1971.07.05

Phonolog Reports – New Releases
Week of July 5, 1971

Caught my eye:

AMON DUUL II – Dance Of The Lemmings (United Artists UAS-9954) double LP (LP) + (CD)
BLOOD, SWEAT & TEARS – 4 (Columbia KC-30590)
HAWKWIND – self-titled (United Artists UAS-5519) (LP)

Amon Duul II was one of the first German bands I noticed – that was being offered for sale in the US. For some reason, in 1971 – there was still some interest in BS&T. I remember not knowing if Hawkwind was British or German – the LP came out of the 99 cent bin, of course.

Also of interest:

NICK DRAKE – Five Leaves Left (Island/Capitol 9307) (CD)
EAST OF EDEN (Harvest SW-806)
ANDY ROBERTS (WITH EVERYONE) (Ampex 10117)
ROSEBUD (Reprise RS 6426)

I remember trying Nick Drake (because it was on Island) and not liking it very much. I had the 2 Deram label East of Eden albums, but never got around to this one, which I’m told is quite good. Andy Roberts was licensed from B&C Records, England. I knew about Rosebud as it had been on Warner/Reprise sampler LP’s.

Notable singles:

CRAZY HORSE – Dance Dance Dance b/w Carolay (Reprise 1025)
MARVIN GAYE – Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) (Tamla 54207)
JETHRO TULL – Mother Goose b/w Hymn 43 (Reprise 1024)
JONATHAN KING – Lazy Bones (Parrot 3027)
McGUINESS – FLINT – Malt & Barley Blues b/w Rock On (Capitol 3139)
THE MOVE – Tonight b/w Don’t Mess Me Up (Capitol 3126)

Crazy Horse was known as Neil Young’s back-up band. Big time soul hit for Marvin Gaye. I don’t remember there being a single from “Aqualung”, but this must be it! I wouldn’t have cared at the time, as both sides were on the LP. Never knew Jonathan King was still making 45’s in the US in ’71. “Happy Birthday, Ruthie Baby” was the McGuinness-Flint single I remember. I had been a big fan of The Move’s “Looking On” (which had been released on Capitol in the US) – but I never made it any further than that.

1971.06.28

Phonolog Reports – New Releases

Week of June 28, 1971

Caught my eye:

MICK ABRAHMS – self-titled (A&M SP-4312) (LP)
CARAVAN – In The Land Of Grey and Pink (London PS-593) (LP) + (CD)
EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER – Tarkus (Cotillion SD 9000) (LP) + (CD)
ENVIRONMENTS – Vol. 3 (Dawn & Dusk at New Hope, PA) (Atlantic / Syntonic SD 66003) (LP)
STEPHEN STILLS – 2 (Atlantic SD 7206) (LP)
Good week for progressive rock! Solo LP from the former Jethro Tull guitarist. The 3^rd Caravan LP, a great one. The 2^nd EL&P LP, and one that I liked very much, right from the beginning (I first had it on an 8-track tape!). Who knew how many Environments LP’s there were going to be? (I think there are only 11 or 12 of them).

Also of interest:

THE ASSOCIATION – Stop Your Motor (Warner WS 1927)
POLLUTION – self-titled (Prophesy 6051)
PAUL STOOKEY – Paul And (Warner WS 1912) (LP)
STRAWBS – From The Witchwood (A&M SP-4304)

The last WB Association LP? The Pollution LP is the one with the famous cover of a chick in a gas mask – never heard it. Paul Stookey is of course the Paul of Peter, Paul & Mary. The Strawbs LP is with Rick Wakeman, before he joined Yes.

Notable singles:

AUDIENCE – Indian Summer b/w It Brings A Tear (Elektra 45732)
GINGER BAKER DRUM CHOIR – Atunde (We Are Here)(2 Parts) (Atco 6816)
LONG JOHN BALDRY – Don’t Try To Lay No Boogie Woogie… (Warner 7506)
CHICAGO – Colour My World b/w Beginnings (Columbia 4-45417)
THE DOORS – Riders On The Storm b/w Changeling (Elektra 45738)
JACKIE LOMAX – Higher Ground b/w Helluva Woman (Warner 7503)
THREE DOG NIGHT – Liar b/w Can’t Get Enough Of It (Dunhill 4282)

The Audience single is licensed from Charisma Records, England. Never saw the Ginger Baker 45. Radio hits from TDN and The Doors (Morrison was to pass away two weeks later). Likely the debut US W.B. Jackie Lomax 45.

1971.06.21

Phonolog Reports – New Releases

Week of June 21, 1971

Caught my eye:

VARIOUS ARTISTS – Motown Chartbusters Vol. 4 (Motown 732)

Not much in the way of major LP releases this week. I have other volumes in the Motown Chartbusters series – but not this one. I bet it’s pretty good.

Also of interest:

HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – Summertime (A&M SP-4314) (LP)
MARVIN GAYE – What’s Going On (Tamla 310)
THE RAIDERS – Indian Reservation (Columbia C 30768)
SKILLET & LEROY – Dynamite (Laff 151)

My parents had given up on Herb Alpert by this time – the TJB time had passed. Notable soul release from Marvin Gaye; social conscience material from The Raiders and smutty humor from Skillet & Leroy (so that’s when this came out!)

