Classic Rock Vinyl 182 Items

All in all the debut album by cultish japanese freak-rockers Flower Travellin’ Band, then called Yuya Uchida & The Flowers. Released in 1969 it features mainly cover songs of influential Western bands such as Cream, Big Brother and the Holding Company, The Jimi Hendrix Experience, Jefferson Airplane. It was named number 34 on Bounce's 2009 list of 54 Standard Japanese Rock Albums.

Limited to 500 copies. Monster rare USA private pressing from 1968, rated with 6 stars in the Hans Pokora 3001 Record Collector's Dreams book. The Yays & Nays were a groovy, hip group (says so on the original LP jacket!) comprised of three guys and three girls. Theirs is a truly unique sounding album, full of creative songwriting and vocal arrangements and a style that defies categorization. There's garage folk-rock-the opening track 'Gotta Keep Traveling' is really astounding!, tracks with vocals in a kind of 'Kicking Against the Pricks"-era Nick Cave-channelling-Tony-Joe-White-meets-Johnny Cash vein, a little country flair, and some cuts of an ''Incredible Strange Music'' type. Weird and wonderful, in it's own peculiar way. Reissued for the first time, in collaboration with band members, and with original artwork.

Five Live Yardbirds – 1964, their first live album contains some of Eric Clapton's earliest recordings. It was recorded at the legendary Marquee club in London. This lineup features Eric Clapton/lead guitar, Keith Relf/ lead vocals & harmonica, Chris Dreja/ rhythm guitar, Paul Samwell-Smith/bass and Jim McCarty/drums. This deluxe package includes color vinyl, an OBI side spine and printed inner sleeve.

Limited to 100 copies on green vinyl. Only available at hhv.de

Enchanting and sunny 1969 psych folk by San Francisco teenage sisters Wendy & Bonnie Flower. A cult album that would later inspire bands like Stereolab, with dreamy vocal harmonies as the main attraction, laced with Brazilian splashes and soft-rock strains. Pure timeless psychedelic pop perfection, awash in serenity and haunting reverie floating in the ether above airy soundscapes that convey a sophistication that belies the artists' tender age: 15 and 18. Alongside them are top-notch musicians such as guitarist Larry Carlton, drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Randy Sterling and organists/pianists Mike Melvoin and Mike Lang. Originally produced by Gary McFarland, Gábor Szabó and Cal Tjader.

Enchanting and sunny 1969 psych folk by San Francisco teenage sisters Wendy & Bonnie Flower. A cult album that would later inspire bands like Stereolab, with dreamy vocal harmonies as the main attraction, laced with Brazilian splashes and soft-rock strains. Pure timeless psychedelic pop perfection, awash in serenity and haunting reverie floating in the ether above airy soundscapes that convey a sophistication that belies the artists' tender age: 15 and 18. Alongside them are top-notch musicians such as guitarist Larry Carlton, drummer Jim Keltner, bassist Randy Sterling and organists/pianists Mike Melvoin and Mike Lang. Originally produced by Gary McFarland, Gábor Szabó and Cal Tjader.

The second offering from Traffic, October 1968 would be their self titled Album, achieving a strong balance between Dave Mason’s simple and straightforward folk-rock songs and Steve Winwood’s complex and often haunting rock jams would see the album peak in the UK charts at No’9 and No’16 in the US Billboard Chart. Re-Issued individually from the phenomenal 2019 Traffic – The Studio Albums 1967-74 Boxset. Remastered from the original tapes, pressed on 180g heavy weight vinyl and artwork caringly overseen and interpreted, this album is a must for any newcomer or indeed, seasoned Traffic fan.

