Drop Dead by The Punks (1973)

Today's selection is some real quality proto-punk. The year is a bit of a guess as this Detroit band's music was not released(to my knowledge) during their original run in the mid 70's. It could be 1974. In any case, it's clear that the band was influenced by fellow Detroit legends, the MC5. That is not a bad thing. The Punks' music finally got a release in the mid 2000s. Here they are at their finest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KDJC4TWUCRE

Cloud 9 by Sad Lovers and Giants (1982)

Time for some pure new wave. Here is Sad Lovers and Giants off of their debut LP, Epic Garden Music from 1982.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm44DcjWBVM

Gogoszary by Zbiginiew Namyslowski (1973)

Wow, he's really gone off of the deep end with this blog. Polish fusion on a blog purportedly about rock! Well, just give it a listen some of Zbiginiew Namyslowski's work is up there on par with Miles Davis. This is definitely not grandpa's be-bop. See if you agree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tKD5jjq_FlI

Such a Fool by Rubber City Rebels (1977)

The Rubber City Rebels were from, you guessed it, Akron, OH. They had a great proto-punk sound at the time of punk. They managed to befriend the Dead Boys and opened for them at CBGBs. After a while, the band moved out to LA to blend in the scene out west. They did have much commercial success and fizzled out by the late 80's, but they had a good run. Here they are from their first release, a split EP with the Bizarros.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkw9yfR6Klw

Headbangin' by Alien (1983)

Just in the mood for some old fashioned 80's metal today. Here is a New York band featuring a lot of Aquanet and one EP to their list of musical contributions.

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

Spaceman by Hurdy Gurdy (1972)

In late 1967, Donovan Leitch, aka Donovan, was asked by a friend to write a song for a new Danish heavy psych band, Hurdy Gurdy. Donovan tore off the song "Hurdy Gurdy Man". For whatever record company reasons, the song was not immediately delivered. As a result, Donovan recorded the song himself and released it to great success. Those Danish psych rockers would soldier on, nonetheless. They wouldn't actually put out an album, though, until 1972, and it would ultimately be their only full length release. But what a release it was. If you have the chance to check out the whole album, do so. It is some great hard rocking psych.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNvtOWicV38

Special Friends by Glass Harp (1971)

Glass Harp was one of the more popular bands in Kent, Ohio in the early 70's(along with the James Gang). Today's song is from their second album, which sounds more like late 1966. I'll take it, though. 

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

No Friend of Mine by The Sparkles (1967)

Texas garage rockers, the Sparkles, had been around for ten years by the time they released their sixth, and biggest, single which is featured here today. The band would soldier on through the 60's and disband in 1972.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFnbHC8Te7Y

Positive Direction by The Fabulous Rhinestones (1972)

Chicago-born blues guitarist/singer Kal David was in many bands in the 60's and early 70's. By 1972, he formed a new blues rock outfit with former members of the Electric Flag and the Buckinghams. They managed to release three albums in four years before calling in quits. Here they are from their self-titled debut release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGZmUee8ChY

I Got Id by Pearl Jam (1995)

Whenever I think of Pearl Jam in the context of the Grunge movement, I get annoyed. They did come up in Seattle at the peak of the grunge genre, but they weren't really grunge to my ears. I seem to like PJ better when I just think of them as a rock band. Sure, a lot of their stuff was over played in the 90's, but they had some good rockin' tunes.

Today's song, while not unknown, is underrated in my opinion. This track, featuring Neil Young on guitar, is probably my favorite Pearl Jam effort. It's one of those songs, that for whatever reason, hits me on an emotional level and always brings me right back to my mid twenties.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgMVqa6YbEk

You Just Gotta Know My Mind by Dana Gillespie (1968)

Dana Gillespie has had quite the varied career. In addition to recording music in the folk, pop, rock, and blues genres over the years, she had also appeared in Jesus Christ Superstar and in several movies. Here she is from her first album recording a tune that was written by Donovan.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8mkMuMMDQQ

Unobstructed Universe by Unobstructed Universe (1976)

Brooklyn born jazz saxophonist, Arnie Lawrence, had been a journeyman player for a number of years, releasing a few albums and appearing on many more. By 1976, Arnie was in his late thirties and with the help of some friends recorded an experimental jazz masterpiece, Unobstructed Universe. The title track and also name of the band he created for this endeavor is featured here today. It is probably the funkiest bit on the record. Some of the other tracks get real weird, which is great too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=My7x0MDH5H0

Detective Man by Detective (1977)

After the demise of Silverhead, Michael Des Barres went on to form the band, Detective, with former Yes keyboardist Tony Kaye and others. The band, not surprisingly, sounds like an extension of Silverhead's music only in the late 70's. It doesn't work quite as well, but there are some decent tunes in the mix.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iBLyhDPI0fE

Roller by April Wine (1978)

Nova Scotia's finest had been around since 1969, but probably saw the apex of their success in the late seventies. And, man, does this video scream late 70's excess or what? It's arena rock with all of the good and cheesy elements.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usWQOPTORn8

Hey Sweety by Ray Owen (1971)

Here is a nice little rock track from former Juicy Lucy frontman Ray Owen's solo release, the 1971 album, Moon. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRujWqRJ1z4

Dirty Robber by The Wailers (1959)

Going way back in time today all the way to the 50's for a massively underappreciated garage band from Tacoma, Washington. The Wailers were putting an edge on early rock n' roll before it was cool. See if you agree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-78gZWTr6I4

Too Deep by The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger (2014)

In 2008, Sean Lennon started a duo with his girlfriend, Charlotte Kemp Muhl called The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger. They did some shows, released some singles and then released a full length album by 2014, Midnight Sun. This is a nice psych record that will probably never be given its due because of Sean's celebrity parents. But it's worth a listen. This record seems to be a nice accompaniment to Sean's next project with Les Claypool that was featured here in January.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHqg71ot7rY

Negativland by Neu! (1972)

German avant-garde/psych/prog rockers, Neu! recorded and pressed several albums in the 70's that are now worth a pretty penny on vinyl. There's good reason, too. They produced some real quality music. This is how synthesizers were meant to be heard(in my world view, anyway). Check this track out off of their self titled debut album.

