Classic Rock 139 Items

Have you ever been to Miyazaki? It’s a prefecture on Japan’s southern island of Kyushu, facing the Pacific. Palm trees. Humid subtropical climate. This is the home of Maple Fyshh, a musical artist whose late-80s/early-90s recordings have been collected and reissued here. Liberated by the advent of 4-track cassette home recording technology, inspired by a love of 60s pop oddball production mavens like Phil Spector and Joe Meek, as well as American hot rod and surf music, these Maple Fyssh songs glow with an outsider’s love of the transformative power of newly-available sound technology, allowing him to pull his inspirations across decades and oceans to his 1990s Miyazaki home studio. The tracks here are a d.i.y. dream-pop wonderland, compiling songs from his first LP “Mariko” and second LP “Dokitto Station!!”, both self-produced, both released in 1995. The A-side of this release features tracks from the concept album “Mariko”, a masterpiece of daydream pop introspection, recorded in 1994-95, inspired by a poem submitted to a manga magazine. The B-side features tracks from “Dokitto Station!!”, slightly earlier recordings that draw inspiration from a range of 60s pop including girl groups, surf music and acid folk. All the music here demonstrates Maple Fyshh’s deep understanding and appreciation 60s pop moves, and also his mastery of the limited technology at his disposal.

Remastered in 2024, the sound of Miyazaki has been reborn for a new audience. Available on Vinyl LP and download, with a DL card, English/Japanese lyrics and entertaining and informative English/Japanese liner notes by the artist.

Vivid peyote-induced psychedelia from Texas sounding like an impossible meld between the Elevators and the Velvet Underground but possessing a strongly unique disposition. Recorded in 1970 but never released at the time, featuring future members of Roky Erickson’s backing band Bleib Alien / The Aliens. Formed in Austin in the late 1960s by visionary lyricist and autoharp player Billy Bill Miller and his friend Tom McGarrigle on guitar, Cold Sun evolved from a band called Cauldron (later Amethyst) which at one point featured drummer John Kearney from Roky Erickson’s first band The Spades. Miller, a proto-Goth figure always dressed in black, highly influenced by Joe Meek and vintage sci-fi / horror movies, started to experiment with weird noises out of his electrified autoharp, favoring the audio-oriented drug mescaline over the LSD associated with hippies. Amethyst jammed with musicians such as Benny Thurman from the 13th Floor Elevators and Steve Webb from the Lost And Found (another International Artists band). The definitive Amethyst line-up, with Hugh Patton on drums and Mike Waugh on bass, played at venues like the I.L. Club, a historical landmark of Austin blues & psychedelic music. It was through Mike Waugh’s friendship with Elevators drummer John Ike Walton that Billy Miller and the band (still unsure about their name but calling themselves The Daily Planet, changing it to Dark Shadows, and then to Cold Sun) hooked up with the local label / studio Sonobeat (Mariani, Wildfire, Johnny Winter…), who expressed interest in recording an album with the intention to shop it to a major label: thus, the now-legendary Cold Sun album was born. The band, driven by Miller’s strange electrified autoharp sounds plus the massive fuzz guitar of McGarrigle, dressed with feedback and futuristic lyrics, laid down several tracks in between rehearsals at Miller’s house on Castle Hill (west Austin). The album opens with “South Texas” (“the ultimate psychedelic track,” according to Patrick “The Lama” Lundborg), climbing to a psychedelic summit with the final 11 minutes of the fervently intoxicated “Ra-Ma”. Never released at the time, the Cold Sun album languished in oblivion and the musicians moved on to other things. Billy Bill Miller along with drummer Hugh Patton founded Bleib Alien (later The Aliens), the famous backing band of Roky Erickson, with Billy being essential in bringing Roky back to music after his stay at Rusk Mental Hospital. It wasn’t until 1990 that the Cold Sun album was finally released on vinyl by the Rockadelic label (in a tiny edition of 300 copies), followed by a new edition on German label World In Sound in 2008, now out of print. For this new edition on Guerssen, we’ve tried to imagine how the Cold Sun album could have looked like if it had been actually released in 1970. It comes in a hard cardboard sleeve with vintage styled artwork by psychedelic illustrator Callum Rooney. Sourced from the same audio master as the original Rockadelic LP, the sound has been vastly improved thanks to the meticulous and careful restoration / remastering by audiophile engineer Ezra Lesser, who has also penned the definitive story of Cold Sun for the liner notes. *Vintage styled artwork by Callum Rooney *Audiophile restoration / remastering by Ezra Lesser *Booklet with detailed liner notes and photos “One of the most important psychedelic records, and unlike any other one.” – Paul Major “Cold Sun is an anomaly in Texas psych history. As significant as Bubble Puppy or Moving Sidewalks but in no way similar, the Austin quartet cut one cult classic in its brief existence, the spell-binding Dark Shadows, which Jello Biafra called “the best psychedelic album I know of.” – Austin Powell (Austin Chronicle) “Billy Miller invented Post-Punk in 1970” – Julian Cope (Head Heritage)