Led by explosive guitar player Chris (later Christa) Bond, Thunder and Roses was a power-trio from Philly in the best tradition of Cream or the Jimi Hendrix Experience. This is their sole album, originally released in 1969. A cult psychedelic hard-rock classic, including “White Lace and Strange”, famously covered by Nirvana. Thunder and Roses (named after a story from The Astounding Science Fiction Anthology) started to take form when genius 18-years old guitar player Chris Bond and bassist Tom Schaffer met heavy drummer George Emme (previously of The Electric Power House). Rehearsing six days a week the trio gelled quick and soon they were playing memorable shows at venues like Electric Factory and the Trauma. Recorded at Sigma Sound by Joe Tarcia, “King of the Black Sunrise” was released by United Artists in 1969. Dominated by Bond’s outstanding fuzz-wah guitar playing, the album featured seven original songs plus a storming cover of Hendrix’s “Red House”. Sadly, the record label took a wrong decision when refused to release the killer “White Lace and Strange” as a 45 to promote the album, choosing the mockery “Country Life” instead. After Thunder & Roses split, guitar player and main songwriter Chris Bond had a successful career as producer, songwriter, arranger and session musician, working closely with Daryl Hall & John Oates as well as other top artists. Later in his life, Chris eventually transitioned from male to female and changed her name to Christa. She sadly passed away in 2019.

Reissue of the band sole album, originally released in 1968 on Capitol Records. The record is a mixture of light psychedelic pop and folk. The band broke up shortly after failing to achieve commercial success or critical acclaim. The following year Artie Kornfeld, the record engineer of the album, went on to be the music producer of the Woodstock festival in 1969. Debbie Harry went on to join The Stillettos in 1974 and other bands until subsequently achieving success in 1976 fronting the new wave band Blondie.

Freshly remastered for 2012!

Wah Wah is proud to release the first ever legit vinyl reissue from master tape of New Zealand's legendary Underdogs' first LP from 1968. Lovers of John Mayall and his Bluesbreakers (note the Eric Clapton tribute paid on the sleeve of this album) will love this album. The Underdogs formed in 1964 and shared the scene with other greats from the country like The La De Da's, The Action (NZ band, not to be confused with the UK mod godfathers) and The Pleazers. They spread the rhythm and blues word from their native Auckland through several 45s on the Zodiac label and went through a series of line-up changes prior to the release of their fabulous first long player. The Underdogs Blues Band LP was recorded by Murray Grindlay on vocals, Lou Rawnsley on guitars, Neil Edwards on bass and Tony Walton on drums, and shows the group’s appreciation for Mayall's combo - just like The Bluesbreakers' Crusade LP the Underdogs open their album with a cover of Albert King's "Oh, Pretty Woman," one of three "Bluesbreakers" songs covered on the LP. On this first long player the band storm into a world of guitar led rave-ups a la Yardbirds, organ blues grinders and even give a sight to what's to come next with some incipient heavier sounds a la Cream.

This is a 500 copies only reissue, housed in its original artwork in a vintage styled backflaps sleeve and insert

Let’s take a trip to the zoo, in mono! Labeled as a part of the Bosstown Sound, these Boston psych rockers take listeners along for the ride - their freak-out arrangement of “Gloria” and a slew of outtasite originals showcase their intricate psych pop sound. Got your lava lamp bubbling yet? Originally from Swansea, MA, the Tangerine Zoo formed just six months before writing and recording their first album. Once they turned down RCA and Atlantic for Mainstream, the group agreed to do one single and an album, one that’d take just 13 hours to complete. Inspired by Vanilla Fudge and the hippie scene in Greenwich Village, the band’s acid rock captured the same psychedelic sound bands like Orpheus, Ultimate Spinach, and Beacon Street Union were creating in Boston. After a promotional tour, the band went on to make just one other album before dissolving at the end of the ‘60s, leaving a true Bosstown artyfact behind. “Tangerine Zoo may be an orange happening, and have to be seen to be believed. They make the claim that ‘your eyes and ears will throw a party for your mind.’” – Fall River, Mass. Herald News Feb. 13, 1968

Once The Shain´s had disbanded a new project was born, St Thomas Pepper Smelter. Recorded in 1969, with practically the same band members as The Shain´s, the band explored darker and psychedelic sounds with covers from Vanilla Fudge, Cream, Hendrix and Music Machine, as well as various amazing songs of their own. This album was to be the transition towards their new projects more progressive and 70s style than before and lead to Gerardo Manuel y Humo!

