Rockasteria

The band began life in the late '60s, evolving from "Noah Mayflower" through "Osmosis" and finally becoming "HYDRA". They built a rock solid reputation as one of the top club bands in the south.

In 1973 they signed a recording contract with Capricorn Records, for whom they recorded two albums - the self titled debut in 1974, and "Land of Money" the following year.

In 1977 HYDRA became a three-piece band when Orville Davis left (with Wayne Bruce moving to bass) and they moved to the Polydor label, releasing their most sucessful album, "Rock The World". Unfortunately, this title has never been released as a CD and is, therefore, now also the rarest of their releases. Sadly, HYDRA had run it's course, and disbanded within months of the release.

Although there have been occasional reunions HYDRA is currently inactive. However, it should be remembered that any band with a legacy and a reputation as rich and wide as theirs cannot be dismissed as defunct - you just never know when they might resurface. HYDRA continues to maintain a fanbase all over the world, and continue to discuss the possibility of writing and recording of new material.

Hydra

Tracks
1.Glitter Queen - 4:02
2.Keep You Around - 5:16
3.It's So Hard (Music by Kirkpatrick, W. Bruce) - 4:45
4.Going Down (Don Nix) - 3:07
5.Feel A Pain (Will Boulware) - 6:24
6.Good Time Man (Words by W. Bruce, Steve Pace) - 3:23
7.Let Me Down Easy - 4:20
8.Warp 16 (S. Pace, S. Kirkpatrick, W. Bruce, Trip Burgess) - 4:20
9.If You Care To Survive - 2:54
10. Miriam - 7:42
Music by Spencer Kirkpatrick Lyrics by Wayne Bruce, exept where indicated

Hydra
*Wayne Bruce - Vocals, Guitar
*Spencer Kirkpatrick – Lead, Slide, String Acoustic Guitar
*Orville Davis - Bass Guitar
*Steve Pace - Drums
with
*Dan Turbeville - Keyboards
*Randal Bramblett - Alto Sax
*Earl Ford - Trombone
*Oscar Jackson - Tenor Sax
*Todd Logan - Trumpet

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Hydra’s second essay titled "Land Of Money", rolls on the same hard Southern rails as their debut, but having a little bit more tougher directions, bringing to mind the bands like Bad Company not only as musical style but in vocals also.

Hydra comprise by excellent musicians, playing remarkably their southern hard rock crossbreed , there are of course references to Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

The album was recorded in spring 1975 and released during the summer.

Tracks
1. Little Miss Rock N' Roll (W. Bruce, S. Kirkpatrick, S. Pace) - 2:33
2. The Pistol (W. Bruce, S. Kirkpatrick) - 4:37
3. Makin' Plans (W. Bruce) - 2:32
4. Land of Money (W. Bruce, S. Kirkpatrick) - 6:28
5. Get Back to the City (W. Bruce, S. Kirkpatrick) - 3:31
6. Don't Let Time Pass You By (W. Bruce, S. Kirkpatrick) - 4:50
7. Let the Show Go On (W. Bruce, S. Kirkpatrick) - 3:27
8. Slow and Easy (W. Bruce, Johnny Sandlin) - 3:44
9. Take Me for My Music (Will Boulware) - 2:57

Hydra
*Wayne Bruce - Vocals, Rhythm , Acoustic Guitars
*Spencer Kirkpatrick – Lead, Slide, Acoustic Guitars
*Orville Davis - Bass
*Steve Pace - Drums
with
*Chuck Leavell - Keyboards, Synthesizer
*Will Boulware - Organ
*Bill Stewart - Percussion
*Johnny Sandlin - Percussion

1974 Hydra

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There's more than one band and artist called Hydra, but this is the 70's Southern Rock band. They released three albums.

Most songs on the album are merely decent to good, but the following trio of songs are really outstanding and to any fan of classic 70's Hard Rock they'd be a thrill.

'Wasting Time' is an entertaining Southern Rock tune with catchy vocals. What's immediately made clear by this song is that the band has a very capable singer in Wayne Bruce.

'Shame' is something special, as it's in fact Speed Metal avant la lettre but with a classic Hard Rock sound. Remember. This is 1977. It would be years before Metal bands would start experimenting with double bass drumming (so, kudos to Hydra's drummer for being one of the first). Metallica's 'Kill em All' lay half a decade in the future as well. So, it's very surprising to hear this kind of music being made in the 70's. It's a full frontal assault of fast drums and savage riffs and in a way it sounds like early Ted Nugent in overdrive.

The strongest track, certainly from a compositional point of view, is the surprisingly subtle ballad 'To the Willowed'. It's one of the most graceful ballads I have ever heard, and there's nothing syrupy about it.

by Johan Wuyckens

Tracks
1. Rock The World - 3:55
2. Wasting Time - 5:57
3. Can You Believe - 3:30
4. Your Love Gets Around - 4:10
5. Shame - 3:27
6. To The Willowed - 5:02
7. Feel Like Running - 5:25
8. You're The One - 3:38
9. Diamond In The Rough - 5:21
All compositions by Wayne Bruce, Steve Pace and Spencer Kirkpatrick

Hydra
*Wayne Bruce - Vocals, Guitar
*Spencer Kirkpatrick – Guitar
*Steve Pace - Drums

1974 Hydra
1975 Land Of Money

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This is a remarkable rare private press, recorded in New Braunfels Texas between February and March 1982. Lead by singer / guitarist Tim Paul Catron who startet his career in the mid seventies releasing in 1976 the Single, “I’m Not Too Blind To See”. Later he joint Lady LucK for their 1978 LP "No Dice".

In the early eighties he formed the Travis Allan Band and went on to studio to record "A Place in Time". Tim P. has worked with such national artists as David Allan Coe, Johnny Paycheck, Earl Thomas Conley and Gary Stewart while living in Nashville for 6 years.

Locally in the Texas area he has worked with a variety of bands with a variety of different sounds. The Emotions, Tp & The Emergency, The Lizard Kings, Texas After Dark and recently the largely publicized band, Kowboy. From classic country, new country, classic rock-n-roll to down home blues, TP has experienced and lived the circle of styles of music.

This album is a fine examble of his talent's versatility and his different musical influences, heavy southern bluesy rock mixed with fuzzed psych gutars.