Notable singles:

BEE GEES – How Can You Men A Broken Heart? (Atco 6824)
BOB DYLAN – Watching The River Flow b/w Spanish Is The Loving Tongue (Columbia 4-45409)
IAN MATTHEWS – Hearts b/w If You Saw Thro’ My Eyes (Vertigo 101)
TOMMY NORTHCOTT – Suzanne b/w Spaceship Races (Uni 5288)
ROLLING STONES – Wild Horses b/w Sway (Rolling Stones 19101)

Decent AM radio hits from the Bee Gees, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones (a “Sticky Fingers” 45!). I liked the Ian Matthews LP (and this is the debut US Vertigo 45!), and I remember when Tommy Northcott was signed to Warner Brothers, making ‘soft rock’ – this must be a cover of the Leonard Cohen song!

1971.06.14

Phonolog Reports – New Releases
Week of June 14, 1971

Caught my eye:

LONG JOHN BALDRY – It Ain’t Easy (Warner WS 1921) (LP)
IAN MATTHEWS – If You Saw Thro’ My Eyes (Vertigo VEL-102) (LP/CD)
JONI MITCHELL – Blue (Reprise 2038) (LP)
ROD STEWART – Every Picture Tells A Story (Mercury SRM-1-609) (LP)
IKE & TINA TURNER – What You Hear Is What You Get (U.A. UAS 953 double live album) (LP)

I remember buying Rod Stewart at Thrifty Drug Store (on sale). I found the Ian Matthews LP in a hippie record store downtown (I wanted it because it was on Vertigo). I spent my birthday money (I was 13) on the Ike & Tina Turner LP – and I don’t think my parents ‘approved’ (maybe a little ‘too wild’ for their tastes).

Also of interest:

THE BUOYS – Timothy (Scepter 593)
HAMZA EL DIN – Oud Music From Nubia (Nonesuch H-72041)
BLUE MITCHELL (Mainstream 315)
DONNY OSMOND – The Donny Osmond Album (MGM SE-4782)
JACK WILD – Everything’s Coming Up Roses (Buddah 5083)

Kiddie music from Jack Wilde (I saw a copy of the JW LP @ Amoeba Hollywood up on the wall for $25 last weekend!) and Donny Osmond; cannibalism song from The Buoys; Hamza El Din had been on the “You Are What You Eat” original soundtrack LP, so I knew who he was that way; Blue Mitchell is early 70’s groove-funk jazz that I eventually heard on a sampler CD.

Notable singles:

JACKIE LOMAX – Sour Milk Sea b/w Fall Inside Your Eyes (Apple 1834)
CAT STEVENS – Moonshadow b/w I Think I See The Light (A&M 1265)

I date the Lomax single to considerably before 1971 (I have Fall Inside Your Eyes” as an A-Side, b/w “How The Web Was Woven” – so…is it a re-issue or something – or are they wrong about “Sour Milk Sea” being it’s A/B side? (Photo pinched some time ago, Jackie & george - no, I don't have THIS 45!) Decent AM radio hit single for Cat Stevens.

1971.06.07

Phonolog Reports – New Releases
Week of June 7, 1971

Caught my eye:

CONGRESS OF WONDERS – Revolting (Fantasy 7016) (LP) – not on CD?
PERSUASIONS – We Came To Play (Capitol ST-791)

Congress of Wonders is a fantastic comedy LP that I used to hear in KPFK-FM. “Radio Phil” is one of my all time favorite five minutes of US comedy. The Persuasions are an acapella group.

Also of interest:

TUCKY BUZZARD (Capitol ST-787)
HEAD OVER HEELS (Capitol ST-797)
KEEF HARTLEY – Overdog (Deram DES-18057)

Records I used to see in every 99 cent bin; Keef Hartley was John Mayall’s drummer

Notable singles:

JOHN KONGOS – He’s Gonna Step On You Again Parts 1 & 2 (Elektra 45729)
JEAN KNIGHT – Mr. Big Stuff (Stax 0088)
EMITT RHODES – Lullabye b/w With My Face On The Floor (Dunhill 4280)
JAMES TAYLOR – You’ve Got A Friend b/w You Can Close Your Eyes (Warner 7498)
UNDISPUTED TRUTH – Smiling Faces Sometimes (Gordy 7108)

Big time R&B hits from Jean Knight and Undisputed Truth; South African John Kongos from his debut Elektra album; EZ hits from Emitt Rhodes and James Taylor.

Schwann Record Catalog, 1965

This one's going out live, typing it right before posting it - no proofreading etc. So, forgive.

The vibe / info came from my brother. I have but one brother, 10 years my elder. I owe him a lot. He helped make me this way. He's who showed me the Schwann Record Catalog.

I think the logic was something along the lines of "Keep two issues per year, and get the supplemental issues whenever possible". For the 60's, I only have 2 issues per year. I've been told they are worthless, but I am aware that they are priceless. Well, somebody keeps (e(vil)bay) bidding against me (and winning) for copies of Schwann catalogs that I am "missing".

These catalogs hold the secrets of the universe! They were a written confirmation that the crap sloshing around in my brain was taken seriously somewhere by someone - who wasn't me! If it's not such a good (nice) hobby, how come they publish catalogs of it and sell then in record stores?

