish package which features a whopping great booklet and literally TONS of photos- this is surely the best of all the label's compilations so far. Like we said earlier, what more can anyone say about Elvis?
A further insight into the roots of The King himself, as we practically delve into his record collection and find a wide disparity of influences. Not just country and gospel, but obscure novelty songs, R'n'B, Motown, bluegrass- practically everything the King listened to throughout his 42 years on Earth. Some well known names are included- Clyde McPhatter, Jimmie Rodgers, Ray Charles, Rufus Thomas, -hell, even the Eagles- others are artists one might have only known in Tennessee, and even then not outside Memphis!! A fascinating document of Elvis as we rarely think of him- the fan and collector. Remastered with an informative booklet full of memorabilia and pictures.
Excellent US '60s harmony psych pop band produced by Curt Boettcher (Saggitarius/Millenium). As you would expect this is a heavenly concoction of psychedelia, fuzz guitars and beautiful songs. Essential listening for anyone enamored with the West Coast harmony-pop sound.New edition housed in a digi pack sleeve.
"From Us Unto You" is a great new collection of tracks by the seminal US '60's pop psike group Eternity’s Children that contains original singles, hits and non hits alike. Produced by legendary figures such as Curt Boettcher, Keith Olsen, Gary Paxton, Robin Hood Brians, and Chips Moman, this is effectively a whole new album, with all the tracks in the original mono mixes, with the bonus of a handful of stereo mixes making up a third album that never was. Lavishly remastered from long lost mono & stereo mixes.
Housed in a digi pack sleeve this CD has been lavishly remastered and is the "almost lost forever" second album by this seminal group. It's original 1968 release was cancelled in every territory except Canada.This is the stereo mix made at Gary Paxton's Bakersfield studio,with vocal arrangements by Curt Boettcher, and songs & performances by Clarence White & Gene Parsons. Much sought after by soft pop psyche collectors worldwide.
2005 released album from highly respected Glaswegian singer songwriter, known as the former leader of the Vaselines, Captain America and Eugenius. This is, as one would expect, melodic power pop-punk of the highest order, which isn't much of a surprise when one considers that he was on tour with Teenage Fanclub when he wrote it. Of course, as one could expect from the man who wrote 'Molly's Lips', the lyrics are a bit odd, but then again who wants normality? A treat from an unsung hero of British music.
Brand new reissue of this stunning and extremely rare and collectable US '60s psychedelic rock album.Caught between Pet Sounds and Prog, mixing lush orchestrated psych with acid rock and country vibes this is a weird and beautiful release going from all out backwards guitar laced acid rock/pop to lush mellow glory. Includes lavish detailed fold out on the bands songwriting partnership and for the first time a full history of Euphoria with photos!
The first time ever on CD for this legendary 'lost band' who were part of the San Francisco rock scene and were pitched between The Charlatans, The Sopwith Camel, and Turtles with a poppy edge that should have brought a dozen hits. This album features the early songwriting talents of Warren Zevon and Paul Williams and was to be released by the White Whale label in 1966 but got lost as the band fell apart due to the usual 60's contracts, drugs, women scenes etc. Beautiful West Coast pop with a honky-tonk, jingle-jangle, harmony laden timeless, charm.
First CD release of classic A&M album from 1969, the debut long player from this remarkable vocalist and occasional songwriter (but more often interpreter of others' material) the first person to record 'Take Me For A Little While' 'Angel Of The Morning' (sadly not included here) and 'Any Way That You Want Me' itself. Remastered, with extensive notes and pix from Evie herself. Spiffing.
At last available on CD after a LOOOONG wait- the 1974 album from this underrated singer and songwriter whose compositions have been covered by everyone from Barbara Streisand through Jose Feliciano to Betty Everett. Obviously bearing a much bigger production job than her late 60s debut, this album should be seen as part of the same classic soul-pop tradition. Remastered with five bonus tracks, and a track by track commentary from Evie.
A cult British New Wave act that wandered into Mod territories, the Exits formed in 1977 in London and signed to Lightning Records. Their only single scored highly in the independent charts, but a planned album and follow up single were scrapped when Lightning decided to concentrate on the soul / disco acts that were far more lucrative for them. Presented here for the first time is the 1979 album demos and the single: "The Fashion Plague", remastered with the cooperation of the band. Highly recommended for any New Wave and Mod fans.
First time on CD, remastered from the Mono master tapes (The stereo mix is lopsided, and needs to be repaired) A real sought after gem of the West Coast psychpop scene, it was written and performed by Bob Segarini (of Roxy, The Wackers, and several solo albums), along with Vann Slatter, William ‘Kootch’ Trochim, Mike Dure, and Jim Decoq, and features one song co-written by Harry Nilsson. This album is very similar to Nilsson's, "Pandemonium Shadow Show", and "Arial Ballet", both being produced by Rick Jarrard, with charts by arranger, George Tipton.A semi conceptual album, this first time reissue includes a bumperbooklet with unpublished photos and in-depth liner notes from BobSegarini, and others. Expanded to eighteen tracks with the addition of some ultrarare non-LP single tracks.