Heavy prog-psych with tons of organ and fuzz guitar courtesy of THE Shiver from Switzerland. This is their sole album from 1969, housed in a sinister cover designed by surrealist painter H.R. Giger (his first album cover work). Originally formed in the mid-60s in St. Gallen (Switzerland) as a beat, R&B band in the vein of Spencer Davis Group or The Yardbirds (and featuring an English vocalist), The Shivers dropped soon the “s” from their name at the same time as they adopted the early progressive sounds of British bands like Procol Harum or Moody Blues. After winning the first prize at a couple of major music festivals and even sharing stage with Pink Floyd, they started recording their first album. Combining interesting cover versions (the LP opens with a monster heavy cover of Procol Harum’s “Repent Walpurgis") and original songs, the album is a perfect example of the transition from beat and blues-rock to psychedelia and heavy prog.

Sitar-laden raga rock-xotica! Light the incense, turn on and tune out to this acid folk blend of electric oud, minitar and melodica - its genuine organic blend of both Eastern and Western sounds make this band truly sound like no other. Pressed on seaglass blue vinyl!

The Open Mind was an English psychedelic rock band formed in London, and active in the 1960s and 1970s. The band was formed in 1963 by four musicians from Putney, South West London. Initially named The Apaches and formed by Tim du Feu, Mike Brancaccio and Philip Fox and their friend Ray Nye. Nye left in 1965 and another friend, Terry Schindler, joined instead. The band became The Drag Set, who released a little-known single in February 1967, "Day and Night" / "Get Out of My Way". Shortly thereafter, they changed their name to The Open Mind and in July 1969 released a self-titled LP which has since become a highly sought-after collectible. The band, however, is best known for its druggy August 1969 single, "Magic Potion", which did not appear on the album. Despite their paucity of recorded material, The Open Mind have proven to be influential in the psychedelic rock genre, their single "Magic Potion" having been covered by bands such as The Seers, Sun Dial and The Damned.

Welcomed re-issue of this sough after Japanese masterpiece, just released during the 1968 turmoil. The Mops are one of Japan’s best known “group sounds” bands, particularly noted for their psychedelic period. The group was founded in 1966 by high school friends Mikiharu Suzuki (drums), Taro Miyuki (guitar), Masaru Hoshi (lead guitar) and Kaoru Murakami (bass), playing mostly instrumental rock. Their debut album is still considered a cornerstone of the so-called proto-garage revolution. Their flower-power is revealed through a cosmic artwork, ethnic clothing, fuzz guitars and sitar playing. The album includes covers of the Airplane’s hits “Someone To Love” and “White Rabbit”, the Doors' “Light My Fire”, the Animals' “San Franciscan Nights” and “Inside Looking Out”, as well as the Mops theme song “I Am Just A Mops”

Insect Trust were an American jazz-based rock band that formed in New York in 1967. The members of the band were Nancy Jeffries on vocals, Bill Barth on guitar, Luke Faust - formerly of the Holy Modal Rounders - on guitar, banjo, fiddle, and harmonica, Trevor Koehler on saxophone, and Robert Palmer (1945–1997) on clarinet and alto saxophone. Elvin Jones and Bernard Purdie both drummed with the group at times. Bill Folwell, who had played with Albert Ayler (and later an original member of The Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo), on bass and trumpet; as well as Warren Gardner on trumpet and clarinet, were part of the band by the time they recorded their second album. The band probably took its name from William S. Burroughs's novel Naked Lunch. The music ranges from surreal folk-rock (in the vein of such local heroes like Holy Modal Rounders and Fugs), to Booker T.-like pop-soul, to flat-out free jazz. Never intended to be a traditional pop act, the Insect Trust should be best remembered for extending rock's boundaries and taking the genre to a much hipper level without resorting to a lot of banal technique.

A vocal band that made it through, the Free Design have been more than an exception in the glittering world of the psychedelic circus. That was the Age of Aquarius in the end, but in the long run the 4-piece had an enormous impact on the younger generation. Released in 1969 “Heaven/earth” is a cornerstone on its own and 30 years later the band had a sort of epiphany, thanks to the spanning interest of artists such as Cornelius, Beck, Stereolab and crate digger master Madlib. By now the Free Design are considered in the same league of The Beach Boys and The Carpenters. Under the influence of the Hi-Lo’s and Peter, Paul and Mary, The Free Design rose through the folk scene of the Greenwich Village coffee houses, achieving national prominence with the enchanting ‘Kites Are Fun’. They would prove to be at least the artistic equals of such popular contemporaries as The Association, The Mamas and the Papas, The Fifth Dimension and Harper’s Bizarre, but without quite matching their commercial success. Rather than be dictated to and diluted by the majors, they chose to commit to the artistic freedom and potential to develop offered them by the producer Enoch Light through his independent set up Project 3 Total Sound.

