Shame on the Night by Dio (1983)

I've been going to record shows for a few years since I re-discovered my love for vinyl. One of my go-to vendors for anything heavy metal was Neil Maguire. He was a straight shooter who would give me an honest opinion on any record that I was considering. He would enthusiastically tell me which UFO albums were the ones that I really needed and which ones to avoid. For the record, you need to own Phenomenon, Force It, No Heavy Petting, and Obsession. And in Neil's words, "you may want to pick up one of the first two UFO albums, if you're into that space rock shit"

Over the last year, I started to sell some vinyl at the same shows that Neil did. He was always a good guy to chat with as we were the same age and knew some of the same people. He was also very helpful to other record dealers. At the last show, he helped set up another dealer's table as that dealer was suffering from some back problems. And that's not as easy thing to do as vinyl is heavy! He did all this while cracking jokes.

The other day, I got the sad news that Neil died on Christmas Eve. One of Neil's favorite artists was Ronnie James Dio. He even had a license plate dedicated to Dio. So, in honor of Neil, here is a lesser-known track off of Dio's classic Holy Diver album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pqkDJO1te0

Take My Soul by Pugsley Munion (1970)

Fitchburg, Massachusetts' own Pugsley Munion spent two days in 1970 recording songs for their first full length album. After laying down the basic tracks, they spent some time planning on how to mix the album and to finalize the artwork that would best reflect their psych-blues style.

Much to their surprise, though, the record company just released the basic tracks with some random artwork because they just wanted get some music out there as quick as possible. Apparently, the label was in trouble and wanted a hit quickly. The band tried to stop this and release the music their way, but they were not successful.

The band stayed together for awhile after the initial album was not a commercial success, but eventually broke up. Despite all of the record company drama, this is some blistering blues rock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9v4qWl_XQxE

Something Easy by Hammer (1970)

There must be something about the word "Hammer" when it comes to prog rockers. Steamhammer, Thor's Hammer, and the 90's band Glass Hammer have all incorporated this implement into their band names.

Today's song features another such band, simply named Hammer. This San Francisco band would release one LP. Here is Something Easy off of that release. The vocals leave a little to be desired, but the music is solid.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jP8dCjHz-Hw

Strange by Aorta (1968)

Aorta was an interesting band from Rockford, Illionis that featured elements of pysch and fusion with a bit of harmony to create a rather unique sound. They managed to release two full length LPs in 1969 and 1970 before calling it quits.

This track is the B side from their first single, released in 1968.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQaTizhTcz8

Black and Blonde by Veruca Salt (2015)

It's good to see that Nina Gordon and Louise Post were back making music together. While back together now for over two years after fifteen years apart, 2015 marked the first full length release of the re-united band.

Most bands that re-form after fifteen years are just doing so in order to tour, relive the glory days, and make some money. Rarely is there new music recorded. And when there is new music, it is usually uninspired and/or lacking the energy of their younger days.

That's not the case with Veruca Salt's new LP, Ghost Notes. I've listened to this album twice in the last two days, which is a rarity for me. The material here is as good or better than any of their 90's releases. Here is one of my favorite tunes, a re-working of an older Nina Gordon tune:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dcnDs92aw4

Out in the Night by Useless Eaters (2014)

Alright, after that Xmas-oriented music featured here over the last couple of days, let's change things up. Here is a new San Francisco, by way of Memphis, band that has a punk/new wave sound that is refreshing. Check them out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfXM_GwzpFY

The Junky's Christmas by William S. Burroughs (1993)

Merry Christmas! While you're enjoying your family, friends, gifts, and food, take a moment to think of the sick junkie. With that, I'll present my favorite Xmas story courtesy of William S. Burroughs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxXgHA_nEik

Holiday Marmalade by Jorma Kaukonen (1996)

Okay, maybe I'm feeling a little more of the holiday spirit than usual. Or, perhaps, I'm just tired of the same old Christmas tunes played in constant rotation. Well, I just heard this interesting take on several Xmas songs by former Jefferson Airplane and Hot Tuna guitarist, Jorma Kaukonen. This track is, as the Marmalade suggests, a jam. Vocals often ruin a song for me and they surely would have in this case. As it is, I can enjoy this as a nice soulful background to my Christmas Eve.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbigWwHY0Do

Meet Me at Mary's Place by Sam Cooke (1964)

I've been wanting to feature this song from the first king of soul for a long time. It just hits me right in the feels. So, what better time than the holidays to break out this lost classic from the late, great Sam Cooke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6ChR-oqrA0

Blindfold by The Black Wizards (2015)

I just stumbled across some excellent new hard rock from Portugal. This band is heavy on the fuzztone in a very good way. I am still diving into their brand new debut LP, but I wanted to post one tune of this album right away. This is some solid head trippin music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26s3eo952UQ

I Remember Jeep by George Harrison (1970)

So this is my 365th post. After a year of daily undiscovered songs, I'm going with a longer post today.

In 1970, Grateful Dead studio engineer Bob Matthews was in London working with some other groups(while the Dead toured). Specifically, he was working at Trident Studios with some relatively unknown bands.  It so happens that George Harrison was working in the same building one night mixing tracks for his new album. Matthews was waiting to use the rest room and ran into George. Matthews expressed how much of a fan he was and told Harrison that he worked for the Dead.

Some time after that conversation, Matthews and fellow Dead engineer Betty Cantor ended up getting invited to listen to the near finished album that Harrison was working on, All Things Must Pass. After being blown away by the new double-LP, Harrison then put on a tape of some studio outtake jams. These jams were very different from the rest of the album but they really cooked. Harrison said that they weren't going to release those. Matthews then told Harrison about how the Dead convinced their record label to release a double LP, Live Dead. by convincing Warner Bros. to release it at a single LP price. That double LP went on to cement the Grateful Dead's growing legend as a live band.

Several months later, wasn't Bob Matthews surprised to see that All Things Must Pass was released as a triple LP at a double LP price. The third LP were all of those jams that may otherwise not have been released. More details on that story here.

