Unzip password: tdats
Welcome to volume 161, a collection of tracks to percolate through the mind far longer than usual*, the third time I have done this, since v122 (link) and v145 (link).
We have 9 tracks from 8 new acts to TDATS, plus the welcome return of a band that first featured in the communist Germany volume 146, Lift.
As usual this covers the range of obscure heavy ‘70s psych, blues, hard rock and prog that I know listeners have become acquainted with over the years of this place, on this occasion, courtesy of acts from The UK, Germany, Italy, Australia, The USA and The Netherlands.
*these are genuine 8 minute+ tracks, certified 100% drum solo-free
*these are genuine 8 minute+ tracks, certified 100% drum solo-free
TRACKS
01. Michael Fennelly - Sweet Pain (1975)
01. Michael Fennelly - Sweet Pain (1975)
from album Stranger's Bed
02. Mr. Grabstein - Smoke (1975)
from album Psychedelic Gems 3
03. Tymepiece - Shake Off (1971)
from album Sweet Release
04. Catapult - Midsummer Switch (1974)
from album Catapult
05. J.E.T. - Fede, Speranza, Carita (1972)
from album Fede Speranza Carità
02. Mr. Grabstein - Smoke (1975)
from album Psychedelic Gems 3
03. Tymepiece - Shake Off (1971)
from album Sweet Release
04. Catapult - Midsummer Switch (1974)
from album Catapult
05. J.E.T. - Fede, Speranza, Carita (1972)
from album Fede Speranza Carità
06. Hurricane Express - Death Watch (1978)
from album Early Warning
07. Cockney Pride - Mess To The world (1978)
from album IJmond Poparchief Volume 2
08. Lift - Tagesreise (1979)
from album Meeresfahrt
09. Reg King - Savannah (1971)
from album Reg King
from album Early Warning
07. Cockney Pride - Mess To The world (1978)
from album IJmond Poparchief Volume 2
08. Lift - Tagesreise (1979)
from album Meeresfahrt
09. Reg King - Savannah (1971)
from album Reg King
album: Stranger's Bed
Michael was the frontman / guitarist of Los Angeles’ Crabby Appleton, a band that is yet to appear here in TDATS. He made a solo album in 1975 including this slow-burning blues monster with evil guitar tone. The album heads in the more polished, mainstream direction that some blues rock was going in the later-70s but it has some other good tracks, and Michael’s killer guitar sound throughout. Fennelly interview at ItsPsychedelicBaby.
album: Psychedelic Gems 3
According to the blurb in the comp that this track is taken from, Mr. Grabstein was an upcoming band of experienced musicians in the Saarland area of Germany, at times featuring members of GÄA (vol82). As far as I can tell this is the only recording of theirs that has been heard, even though they existed for a few years and recorded material for a studio album, which remains unheard. A shame, considering how good ‘Smoke’ is!
album: Sweet Release
Tymepiece was an evolution of New South Wales (Australia) act The Black Diamonds. I remember being impressed by this (rare for the 1960s) promo video for Black Diamonds when someone posted it in the TDATS facebook group (link) many years ago.
Tymepiece’s studio album, ‘Sweet Release’, is a good listen. A diverse record covering heavy psych leaning towards progressive rock, and country rock, all to a high standard that I can easily recommend.
album: Catapult
Catapult was a Dutch band that made one album in 1974, where this track is from. They seem to have had more success after that by only making singles throughout the 1970s, which was a common thing for Dutch bands as you’ve probably read me commenting on before (see my interview with Blue Planet’s Art Bausch). If you like Neil Merryweather’s Space Ranger-era albums (see v68) then I think you’ll like Catapult too, they share a similar approach to theatrical heavy glam, the kind that would suit a flamboyant ‘70s musical, with a side-order of heavy prog and space rock. A heady combination indeed!
album: Fede Speranza Carità
J.E.T. was an Italian prog band, making exactly the kind of stuff that we love at TDATS, it’s about time they appeared here!
This is what the essential site italianprog.com (link) has to say about them:
“Their name is very popular among Italian music collectors because from their ashes came the commercial pop group Matia Bazar, and also among prog collectors because of their LP rarity.
Jet (or J.E.T. as their name was usually written) were formed in Genova at the beginning of the 70's from a previous band of the same name that also included later members of another pop band, Ricchi e Poveri. The group made their debut in 1971 at the radio contest "Un disco per l'estate" with their first single 'Vivere in Te', and two other singles a year later, 'Non la Posso Perdonare' and 'Il Segno Della Pace', were still in a melodic pop style.
In 1974 the band added a female voice (Antonella Ruggiero) and a new drummer (Giancarlo Golzi from Museo Rosenbach) changing name to Matia Bazar and starting a very long and successful career that, through many line-up changes, lasted up to the present.”
album: Early Warning
Here's a killer cut from a Wisconsin private press album. The whole album is worth a listen with lots of stand-out tracks, some more metallic than this blues rock workout. Here is what drummer Coop Philips wrote on his personal website:
“Hurricane Express was formed by Jerry Unger and Coop Philips in 1977. The band recorded at Shadetree Studios at the playboy club in Lake Geneva Wisconsin releasing the classic rock album "Early Warning" in 1978.
