BARRY MELTON - Bright Sun Is Shining [USA west coast rock 1970] 1992 Vanguard, fnac music 662128

Guitarist Barry Melton entered music in his teens, in San Francisco, as a member of the Instant Action Jug Band, which was where he met Country Joe McDonald, a singer and guitar player who was also putting out an underground newspaper called Rag Baby. The two worked together on some of McDonald's recordings in support of his political journal, and out of that linkup they decided to form a band -- the resulting group was christened Country Joe & the Fish. Melton's lead guitar -- a searing psychedelic assault on the strings -- was as essential a part of the group's three classic albums as McDonald's voice. Amid numerous personnel changes, especially after the third album, Together, Melton and McDonald formed the stable core of the band, which lasted into the late '60s. Melton held the group together after McDonald withdrew from full-time work with the group to get married, and he brought ex-Big Brother & the Holding Company members Peter Albin and David Getz aboard when they were left high and dry after Janis Joplin's split with the band. Working as Barry "The Fish" Melton, he continued as a solo act through the 1970s and into the 1980s, also fronting the Barry "The Fish" Melton Band.

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JESSE COLIN YOUNG - On The Road [USA rock 1976] 2008 Forever Young WPCR-75432 - Japan

On a series of solo albums, Jesse Colin Young had developed a strong musical rapport with a group of players including drummer Jeff Myer, keyboard player Scott Lawrence, and especially horn man Jim Rothermel, whose flute and soprano sax lines duetted with Young's tenor vocals. Adding David Hayes (one of several bassists who had appeared on his studio releases) and his wife Suzi on harmonies, Young produced this excellent live album, on which he mixed Youngbloods favorites ("Sunlight") with some of his better solo material ("Peace Song," a 12½-minute version of "Ridgetop") and some well-chosen covers (a medley of Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" and "Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)," Randy Newman's "Have You Seen My Baby") for a varied program that emphasized his eclectic talents.

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NICK GRAVENITES AND JOHN CIPOLLINA - Live In Athens At The Rodon [USA west coast rock blues 1987-88] 1991 Music Box International CD 40421.2

Nick Gravenites also worked extensively with John Cipollina after producing the first Quicksilver Messenger Service album. He and Cipollina formed the Nick Gravenites - John Cipollina Band, which toured across Europe. This album is an example.

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TERRY & THE PIRATES - Comanche Boots [USA west coast rock 2008] Acadia ACAM 8210

Comanche Boots containing some of the last known studio recordings in existence plus never before released tracks, demos and a live version of Jungle Love later to become a huge hit for The Steve Miller Band. Along with ex Quicksilver Messenger Service guitarist John Cipollina the Pirates on this set comprise of Nicky Hopkins and Lonnie Turner amongst others.

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