DAVID KUBINEC'S MAINHORSE AIRLINE: THE GENEVA TAPES 1969 - 1970 + MAINHORSE - MAINHORSE 1971

 

Swiss Psych/Prog band Mainhorse were formed in 1969 in London,where keyboardist Patrick Moraz

and bassist Jean Ristori were in search of band members and found drummer Bryson Graham along with singer David Kubinec of The World of Oz fame through an ad.For financial reasons the quartet flew back to Switzerland,adding drummer Arnold Ott and guitarist Augusto De Antoni in the mix.
      

Before Patrick Moraz released the Mainhorse LP in 1971, he and bassist/cellist Jean Ristori founded

PATRICK  MORAZ

one of the most significant groups in prog rock history. In the summer of 1969, the two left Switzerland for England in an effort to form a new band. They found it in drummer Bryson Graham and singer/songwriter David Kubinec (World of Oz). Initially calling themselves Integral Aim - then Mainhorse Airline - and supporting acts as Free, Canned Heat and Humble Pie, the band did early symphonic

BRYSON GRAHAM

psych-rock with better musicianship than the Nice, less freaked-out space explorations than Egg, and did it a full year before anyone had ever heard of ELP. Moraz's vibrant organ and Ristori's classical foundation led the way and came together with Kubinec's songwriting talents beautifully for these ten tracks recorded in a Swiss basement studio.
                 

Kubinec would later suffer a heart attack and the original line-up dissolved, and Patrick Moraz

would go on to work with other prog greats, some of the key music from this period making it on to 1971's 'Mainhorse'. But these early sessions give a taste of the group's true potential and exposes a shadowed corner of the progressive underground to the light of day, giving fans a priceless missing link in prog's evolution.
               

DAVID KUBINEC'S MAINHORSE AIRLINE -  THE GENEVA TAPES 1969 - 1970 (2016)

                               

Opener 'Overture and Beginners' is an explosion of late 60s energy tempered by musical discipline,

powerhouse rhythms and wild organ runs. 'Blunt Needles', a startling look at drug culture, clips with jazzy street life and a ghostly church organ. Drowsy Beatles impression 'The Passing Years', funny jazz-pop of 'Make it the Way You Are', very prog 'Pale Sky' at 7 minutes complete with Eastern-style acoustic interlude, savage psych bit 'Directions for Use' and pastoral 'A Very Small Child'. 11-minute 'God Can Fix Anything' is enormous, almost Who-like, and ends things convincingly.
                    

Mainhorse Airline (Feat. Dave Kubinec & Patrick Moraz) – The Geneva Tapes (1969-1970)
Label: Flawed Gems – GEM 143
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered, Unofficial Release
Country: Sweden
Released: 2016
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                    

01. Overture And Beginners    3:36
02. Blunt Needles    6:28
03. The Passing Years    3:28
04. Make It The Way You Are    5:01
05. Pale Sky    6:54
06. What The Government Can Do For You    4:26
07. The Daybreak Of Eternity    4:11
08. Directions For Use    4:18
09. A Very Small Child    4:29
10. God Can Fix Anything    11:27

Total Time 52:58

LINE - UP

                    

David Kubinec - lead vocals
Auguste De Antoni - guitar
Patrick Moraz - keyboards
Jean Ristori - bass
Bryson Graham - drums

NOTES

                       

Original Recordings made 1969-1970 owned by David Kubinec, (then as Mainhorse Airline), remastered by Graham Bonnett. Studio Album, released in 2016. Released under license from David Kubinec.
                

Flac Size: 225 MB

MAINHORSE - MAINHORSE 1971

             

I wonder how many Yes fans are aware of the historical fact that once Patrick Moraz playes in

the band Mainhorse? Anyway, on this album the 'Swiss poodle' delivers an impressive Hammond organ sound. The first song is "Introduction", it features fluent 'heavy progressive' with floods of Hammond organ and fiery electric guitarplay, the sound has echoes from ATOMIC ROOSTER, THE NICE and early DEEP PURPLE.
                     

The following "Passing Years" is a slow, bluesy like song with mellow organ and a bit melancholic

vocals. Then again 'heavy prog' with swirling organ and biting electric guitar in "Such a beautiful day", the climate evokes THE NICE and QUATERMASS. In "Pale sky" a wailing violin and howling electric guitar colour a bluesy atmosphere, topped by strong Hammond play and dynamic drums. This song features halfway a jam with violin, guitars, electric piano, experimental sounds and a hypnotizing rhythm-section, to end with a sensitive electric guitarsolo and loads of Hammond.
        

Next is "Basia", an up-tempo and catchy song with strong organ - and electric guitarplay, a pumping

bass and cheerful vocals, halfway MAINHORSE surprises with a swinging electric pianosolo. The track "More tea vicar" contains subtle changes of rhythm, from soft jazzy to fluent heavy prog with a classical sounding organ (like EKSEPTION), assorted percussion like glockenspiel and fiery electric guitar.
             

