STEELEYE SPAN/BACK IN LINE FLUT 2 (-86) UK

 As a big fan of this group I've been indecisive about posting this at all, but here I go. Of all their albums I've heard so far this is the only one I haven't been able to wrap my ears around in a good way. It was their twelfth studio recording, issued six years after the, to my taste, totally ok "Sails Of Silver"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2022/08/steeleye-spansails-of-silver-chr-1304.html  and three years before the in all tophole "Tempted And Tried"   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/09/steeleye-spantempted-and-tried-add-9-89.html  . Always try to be positive to their work, though here I find that difficult. Not because of the songs or perfomances, but by being constantly disturbed by the audio on this UK issue. Artificially enlarged with a glossy facet, giving an unnatural impression, making it sound constructed rather than true. And for me that doesn't fit folky stuff at all where honesty is needed to connect. I can hear there are quite a few good songs - like the Maddy Prior sung "Lady Diamond", "Isabel" and "Black Leg Minor" or "Piece On The Border" with its nice chorus, but the flashy surface repels me and I can't get in. It's such a shame, but I do have eleven other very good albums from the band to comfort me so I'll get by. Also issued on vinyl in US (Shanachie 79063), Australia (Interfusion L38573), Germany (Wundertute (TUT 129) and on Flutterby (FLUT 2) in Portugal.  UK CD on Park Records came with three bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a thin matt cover.  (BRYF*)  (FÄV*)  (SÖPX*)

 

                                                                              

                                                                           

                                                                                           

                                                                              

THE NICE/ALL ABOUT THE NICE FEATURING KEITH EMERSON IP-93015/16 (-71) JAPAN

 I just had to have this when I saw it in a bin a while ago. A Japanese only collection with one of the most provocative sixties combos. Even if I got their original albums and a couple of other band compilations this 2-LP issue seemed to top most of those. Black Immediate labels having "deluxe double series" text, laminated fold/out cover with rare band images, sheets with lyrics in both japanese and english inside and thick, protective plastic inners. Obi was missing, but one of those would have doubled the price and they're very hard to keep intact anyway. I also hoped for much better sounding tracks, since many other Japanese issues are known for improved audio, though I can't hear that here. It all comes out more or less the same as on the originals. So no better listening than before, but still a feast for the eyes and that is something.  (YDÄ*)  (ÄZÄ*)  (ÄPY*)

                                                                              

                                                                               

                                                                               

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                

                                                                               

                                                                                  

                                                                                     

                                                                                  

 

DAVID BOWIE/THE WORLD OF DAVID BOWIE UK MONO PA 58 VS. UK STEREO SPA 58

                                                                               

 When posting the mono version long time ago I felt convinced it was filled with separate mono mixes https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-world-of-david-bowie-pa-58-70-uk.html. Not only because Bowie himself was involved in the preparations and the fact that all tracks already existed in mono, but not all in stereo. I was also seduced by the excellent mono audio - strong with perfect balance. Now sadly I must admit - I was wrong. After getting a first press stereo and comparing the two I can find no differences between the mono and the stereo played using mono button. In fact playing it in stereo or mono doesn't matter much either, same width, power and balance. There are stereo effects, but you have to listen close to get them. And now I'm curious - was the stereo version of his debute Deram album such a good compatible, or were the mixes altered here to fit both formats? Unfortunately I would need to find a playable original of his debute album to be absolutely sure and don't think that will happen within my budget, so it'll stay unanswered for now. But if anyone reading this has the debute LP and knows - please comment and tell!   (WÖF*)  (UKÖ*)  (PÖP*)  (YMÖ*)  (PKÅ*) (MÅW*)

                                                                             

                                                                                  

                                                                                  
                                                                             

                                                                                    

                                                                         
                                                                                 

 

THE CHAMBERS BROTHERS/A NEW TIME - A NEW DAY 8-63451 (-68) UK MONO

  For more background please check post on The Original Chambers Brothers "Groovin" https://monolover.blogspot.com/2019/05/the-original-chamber-brothers-groovin.html . An album bursting with feelings almost impossible to resist. Here, on their forth regular LP, I get more of the same, though in this case a bit more well produced with better audio. I'm all in. Tons of emotion flowing out from tracks like the Otis Redding cover "I Can't Turn You Loose", the self penned, drum shivering "No, No, No, Don't Say Goddbye", or their rather held back arrangement of "Rock Me Mama". I can even get me some hard-core soul psych from the title track. To my taste not a bad cut here. It'll hold for listening through again and again. This UK mono is with all certainty a fold, as the label refers to the US stereo number - CS 9671 - but a good one with mostly top balance and prominent bass and drums. Enjoyable listening indeed. Premiere US and Canadian release on Columbia (CS 9671), also  on reel, cassette and 8-track. Also issued on vinyl in France, South Africa, Germany, Italy and Downunder. To my knowledge never released on CD. First UK had label as shown here in a thin fully laminated cover.  (DÄJ*)  (YMÖ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                            

                                                                               

                                                     
                                                                                 

 

FROGMORTON/AT LAST 6308 261 (-76) UK

 