Donald Fagen and Walter Becker are two of the most sophisticated minds in the American Pop idiom. Originally broadcast live on Kmet FM, the famous Record Plant Studio concert was part of the 1974 promotional tour for the band's third album "Pretzel Logic". In front of a small audience and backed by a stellar band featuring classy session players like drummer Jeff Porcaro and keyboardist Michael Mc Donald, Fagen and Becker deliver immaculate versions of classic songs including "Do it Again", "Rikki Don't Lose That Number", and "Reelin' In The Years'' and other gems like "Bodhisattva", and "The Boston Rag".

Olustee is a masterpiece of soul-shaking music. JJ’s deep Southern roots and skill as a storyteller shine through, whether he’s rocking with gospel-tent fervor or slowly winding his raspy voice around a lyric of heartbreak and loss. It’s an aggressively groove-driven record fueled by JJ’s gritty vocals and funk-infused guitar playing.

Paul Williams co-authored some of the best-known, best-loved and biggest-selling pop hits of the 20th century, among them “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days And Mondays,” “The Rainbow Connection,” and “Evergreen.” His compositions have been recorded by artists ranging from The Carpenters to Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand to Three Dog Night, Johnny Mathis to The Monkees, plus thousands of others. In addition, his 1970 solo debut, Someday Man, (reissued in 2010 by Now Sounds [crnow 22]) is coveted by many record collectors as one of the essential albums of the “sunshine pop” genre. There are very few albums that seem to define the genre in which they are created, yet simultaneously defy classification; records whose beauty reveals itself in new and exhilarating ways with each listening and feature their creators at the peak of their game. It’s a rare LP that makes the listener think and feel and laugh and cry, all within the short and sweet space of 30 minutes, making one beg the question “Is the 80-minute length of a compact disc a boon, or a bane?” Countless rock critics continue to hail the few deserving but obvious albums that have managed to achieve all of these artistic criteria: The Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, Love’s Forever Changes, Marvin Gaye’s What’s Goin’ On . . . To my mind, Paul Williams’ Someday Man belongs right up there with them. This first-time-on-vinyl compilation collects all of the bonus tracks from the 2010 Now Sounds expanded edition CD of the Someday Man LP. Included in this collection are Williams’ four mono single sides; two “sessions” tracks which provide great insight into how producer Roger Nichols and the studio musicians crafted the final recordings; two demos; and four instrumental mixes. The full-colour four-page insert features rare, unpublished photos and in-depth liner notes featuring the participation of Paul Williams, Roger Nichols, and others. Also includes sessionography and studio musician info. All audio sourced from the original Reprise master tapes. Coproduced, designed, and annotated by Now Sounds’ Steve Stanley.

It's one more record for your collection, and yet another way to remember the great times at the Second Worst Raduno in beautiful Edoné Bergamo last July. In the summer of 2021, year two of the coronavirus pandemic, the Punk Rock Raduno crew was able to bring a 3-day open air event to our community. The main act on stage were Giuda, the super popular glam-fueled rocknroll machine from Rome.