All an all a surprising good album that will keep you in tension from start to end.

Tracks
1. A Place In Time - 2:52
2. Let's Do It Again - 3:58
3. Missing You - 7:12
4. Florida Whiskey - 4:48
5. Southern Blues - 2:12
6. Saturday Evenings End - 3:45
7. Last Time Around - 3:17
All songs written by Tim P. Catron

The Travis Allan Band
*Tim P. Catron - Vocals, Guitars, Bass
*Stephen Schertz - Drums
*Ron Stirm - Keyboards
*Craig Satterwhite - Bass, Drums, Keyboards

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After the death of Jimi Hendrix, Billy Cox found female guitarist, Char Vinedge (she began in the early 1960s as lead guitarist / singer with an all-girl group The Tremolons and later with Luv'd Ones), who played guitar similarly to Jimi. Along with Robert 'Tarp' Tarrant on drums, he assembled the classic three-piece rock line-up and recorded this album, produced by Kenny Rogers brother, Lellan.

Char was quite some guitaist, feedback here and there, swooping and soaring solos, fabulous. Even though not in Jimi's league, she was quite some six-string gunslinger, nevertheless. Char wrote all the songs except Message and You Got A Hold On Me, which are Billy Cox originals, Let Me Do What I Want To Do, which they co-wrote, and Ray Davies of the Kinks You Really Got Me.

It's a great album but it seems this will be Char Vinedge's only claim to fame. She was in a pretty much unknown American all-girl 60's band whose name escapes me, but it was a fuzz-box/feedback driven concern way before its time, so Billy got hold of the right woman for the job. Born in 1944, and billed on the album as 'The Electric Lady,' Char passed away in December 1997.

As far as I'm concerned it's a great rock/psych album which I wouldn't trade for anything; even though it's only around the 35 minutes playing time mark. The cover art is by Roger Dean.

by Alan Burridge

Tracks
1. Message (B. Cox) – 1:03
2. 42-70 (Peace) (C. Vinnedge) – 4:55
3. Touch Me (C. Vinnedge) – 2:50
4. You Really Got Me (R. Davies) – 4:13
5. Portrait (C. Vinnedge) – 4:56
6. Powerhouse (C. Vinnedge) – 3:11
7. You Got A Hold On Me (B. Cox) – 3:12
8. Play Your Own Blues (C. Vinnedge) – 4:59
9. Not My Time (C. Vinnedge) – 3:53
10.Let Me Do What I Want To Do (B. Cox, C. Vinnedge) – 2:40

The Nitro Function
*Billy Cox – Bass, Vocals
*Robert Tarrant – Drums
*Char Vinnedge – Guitar, Vocals

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The band members first began performing together in 1969, while students at Ohio Wesleyan University. Upon Bob and Geoff's graduation in 19 71, they were able to devote themselves to full-time writing, recording, and playing on the local and regional scene. Jasey was a college senior at that time, and married to Syd, whose picture appears on the LP jacket.

This album was recorded in late 1971 and early 1972. As you will hear, the band members were heavily influenced by the big British Invasion bands as well as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young and the Eagles. The Jammers' soaring harmonies and intricate lyrics were the result of these influences on the trio. As live performers, the Jammers were known for giving incandescent shows with a rough edge (think Stones and the Who) rather different from what is captured on their album. A play list of covers interspersed with their own very original music was often compiled in an idiosyncratic way in order to fit the perceived needs of the audience for whom they were performing.

The Jammers' ability to "read" the audience and to play with passion insured that everyone present had a good time. One audience member was heard to say, "When I feel down, I want to come hear you guys play because you are always so upbeat." What more could a band want to hear?

A second Kansas City Jammers LP was recorded during the summer of 1972, followed by the single 'Give Me That Rock and Roll' in 1973; the single made it to number twenty on WCOL radio's playlist.

Today, the band members have moved on to new careers, but still write and perform with other musicians. Bob has been practicing medicine for thirty years, and has a son and a daughter. He has laid down his drumsticks in favor of the guitar, and plays with an ensemble. Jasey has taught high school English for thirty-five years, and is the father of one son and three daughters. He co-wrote a hit song that was made famous by Eddie Rabbit in the 1980's. He performs with his wife and other local musicians in Ohio. Geoff is now a professor of social work and the father of two daughters. He is still writing songs but not performing, and is also the author of numerous books.

The album has long been a favorite of the fine folks at Void Records. The extensive list of bonus tracks includes the entirety of the band's (until now) unreleased second album.

Tracks

Disc One

"In Your Ear"

1. For A Sign - 3:05

2. Live In Harmony - 2:35

3. Messiah - 3:50

4. For Father (Jasey Schnaars) - 3:58

5. Chess Piece - 5:06

6. Hairy Tongued Turtle (Bob Thompson) - 2:51

"And Out The Other"

7. Midnight Watch - 3:43

8. Driver (Trad. Arr. By Jasey Schnaars) - 4.54

9. For Marti (Jim Stockdale, Jasey Schnaars) - 3.34

10.Family Song (Bob Thompson) 2.53

11.Fall - 3:37

12.Dog And A Cat - 0:12

13.Fingers, Foot And Fade (G. Greif, B. Thompson, J. Schnaars) - 1:03

All songs by Geoffrey Greif unless as else stated.

Disc Two
"Tracks"
1. Sing Me That Rock And Roll - 2:59
2. Wind In The Willows - 3:70
3. Rain - 2.53
4. Rock And Roll Out Of Crisis - 3:23
5. Syd's Song - 3.04
6. Radio Interview - 1:29
7. Peter Pan - 4:12
8. On The Side Of A Mountain - 3:53
9. Messiah (Live) - 4:02
10.All The Wars - 3:00
11.Backroad Woman - 3:10
12.Sunfighter - 3:14
13.I'm Your Hero - 2.51
14.Mustang Sally - 4.41

Kansas City Jammers
*Geoffrey Greif - Piano, Fingers, Acoustic, Electric Guitars
*Jasey Schnaars - Bass, Harp, Foot, Acoustic Guitar
*Bob Thompson - Drums, Harp, Fade, Acoustic Guitar

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“This is a virtually perfect pop album, the kind of thing that would have ruled the charts if the wind had been blowing the right way that month” – The Acid Archives

This glorious pop album, originally released in 1970 Named after the mysterious duo of Richard Atkins and Richard Manning, its beautifully-crafted songs and glorious melodies have assured it an ever-growing cult reputation.