A vocal band that made it through, the Free Design have been more than an exception in the glittering world of the psychedelic circus. That was the Age of Aquarius in the end, but in the long run the 4-piece had an enormous impact on the younger generation. Released in 1969 “Heaven/earth” is a cornerstone on its own and 30 years later the band had a sort of epiphany, thanks to the spanning interest of artists such as Cornelius, Beck, Stereolab and crate digger master Madlib. By now the Free Design are considered in the same league of The Beach Boys and The Carpenters. Under the influence of the Hi-Lo’s and Peter, Paul and Mary, The Free Design rose through the folk scene of the Greenwich Village coffee houses, achieving national prominence with the enchanting ‘Kites Are Fun’. They would prove to be at least the artistic equals of such popular contemporaries as The Association, The Mamas and the Papas, The Fifth Dimension and Harper’s Bizarre, but without quite matching their commercial success. Rather than be dictated to and diluted by the majors, they chose to commit to the artistic freedom and potential to develop offered them by the producer Enoch Light through his independent set up Project 3 Total Sound.

Released only one year after their psychedelic debut, The Fallen Angels’ sophomore album, It’s A Long Way Down, lays it all out on the line. Unfettered by label interference, The Fallen Angels’ second and final record highlights all the band has to offer. Off-kilter time signatures, experimental soundscapes, and white-hot guitar licks abound across It’s A Long Way Down’s dozen tracks, with lead singer Jack Bryant’s vocals serving as a guiding light through the paisley-patterned tunnel. Album high points like “Poor Old Man” and “Something New You Can Hide In” tease early signs of progressive rock with their weird and winding melodies, and impress with rock-solid instrumentation. An early marvel of psych rock that holds up to this day. Mastered from its original tapes and pressed at RTI on color vinyl, in its original gatefold design.

UK psychedelia moved into prog rock with spices of hard rock in the late sixties, some even coined a new label to describe the strong textures resulting of the mixture of rockier blues sounds, jazz, revolutionized freakbeat and the hardest side of popsike - ‘heavy psych’. Amongst the best works of the era were the two splendid LPs recorded by Welsh band Eyes Of Blue.

The Eyes Of Blue where formed in 1966 and soon won the Melody Maker Beat Contest, a fact that secured them a recording deal with Deram records. The label issued their first 45s, they were good but -due to company pressure- more Blue Eyed Soul or even bubblegum oriented. By the time they released their first LP, on Mercury, their real sound had surfaced, showing influences by some of the coolest bands from the US West Coast like The Doors or Love, and also counted on the help of Graham Bond, who penned some of the most significant tunes on the album. Heavily Hammond organ driven athmospheres taking things one step further than The Nice, guitar pyrotechnics, an excellent vocal work, some eastern influenced guitar raga, a great taste in choosing cover versions and strong songwriting make Crossroads Of Time one of the best progressive LPs from 1968.

First ever legit vinyl reissue, in a limited run of only 500 copies, in remastered sound and featuring an insert with photos and liner notes.

1968 Psychedelic Concept Record Arranged By David Axelrod

Cykle produced one album's worth of solid garage rock, and it certainly proves that the band was an enthusiastic bunch of musicians. Much closer to late 60’s garage (proto) punk than psychedelia, the album was released in 1969.

They were best known for their 1966 song "Red Rubber Ball" (written by Paul Simon) which went to #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The band was discovered and managed by Brian Epstein and given the unique spelling of their name by John Lennon. The group was formed by guitarists and lead singers Don Dannemann and Tom Dawes (bass guitar), who met while studying at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. The other members were Earl Pickens on keyboards and Marty Fried on drums.

A lecture in 60's psych pop (almost power pop with flashes of hard rock) with consistently solid melodical, up-tempo, organ driven songs, soaring vocal harmonies, anthemic choruses. Psyched, poppy & fun. Not an album that you would listen to regularly, but more like an old friend to go back when you are in that 60s mood.