Lost & found studio recordings (1971-79) by US singer-songwriter SID Bradley including some of the sought-after 45 sides released with his band Erik in the early ‘70s plus fabulous previously unreleased tracks. This is serious stuff, folks!! Pro-sounding sound, ranging from fuzzed-out psychedelic hard-rock to psych-pop and proto-power pop. Master tape sound and insert with liner notes by Sid Bradley and Paul Osborne (Shindig!). A phenomenal and versatile songwriter (he has written hundreds of songs) Sid Bradley started to play in garage bands like The Cavaliers in the 60s and by the early 70s he was part of Erik, a group responsible for a couple of self-produced 45s, “Child Of The Sea” / “Nothing Is Easy” and “Sometime In Your Life” / “Rebel Woman”. These 45s were usually used for promo purposes and it was typical of Sid to load a few record boxes into his car and travel hundreds of miles, visiting all the radio stations, trying to pitch his music to the DJs. This one-man marketing operation actually worked fine, as Sid’s music was played in radio stations across the eastern US, Canada, England, and even Germany. And some of his songs were reviewed in Billboard, Record World or Rolling Stone. You may be familiar with the hard-psych sounding “Child Of The Sea” as it has been included on several psych comps and it was also part of the “Lodge 49” soundtrack. The flip, “Nothing Is Easy” wouldn’t sound out of place on any Rubbles volume. “Rebel Woman” is now considered a proto-metal cult classic and it was recently included on the “Brown Acid” series. After the demise of Erik, Sid continued recording his songs using different musicians. Most of these tracks remained unreleased until a few years ago, when Sid, encouraged by the interest on his old Erik 45s, decided to remaster them and put them available on several Digital only albums that caught the attention of mags like Shindig! We’re now very glad to present a selection of those tracks, collected for the first time on a vinyl LP. Includes insert with liner notes and photos and download card.

Fabulous US hard-psychedelic album by Noah, recorded in 1972 but never released at the time. Expanded to a double set including the Sound Barrier (pre-Noah) sought-after garage-psych 45s plus unreleased demos, ’67-71. Master tape sound and insert with rare photos and liner notes by Plastic Crimewave. Riyl: Blue Cheer, SIR Lord Baltimore, Fraction, Iron Butterfly, Steppenwolf… Formed in the late 60s in Salem, Ohio, out of the ashes of two garage bands, the Markees and the Sound Barrier (of the legendary “Hey, Hey” 45 on Zounds), Noah consisted of Mark Scheuring (guitar & lead vocals), Larry Davis (drums), Paul Hess (bass & backup vocals) and Danny Hall (keyboards & backup vocals). In 1972 the band recorded in just two days a concept album titled “Brain Suck” at Cleveland Recording studios with engineer/producer Ken Hamann (of Grand Funk Railroad and James Gang fame). Noah’s music was dark and heavy, dominated by killer Hammond organ, hard guitar and powerful vocals. This is truly a major find for anyone into hard psychedelia. In the words of Steve Krakow (Plastic Crimewave): “it conjures the heavy, doomy vibe of Blue Cheer's "Fruit and Icebergs" suite; the bluster of Sir Lord Baltimore (but maybe with Keith Emerson on keys); and a biker ferocity found on the Fraction Moonblood Lp. I'm also imagining Steppenwolf, Iron Butterfly, or Vanilla Fudge on some bad drugs with a Mothers-like malignance”. The LP sessions were never released properly (in fact a truncated vinyl edition with some songs missing and late Sound Barrier demos added was released in 1995 by Al Simones on his Head Records label, without the band’s knowledge) so this is the first time that the “Brain Suck” album is released as originally intended by the band.

3'' Single for mini record player (it's as big as a cup of cappuccino). Carl Perkins (April 9, 1932 – January 19, 1998) is best known as the writer and original singer of rockabilly anthem Blue Suede Shoes. Perkins was one of the seminal rockabilly artists on Sun Record Company, creating a body of work that has been both critically acclaimed and extremely influential. Honey, Don’t! was originally released in 1956 as the b-side to Blue Suede Shoes.

