Search "icon for hire" 141 Items

Made in Germany

Previously unreleased heavy acid-rock / proto-prog album from 1972!

Asgard (initially known as Osgoode, named after the street where Blue Cheer had their headquarter) was a San Francisco band featuring ace guitar player Bob Hardy (a veteran of many Bay Area bands since the early 60s) and Jake ‘Gelon’ Lau (Gideon & Power, Mary McCreary, Tribe…) on electric violin and vocals.

This is their lost album, registered at Roy Chen Recorders in 1972, now released for the first time.

“For Asgard” features nine original tracks, perfectly recorded and played, dominated by Bob Hardy’s outstanding fuzzy lead guitar and the cool touch of Gelon’s Lau electrified violin that recalls UK prog-psych bands like the similar named Asgærd or High Tide at times. Hard to believe that such a pro-recorded, top quality album like this was never released at the time. After playing a celebrated free concert at the Provo Park in Berkeley alongside bands like Mother Cat and Summerhill, the band slowly disintegrated.

Download card includes one studio track from the same album sessions plus three raw rehearsal tracks.

Back To Black 180 gram vinyl reissue

Originally released in 1966, Shakers For You was the second LP by Los Shakers, the legendary beat/pop band from Uruguay. An album clearly influenced by Help!, Rubber Soul and Revolver, but showing a band that were more than mere copycats, offering some revolutionary compositions and influences such as bossa-nova. The songs on Shakers For You take us through incredible musical mixtures that, while keeping a strong early/mid Beatles feel, give us clues of what would come later in pop music with psychedelia just around the corner. This is the first ever vinyl reissue of one of the greatest beat LPs from the 1960s.

Songs For Judy is the debut release on Shakey Pictures Records, Young’s own imprint distributed by Reprise Records. Songs For Judy is thoroughly engaging collection of live acoustic performances culled from Neil's November 1976 solo tour and features twenty-two songs recorded at various cities along the tour. This song cycle of live recordings is particularly powerful and unique. Young had spent much of the year traveling around the world on tour with Crazy Horse. When touring on his own, he recharged and focused on songs that would not surface in recorded form for several years. Of the albums many treasures, "No One Seems To Know" would not see the light of day until now and it remains unreleased in any other iteration.

The raw versions of the tracks found on Songs For Judy reflect an artist completely unvarnished and unafraid to allow the songs to breath and to find their own shape when performed in a solo setting. Songs written in that era would come into focus and then seemingly disappear only to re-enter Young's orbit somewhere down the road. "White Line" and "Give Me Strength" are such examples of finding the light in 1990 and 2017 respectively. It's also fascinating to hear Young revisit early gems such as Springfield's "Mr. Soul" ('67), "Here We Are In The Years" ('68), and "The Losing End" ('69) from some of his earliest solo recordings which remain as timeless as ever.

“Lust for Life” is the second studio album by Iggy Pop, his second solo release and his second collaboration with David Bowie, following “The Idiot” earlier in the year. As well as achieving critical success, it was Pop's most commercially popular album to date, and remains his only Gold-certified release in the UK.

Japanese pressing without OBI!

A key funk release from 1971, For The People was the 2nd album by interracial soul-rock band led by vocalist Milt Matthews. All the way from Wilson, North Carolina, Milton Ray Matthews was an inspired songwriter in the vein of master Curtis Mayfield and follower Lou Bond. With a series of excellent cover version – BB King ‘The Thrill Is Gone’, The Beatles ‘A Hard Days’ Night’ (stylistically related to the acid r&b Stax records was in charge at the time) and Blind Faith ‘Presence Of The Lord’ - the record is full of acid-blues chops and sensuous numbers. Filling the gap between modern psychedelia and afro-american consciousness, 'For The People' literally ascend to the title of black tinged rock opera.

CD comes in a soft case, instead of the original crystal case. All booklets included.

200g 45rpm

US original.
Small handwriting on front

Vinyl is close to NM

CD comes in a soft case, instead of the original crystal case. All booklets included.

CD comes in a soft case, instead of the original crystal case. All booklets included.

These newly discovered unheard compositions of solar euphony are highlighted by Boettcher’s angelic vocals and Salisbury’s catchy, confectionary melodies. A showcase of premium West Coast sunshine pop! During the summer of 1966, Sandy Salisbury arrived on the Sunset Strip in his VW Bug. Knowing little of the mainland from his childhood home of Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i, he became friends with his next door neighbor, who invited him to a party. At that very same time, Curt Boettcher was an up and coming producer, who the Association chose to produce their first album. Introduced by a mutual friend, and Sandy’s neighbor, Boettcher and Salisbury went on to form the Ballroom, and later on, the Millennium. Salisbury and Boettcher saved all of their publishing demos – demos that were to become future material for the Millennium and/or Ballroom. Untouched for over 50 years, step back in time to 1967 with this rare collection of southern California sunshine pop

Original inner sleeve.