Ah, behold the hi-fi enthusiast! They guy who wants the stereo records, who will pay an additional dollar to get those two channels! Living Stereo! It took years for me to care about stereo - hey, mono was a dollar cheaper! There wasn't a "stereo" in my home until maybe 1969 anyway - it would've been a "hi-fi"...stereo was for headphones. My daffodil-like ears are pressed tightly to my skull, thanks to (Made In Japan) Sansui headphones of the 1970's!

Don't talk to me about QUAD, er... 5.1 ... Hey, Jimi, gimme the gimmix!

I had mono Frank Zappa LP's, mono Rolling Stones LP's, mono Beatles LP's...what else was on offer?

Tortured by inner sleeves, I sought solace in the Schwann Record Catalog. I broke the spines, writing Harmonicats discographies; Sue Thompson discographies; if only these encyclopedias of bliss listed 45's! (That's why I love the Phonolog sheets! 45's, baby!) - Smith Corona typewriter, yellow legal pad, Rolodex cards. Patience. Inquiring minds want to know!

Was this how I put 'order' in my otherwise 'messy' universe, writing discographies instead of playing outside, riding my bike or becoming well-adjusted? Flesh & bones, this one. O my brothers & sisters!

With love,

Ron

70's / 60's Memories - Part 2

My first desire for “imports” was because of trying to find songs that weren’t on the “regular” (i.e. American) albums for artists like The Rolling Stones and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. I don’t remember the entire transaction, but I am going to guess that my dad was who paid for my “Got Live If You Want It” British Decca EP and my “Come On” British Decca 45 – at Lewin’s Record Paradise on Hollywood Blvd., 464-8088 – just west of Wilcox, north side of the street. My brother must’ve told him where it was, who had the coveted “British imports”…

“Where do you think has the most record stores in the world?”, I parenthetically asked whoever would listen to me. Likely my dad said, “Probably Hollywood” – so to Hollywood we went. My mom was more of a “Farmer’s Market” (3^rd & Fairfax) person, but my dad would take me to Hollywood Blvd.! The aforementioned “Record Paradise”, “Phil Harris Record Shop”, “Pacific Discount Records”, “Vogue Records”…and, up a side street, “The Psychedelic Supermarket”! So it wad true! Hollywood did have the most record stores!

I could ask my brother or my sisters – but the Phonolog and the Schwann Record Catalog had the nuts & bolts info. And let’s not forget the informative inner-sleeves that some labels put record covers on – I refer, of course, to the magnificent Atco Records inner-sleeves…forever teasing me with color reproductions the size of a large postage stamp of the ‘forbidden fruit’…the records I had never seen in a store…Tom Sankey “Sings Songs From The Golden Screw”, “The Best of Chickenman”, “Coast Along With The Coasters”…

I had a yellow legal pad, a Smith-Corona typewriter, and a box of Rolodex cards. The Atco inner-sleeves could provide quite a bit of information, but I had to use the Schwann Record Catalogs to find the titles not on the inner-sleeve, things like Rene Bloch (when I eventually found the Atco Rene Bloch LP, it was even autographed!). Did it matter to me what kind of music it was? I had to find out what “Music For Space Squirrels” was. I did Atco, Atlantic, Elektra, Sire (“SES” series), Deram…and eventually Vertigo, Neon, Nepentha, Harvest, Island, Charisma…only 13 and already writing label discographies!

Of course the British labels were more interesting than the American labels! So, I wrote to Island Records on Basing Street, and requested a catalogue. They referred me to an exporter who sent me other catalogues. Hot dang! Letters to The Rolling Stones Fan Club, letters to Virgin Records Mailorder (who sent me a Gong poster!)…

A real treat in the early 70’s was to get an issue of Billboard. My mother would sometimes buy one for me when we went to the newsstand at Farmer’s Market in Los Angeles. Wow, a whole chart! And “Charts of the World”! Hey, there’s a whole world of this stuff! I also tried Rolling Stone and Crawdaddy, the Los Angeles Free Press, and, when I could find them, Melody Maker, Sounds and New Musical Express. When my parents went on vacation to Europe, my mom brought me Ciao 2001, Rock & Folk, Oor, Bravo…and my brother was stationed in Germany. He could buy records in the (Air Force) “base exchange” or he could go into town, “on the economy”.

Sorry to not keep the narrative so direct – in the summer of 1972, I rode my bike all the way to Belmont Shores (5 or 6 miles from my house?) – I had some money, a 10-speed bike, and the inclination. There was a nice small hippie record store on Belmont Pier called “Mundae” – it was run by a nice (to me) guy who I think was called Wayne. His small store had a “used bin” (i.e. more cheap records) and he stocked some imported titles. I think this is the same store that used to be on 62^nd Place – out by the jetty. Oh, gosh – this is such old hippie information about Long Beach, California!

On 7^th Street in Long Beach, there were two record stores that I knew of: Platterpuss (down by Pacific Coast Hwy.) and Larry’s Records (near Redondo). Platterpuss was a hippie record store, with used LP, imports, incense…the guys in there weren’t as friendly as the hippies at Licorice Pizza, the downtown Long Beach record store – but Platterpuss had really inexpensive used LP’s – stuff as low as 25 cents…or even a dime (10 cents). Another hippie record store in Long Beach was “Phineas” (I think that was what it was called) on Anaheim St. (near Cherry Ave. – more incense etc).