The final composition "God" (almost 10 minutes) is the most alternating and dynamic one with many

changes of climate with Patrick MORAZ on organ and the 'Klavio- synthesizer' and strong electric guitarwork, it sounds like a blend of THE NICE and ATOMIC ROOSTER. THIS ALBUM CONTAINS THE FIRST IMPRESSIVE STEPS FROM PATRICK MORAZ AS A KEYBOARD-WIZARD!
                

Mainhorse – Mainhorse
Label: Time Wave – IDVP001CD
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: UK
Released: Jun 13, 2011
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock, Symphonic Rock

TRACKS

                 

01, Introduction    5:06
02, Passing Years    3:53
03, Such A Beautiful Day    4:41
04, Pale Sky    10:15
05, Basia    5:28
06, More Tea Vicar    3:31
07, God    10:31

LINE - UP

Bass, Cello, Vocals – Jean Ristori
Drums, Percussion – Bryson Graham
Lead Guitar, Violin, Vocals – Peter Lockett
Lyrics By – Bryson Graham (tracks: 1), Dave Kubinec (tracks: 2, 4), Peter Lockett  (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7)
Music By – Jean Ristori (tracks: 4), Patrick Moraz (tracks: 1 to 3, 5 to 7)
Organ, Electric Piano, Piano, Glockenspiel, Synthesizer [Klaviosynthesiser], Vocals – Patrick Moraz

NOTES

            

Originally released in 1971.
Re-mastered by Jean Ristori at MTX Mastering.
The album has been re-mastered personally by Jean Ristori and Patrick Moraz for this release.
Tracks 1 - 4, 7 recorded at De Lane Lea Studio.
Tracks 5 - 6 recorded at Morgan Studio.

Flac Size: 268 MB

Paul Kantner: Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra 1983

 

Paul Lorin Kantner (March 17, 1941 – January 28, 2016) was an American rock musician. He is best

known as the co-founder, rhythm guitarist, and a secondary vocalist of Jefferson Airplane, a leading psychedelic rock band of the counterculture era. He continued these roles as a member of Jefferson Starship, Jefferson Airplane's successor band.
                   

Jefferson Airplane formed in 1965 when Kantner met Marty Balin. Kantner eventually became the

leader of the group and led it through its highly successful late-1960s period. In 1970, while still active with Jefferson Airplane, Kantner and several Bay Area musicians recorded the album Blows Against the Empire, which was co-credited to both Paul Kantner and "Jefferson Starship".
              

Jefferson Airplane continued to record and perform until 1973. Kantner revived the Jefferson Starship name in 1974 and continued to record and perform with them through 1984. He later led a reformed

Jefferson Starship from 1992 until his death in 2016. Kantner had the longest continuous membership with the band, with 19 years in the original run of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship and 24 years in the revived Jefferson Starship. At times, he was the only founding Jefferson Airplane member to remain in Jefferson Starship. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Jefferson Airplane in 1996.
          

Kantner released a solo album, Blows Against the Empire, in 1970. It was followed by a duo album with his partner, Airplane lead singer Grace Slick, Sunfighter, in 1971, and a trio album, Baron Vol

Tollbooth & the Chrome Nun, with Slick and David Freiberg (who had replaced Balin in the Airplane) in 1973. Kantner and Slick reorganized the Airplane under the name Jefferson Starship in 1974. Kantner released a second solo album, Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra, in 1983, and left Jefferson Starship in 1984, after which the band's name was truncated to Starship. Kantner then launched the KBC Band.
                      

In 1989, he was a member of a re-formed version of Jefferson Airplane, and beginning in the '90s, he

toured a new edition of Jefferson Starship, which gradually became a Kantner family band by the 21st century. That lineup released an album in 2008 titled Jefferson's Tree of Liberty, also featuring contributions from friends and family including Grace Slick, Marty Balin, David Freiberg, Cathy Richardson, Slick Aguilar, and Prairie Prince.
                   

On January 28, 2016, Kantner died of multiple organ failure in San Francisco at the age of 74

(coincidentally on the same day, and at the same age, as original Jefferson Airplane singer Signe Anderson, who predated Grace Slick in the band).
               

PLANET EARTH ROCK AND ROLL ORCHESTRA 1983

                 

Thirteen years after his first solo album, Blows Against the Empire, Paul Kantner delivered this sequel,
named after the loose affiliation of Bay Area musicians who had played on Blows and subtitled, The

Empire Blows Back. Like the first album, this one was a science fiction concept album about a commune/rock band eventually fleeing into outer space to escape right-wing oppression. Though the participants this time were limited mostly to Kantner's family (his son, daughter, and ex-wife, Grace Slick, all sing) and his band, Jefferson Starship, and though it was a bit harder rocking than its predecessor, the album shared Blows's vague idealism and complicated arrangements.
              

