Mantra Rock Dance 1967

Wish I'd been there.

the Hollies

Little slice of history. The Hollies on Top of the Pops 1966
Just happens to be one of my favorite Hollies tunes.

The Fireballs

Here's a little sugar shack for you.
1963, the Fireballs.

Todd Rundgren- a Brief History

I've been accused of being the only Todd head in my generation, although I seriously doubt that, in all honesty I'm fine with it. I think he's a technical wizard (a true star if you will, hyuck!), a great song writer, and all around fascinating musician.

He started his career in Philadelphia forming Nazz, a psych pop outfit that took a lot of inspiration from British rock at the time. The Nazz took off with their hit "Open my Eyes". Moving out to Los Angeles they completed a second album, and a portion of the third before Todd left the group with plans of becoming a producer.





While signed as a Bearsville record producer he recorded some solo stuff under the name of Runt, which lo and behold had another hit single with "We Gotta Get You a Woman". So while he kept producing, it got put to the back burner and his song writing became the emphasis again, which I can't say I'm sorry for.



The two all encompassing Todd Rundgren albums are "Something/Anything" (1972), which features his songwriting chops, and "A Wizard, A True Star" (1973) which shows off his producer side.

Hopefully this will entice you to explore more of the Todd.

Skip Spence

Skip Spence, from the great Moby Grape, has had a pretty big hand in psychedelic music. Not only was he one of the founding members of Moby Grape, he was in one of the early lineups of Quicksilver Messenger Service, and he played drums on the first Jefferson Airplane record. Along with those he released a wonderful psych folk record, "Oar" 1969.

This album is a pretty good companion to "the Madcap Laughs". Spence recorded it after a long stint in the Bellevue Hospital for chopping down a hotel room door with an axe. Like Syd Barrett, Spence's work is primarily singer- song writer stuff with a strange spin. At times he uses unusual chord progressions, the production is dreamy, and he's lyrics seem to have a lot of double meaning.

Anyway, I really dig it. Hope you cats do to.

Syd Barrett- The Madcap Laughs

The Madcap Laughs 1970

I just recently got this album and have kind of fallen in love with it. A lot of it is kinda disjointed and strange, but thats what makes it great, otherwise it would be really simple. It's a reflection of what made Syd Barrett great, a mind for pop song writing that has fallen a bit off the normal axis. It's not dark and terrifying as it's reputation might imply.

It was recorded after Syd had left Pink Floyd, but was still in collaboration with Roger Waters and David Gillmore acting as part time producers. The album has a lot of great stuff on it, so I figured I'd share.

Bubble Puppy

Bubble Puppy in my opinion got kind of overshadowed by other texas psych groups at the time, i.e. 13th floor elevators or Fever Tree. They started in 1966, released "a Gathering of Promises", which had a top 20 hit with "Hot Smoke and Sassafrass" yet they never made it big. The album is really awesome psych pop and I wish more people were familiar with it. The band eventually moved to LA under the management of Nick St. Nicholas from Steppenwolf and changed their name to Demian, which may have contributed to the underwhelming success.

Pink Floyd

Everyone thinks Pink Floyd, and the image that comes to mind is a pack of stoners at a laser light show. While this is very true, it's kind of a shame. Floyd are such important musicians, with a lot to say in mind expansion not relating to drug use in any way. Everyone knows Darkside of the Moon and the Wall, but some of their early stuff I like even better.

So I'm throwing out some of the lesser known Floyd catalogue for your enjoyment.
My favorite stuff right now is off of 1971's "Meddle".





Gotta give it up for Syd Barrett era floyd as well.

Soft Machine

The power trio Soft Machine came on the scene in the late 60s, bringing to the world a fusion of psychedelia and jazz. Gotta say, it's something that may not grab you first listen through, but there is a lot to absorb, so don't dismiss what doesn't instantly gratify. They are categorized as part of the Canterbury Scene, which consists mainly of progressive psychedelic music.

Consider this, Hendrix had them booked as his opening act for his 1968 tour. I can't imagine a cooler opener for Jimi.

I really love this first track, "We Did it Again". It's waaaaayyy hypnotic.

Armageddon

Armageddon is an obscure super group from the 1970s. It was made up for Keith Relf from the Yardbirds, Martin Pugh of Steamhammer, Bobby Caldwell, and Louis Sennamo who played with Johnny Winter a bit. It's early heavy metal and it's a shame that Relf died of electrocution after release of the first and only album....

Armageddon (1975) Unfortunately the album went out of print and is kind of rare. But if you dig long enough through dusty crates you'll find it. I did.

Robin Trower

One small, white, British man who loves Hendrix! Hey, he may look goofy, but the dude is raw! He played in Procol Harum, which sounds nothing like is solo stuff, so we know he is a versatile man.

Here is some cool live stuff, mostly off of "Bridge of Sighs" (1974) and "For Earth Below" (1975).

Swamp Dogg

Swamp DO-double-G! The man that has been so underground yet so influential!

The album cover for "Rat On!" (above) was voted the ugliest album cover of all time, that is something to be proud of. Swamp Dogg has released albums some great albums, such as "Total Destruction to Your Mind", "Rat On!", "Gag a Maggot", "Have You Heard the Story", or "I'm Not Selling Out, I'm Buying In". With names like these you know it's not your typical R&B music.

I love swamp dogg for remaining himself and giving us so many awesome soul/psych albums. His lyrics are nonsensical sometimes, but often they are heartfelt and honest. So I gotta give it up for the man. He is completely underrated.

"Total Destruction to Your Mind" (1970) is probably my favorite of all his work, but there is a lot to love.

Buffalo Springfield

So the Moby Grape kick was balanced out with a steady flow of Buffalo Springfield, so I figured I'd post some of the songs I was listening to today. Of course, it's all for the sake of complimenting the other post... and furthering my obsessiveness. But hey, that's the kid.

Love this early Neil demo.










Kind of sad this is so over the top, but it' the smothers brothers...


And I'll leave you with Neil.

Moby Grape

"Listen my friends!" Moby Grape won't leave you ever.

I really love this band. They have amazing vocal harmonies and great guitar riffs. I think they are just as good as Buffalo Springfield but just had some bad managing and bad luck that prevented them from gaining more than a cult following. They performed at Monterey Pop yet their manager refused to let them be filmed without a ridiculous sum of money in exchange. So their performance is gone from the archives!!! But the music is still around and speaks for it's self.











Would you let me walk down your street, naked if I want to?

Brian Jonestown Massacre

Anyone that's seen Dig! will have a lot to say about the Brian Jonestown I'm sure, but regardless of your feelings about Anton Newcombe I think that the music he produced can stand separate from him. It's great psych revival pop and I for one am a fan. Way better than the Dandys.