Larry’s Records was a different story – was this my first glimpse into what really super old time record stores were like – or was Larry the proto-type for ‘weird creepy old record guys’? His dark little store sure had a lot of records – but many of them weren’t priced. If you dared ask Larry the price, he would take the LP from your hands and write it’s price on the rear cover – in blue ball point pen! Aargh! Yes, I still have my “Child’s Garden of Freberg” with Larry’s “$1.49” written on the back cover. He had a dog called “Major”. I don’t think Larry liked having “kids” come into his store. There was no incense in his store – it just smelled like dusty old records. I heard some time later that he had been a successful, famous 1950’s record guy in Hollywood – I presume he passed away.

As previously mentioned, the people who were nice to me were at the Licorice Pizza record store at 131 W. 5^th Street in downtown Long Beach. The names I remember were Mike, Jack and Vickie. I think they thought it was cool that I wanted the Wild Man Fischer album, and that I knew who / what Frank Zappa was. When I would bring my purchase to the counter, one of them would tap their pen on the record cover and say, “Really cool album!” – the proceed to hand-write out the receipt, “Import LP - $4.99” (sorry, I don’t remember what the tax was then, 5%?).

It was all about The Beatles. Everybody loved The Beatles – and everything was in the shadow of The Beatles – for a while. It was cool to like The Rolling Stones or The Who – and, of course, the San Francisco bands were all groovy in the hippie record stores – Jefferson Airplane, Country Joe & The Fish, Janis Joplin…

But my little guy 12/13 year old world was still being formed – what did I understand about the deaths of Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison or Janis Joplin? Congratulations – the road to adulthood had adventures and disappointments and surprises – most of which were good. But I certainly understood the concept of ‘reverence’, in regards to pop music. Gotta respect the people who went before me, the guys laying the road.

Land of the Rising Sun, Vol. 1

My friend Frits Jonker was writing about some cassettes that were circulating some time ago; this music was always presumed to be 78rpm's - but - when I encountered these cassettes, I think they were made from 10" (25cm) records from 1958. Can we line up any of the songs?

1971.05.31

Phonolog Reports – New Releases
Week of May 31, 1971

Caught my eye:

BONZO DOG BAND – The Beast Of The Bonzoes (U.A. UAS-5517)
SOFT MACHINE – Fourth (Columbia C 30754) (LP)
McGUINNESS-FLINT – Happy Birthday Ruthie Baby (Capitol ST-794)
AL KOOPER – New York City (You’re A Woman) (Columbia KC-30506) (LP)

A Bonzo best of, presumably after they broke up (?); the final Soft Machine with Mr. Wyatt (?); Ex-Manfred Mann men in McGuinness-Flint (great single of the same name); Al Kooper’s solo career continues.

Also of interest:

WEATHER REPORT – self-titled (Columbia C 30661)
PERCY FAITH – Theme From “A Summer Place” (Harmony KH-30607) re-issue
PETE JOLLY – Seasons (A&M SP-3033)

Fusion jazz from Weather Report; EZ hit re-issue from Percy Faith; “Easy Jazz” from A&M pianist jazz guy Pete Jolly.

Notable singles:

DEEP PURPLE – Strange Kind Of Woman b/w I’m Alone (Warner 7493)
FIVE MAN ELECTRICAL BAND – Signs b/w Hello Melinda (Lionel 3213)
FREE – I’ll Be Creepin’ b/w Mr. Big (A&M 1266)
VELVET UNDERGROUND – Oh Sweet Nuthin’ b/w Who Loves The Sun (Cotillion 44107)

A good Deep Purple single; decent AM radio hit with FMEB “Signs”; A Free single that isn’t “All Right Now”; the final vinyl 45 for VU?

70's / 60's Memories - Part 1

I spent more than half of the 1970’s as an underage, unemployed citizen. I got my first job (at a record store!) on July 2, 1976 (two days before the Bi-centennial!). This means for over 5 ½ years, I had to depend on my ingenuity…and my parents – in order to be able to get new music in the 70’s.

For someone who didn’t have regular employment, it seems to me now that I sure got a lot of records, about ’75 or so. I was given a meager allowance, and I could supplement this ‘income’ with doing “extra chores” (i.e. mopping floors or mowing the lawns) – and I could go looking for (used discarded) bottles to trade in to the liquor store – “CA Deposit”!

In 1971 – and my memory is fuzzy here – I think I may have been allowed “a record a week” or something like that. My dad was not adverse (well, he did it, whether or not he was adverse to it) to taking me downtown, so I could look in the handful of “hippie record stores”. I seem to remember looking for as long as I liked, but…knowing my dad, he may have been impatient with me at times (“C’mon, you’ve been in here forever!”) – I simply don’t remember all of the details.

In the 1960’s, the record departments that I remember clearly (before hippie record stores) are places like May Company, Wallach’s Music City, Cal Store, The Treasury, Gemco, White Front, Zody’s…and my mom was who took me those places – likely, she had some other motive of going there (it wasn’t just so I could look at records). If I asked “nicely”, I may have been favored with an LP purchase (I seem to remember getting my “Virgin Fugs” by The Fugs at a Gemco – I am not kidding).

But back to the 70’s – Thrifty Drug Store had a “Bargain Bin” – brand new records with holes punched in the covers, known as “Cut Outs” – as cheap as 59 cents, as high as $1.98. With a wagon full of bottles back to the liquor store, I might have enough money to buy an LP at Thrifty! Reality: two dozen coke bottles only netted you something like 72 cents – which was enough for a 45 at the Singer Seeing Machine Shop!

