LOVIN' SPOONFUL - Live At The Hotel Seville [USA pop, psychedelic 1999] Varèse Sarabande 302 065 995 2

 

Like many reunited bands from the '60s, the 1999 incarnation of the Lovin' Spoonful doesn't include all their original members. In this case, they're missing their most prominent member, lead vocalist/songwriter John Sebastian. Without him, the group has a different character, and they realize that. Wisely, they've decided not to replicate their classic folk-pop sound of the '60s, choosing instead to emphasize their folky roots, which is evident from Live at the Hotel Seville. Recorded in 1999, the album is an amiable concert performance, finding the Sebastian-less group running through hits and album tracks, meaning that there's everything from "Do You Believe in Magic" to "Never Goin' Back" and "Jugband Music." It's not a bad record, and diehard fans in a nostalgic mood will probably be reasonably charmed by it. 

Spoonful rules ok

BURNIN' RAIN - Sound Spectrum [USA psychedelic rock 1993] Rockadelic Records RRLP 10.5

 

From open to exit "SOUND SPECTRUM" by The BURNING RAIN is full of great fuzz psych/garage recordings...The Burnin Rain brings the 60's in to full bloom with shimmering guitars and watery reverberated vocals that twist and turn in to a cascade of delightful, mystical visions of tomorrow. Pure 'Texadelia', a band that would not sound out of place on the legendary International Artist label... one hell of a fuzzed- guitar album. 

The band started with two long standing members Mike Pemberton and Erich Anderson. Inspired by a 45 rpm collection of Texas psychadelic records they discovered in local thrift stores.  Bands like the 'Bricks' , 'Mouse and the Traps','The Chessman' and the '13th Floor Elevators'. Mark Migliore, founder of (Rockadelic Records), and singer Jim Edgerton of the band 'The Other Side' joined up with The Burning Rain. Searching endless Dallas pawn shops they gathered up all the Vox Guitars, Organs and super Beatle amps they could get their hands on. Drummer Chris Gore came in to the fold and the line up was completed. The band quickly recorded five songs. Within a month, Migliore released their first single 45 rpm on Rockadelic; a fuzzed-out punk psyche number that became a classic for the Rockadelic label, "Sound Spectrum" delivering the bones of Texas psych greats such as "Golden Dawn"and The Thirteenth Floor Elevator.

Sound Spectrum

THE SHADOWS OF KNIGHT - Rock 'N' Roll Survivors [USA rock, garage 2008] Collectables COL-CD-8187

 

The Shadows of Knight were one of the quintessential American garage-rock bands of the 1960s, best known for their definitive version of the Van Morrison-penned “Gloria.” Like many of their contemporaries, they kept the rock-&-roll flame burning at an age when some bands might have retired, and ROCK N' ROLL SURVIVORS finds the 21st-century version of the Shadows still pumping out hard-driving, revved-up rock. The album features newly recorded versions of some old classics, included a fresh take on the abovementioned timeless tune.

Survivors

JACK BEDIENT & THE CHESSMEN - Where Did She Go [USA garage, pop 1967] Satori Records 1001

 

This is a true Jekyll/Hyde release. Side 1 is  male vocal crooner style pop, while side 2 is good garage flavored rock featuring fuzz guitar. These guys apparently called Wenatchee, WA. their home, and were popular locally from the early 60's. 

Jack

CAPTAIN BEEFHEART - Bat Chain Puller [USA weird psychedelic blues rock, 1976] 2012 Vaulternative VR2012-1

 

Bat Chain Puller is the 13th studio album (and first official posthumous album) by Captain Beefheart, released on February 22, 2012. It was recorded in 1976 by DiscReet Records, who had intended to release it with Virgin Records as Captain Beefheart's tenth studio album. It was co-produced by Beefheart and Kerry McNab.

The album was a subject of friction between DiscReet cofounders Herb Cohen and Frank Zappa. Cohen had used Zappa's royalty checks to fund the album's production, and this led Zappa to withhold the master tapes from Virgin. Beefheart recorded a new album for Warner Bros., Shiny Beast (Bat Chain Puller), with no involvement from Cohen or Zappa.

Following a lawsuit which was settled in 1982, the album remained unreleased until 2012, after Zappa's family had announced in 2011 that they would release the original Bat Chain Puller in its intended form.

Bat

THE MISUNDERSTOOD - Children Of The Sun (The Complete Recordings 1965-1966) [USA/UK garage, freak-beat, psychedelic] 2021 Grapefruit Records CRSEG086D

 

US/UK-Freak-beat/Psychedelic band. They started under the name "The Blue Notes" in Riverside, California in late 1963, playing Surf music. After a little come and go, they finally completed their line-up in 1965 and also changed the band name to "The Misunderstood".

It was during one of their live perfomances, when they happen to meet english DJ John Ravenscroft, alias John Peel, who was hooked and began to act as their mentor. It was probably his suggestion that "The Misunderstood" headed London in 1966, where they due to some help of John Peels brother Alan, manage to get a deal with Fontana Records. Their style now ranges from progressive Blues to Psychedelic (especially live).

But in London the trouble started. Forced by drug problems of two members and an army draft of one, the band line-up was changing several times, until the final split just a few month later, in early 1967.

The Misunderstood

JUNCTION 32 - Pontefract Castleford [UK folk, british folk 1975] Holyground HGS 119

 

Junction 32 is an obscure release from the almost mythical Holyground label. This record is awarded a five disc rating in Hans Pokora Record Collector Dreams 5001. As collectors of Holyground releases will probably already be aware, there were no more that 99 of this LP pressed! It is one of the rarest and most sought after releases of the 70's.

Junction 32