DIANA ROSS AND THE SUPREMES & THE TEMPTATIONS/ON BROADWAY MS-699 (-69) US

 Soundtrack to a NBC TV special - "Getting It Together" - aired in November 1969, two months before Diana left the trio for a solo career. As a long time fan of both Supremes and Temptations I try to get most of their sixties stuff and love almost all of it, but with this I'm not sure. Though very well arranged and performed with mostly ok audio I don't feel at home here at all. Tracking mostly consists of known Broadway ear pleasers that's been done before by other artists and to me the two combos sound a bit out of their league with the material. Singing as good as ever, though without the old magic Motown backing it doesn't catch me as I'm used to. Very posh but also lacking much of the feeling that made the label such a giant on the sixties music scene. On the bright side - the Diana Ross "Leading Lady Medley" works just fine and you get no less than twenty sleeve images from the show. Seeing it now on Youtube makes me like it a little better, but the album alone still doesn't do it for me all the way. Originally issued on vinyl in Canada, France, Holland, South Africa, Downunder and a couple of South American countries. Also as US 8-track, reel-to-reel and a 2017 CD on Motown (MS 699). Premiere US had label as shown here in a glossy fold/out cover.  (YZÄ*)  (LYBÖ*)  (ZÖNT*)  (ZYZÖ*)  (ÄIÖ*)  (TÖMÖ*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                      

                                                                                   

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                        

 

OTIS REDDING/THE GREAT OTIS REDDING SINGS SOUL BALLADS VOLT 411 (-65) US MONO

 

This is just me showing love. His second album after the stunning "Pain In My Heart" debute https://monolover.blogspot.com/2017/02/otis-reddingpain-in-my-heart-33-161-64.html  and almost up there with that. His voice so both powerful and sincere, the backing by Booker T. & The M.G.´s, Memphis Horns and Isaac Heyes sparse yet perfectly adaptive and the songs gripping. All conveyed by direct and natural audio. Certainly no need to jump tracks here, you just wanna listen through again and again. But if I have to pick favorite tracks - "That's How Strong My Love Is", "It's Too Late", "Come To Me" and "Mr. Pitiful". In my world this is soul as it should be. If you're not touched by this you don't have a heart. For some reason it wasn't embraced by all critics and didn't have chart success at first, even if the spawned "Mr. Pitiful" 45 got to top ten in US. It has been widely revalued since and is today held high by soul fans and music lovers, as it should. Originally also on vinyl in Canada (Volt VLT 411), UK (Atlantic ATL 5029), Germany (Volt 411) and Italy (Atlantic ATL LP 09005). EU 2012 CD (Warner Music Group Volt 411) as remastered mono. Premiere US (also as stereo S-411) had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (ÖRÖ*)  (TÄX*)  (YZÄ*)  (ÖXCÅ*)  

                                                                                    

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                                 

                                                                                    

                           
                                                                                  

                                                                                    

JODY GRIND/FAR CANAL TRA 221 (-70) UK

  UK prog/psych rock band founded as Nova and after getting a contract with Transatlantic label 1969 changing their name to Jody Grind. Under the short time (1968-70) they existed there were already a number of member changes. On this, their second and last album, the setting was Tim Hinkley (who earlier had played with Mick Fleetwood in Bo Street Runners) on vocals, organ, piano and vibraphone, Bernie Holland (later in Hummingbird and Steelers Wheel) on vocals, bass and guitars and Pete Gavin (later in Heads Hands & Feet and Vinegar Joe) on drums. I've seen very differing reviews on it through the years - while some just love it others are a lot more reserved. I sure think it's an interesting piece of work with a lot of was going on in the rock world back then - prog, psych, baroque and hard rock. You get four vocal and four instrumental tracks, all penned by Hinkley and Holland. I'm not immediately falling in love with everything on it, but a couple of the tracks make my heart beat faster already at first listen - the ruthless live take "Plastic Shit" is hard riff driven rock with brilliant guitars, "Bath Sister" has an odd riff to good organ making it stick at once and "We've Had It" starting sweet with acoustic guitar and then slowly getting more intense. In all maybe not fully fledged, but if you're a lover of the rather wild genre blend that flourished at that time it's certainly worth a spin. 1970 issues also in Germany, Holland, France and Downunder. German 1996 CD on Green Tree Records (GTR-038) came with two bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a laminated cover.

                                                                                   

                                                                                 

                                                                                   

                                                                                

 

SAVOY BROWN BLUES BAND/SHAKE DOWN LK 4883 (-67) UK MONO

  Savoy Brown's debute album under a slightly different name with a setting consisting of Kim Simmonds and Martin Stone on guitars , basist Ray Chappell, drummer Leo Mannings and singer Brice Portius. Bob Hall (Groundhogs) plays piano on three tracks. Produced by legendary blues producer Mike Vernon and engineered by well known studio man Gus Dudgeon. It didn't sell a lot and Kim Simmonds soon dissolved the band, shortened the name and gathered a new line-up for the follow-up   https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/04/savoy-browngetting-to-point-lk-4935-68.html . Reading reviews on this first trial on the net it's always compared to their later stuff and always coming out short. I think that's unfair. It is a debute and though under a similar name it is from a different band. Listening to this mono now I hear a heavy and dirty collection of blues covers, well performed with very good guitars. Sometimes slightly reminding of the Bluesbreakers classic. Brice Portius vocals might sound a little too schooled and neat for the blues, but he is a good singer and it kinda works. There's even a garage quality here showing much of it probably was recorded live in the studio with just few overdubs. I like it a lot and if you're not too stuck in the band's later fashions you might too. Sixties issues also in Japan and New Zealand. EU 1990 remastered CD on Deram (820 921-2). Premiere UK had ridged label as shown here in a laminated cover.  (SÄVX*)

                                                                              

                                                                          

                                                                             

                                                                               

STRAY TRA 216 (-70) UK

 

                                                                                    

  UK hard rock band formed in London 1966. Early on playing blues, psych and acid rock, later moving on to a more hard rock prog agenda. They were a poular live band on the local scene back then, but never got a real commercial breakthrough. Still active today after a number of member changes and have so far released nineteen albums. This was their debute. I'm always looking for early hard rock albums, from a time before the genres were separated, where you can hear the hard and raw garnished by prog and psych elements. It just makes it more interesting and alive to my ears. This is a great exemple. There are a couple of sweet ballads, but most of it hard core, embellished by prog interludes and smashing psych guitars. An adveturous listen, far from the often duller hard rock efforts of later years. Every track is a favorite, but to mention a few - the psych "Move On" and the long and ruthless "All In Your Mind", both with killer guitars. Full album below. To my taste a very good and well baked vinyl cake with lots of icing on the top. Not to be missed by any hard rock fan or lover of good rock music in general. Issued on vinyl all over Europe, Israel, Japan and Downunder, but to my knowledge never in US. UK 2003 CD on Castle Music (CMRCD 1203) came with five bonus tracks. Premiere UK had labels as shown here in a diecut fold/out cover. 

                                                                                

                                                                                    

                                                                                       

                                                                              

 

MARTHA REEVES & THE VANDELLAS/DANCING IN THE STREET STML 11099 (-69) UK

 

UK compilation counting tweleve tracks that were more or less hits there 1966-68. To my taste it has a lot going for it. A stunning collection of cuts - like "Heat Wave", "Jimmy Mack", "Quicksand", "I'm Ready For Love" and "Dancing In The Street" - conveyed by excellent audio and very ok stereo mixes. Fitting as party music, for close listening or just happy background. I also very much like the front sleeve pic where they pose in pistachio dresses. Yummy! For more on the combo please check  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2015/05/martha-vandellaswatchout-glp-920-66-us.html . You can see wrinkles on the sleeve pics below. Those come from the original factory shrink that EMI used for protection when sending out copies to the stores back then. Unlike their US equivalents these were very thin and brittle, often removed already in the shops or broken by the new owner. Don't think I ever seen one on a bin copy here before. Probably doesn't add anything to the value, but sure fun to have. Also issued 1969 on Tamla Motown in Germany, France, Holland, South Africa and Downunder, but to my knowledge never like this in US or on CD. Premiere UK (also as mono TML 11099) had label as shown here in a laminated flip/back cover with Tamla Motown ad inner.  (TÖMÖ*) 

                                                                              

                                                                                 

                                                                                    

                                                                     

                                                                               

                                                                                      

                                                                                   

THE HOLLIES/STOP! STOP! STOP! LP-9339 (-67) US MONO

  US version of the UK "For Certain Because"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2018/09/the-holliesfor-certain-beacuse-pcs-7011.html  . It came with different title and sleeve design, but uniquely having the exact same tracking - the only coinciding Hollies LP in the sixties. Their fifth album and to me the start of the band's absolutely best period, followed by "Evolution" and "Butterfly". Here they start to widen their perspective and produce more composite songs and melodies that are both directly catching and longer lasting. I get many memorable moments - title track, "What's Wrong With The Way I Live" and "Pay You Back With Interest" just to mention a few. Though even if tracking is the same as UK there's a miniscule difference in audio. It seems to have been a rule for some US studio workers to add reverb to the UK cuts they handeled. I've heard exemples where there's so much the music is ruined, but this is not bad. For me used to the UK mono it differs a little at parts, but never ugly, and still providing good listening. To my knowledge this version was US only, also as stereo (LP-12339). EU 2000 CD as "For Certain Because" came with both mono and stereo versions. Premiere US had label as shown here in a glossy cover.  (HÖLY*)  (YZÄ*)  (ÖXCÅ*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                 

                                                                                   

 

ROY WOOD/MUSTARD JET LP 12 (-75) UK

  His second solo album after the brilliant "Boulders"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/02/roy-woodboulders-svhl-803-73.html . As with that this is almost all him - voices, instruments, production and sleeve design. Only ouside additions were background vocals by Phil Everly on "Get On Down Home" and Annie Haslam (Renaissance) on "The Rain Came Down On Everything". It was well recieved by critics, but failed to sell. To my taste it sounds more adveturous, but also scetchier that its predecessor. I don't get the same flow here though it is interesting enough to sit through with open ears. I hear a mix of Beach Boys inspired vocals and bagpipes in "Interlude", a Led Zeppelin style rocker in "Get On Down Home" and two Andrew Sisters pastiches in "Mustard" and "You Sure Got It Now". But the two tracks that touch me the most are the warm languishing ballads "The Rain Came Down On Everything" and "The Song", showing his ability to write and perform pieces that can open tear channels if the mood is right. I've always been a big fan of the man, from Move, over early ELO, Wizzard and solo and this is just another good thing from his workshop. Full album below. Issued and reissued on all possible formats all over the world through the years. First US on United Artists (UA-LA575-G). UK 2019 CD on Esoteric Recordings (ECLEC 2695) came with seven bonus tracks. Premiere UK had label as shown here in a glossy fold/out cover.  (RÖWS*)

                                                                                     

                                                                             

                                                                                

                                                                                     

                                                                                  
                                                                                    

 

GINHOUSE CAS 1031 (-71) UK

  When searching for facts on this band and this their one-off album I stumbled over a 2012 interview with guitarist/vocalist Geoff Sharkey, made by It's Psychedelic Baby Magazine. It's got everything about them and the LP, so instead of me just copying those facts - go there and learn cause it's very good reading.  https://www.psychedelicbabymag.com/2012/10/ginhouse-interview-with-geoff-sharkey.html  Listening to it today I'm amazed it didn't sell better. It's like an amalgamation of most things going on on the rock scene at the time - folk, hard rock, prog and psych - supposedly inspired by bands like Yes, Who and King Crimson. But it's not copying, they do it their own way through a blend of well written songs and studio jams and the performance is tophole, especially the guitars. I get that records like this may seem dated to some younger music lovers today, but if You lived and loved with the music back then I can guarantee a very rewarding journey. Full album below. It all stick so well together it's hard for me to pick favorite tracks, but the hard rock psych cover of Beatles "And I Love Her" is so far out it's impossible to fend off. Issued on LP 1971 also in Germany, South Africa and Downunder. Italian 2007 vinyl reisue on Akarma (AK 401). Japan 2012 CD in paper sleeve on Vivid Sound (VSCD 9064). Premiere UK had label as shown here in a matt fold/out cover.