Featuring top-notch backing from musicians such as Drake Levin (Paul Revere & the Raiders), Larry Knechtel (Bread), Mark Tulin (the Electric Prunes) and Rusty Young (Poco), it’s bound to appeal to all fans of high-quality early 70s US pop-rock.

Tracks
1. Generation '70 - 3:25
2. My Love Bathes in Silence - 3:03
3. 1:25 A.M. - 2:57
4. Your Love Like Heaven Be - 2:09
5. God Give Me Strength - 3:46
6. What Makes Me Love You Like I Do? - 2:42
7. If I Knew You Were the One - 4:42
8. The Finest Poet - 2:54
9. More or Less Nothing - 3:06
10.If I Were Strong I'd Move You Mountains - 3:16
11.She Catches Me Running - 4:23
All songs by Richard Atkins except 1:25 AM (Atkins, Manning)

Musicians
*Richard Atkins – Guitars, Vocals
*Richard Manning – Guitars, Vocals
*David Cohen, Louis Shelton, Drake Levin – Guitar
*Don Galluci, Lawrence Knechtel, Alex Hassilev – Keyboards
*Colin Cameron, Mark Tulin – Bass
*Malcolm Eisensohn, Ron Tutt – Drums
*Rusty Young – Pedal Steel Guitar
*Gary Coleman – Percussion

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From Los Angeles, Goldenrod were part of the "Our Productions" crew, along with Mike Deasy, Lee Mallory and Curt Boettcher. As part of this talented group of people, they contributed to numerous albums and sessions in addition to those released as Goldenrod. Some of these included Tommy Roe, Darius and backing the Association on their first two albums. Much of this session work was done on a "conveyor belt" system; with all the instrumental tracks being cut at Gary Paxton's studio, and vocals for the more well known acts cut at Columbia.

All three had earlier played with Ballroom with Boettcher and together with Mallory, they formed the basis of the original line-up of Millennium. Scheff contributed Dandelion Wine to the Millennium repertoire, but all three left when it looked like Millennium would turn into a 'proper' band rather than a studio project. Goldenrod are also thought to have backed Lee Mallory live.

Apparently the group first met while they were recruited to back The Fifth Dimension and they all went on to become top L.A. session men; Scheff also went on to back Elvis Presley and Benay appeared in Fun Zone in the seventies.

Tracks
1. Descent Of The Cyclopeans - 6:04
2. The Gator Society - 12:36
3. Karmic Dream Sequence - 10:24
4. Standing Ovulation - 6:44

Goldenrod
*Ben Benay - Guitar
*Jerry Scheff - Bass
*Toxey French - Percussion

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No one knew quite what to make of this L.A. band in the mid-'60s, who unbelievably included Ry Cooder, Taj Mahal, Kevin Kelley (later in the Byrds), and even Ed Cassidy (briefly) in the same lineup.

They only managed one single on Columbia before breaking up in 1966, but they also got to lay down an album's worth of unreleased material, which was finally issued over 25 years later.

Their languid, bluesy, folksy sort of sound anticipated future recordings by outfits like Moby Grape, Buffalo Springfield, the Grateful Dead, and even the country-rock Byrds.

Their lone single and unreleased album form the core of this 22-track reissue, which features imaginative rearrangements of standards like "Corrine, Corrina," an obscure Dylan cover ("Walkin' Down the Line"), rocking originals, a confident performance of Goffin/King's "Take a Giant Step" (later Mahal's signature tune), and nifty guitar interplay between Mahal and Cooder throughout.

Overall, it sounds a lot more like it belongs in 1967-1968 than 1965-1966. This archival release has value above and beyond historical interest.

by Richie Unterberger

Tracks
1.Statesboro Blues (W. McTell) - 2:23
2.If The River Was Whiskey (Divin' Duck Blues) (Sleepy John Estes) - 2:41
3.By And By (Poor Me) (C. Patton) - 3:31
4.Candy Man (Rev. G. Davis) - 2:04
5.2:10 Train (L. Albertano) - 4:09
6.Let The Good Times Roll (S. Goodman, L. Lee) - 2:43
7..44 Blues (Willie Dixon) - 3:22
8.11th Street Overcrossing (Jesse Lee Kincaid) - 2:12
9.Corrin, Corrina (Traditional) - 2:55
10.Tulsa County (P. Polland) - 2:42
11.Walkin' Down The Line (B. Dylan) - 2:13
12.The Girl With Green Eyes (Jesse Lee Kincaid) - 2:14
13.Sunny's Dream (Jesse Lee Kincaid) - 3:01
14.Spanish Lace Blues (Jesse Lee Kincaid) - 2:12
15.The Devil's Got My Woman (S. James) - 3:05
16.Take A Giant Step (G. Goffin, C. King) - 2:54
17.Flyin' So High (Jesse Lee Kincaid) - 3:05
18.Dust My Broom (R. Johnson) - 3:03
19.Last Fair Deal Gone Down (R. Johnson) - 2:38
20.Baby, What You Want Me To Do? (J. Reed) - 2:54
21.Statesboro Blues (Version 2) (W. McTell) - 2:24
22.I Got A Little (Jesse Lee Kincaid) - 2:07

Rising Sons
*Taj Mahal - Vocals, Harmonica, Guitar, Piano
*Ry Cooder - Vocals, 6-string, 12-string, Slide, Bottleneck Guitars, Mandolin
*Jesse Lee Kincaid - Vocals, Guitar
*Gary Marker - Bass
*Kevin Kelley - Drums, Percussion

Releated releases
1968 Taj Mahal - The Natch'l Blues
1969 Fusion - Border Town

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Part of the legendary of most-collectible Capitol psych LPs (along with Gandalf. the Common People and Euphoria), Forever Is A Dream remains largely shrouded in mystery.

Food are known to have come from the East Coast, and though their album was recorded in Chicago, they are thought to have originated in Gurnee, Illinois. Singer Steve White had already sung in a couple of garage bands when he joined, though in this case 'garage' may not be the correct term, as he once recalled Food rehearsing in a refurbished chicken coop.