Runs only with 3" Record Player Crosley RSD3 Turntable. (HHV ID: 646800)

Pailhead was a collaboration of vocalist Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat, Fugazi), Ministry’s Al Jourgensen and Paul Barker, and drummer Eric Spicer (Naked Raygun). In 1986, MacKaye was just a few years away from his genre-defining work in Minor Threat and on the cusp of starting an even more influential band, Fugazi. Al Jourgensen was also undergoing a transition with his band Ministry after the release of “Twitch”. He wasn’t the guy who would release the game-changing “The Land Of Rape And Honey” a couple of years later, but he was well on his way. Alain met Ian when he was living in London. Both found common ground musically and politically and decided to collaborate on a project that would fuse elements of industrial music with hardcore punk. The result was a bunch of unique and unrepeatable hymns. Pailhead released one first single “I Will Refuse” / “No Bunny” in 1987 and next year the 4-song EP “Trait”, both on the legendary Wax Trax! Records. Limited edition of 500 copies on grey vinyl with deluxe sleeve with soft touch lamination and sticker with classic band logo.

This release comes on 180g.

"“Springsteen on Broadway” is the new album of music and stories by Bruce Springsteen, and the soundtrack to the Netflix film of the same name. The album is the complete live performance of the show.

“Springsteen on Broadway” is the solo acoustic performance written and performed by Tony Award, Academy Award, and 20-time Grammy Award winner Bruce Springsteen. Based on his worldwide best-selling autobiography 'Born to Run,' “Springsteen on Broadway” is a unique evening with Bruce, his guitar, a piano, and his very personal stories. In addition, the show features a special appearance by Patti Scialfa.

Bruce Springsteen's historic sold-out series of performances of his one man show began previews on October 3, 2017 and officially opened October 12, 2017. The show was extended three times after its initial eight-week run, and ran on Broadway at The Walter Kerr Theatre through December 15, 2018, bringing the total number of performances to 236."

Standard 2LP Vinyl:
- The Beatles (‘White Album’) 2018 stereo mix
- 180-gram 2LP vinyl in gatefold sleeve with faithfully replicated original artwork

In November 1968, millions of double LPs were shipped to record stores worldwide ahead of that tumultuous year’s most anticipated music event: the November 22nd release of The BEATLES (soon to be better known as ‘The White Album’). With their ninth studio album, The Beatles took the world on a whole new trip, side one blasting off with the exhilarating rush of a screaming jet escorting Paul McCartney’s punchy, exuberant vocals on “Back In The U.S.S.R.” “Dear Prudence” came next, John Lennon warmly beckoning his friend and all of us to “look around.” George Harrison imparted timeless wisdom in “While My Guitar Gently Weeps,” singing, “With every mistake we must surely be learning.” Ringo Starr’s “Don’t Pass Me By” marked his first solo songwriting credit on a Beatles album. For 50 years, ‘The White Album’ has invited its listeners to venture forth and explore the breadth and ambition of its music, delighting and inspiring each new generation in turn.

On November 9, The Beatles will release a suite of lavishly presented ‘White Album’ packages (Apple Corps Ltd./Capitol/UMe). The album’s 30 tracks are newly mixed by producer Giles Martin and mix engineer Sam Okell in stereo and 5.1 surround audio, joined by 27 early acoustic demos and 50 session takes, most of which are previously unreleased in any form.

“We had left Sgt. Pepper’s band to play in his sunny Elysian Fields and were now striding out in new directions without a map,” says Paul McCartney in his written introduction for the new ‘White Album’ releases.

This is the first time The BEATLES (‘White Album’) has been remixed and presented with additional demos and session recordings. The album’s sweeping new edition follows 2017’s universally acclaimed Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Anniversary Edition releases. To create the new stereo and 5.1 surround audio mixes for ‘The White Album,’ Martin and Okell worked with an expert team of engineers and audio restoration specialists at Abbey Road Studios in London. All the new ‘White Album’ releases include Martin’s new stereo album mix, sourced directly from the original four-track and eight-track session tapes. Martin’s new mix is guided by the album’s original stereo mix produced by his father, George Martin.

“In remixing ‘The White Album,’ we’ve tried to bring you as close as possible to The Beatles in the studio,” explains Giles Martin in his written introduction for the new edition. “We’ve peeled back the layers of the ‘Glass Onion’ with the hope of immersing old and new listeners into one of the most diverse and inspiring albums ever made.”

