Classic Rock 142 Items

Obscure Dutch private pressing from 1977. Laid-back instrumental psychedelic / progressive sounds with jazz-funk-groove and abstract / experimental / Latin-indigenous touches. Stoned homemade atmosphere with treated / distorted electric & acoustic guitars, flute, electric piano, primitive drum machines / homemade electronics...Much in the vein of the experimental-underground scene of France & Germany during the early 70s but actually recorded and released in Holland.
Wild Havana was the project of guitar player Johan Smith, helped by his brother Cor on flute. Influenced by artists like Zappa and Herbie Hancock, Johan recorded the “Wild Havana” album at his home studio on a 4-track, using effect devices developed by himself, like a modified proto-drum machine taken from a Hammond organ. He also used effects like phase shifter, chorus, etc and experimented with putting wool on the guitar strings and electric effects on the mandolin. The result sounded like nothing else at the time.
Buried for many years, we’re excited to bring to life this unique album.

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.

Limited to 500 copies on gold vinyl, contains download also. A hugely influential album cited as the embryo for punk, grunge and
beyond. Featuring epic 1970 concepts from this far reaching trio much praised by Underworld’s Karl Hyde, Captain Sensible, Stephen
Malkmus and a host of others. ‘Thank Christ For The Bomb’ is a visionary tale of cold war fear, alienation and everyday drama. “This is
a masterpiece!” NME // A thinking man’s rumination on alienation, the album is a game of two halves; side one tackling the thermo
nuclear threat while side two traces riches to rags alienation in everyday London. First of a trio of ground-breaking albums that steered
the band from the Blues into a heavier, more prog-based sound and a true reflection of their much-praised live sound.

Limited to 500 copies on gold vinyl, contains download also. The second of three groundbreaking albums by the ultimate power trio
who morphed blues into hard rock and spawned punk. A much-loved opus with a side-long concept piece. A bona fide inspirational
rock classic. “Tony McPhee has turned to anarchic paranoid battlegrounds of the mind for inspiration,” Melody Maker. And a second
side that delivers the mighty ‘Cherry Red’, McPhee’s take on The Beatles’ ‘A Day In the Life’, a sideswipe at junk food and a glorious
interpretation of John Lee Hooker’s ‘Groundhogs Blues’. “Both musically and lyrically, ’Split’ speaks for a lost time, a nomad time when
ideals took to the hoof and musicians stayed on the road rather than confront the fact that the '60s 'war' had been lost.” Julian Cope //
“Murky, fuzzy, and wisely esoteric.” AllMusic. // “Supercharged, fractured and raging.” MOJO // Remastered and packaged with bonus
tracks on the download (out-takes from the original sessions that spawned this spontaneous monster).

The release comes on 180g Vinyl.

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.”

Remastered, 180 Gram Vinyl

"So you're addicted to hard rock from 1972 and getting tired of LPs that don't take you for the full ride. You check out tons of 'em. Stonewall? Hmmm... only the most potent and rare stuff can get you off nowadays. Kicks intense enough to remind you why you got into it in the first place. Jams you can't wait to lay on your friends so uncontrollably alive you know it's gonna wipe 'em out. Yeah... you really need Stonewall. It's ritual time. Drop the needle into the groove. Side One. Stoned swaggering confidence, attitude and energy right out of the gate. Stonewall immediately take charge with 'Right On,' an 'incite-the-audience, invoke-the-jams' renegade rocker akin to 'Are You Ready?' by Grand Funk or 'Combination of the Two' by Big Brother conceptually but taken way further. I can't say more without some sort of spoiler alert. To mess with your head, after a near cluster-fuck with the audience in the opening track comes 'Solitude.' After a savage encounter with 'Bloody Mary' the side ends with my favorite track. As soon as the guitar riff ignites 'Outer Spaced' you know you're gonna get crushed. I hear people all over the world saying Stonewall is a 'Holy Grail'. I agree. 'Holy Grail' status for an LP requires the most extreme and exciting combination of quality and rarity. That's not all. It has to have mystery. It has to reek of humanity. There can be no other LP that beats it at its game. Top dog. It has to be a mindfuck capable of destroying anybody who hears it, including those who have previously only experienced the usual killer classics. Finding a copy must come as close to impossible as possible and remain that way even after everybody knows about it. As an original pressing, Stonewall fulfills all of the 'Holy Grail' requirements and I am jacked that a legitimate reissue finally happens some 30 odd years after it first blew me away!"—Paul Major. Edition of 500 copies.

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".

The “Fickle Heart” LP was a real team effort. Initially, demos were brought to Chiswick Records by drummer/producer Lou Salvoni. Though more associated with the bar band and punk end of music, Chiswick was much more musically diverse. There is a drive in the lead track ‘Driver’s Seat’ which was the signature sound of what was a tougher record than much of the similar music around it. Engineer Barry Farmer was brought in from Pathway Studios, where he had been at the controls for some earlier Chiswick releases as well as those on Stiff. This was older school than the new upstarts and the band was made up of some of the top musicians around London at the time. Much of it was recorded at Regents Park Studio, where Steve Lipson joined the production team.