Here is a track off of that third disc called I Remember Jeep. Jeep was Eric Clapton's old dog and features Eric Clapton on guitar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA_lNY0VRHk

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Don't Wanna Lose by Ex Hex (2014)

In my imagined musical landscape, Ex Hex would be at the top of the pop charts. For this is how I would like pop rock to sound like. Unfortunately, when I wake up from this daydream, I'm returned to a world of Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, and today's Country stars.

Ex Hex is, of course, Mary Timony's latest band. Before this, she was in Wild Flag with Carrie Brownstein. And before that she was in Helium. That's when I saw her perform live on the same mid-90's bill with Sleater Kinney at the Middle East in Cambridge, Mass.

In any case, here is the official music video for Don't Wanna Lose. For some reason, the audio and video tracks on the video are a bit off. Despite that distraction, enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSXZe1C6kw8

Head Tear of the Drunken Sun by Silberbart (1971)

How about a forgotten Krautrock band's magnum opus for your Saturday? Well then, here is Silberbart off of their only full-length release from 1971. This is a monster tune with a lot of heaviness and a bunch of weirdness. How's that for a musical analysis...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyG6DdFuSbw

Mothra by Anvil (1982)

Today, I'm just in the mood for some fast guitar and senseless lyrics. So, Anvil it is. For those of you who haven't heard of Anvil, they are an early 80's metal band from Toronto. A lot of their work sounds like the NWOBHM brand of metal. That's probably why I like their early stuff.

Unlike many bands of their day, they managed to keep playing on an on, despite waning popularity. In 2008, a documentary about the band, Anvil! The Story of Anvil. was released. Check out a trailer here.

Here they are from 1982 with their salute to Godzilla's nemesis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCip-xS8Rw4

Fault Line/The Painter by Deep Purple (1969)

Congratulations to the 2016 Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame inductees, if you buy into that sort of thing. I have mixed feelings on the Rock Hall, but if you're going to have one, it would be a sin not to include Deep Purple. That has been an oversight for too many years and has now has been rectified.

The most interesting part of the next year's Rock Hall Induction ceremonies will be whether original lead vocalist, Rod Evans, comes to the party. He was fired by the rest of the band in 1969 after singing on the band's first three albums. He then tried touring in 1980 with some unknown musicians using the Deep Purple name, but without appropriate permissions. He was successfully sued by the real Deep Purple and had to pay $$$. As a result, Rod hasn't been heard from in thirty five years. In any case, next year's ceremony should be worth watching.

Here is the band from their self-titled third album from 1969. This piece features the aformentioned Rod Evans on vocals, Ritchie Blackmore's guitar, and the distinctive organ sound of Jon Lord.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb02LOx05Kg

Pete Shore by Boss Hog (1990)

Before he blew up the blues, but after the breakup of his first big band, Pussy Galore, Jon Spencer started a side project called Boss Hog. Like Pussy Galore, Boss Hog would feature Spencer's wife, Christina Martinez on vocals. In fact the band didn't sound like that much of a stretch from Galore. It's more garage punk designed to get your attention.

The album cover makes me wonder if Selena Gomez was a big fan of Boss Hog... Probably not, but you never know.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Yn5EzfLv9E

Blister on the Moon by Taste (1969)

Years before Rory Gallagher was a guitar virtuoso solo artist in the 70's, he was the virtuoso guitar player for the Irish band Taste. While his guitar picking was similar in his early days, I like the overall sound of the Taste better. It does have that 60's feel, but in a very good way. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cNfKtHvaPEU

Keep on Running by Cravinkel (1970)

Today we have a little-known German rock band from the early 70's. Cravinkel managed to release a couple of albums (1970 and 1971). The music sounds very American to me. I wonder if that is the sound that Cravinkel was going for...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IESakUuEqgs

Wagon Wheel by Lou Reed and the Tots (1973)

[original YouTube link removed]

After a 28-year old Lou Reed quit the Velvet Underground in the Summer of 1970, he must have figured that rock n' roll was on its way out as he took a job as a typist with his father's Accounting firm. Thankfully, for Lou and the rest of us, that lasted less than a year. In 1971, he signed a recording contract and ended up starting his long and critically-acclaimed solo career.

His second solo album, Transformer, released in 1972 was a particular success. One of the lesser-heralded songs on that album was Wagon Wheel. You can check out the studio version here.

While that song was well-done, including some real quiet parts and subtlety, I enjoy the live version that Lou did with his touring band, The Tots, during his 1973 tour. Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsZ88dsFH4g

Dr. Stone by The Leaves (1966)

In the mid-60's, thousands of garage rock bands were assembled across the U.S. and Europe. While the vast majority may not have distinguished themselves significantly from each other, there is a certain honesty and freshness about the music.

The Leaves were one such band, and they managed to get a record contract. This Los Angeles band put out a couple of albums in the sixties. Here is the first track off of their debut album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1qIKjMnBSw

On My Nerves by Social Distortion (1988)

Recently, I wrote about the group Mountain and the fact that while I knew and loved one of their songs, I never made the leap to purchase any of their music. The same is true for Social Distortion. Back in the 90's, "alternative" rock stations would only play one song by Social D. That song was Ball and Chain.(Of course, as I'm writing this, I remember The Story of My Life getting some airplay, but I hated that tune, so I'm ignoring it).

Only recently, I stumbled across this song while flipping the satellite radio dial. It sounded great and as soon as I heard the vocal, I knew it was Mike Ness and Social Distortion. I ended up downloading this song and the rest of their 1988 release, Prison Bound. Truth be told, I wasn't terribly excited about the other tunes on that LP. Still, On My Nerves is an instant classic for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTqXCXTjj84

Dead Presidents by Little Walter (1964)

And now for something completely different. Every so often, I feature a blues' song in this space. I heard this song on satellite radio a few months back and thought that this would make a great soundtrack song. To what, I don't know, but the vibe felt good.

Little Walter was a hardcore blues harpist. I mean, he played hard core straight up blues and he lived a hard core life. No stranger to drinking and fighting, Little Walter died in his sleep after a night of such activities at the tender age of 37 back in 1968.