Finnaly we got it, after a long time waiting we were able to reissue this 1969 killer 7" of The Blue Condition, from Waukegan, Illinois. The original wax is a most wanted and a mega rare gem searched by garage punk collectors from all over the world. With "Coming Home" as the main track, a garage punk/freakbeat killer stomper. Fuelled with fuzz and groove. The record come with 2 postcards, linernotes and interview with the band members.

Essential ‘60s British beat, R&B, Mod album from 1966 by this band fronted by Art Wood (elder brother of Birds/Rolling Stones/Faces guitarist Ronnie) and featuring a young, pre-Deep Purple Jon Lord on organ, plus Keef Hartley (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers) on drums, Derek Griffiths on guitar and Malcolm Pool on bass. Now reissued for the first time ever in Mono, just like the 1966 original.

Essential ‘60s British beat, R&B, Mod album from 1966 by this band fronted by Art Wood (elder brother of Birds/Rolling Stones/Faces guitarist Ronnie) and featuring a young, pre-Deep Purple Jon Lord on organ, plus Keef Hartley (John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers) on drums, Derek Griffiths on guitar and Malcolm Pool on bass. Now reissued for the first time ever in Mono, just like the 1966 original.

Prompt reissue of the only album released by The Aggregation, a Los Angeles psych rock combo, who licensed the album on LHI - Lee Hazlewood company - back in 1969. The story goes like that: the band used to perform cover songs at Disneyland attraction park but also produced a bunch of originals to get along with Disney rides and exhibits. Hence their concept album in which "funhouse" is a metaphor for exploring the brain frontiers. A must have!

After collaborating with Gabor Szabo on such influential ‘rare groove’ albums as ‘More Sorcery’ and ‘Dreams’, bassist Louis Kabok and drummer Hal Gordon further embraced jazz-rock fusion under The Advancement monicker. Their self title album from 1969 opens with the moody expressiveness of "Juliet" moving on "Moorish Mode" on more interesting drums break. Their heady melting pot of jazz, hard rock and psychedelia is anyhow well described on closing number "Fall Out"

180 Gram Reissue!

Prog-psych / acid-folk lost classic from 1969 by this short lived London trio. Now lovingly reissued on vinyl with fantastic remastered sound and including insert with rare photos / memorabilia and detailed liner notes by Steve Krakow aka Plastic Crimewave. Named after a Cannonball Adderley track, Synanthesia formed thanks to a Melody Maker ad placed in 1968 by guitarist/vibes/vocalist Dennis Homes, answered by Jim Fraser (who played sax, oboe and flute) and Leslie Cook (an Incredible String Band fan on bongos, violin and mandolin). With their particular blend of folk, jazz and psychedelia, the trio played all the key underground venues and clubs, sometimes alongside top acts like Floyd, King Crimson or Fairport Convention. Their sole album was recorded at Sounds Technique studio in Chelsea (which was where Pink Floyd were recording their albums at the time) and subsequently released by RCA. The cover featured the trio climbed onto a tree at the same park where the Beatles filmed their “Strawberry Field” promo film. Despite the good reviews and the support of DJs like John Peel, the album was considered too far out and psychedelic and eventually flopped, only to be re-discovered several decades later by acid-folk fans and collectors.

Produced by David Briggs (Neil Young, Alice Cooper) and recoreded at famous Wally Heider Studio 3 in Hollywood, CA during 1969, their self-titled album features ten original compositions, with essential contributions from the four members of the band. Summerhill certainly spotted a late-1960s West Coast vibe, including Hendrix-Rock style ("Bring Me Around"), sunshine pop ("Soft Voice") and even a touch of ‘flower-jazz’ ("What Can I Say").

