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