Illusion by White Witch (1972)

Today's song of the day is another entry into the category of early 70's Southern rock bands who didn't make "Southern" rock.  Here is the short-lived and rather collectible, White Witch. This Tampa band was primarily known for their kitschy, yet controversial, song called "It's So Nice to be Stoned". However, they made some good music on the rest of the debut album that is largely forgotten. One of the good things about this band, I think, is there use of the Moog synthesizer in a good way.

Here is one of their trippier tunes, Illusion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5S4p1ty0Ls

Levee Blues by Potliquor (1971)

Potliquor was a Baton Rouge-based hard rock band from the early 70's who did not manage to sound like "Southern Rock". They actually had quite a following in the Southeast, without ever expanding their popularity to a wider region. That makes it all the more humorous that ZZ Top, Aerosmith, and Billy Joel all opened for them at one point when touring in the South.

Check out this bluesy number, Levee Blues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6ena5GRUY4

Too Much Wine by Dirty Tricks (1975)

Dirty Tricks was a British hard rock band that came of age about 3 years too late. By the time they started to mature, the rock world had turned to punk for anything new and exciting. (Also, that boring album cover couldn't have helped). By the late 70's, Dirty Tricks would call it quits.

But thanks to the passage of time and accessibility afforded by the Internet, this band can be enjoyed alongside the hard rockers that preceded it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRXu8VaJvOY

Smokey Feeling by The Organization (1974)

While Barbados' own Organization could certainly drop the beat and play some reggae, they became much more well known for when they would dial up the funk. You wouldn't have heard this juicy stuff at most West Indian clubs in the 70's.

Enjoy this instrumental funky jam.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q6lvk-T9c0

Brainticket, Pt. 1 by Brainticket (1971)

Brainticket was a Krautrock band that combined psychedelia and prog rock. They have managed regroup over the years to tour with various lineups, but the original incarnation of the band lasted from 1968 to 75.

Here is a rather indulgent track off of their debut 1971 album, Cottonwood Hill.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOw2U-XqWQQ

Mother Freedom by Bread (1971)

As a used record store crate digger and yard sale scavenger, Bread is often the bane of my existence on Saturday mornings. I mean there is a certain level of disappointment when you see a stack of vinyl at some garage sale only to see that it is filled with likes of Bread, Anne Murray, and Neil Diamond.

Bread had a string of "soft rock" hits in the 70's including "Baby, I'm a Want You" and "The Guitar Man", among others. I am not a fan. However, like many bands, there are some redeeming qualities if you choose to dig deep enough.

Here we have a single from 1971, a year before their first #1 Adult Contemporary hit. I'm not sure that I like this song on its own or if it was just really rockin' for a Bread song. You decide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRNe04kw3Cg

Whatcha Gonna Do About It by Small Faces (1965)

Man, I love the early Small Faces when they played straight ahead garage rock. I don't care for their pop rock work after Itchycoo Park in 1967(with a few notable exceptions-See Afterglow for one such exception).

But, here they are from a few years before with Whatcha Gonna Do About It.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_AVRGJr_7E