No sooner had they got a set together than a local producer named Ted Ashford (not a band member, despite being listed on the back cover) got involved. He hawked their three song demo around numerous labels, and eventually Capitol took the bait (they are said to have been signed by the A&R man who discovered Grand Funk Railroad at the same time, which perhaps explains Food's subsequent lack of exposure).

Comfortably installed in Chicago's fashionable Chestnut Street neighbourhood, they set about making an album. White has said that he didn't rate them highly, but their songwriting and musicianship was demonstrably of an unusually high standard, and the label must have invested a considerable amount of money in the sessions, as it features complex orchestral arrangements by Ashford. The album perhaps suffered commercially as a result of its sheer variety - compare, for example, the fragile opening cut with the storming Naive Prayers, or the tender Lady Miss Ann with the experimental Fountains Of My Mind, or the soulful What It Seems To Be with the furious Here We Go Again, which closes proceedings.

Certainly Capitol extracted no 45, and the band splintered soon after the LP's late-1969 release, though they did briefly appear in a party scene in a B-movie that year entitled The Babysitter (directed by cash-in supremo Tom Laughlin and featuring the credit 'Introducing the music of the Food'). The song playing in their sequence is not on the album, though, and the fact that it's sung by a woman suggests it's not them at all.

White went on to a career acting in Bmovies (with the help of Ted Ashford), working with directors including legendary schlock merchant Herschel Gordon Lewis. Ashford, meanwhile, worked with the Grateful Dead and Country Joe McDonald, as well as composing for TV and film and playing in mid-70s country- rockers Heartsfield.

The only other member who sustained a showbiz career was Barry Mraz, who became a leading producer and engineer, working with million- selling acts such as the Ohio Players, Styx and Bachman Turner Overdrive. None of them, however, can have anticipated the cult status their early collaboration now enjoys, and it is to be hoped that as its reputation spreads, their full story will one day emerge.

Tracks
1. Forever Is A Dream (Ashford, White, Wukovich) - 6:51
2. Naive Prayers (Wukovich) - 3:47
3. No (Ashford) - 2:48
4. Lady Miss Ann (White, Wukovich) - 3:09
5. Fountains Of My Mind (Ashford, White) - 3:09
6. Coming Back (White, Wukovich) - 3:03
7. What It Seems To Be (White) - 6:03
8. Inside The Mirror (Wukovich) -
9. Marbled Wings (Wukovich) - 2:22
10.Traveling Light / Leaves (Ashford, White, Wukovich) - 6:23
11.Here We Go Again (White) - 3:23

Food
*Steve White - Lead Vocals
*Bill Wukovich - Guitars, Vocals
*Ted Ashford - Keyboards
*Erick Scott Filipowitz - Bass
*Barry Mraz - Drums, Percussion

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Earth Quake started out as part of the mid-'60s band scene in San Francisco, where - originally known as Purple Earthquake -- they were more than a little bit unusual.

Having recorded a pair of early-1970s albums for A&M, 1976's Kaufman and Glen Kolotkin produced "8.5" was the group's sophomore release for Beserkley. The album gets off to a roaring start with the heavy metal 'Finders Keepers'.

Powered by Doukas voice, most of the up tempo tracks are actually pretty good. "8.5" is not a bad record and the single "Hit the Floor" would have sounded good on the radio, if only it had been given a chance. Also, the Dennis Linde cover is quite nice.

Tracks
1. Finders Keepers (Johnson, Bowen) - 3:59
2. Little Cindy (Gary Phillips) - 3:15
3. And He Likes To Hurt You (D. Linde) - 3:45
4. Savin' My Love (Robbie Dunbar, John Doukas, Gary Phillips) - 7:11
5. Girl Named Jesse James (Robbie Dunbar, John Doukas) - 2:59
6. Motivate Me (Robbie Dunbar, John Doukas, Gary Phillips, Bimier) - 3:09
7. Hit the Floor (Robbie Dunbar, John Doukas, Stan Miller) - 3:47
8. Same Old Story (Robbie Dunbar, John Doukas) - 4:45
9. Don't Want To Go Back (Robbie Dunbar, John Doukas, Gary Phillips) - 3:31

Earth Quake
*John Doukas - Lead Vocals
*Robbie Dunbar - Guitar, Piano, Vocals
*Stan Miller - Bass, Vocals
*Steve Nelson - Percussion, Vocals
*Gary Phillips - Guitar, Vocals, Lead Vocals

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Earthquake's 5th effort "Leveled' is one of their best, this record features some nice originals ("Lovin' Cup" and especially, "Upstairs") and a solid version of Mann & Weil's "Kicks."

Tracks
1. Lovin' Up (K. Laguna, Earth Quake) - 2:53
2. Emma (Er. Brown, T. Wilson) - 4:10
3. Kicks (B. Mann, C. Weil) - 3:46
4. Trainride (J. Doukas, R. Dunbar, R. Bimler) - 5:58
5. Nothing Personal (J. Doukas, R. Dunbar, R. Bimler) - 3:36
6. Street Fever (G. Phillips, R. Bimler) - 4:14
7. Julie Anne (S. Miller, K. Laguna) - 2:59
8. Upstairs (J. Doukas, R. Dunbar) - 4:07

Eart Quake
*John Doukas - Lead Vocals
*Robbie Dunbar - Guitar, Vocals
*Stan Miller - Bass, Vocals
*Steve Nelson - Drums
*Gary Phillips - Guitar, Vocals

1976 Earth Quake - 8.5

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Their only album has finally been reissued by Way Back Records on vinyl and cd. The Nomadds was originally released by Radex in 1965. They enjoyed quite a local following in Freeport and were Northwestern Illinois’ most popular teenbeat group bar none. The group’s lineup is: Lee Garner (lead guitar), Tony Cannova (drums), Greg Johnson (rhythm guitar, vocals), Denny Kuhl (bass), and Dean Kuehl “Stick” (vocals, harmonica – the big guy who stands center on the album’s cover).

