Eddie's Revenge by The Fred Banana Combo (1981)

The Fred Banana Combo was a new wave band out of Dusseldorf, Germany. Despite releasing four albums, all with titles referencing the band name(The Fred Banana Combo, FBC, Fred Banana Combo, and Fred Banana!), the band never achieved much name recognition in the rest of the world, or the U.S. at least. They were definitely an interesting band. Here is a mostly instrumental track off of their second album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayBOsMXfKqk&feature=youtu.be

Power Hungry by Victim (1984)

Victim was a heavy metal band from San Diego that put out a couple of albums between 1984 and 1985 before calling it quits. Here is the title track off of their debut album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w43rCPl4O4s&feature=youtu.be

The Second Sitting for the Last Supper by 10cc (1975)

10cc, Godley & Creme's original band was never at the top of my interest list. When I have explored the band's albums in the past, nothing really jumped out at me. Over time, though, I've heard a few tracks that were actually appealing to me. Here is one of them. This comes off of the band's third album, The Original Soundtrack.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=szx23_5n7t4

Orange Airplane by Screaming Trees (1986)

Screaming Trees were one of those Northwest bands that I always peripherally associated with the Grunge scene. This was probably more of a geographic association than a musical one, but it's how my mind worked at the time. In fact, though, I was not a huge fan of the band. This was probably due to the fact that their big hit, Nearly Lost You, was overplayed. As a result, I didn't care to look too much deeper. Years later, though, I was fortunate enough to discover their first album, Clairvoyence, which was released in 1986. Here is the first track off of their debut.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vpRe-PCOPU

Alone by Irmin's Way (1976)

Irmin's Way was a prog/krautrock band that was comprised of members from Germany and Britain. They only got together for one album, 1976's Opus Destroy, and it is quite a lost classic. The album was re-released on CD in the 90's, but nothing since. Therefore, an album or a CD is pretty valuable. Here is the last song on side one.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9NOg9dEKcg&feature=youtu.be

Save Their Souls by Kratos (1985)

I recently perused an article on the Dangerous Minds website featuring terrible artwork on heavy metal albums. So naturally, being a blogger about underappreciated music, I started researching the music on some of these albums with questionable artwork. I was able to download some really interesting tunes. Here is a track off of Cleveland metal band Kratos' 1985 EP, Iron Beast. Like many metal bands, the vocals aren't quite as impactful as the music, and today's track is certainly no exception. But, the music makes it a worthwhile listen for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lj555s_ND-0&feature=youtu.be

Viet Nam War Blues by Oblivians (1995)

And now for some 90's garage punk with Memphis legends, Oblivians...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOuQ1MlkTOg

Godhead Dance by Golem (1973)

Golem's 1973 LP, Orion Awakes, is truly a lost classic of the Krautrock genre. Here is the opening track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2R0LpbyhrM

Gambler's Blues by Otis Rush (1969)

Being born in Mississippi and moving to Chicago as a child is a great recipe for becoming a bluesman(along with guitar chops, drive, and a bit of luck). Otis Rush was and is, in many ways, the archetypal Chicago blues player. Recording the blues since 1956, here he is from 1969 with his version of a B.B. King classic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kn_Se7oqVSw

Todos Rien De Mi by Agamenon (1975)

Spain was NOT a hotbed for psych/prog music in the 70's. That said, there seemed to be at least one band who was trying to make it happen. Agamenon was from Madrid and managed to record a psych album long after the genre had hit it's peak. Here is the title track from that album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI3pQagUxTM

Mice and Rats in the Loft by Jan Dukes de Grey (1971)

Jan Dukes de Grey was a short-lived British psych/prog band that put out a couple of albums between 1969 and 1971. Today's song is the title song from their second effort. Like it or not, if you ever came across this record in the wild, pick it up. It's worth hundreds. Check it out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwYdeyM5Vks

Happy Sounds by Ex Ovo Pro (1976)

And now for some German avant-fusion from the mid-seventies.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KKuWujobYZE&feature=youtu.be

Lucky Number by Lene Lovich (1978)

Now here's a catchy number from the late 70's that I had completely forgot about until it showed up as background music for a tv show that I was binge watching(The Americans). Now, to me, this is a perfect pop song. Do you agree? Either way, enjoy the early era video.

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

Leave It Behind by Hacksaw (1976)

So, there isn't much information about today's selection. This track showed up on an unreleased compilation of music from a Madison, Wisconsin radio station. The estimate is that it came from 1976, but it might have been earlier. In any case, it sounds like good hard rock to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3YEveA3SgE

Who Was In My Room Last Night? by Butthole Surfers (1993)

Butthole Surfers was one of those bands whose name I was aware of, but could not name one song of theirs through the first almost twenty years of the band's existence. It wasn't until their big hit, 1996's Pepper off of the album Electric Larryland, that I finally started to get familiar with some of their work. These Texans produced a lot of quality rock over the years. Here is a track off of their 1993 album, Independent Worm Saloon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--CVdw-0kCY&feature=youtu.be

Rhubarb! by Second Hand (1968)

So here is some pretty obscure British heavy psych with avant garde elements. The music kicks in at about the thirty second mark.

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

(She's in a) Bad Mood by Sonic Youth (1983)

The first thing you may have thought when looking at the title of today's post is, "Sonic Youth recorded an album as far back as 1983?" At least that is what I thought the time I came across their first album. I would have guessed they debuted in 1989 or maybe 1987, but then again that might just be my own illusion. In any case, that first full length album, Confusion in Sex, was quite a debut. Sonic Youth was bringing noise rock to the masses, or at least to a much larger audience. Here is the first song off of that album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKo4y1DUaE8

Journey To The Inside Of The Sun -(a) Sweet Leaf by Clear Blue Sky (1970)

Was Clear Blue Sky a late-to-the-era heavy psych band or an early-to-the-era heavy prog band? It's hard to say, but they sure were heavy. This London-based band had some serious chops on their debut album, 1970's self-titled effort. It is amazing that they would go nineteen years before recording a follow-up. Here is the eight minute plus opener of their first album with some smoking guitar work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXJOfA679bI

A Passenger to Paramaribo by Jukka Tolonen (1977)

Well, it's been a while since any fusion has been featured in this space. So, I'm going to correct that deficiency with a track by a Finnish master of the genre, guitarist Jukka Tolonen. This is the title track from his 1977 album.

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

Gigalo by Liz Phair (1991)

[Removed from Youtube. Full Girlysound linked below. Gigalo at 2:24]

I'm going to indulge myself today by featuring a song from Liz Phair, the author of my favorite album from the 90s, Exile in Guyville. Quite simply, Exile is a masterpiece of mood and lyrical intensity. It is not an album of technical musical virtuosity. You will not hear ripping guitar solos or a tight back up band. It is rather lo-fi. But that should not dissuade you from listening as it will be worth your time.

I would feature a song from Exile itself in this blog, however, the folks at Matador Records are quite vigilant about not allowing copyrighted material on Youtube. Therefore, for today's selection, I'm dipping back two years prior to the release of Exile for something from Liz's Girly Sound recordings. These were tracks that were recorded in her childhood bedroom. They are even more lo fi than Exile, but they capture the mood of what would follow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlB-9pLFTWg&t=41s

Headin' For The Texas Border by Nashville Pussy (1996)

Seeing Nashville Pussy at the Middle East in Cambridge, Mass sometime in 1997 marks the first and only occasion that I ever got pulled into a mosh pit. (I know, that's a lame admission. But, I was a glasses wearer, and didn't want them to break. Okay, I'm just making in worse...). In any case, it was a great experience to at least do once. And the soundtrack for this moshing was dirtbag rockers Nashville Pussy. They lived up to expectations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woBbed94dOs&feature=youtu.be

Comin' Up Fast (Part 1) by The Great Believers (1970)

And now for some "late to the era" fuzzy garage from the heart of Texas...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV4rQH1omcM&feature=youtu.be

Death on Main Street by Tokyo Blade (1983)

Tokyo Blade was another of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal(NWOBHM) bands that flourished in great numbers in the early 80's. Other NWOBHM bands to have been featured in this space include The Witch of Berkeley, Girlschool, Jaguar, Maineaxe, Tygers of Pan Tang, and Quartz. I'm sure more will follow for this type of heavy metal is still (probably) my favorite subgenre of heavy metal. Just so honest and refreshing thirty five years later.

Here is Tokyo Blade with a B side of their first single, Powergame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7rTf7EVCYk&feature=youtu.be

Varje Gång Jag Ser Dej Känns Det Lika by November (1970)

November was a Swedish band that didn't appreciate being grouped together with progressive rock Scandinavian bands of the day. They thought, rightly so, that their music was much more hard rock that prog. The band would go on to record three albums over three years in the early 70's that sound like hard rock to me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J98MFEAv7-4&feature=youtu.be

Suicide A Go Go by Big In Japan (1978)

Big In Japan was a Liverpudlian post punk band during the time of punk. In other words, they were ahead of their time. As a result, the music world wasn't really ready for them yet. It's too bad, because I would have liked to hear more from this band.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ls11p1p9e8&feature=youtu.be

Gypsy Lee by The Churls (1968)

Today, Deep Rock Mining, is featuring a relatively short-lived psych rock band from Toronto that skewed a bit more rock than psych. Here is the ultimate track from their self-titled debut album.

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

Susie Wong by Barrabás (1974)

Now that's some album art! By the late 70's Spanish group, Barrabas, had developed their sound into the disco sound. Before that, though, they had a lot of rock, funk, and even jazz elements to their musical style. Here they are from their third LP, 1974's ¡Soltad a Barrabás!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0113ZDLk0s

Hypodermic Needle by Novak's Kapelle (1968)

And now for the first single from Austrian psych/prog rockers, Novak's Kapelle...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OIOwJAsE5g

Tres Brujas by The Sword (2017)

The Sword is a doom/stoner metal band from Austin, Texas who have released five studio albums over the last 11 years with a lot of great material. Today, though, Deep Rock Mining is featuring a track off of their new live album. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVTkcrMHa2c&feature=youtu.be

Dust My Broom by Luther Allison (1969)

Man, Luther Allison was born to play the blues. He was one of fifteen children growing up in Arkansas before his family moved to Chicago. He befriended the son of Muddy Waters and would often see Muddy practicing in his house. He started to play guitar and eventually came work with Howlin' Wolf and Freddie King. He released a number of albums over the years before dying too young in 1997 due to cancer. Here he is with that raw Luther Allison energy on his first LP, Love Me Mama, in 1969.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Hk6T1qJCaA

After Midnight/Eleanor Rigby/After Midnight by The Jerry Garcia Band (1980)

On what would have been the 75th birthday of a man who was never destined to be 75 years old, I ask for your indulgence for a 23-minute piece of music. It's probably about as masterful as any music the Jerry Garcia Band ever created in my humble opinion.

So here is Jerry's take on a J.J. Cale composition with a Lennon/McCartney instrumental interpretation worked in. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL0x-o_LQuI&feature=youtu.be