Hammerhead by Overkill (1985)

I'm in the mood for some heavy stuff today. So, I'm gonna reach back to the dawn of thrash metal and enjoy some of New Jersey's finest; Overkill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqtKySWo02k

The Dance by Alquin (1973)

Dutch prog rockers Alquin released several albums in the 70's that went largely unnoticed outside of the Netherlands. That's a shame, because they made some great music. Not all prog rock works for me, but this is definitely the variety that does. Here is the opening track off of their second album, Mountain Queen. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fP4E1UAWu8M

Milkshake Baby by Jack Oblivion (2009)

Memphis garage rock legend Jack Yarber, aka Jack Oblivion, has been with a number of regional rock bands over the years including Johnny Vomit and the Dry Heaves, The Compulsive Gamblers, and The Tennessee Tearjerkers, among others. He has also released a lot of solo work. Here is a brooding track from his 2009 EP, Saturday Night Part 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_B-PXRC514

She's My Baby by Mazzy Star (1993)

Most people, if they've heard of Mazzy Star, are only familiar with their one semi-hit, Fade Into You. As far as mellow songs are concerned, I liked this tune, as well. I liked it enough to buy the CD at the time. That release, Mazzy Star's second album, is a great piece of mood music. Here is another track from that album, She's My Baby.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBx963uLm7A

Infatuation by Maineeaxe (1985)

It's been awhile since I've posted any NWOBHM music(That's the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal popularized in the early 1980's). Now this band, Maineeaxe, were a little late to the party, but enjoyable nonetheless. Here they are from their second(and final) LP, Going for Gold.

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

Widow Woman by CWT (1973)

Despite being managed by Andrew Loog Oldham, this British blues rock band managed to produce just one album in the early 70's before calling it quits. Perhaps the name "CWT" damaged them. That sounds more like a late 90's band. In any case, they did leave some decent music behind. Check out their only single and first song on their album, Widow Woman.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwUI6lrDbxg

I Know(You Don't Love Me No More) by Yvonne Fair (1975)

Today's Deep Rock Mining entry is a cover of a little known 60's soul singer's big hit by a little known 70's singer. Of course, I am talking about Yvonne Fair's version of Barbara George's classic soul track.

Yvonne Fair was a backup singer with James Brown before breaking out on her own to record her one and only album, 1975's The Bitch is Black.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1XO2TacA2Q

Londres by Casa Des Maquinas (1976)

How about some 1970's Brazilian glam prog rock for your Thursday? Okay, well here is Casa Des Maquinas from their third and final album titled Casa De Rock

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDHsmT876yQ

Lightning Strikes Twice by Lady Killer (1983)

Formed in 1981, this New York metal band recorded an awesome self-titled debut LP in 1983. This is the kind of band that may have had a legitimate shot of breaking big with a solid follow-up album. They probably just needed a little more seasoning to put them over the top. However, the bandmates couldn't keep it together for that long. What a shame. In any case, enjoy the first track off of that album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fam0VMDspI

Such a Shame by Widowmaker (1976)

Widowmaker was a hard blues rock band from England that probably missed any chance at success by two or three years. By the time that their self-titled debut album was released in 1976, punk rock was in full swing. Now, they probably weren't headed for super stardom anyway, but it's some good ole rock n' roll.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmxi9_Al8pU

Get My Way by the Cynics (1990)

Alright, after a week in the early 70's, it is time to jump forward twenty years. Here is some raw garage rock from 1990 Pittsburgh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3bE5I0DLLg

Angry Eyes by Loggins and Messina (1972)

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a big Loggins and Messina fan. I mean, as a young child, I may have been shakin' my diaper to "Your Momma Don't Dance", but that was probably it. As I got older, I had a clear aversion to anything else that I heard from the band.