A rockin' and jumpin' overview of Fats' first six years as a recording star (including his rarely compiled instrumentals) that preceded his international success with 'Blueberry Hill' and 'Ain't That A Shame' from 1955 onwards. Ironically, Fats' singing and piano playing was more of an influence on the next generation of white rock and rollers than their own heroes such as Bill Haley: it's an influence that pervades to this day. Arrangements by Dave Bartholomew top off what is essentially a set of timless, seminal rock and roll/R'n'B- from one of the men who created it. Beautifully packaged with pics and memorabilia and detailed notes by Dave Penny.
You want slightly spooky all-girl soft pop/psychedelia crossover? Look no further than this 1969 album by this all-female band from Nashville USA!. Musically it contains all self-penned numbers that range from hard garage rock through blues, jazz and country music. Not sure who the extra session musicians are - and what part they play - but this is an excellent album Includes 11 bonus cuts of demos and unreleased tracks!
This Dutch group were court designers for the Beatles (also designing the sleeve for the Incredible Stringband's "5000 Spirits..") and in 1968 the band released this excellent album housed in their distinctive psychedelic artwork. Produced by Graham Nash, the album is a timely slice of whimsical sixties psychedelia with an Incredible String Band feel. Early electronic effects swirl alongside eccentric instrumental experimentation and ethereal female vocals. This CD reissue contains two extra tracks.
This was the Forum's only album, 1967's "The River Is Wide" is notable for its connection to exotica guru Les Baxter, who produced, arranged, and composed four tracks. Bonus material on this re-issue includes all their non-LP singles, radically different, alternate takes of their "River is Wide" hit and 3 unheard till now instrumental tracks of the great Les Baxter conducting the cream of LA's "Wrecking Crew" session men. This is a collision between exotica and Spector that has to be heard to be believed.
One of the most celebrated singers of the '40's and '50's, this twenty three track compilation brings together just a small collection of his monster hits. One of the first singers to sing black influenced music, his role would shift the popular tastes away from the big band leaders of the day. Having sold over 250 million units in his prime worldwide, it would be impossible to get together all of his hits on a single CD. This still sounds as fresh as it always did. Includes: "I Believe", "Sixteen Tons", "Kid's Last Fight" and "Rose, Rose I Love You."
The late Fred Neil was the eminence grise of 1960's US folk rock, the most famous unknown songwriter in the world, a reclusive, truculent man, who vehemently shied away from stardom. So admired by his contemporaries that his songs are covered by Buddy Holly, Roy Orbison, The Lovin' Spoonful, Tim Buckley, Jefferson Airplane (who also wrote two songs about Fred!), H P Lovecraft and, most famously Harry Nilsson, whose mega-hit cover of "Everybody's Talking" ,from the soundtrack of Midnight Cowboy, means that Fred Neil was the writer of one of the seven most played songs in the world! Not bad for a man who deliberately retreated from fame at the height of his powers to pursue Dolphin research! "He taught me everything that was music" says David Crosby... and here are some of his best recordings, produced for Capitol by Nik Venet, the almost-pop-structured Fred Neil album and it's experimental follow up Sessions.This is a very expanded Revola classic which contains his best known songs "Everybody's Talking" and "The Dolphins". A must for folk, folkrock and general music fans everywhere!
The complete live collection, gathering Fred's live 1971 swansong album "The Other Side Of This Life" which features a raft of Fred's celebrity fans like David Crosby,Gram Parsons,Stephen Stills etc as both audience and performers.This set also includes four of his earliest live recordings from the Bitter End club in 1963 (pre the recording of his debut album for Elektra) which have previously only ever appeared on various folk comps and seemingly were forgotten.Both these sets of recordings are now re-issued for the first time anywhere ever!
First ever CD issue of this one and only album, originally released in 1968 as a collaboration betwixt six Texan avant-gardists under the influence of the Red Crayola and fabled pop producer/songwriter Gary Zekley (a collaborator with Phil Spector and the man behind The Clique and Jan And Dean). Imagine a cross between The Association and the psychedelic Beach Boys ! Notes include interviews with all band members and label supremo Russ Regan, the man who named the Beach Boys. Perfect Californian sunshine pop- recorded in Dallas by Texan acid heads!! Adds 6 extra tracks.
First time on CD for this Los Angeles country psych group from the '60's. The Gordian Knot regularly entertained countless in-crowd LA parties frequented by Hollywood's elite. Fronted by Jim Waverley (who would go on to write "Midnight Train To Georgia" for Gladys Knight) the album was recorded with LA's finest sessioners and produced by Clark Burroughs. A nice little obscure pop psyche gem. Booklet contains exclusive rare and unpublished photos from the bands own archives.
The Mancunian pop genius is best known as a member of 10cc and as a writer of hits for others groups such as The Hollies, Cher, Yardbirds, Herman's Hermits and many others. These eleven tracks came out in 1968 after after various one off 45's under pseudonyms and putting together the Strawberry Studios alongside Eric Stewart and Godley & Crème. Never granted a UK release, this album features a number of his self penned tracks (some hits for other people, some not) reworked in a Baroque n roll style, matching strings with funky backbeats and electric guitar flash.In short this is British Psych-inflected chamber pop and very good it is too.