40th anniversary remix
contains 24 page booklet

Underground Kraut-Kosmische monster, recorded / produced circa 1972-73 in Cologne by Toby “The Mad Twiddler” Robinson for his Pyramid label. Apparently released as an ultra-limited handmade edition back at the time, but no original copies have ever surfaced.

Featuring Mythos drummer Hans-Jürgen Pütz on percussion & effects, alongside synth / keyboard freak Alex Meyer, poet / vocalist Pauline Fund and mysterious guitarist Peter Förster.

Tripped out electronic ambient soundscapes, dark atmosphere, drones, plenty of MiniMoog, gothic Hammond organ, Rhodes, electric & 12-string acoustic guitars, ritual chants, effects, horror cinematic vibe…

WARNING: DON’T LISTEN TO THIS ALONE IN THE DARK!!

180 Gram 45RPM Audiophile Vinyl, Numbered Limited-Edition

Limited Edition for Record Store Day 2014!

Live  in Germany on July 31st, 2013 – previously unreleased acoustic concert.

This is Isakov's third full-length release and follows 2009's This Empty Northern Hemisphere, which the Denver Post praised as "an artistic masterwork" and Paste Magazine described as "quietly lush" and "deeply vibrant." In celebration of the release, Gregory will embark on a North American tour this spring/summer. Recorded and mixed outside the quiet mountain town of Nederland, CO, the 13-song album was produced by Isakov along with Jamie Mefford. Of making the record, Isakov notes, "I wanted to make something that felt genuine. We recorded everything with analogue gear and mixed it on tape, which gives the songs a raw and vulnerable feeling." He goes on to add, "The idea of a weatherman is really powerful. There's a guy on television or on the radio telling us the future, and nobody cares. It's this daily mundane miracle, and I think the songs I chose are about noticing the beauty in normal, everyday life." Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now calling Colorado home, Isakov is a lifelong traveler. In the past year, he has performed alongside Blind Pilot, The Lumineers, Brandi Carlile, Ani DiFranco and The Head & The Heart and sold out a hometown show at Boulder's Chautauqua Auditorium. 180 gram vinyl with download included.

recorded 1979 in Berlin

Beyond Colossal is the fulfillment of the promise 2005’s excellent Through the Eyes of Heathens began to see through. The sound is that of the band pushing itself harder, writing stronger songs and compromising none of their edge or aural passion. You can hear it on “Exoskeleton (Part II),” truncated here from its appearance with “Part I” on a 2007 split with Iceland‘s Brain Police, at the 1:39-mark launching of “The Ventriloquist,” on the more traditionally stoner “Grand Inquisitor” and even the quiet “Bound for Greatness” which closes out the album. Dozer are not only on top of their game, they’re well beyond it.

the final recordings

From a long-forgotten trunk; two extended jams, twin slabs, circa 1989. Continuing Fire Records’ series of classic remastered albums from Royal Trux, ‘Hand Of Glory’ is released on silver vinyl.

This bad-ass black, white and blue magic is a kind of Burial Dub… or so preached the sleeve of ‘Hand Of Glory’ on its original release in 2002. Legend has it, the two sides of this 40-minute gem were recorded between 1985 and 1989. The resultant mountain of creativity from where they hail were inevitably left under a scuzzy sofa as life and a career that ebbed and flowed over nine albums. Royal Trux became an inspirational tipping point for everyone from Pavement & Sonic Youth to the Black Keys, Kurt Cobain, The Avalanches & Hot Chip’s Alexis Taylor. “I urge and encourage you to enter the harmolodic multiverse of their music.” Alexis Taylor, Hot Chip

‘Hand Of Glory’ is not like their other albums but then again none of their albums are alike, it’s a two-faced masterpiece. Side one’s ‘Domo Des Burros’/‘Two Sticks’ is on par with Beefheart’s sprawling ‘Troutmask Replica’. It plays out in 19 minutes, sounding like it was laid down on Warhol’s sofa in The Factory; like Dylan’s sprawling ‘Desolation Row’ with, background squalls, interruptions and both Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema’s overlayed stream of consciousness peeping through a multi-layered backdrop. It’s just staggering.