Did I hoard my elementary school / junior high (middle school) lunch money to buy records? It is possible – especially since discovering that a hardware store near my home (“Dooley’s”) had a record department, with 45’s for a dime (10 cents – “One thin dime, one tenth of a dollar!” to quote The Coasters in “Little Egypt”)! 10 cents could be had easily enough – that was a carton of milk and a bag of peanuts – or a 45 from a hardware store! If I still had any allowance left, or had collected and returned a load of coke bottles – I could’ve gone in there with, 45, 50 cents! Wow!

8-track tapes were “in”, 4 track tapes were “out” – seemed like people weren’t totally embracing cassettes – maybe it was just me. Between me, my brother and my father, we had reel-to-reels decks, a portable cassette and a cassette deck, two or three record players, and an 8-track “recorder” (a Panasonic, as I recall). My point in mentioning this stuff – sometimes, cassettes could be found for 49 cents or 99 cents – but 8-tracks tapes never seemed to hit the ‘bargain bin’. If I got to go to Muntz Stereo, it was nearly all 8-track tapes: “Get that great Muntz sound in your car!” – my mother’s car had an 8-track tape player in it! Was her first 8-track tape “Flowers” by The Rolling Stones?

I couldn’t really nail down the exact time I changed bicycles from a Schwinn Stingray to a 10-speed bike – but having a 10-speed bike meant I could go a little further from my home – in search of inexpensive music.

My sense of direction has always been fairly good – some would say it’s excellent. How hard it is to count the turns, when your mom or dad drives you someplace? From my home, to get to Wallach’s Music City – it was a mere 4 turns! OK, “that was easy” – despite having to carry a huge padlock to chain my bike up, so it would still be there when I came out of the record store.

If I was 12 going on 13 in 1971, I must’ve sounded pretty convincing to the clerks at Wallach’s Music City – I got them to give me the Phonolog New Release Sheets the week after they were current – they were just going to throw them away, “So, can I have them?” As an anonymous reader pointed out, something like that – or a three month old Melody Maker newspaper from England – was enough to keep me going, to fuel the fire. My brother taught me about Schwann Record Catalogs; they were in my home – going all the way back to 1965.

Along with comic books and Gibbon’s Stamp Albums – my preferred reading material of the late 60’s and early 70’s were Schwann Record Catalogs and Phonolog New Release Sheets. For those too young to remember, the “Phonolog” was the big yellow (goldenrod?) encyclopedia of music that was on the counter of any “fine record store” – one presumes that it was there so the staff could take customer’s “special orders”?

My first encounter with the Phonolog was likely in 1963 or 1964 – my dad had taped Side 1 of Spike Jones “Dinner Music For Those Who Aren’t Very Hungry” off of the FM radio, and played it for me. I wanted an LP of it, but when we went to Wallach’s – it wasn’t in the Phonolog. What was in the Phonolog was “Thank You, Music Lovers” – a ‘best of’ on RCA with Jack Davis cover art.

I don’t remember how I discovered the EP section in the Wallach’s – was it separate, or merely behind the 45’s? RCA kept many Elvis Presley EP’s in print, well into the 70’s (well, until they had the ubiquitous yellow RCA label!) – and they were a bargain! Something like $1.29 for 4 whole songs! The cheapest I could find 45’s was for 59 cents at the Singer Sewing Machine Shop, but…but…they didn’t have a giant selection, like Wallach’s Music City did.

My brother had taught me about “British Imports” – records from England – “Wash your hands before you touch this!” – fondly fondling a nice Parlophone copy of “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”…it certainly looked nicer, and my brother said it “sounded better”, and that it was “a quality product” etc. I am not sure that I knew it was “more expensive” – well, not at first, anyway.

1971.05.17

Phonolog Reports – New Releases
Week of May 17, 1971

Caught my eye:

ATOMIC ROOSTER – Death Walks Behind You (Elektra EKS-74094) (CD)
BEGGAR’S OPERA – Act One (Verve V6-5080)
MIKE HERON – Smiling Men With Bad Reputations (Elektra EKS-74093) (CD)
LES McCANN & EDDIE HARRIS – Second Movement (Atlantic SD 1583) (CD)
ROLLING STONES – Sticky Fingers (Rolling Stones COC 5910) (CD)
UNCLE DIRTY – Primer (Elektra EKS-74097) (LP)

I got the Atomic Rooster as soon as I found a cheap copy of it. I had an Elektra sampler LP from this month – so I heard all of the Elektra titles here, and bought quite a few of them (there were ones I didn’t list, notably “The Quinames Band”). This is the Mike Heron album with The Who guesting as “Tommy & The Bijoux” (on one track). The follow-up to McCann/Harris' “Swiss Movement”. And a decent Rolling Stones LP, their first for Atlantic. The debut Beggar’s Opera LP, licensed from Vertigo records in England. Uncle Dirty is a stand-up comedian.