And, what better song to play on payday than Dead Presidents

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRInsPzH4f4

My Size by John Entwistle (1971)

The big rock n' roll sound of Who's Next is probably my favorite of the Who's many eras. That album always connected with me and seemed to be produced to perfection. Only recently, though, did I discover the music that John Entwistle was creating in the months before the recording of Who's Next. This is some solid stuff. Most songs feature Who bandmate Keith Moon on drums. But not this one. Here is some good riff based rock with My Size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwIg3Mjlro

Dreams and Screams by The Gun (1969)

British psych-rockers, The Gun, had a minor hit with Race with the Devil off of their self-titled 1968 debut album. Their follow up album, 1969's Gun Sight, did not produce any hits and was regarded as a bit of critical letdown. For that reason, among others, the band called it quits.

While that second and final album was a bit uneven, there were some good tunes. Check out this song, Dreams and Screams. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YJXHE0frMw

Sister Justice by Mountain (1974)

Mountain was truly one of those bands for which I knew one (and only one) of their songs for over twenty years. That song, of course, is Mississippi Queen. With the distinctive cow bell and blistering guitar, that tune was immediately recognizable. Still, I was never moved to listen to more of the Long Island band's catalog. I probably assumed that if classic rock radio did not play any  more of their songs, there probably wasn't anything interesting to hear. That fallacy, and its subsequent revelation to be false is a major inspiration for starting this blog!

Here we find Mountain about four years after Mississippi Queen was released on their debut album. This is a Felix Pappalardi tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6oGA4bWSeA

Tomorrow by Bishops Green (2014)

Bishops Green is a newer pop punk band from Vancouver. Usually, I steer clear of newer pop punk, but there is something about this tune that I like. See if you agree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBUVe2F2d3A

Army Ants by Stone Temple Pilots (1994)

From about 1993 to 1997, you couldn't go a day without hearing a Stone Temple Pilots song on the radio. Along with Nirvana Pearl Jam, and Alice in Chains, STP provided a soundtrack of sorts for my early twenties, whether I liked it or not!

While some STP songs were certainly overplayed, there were a bunch that stood out. I always liked Big Bang Baby, Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart, and Big Empty(my favorite). I think that the only STP CD that I purchased was their second, 1994's Purple. Today's track is one of their songs that didn't get radio airplay, Army Ants. 

RIP Scott Weiland

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDy4P0FXkmA

Heavy Like a Witch by All Them Witches (2012)

The music of All Them Witches, a quartet from Nashville, has previously been labeled "stoner rock", but they have branched out quite a bit over their first three albums. They definitely have their own viewpoint that I enjoy. The band is currently touring the east coast. For details on their next stop, check their webpage.

Today's track is from their first release, 2012's Mother Electricity. Hang in there through the 45 second intro. It gets good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCkfpi5HJ6M

Dance the Mutation by Simply Saucer (1974)

Now here in an example of a true lost classic. At least this was the case for fifteen years. Legendary Canadian proto-punkers, Simply Saucer, recorded a bunch of demos in the mid-70's, but only managed to get one single released, 1978's She's a Dog b/w I Can Change My Mind. The rest of their recorded music sat in a vault for years before finally being released in 1989 as a compilation. Even that compilation, Cyborgs Revisited, is worth a pretty penny on vinyl.

Anyway, enough of my yapping. Check it out for yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9c8tjDrtms

Ain't Gonna Take No More by Highway Robbery (1972)

Highway Robbery was one of those bands that were constructed in order to make an album, and then quickly fizzled out. Shortly after laying down the tracks for their one and only album, For Love or Money, the band went their separate ways. Apparently, the record company was pushing a couple of soft rock songs that were on their album. Once those didn't get any traction, the record company support stopped. As a result, there were a handful of really good hard rocking songs that went lost. Here is one of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dzuBJcOIYA

Back Door Blues by Ultimate Spinach (1969)

Ultimate Spinach was another of those terrifically named bands from the late sixites, up there with the Chocolate Watchband, Bubble Puppy, and the Electric Prunes. Something about these names screams "Sixties band".

Ultimate Spinach was a Boston psych/garage band that had a critical hit with their self-titled debut album in 1967. By 1969, the band would release its third and final album, Ultimate Spinach III.

Here is a track from III that sounds more garage rock than psych. It's the 9th track on the updated youtube link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbNZakX5B-I

Sri Lanka Sex Hotel by The Dead Milkmen (1988)

The Dead Milkmen were one of those bands that I had heard about in high school, but never really heard. I probably just thought that the band was trying to be outrageous with their band name and some of their song titles(see the title of today's song as an example). And I was deep into classic rock at that point. Punk rock didn't have the same gravitas for me.

But as Bob Dylan once said, "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now". It was only after the passage of time, that I began to appreciate punk and post-punk as all part of the rock n' roll landscape.

That long preamble is my excuse for not discovering the Dead Milkmen's music until only recently. I am just starting my dive into this music now. Here is a great tune(albeit a bit NSFW) from their 1988 release, Beelzebubba.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqKdfHvChCI

100 M.P.H. by Vardis (1980)

Vardis came on to the NWOBHM scene like a storm, releasing a blistering live set as their debut album. Guitar virtuouso, Steve Zodiac, led this three-piece unit that perfectly fit in with the times. I thought about featuring one of their shorter songs on this album, but went with their magnum opus instead to enjoy the extended guitar work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOrRTi-H6sQ

Names of the Devil by Belzebong (2011)

I've been stuck in the 70's for the past week, so let's launch ahead by forty years and enjoy some Polish stoner metal. This stuff really fills out the soundscape and scares away anyone who may be nearby.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZxjBc0sI0ug

Borneo Jimmy by The Dictators (1978)

What a great cover on the Dictators' third album, Bloodbrothers. Now, it may not top the cover for their debut in 1975, Go Girl Crazy! (below), but it's damn good.

