Then She Remembers by The Dream Syndicate (1982)

There have been a lot of "A-Ha" moments for me while writing up this blog. This morning when I was starting these few sentences about an excellent effort from a British post punk band, I found out that the band was actually from Los Angeles. Whoops! And the bandleader was Steve Wynn, but not the disgraced casino mogul, a different one. So, without further adieu, here is one of LA's finest post-punk bands, The Dream Syndicate, with a track off of their debut LP, The Days of Wine and Roses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYsHgl9GyH0

Death Penalty by Witchfinder General (1982)

Okay, so now for a NWOBHM band with a hint of doom metal that covers lyrical material typical of Black Sabbath. Witchfinder General, named after the 1968 horror movie starring Vincent Price, released a couple of albums in the early 80's before calling it quits. Here they are with the title track from their debut release.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RArbVNxSY3g&feature=youtu.be

I Feel Bad by Pure Hell (1978)

Pure Hell is pure power. It's a shame that this Philly-based punk group only managed to get one single released during their original existence. Thankfully, more music was finally released in 2006. Here is a particularly powerful track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9N26sXv8II&feature=youtu.be

Il Geghegè by Rita Pavone (1966)

And now for something completely different...Recently, I was buying a pretty standard record collection off of person in my town. Among the Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Molly Hatchet, and Lionel Richie LPs, I found only one that I had not heard of. It was an album from Italian singer Rita Pavone. While her style changed over the years, this early chanson stuff is great(if you're into that kind of thing). Here is a totally 60's "live" performance of this tune.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGrgquI8OVg

It's You by The Milkshakes (1982)

The Milkshakes, aka "Thee Milkshakes", aka "Mickey and the Milkshakes", were a British garage band in the early 80s. This was probably before it was cool to be garage as post punk, new wave, and the rise of metal were dominating the music scene. Looking back, though, their stuff seems pretty authentic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ggP7lkJ6Hwc

Mizrab by Gabor Szabo (1972)

And now for some Hungarian jazz guitar from one of the masters. Here is a nice mood piece that Gabor developed over the years from a short track into this longer track from 1972.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJaAZ4z0_v4

Let It Loose by Savage (1983)

English metal pioneers, Savage,. formed in 1976, but it wouldn't be until 1983 before they would be able to release a proper album, Loose 'n Lethal. The music sounds a lot like a transitional album from NWOBHM and the speed metal genre that was starting to gain ground. Today's featured track was later covered by Metallica, so that says something. Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EArym9WpfCo&feature=youtu.be

Goo Goo Wah Wah by Wah Wah Watson (1976)

Born in Virginia as Melvin Regin, Wah Wah Watson became an accomplished session guitarist known for his heavy use of what guitar effect?? Well, that was an easy one, the wah wah pedal, of course. Wah Wah played on recording sessions for the likes of the Temptations, the Jackson 5, the Four Tops, Herbie Hancock, and the Supremes, among many others. Here he is off of his one and only solo LP, Elementary. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlkmihvsW1A

Stretch by Maximum Joy (1981)

The post punk years of rock n roll were a wonderful time. After the excess and indulgence of the mid-70's rock scene and the punk revolution that followed, there was a move back to eclecticism with the reintroduction of horns and strings combined with synths, guitar, and bass to create this short-lived sound. While there were some bigger bands, most of the post punk sound were from less famous, short-lived bands who captured the zeitgeist of the movement. Here is one such band from Bristol, England with their first single.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQbOKO8Mmck

Touch of Red by Bent Wind (1969)

And now for some moody psych with Toronto rockers, Bent Wind, from their debut LP, Sussex.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoYDAEc4qD0

Crazy Crazy Mama by Roky Erickson (1986)

Roky Erickson, after having led garage/psych rockers, the 13th Floor Elevators, went on to have a long career forming many bands throughout the 70's and 80's. He also released a lot of solo work. Here he is from 1986 with an absolute scorcher.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeSPc-n5GYw

Cruise Control by Dixie Dregs (1977)

The Wikipedia page for the Dixie Dregs state that their sound combines hard rock, southern rock, progressive metal, and classical music. To me, it just sounds like fusion with some fiddle thrown in. You decide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fD9j0VfX7QU

Warlord by Rog & Pip (1971)

Guitarists Roger Lomas and Pip Whitcher continued their partnership even after their legendary garage rock band, The Sorrows, began to fizzle out in the late 60's. Here they are from 1971 with a much heavier sound.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7mrsvZs50U

Gypsy Lady by Mike London and the Englishmen (1966)

Alright, time for some garage rock from the peak year for the genre, 1966. Mike London and the Englishmen were from, you guessed it, North Carolina. Here they are with a cool track.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cmd1H4k6Rws