“Royal Trux were nothing if not fearless.” Pitchfork

Side two’s ‘The Boxing Story’, a loose homage to William Burroughs, moulds and morphs from tape to tape, a multi-speed soundtrack, while the dynamic duo press pause, guitars ring, occasional melodic lines arrive and evaporate. Lou Reed’s pastoral ‘Metal Machine Music’ could perhaps be recognized as an older and perhaps less challenging sibling.

A two-sided masterpiece featuring two wayward pieces of creative genius.

Second volume to complete the anthology of Wicked Lady recordings, their final tracks recorded in 1972, just before the band split up and guitarist Martin Weaver left for Dark (of "Round the edges" fame). Another batch of excessive, over-the-top doomy psychedelic hard-rock including underground classics like "I'm a freak" and the 21 minute epic "Ship of ghosts".

Double vinyl which offers maximum sound quality, gatefold cover with liner notes by doomy psychedelic guitar God in person, Martin Weaver, telling the real story behind Wicked Lady.

180 gram pressing!

1992’s ‘Untitled’ brought the band’s third album that re-cemented the duo once again as the progenitors of the “lo-fi” genre. This breakthrough set transitioned "The Trux" into a never ending all-inclusive rotating cast of musicians. Continuing Fire Records’ series of classic remastered albums from Royal Trux, ‘Untitled’ is released on white vinyl and features updated monochrome and silver artwork.

As unpredictable as ever, Neil Hagerty and Jennifer Herrema shook off the next level layering and noise of ’Twin Infinitives’ to embrace the history of rock ‘n’ roll in all its deformed grandeur. Utilizing their ever present mind set of macro-inclusivity, they allowed the subconscious "radio stations" of their lives to infiltrate, lead, and dictate. Culling from their collective minds and memories twisted tunes that touched them. After the blood rush of their much-hailed avant-garde masterpiece ‘Twin Infinitives’ (1988), this eight-song opus added to the lo-fi genre that originated on ‘Twin Infinitives’.

On ‘Untitled’ Hagerty uses his 5-string blues roots and hails rock’s twisted potential, while Herrema slurs and snarls in ecstasy. They sound like they’re locked in a fourth-floor boudoir at the Chelsea Hotel; bottles clink, an album clicks on its run-out groove, the band plays on. In the mix are the characters and casualties of the 90s, a roll call of swaggering misfits. These aren’t superficial sketches, the Trux cut much deeper than that…

“‘Junkie Nurse' isn't just about addiction; it's about the twisted hope that even the most broken people can somehow mend others, even when they're falling apart themselves." Jennifer Herrema, Royal Trux.

With ‘Untitled’ Royal Trux justifiably increased their coterie of convicted followers, becoming the cult heroes for a transgressive generation, and the Rosetta Stone for male/female duos (ie:The White Stripes, The Kills etc... ) over the years inspiring everyone from The Silver Jews (David Berman) & Sonic Youth through to melodic blue-eyed soulsters like Hot Chip - “I urge and encourage you to enter the harmolodic multiverse of their music.” Alexis Taylor, Hot Chip

“Royal Trux were nothing if not fearless.” Pitchfork

The Final Countdown is the third studio album by the Swedish hard rock band Europe, and one of the most glorious launches in history. Released in 1986, the album was a huge commercial success selling over 3 million units in the United States alone, peaking at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and reaching high positions in charts worldwide.

Pressed on 180g Vinyl

The Final Countdown is the third studio album by the Swedish hard rock band Europe, and one of the most glorious launches in history. Released in 1986, the album was a huge commercial success selling over 3 million units in the United States alone, peaking at number 8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and reaching high positions in charts worldwide.

180g vinyl.

180 Gram 45RPM Audiophile Vinyl, Numbered Limited-Edition

Continuing our reissue programme of Motorhead’s Chiswick albums on vinyl, September sees the release of “What’s Words Worth?” on lobster red vinyl.

A live album, it was recorded on 18th February 1978 at a benefit organised by Wilko Johnson to raise money to preserve some William Wordsworth manuscripts. The Rolling Stones mobile had been hired to record Chiswick labe-lmates the Count Bishops, but they also recorded Motorhead’s set. For contractual reasons they were billed as Iron Fist & the Hordes From Hell.

Includes an illustrated inner sleeve with a full note by Chiswick boss Ted Carroll.

on 180g vinyl!