Thursday, June 30, 2011

Riff Raff - Outside Looking In (uk 1999) (originally recorded in 1972)

Riff Raff - Outside Looking in (uk 1999)
(originally recorded in 1972)

Formed: 1972, United Kingdom

Members:
* Tommy Eyre (keyboards, Hammond organ, acoustic guitar),
* Alan Marshall (vocals),
* Roger Sutton (bass guitar, acoustic guitar, vocals),
* Rod Coombes (drums, percussion, acoustic guitar),
* Joe Czarnecki aka Joe Peters (2nd drums),
* Martin Ball (guitar),
* Richie Dalton (saxophones),
* Pete Kirtley (guitar 8 to 11),
* Kenny Slade (drums 8 to 11),
* Aurero De Souza (drums 8 to 11).

Related Artists: Mark-Almond, Nucleus, Blue Whale

Genres: Progressive Rock

Albums:
- Riff Raff (RCA SF 8351) 1973 (reissued on CD by Disconforme, DISC 1952 CD, 1999)
- Original Man (RCA LPLI 5023) 1974 (reissued on CD by Disconforme, DISC 1953 CD, 1999)
- Outside Looking In (never released before 1999; CD by Disconforme, DISC 1951 CD, 1999)
45:
- Copper Kettle/You Must Be Joking (RCA RCA 2396) 1973

Tracklist:
01. Outside Looking In – 9:17
02. The Blind Man – 8:18
03. Bach B. Minor Prelude – 2:58
04. Feeling Paranoic – 0:43
05. Buthelezi – 3:42
06. So You Want to Be Free – 10:56
07. Changes – 3:25
Bonus Tracks:
08. Child of the Summer – 6:02
09. For Every Dog – 4:08
10. Morning – 5:59
11. The Garden – 6:59

Riff Raff was a UK progressive rock band formed by keyboardist Tommy Eyre in 1972.The band was a continuation on the back of drummers (and Harrow School of Art friends) Rod Coombes (Juicy Lucy Strawbs and Stealers Wheel) and Joe Czarnecki's (Plainsmen) aka Joe Peter's project originally called 'Crikey' started in 1969 and completed in 1970 when Rod had to accept growing tour commitments with Juicy Lucy.These sessions comprise half of the Riff Raff album 'Outside Looking In' in which Rod wrote half the songs.Rod says that "the concept of the band was based around two drummers and afro-jazz (Rod and Joe were great fans of Ginger Baker and Miles Davis) and fusion(this album was one of the first true fusion albums to be recorded).I had worked with Roger with singer Paul Williams (Juicy Lucy)and Tommy previously and clearly we all enjoyed doing what we do best-playing freely".
Riff Raff later went on to release two albums to lukewarm response; however, their use of jazz and hard-edged rock garnered them a large underground following. Riff Raff also released the single "Copper Kettle". Although not typical of Riff Raff's repertoire, the band were unlucky not to get some chart coverage from the single.[citation needed]
NOTE: This band is not to be confused with a US rock band of the same name (Doug Lubahn: vocals, bass. Ned Liben: guitar. Werner Fritzsching: guitar. Mark Kaufman: drums) who released an album entitled Vinyl Futures (Atco SD-32-108) in 1981 (notable for having a Hipgnosis sleeve design). Also note, not to be confused with the Island recording artists "Riff Raff" 1978, Chris DeMarco, Ray Hennighan, Jimmy Lowell, Ned Liben, David Lanik.
 ~ From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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Riff Raff came together almost as a natural consequence of the member’s different paths crossing each others at times.
While the Eyre and Sutton pair where working with Mark-Almond progressive duet, they had the time to record an album with Alan Marshall (future Zzebra) and drummer Rod Coombes (future Strawbs), but Mark-Almond became successful in America, so their project (then-named Strabismus) got put on hold. There are also bonus tracks from a recording session of the future incarnation of Riff Raff, with Kirtley, De Souza (and second drummer Kenny Slade).
All tracks (including, bizarrely, the bonus tracks) are written by bassist Sutton and drummer Coombes self-produced, this album is much rockier than the next two Riff Raff albums, and the opening title track is certainly a lengthy energetic number, rather contrasting with its (also length) follow-up Blind Man with its choral middle-section (recorded in the Guilford cathedral).
The Bach piece is much in the line of Blind Man. The side ends with an ultra-short Paranoia (musically-linked to the previous track). Since this album never came out under the vinyl format, it is relatively hard to tell which track would’ve been on which side since Buthelezi is also linked to Paranoiac (and therefore to the Bach piece), but it quickly develops into a drum solo. So far, this unreleased album has reserved us a few surprises, being much more classically-influenced than the next two Riff Raff albums. A bluesier (almost 11-min) To Be Free is certainly still enjoyable.
As for the bonus tracks supposed to be making the link from this unreleased album to the next one, not much is specified as to when the sessions took place, who was still in the group (three drummers for the whole album and two for the bonus tracks). “Child of the summer” is a very nice jazz-laced with soul vocals really announcing the eponymous album and is a small gem, Morning being a bit soul-folk-like, but allowing for instrumental interplay (a good flute-guitar duet), while the 7-min The Garden is a reflective piece offering peaceful ballad-like ambiances.
This “debut” album is rather different-sounding to the classic Riff Raff and is more for the hardcore fans, but still offers a few interesting moments. The bonus tracks are of a bit more interest as they really represent the Riff Raff genesis.
 ~ (Review from progarchives.com).

