Jimmy Haskell is mostly remembered for his prolific career as an arranger and producer in the Hollywood studios. Housed in a fold out cover with a map of the USA, this extremely strange concept album is about life in California after the "big one", with the Great Plains turned into a "Marijuana and Insect Corridor" and the Florida region as a desert. This album was recorded with the usual musicians working with Bill Szymczyk, including notably Joe Walsh on guitar. (Stephane Rebeschini)
NB: There's also an album of dubious origin, The Tough Boy (Koala KOA-14536) 198? credited to Billy Joel and The Hassels.
NB: There's also one Italian 45 with a nice PS: The Every Step I Take/Fever (United Artists UA 3155) 1968. A typical Long Island (New York) bar band, comparable to The Young Rascals and Illusion. Musically we're talking blue-eyed soul, heavy on the organ and on the second album they're trying to be psychedelic. In 1970, Small and Billy Joel went on to form Attila, a totally unsuccessful duo who released one album on Epic (Epic 30030). Billy Joel, of course, went on to fame and fortune as a solo artist and Howard Blauvelt, who died in 1993, ended up in Ram Jam. Their debut 45, You've Got Me Hummin' charted at No. 112, also making the Cashbox and Record World Top 100s. A third album of dubious origin, credited to Billy Joel and The Hassels (sic) was released during the '80s and contains tracks like Holy Moses, E.A.R., Rabbitt, Extra Extra, Enough Is Enough and Crossing The Door. Compilation appearances include: Night After Day on In The Beginning (LP). (Vernon Joynson / Tom Truszkowski / Stephane Rebeschini)
From McAllen, Texas. Compilation appearances include: My Babe on Acid Visions - Complete Collection, Vol. 2 (3-CD), Texas Punk, Vol. 5 (LP) and The Heart Beats And Other Texas Girls Of The 60s (CD).
Originally from Frankfort, Indiana, where they were known in 1965 as Sherlock and the Homelies, they migrated up to Chicago and changed their name. They specialised in pounding punkers as is evidenced by Yes I Do and Kid From Cinncy. Their second 45 has been seen fetching $400+ thirty years later! Compilation appearances have included: The Kid From Cinncy on Back From The Grave, Vol. 5 (LP); and Yes I Do on Back From The Grave, Vol. 2 (LP) and Garage Kings (Dble LP). (Max Waller/Mike Markesich)
NB: (1) (2) and (5) were also released in France and the U.K. by Verve. (7) released in France (DiscAZ STEC LP 86) 1971. (6), (7) and (8) released in the U.K. by Polydor. (3) and (4) released in the U.K. by Transatalantic. There's also a CD compilation Resum, The Best of (Rhino R2711187) 1993.
One of the very few black progressive folk singers, Richie Havens wore beads, had a guru 'look' and was one of the first musicians to use an electric sitar. Born in Brooklyn in 1941, Havens began singing in the '50s, taught himself guitar and started playing the Greenwich Village coffee house circuit in 1962. He finally got a recording contract in 1967 and his Verve Forecast albums were recorded with an array of musicians including: members of Jeremy and The Satyrs (the whole group plays on Something Else Again), Harvey Brooks, Felix Pappalardi, Bruce Langhorne, Eric Weissberg, Stephen Stills and Skip Prokop. His rough voice was quite unusual at the time and he chose songs by Dylan, Lighfoot or Tuli Kupferberg (Fugs) to display it's full range. His records sold very well and Havens was invited at Woodstock (Freedom can be found on the movie and soundtrack album). He was also able to launch his own label, Stormy Forest, on which he released his albums, plus those of Bob Brown and the Canadian folk trio Montreal. The two albums on Douglas contain early recordings, with overdubbed electric backing on Electric Havens and are not recommanded. Richie Havens kept on recording during the '70s and early '80s but he was unable to revitalise his formula. His records always sounded too similar and he slowly vanished from the musical scene. In the '90s, the U.K. psychedelic outfit Praise Space Electric covered Freedom on their 2 Leaving Demons album. (Stephane Rebeschini)
An obscure boogie rock album. (Stephane Rebeschini)
Released by 'Calvin James and Haymarket Riot' - Calvin James is rumoured to be Jim Johnson of Minneapolis stalwarts The Underbeats. Many other Haymarket Riots are known to have existed. In addition to the entries listed here there were also a Californian act who were previously known as the Livin End, and a seventies Ohio outfit.
This Haymarket Riot came from Monroe Michigan. They formed in the mid '60s and were originally known as The Avengers (didn't every town have one?), changing their name to Haymarket Riot in late 1967 and breaking up shortly after the record was issued in 1969. Jim Doe wrote Leaving whilst Dennis Morales wrote Sunny Day Song. Leaving has subsequently been featured on A Lethal Dose Of Hard Psych (CD), where it's stated that this is the Haymarket Riot who issued the 45 on Coconut Groove - can anyone else confirm this? (Steve Greer / Max Waller)
A psychedelic six-piece from Enid, Oklahoma, who cut one excellent 45. The 'A' side has resurfaced on many compilations (see below). Both sides of the 45 are also listed on Pebbles, Vol. 6 (CD), but only Trip On Out is included on the actual disc. The Pebbles liner notes, state that the 45 was recorded in Chicago, which is incorrect - it was recorded on a trip to Oklahoma City... For the full low-down on the band seek out a copy of 'Lost & Found # 4' fanzine. Compilation appearances include: Trip On Out on Pebbles Vol. 6 (CD), The Psychedelic Experience, Vol. 1 (LP), The Arf! Arf! Blitzkrieg 32 Track Sampler (Dble CD), 30 Seconds Before The Calico Wall (CD) and Follow That Munster, Vol. 2 (LP).
