KING GEORGE DISCOVERY/PEACE OF MIND SHADOKS MUSIC 136 (1968/2011) GERMANY

 For more about the combo please check their first and only original release, the 1968 "Music Is Music"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2012/06/king-george-discoverymusic-is-music-al.html . This follow-up was recorded same year, but for some reason not released back then. Fortythree years later though rediscovered and put out by German Shadoks label. First issue was this 2011 and as the label was put down a couple of years later I guess that was it. A band consisting of US singer, songwriter and guitarist George Clemons together with three young Swedish musicians. It's very diverse, mixing ballads with uninhibited psycho parts carrying screamy vocals, wild drumming and flashy guitars. Most of it seemingly recorded live in the studio, making it come out very natural with lots of presence. Psych rock the way I like it. Exemple below. No doubt inspired by and honouring The Jimi Hendrix Experience, but also taking it further into freakier territories. As both melodic and very out-there I couldn't ask for more. Been on my turntable a lot since I found it and it always brings a rebellious smile on my face. Also issued on German CD (SHADOKS 136), but that's all. Vinyl came with label as shown here in a hard fully laminated cover with picture/info insert. (GÖXÄ*)  

                                                                                     

                                                                                

                                                                               

 

 

                                                                                 

                  

THE TEMPTATIONS/A SONG FOR YOU SWX-6161 (-75) JAPAN

 When listening to and posting their twentyfourth album "Masterpiece" a while ago I wasn't all in, liking the arrangements and audio, but not overly enthused by the songwriting. This twentyseventh is a lot more to my taste and apparently also then more to the common taste, as it initially sold better, won the American Music Award for best soul/R&B album and also brought two US R&B #1 hits - "Happy People" and "Shakey Ground". I like the division of uptempo cuts on side one and soul ballads on side two. Also this sounds a lot more classic Temptations than on the "Masterpiece" album and the outcome as I hear it could have been done five or six years earlier. And the audio on this Japanese edition is just smashing. An all catchy and bracing experience. Hard to pick out absolute favs, but if I have to it'll be the up-tempo positive "Happy People", the heavy bass-tight "Shakey Ground" plus the caressing "A Song For You" and "Memories". Still classic Motown as late as 1975. Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on every possible format through the years. Premiere US on Gordy (G6 969S 1). First Japanese had label as shown here in a fully laminated top flap cover with obi and lyric/info insert. (ÄZÄ*)  (TÖMÖ*)  (ÄIÖ*)

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                                   

                                                                                
                                                                                 

                                                                                     

                                                                                     

                                                                                    

 

JEFFERSON AIRPLANE/FLIGHT LOG (1966-76) CYL2-1255 (-77) US

 To my taste one of the better band compilations from back in the days. You get some of the best from one of the most prominent US groups, both with full band and solo, in a luxurious well equipped 2-LP package and the audio is smashing. Good for both ears and eyes. Twenty tracks from sixteen albums plus one previously unreleased surrounded by lyrics, pictures and lots of info. Works both as introduction to the band and to us who followed them back then and want to reminisce. Impossible to choose favorite tracks, the list would be too long. I guess that's up to what mood you're in when favouring, but as I wanna relax at the moment it'll be "Feel So Good" and "Pretty As You Feel" from the Bark album, just to get there. Issued and reissued on vinyl and/or CD pretty much all over the world through the years, also as US cassette, reel and 8-track. First US had label as shown here in a hard structured fold/out cover with glossy discography inners and a twelve page booklet containing pictures, credits and lots of additional info on songs and albums. Yummy!  (YZÄ*) (JÄF*)

                                                                                      

                                                                                

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                    

                                                                                        

                                                                                  

 

PILOT LSP-4730 (-72) US

 A band and LP I knew nothing about when spotting this in a bin a while ago and searching the net gave close to nothing, so what I know so far is what's written or rear sleeve (check below). Not going to repeat that here, but it sure is an interesting crowd of members, counting Bruce Stephens and Leigh Stephens from Blue Cheer, Neville Whitehead from Keith Trippet Group, Martin Quittington from Steamhammer and Mick Waller, who performed drums on Jeff Beck Group's debute album "Truth"  https://monolover.blogspot.com/2013/03/jeff-beck-grouptruth-sx-6293-68-uk-mono.html   and also played with acts as John Mayall, Jimi Hendrix and Rolling Stones. So when pulling together former members from bands like Jeff Beck Group, Blue Cheer and Steamhammer the outcome must be all good, doesn't it? I don't know. I expected something hard rocking with a couple of twists here and there, but what I get is mostly soft ballads including brass and background quires. Songwriting ok, still this is far from what I wanted. Luckily there are two rockers I can live with despite of the arrangements - "Stop And Think" and "Rider" - but for the rest I will need some time to stop and maybe reconsider. 1972 vinyl releases also in Germany and Australia, but to my knowledge never issued on CD. US had label as shown here in a laminated  cover with Dynaflex inner. Sadly I can't seem to find anything on Youtube to tag along, maybe You have better luck.  (YZÄ*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                   

                                                                             

 