One-off from a UK folk rock band that's new to me and I can't seem to find any valuable facts about from the net either. All info is welcome! Music is much in the same vein as Steeleye Span or Fairport Convention, though partly a bit more advanced. Listening today it's safe to say they must have played together for quite a long time before this issue. All cuts but two self-penned and all very handily executed, including both female and male vocals. Not going into the separate tracks here, instead adding full album below so you can hear for yourself. To my ears a very good folk rock album, though the fact that it was their only makes it harder to be immediately familiar. The Fairport Convention and Steeleye Span fans are often already in when listening to another of the band's albums, but as this was a one-off from a more unknown combo it can take at least a couple of hearings to get acquainted. So don't be disheartened by its singularity, if you're true fan of folk rock it's certainly worth while. To my knowledge this UK was the only vinyl issue, also on cassette (Philips 7108 157). UK 2002 CD on Elegy (E 630/1) came with one bonus track. Vinyl had label as shown here in a thin glossy cover.  (BRYF*)  (FÄV*)  

                                                                                

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                            

JESUS CHRIST - SUPERSTAR/ROCK OPERA MCAM 25001 (-70) MONO ARGENTINA

  I've been collecting odd monos for decades and usually have an ok knowledge what's out there and what to look for, but this was a true surprise. A mono version of the original UK setting of Jesus Christ Superstar. Obviously a fold as the labels refers to the UK stereo MKPS 2011/12 numbers  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2022/08/jesus-christ-superstar-mkps-201112-70-uk.html , but a high quality issue nevertheless with very nice looking labels, thick glossy fold/out cover and four pages with the lyrics translated to Spanish inside. When listening the balance differ at some parts in comparison to the UK stereo, but the audio is good with all coming out clear and well separated, providing pleasant listening. So as a big fan of this JCS setting and long time monolover I'm thrilled. Can't seem to find any other copy on the net or elsewhere, so if You have one and know more, please comment and tell. (SÖMI*)  (RÖKÖ*)

                                                                                     

                                                                                 

                                                                                

                                                                               

                                                                                 

 

FRANTIC/CONCEPTION A-20103 (-70) US

 Six piece Montana band formed 1965 as The Frantics. After changing home turf many times through New Mexico, Colorado and California with excessive touring they finally got a contract with the Ampex subsidiary Lizard label and recorded this one-off album. It didn't sell and the combo soon vanished. I've seen it getting mixed or sometimes bad reviews, but for us interested in the genre mix often occuring at that time - the transision from heavy blues to hard rock, not seldom with psych elements - it's very giving.  Some parts, like the organ driven "Little Girl" or the fuzz drenched "Shady Sam", can be described as psych and the "Hey Joe" cover is performed as a very slow ballad. Still the main impression is stone hard rock carried by guitar riffs, mostly flowing organ and hard hitting bass/drum background - all very well performed. Maybe not the most outstandning of its kind, but way better than average and well worth while for any fan of early hard rock or psych rock. Full album below. To my knowledge this vinyl was US only, also as US 8-track. German 1993 CD on World Wide Records (SPM-WWR-CD-0049). Premiere US had label as shown here in a glossy fold/out cover.  (YZÄ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                              

                                                                                     

                                                                                 

                                                                          

                                                                                   

                                                                                 
                                                                                 

CLIMAX CHICAGO/TIGHTLY KNIT SHSP 4015 (-71) UK

 The band's forth album. For more background check post on their third - "A Lot Of Bottle"   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2022/04/climax-chicago-blues-banda-lot-of.html . As that this was recorded at George Martin's Air Studios and produced by Chris Thomas. It might be recieved a somewhat more varied, but the ground formula is mostly the same - dark raw blues rock carried by top guitars and emotional vocals to hard pumping bass and drums. All cuts - except the Robert Johnson cover "Come On In My Kitchen" - penned by the band. These guys really know what they're doing and if you're into such music it all fits (full album below). My favorites here would be the heavier stuff - like "St. Michael's Blues" with some really awesome gutars, the fierce "Shoot Her If She Runs" and the cover of "Come On In My Kitchen". Issued and reissued all over the world on vinyl and CD through the years, also US 8-track and cassette. First US and Canadian on  Sire (SI 5903). UK 2013 CD on Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2385) came with three live tracks as bonus. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a matt flip/back cover.  (HÄVL*)

                                                                                

                                                                       

                                                                                 

 

TAGES/STUDIO PMCS 316 (-67) SWEDEN

 To my taste a great psych album and worth a repost with new pics and added music. For more on the band also check posts on their other albums   https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=(D%C3%84X%C3%96*) .  Impressed by the the group's earlier work UK Parlophone signed the group 1967 with plans for an international carreer. Deal included they got to record in Abbey Road studios and this second LP for the label was partly made at that location. The new possibilities there and inspiration from the visit helped to form a true gem. It wasn't a commercial success at the time. BBC refused to play some of the songs because of the lyrics - dealing with cross-dressing (two years before Kinks "Lola"), drug experiences, political left wing and teen-age pregnancy - so the UK 45 track from it "She's Having A Baby Now" got no promotion and sank without a trace and the album never got an English or international release. The lyrics wasn't a problem in Sweden, but the domestic fans wanted the old style group with R&B and pop ballads, the new psychedelic sound wasn't liked and the album flopped . Lack of success caused fractions in the group and it became their last LP. Many contemporary albums in the psych genre sounds dated today, like greetings from another time. This still feels fresh and most tracks remains special. The combination of catchy melodies, odd lyrics, psych effects and perfectly balanced production always fits. Originally issued in Sweden and Denmark only as compatible stereo. Issued on CD in England 2010 on RPM Retrodisc (Retro 874) with five bonus tracks. Swedish 2015 vinyl re-release in a limited edition of 500 numbered copies.  Premiere Swedish had label as shown here in a laminated fold/out cover.  (SCÄ*) (DÄXÖ*) (PÖX*) (CCÖ*)