Mad River addendum
Now Playing: Gene Zappaterreno
Topic: Addition

The outstanding Mad River demos that have been floating around on tape in closed circles finally see an official release via the Jersey Sloo mini-album from England's Shagrat label. There's an early version of "Wind Chimes" plus three unreleased tunes including the superb "Timothy". The other side is taken up by the title track, an atypical frantic rocker from the later, Paradise Bar & Grill era which has never been in circulation, although personally I get a bigger buzz from the '67 demos. In addition to the 5 tracks there's a massive booklet detailing the band's story by David Biasotti, and lots of rare and unseen pics. A very attractive and historically significant release, although I wouldn't have minded if they had added the San José '67 live tape and turned it into a full-length album. As it is, the San José tape (some 20 minutes in admittedly mediocre sound) remains available only on the ancient V.A California Easter bootleg (Penguin, Italy). A somewhat shorter version of the Mad River biography can be found in Flashback magazine #1, 2012.

MAD RIVER
Jersey Sloo 2011 (Shagrat MAD-1)  [12-inch mini-LP; booklet]
Five unreleased tracks from 1967-68.

Kathy Heideman
Now Playing: Kathy Heideman
Topic: Addition

Here's a new discovery I believe, sounds pretty good by the sound clips I've heard. Went for $500+ on the Bay.

KATHY HEIDEMAN (San José, CA)
Move With Love 197  (Country Flavour 1001)
Early 1970s femme singer-songwriter private press with an agreeable, laidback sound which leans more to the rural than the urban side of the s-sw demographics. A country music undertone has made for comparisons to Mistress Mary, and like that LP Ms Heideman gains much by having a real electric band backing her. Sixties psych remnants linger here and there. Solid songwriting, nice, heartfelt vocals, local DIY charm... not bad at all.

Bill Rinehart (Leaves) Tiger Lily LP
Now Playing: Bill Rinehart
Topic: Addition

And here's one of the top scoops of the year...

BILL RINEHART (Los Angeles, CA)
Dynamite 1976 (Tiger Lily 14020)
In what must rank as one of the most remarkable discoveries so far on the notorious tax-scam Tiger Lily label, there surfaced a previously unknown solo LP from Bill Rinehart, in all likelihood the ex-Leaves guitarist. Sound clips from the album give evidence of a very good album indeed, seemingly from the inflection point where late '60s folkrock turned into '70s singer-songwriter. Comparisons to Steven Stills' early solo LPs (with the typical female backing vocals) or Ron Elliott's Candlestickmaker could be made, and Rinehart seems to have his shit completely together, with rich guitar-keyboard arrangements, rock steady (wrecking crew?) playing, melodic, slightly dreamy lead vocals, and soaring fuzz leads. Presumably recorded in 1972-73, Rinehart's mix of nicely finalized talent and laidback approach would have fit well on the Tumbleweed label. There is a drastically rearranged cover of Del Shannon's "Runaway" which was released on 45 in '73 (on the Mums label, with CBS distribution) coupled with the last track "Cut My Line", while the rest of Rinehart's album lingered in the vaults until the Tiger Lily mafiosos 'released' it in 50 copies or so. [PL]

PS the complete tracklist: Cherokee / Circle Circle / Dragon Fly / Dynamite / Loving Words / Revenge / Tender Loving Care / Runaway / Cut My Love  [should probably be Cut My Line]

PPS astute reader Griff points out that Bill Rinehart was also lead guitarist for the Gene Clark Group and Merry-Go-Round, and produced the Fields LP with a proto-Yahowan Sunflower Aquarian on bass. Someone should perhaps contact Rinehart for a pow-wow and a peace pipe, as there are likely stories to be told. 