Also of interest:

NAZZ – Nazz III (SGC SD 5004)
O.S.T. – Melody (Bee Gees etc.) (Atco SD 33-363)
TONTO’S EXPANDING HEAD BAND – Zero Time (Embryo SD 732)
STEVE WINWOOD – self-titled, double LP collection (U.A. UAS 9950)

We forget – Todd R. was ‘Nazz’ well into the 70’s. An ‘iffy’ Bee Gees / various artists soundtrack. Strange electronic LP from T.E.H.B. And a Winwood compilation, with Traffic and Spencer Davis Group material (likely cashing in on Winwood’s success with both Blind Faith and Traffic’s success after leaving U.A. (in the US) to go with the U.S. Island label licensee, Capitol Records.

Notable singles:

ALICE COOPER – Hallowed Be Thy Name b/w Caught In A Dream (Warner 7490)
EDGAR WINTER – Where Would I Be (Epic 5-10750)

Not a huge week for singles – a non-hit Alice Cooper title and a pre-“Frankenstein” Edgar Winter 45.

1971.05.10

Phonolog Reports – New Releases
Week of May 10, 1971

Caught my eye:

BEAVER & KRAUSE – Gandharva (Warner 1909) (CD)
FAIR WEATHER – Beginning From An End (Neon NE 1) (LP)
HOLY MODAL ROUNDERS – self-titled (Metromedia 1039)
INDIAN SUMMER – self-titled (Neon NE 3) (CD)
CHRIS McGREGOR’S BROTHERHOOD OF BREATH – self-titled (Neon NE 2) (LP)

The first US release of the British Neon label! I love the Indian Summer album, and always have! Fair Weather = Andy Fairweather-Lowe. Chris McGregor was a South African leading a jazz band in England / Europe. I saw him live in Paris before he died. Is this the “Boobs A Lot” HMR LP? Synth / instrumental weirdness from Beaver & Krause!

Also of interest:

STRAWBERRY ALARM CLOCK – Changes (Vocalion / Uni 73915)
CANNED HEAT – Live In Europe (U.A. UAS 5509)
JEFF STURGES & UNIVERSE – self-titled (Mam 1)
BAHA MARIMBA BAND – As Time Goes By (A&M SP-4298) (LP)

SAC – the strangeness continues. Canned Heat LP finally gets a U.S. release. Debut LP on the
British ‘Mam’ label. A&M label gives us the final A&M BMB LP (My mom & dad liked the BMB).

Notable singles:

JOE COCKER – High Time We Went b/w Black Eyed Blues (A&M 1258)
JANIS JOPLIN – Mercedes Benz b/w Cry Baby (Columbia 4-45379)
BEAVER & KRAUSE – Walkin’ By The River b/w Saga Of The Blue Beaver (Warner 7485)
CHICAGO – Lowdown (Columbia 4-45370)
HERB ALPERT & THE TIJUANA BRASS – Summertime b/w Hurt So Bad (A&M 1261)
FACES – Maybe I’m Amazed b/w Oh Lord I’m Browned Off (Warner 7483)

Good Joe Cocker A-Side. Posthumous Janis Joplin 45. B&K single from “Gandharva”. A fine Chicago A-Side (a version of it exists sung in Japanese!). Rod Stewart & The Faces single from “Long Player”, with a cool non-LP (instrumental) B-Side.

1971.04.19

Phonolog Reports – New Releases
Week of April 19, 1971

Caught my eye:

JOHN MAYALL – Back To The Roots (Polydor 25-3002 2 x LP)
THE DOORS – L.A. Woman (Elektra EKS-75011) (CD)
EGG – The Polite Force (Deram DES-18056) (CD)
LEON RUSSELL – Leon Russell & The Shelter People (Shelter SW-8903) (CD)

Got The Doors right away – with the window pane cover – I loved this album to death!; it didn’t take long to find an inexpensive promo of the 2^nd Egg album (I also had the first Egg album!); Mayall’s “Back To The Roots” was an inexpensive double album with a very large booklet; Leon Russell was very famous – having worked with Joe Cocker, this was his 2^nd ‘solo’ album.

Also of interest:

EDGAR WINTER’S WHITE TRASH (Epic E-30512)
HAMPTON GREASE BAND – Music To Eat (Columbia G-30555 2 x LP) (CD)
BILL BLACK COMBO – More Bill Black Magic (Hi SHL-32061)
CHASE (Epic E-30472) “Get It On In The Morning”
A CHILD’S GARDEN OF GRASS (Elektra EKS-75012)

2^nd album by Johnny Winter’s brother?; I realized years later that the Hampton Grease Band featured ace guitarist Glenn Phillips (this double LP was cheap!); I collect the Bill Black Combo; You heard the Chase single on the radio a lot; I heard something from “A Child’s Garden of Grass” on the FM radio – I liked comedy albums a lot back then.

Notable singles:

HAMILTON, JOE FRANKLIN & REYNOLDS – Don’t Pull Your Love Out On Me / Funk-In-Wagnal (Dunhill 4276)
RONNIE SPECTOR – Try Some, Buy Some / Tandoori Chicken (Apple 1832)
JOHNNY WINTER – Jumpin’ Jack Flash / Good Morning Little Schoolgirl (Columbia 4-45368)
YVONNE ELLIMAN – I Don’t Know How To Love Him / Overture (Decca 32785)

Ronnie Spector for the apple collectors; Yvonne Elliman had the 2^nd single from the original UK version of “Jesus Christ Superstar” in the US (first single was “Superstar” sung by Murray Head); 2 cover versions for this Johnny Winter single – is it ‘live’?; to this very day, you can hear “Don’t Pull Your Love Out On Me” on ‘Oldies’ radio – even if you don’t want to!