Possibly from Mount Morris, Michigan... Nine O'Clock can be heard on A Journey To Tyme, Vol. 2 (LP).
A Berkeley High band who initially operated as The Livin' End (line-up 'A') on the Berkeley, Ca. scene. With the arrival of Pete Barsotti they became The Haymarket Riot. Scott Donaldson joined from The Plague (Richmond's legendary punk quartet) to replace Batterman, who left to join The Answer at the end of 1966. Thrashy Who - and Yardbirds-inspired punkers stretched into hard-but-fluid psychedelic-blues jams over the next year. They were captured for posterity in full flight at a gig in the social hall of the First Unitarian Church of Kensington (or FUCK for short!) on December 1st 1967, where they performed five numbers comparable to a rawer Quicksilver Messenger Service or Grateful Dead, who would have been sending similar vibrations back across the bay from The Fillmore. Around the time of this recording they changed their name, for the last time, to Lazarus. They would last until the end of 1969. Steve Nelson joined local rivals Purple Earthquake, with whom they'd often shared bills. Dave Barsotti would play lead guitar for several years with Greg Kihn. Nothing was released during their lifetime under any of their names. The limited edition LP (on a Swiss label distributed by Indianapolis specialist label Or) comes in a heavy laminated gatefold, fronted by the colourful psychedelic artwork of the band's drumhead. It contains a detailed band history by Alec Palao, from which the pertinent facts above have been extracted. (Max Waller)
NB: (1) Reissued on Osmose (1125) 1987 and in 1996 as a ltd edition of 400 (The Sacred Temple Of The Gold STG 2001) 1996. Also issued on CD (LSD 007) 1996. (1) reissued officially on CD (Gear Fab GF-177) 2001. This Chicago band's album is notable for some catchy drumming and Lambert's powerful vocals. The music on the album was used to accompany the original Baron and Bailey Light Circus at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Despite its reissue, original copies remain sought-after. One cut from the album, Amapola appears on Psychedelic Patchwork (LP). It's well worth seeking out a copy of the reissue. The band did not release any 45s. The 1996 reissue (on CD & LP) has been digitally cleaned, but even better is the official CD release on Gear Fab with the story of the band told by John Kowalski. (Vernon Joynson/Max Waller)
NB: (1) reissued on CD (Audio Archives AACD 024). Real heavy dudes with some grungey vocals, a mean attitude and some wicked guitar - above-par hard rock. Although outside the musical thrust of this book, they're worth a mention especially as a couple of tracks on their album were written by Larry West, formerly of the legendary Vagrants and younger brother of guitar colossus, Leslie 'Mountain' West. Their album was produced by Shadow Morton, aka Shadow Mann Mayo and Polott still play together in an outfit called "Blue Lagoon". (Max Waller/Stephane Rebeschini)
Came out of Richmond, Virginia with a pretty decent rendition of Hey Joe which can be heard on Highs In The Mid Sixties, Vol. 8 (LP) or Signed, D.C. (LP).
These Hazards came from Berlin Center near Youngstown, Ohio. Compilation appearances have included: Hey Little Girl on Project Blue, Vol. 3 (LP); and Tinted Green on Highs In The Mid Sixties, Vol. 21 (LP). (George Gell/Max Waller)
From San Marcos, Texas originally, Roy Head relocated to Houston in 1964. His forte is soulful brassy pop/rock and would be outside the boundaries of this book but for You're (Almost) Tuff, a great fuzz-rocker where Bo Diddley encounters Count Five's Psychotic Reaction. Many of his '60s releases were recorded with the Traits and are so credited. Roy Head scored a U.S. no. 2 hit in 1965 with Treat Her Right. He also recorded Easy Lovin' Girl (a Johnny Winter's composition) with The Great Believers. The Dismal Prisoner album contains covers of Van Morrison and John Lee Hooker tracks. Compilation appearances have included: Easy Lovin' Girl on Acid Visions - The Complete Collection Vol. 1 (3-CD) and Acid Visions (LP); You're (Almost) Tuff and Tush Hog on Austin Landing, Vol. 2 (LP); Treat Her Right on Texas Music, Vol. 3 (CD); and both Driving Wheel and Wigglin' And Gigglin' on The Best Of Beat, Vol. 3 (LP). (Vernon Joynson/Stephane Rebeschini/Max Waller/Andrew Brown)
You can also hear Won't Come Back on New England Teen Scene, Vol. 1 (LP). (Max Waller)
Times We Shared has resurfaced on Best Of Michigan Rock Groups, Vol. 2. They also have a previously unreleased cut I Need Your Love on Thee Unheard Of (LP) compilation taken from one of the two versions of this track only available on Buff one-sided acetates. It's nothing to get excited about.
A one-off venture by a New York outfit. The flip side, which mixes chords from Twist And Shout and La Bamba in a humorous way, can also be heard on Mindrocker, Vol. 8 (LP). There's also a 45 by a Headlyters on Phalanx (1010/1011) Girl Down The Street/Shop Around issued around 1965 or 1966. Phalanx is a Michigan label - so it may be the same outfit. The 'A' side, Girl Down The Street has reappeared on Let 'Em Have It! Vol. 1 (CD) and When The Time Run Out (LP & CD). (Max Waller) |
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