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...and also...

http://www.multiupload.com/8ZJ2G4JB7K
Riff Raff - Outside Looking In (uk 1999) (originally recorded in 1972).rar (116.64 MB)
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Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Farm - Farm (us 1971)

Farm - Farm (us 1971, Crusade Enterprises LPS-465)

Formed: 1969,    Mt. Vernon, IL, United States
Disbanded: 1973 // 

Members:
* Del Herbert (lead guitar),
* Gary Gordon (vocals, guitar, bottleneck guitar),
* Jim Elwyn (vocals, bass),
* Steve Evanchik (percussion, harmonica),
* Roger Greenwalt (keyboards),
* Mike Young (drums).

ALBUMS:
1 FARM (Crusade Enterprises LPS-465) 1971 R2
NB: (1) reissued as a 10" LP (Akarma AK2012) 2000.  

Tracks:
01. Jungle Song (instrumental)- 7:45
02. Let That Boy Boogie - 7:13
03. Sunshine In My Window  - 3:47
04. Cottonfield Woman  - 3:57
05. Statesboro Blues - 3:24

Farm was a late '60s band from Southern Illinois, whose bluesy, country rock style was very similar of that of The Allman Brothers, and Canned Heat. In fact, Farm did an excellent version of the The Allman Brothers' "Statesboro Blues", which is featured on their first and only album, and opened for some big name acts of the day such as Canned Heat. Farm so impressed Canned Heat's  manager at the time, he offered to represent them, but the band turned him down.
Sadly, Farm disbanded about a year after their debut album was released.
 ~ by RYM.
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Recorded at Golden Voice Recording Studios in South Pekin, Illinois and released on a small record label from Flora, Illinois, this Farm released a very obscure and rare album of heavy garage psych with fuzz guitars, congas, mouth harp, organ, bottleneck and timbales. The album contains five tracks including Jungle Song, Let That Boy Boogie and Sunshine In My Window.
They thank a certain George Leeman as their friend and spiritual guide.            
 ~ (Stephane Rebeschini) / Fuzz, Acid & Flowers
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The line up consisted of bassist Jim Elwyn, percussionist Steve Evanchik, singer/guitarist Gary Gordon, keyboard player  Roger Greenwalt, guitarist Del Herbert and drummer Mike Young.  I also know that their 1971 debut "Farm" was recorded at Golden Voice Studios in South Perkin, Illinois and was limited to a 500 copy pressing.  Featuring largely original material, the set's fairly varied.  The opening instrumental 'Jungle Song' and 'Sunshine In My Window' are both strong guitar-propelled numbers that sound heavily influenced by both The Allman Brothers and Santana.  Elsewhere, 'Cottonfield Woman' was a nice slice of blues-rock, while as you'd probably expect from the title 'Let the Boy Boogie' and a cover of 'Statesboro Blues' were okay slices of boogie. 
(Quoting from the liner notes - "Many thanks to George Leeman, our friend and spiritual guide"
- anyone know who Leeman is?)
 ~ Internet source.

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Farm - Farm (us 1971).rar (39.48 MB)
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Sunday, June 12, 2011

V.A. - Freakout U.S.A. (1967)

V.A. - Freakout U.S.A. (1967, Tower T-5901, Mono)

Tracks:
Side 1
A1. Freakout U.S.A. - The Aftermath (M. Curb)
A2. Psychotic Reaction - The Hands of Time (Ellner, Chaney, Atkison, Byrne, Michalski)
A3.Yellow Pill - Mom's Boys (Beckner, Hector, Martin, McClain, Wibier)
A4. Poisons in My Body - International Theatre Foundation (M. Cohen)
A5. I'm Losing It - The Glass Family (Parrett, Lamont)

Side 2
B1. Up and Down - Mom's Boys (Beckner, Hector, Martin, McClain, Wibier)
B2. Season of the Witch - The Mugwumps (Donovan)
B3. Number 1 Lover - Everybody's Children (J. Capps, M. Jay)
B4. Don't Try to Crawl Back - Jesters (Pittman, Fredrickson Jr.)
B5. I Like the Way You Freakout - The Hands of Time (H. Hatcher)

This is one of the better cash-in artifacts of the mid-60s teenquake. Released on the same label that produced soundtracks to American International Pictures biker flicks like The Wild Angels (on which The Hands of Time also appear), and featuring a title track written by an eventual California lieutenant governor. The Aftermath's segues from Standells' styled garage-punk to Jan & Dean sunshine harmonies and back are particularly winning. The Zappa-esque jazz freakout "Poisons in My Body" could be a serious bummer if your trip's not going well, but the fuzz guitar "I'm Losing It" will reel you back in.
 ~ Internet source.

Download Links:
 
V.A. - Freakout U.S.A. (1967, Tower T-5901, Mono).rar (33.08 MB)
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Saturday, June 11, 2011

The Summer Sounds - Up Bown (us 1969)

The Summer Sounds - Up Down (us 1969)

Formed:  North Dartmouth, MA, United States

Tracks:
01. Small World - 2.49
02. Hard To Please - 3.55
03. Lonely Beach - 3.23
04. Gimme Some Lovin΄ - 2.58
05. One Last Kiss - 2.22
06. The Leaves Are Turning Brown - 4.20
07. Summer Girl - 4.22
08. I Love You - 3.42
09. First Date - 2.21
10. You Told Me - 2.42

Reviews:
"Mega rare album from the Dartmouth, Massachusetts fivepiece outfit which was released originally on the Laurel label (Laurel 331098) in 1969. Up-Down is an album of largely self-penned material (only 2 covers, one of which is a strong version of The Spencer Davis Group's hit, 'Gimme Some Lovin') with The Leaves Are Turning Brown, complete with cheesy psych organ and wonderful earnest vocals, is the stand out track. Up-Down is a beat-garage concept album detailing the highs and lows of a summer vacation romance, with, as you would expect, loads of moody teenage angst and lashings of self pity. The songs are all catchy, and there's a couple of good ballads. Mega rare album from the Dartmouth, Massachusetts five-piece outfit which was released originally on the Laurel label in 1969. Largely self-penned material (only 2 covers, one of which is a strong version of The Spencer Davis Group's hit, Gimme Some Lovin') with The Leaves Are Turning Brown, complete with cheesy psych organ and wonderfully-earnest vocals, is the stand out track. Up-Down is a beat-garage concept album detailing the highs and lows of a summer vocation romance, with, as you would expect, loads of moody teenage angst and lashings of self pity.First time that this album, with it's ultra-cool cover, has been reissued on CD.
~ by CGR.
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First off, let me underscore this is a copy of the mid-1990s 400 copy reissue.  It's expensive, but then an original copy will set you back $600 - $800.
These guys stands as another mid-1960s outfit that's been largely forgotten over the years. 
There certainly isn't a great deal of bibliographical data available on them.  A five piece (no surnames on the liner notes), they were apparently from Dartmouth, Massachusetts and got a recording contract as a result of having won a local talent contest.
Released in 1969 by the Laurel label, "Up-Down" must have already sounded hopelessly dated on its release.  Surrounded by a sea of acts pushing blues jams, psych meltdowns, and hard rock, these guys proudly stuck with a very retro sound.  Showcased lots of original, Farfisa-propelled ballads, to my untrained ears these hopelessly earnest performances sounded like something from the 1965-1966 timeframe rather than 1969.  Who knows, maybe they were going for a retro sound. 
Exemplified by tracks like 'Small World', 'Lonely Beach' and their cover of The Zombies 'I Love You' this was broken-hearted mid-1960s garage rock at its best.  Even the isolated up-tempo numbers such as their cover of The Spencer Davis Group's 'Gimme Some Lovin'', 'First Date', and the closer 'You Told Me' sounded like they'd been recorded with a broken heart, or at least under the effects of a codeine blanket.  Adding to the mystique, the album was apparently intended as a concept piece, most of the nine songs dealing with the subject of found-then-lost summer love - want to hear a heartbroken guy then check out the near suicidal 'Summer Girl'.  All told you wouldn't think this would be something to get all that excited about here.  The funny thing is this is a wonderful album.  The low tech, overly earnest feel was simply KILLER - I dare anyone to hear 'Hard To Please' or the organ-propelled 'The Leaves Are Turning Brown' (with a keyboard riff that will drill its way into your head and not let go) and not be won over.  Worth the asking price of an original?  I'll leave that decision up to each of you.
~ by RDTEN1 (RYM).