The Nomadds is closer in spirit to early British Invasion records like Meet The Beatles or Gerry and the Pacemakers from their giddy 1963/1964 prime. For this reason interest may be limited: there are no fuzz guitars, walls of feedback, psychedelic freakouts, or shouting punk vocals; this album was recorded in 1964! That being said, the song arrangements are articulate and take interesting detours that most teenbeat/garage groups couldn’t handle. The Nomadds cut their teeth playing the bars and teen clubs of Illinois which would explain the accomplished nature of their performances.

You’re buying the album for the five great originals but some of the covers are pretty solid too. Standout covers to these ears are a rocking version of “Roll Over Beethoven,” a rollicking “W.P.L.J.,” Jimmy Reed’s “Shame Shame Shame,” and the ultimate teenage heartbreak of “Tragedy.” Excellent originals like “There Is No More” and “You Can Fall In Love” mix minor chords, folk-like guitars and rocking rhythms while other good tracks hit more of a tender, love song vibe. My favorite tune is “Don’t Cheat On Me”, a great performance with an interesting guitar intro and a marvelous vocal arrangement – this is teenbeat at it’s finest, really.

by Jason Nardelli

Tracks
1. You Can Fall In Love (Greg Johnson) - 2:30
2. Shame Shame Shame (Jimmy Reed) - 3:19
3. I'm In Transit (Greg Johnson) - 3:26
4. Lucille (Albert Collins, Richard Wayne Penniman) - 2:47
5. Roll Over Beethoven (Chuck Berry) - 2:53
6. There is No More (Greg Johnson) - 2:43
7. Ain't That Just Like Me (Earl Carroll, Billy Guy) - 2:13
8. Don't Cheat On Me (Greg Johnson) - 2:38
9. Tragedy (Fred Burch, Gerald Nelson) - 2:45
10.Love Potion No. 9 (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) - 2:11
11.W.P.L.J. (R. Bryant, Willie Graham, Donald W. Woods) - 2:11
12.Enter Into My Life (Greg Johnson) - 4:08

The Nomadds
Tony Cannova - Drums
Lee Garner - Guitar
Greg Johnson - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
Dean "Stick" Kuehl - Harmonica, Vocals
Denny Kuhl - Bass

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Beserkley Records was an independent label founded by Matthew King Kaufman in Berkeley, California, about 1975. It anticipated the "alternative rock" genre by providing a label for music that didn't interest the majors, but was exciting to college age music fans.

Kaufman was manager of the group Earth Quake, who had done a couple of albums for A&M in 1971- 72, but had no real success and were not picked up by any of the existing labels when their contract with A&M was up. Kaufman started his own label "to have fun and make some interesting recordings." In addition to Earth Quake, Kaufman signed Jonathan Richman, Greg Kihn, and the Rubinoos. The first single issued was Earth Quake's "Friday On My Mind" coupled with "Roadrunner" by Jonathan Richman.

In fact, Beserkley had only a handful of artists on the label at any given time throughout their history. The biggest name artist was the Greg Kihn Band, who had a number of national hits. Both Earth Quake and the Rubinoos also placed records on the national charts. And although Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers didn't chart nationally, they still had, and have, a strong following.

Matthew King Kaufman recently wrote to us and gave us some insight on the label. Kaufman noted, "Really, Earth Quake turned down offers and formed a record company with me, and then had five successful LPs. They were the band for Jonathan Richman's 'Roadrunner' and Little Roger's 'Stairway to Gilligan's Island.' As for charting, Jonathan Richman's 'Roadrunner' was top ten everywhere but here, and 'Egyptian Reggae' was #1 worldwide. Kihn's 'Break-up Song' made #9 and 'Jeopardy' was #1 everywhere but here, where it spent 8 weeks at #2."

By Patrice Eyries, Mike Callahan, and David Edwards

Artists - Tracks
1. Jonathan Richman - Roadrunner - 4:43
2. Earth Quake - Friday on My Mind - 3:33
3. Greg Kihn Band - The Break-Up Song - 2:50
4. Spitballs - Let Her Dance - 2:27
5. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Egyptian Reggae - 2:36
6. Greg Kihn Band - Jeopardy - 3:49
7. Ed Haynes - I Want to Kill Everybody - 3:27
8. Count Pulaski & His Five Minute Men - R.A.D.I.O. - 2:49
9. The Rubinoos - I Think We're Alone Now - 2:53
10.Tyla Gang - Tropical Love - 3:22
11.Earth Quake - Madness (Sitting in the Middle Of) - 3:28
12.The Modern Lovers - Astral Plane - 2:58
13.Hobo - Gearing Up for a Breakdown - 4:11
14.Lover's Leap - Ring on Her Finger - 3:52
15.Mrs. Green - Visions of You - 2:50
16.Linda Brady - Smell of the Newsprint - 2:27
17.Eleven Bloody Men - Backstabber - 3:22
18.Son of Pete - Silent Night - 2:05

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Like so many other British bands that achieved recognition in the progressive era, Family's origins lay in the R’n’B boom of the early Sixties. The initial line-up included guitarist Charlie Whitney, sax-player Jim King and bassist/violinist Ric Grech, all of •whom had earlier been in the Farinas, a Leicester-based group formed by Whitney and King back in 1962.

When vocalist Roger Chapman joined the band in 1966, he brought with him not only a wealth of experience gained in local outfits such as the Rockin' Rs and the X-citers, but also one of rock's most distinctive voices. When Rob Townsend replaced original Farinas drummer Harry Overall, the first Family line-up was complete. Whitney and Chapman quickly formed the songwriting partnership that provided the majority of Family's material throughout their history and, after moving down to London, the group quickly built a reputation as an original live act, centred around Chapman's manic on-stage presence.

Between 1967 and 1969, they released two highly-regarded albums, 'Music In A Doll's House' and 'Family Entertainment', along with a clutch of worthy but largely ignored singles. Ail seemed to be going well until, midway through their debut US tour, they suffered the first of many personnel changes as Ric Grech unexpectedly left to join Steve Winwood and Eric Clapton in Blind Faith. John Welder, formerly of Eric Burden and the Animals, stepped into the breach, but the remainder of the tour was effectively damage limitation and they returned home without making the hoped-for US breakthrough.

Late in 1969, Family finally made it into the UK singles charts when 'No Mule's Fool' fleetingly entered the Top 30, This, and its B-side, 'Good Friend Of Mine', were the first recordings to feature new-boy Welder and the last to include Jim King. His replacement was multi-instrumentalist Poli Palmer who brought vibes, flute, piano and later synths to the group's already eclectic instrumental mix. The revised line-up recorded 'A Song For Me', released in January 1970.