The band toured the midwest and was known for no holds barred rock and roll and for hosting large multi-band events at venues including the Electric Ballroom in Milwaukee and for annually rocking Summerfest.
Hurricane Express origins stemmed from bands that teamed Jerry and guitar brother Bill "Big Daddy" Unger with Coop Philips in Zanders Guitar brothers and had already cemented the boy’s following throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest. Additional band members included John Steffens (bass and vocals on Early Warning album), Tom Jackson, Rick Holmes, Ralph Cybella, and Dave Unger (guitar) who was the third accomplished Unger guitar brother.”
(Milwaukee's Summerfest established 1968 is still going strong, running three weekends in a row every year! wiki)
(Milwaukee's Summerfest established 1968 is still going strong, running three weekends in a row every year! wiki)
Cockney Pride - Mess To The world (1978)
album: IJmond Poparchief Volume 2
Henk de Jonge (link), super-fan of classic Dutch blues rockers Bintangs, wrote this about the very obscure Dutch act ‘Cockney Pride’:
“Bintangs-related, of course, because Jan Wijte, guitarist/composer and former Bintang, played a leading role in this band. In 2015, he was the opening act for the Bintangs' Blues on the Ceiling Project and was also a member of that band. A unique song with a rather insignificant video. The band performed at a unique concert at De Slof in Beverwijk, where both the Bintangs, Kraaijeveld, and Cockney Pride were playing at the time. Remarkable. Equally remarkable is this recording, which was once released on cassette tape. Recorded on mobile in Beverwijk. Enjoy Jan Wijte's brilliance on guitar!”
album: Meeresfahrt
This is an excerpt from the GDR volume of TDATS (link) where Lift first appeared here:
Lift arose from the 'Dresden-Septett' and gave their debut concert on January 28, 1973 in Dresden. In the early days, the personnel carousel turned very quickly. In 1973 after Wolfgang Scheffler's departure, Franz Bartzsch joined on keyboards, and Stephan Trepte as singer. Bartzsch's affiliation was short-lived and he left the group after only a year and a half to go to Veronika Fischer's Band. Wolfgang Scheffler then returned.
Werther Lohse, who is still the only remaining member from the early days, joined Lift in 1974, while guitarist Jürgen Heinrich and singer Christiane Ufholz left. Trepte then left in '76 and formed Reform. Henry Pacholski replaced him. During Scheffler's time in the army from May '75 to 1976, Michael Hausdorf and Peter Sandkaulen (guitar) came in for him first and Michael Heubach for Hausdorf from October '75, during which time the guitarist left and Scheffler, together with Pacholski, rejoined the band from October '76. Lift played recently in 2022, you can read a review of that at ostmusik (link). Some more biography can be read at ostbeat (link), deutsche-mugge (link) and ostmusik (link).
Werther Lohse, who is still the only remaining member from the early days, joined Lift in 1974, while guitarist Jürgen Heinrich and singer Christiane Ufholz left. Trepte then left in '76 and formed Reform. Henry Pacholski replaced him. During Scheffler's time in the army from May '75 to 1976, Michael Hausdorf and Peter Sandkaulen (guitar) came in for him first and Michael Heubach for Hausdorf from October '75, during which time the guitarist left and Scheffler, together with Pacholski, rejoined the band from October '76. Lift played recently in 2022, you can read a review of that at ostmusik (link). Some more biography can be read at ostbeat (link), deutsche-mugge (link) and ostmusik (link).
album: Reg King
Reg King was a multi-instrumentalist and writer who cut his teeth in ’60s acts The Action and The Boys. His main career continued behind the scenes in writing and production etc, including working with TDATS name Blossom Toes (see vol20). As is often the case with industry pros like this, if they happened to make a solo record, you can bet the supporting musicians were going to be good.
On this absolute barn-stormer, ‘Savannah’, we have no less than Brian Auger on keys, Brian Belshaw of Blossom Toes on bass, Barry Jenkins (Eric Burdon’s Animals, Heavy Jelly) on drums, Mick Taylor (The Stones) on guitar and Joe Jammer on guitar (who by pure coincidence was on the previous TDATS: v160!).
----------------------------------------------------------------------
If you liked this please explore this site further, with 160+ similarly researched collections, articles and interviews. My social links are below, I also have a youtube channel (link).
Thanks for reading, until next time, a merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!
Rich
Thanks for reading, until next time, a merry Christmas and a happy new year to all!
Rich
Further listening:
The Day After The Sabbath 122: Sonata in Z [long tracks #1]
The Day After The Sabbath 145: Come All Ye Faceless [Long Trips #2]
The Day After The Sabbath 62: The DooM That Time Reprised [first Doom special]
Share with:
