THE ROBBS SR 61130 (-67) US

 Wisconsin band founded early sixties by brothers David, Robert and George Donaldson together with friend Craig Kramf. Apart from being house band on Dick Clarke's "Where The Action Is" TV show they released fifteen 45:s 1964-71, two last under the name "Cherokee", whereof non succeeded to reach top 100 on Billboard. With that in mind, checking the cute sleeve pics and seeing the soft songtitles I didn't expect much from this, their one-off album. But it's actually high quality. A compilation of single A:s and B:s coupled with two new tracks - "Jolly Miller" and "See Jane Run" - blending sunshine pop, folk rock and baroque, at places pulled towards psych or garage. Solid backing and sweet harmony singing conveyed by top audio makes this very good to both ears and mind. I especially like the soft psych "Race With The Wind" and "Violets Of Dawn" plus the garage rocker "Jolly Miller". So this was a happy surprise for me and a reminder to never judge an album by its cover.  Only released on vinyl, as mono and stereo, in US and Canada (both  MG 21130/SR 61130). US 2004 CD on Collectors Choice (CCM-478-2). Premiere US had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with ad inner.  (YZÄ*)

                                                                                    

                                                                                 

                                                                                

                                                                                        

                                                                                  

 

BUFFALO SPRINGFIELD SD 2-806 (-73) US

 A 2-LP collection of tracks from one of the best US acts of the late sixties. Containing seven cuts from the debute, seven from "Buffalo Springfield Again" and nine from "Last Time Around". It also has a special feature by carrying the near nine minute version of "Bluebird" and apparently this is the only place you can find it. A very fine odyssey through the bands way too short existence conveyed by top audio (my copy has a Presswell Pressing). For me who's always been a fan it's a must, not only for the long "Bluebird", but also to be able to get so much good music in one place. Just putting it on and enjoying. So if you're a beginner or a fan that want it all on vinyl, but have a hard time to find the original albums at a fitting price, this comes highly recommended. Got so many favourites here, but if to pick a few - "Mr Soul", "Rock'n'Roll Woman", "For What It's Worth" and of course the extended "Bluebird". Released on vinyl in US, Canada, over Europe, Downunder, Japan and a couple of South American countries. Also on US cassette and 8-track. To my knowledge no legit CD issues exist. First US had label as shown here in a laminated fold/out cover.  (YZÄ*)  (ZHÄ*)

                                                                                

                                                                                     

                                                                                 

                                                                               

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                               

 

 

KEN LEVY AND THE PHANTOMS/ROCK'N'ROLL CLP 104 (-73) MONO SWEDEN

 British rock'n'roll band existing between 1960-69. After failing to make success on home turf they moved to Sweden early sixties and became popular in Scandinavia, there releasing three LP:s and seventeen 45:s. They also worked as supporting act for bands touring Scandinavia in the sixties, e.g. The Beatles, Gerry & The Pacemakers and The Searchers. It seems that all through the sixties they kept playing old style rock'n'roll, as it was made in the fifties and early sixties, sometimes with a garage rock feeling, but with little trace of later popular genres. Simple, right on and quite refreshing for tired ears that's been tuned in to every genre change since then. No hidden agenda - this is what you came for and this is what you get. It takes me back to less troubled times and makes me feel if not younger so at least partly revitalized. To pick a favourite track it must be "Ten Green Bottles", which is a rock'n'roll version of the old nursery rhyme "Itsy Bitsy Spider". This copy is a re-issue of a 1964 release on Nashville label. Never seen that so I can't compare, but every track here seems to be original mono mixes and the audio is superb. This and the original were Scandinavian only and never showed up on any other format, but most of the cuts can be found on the German 2001 CD "Best Of Ken Levy And The Phantoms" (Rock-In-Beat-Records RB 022). The re-press had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.  (CCÖ*)  (BRBÄ*)

                                                                                 

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

 

 

JIGSAW/LITHERSLADE FARM 6308 033 (-70) UK

 British band formed 1966 by former associates of The Fortunes, The Mighty Avengers and Pinkerton's Assorted Colours. Initially playing blues rock and reputed for their tumultous stage show, including fire, explosions and property damage. After some member changes they 1970 got a contract with Philips records and released this debute album, then consisting of Tony Cambell on guitar, Berrie Bernard on bass, Des Dyer doing drums, Clive Scott handeling keyboards and Tony Britnal playing Saxophone. It's a concept album, telling a tale about a run down pop-singer and also meant as derition of the music industry. What I hear is a ongoing musical web, woven together by various styles like pop, blues, prog, psych and art music and now and then interupted by various fake interviews. At first I get a patchy impression, but after listening through a couple of times I hear the full picture and it's both interesting and quite funny. As everything sticks together it's hard to pick out single parts, but to me the cover of Family's "The Weavers Answer", the organ drenched "Jesu Joy Of Man's Desiring" and the pop psych "Seven Fishes" stands out. I guess timorous listeners won't get much out of this album, but if you're in for an adventure it might be something. To my knowledge this UK was the only issue. It had label as shown here in a fully laminated cover.

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                             

                                                                               

 

THE WORLD OF BLUES POWER/VOL. 3 SPA 263 (-72) UK

 The vol.1 and vol. 2 versions of this was issued 1969 and 1970, in both stereo and mono (see earlier posts). As this was released 1972 it's in stereo only. Three of the cuts are fake - "Got To Move", "Merry Christmas" and "T.V. Mama" - the rest true. To my ears a good collection blending true black blues by Champion Jack Dupree, Homesick James, Eddie Boyd and Robert Nighthawk with white practitioners like Keef Hartley, John Mayall (featuring Eric Clapton and Peter Green),  Ten Years After and Savoy Brown. It all sticks very well together and the audio is smashing throughout. I'm aware vinyl compilations aren't that sought after anymore as many prefer CD:s or downloads. I do want them this way, mainly because these recordings were made for vinyl in the first place and transferring them to other formats will change the outcome to something other than originally intended. So for older recordings vinyl feels more right for me. Hard to pick absolute favourites from something so well compiled, but why not Champion Jack Dupree "Under Your Hood", Savoy Brown "Made Up My Mind" and John Mayall with Peter Green "So Many Roads". Also issued like this Downunder and in Spain as "Blues" (Decca CPS 9295). UK had label as shown here in a laminated cover with "blue box" inner.  (SÄM*)  (WÖF*)

                                                                             

                                                                                      

                                                                                    

                                                                               

                                                                                

 

JUNE TABOR/SOME OTHER TIME HNBL 1347 (-89) UK PROMO

 This was her seventh solo album, not counting the two "Silly Sisters" ones she did with Maddy Prior. For more on her please check post on the "A Cut Above" album  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/01/june-tabor-with-martin-simpsona-cut.html . On this she teamed up with pianist Huw Warren which resulted in a genre change - moving from performing more or less folky tunes to doing her own versions of jazz standards. I've always regarded her as one of the foremost British folk singers, so it will be fun to hear what she can do with jazz. First listening is as expected. Very soft, almost sleepy. Backing mostly just piano with occational cello, saxophone, bass and percussion. No excessive singing, instead her dark voice caress the melodies, making them cozy and easy to digest. Enjoyable both in the listening chair and as background to relaxing moments. Exemples below. So no big deal she went to jazz instead of folk, it's still unmistakably June Tabor and it's good. Also issued on vinyl on Hannibal in US (HNBL 1347) plus cassette in UK and US. Japan CD on Midi Inc. (MDC6-1173) came with two bonus tracks. This UK is obviously a promo copy as it has both info sheet and the photograph that was used on rear sleeve. The photo has a sticker on back saying in Swedish "returneras efter användning" (return after using) - and then adding an address. Probably a pre-release dispatch to some music journalist, supposed to use the pic with a review and then return it, which this one apparently didn't.  (FÄV*)  (JÖB*) (ÖRJ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                         

                                                                              

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

THE SHADOWS 33SX 1374 (-61) UK MONO

 Already posted the stereo version of this, which had the beautiful early UK Columbia stereo label design  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2015/02/the-shadows-scx-3414-61-uk-stereo.html . However this early mono variation doesn't look bad either, so I couldn't resist when I saw it in a bin a while ago. Don't think it's needed to compare the formats - the stereo mix is very good for its time, this mono sounds great, and there are no fakes involves. All as it should. Haven't got much new to add so I'll just copy some of what I wrote earlier and post it as a reminder of a classic guitar album. After over two years as backing band for Cliff Richard and a couple of hit singles on their own they got to record their first album. As later stated by producer Norrie Paramor there were bad feelings within the band from the beginning which brought disturbance to the sessions and eventually led to both initial members Tony Meeham and Jet Harris leaving the band, making this the only solo album by the original Shadows. There's certainly no traces of animosity in the final result - the band sounds tight and the vocal harmonies works beautifully. Six of the tracks written by group members, eight covers. Greater part instrumental building on Marvin's guitar and three vocal cuts showing they also did very well without Cliff even this early. As it seems the UK public thought so too and the album stayed on top of the list for over a month. Issued on vinyl all over the world through the years, also UK reel and cassette. UK 2000 CD on EMI (7243 5 28239 2 5) came with mono and stereo versions of all songs. First UK mono had label as shown here in a laminated fold/out cover with polylined Emitex inner      (CXÄ*) (FÖGÄ*) 

                                                                            

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                              

                                                                                        

                                                                              

                                                                                 

 

MONICA TÖRNELL/INGICA 6316 017 (-72) SWEDEN

 Already posted her second and third albums  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=t%C3%B6rnell  . Now it's time for the debute. After being spotted by troubadour Cornelis Vreesvijk when singing at her fathers pub one evening he fixed her a contract with Philips Records, gathered a good background - among others Björn J:son Lindh arranging and playing keyboards and flute, Janne Schaffer on guitar, Jan Bandel on drums and Stefan Brolund on bass. Apart from "Vardag" , which she co-worte with Björn J:son Lindh, all here are version of other composers songs, among them Melanie, Alf Hambe, Carl Michael Bellman, Carl-Axel Dominique and Cornelis Vreeswijk. Check songlist below for who's behind what. An album grounded in Swedish folk tradition, though sometimes dressed in modern drag, as rock or jazz. Well put together by solid backing to sweet airy vocals. I really like her deliverance, keen and personal, making every tune matter. Hard to pick favourites, but why not "När Jag Var Ung" (When I Was Young), "Faster Fantasis Visa" (Aunt Fantasy's Song) and "Telegram Från En Bombad By" (Telegram From A Bombed Village) . To my knowledge only issued in Sweden. 2012 CDr (06025372106-7) and 12xFile FLAC on Universal. Vinyl had label as shown here in a fully structured cover.  (FÄV*)  (SCÄ*)  (CCÖ*)

                                                                               

                                                                              

                                                                     

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

 

 

THE KINKS/LOW BUDGET AB 4240 (-79) US DJ COPY

                                                                                  

 To my taste Kinks was one of the catchiest bands of the sixties and early seventies. After that I lost close contact, but curious to hear what came later on. This was their eighteeth studio album. It did well in the US, reaching #11 on Billboard, but not that ok in UK. As I've been told earlier it's a mix of punk and arena rock which might be fine, but I'm also interested if it has some of the old style gripping stories and melodies. Listening though now this is not The Kinks I expected from 1979. Gone are the sweet melodies and the empathic lyrics, instead I get something harder hitting, not offering an excess of catchy moments, but it sure makes me sit straight in the listening chair. Far from elaborate masterpieces as "Village Green..." or "Muswell Hillbillies", instead back to basics with some reminding of the early days and stuff that eventually would earn them epithets as "first hard rock band" or "fathers of punk". Much of it up-tempo rock and even if not as downright catchy as before certainly good listening. Also the audio is excellent allowing me to get in. It all sticks very well together, but if to choose some favorite tracks it'd be  "Attitude", "Moving Pictures" and "Low Budget".  Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on vinyl and CD through the years, also as US, reel, cassette and 8-track. Japan 2013 CD on Konk (UICY-25364) came with three extended edits as bonus. This US DJ copy differs a little from the official ones I've seen since it is without tracklisting on rear sleeve. Maybe an early draft, then changed for stock ones. It should also have a lyric inner, sadly missing with this copy. (YZÄ*)  (KYX*)

                                                                              

                                                                                       

                                                                                

                                                                               

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

THE LESLIE WEST BAND BPL 1-1258 (-75) US

 Been a long fan of Mountain's groundbreaking rock'n'roll. The blend of outstandingly raw and soft melodic, often with meaningful lyrics, always gets me. For more on them check this  https://monolover.blogspot.com/search?q=%28M%C3%96U*%29  . So when I saw this in a bin a while ago I had to pick to see if it had some of the old band's magic. It was his second album after Mountain and the West, Bruce, Laine project. His old drummer mate Corky Laine still in while Pappalardi was gone and here replaced by Don Kretmer (Blues Project) on bass. Mick Jones (Spooky Tooth, Foreigner) fills in on guitar and renowned studio musician Ken Ascher plays keyboards. All cuts, except "Dear Prudence" and "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" written by the band. Listening today I do get some of the old magic.  The heaviest numbers - "Money (Watcha Gonna Do)", "By The River" and "The Twister" - sounds just like Mountain in a very good way and the instrumental "Sea Of Heartache" comes with an appealing doomsday feeling. I know it's futile to compare the bands, but on some parts here I really miss Pappalardi's softer, more melodic, input. Especially on the covers. Both very ok listening yet to my taste non of them come close to the Beatles or Animals originals. In all still a very good rock album and I guess a must for any remaining Mountain fan. Released on vinyl also in Canada (RCA Victor BPL 1-1258) and UK (Phantom PHS 701), plus as US cassette and 8-track. Japan 2010 CD on Air Mail Archive AIRAC-1578). First US had label as shown here in a laminated cover. (YZÄ*) (MÖU*)