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

Red Sky at Night by The Accent (1967)

I don't know much about today's Entry on Deep Rock Mining, except to say that this British group had only one single. This was the A Side. It was backed with Wind of Change. This is pure psych released at the height of the movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvKUE0ec7bA

We Built This City by Chevy Heston (1994)

No, not that "We Built that City", this is a completely different and better song. Chevy Heston was a brooding 90's band from Boston. I remember hearing some of their music on WBCN's "Boston Emissions" local radio show on Sunday evenings. I ended up picking up the CD and it went into heavy rotation, often playing as I fell asleep. If you like this tune, you'll like the whole album, as it pretty much extends the theme.

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

Reverse Lion by Yello (1980)

A couple of weeks ago, on a cool Saturday morning, I was sifting through a box of records at a yard sale in my town. As I went through the usual yard sale fare(Tattoo You, Four Way Street, The Stranger, and about a hundred others), I stumbled upon two colorful LP's that I was unfamiliar with. So, I bought the collection. Later, online, I checked out these colorful LPs that were by a group called Yello. They were definitely the most valuable of the bunch. Yello was a Swiss electronic band that made some really interesting music in the early 80's. Many of their songs are shorter, and today's song of the day selection certainly is on the shorter side. I encourage you to check out more of their work, if you like the style.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Sp1opEkHJw

Give Me Your Love by Funk, Inc (1973)

Today an Indianapolis funk fusion group with a hint of Santana is being featured. Funk, Inc released five albums in four years during the 70's. It's a bit smooth for my normal tastes, but definitely groovy. Here they are from their third release, 1973's Hangin' Out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhAdGdbcGa8

Little Green Bag by George Baker Selection (1970)

Hmmm, where have you heard this song before? Well, you probably know it better as the song played during the opening credits of Quentin Tarantino's feature length directorial debut, Reservoir Dogs. That's how I've always known it. And why shouldn't I? It was a perfect choice by Tarantino.

However, in the course of creating this blog post, I came across two interesting facts. First of all, the George Baker Selection was not an American soul band as I had imagined. They were actually a Dutch rock band. Secondly, the band made some sort of video for the song back when it was released in 1970. It seems clear after watching it that Tarantino must have seen the video, as well, because there are elements to it that he mimicked in the very opening scene for which it featured in Tarantino's classic. The link to that opening is below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gD6KGaQIW04

Running Wild by Jesse Hector and the Sound (1991)

In the nascent days of this blog, Jesse Hector's Hammersmith Gorillas were featured with a grungy version of the Stones' Luxury. That was the garage rock legend was in his twenties. Today's song is a lost classic, rediscovered a few years ago, from when Jesse was in his forties. He definitely still had it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fciet8kbneo

Sinner's Song by Robin Trower (1973)

When Robin Trower left Procol Harum in 1971, he took a decidely different direction. The sound that Robin would develop over the next couple of years would make a distinct leap from the 60's to a slicker, more produced, 70's sound that seemed to suit him better. In Trower's case, this change absolutely worked. He was able to feature his virtuoso guitar chops much better in the new format. In addition to Robin's playing on today's track, check out the mesmerizing bass line towards the end of the tune by James Dewar. Good stuff.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_OQZ1oIjbLM

In a Hole by The Jesus and Mary Chain (1985)

The Jesus and Mary Chain were one of those bands that I was aware of in the 80's, but made no effort to find out more about the band. I think that my mistaken impression of them was that they were just another new wave band. Upon further inspection(thirty years later) I found their alt/post punk music to be very interesting with an edge to it that I never imagined. Here they are from their debut album, Psychocandy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkPRQG77YiA

Rock n Roll by Dirty Thrills (2015)

Modern day UK rockers, Dirty Thrills, seemed to have found the recipe for mid-70's arena rock excess that was originally created by the likes of Foghat, Blue Oyster Cult,  and so many others. See if you agree.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFZDV-V50o0

The Fool by Curved Air (1976)

I love one of the terms used to describe the music of Curved Air, Acid Folk. That about describes it. Or maybe it just describes the sound of the electric violin which is prominently featured here. Curved Air's initial incarnation lasted from 1970-76. Today's lost classic was a live version of one of their songs that was recorded in 1976, but not released until 1996. This live performance even features future Police drummer, Stewart Copeland on drums.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2kRodH_pGg

Making Time by The Creation (1966)

The Creation's "Making Time" probably shouldn't be considered underappreciated anymore because of the recent spate of appearances the song has made in commercials and movies. I think it all started with the 1998 movie Rushmore.

Before 1998, this great tune sat dormant in the minds of most who'd ever heard the song to begin with. It was originally released back in 1966 as the first single from the British garage band. Even if you've heard it, it's worth another listen.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hEb2vOOaxI

Hard Coming Love by The United States of America (1968)

This short-lived LA psych/experimental prog band(with a terrible name) managed to release one LP,. a self-titled 1968 release. It's weird, but really good. Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtWS2IXsLf0

Under My Wheels by Hanoi Rocks (1983)

For today, enjoy a Finnish metal band doing their version of a glam rock classic from 1983. The link below has the video of the performance, which is also pretty fun.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnI6EaK0zkI