1971.04.12

Phonolog Reports – New Releases
Week of April 12, 1971

Caught my eye:

JETHRO TULL – Aqualung (Reprise MS 2035) (CD)
PROCOL HARUM – Broken Barricades (A&M SP-4294) (CD)
JOHN SEBASTIAN – Real Live (Reprise MS 2036)
SPOOKY TOOTH – Tobacco Road (A&M SP-4300)

I already had an import of this Jethro Tull album; This is a wonderful, fantastic Procol Harum album (my favorite 70’s PH LP!) – again, I already had a UK copy; There is a variant (illegitimate?) MGM issue of this John Sebastian album (with a different cover); I believe this Spooky Tooth LP is A&M’s first issue of the material from their debut 60’s album (which Bell has previously done the honors in the US).

Also of interest:

GUESS WHO – Best of (RCA LSPX-1004)
PEARLS BEFORE SWINE – City of Gold (Reprise RS-6442)
HEADS HANDS & FEET (Captiol SVBB-680) 2 x LP
CLARK-HUTCHINSON – Retribution (Deram DES-18055)
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD – Survival (Captiol SW-764)
JERRY REED – When You’re Hot, You’re Hot (RCA LSP-4506)

Guess Who LP came with a day-glo poster; PBS had been on the obscure ESP label; HHF were licensed out to Island (in the UK); I had the debut Clark-Hutchinson LP, “A=MH2”, also on Deram; a guy down the street had the GFR LP (I thought the cover was dumb); I thought Jerry Reed was cornball then (but now I kinda like him!).

Notable singles:

HUDSON & LANDRY – Liquor Store / Hippie & The Red-Neck (Dore 855)
GRAND FUNK RAILROAD – Feelin’ Alright / I Want Freedom (Captiol 3095)
BILLY EDD WHEELER – Love / Coal Tattoo (RCA 74-0463)
GUESS WHO – Albert Flasher / Broken (RCA 74-0458)
SUE THOMPSON – What You See Is What You Get / Here’s To Forever (Hickory 1596)

I collect both Sue Thompson and Billy Edd Wheeler – possibly Wheeler’s RCA debut and the Sue Thompson 45 is still in the pre-MGM Hickory numbering series; So, “Albert Flasher” was the single to go with the Guess Who “Best of”!; Hudson & Landry were L.A. radio comedians (Emperor Hudson!); This is the debut single for GFR’s “Survival” LP (Still before their big singles chart success(es) of the 70’s).

1971.04.05

Thanks for some of the suggestions about what to write about next -

So, I’m thinking about 1971. I was 12 years old, waiting to become 13 years old in August, 1971. I was already fairly obsessive about popular music. It’s one thing to look at all of the info and say, “I was so hip in 1971!” – but, a quick look at the release sheets of the day would indicate otherwise – there just wasn’t that much ultra-hip stuff coming out in the US then!

I had been a regular patron of the downtown hippie record store(s) for a while by 1971 – I found them initially by looking it up in the phone book! When I first went in there, the hippies were very nice to me, offered me free licorice…and played me whatever records I asked about. I also heard about new music from the FM radio and my older brother. This is largely before I had any “music friends” (beyond my original childhood friends).

All of the info on these sheets comes from Phonolog New Release Sheet that we got at Wallach’s Music City in Lakewood, CA. I think the way it worked was that they would give us the “week old” sheets, rather than merely throwing them in the trash. Alas, while my brother & I might’ve successfully hoarded these sheets for 35+ years…we don’t seem to have a contiguous “full set” – shock, horror! Some weeks are sadly missing.

So, I have noted what was of interest to me than (and now)…regardless of how you remember it, this is the way it was. The order stuff came along. So, let’s enjoy the simplicity of “my picks” for 1971. There’s some neat stuff in there. I can totally see how my musical taste was being shaped, changed. It was no longer the 60’s…

Phonolog Reports – New Releases

Week of April 5, 1971

Caught my eye:

THE GROUNDHOGS – Split (United Artists UAS 6800) CD
MOTT THE HOOPLE – Wildlife (Atlantic SD 8284) CD
THE NICE – Elegy (Mercury SR 61324)
YES – The Yes Album (Atlantic SD 8283) CD

I actually waited and got a British Liberty copy of “Split” by The Groundhogs (it had a better cover!); I didn’t buy Mott The Hoople “Wildlife” at this time, but I already had “Mad Shadows”; I knew The Nice had 60’s records – but didn’t get this at the time (cover looked like those big balls on “The Prisoner”); To be honest, I didn’t come back to “The Yes Album” until I got “Fragile” a few months later (but I am certain I heard “All Good People” on the FM radio).

Also of interest:

TED HEATH ORCHESTRA – Beatles, Bach & Bacharach (Phase 4 SP-44148)
DOOBIE BROTHERS – self-titled debut LP (Warner Brothers WS 1919)
MARVIN, WELCH & FARRAR – self-titled (Capitol ST-760) ex-Shadows
BUDDY MILES – Message To The People (Mercury SRM-1-608)
FRANK SINATRA / ANTONIO CARLOS JOBIM – Sinatra & Company (Reprise FS-1033)

My dad might’ve been interested in the Ted Heath Orchestra or Frank Sinatra / Antonio Carlos Jobim. Easy listening!