However, I have to give credit when credit is due. I recently heard this song on satellite radio and would never have guessed that it was Loggins and Messina. The song is stretched out and jazzy. Not bad!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9iTjVfh558

Breakfast by Alan Hull (1973)

Yesterday's blog entry was from a British band that wasn't very well known in the US(The Move). Today's entry features a British musician that was absolutely unknown in the States, for all intents and purposes. Alan Hull played guitar for folk rockers Lindisfarne in the late 60's/early 70's. Here he is off of his first solo album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aA7xr2AgJk

Don't Make My Baby Blue by The Move (1970)

The Move was one of those bands that were huge in the UK, but never broke in America. Even in the classic rock radio era of the 1980's, the music of The Move was never really revisited in the States. It was probably less than ten years ago that I started to dig into their catalog.

Today's song selection, Don't Make My Baby Blue, is a stretched out version of a Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil Brill Building tune originally recorded by Frankie Laine. This tune is indicative of The Move's sound with, perhaps, a bit more guitar work than usual.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xryNtfA6GNc

Who Needs Ya by Steppenwolf (1970)

Most casual classic rock fans know about three Steppenwolf tunes(Born to Be Wild-overplayed, Magic Carpet Ride-never cared for, and The Pusher-good tune). This band produced a whole lot of good rock music beyond those three tunes, though. They are definitely worth taking a flyer on. The good news is that their records can be had for cheap on the used record circuit.

Here is John Kay and band with a short number from 1970 off of their Steppenwolf 7 album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cC9wT4aEyRg

Find Your Way by Cosmic Dealer (1972)

Combining elements of hard rock, psych, and prog(maybe), Dutch band Cosmic Dealer was making some quality music in the early 1970's. By 1974, it was all over. But at least the band left behind an album, Crystallization, and a few singles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBLyFxyOsR8

Pirate Love by Johnny Thunders & the Heartbreakers (1978)

Johnny Thunders took the promise of the New York Dolls and delivered the punk scene to America in the form of the Heartbreakers. I, of course, missed the punk rock scene initially because I was a bit too young. Years later, however, I remember hearing today's song of the day on college radio. There wasn't any back introduction, so I needed to find this song. Eventually, when the internet became a bit more searchable, I found it and downloaded it. I am still looking for a physical media version of this track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcwbFdlc3mM

Intellectual Rock by Suburban Lawns (1981)

To me, this is about as good as it gets for post-punk rock. The Suburban Lawns were only around for a couple of singles(including Gidget Goes to Hell) and one self-titled album. So, enjoy the fifth track off of that album from the biggest band out of Long Beach until Sublime came to be.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXHFPn8EDfk

Highway 49 by George Thorogood & the Destroyers (1988)

I was never a big George Thorogood fan. I had plenty of opportunity to listen to his hits on classic rock radio and even during the early days of MTV. While there were a few catchy tunes(Move It On Over, One Bourbon...), I grew tired of them quickly. And I never liked Bad to the Bone, oy. So, I never really listened to much of Thorogood's catalog.

A couple of months ago, I happened to hear his version of Howlin Wolf's Highway 49. There is something about the bottleneck guitar playing on this song that hits the spot.

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

The Barbarian by Emerson, Lake, & Palmer (1970)

Wow, we have lost another great. RIP Keith Emerson. Keith was, arguably, the best keyboardist of the classic rock era. I was careful not to say "pianist" as there is some competition there. But who else had such mastery of the Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer? It's a short list to be sure.

Keith started out in England with the The Nice and shortly thereafter formed on the best prog rock bands ever, Emerson, Lake, & Palmer. Here is the first song off of the first album they recorded together. This is actually a live version that includes some great video of Emerson practicing his craft.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ey9OhwZ_QgA

Shab'd by The Tow-Away Zone (1968)

I don't know much about The Tow-Away Zone, aside from the fact that they were one of hundreds of late 60's Bay Area psychedelic bands that never achieved much fame. They did, however, record a few songs at the small studio, Golden State Recorders. These songs, along with a couple dozen others from similar bands of the era have just been released on a new CD titled, Golden State Psychedelia. You can purchase the CD on Amazon, if you like what you hear.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9fvhncfLP4

Led Boots by Jeff Beck (1976)

In tribute to the recently departed producer extraordinaire George Martin, I was going to feature the Beatles' She's Leaving Home in this space. I think it is an underrated, yet one of the best, Beatles' tunes. It also is an excellent example of the mastery that George Martin brought to the studio while recording with the Fab Four. Alas, it is not to be because you can't post a Beatles' song on Youtube due to copyright infringement. Oy...Didn't they get their money?