The Whims
Now Playing: The Whims
Topic: Addition
WHIMS (Norton, MA)
Truckin' 1971 (no label XPL 1021)
Someone suggested that this long-running school group from the all-female Wheaton College might deserve a place in the Acid Archives, and after checking out what is probably their best LP, I agree. While not a lost Search Party or such, it is a solid dose of charming femme folkrock with a genuine 'rock' feel, not white-scrubbed pop or academic folk. The songs are mixed ensemble and solo performances, and the lead singers have quite attractive voices. What puts this above their other albums is the selection of covers, which includes things like "Good Day Sunshine" (Beatles) and the title track (Grateful Dead), the latter which sounds quite odd coming from a girl group. Less surprising are the CSNY, Peter Paul & Mary and Mamas & Papas numbers, while a possible highpoint is a lengthy, spooky interpretation of "John Barleycorn". There is one group original. Well worth hearing and a must for femme vox collectors. Released via the same custom label as D R Hooker! [PL]

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Yahowa 13 addition
Now Playing: Led Zep "Kashmir" live
Topic: Addition

There recently appeared a retrospective Yahowa 13/Father Yod LP which went so deep below the radar that most people may not even know it exists. This is a shame since it is, in fact, possibly, the best archival YHWH release so far! I wrote a review of it in Ugly Things magazine, which is excerpted here:

YAHOWA 13 (Los Angeles, CA)
Spirit Of ’76  2010 (Sagittarius no #)  [200p]
"After several high-profile releases, this retrospective Yahowa LP slipped out in a way that seems almost deliberately mysterious. Housed in a dull cover with a drawing of Father Yod, it comes with basically zero information except that it’s a very limited pressing. It looks like an old school bootleg for hardcore collectors, but the label is a subsidiary of noted indie imprint Qbico. So what gives?

Before I answer that, and I will, some words about the music. From the opening minute it’s obvious that we are in the presence of Father Yod, so this is clearly a vintage recording. The band is credited as ‘Spirit Of 76’, which was the earliest of a few different Source Family rock bands, featuring keyboard and female backing vocals. What comes streaming out of the speakers confirms the credit, with a rich, at times jazz-funky sound reminiscent of side 1 of the Expansion album. The mood is a bit lighter than the awesome dark intensity of Contraction and Expansion, but an outré time is still guaranteed for all, thanks to Yod’s inspired presence and the quality and commitment of the musicians. The playing is remarkably adept, with some wicked guitar leads emerging out of the jammy keyboard groove. Any devotee of the Source Family’s music will find what he needs on this LP, which also boosts better sound than the ‘70s pressings.

As to the odd nature of the release I can report, exclusively for UT from Yahowa guitar hero Djin Aquarian that, yes, it is a legit product from a legit label, despite its bootleg appearance, and yes, this is Father & the early Spirit Of ’76 band. In fact, it seems to be nothing less than the very earliest recording from the entire Yahowa scene, preceding Expansion & co. Why Sagittarius decided to treat this vital, arresting recording from a major cult band as some gray area shit they wanted to bury is anyone’s guess, but I gathered that delays in liner notes and documentation from Djin and friends may have frustrated the label. It’s ironic that an outfit that was once known only among esoteric record collectors sees it’s most attractive archival release come out as a faceless 200-copy press, which may already be sold out when you read this."

- Patrick Lundborg, Ugly Things magazine #31

Fran's Band
Now Playing: Arthur LP on LHI
Topic: Addition

Here's an old 'secret want' that I finally located after hearing a couple of tracks on a mix tape 4-5 years back. In addition to its general obscurity, it connects to a well-known underground music nexus...