ROCK'n'POP/25 THE ATLANTIC YEARS ATL 20.053 (-73) SCANDINAVIA

 Atlantic sampler that can be a good way in to sixties and seventies classics for the newbie collector who wants a good vinyl introduction to the era, or might do it for the oldtimer that still miss some of the tracks or just forgot. An odyssey from the sweet and catchy - like Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash", "Sonny & Cher "I Got You Babe", Young Rascals "Groonin" and Crosby, Stills Nash & Young's "Woodstock" - over the then innovative - as Vanilla Fudge "You Keep Me Hanging On", Yes "And You And I" and Iron Butterfly "In-A-Gadda-Da- Vida" - to the hard core Led Zeppelin "Whole Lotta Love" and Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar". It carries the 3:10 single version of "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida", otherwise the LP ones. The audio is tophole and even if I have most of the songs before it's good to reaquaint with those in a for me new surrounding. I'm a sucker for compilations, cause for me a recording, however familiar to me it may be, can change impact and even be more satisfactory in a new context. A comfort for me, too stuck in the old ways to learn new things, that I can still get favourites I've had for decades sounding fresh. I've noticed lately that interest for sixties and seventies music is fading as many of us oldies lose interest and sell their collections or just pass away. Newer generations have other idols in other genres, though I hope at least some of them can look back and enjoy these oldies. So much good music to discover and it won't hurt to try. This was issued on vinyl over mainland Europe and in South Africa, also as French and German cassette, but not in UK or US and not on CD. (GÖXÄ*)  (SÄM*)

                                                                                

                                                                              

                                                                                 
                                                                             

                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                               

                             

 

THE SUPREMES/A BIT OF LIVERPOOL MS 623 (-64) US STEREO

 Have had and enjoyed the UK version of this - "With Love From Us To You" -  for decades now. Top mono mix and audio and those alluring voices always make me feel good. But that UK was mono only and I've been curious if some original stereo could add something. And now after finding an original US one it'll be a pleasure to examine. Listening as I write this and almost done I'm ambivalent. Good thing is all tracks are true stereo. Bad thing is all are mixed about the same way - instruments in one channel and voices in the other, giving an unnatural picture. But that outcome has at least one advantage - when the vocals are separated from the instruments I can hear their voices very clear and it's beautiful. Wonder if they ever recorded anything a-capella, cause they could certainly do good in such manner. The mono is better listening as a whole, but I do enjoy the girls more naked, so this is a keeper for sure. Issued and reissued pretty much all over the world on vinyl and/or CD, also US cassette, 8-track and 11xFile. First US had label as shown here in a laminated cover. (YZÄ*) (TÖMÖ*) (ZYZÖ*) (FÄV*)

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                  

                                                                                 

                                                                                

 

ANIMALS FEATURING ERIC BURDON/REMEMBER THE LIVERPOOL SOUND No. 3 EMS-70004 (-74) JAPAN

 There are probably a couple of hundred different Animals compilations from all over the world out there in various bins today. Thought I already had my fair share, but when this showed up in top nick at a very affordable price I couldn't refuse. It had the lyric insert, the obi was still on and as it was Japanese I hoped for great audio and maybe getting at least some of the cuts in true stereo. I did get some of that though far from it all. All cuts are some kind of fake stereo, or maybe rather enhanced mono. The balance is fine and using the mono button gives about the same result, just more compressed. On the other hand the audio is just dandy - wide, clear with top separation - so if you don't listen too closely with a nitpick brain it can be very good for both ears and mind. And as I get some of my Animal favourites - "Bring It On Home To Me", "It's My Life", "Baby Let Me Take You Home" and "Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood" with different, yet as excellent audio as on my UK vinyls it's a keeper for sure. To my knowledge this was Japanese vinyl only and never reissued in any form. It came with label as shown here in a fully laminated cover with lyric insert and obi. (ÄNÄ*)  (ÄZÄ*)

                                                                                      

                                                                                      

                                                                                     

                                                                             
                                                                                

                                                                                     

                                                                                      

 

MICK SOFTLEY/SUNRISE S 64098 (-70) UK

 Mick Softley (1939-2017) was a singer-songwriter of Irish origin. He early became a force behind the English folk music scene by setting up his own folk music club and working with later big names as Maddy Prior and Donovan. After his debute LP -  the 1965 "Songs For Swinging Survivors" - he quit the music business, worked as a marked trader, spent time with his family and only played gigs at nearby clubs. Late sixties he met Donovan again, who persuaded him to make another album and this is it. I've seen it tagged as psych, but don't agree. It's hard to describe. The closest I can think of is folky with arty and proggy elements woven in. I hear a very pleasant journey between rock, eastern-inspired and stripped guitar-vocal pieces, all emotionally performed. I'm still rather new to this so too early to pick absolute favourites, but the folk type rocker "Can You Hear Me Now?", the arty "You Go Your Way, I'll Go Mine" and the Indian inspired "If You're Not Part Of The Solution, You Must Be Part Of The Problem" caught me alredy at first listen. Early seventies issues also in Italy and Japan (Epic ECPL-30). Japan 2020 CD in paper sleeve on Vivid sound (VCSD-5932). Premiere UK had label as shown here in a matte fold/out cover.