So, as a backup, I will feature a non-Beatles' song produced by George Martin. While it is not Sgt Peppers, Jeff Beck's guitar work is produced in a clean, yet still rewarding way.

RIP George Martin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQIdjHcS4m4

Gimme Some by The Skunks (1979)

How about a little vintage Texas punk for your Wednesday? Okay then, here are the Skunks...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SY5TE_-2Dm4

Coo Coo Out! by Train (1977)

Hopefully, the year of release in the title would be enough to reassure you that I was not featuring the pop rock band called Train. While I certainly haven't heard all of the newer Train's work, I have no desire to hear more. Instead, I am featuring the German jazz fusion band, also called Train. 

This is some quality musicianship. Check it out for yourself. [Original Youtube Video Removed. This is a link to the whole album. Coo Coo Out! is on Side B, 2nd Song]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xcFD2hKHpU

The Lumberjack by Jackyl (1992)

Today is guilty pleasure day here on Deep Rock Mining. Well, there isn't much that is redeeming about Jackyl or their one hit, The Lumberjack. Even this song was heavily borrowed from AC/DC's The Jack. Jackyl did add a chainsaw as a musical instrument, so I guess that part was unique. Regardless of the qualifiers, I still like this basic little tune.

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

Back to the Middle by The New Deal (1999)

So, today I'm' dipping my toe into the subgenre of "Livetronica" that came about in the late 1990's as a more respectable version of electronica in which the musicians actually play traditional instruments. It was around this time that The New Deal formed as a three-piece (drums, bass, and keyboards). Maybe my mind is playing tricks on me, but I enjoy this sound a bit more knowing that they were actually recording the music live.

The band is still around today and touring! Check out their website for dates if the music intrigues you.

Here they are from their first album, THIS IS LIVE.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e47eJSzd_X0

Dies Irae by Formula 3 (1970)

For me, Formula 3's first album is my kind of prog rock. It has the great range of music while maintaining a common thread to tie it together. That is certainly a non-musician's attempt to describe it. It never sounds like several disparate musical pieces thrown together, which is sometimes a pitfall of other prog rock pieces.

In any case, nevermind my ramblings and enjoy the opening and title track of 1970's Dies Irae.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRGFMn72vms

Extra Terrestrial Boogie by MacKenzie Theory (1973)

I must be on an Australian kick. Yesterday, I featured some current hard rock with The Dirty Earth, and today I'm reaching back 40+ years for some prog rock/fusion from MacKenzie Theory. This band was around for a few years and released two live(mostly) albums. Here is the first track off of the first one, 1973's Out of the Blue.

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

Eternity by The Dirty Earth (2016)

Today's entry of Deep Rock Mining is a current Australian band that I just discovered. The lead singer, Mandy Newton, sounds like someone else, but I just can't place it. Can you? Here is some straight ahead hard rocking music from their brand new second LP, Ascendency.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udH0OVJ1Pp8

Icarus (Pt. 2) by Mad Puppet (1982)

[Original Youtube Video Deleted. No replacement]

For today, check out some high energy synth-driven Italian prog from the early 80's. I was pleasantly surprised listening to this. I had low expectations due to the era. I believe that the band is still around from their Google-translated website.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmS3I5oUePw

Skellington by Colosseum (1971)

Take some prog rock, mix it with jazz fusion, and add a dash of the blues. This is the recipe for the musicial delight that is Colosseum. Despite my cheesy intro, this short-lived band is worth a listen. They went out with a live album, recorded and released in 1971. Here is an epic, 14-minute plus song that showcases all of the elements that made them interesting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEYhrWRg6vE