In addition to creating awesome album covers, the Dictators made some great music. Their brand of garage-y punk is a real mood setter. So, enjoy your Black Friday with the help of Dick Manitoba and the boys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpU437TUMWM

Fencepost Blues by Arlo Guthrie (1970)

Thanksgiving is the one time of year that you gather with your family, eat turkey and assorted fruit pies. It is also, usually, the only day of the year that you hear Arlo Guthrie on the radio. And when you hear Arlo, you're hearing his classic eighteen minute anti-Vietnam War song, Alice's Restaurant. 

Well, in the spirit of this blog, I'm going to post a different song by Woody's son, released three years after Alice's Restaurant. It may be a little softer than most music featured here, but a bit more funky than most of Arlo's work. Enjoy, and Happy Thanksgiving!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5AzYtPr_X0

Guess I'll Go Away by Johnny Winter (1970)

There is nothing too fancy here. Just straight-ahead blues rock with some blistering guitar work from Rick Derringer and the late, great Johnny Winter. This song is the opening track off of Winter's fourth album, Johnny Winter And.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=26Pym4EkyFc

Searching for a New Dimension by Mariani (1970)

If you ever come across Mariani's Perpetuum Mobile in the wild, pick it up. If it was one of the 1,000 or so privately-pressed original LPs that were never released through any distribution means, then you've got yourself a $3,000 record. But you probably won't.

You may want to buy the re-issue CD or download the tunes from this album of psych rock from 1970. Mariani, the Austin, Texas based band featured teenage guitar virtuoso Eric Johnson on lead. This is some quality stuff. Could you play this well at the age of sixteen?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bR6VwS20Od8

Nova by The Bizarros (1976)

As I've recently found out, Ohio had quite the punk rock scene in the mid 70's. Just the other day in this space, I featured Mike Rep & the Quotas who hailed from Columbus. Today, we head 125 miles down I-71 to Akron to feature a track from the godfathers of Akron punk, The Bizarros.

When I first heard this song, I thought I was hearing some Velvet Underground that I had never heard before. And that's high praise from me. Something about this song just hits me in the right spot. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6qVtS2-LZQ

Cheque Book by Legend (1971)

Mickey Jupp's Legend was one of the forerunner bands to the British "pub rock" sensation to follow a couple of years later. Here is a nice example of their catchy pop rock style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9IgrjgP6l4

The Moon Upstairs by Mott the Hoople (1971)

In America, Mott the Hoople was largely a one-hit wonder with their version of the Bowie-penned All the Young Dudes in 1972. However, in the UK, Ian Hunter's band managed to have a long period of success. In fact that managed to release four relatively successful albums in the UK.

Here is studio live-recorded track from their fourth album, Brain Capers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nJ_NJF27bw4

Battle Scar by Max Webster (1980)

Max Webster was a Canadian hard rock band(not a person) that had much success in the 70's in Canada. However, they never really broke through in the United States. That did not stop the band from touring several times with their close friends who happened to be in a band called Rush.

In fact, towards the end of their run, Max Webster invited the members of Rush to join them on their 1980 album, Universal Juveniles. On today's track you can hear lead singer Kim Mitchell share vocal duties with Geddy Lee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMM6Bhwpy0M

Down in the Bottom by The Groupies (1967)

The Groupies were a NY based garage band from the mid-sixties that came about at the tail end of the garage rock scene. They managed to release one single, Primitive, and nothing else. About forty years later, a couple of other songs recorded back in early 1967 were unearthed for one of the Garage Beat collections.

Here is one of those recovered tunes, Down in the Bottom.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmXtsBEXFvw

Rocket to Nowhere by Mike Rep and the Quotas (1975)

So how about some early punk from Columbus, Ohio? The music quality on the recording here isn't the best, but you can still feel that punk punch come through. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTriw-8sL2k

(We Are) The Road Crew by Motörhead (1980)

Man, I love Motörhead. So much so, that I've been holding on to a special occasion to feature Lemmy and the boys here on my blog. Well, there have been a couple of recent events which have accelerated my plans. First of all, Phil "Philthy Animal" Taylor, the classic drummer for Motorhead passed away last week.

Secondly, as part of the heinous terrorist attacks in Paris, Eagles of Death Metal merchanise manager, Nick Anderson, was one of the people senselessly killed in the name of religion.

One of my favorite songs from Motörhead has always been (We Are) The Road Crew from the Ace of Spades album featuring Phil Taylor on drums. So this post is for Phil, Nick Anderson, and all of the those road crew members of touring bands who make it all possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuZC-un9S-A&feature=youtu.be

Human Being by Coloured Balls (1973)

I sure wish that Australian hard rockers, Coloured Balls, lasted as a unit for more that three years. They managed to put out a couple of full length albums with some quality heavy stuff. Here is a track off of their first album, Ball Power.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKfECnQZZEE

White Lace and Strange by Thunder and Roses (1969)

I don't know too much about this Philly-based psych rock power trio from the late 60's. I know that they managed to release one album, King of the Black Sunrise in 1969. And today's selection was actually covered by Nirvana over twenty years after the original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUfrlsDeFuk

Zephyr by Mondo Drag (2014)

I love that there has been a core of new psychedelic rock bands to have formed to carry on the format into a new age. See Thee Oh Sees, Colour Haze, and Kadavar as other examples featured in this space. Today's entry, Mondo Drag, hail from Oakland, by way of Iowa.

Mondo's latest release, a self-titled full length album has a lot of gems. Check out the opener on that LP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufX0YpvcgPc

50,000 Miles Beneath My Brain by Ten Years After (1970)

My first memory of hearing Ten Years After was at a 1989 keg party in Woburn, Massachusetts. It was the end of the summer and I barely knew anyone at the party. I was invited as a friend of a friend, and my friend wasn't even there yet. I was just enjoying my beer like a wallflower, except that I was outside. Music was being played through a boombox from the first floor window to the guests below. This was when I first heard Ten Year's After perform I'm Going Home from Woodstock. I was blown away. Alvin Lee's guitar work and energy that he brought to that performance pushed me to buying the Woodstock Soundtrack CD set. I found a lot of great music on that set. But, I didn't dig too much further into Ten Years After's catalog.