FRAN'S BAND (New York City, NY)
Tomorrow Never Comes 1977 (Tribute 1005)
One of the least commonly seen titles on this tax-scam label with Frankie Carr involvement. This is almost certainly recordings from earlier parts of Carr's career, much like what can be found on the All Natural Band album. About 2/3rds of Fran's Band features blue-eyed soul-pop with a Young Rascals-Critters sound. The lead vocals are remarkably good, the playing tight, and the overall sound pretty professional. There are no horns, and this stuff could probably go over well with collectors of '60s Eastcoast teenbeat. I would guesstimate a 1969 recording year for this material. Carr was apparently a member of the later-day Critters, so maybe that is the source. On side 2 are a couple of faceless tracks in inferior sound and a more '70s style, reminiscent of the weaker aspects of the Spare Change Band. Again, there are no credits at all, but to me it sounds like it could well be a Carr-led outfit. The album then turns up the heat considerably for the two closing tracks, which are crude, grungy basement rock with fuzz guitars and stoner vocals, sounding a bit like Boa or Negative Space. This may not be Carr; at least it's rawer than anything I've heard from him, but it wraps up the album very nicely into an above-average trip for tax-scams. Housed in a generic, ill-fitting cover, four copies are known to exist of the LP at this point. [PL]
~~~
see => Spare Change Band; Frankie Carr; Tea Company

Aaron Fleming
Topic: Addition

AARON FLEMING ( )
Project Class 197  (R.P.C  Z-442551)  [blank back]
The field of custom label folk has a very poor hit ratio in terms of records that people truly like and listen to when tripping or if out on a date, but persistence pays off among those who keep digging around. Aaron Fleming's project is a crude DIY affair, so crude that it could be called 'folk-punk' at times, not least the opening track with its crazed, Heitkotter-like drumming. Fleming sings in a nasal street poet style somewhat like Mark Winokur, and writes the most rudimentary songs imaginable. Despite the drumming throughout and Fleming's off-key protest songs this is still '70s loner folk, but I can't think of many comparable releases that sound like this, or pack as much personality. Not for everyone, but a recognizable find. Only a couple of known copies at this point. [PL]
...
thanks to Alexandre in France for suggesting this obscurity

The Organic Experience
Now Playing: great Sonaura track on psyradio.org
Topic: Addition

An interesting college project thing with a major surprise hidden inside that I ran across a few months back: 

THE ORGANIC EXPERIENCE (Portland, ME)
The Organic Experience 1970 (Omni)
This previously undocumented college project LP from University of Maine, Portland (a college branch no longer extant) is not only earlier than most college yearbook albums, but of substantial interest on a couple of counts. There's some rock and folkrock music which seems to be live-recorded, but no artists are credited; tracks include "Born To Be Wild" and "Green Rocky Road" among others, in good, ballsy versions. Even more remarkable is a track credited only as "Ginsburg's Thing", which turns out to be nothing less than a previously unknown recording of Allen Ginsberg reciting poetry, presumably at a campus gathering. The date references and the contents of the recording confirm that this is a circa 1969 recording of Ginsberg live before an audience. Not included in the standard Ginsberg bibliography by Morgan, this is a substantial find. The reading is lengthy, at least 10 minutes, and includes the poem "Northwest Passage", which Ginsberg elsewhere has assigned a composition date of April 1969, which is in line with the overall chronology. Presumably the students had no authorization to release this record, which is why Ginsberg's presence is so buried. The remainder of the record is a typical period collage that captures the 'now' of being a hippie student in 1970, with radio broadcast speeches mixed with 'found' music and effects, etc. The front cover looks to be blank at first, until you discover the small mushroom drawn in the lower left corner. The back cover has an elaborate abstract drawing and some minor credits. That no one has discovered the nature of this album in 40 years is puzzling, and Ginsberg collectors will undoubtedly be interested. [PL]

FOR ALL OF YOU addition
Now Playing: Lazy Farmer LP
Topic: Addition
FOR ALL OF YOU (NJ)
For All Of You 1974 (R.P.C. Z 78491)  [paste-on photo cover; 100p]
