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Monday, February 26, 2024

Various - Mojo Presents - Acid Drops, Spacedust And Flying Saucers - Psychedelic Confectionary From The UK Underground 1965 - 1969 (2001)

 

SYD BARRETT

Just when you thought the mine of obscure 60's British psychedlia had been stripped, MOJO magazine's merry music geeks have gleefully assembled one of the best collections of the genre.

THE YARDBIRDS

Amazingly, only a relative handful of selections cross over with Rhino's recent and similar "Nuggets II" box--so if you're a hardcore collector, it won't be too over-spendy to scoop up both. Sound quality is as good as you can expect, keeping in mind that 1) you are dealing with 1960's studio technology, and 2) many of these songs are so obscure that the only existing copies are probably on vinyl sources!

WORLD OF OZ

Wisely, MOJO does mix in some Who, Kinks, Animals, Yardbirds, etc., giving the collection a nice historical balance and context for the more casual music fan. A winner!

THE NICE

Four CD set covering UK psychedelia from 1965-1969, compiled by Mojo writer Pat Gilbert. Includes one-hit wonders & psychedelic obscurities alongside acts such as The Who, The Move, The Kinks, Donovan, Hollies, The Small Faces & many more. 72 tracks in all.

THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP

Although perhaps a little too similar to volume two of the highly regarded Nuggets series, Acid Drops, Spacedust, & Flying Saucers, compiled by the fine folks at Britain's (in fact, the world's) finest music magazine, Mojo, is the perfect introduction to the rise and fall of British psychedelia.

PROCOL HARUM

Rather than chart the influence of British music on its surroundings and colonies (as done by Nuggets) Acid Drops takes an easier route. The Nuggets collection focused on all manner and strains of the old empire's R&B, freakbeat, mod, and psychedelic scenes, whilst Acid Drops dissects and inspects the solely British mutation from beat/pop (signified by the Kinks' quasi-raga "See My Friends") into full-blown psychedelia (from the most commercial to most underground of guises).

THE PRETTY THINGS

For the hardened collector and avid fanatic, Space Dust will bring few surprises. There's a hefty weight of British hits and a delve through the type of major-label material that missed the mark at the time but has since become legendary through contributor Phil Smee's '80s psychedelic compilation series, Rubbles, that anyone bitten by the bug will be familiar with.

THE WHO

What will make purchase of this -- it must be said, rather cheaply packaged box -- essential is the superior sound quality (all tracks have been remastered at Abbey Road) and the interesting liner booklet, which if not a little skimpy, features a superb essay in which Jon Savage chronicles the evolution and devolution of British music's most quirky, imaginative, and brief of genres.

THE KINKS

Alongside the short running time (why the hell have EMI held back to only 18 tracks per CD, whilst Rhino made the effort to fill their Nuggets set to spilling point?) and minor quips, like the edited beginning of the Smoke's tremolo-infused classic "My Friend Jack" and the inclusion of the pretty much non-psychedelic "Granny Takes a Trip" by jug band the Purple Gang, this is still a very decent set which takes into account the different sides of U.K. psych.

THE INCREDIBLE STRING BAND

And as said, although rather preliminary for those seeking new thrills, this holds the very essence of the cause and effect the genre had on the changing face of the British music scene from 1965-1969. Practically none of this music has aged badly, and for some reason, however pompous and ridiculous a lot is, it still sounds as invigorating as the day it was recorded. Timeless. ~ Jon 'Mojo' Mills,

HOLLIES

One of the great things about 1960s music is that there were so many wonderful tracks may not have been huge hits but remain worthy of a listen even now in the 21t century. The advent of the CD has meant that so many wonderful sounds that disappeared for years are now available again, opening up the archives for bands who many had forgotten or never knew in the first place.

ERIC BURDON & THE ANIMALS

This is like discovering rare gems. There are songs that certainly deserve a much wider audience and even artists who are well-known now making their first outings. Like the earlier Nuggetts II collection, Acid Drops, Spacedust & Flying Saucers is an absolute treasure trove of frequently less-known music.

DONOVAN

Again like Nuggetts II, Acid Drops has a mix of well-known tracks, well-known artists and the blatently obscure. What they have in common is they bring back great music so everyone can listen again or for the first time even.

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST

All in all, this collection may overlap with Nuggetts II for some tracks but it provides a large number of other tracks that are not available elsewhere. Essential for fans of late 1960s music.
                     