I would only do a deep dive much later. Here is a plodding number from 1970 that builds in intensity throughout the song. Good stuff!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugZU4ITYkuw

Law and Order by The New York Rock n' Roll Ensemble (1971)

No, this is not the theme to the TV show, Law & Order, but I would relish the opportunity to post some "Lenny Brisco" clips. This Law and Order was a track off of the fifth album by a productive band formed in the late 60's at Julliard. They released a half dozen albums of eclectic, urbane rock over the course of about five years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UiHU8zzAC_k

Holy Moses by Attila (1970)

Now this is pretty f%$#ing far from Piano Man...Yes, this is Billy Joel in a two-man psych/prog rock outfit called Attila. Their one and only album was released only fifteen months prior to Billy Joel's solo debut album, Cold Spring Harbor, and the hit She's Got a Way.

The Attila album was widely panned, for those critics who bothered to review it. I'm not sure if most of the reviews happened after Billy Joel became a thing. If so, that explains it. I mean, this isn't the best album, but it's not bad. It has its moments.

Here is my favorite track on the release, Holy Moses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ea-P8kaFdvA

Potential Suicide by The Wipers (1979)

If the Stooges were pre-Punk, then the Wipers were pre-Grunge. If you were never exposed to the Wipers and heard their music for the first time, you would swear this music came out of 1991. But no, they formed in 1977 and their first album was released in 1979. This Portland, Oregon-based band was a key influence for Kurt Cobain, which will become evident after hearing about 10 seconds of today's song.

Kurt and Nirvana would cover two songs by the Wipers, Return of the Rat and D-7. The Wipers would go on to record music through the 1990's. Here they are from that first, influential album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBTh8yERQMY

Lucy Potato by Teenage Head (1979)

Teenage Head, from Hamilton, Ontario, formed in 1975, but wouldn't release their first single until 1978 and their first album until 1979. By this time, the world had started to move on from punk to post-punk and new wave. However, Teenage Head wasn't having any of it. They kept true to the format and continued to play straight ahead punk rock throughout the 80's.

Here is a tasty track off of their first album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zMaySrHsqI

21st Century Schizoid Man by King Crimson (1969)

Prog rock is an acquired taste. It took me several attempts to get into prog rock of any sort. I think my transition into starting to enjoy this music began with Rush and some of the proggier aspects of their music. Over the years, I've been able to branch out to listen to other prog rock bands. However, I somehow managed to avoid the grandfather of prog groups, King Crimson. I think that may have been due to their complicated song titles with parts and sections. But that was my problem, not theirs.

So, only recently, after the band being recommended to me for hundredth time, I've started to dig into their catalog. And where better to begin than the beginning. Today's song of the day is the first track off of the first album, In the Court of King Crimson, and it is quite good. This album, along with founder Robert Fripp, also features Greg Lake(later of Emerson, Lake, and Palmer fame). And, it is a great piece of work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hs3IgTILFzU

Solid Ground by Solid Ground (1976)

Solid Ground, not to be confused with Krautrocker's My Solid Ground, was a heavy hard rock band from Sweden. They sound like they are right out of 1971, but it's five years later. It's not hard to see how they may have been overlooked in a world exploding with punk and disco at opposite extremes. As a result, Solid Ground only came out with one LP, 1976's Made in Rock, and I'm hear to tell you it's a masterpiece. While only 200 copies of the original album were pressed, there was a re-issue from 1996. It is definitely worth picking up.

This self-titled track is their magnum opus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VHNGbodQyYI

My Dark Hour by The Steve Miller Band (1969)

I know, liking the Steve Miller Band isn't cool. I get it. Throughout college in the late 80's/early 90's, it seemed like Steve Miller's Greatest Hits 1974-1978 followed me around from party to party along with his friend, Back in Black. I think people just burned out on the pop rock stylings of Mr. Miller.

So, after years of avoiding Steve Miller's music, I started collecting albums and became more aware of his catalog prior to 1974. There is some good stuff. I particularly enjoy Come On Into My Kitchen as I used to work in the food service industry. Here is another interesting tune, My Dark Hour. You don't have to listen too carefully to pick up the Fly Like an Eagle riff about ten years before that song would be recorded. I guess it is okay to steal from your own songs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBD7edIADDs

The Reverend by Eagles of Death Metal (2015)

Back in the Summer, I wrote about music from the Desert Sessions. This was just one of the projects of Josh Homme. In that blog post, I made careful mention of Josh's other work with Kyuss and Queens of the Stone Age. I failed to mention his work with Eagles of Death Metal, a group he formed with friend/guitarist Jesse Hughes.

As you may expect, Eagles of Death Metal sound neither like the Eagles nor Death Metal, but maybe it just might be what would be the product of combining the two. Today's track is off of the latest album by the boys, Zipper Down, which is actually a current release. Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iR6Edf87fs8

I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Gladys Knight & the Pips (1967)

When I was a teenager in the 1980's, I collected hundreds of cassettes and then CDs. Before long, I considered myself an aficionado of classic rock. Back then, 16-year old me would tell you that there were not one, but two versions of I Heard It Through the Grapevine. There was the one by Creedence Clearwater Revival, popularized by the film The Big Chill. And there was the original, Marvin Gaye's version.

I was a foolish youngster. Of course there were dozens of versions of this tune. Of particular note, there was the 1979 version by the Slits, written up in this space back in January. There was also today's featured song. This version by Gladys Knight may be my favorite version. It was the first popular version back in 1967.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQRcUxNJEbs

Down the Honkytonk by Frankie Miller (1977)

I recently stumbled on the rock n' roll stylings of Scottish singer/songwriter Frankie Miller. After passing through a number of bands in the 60's, Frankie was signed to a solo contract in 1972. He managed to generate some success in the UK, but not much over in the US.