Harder and leaner than their two previous efforts, it opened in spectacular style with the raw intensity of' Drowned In Wine', while 'Love Is A Sleeper', featuring guest pianist Zoot Money, the frantic rockabilly of 'The Cat And The Rat' and the epic title track emphasised their ability to work in a variety of styles. August saw the release of 'Strange Band', a three-track EP that textured re-recorded versions of two numbers from 'A Song For Me', plus the newly-written title track. The song had already been played in concert, and a live version of it was included on the next LP, Anyway...', which appeared in November.

The new album matched three more live tracks and four new studio cuts, none of which had been issued in any form. All four live songs from Anyway...' are included here, demonstrating the band's mastery of mood and texture.

by Alan Kinsman

Tracks

Disc 1

1. Drowned in Wine - 4:10

2. Cat & The Rat, The - 2:32

3. A Song For Me (C. Whitney, R. Chapman, J. Weider, R. Townsend) - 9:17

4. Love Is a Sleeper - 4:02

5. Between Blue And Me - 5:02

6. Spanish Tide - 4:02

7. Children - 2:19

8. Saturday Barfly - 3:58

9. Larf And Sing (P. Palmer) - 2:45

10. Take Your Partners (C. Whitney, R. Chapman, P. Palmer) - 6:23

11. Good News Bad News - 7:23

12. Strange Band (C. Whitney, R. Chapman, Williamson) - 3:21

13. Part of the Load - 4:40

14. Lives & Ladies - 6:33

15. Holding the Compass - 3:48

16. Willow Tree - 4:22

All compositions by Charlie Whitney, Roger Chapman except as else stated.

Disc 2
1. Burlesque - 4:05
2. Broken Nose - 4:09
3. Glove - 4:50
4. My Friend the Sun - 4:20
5. Coronation (C. Whitney, R. Chapman, J. Wetton) - 3:50
6. Ready to Go - 4:37
7. It's Only a Movie - 5:08
8. Buffet Tea For Two - 5:21
9. Sweet Desiree - 3:40
10. Check Out - 4:30
11. Boom Bang - 3:02
12. Boots 'N' Roots - 5:01
13. In My Own Time - 3:34
14. Seasons - 2:22
15. No Mules Fool - 3:10
16. Good Friend of Mine - 3:30
All compositions by Charlie Whitney, Roger Chapman except as else stated.

Family
*Roger Chapman - Vocals, Percussion
*Charlie Whitney - Electric, Acoustic Guitars, Bass
*John Weider - Acoustic Guitar, Bass,
*Poli Palmer - Percussion, Keyboards, Vibes
*Rob Townsend - Drums, Percussion
*John Wetton - Bass, Vocals
*Tony Ashton - Vocals, Piano
*Ric Grech - Bass

1967-69 Music in a Doll's House / Family Entertainment
1970 Anyway

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Copies of Fresh Air's only album, 1970's A Breath of Fresh Air - one of the very first albums released on the Amaret label, who issued recordings by the Minneapolis blues-rock quintet Crow -- are highly sought-after and treasured by collectors.

Featuring dramatic organ flourishes and flamboyant guitar leads throughout, A Breath of Fresh Air is similar to other organ-driven hard pop groups of the era, including Sugarloaf, Blues Image, and Three Dog Night.

The highlight here is the leadoff track, a fast-paced, histrionic discotheque take on Buffalo Springfield's "For What It's Worth" -- by then already a few years old -- which features heavy distorted guitar and Marc Piscitelli's intense lead vocals. Six of the remaining tracks were written by the group's "sixth member," Louie Caridi, including "Somewhere a Mountain Is Moving" (taking its title from a line in the Left Banke's "Pretty Ballerina").

This was a different Fresh Air from the group of the same name that featured keyboardist Don Randi (they recorded a self-titled Fresh Air album around the same time, but for Columbia Records). Piscitelli later became an engineer and backing vocalist, working with a varied group of artists during his career, including Glen Campbell, Juice Newton, Spirit, and John Travolta.

by Bryan Thomas

Tracks
1. For What It's Worth (S. Stills) - 2:40
2. Faces in the Fire (Lou Caridi) - 3:50
3. December (Marc Piscitelli) - 4:50
4. Somewhere a Mountain Is Moving (L. Caridi) - 2:30
5. Get Away Car Car (L. Caridi) - 2:39
6. I've Lost My Faith (L. Caridi) - 3:10
7. Baby Lady (R. Kutner) - 3:20
8. Sleeping in Sunshine (L. Caridi) - 3:20
9. Sailor Man (M. Piscitelli, L. Caridi) - 2:30
10.I Finally Found a Friend (L. Caridi) - 2:45

Fresh Air
*Allen Carey -
*Louie Caridi -
*Mick Jones -
*Marc Piscitelli - Lead Vocals
*Peter Plumeri - Drums
*Tim Whitcanack - Bass, Keyboards

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Out of nowhere, it seems, along came Beserkley Records - and the Beserkley Chartbusters in particular. The original album featured the label's first four signings namely, Earth Quake, Greg Kihn, The Rubinoos and Jonathan Richman & The Modem Lovers.

One Matthew 'King' Kaufman and Steve Levine had formed the label in collusion with Berkeley based hard rock outfit Earth Quake. Released in the UK initially under license to the United Artists label, under the auspices of Andrew Lauder (the man who signed Brinsley Schwarz, the Flamin' Groovies and ultimately, the Stranglers), the album quickly became a firm favourite amongst disaffected pop kids, and in it's own way, became a kind of Stateside mirror of what Stiff Records would become.

Label boss Matthew 'King' Kaufman, in association with experienced CBS studio engineer Glen Kolotkin quickly developed a distinctive sound and feel to Beserkley recordings. Most of the Beserkley label albums were cut at the CBS Studios on Folsom Street, San Francisco, which aided in the undoubted sense of continuity in sound from album to album.