Highly regarded debut album from the Grass Roots, one of California's most popular act's of the late 60's early 70's.The CD features the original hit single "Where Were You When I Needed You",and the blinding garage punk reworking of Dylan's "Ballad of a Thin Man".All of the original material was composed and produced by the legendary songwriting duo PF Sloan & Steve Barri so 100% prime US folk-rock jangle with lush vocal arrangement is guaranteed. Contains 7 bonus tracks and a detailed booklet.
Seriously overlooked power-pop/psike rock combo from New Zealand. In 1966, they were only stopped from hitting the top of the charts, in their home country, by the Beatles' 'Yellow Submarine'. Collectors have long been paying top dollar for these scarce Gremlins singles. The Coming Generation collects all of the band’s releases on CD for the first time and is remastered from bandleader Glyn Tucker’s original two-track master tapes!.
Great album by a band who were stars of "Where the Action Is". They were top folk rockers and all tracks were produced by jazz legend Richard Bock, Jim Dickson (Byrds) and Mama Cass. One notable cut is the mind blowing title track "Blew Mind" a trippy psych adventure with spacey sound effects. The band broke up soon after and members went on to the band T.I.M.E. and Steppenwolf. Includes their very rare singles.
An underrated part of the California 1960's folk-rock explosion, Hearts and Flowers were in fact instrumental in the coming country-rock style which became the "Sound Of California" in the 1970's. Larry Murray moved from Gram Parsons' hometown of Waycross, Georgia, to California, and played in Bluegrass groups with future Byrd Chris Hillman and future Burrito Brother and Eagle, Bernie Leadon. Meeting Dave Dawson and Rick Cunha, he formed Hearts and Flowers, who released their Nik Venet-produced debut on Capitol in the summer of 1967. A mixture of masterful and obscure covers and originals, the album gained critical acclaim. Reuniting with Bernie Leadon, the group recorded a second album, which met much the same fate despite it's outstanding quality, and it's should-have-been-a-hit version of the Rising Sons' "She Sang Hymns Out Of Tune". Only in retrospect does the importance of Hearts and Flowers become apparentas, their members scattered to the Flying Burrito Brothers, the Eagles, and the backing groups of Linda Rondstadt and Emmylou Harris and varying degrees of fame... but their recorded legacy lives on!
Rene was born in New York City, but his parents moved back to Germany, and Rene grew up in Berlin, studying at the Royal Academy of Music in Berlin. Returning to the U.S. in 1936 he became musical director for the international department of RCA Victor. In 1941, he formed the first continental-styled small pop orchestra in the US. In the 1950s, he returned to RCA as musical director in International, backing a variety of singing stars, such as Harry Belafonte and Eartha Kitt. This first collection of some of Rene's finest 1950s work uses one of his most famous covers.
An early '60s, West Coast bluegrass band with Chris Hillman, Vern and Rex Gosdin, and Don Parmley (later a Bluegrass Cardinal), which evolved from The Scottsville Squirrell Barkers.This is a key document of early California folk rock/country rock and was originally released on Gary Usher's Together Records and produced by Jim Dickson (Byrds). Great stuff!
A superb US country psych gem originally released in 1969 on the White Whale label. The album featured the songwriting talents of Carter Gilbert who wrote such songs as 'Incense & Peppermints' and 'That Acapulco Gold' (For the Rainy Daze) Mixing a blend of CSN&Y, Moby Grape, Stained Glass and early Poco this release is full of beautiful vocal harmonies, biting electric guitar and swirling keyboards. Don Johson was the vocalist of this group before his acting (?) career. As a side note the band had close links with the Grateful Dead (guesting on albums and eventually forming Dead side project Kingfish with Bob Weir). We are now going to drive down a Miami coast road in a pensive mood listening to 'In The Air Tonight' on a car stereo. .
Legendary 1960's Chicago underground band fondly remembered for some of the earliest FM hits. As much of a European cult as Captain Beefheart or Love, yet they remain almost a mystery band... few pictures, and few facts... until now!This their complete Philips recordings, lovingly remastered, and beautifully packaged...the full unknown story of the band - with notes including new interviews as well as many previously unseen pictures, including legendary and rare psychedelic posters. Also included are two bonuses: the innovative radio edit of 'The White Ship' (the version which made it a huge FM hit!) and the staggering phased-to-the-max single mix of 'Keeper Of The Keys'! Wow!
Twenty nine track compilation that charts the best of Ike Turners time in the Rhythm Kings throughout the early 50's. Remastered, booklet contains rare memorabilia and extensive liner notes from journalist Dave Penny. Concentrating solely on the groups more rockin' side, this shows their attempts to recreate their US number one single "Rocket 88." A mixture of the ying yang character of Ike reveals itself, the odd soundalike "clean" song trying to emulate other popular artists of the time and every now and then some absolutely briliant singles that could be by no one else but Ike! Hardly that surprising that none of thse songs became hits as they are far too raw and full on for the conservative charts. For lovers of Rock n Roll, R & B and wild music.