Kantner remained an electrified folkie with a cosmic edge, and you needed the inserted page of liner notes to follow the story line. But Grace Slick, especially, was in good vocal form, and certain tunes,

notably Kantner's collaboration with Jerry Garcia, "The Mountain Song," were among the strongest material he'd come up with lately. But this album was a swan song for Kantner as a solo: After its release and commercial failure, he quit The Starship (taking "Jefferson" with him) and launched the short-lived KBC Band.
(By William Ruhlmann)

                    

Paul Kantner – Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra
Label: Not On Label (Paul Kantner Self-Released) – none
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Remastered
Country: US
Released: Jun 4, 2005
Genre: Rock
Style: Psychedelic Rock

TRACKS

AMERICA        

                

  
01. The Planet Earth Rock And Roll Orchestra   4:07
Piano – Pete Sears
Words By, Music By – Paul Kantner
02. (She Is A) Telepath   2:51
Lead Guitar – Ronnie Montrose
Words By, Music By – Paul Kantner
03. Circle Of Fire   3:47
Synthesizer, Vocals – David Freiberg
Vocals – Howard Kaylan, Mark Volman, Mickey Thomas
Words By, Music By – Paul Kantner
04. Mount Shasta   2:44
Lyrics By – Paul Kantner
Music By – Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, Ron Nagle, Scott Mathews
05. Lilith's Song   6:42
Music By [Additional] – Grace Slick, Pete Sears
Words By, Music By – Paul Kantner

AUSTRALIA ... OZ & BEYOND        

                       

  
06a. Transubstantiation Part I Esperanto   1:28
Mandolin, Piano, Organ, Harmonica, Vocals, Bass Drum – Scott Mathews
Music By – Grace Slick, Paul Kantner, Ron Nagle, Scott Mathews
Vocals, Piano – Ron Nagle
06 b. Transubstantiation Part II Science Friction   2:04
Piano – Pete Sears
Words By, Music By – Paul Kantner
07. The Mountain Song   5:02
Words By, Music By – Paul Kantner
08. Declaration Of Independence   1:38 + 09. Underground (The Laboratories)   2:13
Music By – Celius Dougherty
Words By [Text] – Wolcott Gibbs
Lead Guitar – Paul Kantner
Music By – Paul Kantner, Ron Nagle, Scott Mathews
Vocals – Alexander Bowman Kantner, Grace Slick
10. The Sky Is No Limit   2:51
Music By – Paul Kantner
Piano – Grace Slick
Saxophone – Scott Mathews
Words By – China Kantner*, Paul Kantner
11. Let's Go   5:02
Music By – Paul Kantner
Rhythm Guitar [2nd] – John Blakeley
Words By – Paul Kantner

LINE - UP

                   

Paul Kantner – vocals, guitars, banjo, glass harmonica, synthesizers on "Circle of Fire", lead guitar on "Underground"
Grace Slick – vocals, piano on "The Mountain Song" and "The Sky Is No Limit"
Jack Casady – bass
China Kantner – vocals on "Declaration of Independence" and "The Sky Is No Limit"
Alexander Kantner – vocals on "Underground"
Craig Chaquico – lead guitar
Pete Sears – piano on "The Planet Earth Rock and Roll Orchestra", "Lilith's Song", and "Science Friction", bass on "Circle of Fire"
Aynsley Dunbar – drums
Scott Mathews – guitar, percussion, pedal steel guitar, Linn drums, glass harmonica, vocoder, synthesizers on "Circle of Fire", saxophones on "Circle of Fire" and "The Sky Is No Limit", vocals on "Esperanto", mandolin on "Esperanto", harmonica on "Esperanto", piano on "Esperanto", organ on "Esperanto", bass drum on "Esperanto"
Ron Nagle – piano on "Esperanto", vocals on "Esperanto"
The Dūrocs – sound effects on "The Mountain Song"
Ronnie Montrose – lead guitar on "(She Is A) Telepath"
Flo & Eddie – vocals
Mickey Thomas – vocals on "Circle of Fire"
David Freiberg – synthesizers and vocals on "Circle of Fire"
John Blakeley – 2nd rhythm guitar on "Let's Go"

NOTES

Limited to 3000 numbered copies.

Flac Size: 267 MB

Paul Kantner on Urban Aspirines HERE
Jefferson Airplane on Urban Aspirines HERE

Melanie (February 3, 1947 – January 23, 2024): Beautiful People - The Greatest Hits Of Melanie 1999

 

Melanie Anne Safka-Schekeryk (February 3, 1947 – January 23, 2024), professionally known as

Melanie or Melanie Safka, was an American singer-songwriter. She is best known for the 1971–72 global hit "Brand New Key", plus her 1970 version of "Ruby Tuesday", which was originally written and recorded by the Rolling Stones, her composition "Look What They've Done to My Song Ma", and her 1970 international breakthrough hit "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)" (inspired by her experience of performing at the 1969 Woodstock music festival).
                          