The Stormy Six debut album is, in some ways, the mirror of an era with simple atmospheres and an almost like ‘messa beat’ feel. The harmonies are kinda elementary and the general setting is strongly influenced by the Beat origins of the group. The "Stormy Six" formed as a sextet in Milan in 1965, right along that student environment that had already given birth to Maurizio Arcieri's "New Dada". The album is an eccentric mixture of Beat, Psychedelia and proto-prog in the vein of Moody Blues "In the search of the lost chord" or even early Genesis. The songs are almost written by the Rocchi-Fabbri duo even if, in retrospect, it was assumed that three of them belonged to Rocchi alone: ‘Ramo’, with a mystical indian flavor, ‘I Tuoi Occhi Sono Tristi’ – much in the vein of Brian Auger- and the poignant ‘Sotto I Portici Di Marmo’.

Debut album by the English rock band The Soft Machine (named after William S. Burroughs' novel), one of the best known exponents, along with Caravan, of the "Canterbury Sound". This masterpiece was released in 1968 and features the trio of Robert Wyatt (drums & vocals), Mike Ratledge (organ & piano), and Kevin Ayers (bass, vocals & piano). This was the only album by the band showcasing Ayers. Additional personnel includes bassist Hugh Hopper (who would later become a permanent member after Ayer's departure), and the NYC vocal group The Cake. The Soft Machine was one of the first albums recorded at the legendary Manhattan studios The Record Plant, which had been inaugurated with Jimi Hendrix's Electric Ladyland that same year. The album was given a 5-star rating on AllMusic by reviewer Richie Unterberger. The group is considered one of the most influential underground bands of their era.

Siren was the debut album by Kevin Coyne with Siren, the band he founded with former Bonzo Dog Band bassist Dave Clague and pianist/guitarist Nick Cudworth. The album was originally issued on John Peel’s Dandelion label in 1969. An artist who would later inspire John Lydon, Sting, Ben Watt and Will Oldham and would collaborate with Robert Wyatt, Andy Summers, Dagmar Krause, Brendan Croker, Gary Lucas and The Mekons’ Jon Langford, Kevin Coyne deserves a royal place between the likes of Syd Barrett, Peter Hammill and Daevid Allen. Standing on the verge of british blues, folk and rawk’n’roll Siren could have been easily labeled as the british answer to Canned Heat, but there’s even more. ‘And I Wonder’ is clearly an anticipation of what would happen next, with the solo career of Coyne, more focused on acid folk songwriting. “Most of the album is good time rock-on-out-music a la the Flamin’ Groovies… one of those (albums) you keep coming back to when the night gets cold and the wine is almost out. I play it a lot, and that’s the nicest thing I can say about an album.” Ed Ward – Rolling Stone “Siren just came as a breath of fresh air really, in the same way that like a generation later The Ramones did. When you just thought ‘Thank God for that!’ You hadn’t realised how bored you’d become…” John Peel.

Sacred Mushroom -- led by future Pure Prairie League member Larry Goshorn (guitar/vocals) and featuring brother Danny Goshorn (vocals) -- were a short-lived rock/blues quintet based in Cincinnati, OH. Their efforts coalesce on this, the band's self-titled debut (and only) long-player. The album contains a blend of proficient originals as well as a pair of well-chosen cover tunes, such as the blues standard "Mean Old World" and the Kinks' "I'm Not Like Everybody Else." While their name conjures images of late-'60s psychedelic or acid rock, Sacred Mushroom's roots were decidedly more bluesy than trippy.

Limited to 1000 copies.

The Rationals are one of the cornerstone bands of Detroit’s ever-storied rock history. Artists such as Bob Seger, Ted Nugent and Brownsville Station were influenced by The Rationals. Coming out of Ann Arbor in 1964, The Rationals gave an authentic R&B twist to the new rock ‘n roll styles of the British Invasion. They broke through on Jeep Holland’s A2 label in 1965 and found a hit with a cover of Otis Redding’s “Respect” on the Cameo Parkway label in 1966—reaching a spot on the Billboard Hot 100. By 1967 The Rationals were firmly embedded in the Detroit music scene alongside such contemporaries as MC5, The Stooges, Bob Seger System and the Amboy Dukes. They were frequently featured on bills at the legendary Grande Ballroom, and acted as supporting act for Cream, Jimi He ndrix, and Pi nk Floyd around the Detroit area. Their sole studio LP was self-titled and released by Crewe Records in 1970. Their matured sound included touches of soul, hard rock, psychedelia, and the blues which spawned originals like “Guitar Army,” and showcased their soulful talents on covers such as “Temptation ‘Bout To Get Me”.