He did have some fans in the States, though. Bob Seger has commented that Frankie was a big influence on him. That is not surprising, as Bob lifted the baseline from this Frankie Miller composition for one of his big hits, Hollywood Nights! released the following year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3Eqrd3hB-A

Freedom by Freedom of Rhapsodia (1972)

Now-Again Records did a great thing in 2011 when they compiled and released a triple LP of lost Indonesian psych, rock, and funk called Those Shocking Shaking Days. More info here.

What a wonderful compilation! I don't have a physical copy yet, but I've downloaded a bunch. Here is one of the psych rock tracks off of that release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM7Qx8cJwOg

Iris by the Breeders (1990)

I've always enjoyed Kim Deal's side project, the Breeders, more than the seminal band she started with, the Pixies. There is just something about the music that is heavier to me and hits the right chord.

I can remember playing their 1993 LP, Last Splash, over and over again. In fact, I thought that was their debut album for years(remember that this was before the internet). Only later did I discover that first album, Pod, that was recorded with Throwing Muses' guitarist Tanya Donnelly.

Today's song, Iris, is a brooding number with a great haunting vocal performance by Kim. Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8sgVb6QtkE

Would? by Alice in Chains (1992)

Okay, so this Alice in Chains' cut is not that deep. Acknowledged. However, it is a three-minute or so time capsule of what the early 90's sounded like. This tune seemed to follow me around back then and it was interwoven into the experiences of my early twenties(for good and bad).

And speaking more generally of Alice in Chains, what a great band. Dirt, Jar of Flies, and Unplugged were in heavy rotation throughout the 90's. Losing Layne Staley to drugs was a big deal that we really don't talk about that much, because it was overshadowed by Kurt Cobain's death. Layne had great vocal range and is missed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JB_fNVOPzyM

Heavy Rocker by Brats (1980)

Danish punk rockers, Brats, really knew how to read the tea leaves. Seeing that punk had probably run its course, the band disbanded in 1979 and reformed with many new members by 1980. They were then a "heavy metal" band. It was well-timed.

They didn't end up achieving any large scale success, but made some fun records. Here is a track off of their 1980 album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSPN4o7PQZc

The Dansette Kid/Hartley Jam for Bread by the Keef Hartley Band

Keef Hartley had an interesting musical career. This British drummer started out by replacing Ringo Starr in Rory Storm and the Hurricanes. He then played with Jon Lord in the Atwoods before forming his own band, the Keef Hartley Band, which would release several albums and play at Woodstock. He is also credited with teaching Phil Collins how to play the drums.

Getting back to the Keef Hartley Band, this was some heady jazz fusion influenced rock. Check out the debut piece from their second album, The Battle of North West 6.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCT3PUIFQek

(Do The) Instant Mash by Joe Jackson (1979)

Now this is what pop rock should sound like to my ears. It's upbeat and recorded with real instruments. Jackson's debut album, Look Sharp!, sounds like a cross between Elvis Costello and Steely Dan.  It was some smart stuff. Of course, I discovered this LP years after it was released. My first exposure to Joe Jackson was the 1983 video for Steppin' Out. This was in heavy rotation on MTV. I didn't love it at first, and loved it less so every time it crossed the airwaves. This was probably why it took me decades to go back and listen to his first album.

Here is a fun track on that debut album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEiAUDwC4Wo

Stop and Listen by The Shag (1967)

Milwaukee garage rockers, The Shag(aka The Shags), were a true one-hit wonder. This song, along with the B side "Melissa" was the only release by the band(that I could find anyway). In any case, it's a good little song with an interesting fuzz guitar intro. Check it out!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wltYGxECvhw

It Ain't Easy by Lynx (1978)

Here's another forgotten band. Lynx was a hard rock band with a hint of a prog sound from Toronto. They managed to put out a few albums in the mid-70's before calling it quits.

Check out this succinct track from their second album, 1978's Sneak Attack. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EH2GyNSfPqU

Queen of Torture by Wishbone Ash (1970)

Wishbone Ash is a British rock band that has been around, fairly consistently, for the last 45 years. They've managed to keep going despite many personnel changes and limited fame. Still, they are a solid band.

Here is a track off of their first album in 1970. It is pretty good, just a bit lost in the shuffle of all of the great rock coming out at the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J9IXzhPpkc

Satisfaction by Otis Redding (1966)

Otis Redding was the King of Soul. No doubt about it. When I was young, I always loved Dock of the Bay. I just thought that song was about as good as it gets. But, it didn't really give me an accurate picture of the energy that Otis could bring to a song. It wasn't until years later when I discovered his live performances that I really appreciated his work.

To think that he was able to put so much energy into these performances while wearing a suit! Many musicians claim that they "leave it all on the stage". That statement is more true for Otis that probably anyone else...

The link below actually goes to Otis' 1967 Monterey Pop version of Satisfaction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvtbiHYa-LI

Keep the Dogs Away by Thor (1977)

There's something a bit cartoonish about Vancouver's Thor. I mean, the lead singer was a body builder who went on to form a proto-hair metal band(Not that there's anything wrong with that). It's not that heavy, but fun enough for a Friday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wy2Q5B0sxOI

The Everlasting First by Love (1970)

Over the years, I've read about Arthur Lee's Love and their influence on the psych rock scene and rock in general. However, whenever I've tried to get into them, I've found their sound a little soft for my liking. The band's self-titled debut and 1967's Forever Changes were good for background mood music, but not for intense headphone listening. Or so that was my initial perception.

I guess that I ultimately needed to be drawn into more of their catalog due to their later collaborations with Jimi Hendrix. Here, on Love's sixth album, Hendrix guests on this opening track and makes his presence know with his distinctive lead guitar. In fact, this song opened the door for me to listen to Love's other work more intently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6qPocCekJE

Dynamo Snackbar by Peter Kaukonen (1972)

After hearing 1972's Black Kangaroo, it's hard to believe that Peter Kaukonen would be content to be a back-up player with his older brother's(Jorma Kaukonen) bands. It sounds to me that Peter could easily have made a name for himself in the heavy blues rock era of the early 70's. Instead, Peter spent most of his peak years supporting Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, and Jefferson Starship, among others.