Jeff Hill Band strongly resonates with the energetic pop sound of the early 1980s, often referred to as power pop. While their music embodies elements of both pop and power pop, it's evident that they draw inspiration from the diverse landscape of 1960s pop music, incorporating various genres such as doo-wop and surf into their repertoire.

Vinyl is Close to VG+.

Debut album from Finland's Dust Mountain!

Cover is close to NM.

CD comes in a soft case, instead of the original crystal case. All booklets included.

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.

From the deepest trenches of deadstock 45s and the unsung annals of soft rock infamy, we present Sr4ht02: (Till You're) Back In My Arms.

Universal Cave and the Street Road Band cover Dan Strimer with Insured Sound's cult anthem (Till You're) Back In My Arms which was originally released as a 45 in 1977 on Lost Nation Records out of Guysville, Ohio. When Universal Cave featured Back in My Arms on Soft Rock for Hard Times Vol 8 in 2023, we reached out to Dan Strimer to tell him how much we loved his record, and quickly made a friend who helped us release a cover of his song 47 years after it first came out. Dan is still making music to this day and there are even rumors of some unreleased recordings making their way out in the near future.

On vacation in Hawaii when we released Soft Rock for Hard Times Vol 8, Alex Tebbs Mitchell of Universal Cave kept coming back to Dan's catchy, rural classic rock tune. When Alex returned to Philadelphia, he assembled the Street Road Band to record a laid back, 'southwestern Balearic' cover version with André Ethier on vocals, Charles Simon on guitar, Jesse Spearhawk on Pedal Steel, Alex Tebbs Mitchell on Rhodes and bass, Ryan M. Todd on synthesizers, and Shawn Ryan and Brian Cassidy on additional programming and arrangement. The result is a blissful soft rock ballad inspired by the likes of Chris Rea and Mark Knopfler.

After recording the cover, we called in the UK's finest Balearic maestro's Coyote to take the multitracks to the White Isle and back for a remix worthy of Cafe Del Mar. Coyote send the song into a dreamy, dubby, deep house groove, confirming that the record is, in fact, Balearic.

Mixed by Alex Tebbs Mitchell Mastered by Mat Leffler-Schulman

Price tag. Seam split.

An iconic and celebrated artist whose cultural standing in America remains resolute and heavily influential. The Patti Smith Group headed out on their first US tour to promote the release of their debut album Horses, produced by John Cale and released in November 1975. They then released their Radio Ethiopia album a year later and toured to support its release in 1977. An amazing performance by a great artist.

New York's Spa Club ignites in June 2001! This live recording captures punk iconDeeDeeRamonespitting fire in his last NYC show. Raw vocals belt out classics like "Beat on the Brat" and "I Wanna Be Sedated," infused with the spirit of the Ramones. Dive into a sweaty night of pure punk energy - a must-listen for any Ramones fan.

Former member of The Velvet Underground - Singer/Songwriter, Model/Actress, Solo Artist/Music Icon. Nico seemed to be at the epicentre of all that was cool in the 60s. And she continued that trend by relocating to Manchester in the 80s for a career renaissance before sadly dying in 1988. This deluxe package includes color vinyl, an OBI side spine and printed inner sleeve. It is newly mastered and has never been released on vinyl.

Originally released in 1970 this was the third album from Os Mutantes, the geniuses of wacked out Brazilian psychedelic rock. They may have been trying to pay homage to their better known icons back in the States, but in doing so they created something that went beyond all that until, 30 years later, they became the ones that everyone was trying to imitate. This album, further testimony to their limitless creativity and considered by many to be their best, was recorded during the height of the Brazilian military regimes crack down on artists, and fellow members of the Tropicalia movement, Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil had already been sent into exile in the UK.

Black Friday Record Store Day 2022 Reissue. Color: Crystal Clear. Limitation: 2000.

The debut vinyl release of the 2001 album, on green/white marble vinyl. Former member of The Velvet Underground, Singer/Songwriter, Model/Actress, Solo Artist/Music Icon. Nico Live At The Hacienda '83 was completely sold out on Record Store Day 2022. This RSD Black Friday exclusive has Never been released on vinyl before. The deluxe package includes an OBI strip, Single album jacket, printed inner sleeve, new record labels unique for this release and special Clear Yellow Tint Color Vinyl.

Fully licensed, ltd to 500 copies The sole self-titled album by English progsters Chillum was in fact an offshoot project of famous psychedelic icon Second Hand. They shared three members - George Hart, Ken Elliott, Kieran O'Connor – with the former band, giving birth to a more experimental act. The record originally saw the light of day in 1971. The lp was supposed to be the third Second Hand album, but apparently the members decided to change the band's name. Their heavy swinging approach was in the end similar to such contemporary luminaries like Atomic Rooster, Leaf Hound, and Arthur Brown's Kingdom Come. A jam album with lots of roaring percussion and an impressive organ to make big sound. Ken Elliott (Keyboards, Mellotron, Organ, Vocals), Kieran O'Connor (Drums), Tony McGill (Guitar) and George Hart (Bass)

First official vinyl reissue of this sought-after psychedelic folk-rock / Americana / SSW album from 1976.