This second installment of Rev-Ola's "Phantom Jukebox" compendiums focuses on the progressive Los Angeles-based White Whale Records label. White Whale Records was formed in the summer of 1965, and their first single release was the Turtles' massive hit, "It Ain't Me, Babe". By 1971 due to various reasons White Whale was beached. However, in its mid-'60s heyday, White Whale made a strong impact as an indie, with hits from such disparate as The Clique, Nino and April, Lyme and Cybelle (featuring a young Warren Zevon), and their most successful act, the Turtles. Features rare photos and exclusive interviews with several of the original ! Most of the 24 tracks on this collection make their debut here on CD! This has never before been releases on CD and has been remastered in the usual state of the art Rev-Ola style and comes with lavish booklet with photos and interviews. Among the many highlights on this collection are: A previously-unreleased-on-CD song written by the late Warren Zevon ("The Girl's Alright" by The Brothers). Two long lost Curt Boettcher-produced Lyme and Cybelle tunes, featuring Warren Zevon. Keith Colley's "Enamorado" featuring members of the Millennium on backing vocal harmonies. A long lost Paul Williams-penned track (The Hangtown Fry)! Another must for fans of West Coast classic pop, folk-rock, latin pop and just cool music!
Live album from surreal poet/singer/actor/pianist/humourist/painter and general nutcase recorded live in his hometown of Glasgow in the summer of 1977. A semi-autobiographical album focusing on his depression-era childhood, this album is generally regarded as one of his best. It is a humorous, sad, but ultimately warming collection of stories by one of Britain's best-loved eccentrics. He even had a cameo role in the Magical Mystery Tour film!
Poet, singer, humourist, actor and general eccentric Ivor's work is unique. This is his second album from 1967, produced by George Martin. Funny songs like "Good Morning! How Are You? Shut Up!", "A Great Grey Grasshopper" and "I'm Happy" are remeniscent of the Goons. Some jazzy musical interludes and two short stories make up the rest of the album. Superb
Another in Cherry Red/ Rev- Ola's series of early Creation Records masterpieces... The Jasmine Minks. The first culty group on this classic label, Aberdeen's finest built up a considerable following around Europe and America, and are revered for their "purity" and relevance by many of today's top groups. Their resurgence on Poptones involved a record made as part of a campaign by the Scottish Socialist Party. This is a best of if you will, a collection of their finest moments at Creation, when the indie world was young and hungry. From their first single, the seminal "THINK!" to their experiments in soul, punk, Rock and pop, the Jasmines were vital, seminal, and everything else!
Born out of the ashes of two of the UK's top cult Pop-Psych bands: The Mirage and Turquoise, Jawbone only ever released this twelve track album from 1970 (expanded with three non LP tracks). Created after Mirage members Ray Glynn and Dave Hynes decided to reform the group but had to make up members after Pete Hyns and Dee Murray were poached by Elton John's Band. The new line up (with Kirk Duncan and Jeff Peters) recorded a few Beatley songs as The Portobello Explosion that are included here before beginning album sessions in '69 as Jawbone. The new songs were notably influenced by the Band and Dylan yet the psychedelic production keeps it in a similar vein to Mirage and Turquoise. .Amongst the tracks recorded were three Mirage tracks including "Jeremiah Dream's", a suitably demented re-working of the 1967 opus "Ebeneezer Beaver." Sady it sank without a trace; a lost gem of an album that is receiving it's first reissue on any format anywere. Remastered with a detailed booklet featuring interviews with the band.
The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy... a name to conjure with... all over Europe and the USA, people asked "Why?". But in the end they surrendered... US radio gave in without a fight and Johnny European Punter made the nine kow-tows and put their money on the counter. Some call them the Last Gentlemen Adventurers Of Rock'n'Roll ), some call them a bunch of travelling freelance restaurant critics, others "The Greatest Rock Band In The World"... or something. The world conquering colossi of Indie (yuck!), The Jazz Butcher Conspiracy! A poignant selection of all the hits and then some from their fabled Creation Records period with some rarities for those so inclined. Makes for a wonderful listening experience at YOUR leisure event. Girls... say yes! This is a completely new collection of the best of the Creation Records period, selected by our own Joe Foster and Mr. P. Fish himself after some argy-bargy including many rarities among the hits! Plus it has been exquisitely remastered in the usual Rev-Ola style with a lavishly illustrated booklet with lengthy commentary, yeah, a novelette by Mr. Patrick Fish Esq. The full sordid story is here! Emigrate now... you know who you are...A must for lovers of the JBC obviously but for all fans of cool music everywhere too and for those who loved Creation Records in all it's ragged glory. Look out for other releases from this semi-lost world of The Label Of Love, the never-ending story indeed... we're still at it.
Known internationally for her duets with Joe Cocker and Bill Medley in the 80's, Jennifer Warnes started out as an ambitious hippie folkie singer. A regular on US TV hit The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour where she sang with guests including Donovan, Glen Campbell, Kris Kristofferson, Dion, John Hartford and Mason Williams. In the same year she appeared in a Los Angeles production of the musical Hair, she released her debut album I Remember Everything, followed twelve months later by See Me, Feel Me, Touch Me, Heal Me. This release features these two albums together and include her sunkissed, soulful takes on tunes by The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bee Gees and Joni Mitchell amongst many others.