Essentially the work of one John Roll with support from various friends, this is one of the more interesting albums in the loner/downer '70s zone to surface of late -- primarily because it isn't really loner/downer at all! A slighty quirky and warm feel dominates as typical s-sw songs bring in mellow jazz moves mixed with a melodic sensibility. Communication 1, Philip Lewin's debut, or even Virgin Insanity spring to mind during the better tracks; best not to set the expectations too high, but this one's certainly worth checking out for the average private press aficionado. On RPC (aren't they all?), but with an unusual grey label design I haven't seen before. [PL]

...

thanks to Alexandre in France for suggesting this obscurity

Simpson & Heck
Now Playing: Ukraine-Sweden friendly, dull goalless draw
Topic: Addition

SIMPSON & HECK ( )

Simpson & Heck 1972  (no label)   [blank cover]

Rare christian folkrock title, highly rated by some. More info is appreciated.

Myke Jackson (Felt on Nasco)
Topic: Addition

We've had this one sitting up in the Attic, but the general buzz and obvious musical quality makes it a contender for the main Acid Archives.

MYKE JACKSON (AL)
Alone 1975 (Yi Yi 257275)
Jackson, formerly with the great Felt, plays all instruments on this album, which is good melodic 1970s rock with late '60s flashes. A worthy successor to the Felt LP, check it out if you can find it. Jackson later followed with the less exciting major label album Neon Rose, credited to ‘Mychael’ (RCA/Free Flight, 1978).

 

 

World "Opus I"
Now Playing: Mississippi "Velvet Sandpaper"
Topic: Addition

WORLD (Gallup, NM)
Opus I  197  (Foremost Records JWP 1039)
After some hush-hush speculation behind the scenes, this obscure artifact finally surfaced for real via an eBay auction and some soundclips. Supposedly a lost 'Grail', World turned out to be average Latin rock from what sounds like a local club band. Sounding somewhat like the Scorpio Brothers LP from NYC, it appears from the clips to be an OK but unexciting record, and I was unable to pick up any X-factor or underground/psych angle what would have warranted the ecstatic hype. [PL]

The Horde
Now Playing: Ric Collas Trio
Topic: Addition

HORDE (NC)
The Horde 1967 (JCP 201)  [no sleeve; c25p]
The previously undocumented garage era album by the Horde is perhaps the most interesting discovery in the past couple of years. The sleeveless demo LP appeared on JCP, a label known for a couple of excellent garage 45s. The Horde album has the usual list of cover versions, but also at least two excellent band originals, and a link to the band's website brought out more fine music, cutting edge pre-Sgt Pepper shit in the Yardbirds or Baroques vein. The eBay auction was appropriately feverish and the rekkid ended up selling for $1700. A genuine discovery, the band were students at Duke University in NC. [PL]
~ ~ ~
Top class sleuth & Acid Archives correspondent Jack F adds that: "...The Horde was put together by local producer J. Cash as a back up group for a chick singer named Elisabeth Locke. The same guy went on to break Oliver of "Good Morning Starshine" fame. The Horde LP was a demo press, which the band estimates to be around 25 copies. They did it as a tossed off session just for fun as they were already in tune with each other for the Locke sessions, and all shared a love for the Blues Project and rock and roll hijinks. A year later they cut a 4-song acetate in a more Dylan oriented vein, but disbanded shortly after that. Two members of the Horde went on to play for 7 years in the Oosik Music Revue and one member still resides in Alaska where he runs a celebrated local night club."

Lodestone review by Aaron M
Now Playing: Music Emporium
Topic: Addition

LODESTONE ( )
Main Street 1974 (no label LD 101)
This generic-looking private press looks like the work of stoned hippies, and maybe it is, but the music is straightforward rock and roll with a definite 50s influence. Lyrics are dopey (the title track is about boozing up girls and trying to get them into the back seat) and though vocals are weak this is way closer to pop than hard rock. “If You Want My Love” goes all out to be catchy, with lead and rhythm riffs, a poppy verse and harmony-laden chorus. It’s too wimpy to be power pop and not competent enough to be soft rock, but it has a bargain basement charm that makes me wonder if it’s better like this than it would be if a “good” band did a version of it. Other songs are gutter blues, upbeat (but never hard) rock, and more pop, never forgetting that 50s base, and mercifully keeping the only ballad to a mere 1:30. Songs speed up and slow down randomly. This is a really weird record, not good by any objective standard, but they seem to be having a great time and they stay obviously true to who they are. As a result, it’s oddly enjoyable and rather unpredictable. [AM]