This sound tended to feature drums with a slight amount of presence echo, a very upfront vocal, and (with the exception of Earth Quake!) relatively distortion-free. Guitars were played at low volume in the studio, but a combo feel was preserved, the sound dean without being clinical. This compilation features all of the tracks from the original Beserkley Chartbusters album, plus choice cuts from the subsequent 'Beserkley's Back' compendium, and a live double album, “Bezerk times”, taken from a German TV recording.

Artists - Tracks

Disc 1 Berserkley Chartbusters

1. Earth Quake - Friday On My Mind (Young, Vanda) - 3:34

2. Greg Kihn - All The Right Reasons (Kihn, Bimler) - 3:15

3. The Rubinoos - Gorilla (Tracey) - 2:57

4. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - The New Teller (Richman) - 1:40

5. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Roadrunner (Once) (Richman) - 4:43

6. Earth Quake - Tall Order For A Short Guy (King) - 2:19

7. The Rubinoos - I Think We're Alone Now (Cordell, Gentry) - 2:52

8. Earth Quake - Hit The Floor (Dunbar, Doukas, Miller) - 3:42

9. Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Government Center (Richman) - 2:16

10.Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - It Will Stand (Hohnson) - 2:35

11.Greg Kihn - Mood Mood Number - (Kihn, Bimlar, Dunbar) - 2:13

12.Earth Quake - (Sitting In The Middle Of) Madness (Doukas, Dunbar) - 3:30

13.The Rubinoos - I Want To Be Your Boyfriend (Dunbar, Gangwer) - 3:17

14.Spitballs - Let Her Dance (Fuller) - 2:27

15.Jonathan Richman & The Modern Lovers - Egyptian Reggae (Johnson, Richman) - 2:35

Disc 2 Beserk Times (Alive Over Germany)
1. Greg Kihn - Future Girl (Kihn) - 3:22
2. Greg Kihn - Madison Avenue Man (Kihn, Bimler) - 4:50
3. Greg Kihn - Cold Hard Cash (Kihn) - 2:02
4. Greg Kihn - Secret Meetings (Kihn) - 6:17
5. The Rubinoos - Rocking In The Jungle (Girona) - 2:27
6. The Rubinoos - Falling In Love (Dunbar, Gangwer) - 2:13
7. The Rubinoos - Hard To Get (Dunbar, Gangwer) - 3:01
8. The Rubinoos - Red Light Green Light (Dunbar, Gangwer) - 3:33
9. The Rubinoos - Promise Me (Dunbar, Gangwer) - 3:48
10.The Rubinoos – Ronnie (Dunbar, Gangwer) - 2:36
11.Earth Quake - Street Fever (Phillips, Bilmer) - 4:38
12.Earth Quake - Mr Security (Doukas, Dunbar, Eartti) - 7:25
13.Earth Quake - A) From Here To Eternity Bj Trainride (Noroder, Bellotte, Doukas, Dumbar, Earth) - 7:24
14.Tyla Gang - Young Lords (Tyla) - 3:30
15.Tyla Gang – Styrofoam (De Vore) - 2:03
16.Tyla Gang – Fireball (Tyla) - 3:57
17.Tyla Gang - A) Hurricane B) Whizz Kids (Tyla, Irvine) - 9:35

1975-93 Beserkley's Best

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The Amboy Dukes were Ted Nugent’s first band (or one of). They came from the same Detroit scene as SRC, The Stooges, Mitch Ryder, Bob Seger, The Frost, The Rationals, MC5 and so forth. They began playing the clubs and ballrooms of Detroit in the mid 1960′s. In 1967 they released their self-titled debut. It was a legendary mix of psychedelia, blues, garage rock, and folk.

The album/music above is also a far cry from Ted Nugent’s mid to late 70′s prime cock rock anthems. At the time, Nugent was content playing his guitar in a rock n roll band. The reality shows, money, politics, redneck concerns and overproduced rock to come had not yet inflated his ego.

The five and a half minute version of Baby Please Don’t Go is an absolute acid garage classic with some fantastic feedback and great guitar sustain. Nugent creates some serious guitar noise on this number and shows off his brilliant chops.

The album closes with another garage classic, Gimme Love. This song has some laser fuzz guitar riffs and angry Mike Drake vocals. In between these two garage monsters are many other great compositions. There are a few covers, two work really well (the splendidly bluesy Let’s Go Get Stoned and the gritty Who cover It’s Not True) while the Cream song I Feel Free is ill-advised (it’s the album’s only weak spot). The Amboy Dukes hit real hard with Colors, a furious acid rock song with some sinister soloing.

Other psych songs like The Lovely Lady are excellent, recalling the Velvet Underground at their trippiest with spiraling guitar pyrotechnics. Phillip’s Escalator is very Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd with brit vocals, clanging chords and first class guitar scrape. It’s a true classic on this exceptional outing. Night Time and Young Love show the band effectively sticking to their garage band roots.

The Amboy Dukes would go on to release two or three other great albums throughout the late 60′s and early 70′s. None of them have that vintage, exciting 66/67 sound like this debut. The guitar freakouts, Who-like energy and great songs make this debut a prime slice of early Detroit rock.

by Jason Nardelli

Tracks
1. Baby, Please Don't Go (Big Joe Williams) - 5:29
2. I Feel Free (Jack Bruce, Pete Brown) - 3:45
3. Young Love (Ted Nugent, Steve Farmer) - 2:49
4. Psalms Of Aftermath (Nugent, Farmer) - 3:24
5. Colors (Nugent, Farmer, Rick Lober, Bill White) - 3:27
6. Let's Go Get Stoned (Valerie Simpson, Nick Ashford, Jo Armstead) - 4:29
7. Down On Philips Escalator (Nugent, Farmer) - 3:05
8. The Lovely Lady (Farmer) - 3:03
9. Night Time (Nugent, Farmer) - 3:16
10.It's Not True (Pete Townshend) - 2:44
11.Gimme Love (Nugent, Farmer) - 2:51
12.J.B. Special (Nugent, Farmer) - 2:23

The Amboy Dukes
*John Drake – Vocals
*Ted Nugent – Guitar
*Steve Farmer – Guitar
*Rick Lober – Piano, Organ
*Dave Palmer – Drums
*Bill White – Bass

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In early 1968 the Dukes went on to studio to record their second album "Journey to the Center of the Mind", it was released in April 1968, on the local "Mainstream" label.