First time on CD for this soft pop, Americana psychedelic genre hopping masterpiece from the late 60's.This U.S. lost album attained 'holy grail' status because of it's associations with Left Banke producer Harry Lookofsky and the Brazilian genius of arranging, Deodato.These recordings have come to bewitch rare groove hunters, soft rock diggers and collectors of folk and Americana to a sweet madness, but they’ve never had what would be called an "official" release until now.
Another classic John Carter release, our hero hides behind as many guises as there are tracks (well, almost). John Carter is THE genius of UK Softpop, being the man behind not only many hits by The Ivy League and the Flowerpot Men, but also the composer of the quintessential Softpop classic "My World Fell Down", the original hit which kicked off the careers of Sagittarius and The Millennium and all points west! 25 superb slices of John's pop genius lie within this lavish package, as he masquerades as everyone from Bubblegum hitmakers The Ohio Express to the dolls from the Jelly Tots advert. Heartfelt Softpop classics join paens to the origianl mid-1970's UK skateboard craze, as we prove that a rose by any other name is indeed as sweet.
The first time ever on CD for the works of this almost too-legendary American folk singer, arhcivist and writer (1892-1980) whose career began so early on that he could even have been said to have influenced Woody Guthrie!! Dark, brooding, mysterious, steeped in the folklore of his native region (the Appalachians), and hammering away on a series of homespun dulcimers and lutes, Niles first came to the attention of the public in the first of Scorsese's documentaries on Dylan back in the Seventies; this bought him a new audience that he was grateful for in the last years of his life, as everyone asked who the strange man with the disembodied otherworldly voice was. If truth be known, he was one of the true characters of American folk, and American life- he served in the US Air Force in WW1, befriened Gertrude Stein, studied music in Paris and Lyon, travelled the mountain regions of the States collecting and publishing their folksongs, some of which are included here alongside some of his own, slightly disturbing compositions. Sumptuously packaged with sleevenotes by Guardian critic David Pescheck- thisis a truly unmissable release. Jandek? Who he?
One of the US' most respected cult singer songwriters, formerly of seminal folkies the Kingston Trio and the author of "Daydream Believer." Briefly at the helm of the disintegrating Loovin' Spoonful, Stewart's first solo album proper was California Bloodlines. A must for all acoustic roots fans, this Nik Venet produced album was a big hit amongst the music magazines of the age but is wasn't until the end of the 70's that he achieved any commercial success.
Yes THE album which single handed launched the Torch Singer genre....and opened the door for every imperfect but sexy vocalist since. The most remarkable thing about Julie London (who actually came from California) is remarkable indeed: that she used her erotic persona not so much to interpret songs as to change the nature of them to become something other than when sung by anyone else. She used her breathy, sexy, sultry voice not to sing a version of a song that could compete with someone else's on a scale of good to better to best, but to change its meaning. This, her first album from 1955 set out her stall for all time-soft eroticism and single entendre with sparse accompaniment for a late night groove that has been hard for generations to resist. With Barney Kessel's muted guitar and Ray Leatherwood's subtle bass the only sound apart from Julie's own bedroom whisper...just try to resist! One of the most erotic albums of all time, sounding even more breathe in your ear than ever with RevOla! Wonderfully packaged with pics of the sultry Miss London and full on notes, this is a must for anyone who isn't yet dead from the waist down.
The singer's second album continues her own brand of imperfect yet highly erotic vocal performances. Using her sultry tones to alter well known and new tunes into her own, her bedroom whisper making the lyrics extremely personal, full of yearning and loneliness.
Keith Colley is a name which shows up regularly in the story of Los Angeles music. From his minor hits as a "teen idol" early 1960's performer, to his writing of many hits for other artists, to his mentoring of young songwriters (the members of The Millennium among them) as A&R for 4 Star music publishing, Keith was omnipresent. You will have heard his amazing Spanish language - backed by The Millennium - single "Enamorado" on the first White Whale Records phantom Jukebox. Now here is a collection of Keith's superb demos, including songs which became hits for the likes of The Knickerbockers and the immortal Gene Vincent! Compiled by Keith himself, this is a first look into the world of a major songwriting talent!!!!
First released in 1978 on the short lived EMI subsidary label Emily, this is a must for all fans of 70's power pop. The core of the group was made up of German Volker Langeld and Englishman Alan Warren, their open love of Paul McCartney / Emitt Rhodes style pop led to high initial sales but for some reason near obscurity in the modern age. This is it's first ever re-release; it has been remastered and expanded with the group's follow up single A and B side plus two previously unreleased tracks. Booklet features in depth notes and new interview material from the band.
Making their debut on CD, this is Paul Gurvitz's (later if Gun fame) '60's beat band. The four piece were originally known as the Londoners who performed in Hamburg in the early '60's but renamed themselves after seeing the Richard Lester film The Knack. Included here are sixteen beat /R&B singles and b sides that slowly evolve into pop psych; they were recorded for the Decca and Picadilly labels. Features: "Light In The Wall", a track that the recently formed Gun would play at a BBC session in '67 and the very rare Londoners early singles originally released on the Star Club label.
