Don't know much about this group other than they were from New York and of mixed heritage. Steve Verroca - who later would play drum or base with Link Wray and other combos and work as producer for Kevin Coyne - produced, arranged and stands as writer or co-writer to nine of the ten songs. It's a good guess he was the band leader. As far as I can figure out from listening and searching the net they were an eight piece including big rythm section, multiple guitars, organ and brass. The two sides of the record differs a lot. First is hard rock/prog latino style - in the same vein as Santana, but a lot rawer. Fuzzed organ, hard drum sound and howling guitars backing uninhibited vocals. Wild and beautiful. Unfortunately the full power doesn't remain on side two. Two good cuts - "Here Comes The Man" has an African style reminding of Osibisa and the sloppy hard rock cover of "Louie Louie" is unlike any other version. The remaining three are rather bad pop and more like first outtakes than ready tracks - some unpitched singing to loose backing. Maybe they were out of time or just lacking inspiration, but it just sounds unfinished. Favorite track - "I'm A King" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIrjk5i1eEk . Not issued on CD. Early US on Mercury (SR-61298) came with different cover design. German issue on Mercury hade same number as UK and yet another cover variation. First UK had label as shown here and thin fully laminated sleeve.(ÄHÅR*)(ÄZC*)
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