Notable singles:

BLOODROCK – A Certain Kind / You Gotta Roll (Capitol 3089)
ROD STEWART – Country Comfort (Mercury 73196)
THE DOORS – Love Her Madly / Don’t Go No Further (You Need Meat) (Elektra 45726)
THE FORTUNES – Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again / I Gotta Dream (Capitol 3086)
THE JACKSON 5 – Never Can Say Goodbye / She’s Good (Motown 1179)
JIMMIE HASKELL – Zachariah (End Title) / William Tell Overture (ABC 11296)

I was aware of Rod Stewart, but I don’t remember this single; I loved this Doors single at the time of it’s release (non-LP B-Side, too!); I remember both The Fortunes and The Jackson 5 being on the AM radio – which I still ‘sort of’ heard. The Jimmie Haskell 45 is from the movie that was written by The Firesign Theatre (DVD).

Author! Author!

Hi there,

I'm Ron - the guy who writes all of this stuff. Here's a photo of me taken late last year in San Francisco's Japantown Mall (photo by Dorothy Daniel). Looks a little pumpkin-y to me (the setting, not me!).

Lately I've only been posting Playlists and Yard Lists - which are my reality, in the music world. Truth of the matter is, it's been busy around here - and I have not been feeling terribly motivated, shall we say. I've had my favorite friends visit here over th last few weeks, and I am planning yet another visit to Japan.

But what I am saying is: I am always happier with my blog (of music writing) when I get some reaction from the folks who read it. I know not many people are exactly enticed by my lists - so, I'll throw the floor open: What shall I write about? What would you like to see / hear / read from me?

The only artist I've really been curious about lately is Andy Ellison - I dearly love the "Jet" album on CBS, the first "Radio Stars" album, and his work with "John's Children" - I also have his Track 45, "It's Been A Long Time" and I saw him interviewed in a Marc Bolan documentary from British TV - so I presume Mr. Ellison still walks the Earth. Andy, if you're reading this - i love your stuff!

But - let's have it! What shall I write about???

Thanks for reading my stuff - you are why I write it all down.

- Ron

Playlist 3-20-07

Playlist #80 March 20, 2007

1. MICK SMILEY – Magic ("Ghostbusters" O.S.T.)
2. CRAWLER – Sail On
3. WOLFGANG RIECHMANN – Wunderbar
4. GRAUZONE – Schlachtet!
5. JAN AKKERMAN – Revival Of The Cat
6. TOM ROBINSON BAND – 2-4-6-8 Motorway
7. ANDY SUMMERS & ROBERT FRIPP – New Marimba
8. LAURIE ANDERSON – Late Show
9. DAVID VAN TIEGHEM – Beyond Knowledge and Power
10. HARPERS BIZARRE – Anything Goes
11. MIDNIGHT OIL – Sleep
12. ALAIN CHAMFORT – Pin Ups
13. LEVEL 42 – Running In The Family
14. WALLY BADAROU – Endless Race (Remix)
15. FRANK ZAPPA – Time Is Money
16. THE ZOMBIES – Whenever You’re Ready
17. WORLD PARTY – Way Down Now (7” mix)
18. BRUCE WOOLEY & THE CAMERA CLUB – Johnny
19. MICHAEL MOERS – Ma Mere Etait Propre

Blancmange

I think I have done my dash with Blancmange. I always liked them - I bought their beta hi-fi videocassette of music videos - and a few singles at the time. I have more recently obtained all three albums and most (all?) of their 12" singles. I suppose I could use CD's of the three albums, and some 7" singles - to get the short versions of some songs. I remember really liking the music video for "Lose Your Love", where they dump out a bunch of paint / refuse.

BELIEVE YOU ME LONDON UK LONLP 10 LP

BLIND VISION ISLAND US 0-99886 12"

BLIND VISION LONDON UK BLANX 5 12"

BLIND VISION / HEAVEN KNOWS WHERE HEAVEN IS LONDON JPN S07P-1040 7"

DAY BEFORE YOU CAME, THE LONDON UK BLANX 8 12"

DON'T TELL ME LONDON DE 6.20325 AE 12"

DON'T TELL ME LONDON UK BLAPX 7 12"

DON'T TELL ME / GET OUT OF THAT LONDON UK BLANC 7 7"

FEEL ME LONDON UK BLANX 2 12"

GOD'S KITCHEN LONDON UK BLANX 1 12"

HAPPY FAMILIES ISLAND US 90053.1 LP

I CAN SEE IT LONDON UK BLANX 11 12"

LIVING ON THE CEILING LONDON UK BLANX 3 12"

LIVING ON THE CEILING (Picture label) LONDON JPN L15P-1155 12"

LIVING ON THE CEILING / RUNNING THIN LONDON UK BLANC 3 7"

LOSE YOUR LOVE LONDON UK BLANX 10 12"

MANGE TOUT LONDON UK SH 8554 LP

SECOND HELPINGS - THE BEST OF LONDON UK 828043.2 CD

THAT'S LOVE, THAT IT IS SIRE US 20282-0 12"

THAT'S LOVE, THAT IT IS / VISHNU LONDON UK BLANC 6 7"

THAT'S LOVE, THAT IT IS / VISHNU pic disc LONDON UK BLAPD 6 7"

WAVES LONDON UK BLANX 4 12"

WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM? LONDON UK BLANX 9 12"