Various - Mojo Presents - Acid Drops, Spacedust And Flying Saucers - Psychedelic Confectionary From The UK Underground 1965 - 1969 (2001)
Label: EMI – 07243 5 35078 2 4, Universal – 07243 5 35078 2 4
Format: 4 x CD, Compilation Box Set
Country: UK
Released: 2001
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: Garage Rock, Psychedelic Rock
                   


DISC 1.  DOWN TO MIDDLE EARTH

 

 
01. McGough & McGear
- "So Much in Love" (4:02)
02. Aquarian Age - "10,000 Words in a Cardboard Box" (3:26)
03. The Nice - "Flower King of Flies" (3:18)
04. Rupert's People - "Dream on My Mind" (3:25)
05. Shy Limbs - "Reputation" (3:33)
06. Tintern Abbey - "Vacuum Cleaner" (3:06)
07. The David - "Light of Your Mind" (2:51)
08. The Misunderstood - "I Can Take You to the Sun" (3:40)
09. Grapefruit - "Dear Delilah" (2:28)
10. Procol Harum - "Shine on Brightly" (3:33)
11. Bamboo Shoot - "The Fox Has Gone to Ground" (2:52)
12. The Who - "Armenia City in the Sky" (3:13)
13. Focus Three - "10,000 Years Behind My Mind" (2:16)
14. Timebox - "Gone Is the Sad Man" (3:44)
15. World of Oz - "Peter's Birthday (Black and White Rainbows)" (2:55)
16. The Tickle - "Subway (Smokey Pokey World)" (2:42)
17. Felius Andromeda - "Meditations" (4:10)
18. Warm Sounds - "Nite Is a-Comin'" (3:01)

Flac Size: 324 MB

DISC 2.  GANDALF'S GARDEN  

                 


01. Kaleidoscope - "Flight from Ashiya" (2:41)
02. July - "The Way" (4:15)
03. Incredible String Band - "Witches Hat" (2:34)
04. Donovan - "Celeste" (4:10)
05. Ramases & Selket - "Mind's Eye" (2:42)
06. The End - "Shades of Orange" (2:41)
07. Virgin Sleep - "Love" (2:25)
08. Barclay James Harvest - "Pools of Blue" (3:09)
09. Tales of Justine - "Monday Morning" (3:23)
10. Billy Nicholls - "Girl from New York" (3:19)
11. The Accent - "Red Sky at Night" (3:14)
12. Mick Softley - "Am I the Red One" (2:31)
13. Orange Bicycle - "Laura's Garden" (3:15)
14. Caleb - "Baby Your Phrasing Is Bad" (3:18)
15. Amazing Friendly Apple - "Magician" (3:23)
16. Moles - "We Are the Moles (Part 1)" (4:34)
17. 23rd Turnoff - "Michael Angelo" (2:25)
18. Bill Fay - "Screams in the Ears" (3:25)

Flac Size: 286 MB

DISC 3.  MUSHROOM SOUP   

                


01. Purple Gang - "Granny Takes a Trip" (2:36)
02. The Smoke - "My Friend Jack" (3:07)
03. Idle Race - "Imposters in Life's Magazine" (2:18)
04. Pretty Things - "Talkin' About the Good Times" (3:44)
05. Donovan - "Hurdy Gurdy Man" (3:12)
06. Spencer Davis Group - "Time Seller" (2:52)
07. Denny Laine - "Say You Don't Mind" (3:10)
08. The Move - "I Can Hear the Grass Grow" (2:58)
09. Kinks - "See My Friend" (2:43)
10. Peter Cook & Dudley Moore - "The L.S. Bumble Bee" (2:45)
11. Yardbirds - "Happenings Ten Years Time Ago" (2:57)
12. Small Faces - "Green Circles" (2:42)
13. Hollies - "King Midas in Reverse" (3:08)
14. David McWilliams - "The Days of Pearly Spencer" (2:34)
15. The Herd - "From the Underworld" (3:19)
16. Eric Burdon & the Animals - "Sky Pilot" (7:38)
17. Traffic - "Paper Sun" (4:13)
18. Simon Dupree & the Big Sound - "Kites" (3:45)

Flac Size: 334 MB

DISC 4.  ROUNDHOUSE GHOSTS  

                 


01. The Attack - "Colour of My Mind" (2:29)
02. Allen Pound's Get Rich - "Searchin' in the Wilderness" (3:19)
03. Fire - "Father's Name Was Dad" (2:33)
04. Orange Machine - "Dr. Crippen's Waiting Room" (3:03)
05. Penny Peeps - "Model Village" (2:54)
06. Fairytale - "Run and Hide" (2:31)
07. Mandrake Paddle Steamer - "Strange Walking Man" (3:13)
08. Status Quo - "When My Mind Is Not Alive" (2:49)
09. Poets - "In Your Tower" (2:32)
10. Sands - "Listen to the Sky" (3:46)
11. Syd Barrett - "Octopus" (3:46)
12. Apple - "Otherside" (3:18)
13. Flies - "I'm Not Your Stepping Stone" (2:41)
14. Herbal Mixture - "Machines" (2:04)
15. Tomorrow - "Revolution" (3:48)
16. Sorrows - "You Got What I Want" (2:00)
17. Koobas - "Royston Rose" (3:52)
18. Sam Gopal's Dream - "Escalator" (2:51)