This Record Store Day 2022 reissue of the 1970 LP has been newly remastered and pressed on orange and yellow splatter vinyl at Third Man Pressing in Detroit.

Barefootin' Temptation 'Bout To Get Me Guitar Army Something's Gotta Hold On Me Deep Red Sunset Glowin' Handbags and Gladrags Ha Ha Zip-A-Dee Doo-Dah (Bonus Track)

Limited to 2000 copies.

Rare Bird are perhaps best remembered for having the distinction of being the first act to be released on Tony Stratton Smith’s gloriously eclectic label Charisma records (also the home of Genesis, THE Nice and VAN DER Graaf Generator to name but a few) and for their excellent 1970 hit single ‘Sympathy’. Like fellow future Charisma stable mates Van Der Graaf Generator, Rare Bird was formed around the principle of keyboard dominated progressive rock which eschewed the use of guitars. In December 1969 their eponymous debut album was released to great critical acclaim.

The third long-player from San Francisco psychedelic icons Quicksilver Messenger Service (qms) is a direct contrast from their previous discs. Shady Grove (1969) is comprised mostly of shorter and self-contained pieces as opposed to the long and extended jams that were so prevalent on their self-titled debut (1967) and Happy Trails (1969). Ironically, the one stretched-out instrumental is courtesy of their latest acquisition -- Brit recording session guru Nicky Hopkins (keyboards). Another possible reason for the shift in style as well as personnel is the conspicuous absence of Gary Duncan (guitar) -- who is rumored to have been a "guest" of Bay Area law enforcement at the time. The band incorporate a number of different styles on the album. Kicking off the disc is an up-tempo rocking version of the traditional Appalachian folk song "Shady Grove." The QMS reading is highlighted by John Cipollina's trademark fluid fretwork and a familiar "Bo Diddley" backbeat -- reminiscent of both "Who Do You Love" and "Mona" from the live ensemble LP Happy Trails. (all music)

Quicksilver Messenger Service's debut effort was a little more restrained and folky than some listeners had expected, given their reputation for stretching out in concert. While some prefer the mostly live Happy Trails, this self-titled collection is inarguably their strongest set of studio material, with the accent on melodic folk-rock. Highlights include their cover of folksinger Hamilton Camp's "Pride of Man," probably their best studio track; "Light Your Windows," probably the group's best original composition; and founding member Dino Valenti's "Dino's Song" (Valenti himself was in jail when the album was recorded). "Gold and Silver" is their best instrumental jam, and the 12-minute "The Fool" reflects some of the best and worst traits of the psychedelic era. (all music)

Reissue for the 1969 live album for Quicksilver Messenger Service, recorded live in 1968 at the Fillmore in San Francisco.

First ever official vinyl reissue of this bluesy psychedelic hard-rock album from 1969.

Shine On Brightly is the second studio album by English rock band Procol Harum. The title of the epic "In Held 'Twas in I" is an acrostic, taking the first word from the first movement as well as the first word from a verse later in the movement as well as the first word from each of the three successive movements as shown in the track listing.

One album into their career in 1969, Mutantes showed few signs of musical burnout after turning in one of the oddest LPs released in the '60s. Similar to its predecessor, Mutantes relies on an atmosphere of experimentation and continual musical collisions, walking a fine line between innovation and pointless genre exercises. The lead track ("Dom Quixote") has the same focus on stylistic cut-and-paste as their debut LP's first track ("Panis et Circenses"). Among the band's musical contemporaries, Mutantes sounds similar only to songs like the Who's miniature suite "A Quick One While He's Away" -- though done in three minutes instead of nine, and much more confusing given the language barrier. The album highlights ("Nao Va Se Perder por Ai") and ("Dois Mil e Um") come with what sounds like a typically twisted take on roots music (both Brazilian and American), complete with banjo, accordion, and twangy vocals. Though there are several other enjoyable tracks, including "Magica" and a slap-happy stomp called "Rita Lee," there's a palpable sense that the experimentation here isn't serving much more than its own ends. If the first album's relentless eclecticism did in fact occasionally result in dry passages, it's especially true here