The track that I have selected is indicative of the type and quality of music on this album. It is definitely worth picking it up if you could ever find it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJnkDThQvmg

To Hell by Tiger B. Smith (1972)

How about some early 70's German power trio for your Tuesday? Okay, the band name is kind of stupid, but these rockers made some intense music through about 1975 before calling it quits. This is some heavy, trippy stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8CdexNkGwk

Thirteen Women by The Renegades (1966)

Now here's a truly unheralded song from an unheralded garage rock band. The Renegades were from Birmingham, England, but found success in the mid-sixties only when they relocated to Finland. There, they became quite the rage. In addition to releasing four albums in about three years, they also appeared in a Finnish movie from which today's clip is culled. Good stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu2pKXSIzr4

Dark Entries by Bauhaus (1979)

I definitely enjoy the darker side of "new wave" or "post punk". So Bauhaus, particularly early Bauhaus, really hits me in the sweet spot. It is mood music for sure. The original incarnation of the band wouldn't last too long. By 1983, they were done. Most of the band would find some future success with the spinoff band, Love and Rockets. I like them, as well, but Bauhaus was special.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8n6k8QcU3k

Psychedelic Shack by The Temptations (1970)

By the end of the 60's, Motown decided that it should get it on the Psychedelic scene. So, they got one of their most popular acts to make a "psychedelic" LP. The result was the Temptations' release of the Psychedelic Shack LP in March of 1970. To me, this sounds more funky than psychedelic (creaky door intro notwithstanding).

Whatever you call it, it gets you moving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NP_CsXMk-74

Ignore Them(Still Life) by Eddie and the Hot Rods (1977)

Here is another great band out of the UK in the mid-70's. Their music has been ascribed as "punk", but they sound more like straight ahead rock n' roll to me.  The band still tours today(with only one original member.

This is from the second album of their initial incarnation, Life on the Line.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F7eUfbkY5fw

Borrowed Time by Fanny (1972)

The Runaways weren't the first 70's California band to be constructed, at least partly, because the band members were all women. Producer Richard Perry, who had worked with Harry Nilsson, Barbra Streisand, and Percy Faith, was looking for an all-female rock band to produce. He culled musicians from a variety of garage bands to create Fanny.

The band managed to release a number of rock/glam rock albums in the early 70's. Check out this TV performance of a song from their third release, Fanny Hill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1iTFYIJF5c

She's Easy by Yesterday's Children (1969)

Wow, how was this band not better known? I recently became aware of this 60's Long Island-based "psychedelic" band. "Psychedelic" is in quotations because while there are those psych elements, this feels to me more like a hard rock or proto-heavy metal band. The musicians are talented. Again, it is baffling how these guys didn't get more of a following before breaking up shortly after the release of their only album.

I have selected this longer track to show off their capabilities, but I could have selected a shorter song like Paranoia which shows the band's power. Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbUM6Y2rBu4

Blind Justice by Agnostic Front (1984)

For me, Agnostic Front was similar to Black Flag in that I thought that their first album was much better than the rest that followed. That doesn't mean that Agnostic Front's(nor Black Flag's) later work wasn't any good. It just means that those initial efforts were phenomenally good. Just a pure explosion of rage.

Listen to Agnostic Front here, from that first album, Victim in Pain. That feels good...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_z72v8Jh8Q

52 Girls by The B-52's (1979)

After five years of not playing any music and focusing on raising his young son, John Lennon took a vacation to Bermuda in 1980. While there, he went to a club and found that a dj was spinning some weird new music that reminded him of his wife's avant-garde stylings. That song he heard was "Rock Lobster" by a new band called the "B-52's". That experienced helped to push Lennon back into recording music for, ultimately, one last time. For more info on the B-52's connection, check out this article.

Rock Lobster was a great track, but here is my favorite B-52's tune, from the same debut self-titled album. It was penned by the late Ricky Wilson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJwQuTqqPvo

Barracuda by The Standells (1967)

The Standells were a L.A. garage band(no not from Boston). Despite recording the unofficial anthem for Boston, Dirty Water, none of the band members had actually been to Boston when the song was recorded. The song was written by their producer, Ed Cobb.

Forgetting Dirty Water, the Standells were a pretty good 60's garage band with no pretensions of much else. Here is a track from their 1967 album, Try It.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jNxAScOlck

Hard Times by The Mutants (1978)

These Liverpudlians just delivered straight ahead punk rock at the height of the genre's popularity. And it true punk fashion, they flamed out after about two years together. Here is a single released shortly before their break up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5v1FKlDArU

Default by Django Django (2012)

Since I've been stuck in the early 70's for the last week, I decided that I would jump ahead over forty years to celebrate a fresh sounding British band, Django Django. I was turned onto their debut self-titled album shortly after its release in 2012 and found myself playing it over and over again. That is rare for me with new music.

I could best describe Django Django as new wave for the 2010's. It just sounds refreshing and the way "pop" should sound(to my ears). They have a new album, Born Under Saturn, which I've yet to check out. In case you want to check it out, go to their website here,

Here is nice representative track from their first album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDjpOrlfh0Y

Thank You by Barclay James Harvest (1972)

Barclay James Harvest is not a person but an English prog rock band of the early 70's. Their first few albums were more proggy than later efforts. In fact their second and third albums included a full orchestra on parts. By the fourth album, Baby James Harvest, the music came down to Earth a bit. Here is a track that has a bit of a bluesy feel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPtEbGABAyM

Illusion by White Witch (1972)

Today's song of the day is another entry into the category of early 70's Southern rock bands who didn't make "Southern" rock.  Here is the short-lived and rather collectible, White Witch. This Tampa band was primarily known for their kitschy, yet controversial, song called "It's So Nice to be Stoned". However, they made some good music on the rest of the debut album that is largely forgotten. One of the good things about this band, I think, is there use of the Moog synthesizer in a good way.