The Last Poets classic first two albums (1970/1971) remastered with full sleeve notes and on 1 disc as a blistering package. Key figures in the Black Power movement and who influenced so many people and will continue to do so. Seen nowadays as "Fathers of Rap", they were to echo on to inspire Public Enemy and NWA, they can also be seen as the antithesis of what rap became as they deconstruct with relentless, pitiless poetry every self serving dream you or I or them ever had. Absolutely classicstuff, the relevance has not faded. No matter who you are, look in a scary mirror held up long ago and see…
Having written hundreds of songs while in prison and not even beginning to record them until he was in his forties, Leadbelly appears now like more of a myth than a real man. Collected here are twenty eight of his seminal works that would go on to change music. This CD goes a long way to highlight the great mans ability to write and record in different styles whether it be folk, country blues, field songs, laments or childrens songs. Largely a solo effort, Leadbelly is joined by guests Sonny Terry, Woody Guthrie and The Golden Gate vocal trio. Featuring thirteen tracks from the legendary '41 sessions and an overview of the rest of his short career. If he isn't in your record collection in any form then you should be ashamed, buy this now! Booklet contains extensive liner notes and photos.
Younger sister of uber-vocalist and super celebrity 'Mama' Cass Elliott. Wife of numero uno all-star rock drummer Russ Kunkel. Session vocalist extraordinaire (she provided ALL the backing vocals for James Taylor's huge JT album and remains the only female singer to ever sing back-up for Art Garfunkel). Songwriter and master interpreter. Leah Kunkel is all the sethings... and more! Schooled in the Greenwich Village folk scene where she hung with Fred Neil and John Sebastian, her life was changed by the arrival of The Beatles (wasn't everybody's?) and the international success of her elder sister's band The Mamas & The Papas.Leah visited Cass in Los Angeles and soon found herself among the new generation of Hollywood pop songwriters. She soon signed to Trousdale Music (home of P F Sloan and Steve Barri amongs others) and married old flame Russ Kunkel in 1968.She continued writing and demoing into the '70s as well as cultivating a career as an in-demand session vocalist, contributingto records by Jackson Browne, James Taylor, Art Gunfunkel, Dan Hill, Carly Simon and big sister Cass.In 1979 she released her first self-titled solo set, produced by (and featuring) husband Russ and featuring Jackson Browne onback-up vocals. It contains songs by The Bee Gees, John Phillips and Stephen Bishop alongside her own compositions and boasts a sleeve note by Art Garfunkel. Its 1980 follow-up, I Run With Trouble, features songs by Jimmy Webb, Chip Douglasand Judy Henske as well as a guest appearance by Graham Nash and a sleeve from the lens of renowned photographer Duane Micheals.
As a solo performer and member of the Millennium and Sagittarius, Lee Mallory helped Curt Boettcher and Gary Usher define soft pop psike California style. Here for the first time a collection of demo's from 1966-70, featuring members of the Millennium, Randy Meisner (Eagles) and Rusty Young (Poco). With prime Curt Boettcher production throughout it's a suitably diverse collection with punky psych pop, folky, trippy melodic pop psike and '60's pop rock. Well worth investigating!
Lee Micheals debut album released on CD for the first time, remastered from the original master tapes. A highly accomplished white soulful singer (and a great organ player), Lee carrys off gritty gospel R&B and psychedlic pop/rock with absolute ease. A cracking example of Californian Psyche pop/hard rock at its late '60's best. A fine quirky opener to what would be a long and interesting career. Features Hamilton Weasley (of Euphoria) playing a blistering guitar part throughout and an equally explosive performance by Eddie Hoh on trhe skins. Features: "Sounding The Sleeping", "My Friends" and "Love."
The amazing genius of LES BAXTER....MOR hitmaker, Jazz innovator, member of Mel Tormesinnovative Mel-Tones....innovative and acclaimed A&R man and producer to everyone from YmaSumac to a series of Biker movies..electronic music pioneer..and here, the Stravinskyesque grandmaster of EXOTICA in his acknowledged masterpiece album "Ritual Of The Savage"!!....the inspirationfor the entire EXOTICA genre all in one place....here coupled with Baxter's legendary and little heardtone poem "The Passions" where vocalist Bas Sheva goes absolutely nuts in a gamut of feelings.....asBaxter's orchestra spirals to a crescendo of sound!!!
Brand new 2004 album! The follow-up to the snow-tastic Lost Winter's Dream (featuring The Wondermints) Sparkling pop tunes which range from crashing pop-punk to exquisite ballads and Spectorian beauties, this is more than a worthy follow up- it's a whole new world! .A 13 track bulletin of pop-classic from LA's pop underground.
Lisa Mychols, along with the Wondermints, has created a quality Christmas oriented collection that's on par with some of Brian Wilson's and Phil Spector's finest moments.Lisa not only writes the songs but paints Christmas as something almost seductive.Plus, it's one of those rare holiday albums you'll want to pull out anytime of the year simply because the quality of the songwriting transcends the occasion.This album has long been a hot item among the powerpop fan/collector community.