The title track, which Nugent wrote the music for Steve Farmer's lyrics, was released as a single and climbed the U.S. pop chart to number 16. Despite its apparent drug related theme, Nugent himself claims to have "never smoke a joint...never done a drug in my life. I thought 'Journey to the Center of the Mind' meant look inside yourself, use your head, and move forward in life".

This raw heavy acid psych gem was recorded amidst a whirlwind of lineup changes, many of them due to Nugent’s commandeering of the band and then firing everyone who, lyrics notwithstanding, struck him as a wee bit too pro-drug for real life.

At this point in time, the Nugent was an ambitious but interesting guitar player who was excessively hairy and liked jumping on top of things (moving cars, battle of the band judge tables, speaker cabinets, etc.). After his raging tours and hits of the late 70s, he quickly turned into a conservative caricature with a remarkable talent for being simultaneously entertaining and vile.

Tracks
1. Mississippi Murderer (Nugent, Farmer) – 5:10
2. Surrender To Your Kings (Nugent) – 2:52
3. Flight Of The Byrd (Nugent) – 2:49
4. Scottish Tea (Nugent) – 4:00
5. Dr. Slingshot (Nugent, Farmer) – 3:07
6. Journey To The Center Of The Mind (Nugent, Farmer) – 3:33
7. Ivory Castles (Farmer) – 3:21
8. Why Is A Carrot More Orange Than An Orange (Farmer) – 2:25
9. Missionary Mary (Farmer) – 2:34
10.Death Is Life (Farmer) – 2:08
11.Saint Philips Friend (Farmer) – 3:33
12.I'll Prove I'm Right (Farmer) – 1:38
13.Conclusion (Nugent, Farmer) – 1:56
14.You Talk Sunshine, I Breathe Fire (Nugent, Farmer) – 2:44

The Amboy Dukes
*Ted Nugent – Lead Guitar
*Greg Arama – Bass
*John Drake – Vocals
*Steve Farmer – Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
*Dave Palmer – Drums
*Andy Solomon – Organ, Piano, Vocals

1967 The Amboy Dukes

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Norway's most well kept secret has been betrayed and solved! This great band has only released a very rare 45rpm EP, which was the soundtrack for the Norwegian movie 'Rivalen'.

Very much like Frank Zappa and The Mothers, RAIN's complex compositions were based on the skills of modern classic composers such as Varèse and Strawinsky. As a strong influence they've mentioned Vanilla Fudge. The album features 10 excellent tracks with horns and orchestral arrangement, great fuzz guitar, Hammond organ and amazing vocals.

This Norwegian rock band had the strong urge to exceed limits, both musically and technically. Rain's members were Carl Jurgen Kionig (drums), Knut Heljar Hagen (organ, piano, vocals, bass) and Asmund Feidje (guitar, violin, vocals, bass).

Album was recorded in 1969-'70. Besides 7 own compositions they played mind blowing versions of 'A Day In The Life', 'Strawberry Fields Forever' and 'Isolation'. Their very complex and difficult arrangements required a lot of practice, but the band managed to turn their concerts into a total experience with a spectacular psychedelic light-show and experiments with "surround" sound.

Tracks
1. A Day In The Life (Lennon, McCartney) - 4:51
2. Whine And Wail (Hagen, Feidje, Kionig) - 5:25
3. Strawberry Fields Forever (Lennon, McCartney) - 5:17
4. Norsk Suite (Kionig) - 6:08
5. Join The City War (Kl. Hagerup, Hagen, Feidje, Kionig) - 4:07
6. Ikke Vær Redd Far (Hagerup, Hagen, Feidje, Kionig) - 4:38
7. Have You Seen Your Father's Face (Hagerup, Hagen, Feidje, Kionig) - 3:59
8. Svein's Vise (Hagen, Feidje, Kionig) - 8:26
9. Isolation (Lennon) - 2:49
10.Siste Ordre (D. Hare, T. Bical, N. Bical, Kionig) - 5:54
11.Tapha (Bonus Track) (Hagen, Feidje, Kionig) - 21:03

Rain
*Åsmund Feidje - Vocals, Guitar, Violin
*Knut Heljar Hagen - Vocals, Piano, Organ
*Carl Jorgen Kionig - Drums

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Hydra - Hydra (1974 us, great tough 'n' roll to southern edges)

Hydra - Land Of Money (1975 us, hard southern rockin')

Hydra - Rock The World (1977 us, significant southern hard rock)

The Travis Allan Band - A Place In Time (1982 us, superb heavy southern rock with psych guitar passages, 2013 O Music reissue)

Billy Cox - Nitro Function (1972 us, great heavy 'n' rough acid psych blues rock)

Kansas City Jammers - Got Good (If You Get It) (1969-71 us, awesome folk psych jam rock)

Richard Twice - Richard Twice (1970 us, magnificent psych folk rock, with special guest musicians)

Goldenrod - Goldenrod (1969 us, skill hard psych jam rock)

Rising Sons - Rising Sons (1965-66/92 us, astounding blues folk rock garage tinged with Taj Mahal, Ry Cooder, Kevin Kelly and J.L. Kincaid)

Food - Forever Is A Dream (1969 us, appealing melodious psychedelia with jazz and folk flashes)

Earth Quake - 8.5 (1976 us, utter power rock, Vinyl edition)

Earth Quake ‎– Leveled (1977 us, high energy hard 'n' roll, Vinyl issue)

The Nomadds - The Nomadds (1965 us, fine roots garage teen beat, 2009 Digi Pack remaster)

Various Artists - Beserkley's Best (1975-93 us, incredible power rock 'n' wave compilation)

Family - In Their Own Time (1969-73 uk, brilliant progressive art rock, two disc set)

Fresh Air - A Breath Of Fresh Air (1969 us, delicate hard rockin psychedelia)

Various Artists - Beserkley Chartbusters / Beserk "Alive Over Germany" (1976-2000 us, power fun rock double disc compilation)

The Amboy Dukes - The Amboy Dukes (1967 us, superb garage psych, 2007 Sunrise remaster)

The Amboy Dukes - Journey To The Center Of The Mind (1968 us, classic acid garage psych, extra track issue)

Rain - Norsk Suite (1969 norway, elegant art psych with early prog touches, 2012 Shadoks issue)