Here is one of their trippier tunes, Illusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5S4p1ty0Ls

Levee Blues by Potliquor (1971)

Potliquor was a Baton Rouge-based hard rock band from the early 70's who did not manage to sound like "Southern Rock". They actually had quite a following in the Southeast, without ever expanding their popularity to a wider region. That makes it all the more humorous that ZZ Top, Aerosmith, and Billy Joel all opened for them at one point when touring in the South.

Check out this bluesy number, Levee Blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6ena5GRUY4

Too Much Wine by Dirty Tricks (1975)

Dirty Tricks was a British hard rock band that came of age about 3 years too late. By the time they started to mature, the rock world had turned to punk for anything new and exciting. (Also, that boring album cover couldn't have helped). By the late 70's, Dirty Tricks would call it quits.

But thanks to the passage of time and accessibility afforded by the Internet, this band can be enjoyed alongside the hard rockers that preceded it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRXu8VaJvOY

Smokey Feeling by The Organization (1974)

While Barbados' own Organization could certainly drop the beat and play some reggae, they became much more well known for when they would dial up the funk. You wouldn't have heard this juicy stuff at most West Indian clubs in the 70's.

Enjoy this instrumental funky jam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q6lvk-T9c0

Brainticket, Pt. 1 by Brainticket (1971)

Brainticket was a Krautrock band that combined psychedelia and prog rock. They have managed regroup over the years to tour with various lineups, but the original incarnation of the band lasted from 1968 to 75.

Here is a rather indulgent track off of their debut 1971 album, Cottonwood Hill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOw2U-XqWQQ

Mother Freedom by Bread (1971)

As a used record store crate digger and yard sale scavenger, Bread is often the bane of my existence on Saturday mornings. I mean there is a certain level of disappointment when you see a stack of vinyl at some garage sale only to see that it is filled with likes of Bread, Anne Murray, and Neil Diamond.

Bread had a string of "soft rock" hits in the 70's including "Baby, I'm a Want You" and "The Guitar Man", among others. I am not a fan. However, like many bands, there are some redeeming qualities if you choose to dig deep enough.

Here we have a single from 1971, a year before their first #1 Adult Contemporary hit. I'm not sure that I like this song on its own or if it was just really rockin' for a Bread song. You decide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRNe04kw3Cg

Whatcha Gonna Do About It by Small Faces (1965)

Man, I love the early Small Faces when they played straight ahead garage rock. I don't care for their pop rock work after Itchycoo Park in 1967(with a few notable exceptions-See Afterglow for one such exception).

But, here they are from a few years before with Whatcha Gonna Do About It.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_AVRGJr_7E

Woo Hoo by the 5.6.7.8's (1996)

While this tune is a great rockabilly cover by a Japanese band, to me it will always bring me back to where I first heard it in Kill Bill Vol. 1.  There is something about Quentin Tarantino's use of music that hits me in the right place.

Since the movie's release, the 5.6.7.8's have managed to continue a career that has paid homage to the roots music they love. Check out their website to see what they've been up to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqfpyuSEMa8

He Was a Big Freak by Betty Davis (1974)

If you wake up on a Sunday morning and are steeping tea before your day of antiquing, then do not put on some Betty Davis to provide the soundtrack to your morning. Betty Davis's vocals are not for the faint of heart. Her songs demand your full attention. Once you give in to that, her music is pure funky goodness.

While Betty made a few great funk albums in the 70's, her biggest effect on the history of music was probably when she introduced her then husband, Miles Davis, to Jimi Hendrix and Sly Stone. Many, including Miles himself, believe that Betty's influence led him to his electric period.

Whatever her influence, check out Betty from 1974.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eLgZvOtzy0

Carrion Crawler by Thee Oh Sees (2011)

How about some modern day psychedelia for your Monday? Thee Oh Sees have been around since the late 90's, and have had a very fluid lineup with the exception of the band's founder and frontman, John Dwyer. Dwyer, like Ty Segall, is one of those rare recording artists who manages to put out albums at a steady pace, ignoring industry conventions.

Check out the title track from their 2011 LP.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE93zWIkW_8

Opus De Soul by Steve Cropper, Albert King, and Pops Staples (1969)

1969's Stax release, Jammed Together, features musicians at the beginning, peak, and sunset of their respective careers in the music industry. Of course, I am talking about Steve Cropper of the MG's and later of the Blues Brothers' band, Albert King, the best blues' player to pick up an electric guitar, and Pops Staples, the patriarch of the gospel Staples' Singers.

Here, there is nothin too fancy, just some real smooth blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xehNDiO0n8s

Strange Town by The Groundhogs (1970)

British garage/blues/pysch/hard rockers' The Groundhogs had achieved some level of fame in the U.K. without ever really becoming noticed in the U.S. They have recorded with Eric Clapton and toured with the Rolling Stones. The peak of their work was in the early 1970's and the first incarnation of the band called it quits by 1976.

Here they are at the height of their powers off their 1970 long player, Thank Christ for the Bomb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7J3fXWC-Fs

Easy to Lie by Master's Apprentices (1971)

Master's Apprentices were an Australian band that started out in the mid 60's as a garage band, but would transform into more of a hard rock/psych band by the early 70's. They broke up by 1972, but left a nice body of work.

Check out this track, Easy to Lie. The hook sounds a bit like Joe Walsh's Turn to Stone which was released a year later. You decide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqJ9tXvjDT0

Here I Am, I Always Am by Captain Beefheart (1966)

Captain Beefheart is, admittedly, an acquired taste. Over the last three decades, I've tried to get into his music on a few occasions, but I wasn't ready. Finally, about two years ago, I started listening to him again when I downloaded the extended sessions for Sun Zoom Spark. I was blown away by the music on that release and listened to nothing else for days. I have since taken a dive into other parts of the Captain's discography.

I could have picked from about a hundred tracks to be featured in this space, as most of his work is under appreciated. I ended up selecting a song that is a bit more easy to listen to for a Captain Beefheart novice. It also give me chills. It was also a song that was shelved for eighteen years, having been recorded in 1966 but not released until 1984.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIuAmzTPdYY