Unzip password: tdats
Crank is partly the reason this blog exists. I first heard it last year after Ogmonster and Kismeth posted it on www.stonerrock.com. I was so impressed ('Don't Push Me Away' is a stand-out) I was inspired to make my own compilations, evolving into this blog.
It rekindled a woefully neglected interest in obscure rock that I developed some years earlier, after finding uploads by 'ChrisGoesRock'. He ripped a huge rare rock vinyl collection and shared it with the world in the early 2000's when torrent sites were just emerging, introducing me to amazing albums by bands like Sir Lord Baltimore, Bang, Captain Beyond and Leaf Hound. I made a bunch of tape compilations for myself and friends, the rest is history as they say.
It's the b-side of a split LP, featuring the bands 'Thump Theater' and 'Crank'. It's not clear when it was recorded (69-71 approx) or what became of the bands.
Here's a description I have found on a few mail-order sites:As for Crank's music, it's consistently heavy, tightly played energetic hard blusey rock, packed with sharp riffs. Owing a debt to Led Zep no doubt, but with it's own brand of aggression it stands on it's own merit as the sound of a young and extremely talented band that could have gone on greater success. The final track regresses slightly in to standard blues-rock, but this is eminently forgivable, acknowledging the influences this music emerged from. This really deserves to be on here, so ENJOY!
"Heavy-rock with progressive touch, split lp unearthed by the rockadelic label featuring ultra-rare underground 70s hard rock sounds (c. 1971) with one side by each band. these tapes came from the cavern sound studios (stoned circus, bulbous creation, phantasia, trizo 50); the crank tape had ‘zep jr.’ written on the box, which is pretty accurate frame of reference. Thump Theater offers a more progressive rock sound with some good guitar breaks and catchy lyrics. last copies from a long gone edition from 1997 of around 600 copies."
Tracks:
01. Let Go
02. Give You My Love
03. Want You Back
04. Don't Push Me Away
05. N F T B
Cheers, Rich
fucken awesome Rich.
ReplyDeletegoddamn if 'Don't Push Me Away' isn't the total shit. song of the bloody year!!!
thanks for helping to keep real music alive bro...
"Give You My Love" is really killer stuff.
ReplyDeleteThanks guys, glad you dig it. I think all the tracks are ace, with a dip on the last one, not that it's terrible, it's just standard blues and nowhere near as rocking as the others. I'd love to hear a full album from these guys, alas it will never be :(
ReplyDeleteI just ordered it on vinyl, I'll reproduce what the liner notes say if there's anything of interest there...
ReplyDeleteCheers for this one, Rich! Been wanting to hear this for quite some time. Where'd you pick up a vinyl copy?
ReplyDeleteAWESOME STUFF
ReplyDeleteCheers guys! Crotch, I bought the lp at www.nasoni-records.com
ReplyDeleteHi folks, any chance of a post of the Thump Theater side?
ReplyDeleteWas Crank based in Washington DC? I think I remember them.
ReplyDeleteI saw a Crank in Washington DC!!!! I've been looking for them. I was just visiting from Michigan and always wondered about them
ReplyDeleteI heard a Crank in Washington DC when visiting from Michigan in the 60's. Always wanted to hear them again.
ReplyDeleteI saw a Crank in Washington DC!!!! I've been looking for them. I was just visiting from Michigan and always wondered about them
ReplyDeleteThe band Crank that was based in the Washington D.C. area was an amazing band. This thread may not be referring to the same band. Many many people have wondered why they never went national. They were certainly good enough. The guitarist, Geoff Richardson, was one of only two musicians in my life to give me chills when seeing them play. Their bass player, Johnny Castle, is still playing music professionally, and is highly regarded. Seeing the band was an experience that will not be forgotten. My first experiences seeing them was at a club in Georgetown called The Emergency. No alcohol allowed, so anyone could partake in the experience of seeing first rate bands like Crank, Grin, Claude Jones, etc.
DeleteThanks. I don't thihnk Johnny Castle's band is the same band. In fact, I don't think Crank is the real name of this band....the tapes were found without a name so we might never know who this really is unlezs they or someone else who knows come forward
DeleteI don’t think the band heard here is the same band at all. I saw Crank 3-4 times in D.C. and Virginia: State theater, Falls Church Civic Center, and Emergency, a Georgetown club. Also saw them in a club in downtown D.C., 1972 or 1973. In the first show (late 1970) they were a power trio with a tenor sax man as the 4th member. The songs were interesting and very good. For you musicians, the rig lineup was: Les Paul thru a Marshall with a 4x12. Bass: Telecaster bass through a Sunn Colosseum and 2 cabinets. The bass sound was very powerful, similar perhaps to Entwistle’s live Sunn rig. They appeared to have their own P.A. I would recognize their music again.
ReplyDeleteYup, same band. Saw them many times in DC summer 70/71 - Ft. Reno and P Street Beach "Summer in the Parks" free concerts, Emergency, etc. Crank, Grin and Claude Jones were the kings of cool for DC those years. Johnny Castle is one and the same, still playing, many years with the Night Hawks, Bill Kirchen.
ReplyDelete