Fascinating compilation that traces the early roots of this rock'n'roll pioneer, concentrating on as yet unheard originals and also covers from his two major inspirations- gay bluesman Billy Wright (no, not the one that used to manage Wolverhampton Wanderers) and unclassifiably eccentric piano man Esquerita (not to be confused with Esquivel) which of course he would weave together to create his beautifully camp take on rock'n'roll. This is the first time that his pre-Specialty material has appeared on CD, and hearing it here makes for a strange and rewarding experience. The real bonus, apart from the packaging and notation from 1950s expert Dave Penny, is the inclusion of three tracks featuring our Richie backing blues'n'gospel howler Christine Kittrell, which have been unavailable for nearly 50 years. Good golly indeed.
At last available on CD- the lost power pop pub rockin' classic from 1973, which attempted to get back to basics at leat three years before the punks had even thrown their Yes albums away and denied their pasts!! And what a lineup the band had- singer-songwriter/guitarist Martin Briley ( founder of Mandrake Paddle Steamer, session axeman for everyone from Neil Sedaka to Hunter-Ronson, and writer of a squillion hits for Pat Benatar, Nana Moskouri and a thousand others we daren't even mention) fellow Mandraker Brian Engel, bassist Herbie Flowers (the man who enjoyed hits within the same year with Lou Reed and Clive Dunn) and drummer Clem Cattini, a Pirate and a rock'n'roll god to all. At a time when glam ruled the charts and the only albums that sold were gatefold prog masterworks, the Echo, with their Merseybeat melodies and an almost-live garage production that the likes of Dr Feelgood would have killed for, must have stuck out like a sore thumb (bear in mind, this was at a time when no-one in the UK had heard of Big Star and Cheap Trick were yet to exist), and true enough this album- possibly the greatest anachronism of its time- sank like the proverbial stone. However, due to a select group of collectors who have kept its name alive, the album has remained a name to conjure with, and here it is on CD at last- its first reissue in any format. With a booklet full of the thoughts and writings of Briley and Engel themselves, this is definitely no no-mark, la!! Not to be confused with the Liverpool Express.
Originally released in 1969, "Liz Damon's Orient Express" (From Hawaii) is a masterpiece of loungepop and the "NOW SOUND" which features not only their US smash hit "1900 Yesterday", and a raft of other Now Sound classics, but also a cracking softpop rendition of "Bring Me Sunshine," the song with which Eric & Ernie closed many a classic "Morecombe and Wise," show in the 1960's and 70's...(though here not orchestrated by Andre Preview, sadly)...superb!
All the original singles released by this very much-missed and fondly-remembered Creation Records act, one of the first to sign to the label and an important stone in the foundation of so-called 'indie' music. Despite such tags, they actually specialised in a form of melodic pop-rock which was closer to that of Big Star or even Cheap Trick than a million fey jangling Northern schmindie poppers, and their legend has grown accordingly. This CD also features plenty of memorabilia, and has been remastered by Nick Robbins. When independent really was independent. . .
Rupert Grant, aka Lord Invader (1915-62), was the instigator of REAL calypso music in New York in the late 40s- mid 50s ( before anyone else in the mainstream had even got a handle on it). Best known for tracks like 'Rum And Coca Cola' and 'Yankee Dollar In Trinidad', he was that nation's prime star until he decamped for the USA in 1947 and eventually Britain in 1956. His songs were covered by everyone from Jewish comedian Morey Amsterdam (who virtually plagiarised his act word for word) and the Andrews Sisters, to Boney M , who twentyy-five years later took 'Brown Girl In The Ring' to chart positions he would never have dreamed of!! Sadly, Invader never got to see how his great legacy was appreciated, as he tragically died in New York City aged 47: but nevertheless, his work should be appreciated, as he was a true pioneer in black music. Buy this.
An absolute gem this one- and thankfully available on CD after years of being 'hard to track down'. Believe it or not, there was an all-girl band even sleazier, tougher, grittier and darker in tone than the Shangri-Las (a squillion voices shout disbelief) They were the Whyte Boots, and Lori was their frontwoman and principal songwriter (like Jackie DeShannon, one of the groundbreaking women of the era who wrote their own material). Except they didn't exist!! Whereas the Ganser sisters and their cohorts actually lived and dwelt on the twilight streets of the Bronx, Lori and her co-writer, Englishwoman Pam Sawyer, were holed up safely in the Brill Building with some esteemed supersessioneers, writing material for the Young Rascals among others, and it was in this environment that the Boots' masterpiece (and possibly the greatest US 'death disc' of all time) "Nightmare"- a tale of rival girl gang murders set to a chilling Mortonesque arrangement, was concocted. The scandal over this most wonderful of one-hit-wonders soon blew over, but not before Mercury had given Lori her own album, featuring not only said single but several of the Northern Soul stompers she had written for other artists cut in her own inimitable way. Several tracks here , such as 'Gotta Make You Love Me' are Mod dancefloor fillers of many years standing- the others are all equally worthy of discovery, so part with your pennies for some pop perfection. Never reissued before in ANY format, now featuring a bonus radio version of 'Nightmare' and liner notes from noted girl group expert Mick Patrick. Without which Debbie Harry, Patti Smith, Joan Jett, Wendy O Williams etc etc. . .Is that Jimmy's ring you're wearing?