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.

180 Gram 45RPM Audiophile Vinyl, Numbered Limited-Edition

Abraxas Remains the Consummate Latin Rock Record: Sophomore Santana Effort Includes “Black Magic Woman,” Ranks #334 on Rolling Stone’s List of the Greatest Albums of All Time

Sourced from the Original Analog Master Tapes for Exceptional Sound: Mobile Fidelity’s Numbered-Edition 180g 33rpm SuperVinyl LP Plays with Remarkable Clarity, Depth, Detail, and Presence

1/4" / 15 IPS analog master to DSD 64 to analog console to lathe

Abraxas remains the consummate Latin rock album. The confident sound of Santana stretching out and carving out new musical territory, the band's 1970 effort pulses with psychedelic accents and Afro-Latin grooves. Ranked on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time and selected by the Library of Congress for inclusion in its National Recording Registry, Abraxas immediately captured the public’s ear, spending six weeks at the No. 1 spot and sending the band's cosmic cover of Fleetwood Mac's “Black Magic Woman” into the Top 5. More than five million copies and countless global accolades later, Abraxas is legend.

Monster rarity here! An incredible find for anyone into late 60s /early 70s underground hard-psych and blues-rock. A full unreleased album by British hard-blues band SAM Apple PIE, recorded in 1970 possibly as a follow up album to their Decca debut. Taken from the only surviving copy of a recently found acetate (without song titles or credits), all leads to believe this was recorded by the line-up of Sam Sampson, Bob Renny, Andy Johnson, Mick Smith and Mick Stuart. A great mix of heavy blues, hard-rock and psych, with some tracks sounding not unlike Elias Hulk or Fleetwood Mac.

UK 1971 album released on the Youngblood label.
Based in The Ten Commandments, though not proved to be Christian rock itself, the album is a nice progressive pop-rock disc showing influence of Deep Purple and The Moody Blues, with good dose of organ, guitar and brass.
Fantastic reissue in a four-way foldout poster-type picture cover, housed in deluxe PVC outer sleeve.
180 gram vinyl, remastered sound from master tapes, and insert with liner notes by Andy Morten.

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

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.

Procol Harum is the eponymous debut studio album by the English rock band Procol Harum. Originally released in 1967 it now celebrates its 50th year anniversary.

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.

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.

The first ever vinyl reissue of this 1982 Arabian prog/psych masterpiece by cult band Osiris, hailing from Bahrein. A killer blend of '70s sounding hard progressive/psychedelic sounds with long ripping Mini-Moog and analogue synth attacks and hard lead guitar, but also mellow vibes, Arabian folky touches, exotic percussion and a floating -at times funky- rhythm section. The vocals are in English. The core of this six-piece existed of brothers Mohamed and Nabil Alsadeqi, who had already been making western orientated music since 1969. The LP coms with sound from the master tapes and includes an insert with photos and liners.

Official reissue of this album originally released on the Tangerine label in 1969. Limited to 320 copies (180 grs vinyl) A Must for anyone interested in UK folk/pop/psych!

Jamie Rubinstein, 18, leader, lead vocalist and guitarist, wrote all the songs and arranged most of them. Robin Sylvester, 18, played bass guitar, piano, organ. They were the main-stays of the four-piece group. The others, lead guitarist Jon Weiss and drummer Julian Diggle, are "floating" members. Jamie, Robin, and Julian were all students at University College School (Hampstead, UK)

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.

Rhythm master Klaus Weiss knew he had a good thing going with Niagara. The first album was a gathering of every outstanding drummer and percussionist he could get hold of and despite the fact that there were only rhythm instruments featured , it became quite a memorable and unique record. Now for the second album “S.U.B.” he felt he had to go other ways, and recorded with a complete rock outfit plus the one or another brass instrument. ‘S.U.B.’ is definitely worth being traded for 180,00 Euros and more among collectors for a clean original and when the needle hits the groove you will realize why. There is a tightly woven web of rhythms from drums and percussions, as the solid and ever pulsating base with a laid back but really present bass guitar adding more depth and power to the beats and clean rhythm guitars with a nifty wah wah effect for the extra kick. From time to time the guitars fire off a memorable steaming riff on top of the rhythm pulse and the horns answer the call for arms. You really have to look at the backcover to find out that this is a German outfit instead of one of these utterly hot and hip US funk rock cult bands of the time. Niagara aka Klaus Weiss waive the vocals so it is an instrumental record you face with ‘S.U.B’, but then this band goes so wild in some of the compositions, that you will be left breathless on your knees by all these simmering performances. Each musician participating in this project is a professional, but they all let the music erupt into a climax of sound you can only achieve, when you put your whole heart and soul into it. A masterpiece of funky and utterly unleashed rock music from the early 70s.

remastered reissue of the original 1074 album on 180g vinyl

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.