Angela by Mötley Crüe (1991)

The family and I just finished watching(re-watching in my case) the American version of the Office(2004-2013). In the last episode, two of the characters, Dwight and Angela, get married and dance to some old Mötley Crüe song called "Angela" that I'd never heard before. And it had that great 80's glam metal sound. So, in honor of one of the great television love stories, enjoy this lost classic on Valentine's Day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku1BCPqzu0M&feature=youtu.be

Sea-Horse by Freedom's Children (1971)

And now for some spirited heavy psych from South Africa. Freedom's Children released three albums between 1969 and 1971. Today's track is the first song off of their last release, Galactic Vibes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2JqJEwTtko

Teenage Time Killer by Rudimentary Peni (1981)

Here is some punk from a post punk age. Listen carefully or you miss the whole song!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PX2IR8Ox5-0&feature=youtu.be

I Can't Judge Nobody by Smokey Smothers (1961)

Like many bluesman, Big Smokey Smothers was born in the south(Mississippi) and made his way to Chicago. There, Smokey developed his chops playing with Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and many other greats, including a young Freddie King who played on this record.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR-r-BDZZAE

Clown On A Rope by Fresh Blueberry Pancake (1970)

And now for some heavy psych out of Pittsburgh. The original non-label release consisted of 54 vinyl copies. If you have one of those, enjoy your retirement...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-9qs2KACJQ

I Want To Be A Yank by Cardboard Brains (1977)

And now for some original Toronto punk with Cardboard Brains...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSZssnbAZb0&feature=youtu.be

Machine Gun by Commodores (1974)

Long before Lionel Richie's kids were reality stars, before Lionel made some awful MOR songs in the 80's, before Lionel's disco era Commodores, the funk based version of the band that had been together since the late 60's were making great music. Here is Lionel and his band with the funky self-titled track off of their 1974 debut album, Machine Gun. For you Beastie Boys fans out there, listen to the Hey Ladies sampled riff from the latter part of this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ho_Od3o9OLg

Somebody's Been Sleeping by 100 Proof Aged in Soul (1969)

About ten years ago, I was gifted a satellite radio for Christmas and I immediately fell in love with the medium. Every day, I was discovering new(to me) music. That kept up for quite a while. Over time, however, the breadth and depth of my musical taste both widened and deepened. At the same time, satellite radio hasn't changed that much. For example, there still isn't a channel dedicated to punk rock!

As a result, the musical discoveries on satellite radio are fewer and farther between. That said, it stuck out to me yesterday, when I discovered this soul track while out driving around. So, here is 100 Proof Aged in Soul off of their first album.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_QkrzaxR0Q

Honky Tonk by Bill Doggett (1956)

Listen to this instrumental track from Philadelphia born R&B pianist Bill Doggett and its hard to imagine that this charted on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In fact it spent three weeks at #2. It was also the biggest rhythm and blues hit of the year with thirteen consecutive weeks at in the #1 position. Times have changed, but this track is still smooth as ever...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vqFrt3ZuwY

Popgun by Mary Monday (1977)

I just discovered this San Francisco punk singer(by way of Vancouver). This is the flip side to her debut single, I Gave My Punk Jacket to Rickie. Apparently, Mary didn't have a long life. For more information on her short career check out this description from HoZac Records.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu7tIPeAK9c&feature=youtu.be

No Time For Last Goodbyes by The Lindholm Brothers (1976)

For a mid-70's Chicago band that knew how to rock, the Lindholm Brothers made some strange choices in my humble opinion. The band name is lame enough, but the A-Side of their first(and only) single was titled "We Are Brothers". Okay, we get it. At least the B-side was awesome and it is featured here today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_91VvB6jDjw&feature=youtu.be

Got It Together by The Chuck Rainey Coalition (1972)

I imagine that Don Fagen must have listened to this 1972 solo album by bassist Chuck Rainey as he was deciding who might provide some bass tracks for Steely Dan's third album, Pretzel Logic. Because, shortly thereafter, Chuck Rainey was brought onboard to help with that album. Fagen must have liked Chuck's contributions, as he would play on four more Steely Dan albums. Chuck was also a session man for dozens of other popular artists. Here he is from his first album as a bandleader.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM91-tzRVgU&feature=youtu.be

Space Beam by McDonald and Sherby (1974)

And now for some "late to the era" psych/prog work from a Minneapolis-based Christian duo with an instrumental track from their one and only LP, Catharsis.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj6fipqB2MM

By My Side by The Elois (1967)

Alright, to kick off your February, here is some little known Australian freakbeat...

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