This pop group links Elvis, Jackson Five, Jimmy Webb, Monkees, Union Gap and the voices behind some of the best-loved Partridge Family recordings, and during the late 60s The Love Generation's flawless harmonies epitomized California pop-psych as this excellent 20 track compilation shows. Tom & Johns (Bahler) skills as vocal arrangers make this a beautiful sunshine pop psyche gem and the sound just washes over you.
Mae West's first rock n roll album, originally released in the '50's, never before available on CD. These twelve tracks (like the rest of her career) caused quite a stir on their original release. In typical West style, these were risque rock n roll numbers, absolutely filthy by '50's standards. For fans of the immortal star and everything double ententre. Including: "They Call Me Sister Honky Tonk", "Pecado (Sin)", "Frankie & Johnnie" and "If I Could Be With You."
Legendary Brazilian lyricist Mario Telles released only this single LP in his entire career, he seemed to prefer just turning up as a guest on other peoples releases. This rare album is blessed with arrangements and orchestrations by Moacir Santos, Astor Silva and the amazing Baden Powell on guitar. Twelve track remastered album, one for all you Bossa Nova lovers.
Hollywood actor who made countless appearances in The Partridge Family and TV adds made a suite of exquisite harmony pop songs in 1968. It catches the tail end of LA's pop innocence in a perfect way. Beautiful lush vocal arrangements and sweeping strings make this a classic in a Beach Boys kinda way. Epic stuff
Yes, the creator of Grocer Jack and the brains behind seminal recordings by (deep breath) Marlene Dietrich, Bobbie Gentry, Tomorrow, Wanda Jackson, Kim Fowley, Brinsley Schwartz, Bobby Sherman, Helen Reddy, Anthony Newley, Dean Martin, Leon Russell and Bob Monkhouse to name but a few, is back with his first new album in, oooh, far too long.Mark has lost none of the melodic nous, quirky worldview or production savvy that have earned him his enviable reputation and he wants to share it all with you, you lucky lucky people!
Making it's official debut on CD, this is the lost average album from the founding member of Steppenwolf. Breaking away from the group in '67 to concentrate on these songs, it appears to have been a masterstroke; this album is packed with memorable hard rock and pop psych of the highest order. Classic songwriting, these eleven introspective tracks are a genuine treat. Includes a little known alternative version of his classic "Born To Be Wild", "How Much Older Will She Grow", "Night Time For You" and "Lady Moon Walker."
Essential Exotica album presented in both stereo and mono mixes, the first appearance for both of them on CD. Packaged in a Dig pack, making a gatefold out of the original original sleeve. Stereo and Mono mixes are in fact different recordings and have a surprisingly alternative vibe to each other. As ever, this genre (effectively the Godfather of ambient) delivers that wonderful hypnotic feeling, becoming more intimate with the listener by the remastered sound quality; in many ways it has intensified with age to become a heady mix of the strange and exotic. Martin Denny really is the Don of the genre and cannot be overlooked at any cost.
Fans of the exotica genre will need NO introduction to this album, being as it is seminal to the genre in the way that 'Never Mind The Bollocks' is to punk or 'The Hangman's Beautiful Daughter' is to acid folk. Yes THAT important. Denny was and still is THE name that people associate with the genre, and it's largely because of this album and its successor- which practically gave the music its name. Thse lush, plush sounds, mixing the finest American orchestration with the allure of the mystic East or the forbidden jungle, have charmed millions of listeners..now, here they are in BOTH formats-mono AND stereo!!! And unlike other CDs that do this, these are actually two separate recordings- one recorded two years after the other, when stereo became a reality. Packaged in gatefold digipak, with the iconic image of Sandy Warner, and liner notes from Rev-Ola's head honcho Joe Foster. Includes the definitive genre tune 'Quiet Village'
The second of Denny's genre-defining and rule-defying albums that gave birth to a whole new genre of music. Less than a year after the original 'Exotica', Denny and band were back with a second helping of the lush and the strange, journeying as far as Japan and Maui for inspiration. This CD collects both the stereo and the mono versions, recorded some two years apart. As befitting of such an album, packaged in a gatefold digipak relete with the image of the 'face of Exotica' herself- Sandy Warner. Liner notes by Rev Ola mainman Joe Foster. Get the Pimms out.
As part of our ongoing series of reappraised, remastered and INTENSIFIED releases of music from the1950's and before....well, here we hit the Daddy of them all...MARTIN DENNY!....from the spectacular sleeve,featuring the Exotica Girl, Sandy Warner, in one of her many guises...this timeit's probably what my aunt imagined she looked like going out formal yet sexy-looking in about 1962....to thecool hypnotic vibes of the music within, this is an ESSENTIAL album.....Presented here in both it's Hi FiMono version, and it's Spectraphonic Stereo version (both VERY different beasts indeed!) for your especialpleasure.......with a whole load of wonderful tracks to chill out to!.....Pour the cocktails and dim the lights...for MartinDenny!
More high class exotica, presented here in both Mono and Stereo mixes, in a digi pack with gatefold image and liner notes. Fascinating differences between the two mixes, a cool hypnotic feel that is clearly a forefront to the ambient vibes of the '90's. An must for fans of Lounge and Exotica, the lesson begins and ends here. Twelve tracks featuring: "Cobra", "Sim Sim", March Of The Chinese Children" and "Goony Birds."
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