Major Arcana was a group led by counter-culture Milwaukee icon JIM Spencer, featuring a revolving cast of musicians / collaborators. The core of the band was Jim Spencer (guitar, vocals); Randall Dubis (electric guitar); Michael Burdecki (bass, slide guitar) and Jim Kitchen (percussion, harmonica). They were helped in the studio by some friends / musicians like Sigmund Snopek III and Barry Patton among many others.

Released on Jim Spencer’s own private label (A Major Label, home also to Anonymous of “Inside The Shadow” fame), the album opens with the terrific psych-folk of “Western Wind” and closes with an acid-folk rendition of “Greensleeves”. In between, you’ll also find some blues rock, SSW ballads, jazzy bits…

File next to groups like Pearls Before Swine or Bermuda Triangle.

First official vinyl reissue of this sought-after psychedelic folk-rock / Americana / SSW album from 1976.

Major Arcana was a group led by counter-culture Milwaukee icon JIM Spencer, featuring a revolving cast of musicians / collaborators. The core of the band was Jim Spencer (guitar, vocals); Randall Dubis (electric guitar); Michael Burdecki (bass, slide guitar) and Jim Kitchen (percussion, harmonica). They were helped in the studio by some friends / musicians like Sigmund Snopek III and Barry Patton among many others.

Released on Jim Spencer’s own private label (A Major Label, home also to Anonymous of “Inside The Shadow” fame), the album opens with the terrific psych-folk of “Western Wind” and closes with an acid-folk rendition of “Greensleeves”. In between, you’ll also find some blues rock, SSW ballads, jazzy bits…

File next to groups like Pearls Before Swine or Bermuda Triangle.

Jerry Cutillo, deus ex machina of the artistic nucleus named O.A.K. (Oscillazioni Alchemico Kreative), is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter. Encompassing the world of prog rock, he has explored a resounding bridge between the European esoteric traditions and the magical rituals of Siberia, giving birth to a new, sophisticated and timeless musical vocabulary. His main strengths are represented by intriguing compositions, taste for the arrangements, melody and energy, stretched to the limit in his live act, which includes a wide cross-section of self-penned songs, traditional tunes and prog classics. All of this, together with a large number of collaborations with icons of the british progressive music, has given him and his band great recognition all around the world. "nine Witches Under A Walnut Tree" (out on 9th september 2020) was the missing piece of the esoteric prog trilogy started in 2016 with the album "viandanze" and continued with the successful, double LP "giordano Bruno" in 2018.

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)

180 gram vinyl

Still shrink wrapped but opened.
Cover with a beginning seam split at the upper edge.

First LP release of Osamu Okuno's 2003 masterpiece "Utauhito," featuring Takeshi Shibuya, Hiroshi Funato, Ren Takada, Kanji Nakao, and Takero Sekijima. Kyoto singer-songwriter Osamu Okuno was rediscovered by the younger generation during the rock boom of the time with the first CD release of "Osamu Okuno" in 2000 and his first new album in 10 years, "Kaerou." Made in 2003, this is a miraculous album, with deep shadows and youthful songs riding on the ambience-filled playing of Takeshi Shibuya, Hiroshi Funato, Ren Takada, Kanji Nakao, and Takero Sekijima.

Osamu Okuno's first album "Osamu Okuno", which was independently produced by Himico Record in 1972 in a limited edition of 100 copies, is now available on LP for the first time in 52 years, cut from 6mm open tapes owned by Mr.Okuno! This album vividly captures the impact of cutting-edge and unique alternative rock unique to Kyoto in the early 70's. It was released on CD in 2000, and was hailed around the world as a masterpiece of psychedelic folk music.

"Kaerou", a collection of gems and masterpieces by Osamu Okuno released in 2000, is now available on LP for the first time! This is a beautiful acoustic-only album with fresh songs and good support from Yasuo Nishiyama and Hiroshi Funato, created when he was playing guitar by himself in his coffee-roasting hut more often than not, and his band activities had decreased.

One the Holy Grails of South American heavy progressive rock, originally released in 1973 by this Bolivian band. Influenced by hard-rock giants like Uriah Heep or Deep Purple, Wara (whose name translates to Light of the Star in the Aymara language) also added touches of their own Bolivian heritage to the mix, resulting in a pioneering work of fusion between prog/psych rock and Andean folklore. Raw fuzz-wah guitar, organ, occasional violin & flute, heavy drumming, passionate Spanish vocals a la Ian Gilan…

"El Inca" was originally pressed on black vinyl with very few copies on transparent green vinyl. Both editions are virtually impossible to find now.