Download Links:
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The Summer Sounds - Up Bown (us 1969).rar (61.17 MB)
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Saturday, June 4, 2011

Nino Ferrer - Nino And Radiah (Fra 1974)

Nino Ferrer - Nino and Radiah (Fra 1974)

Born: August 15, 1934,    Genova, Liguria , Italy
Died: August 13, 1998 //    Montcuq, Midi-Pyrénées, France

Related Artists: Les Gottamou
Also Known As: Nino Agostino Arturo Maria Ferrari [birth name]

Genres:
Pop/Rock, Psychedelic Pop, French Pop, Chanson, Jazz-Rock

Members:
* Nino Ferrer - guitar & vocals
* Radiah Frye - vocals & sympathy
with:
* the American band ICE:
* Arthur Young & Ronnie James - trumpet
* Franck Abel - keyboards
* Larry Jones - electric guitar
* Lafayette Hudson - bass
* Danny Donath - drums
* Kino Speller - percussion

Tracks:
01. South (N. Ferrer) - 5:00**
02. Moses (N. Ferrer, D. Moses, R. Frye) - 4:45
03. Mint Julep (N. Ferrer, D. Moses, R. Frye) - 4:00
04. Hot Toddy (N. Ferrer, D. Moses, R. Frye) - 8:35
05. Vomitation (N. Ferrer, D. Moses, R. Frye) - 2:36
06. The Garden (N. Ferrer, D. Moses, R. Frye) - 4:20
07. Looking For You (N. Ferrer) - 5:47
08. New York (N. Ferrer) - 5:02
09. Le Sud (N. Ferrer) [Bonus Track] - 4:33***

**Track 01. members:
- Nino Ferrer - vocals
- Michel Bernholc - conducting & piano
- Claude Engel & Gérard Kawcsynski - guitars
- Christian Padovan - bass
- André Sitbon - drums
- Marc Chantereau - percussion

***Track 09.
- From: 537 732 - 2,  Barclay CD: Nino and Radiah et le Sud (1997)

A good album in English by an Italian-French artist. "South" was recorded in London Trident Studio with French and British musicians, all of the other song in Rueil (near Paris) with the group Gee and others. "Le Sud" is the French adaption of "South", and it has become a big hit in France, frequently heard on radios even now. Most of the album has a blues and progressive feeling, and a relaxed tone.
The (now) politically incorrect cover has been replaced on certain reissues by a view of a house in a garden ...
 ~ by chrismass61 (RYM).
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Taking into account Nino Ferrer's personal view of his discography, the album Nino and Radiah should be perceived as his third album (although chronologically this was in fact number seven). It followed the prog rock approach of 1971's Métronomie and the rock & roll leanings of the Mickey Finn collaboration Nino Ferrer & Leggs from 1973. The album is partly named after Afro-American singer Radiah Frye, and her pinup presence flanking Ferrer substantially upgraded the original album cover. Accompanied by the Lafayette Afro Rock Band (aka Ice), Ferrer set out on yet another shape-shifting exercise. Building on the groovy vibe of Métronomie, the album ultimately steers toward majestically orchestrated, laid-back funk. Entirely different from his earlier take on Southern soul, the result requires several listenings before it gently entangles your subconscious and reveals its addictive qualities. Reminiscent of the New Orleans-inspired funk of Little Feat and California singer/songwriters from the same era, it's perfect company for driving the French countryside or West Coast highways. It was recorded in November 1973 and sung in English with one exception. Ferrer's longtime accomplice Bernard Estardy rearranged the track "South," adding some widescreen organ touches. The resulting "Le Sud" had huge commercial appeal, much to the chagrin of Ferrer: he felt the artistic compromise of aiming at chart success had rendered everything else on the album pointless in a similar way to what had happened previously to Métronomie and its leadoff track, "La Maison Près de la Fontaine." However, the royalties did enable him to buy a 15th century fortress in the Quercy region, where he would retreat between albums and divide his time between his family and painting. "Le Sud"/"South" refers to a Louisiana-style mansion situated in Italy: a pleasant and idyllic place where the moody Ferrer seeks refuge from his dark side. Both versions serve as bookends to the album, which works best as a whole. Still, standout tracks are the funky "Mint Julep" (a relative of the Mojito cocktail) with its fuzzy guitar and the lengthy but mesmerizing "Hot Toddy." "The Garden" with its lazy organ and the bongo-laden "New York" sound fairly close to what the French band Air would build an entire career on. Remaining a relatively undiscovered gem, Nino and Radiah is in fact up there with classics like Melody Nelson and Polnareff's.
 ~ AMG.

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Nino Ferrer - Nino And Radiah Et Le Sud (Fra 1974).rar (98.86 MB)
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