No talent who came out of Woodstock and who continued actively performing more than a

quarter century later remained as closely associated with the 1960s and "flower power" than Melanie. Born Melanie Safka in Astoria, Queens, in 1947, she made her first public appearance at age four on a radio show, later studying at the New York Academy of Fine Arts.
                      

After mounting a singing career while in college, she later sang in clubs in Greenwich Village, and was

signed to a publishing contract in 1967. She recorded her first single, "Beautiful People," for Columbia Records that same year. Her relationship with the record company was short-lived, however, and after one more single she left the label.
                       

Later in 1969, Melanie had a hit in the Netherlands with "Beautiful People". She was one of only three solo women who performed at the Woodstock festival in 1969 and the inspiration for her first hit song,

"Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)", apparently arose from the Woodstock audience lighting candles during her set.[13] The recording became a hit in Europe, Australia, Canada, and the United States in 1970. The B-side of the single featured Melanie's spoken-word track "Candles in the Rain". "Lay Down" became Melanie's first top ten hit in America, peaking at No. 6 on the Billboard singles chart and achieving worldwide success. Later hits included "Peace Will Come (According To Plan)" and a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Ruby Tuesday".
                          

Her song "Birthday of the Sun" was later released on the Woodstock 2 album, and 20 years later it was released on video as part of Woodstock: The Lost Performances, alongside the work of Janis Joplin,

Crosby, Stills & Nash, and the Who. When first released, "Brand New Key" was banned by some radio stations because some heard sexual innuendo in the lyrics. Melanie acknowledged the possibility of reading an unintended sexual innuendo in the song, stating, "I wrote [Brand New Key] in about fifteen minutes one night. I thought it was cute; a kind of old thirties tune. I guess a key and a lock have always been Freudian symbols, and pretty obvious ones at that.
                      

In 1976 Melanie released one album on Atlantic Records, Photograph, which was overseen by Ahmet Ertegun. The album was praised by The New York Times as one of the year's best, although it was

largely ignored by the public. It was re-issued on CD in 2005 with an additional disc of unreleased material. In 2007 Melanie was invited by Jarvis Cocker to perform at the Meltdown Festival at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Her sold-out performance received critical acclaim, with The Independent saying, "it was hard to disagree that Melanie has earned her place alongside Joan Baez, Judy Collins, Joni Mitchell and Marianne Faithfull in the pantheon of iconic female singers.
           

Melanie resided in the Nashville, Tennessee area. She died on January 23, 2024, at the age of 76.

        

BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE - THE GREATEST HITS 1999

                    

                 
Beautiful People: The Greatest Hits of Melanie gets the nod over the 1990 Rhino compilation The Best of Melanie as the best compilation of the singer's work. Containing 19 tracks where the

earlier album contained 18, it could hardly be longer and fit on one CD. The songs have been mastered from their original master tapes for the first time by Robert Fripp (!) and David Singleton, so the sound quality is the best yet. The set contains the original LP version of Melanie's Top Ten hit "Lay Down (Candles in the Rain)," running just over seven minutes, as opposed to the nearly four-minute single edit.
                

Also featured are two recent songs, "Summer of Love II" and "I Will Get Over." That's all on the credit

side. On the debit side, it is not in chronological order and the selection leaves off several of Melanie's singles chart entries, notably "Bitter Bad," which made the Top 40 (and is included in the Rhino compilation). Nevertheless, this must be counted as the best Melanie compilation yet, featuring her number-one hit "Brand New Key," as well as standards like "Beautiful People" and "What Have They Done to My Song, Ma?."
               

Melanie – Beautiful People: The Greatest Hits Of Melanie
Label: Buddha Records – 7446599630 2
Format: CD, Compilation
Country: US
Released: 1999
Genre: Rock
Style: Folk Rock, Pop Rock

TRACKS

              

01. Summer Of Love II    4:35
02. Lay Down (Candles In The Rain)    7:39
03. Ring The Living Bell    5:02
04. What Have They Done To My Song, Ma?    4:03
05. Brand New Key    2:24
06. Love To Lose Again    4:34
07. Lover's Cross    4:24
08. Ruby Tuesday    4:34
09. The Nickel Song    3:44
10. Bobo's Party    3:51
11. The Good Book    2:30
12. Christopher Robin    2:36
13. Animal Crackers    2:14
14. Psychotherapy (Live)    5:12
15. Beautiful People    3:35
16. Together Alone    4:45
17. Leftover Wine    6:14
18. Peace Will Come (According To Plan)    3:19
19. I Will Get Over    3:37

Flac Size: 516 MB