Flac Size: 291 MB


Sunday, February 25, 2024

Tai Phong: Tai Phong 1975 + Last Flight 1979

 

First off, a French prog band led by Vietnamese twin brothers is already an eccentric


singularity,adding a soon to be infamous French pop/rock star (JJ Goldman- the parisian Springsteen) on guitars,
displaying a really deft use of various effects and technique, brilliant keyboard work and a solid bass/drum combination. TAI PHONG means "Great wind" in Vietnamese.
                         

Taï Phong is a French progressive rock band formed by two Vietnamese brothers, Khanh Maï (guitar,

voice) and Taï Sinh (bass, guitar, voice, keyboards), in 1975.They were joined by Jean-Alain Gardet (keyboards), Stephan Caussarieu (drums, percussion), and Jean-Jacques Goldman (guitar, voice, violin). They released three albums between 1975 and 1979: Taï Phong (1975), Windows (1976), and Last Flight (1979). "Sister Jane" (1975), the first single from their first album, was a radio hit.
                

The first incarnation came together in 1972, and included an American and a German (keep telling

yourself this is a French band). They were in the process of recording, when contract disputes broke out. Because the brothers refused the terms (thus leaving them without a deal), the other two members left. Soon after, they would be replaced by keyboardist Jean Alain Gardet, and the now famous (or infamous) Jean-Jacques Goldman. Yes, he is the man responsible for several of Céline Dion's hits (does this mean that Céline is prog related? Say it ain't so).
                   

In 1973, they again entered the studio. However, more artistic disputes, and contract haggling, with

recording executives would keep them from releasing anything for the next couple of years. By 1974, they had a contract they could live with, but still needed a drummer. They chose 17 year-old Stéphan Caussarieu. The classic lineup of Taï Phong was now complete, and would remain intact for the first two albums. This was also a potent combination of talent and ego.
                   

After the release of 1976's "Windows," some of the members branched out. Jean-Jacques dabbled in

some solo work, and Gardet recorded an album with Alpha Ralpha. It is during this period that trouble started brewing. "Windows" did not sell very well, and the band spent all the money from the first album on a new sound system.
                     

Goldman did not wish to perform live, which was a serious problem considering his contribution to the

band's sound. This disheartened Jean Alain, causing him to exit. The band went on tour in 1977 with bassist Michael Jones also taking over lead vocal, but it just wasn't working. They decided to cancel any remaining shows, and just concentrate on studio work. This is the moment when brother Taï left. After much turmoil, they released 1979's "Last Flight," but the magic was gone.
               

TAI PHONG - TAI PHONG 1975

                    


The album also gave birth to a huge "slow" hit , played to death in nightclubs (not yet disco) a modern

"Nights in White Satin" where young french girls got to get close and personal with young french boys on the dancefloor!!!
                

This is the lightest moment on the disc and the commercial tidbit needed to sell the album, very

common in the corporate 70's anyway. The epic tracks are the focus of our attention: Years & Years and Field of Gold. My fave track is the 11 minute epic closer "Out of the Night" complete with thunderstorm, howling winds and highly evocative vocals.
                

Great instrumental work here on keys and a majestic, drawn out lead guitar solo ("not much interest to

progheads" , says Sir Sean ?), with a dizzying upward crescendo to end the festivities. A definite winner , a precious oddity and a mesmerizing addition to any collection.
                        

The mystery here is not why this album was not very popular, but why it is not highly regarded

among fans of the genre. This is truly a symphonic progressive masterwork, with plenty of good playing and writing.

                  

Taï Phong – Taï Phong
Label: Wea Music – 4509-96264-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue
Country: France
Released: 1975
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

                 


01. Goin' Away    5:44
02. Sister Jane    4:05
03. Crest    3:28
04. For Years And Years (Cathy)    8:32
05. Fields Of Gold    7:39
06. Out Of The Night    11:37

Total Time: 50:19

LINE - UP


Jean-Jacques Goldman / electric & acoustic guitars, violin, vocals
Khanh Mai / electric, acoustic & slide guitars, vocals
Jean-Alain Gardet / piano, organ, Moog, keyboards
Tai Sihn / bass, acoustic guitar, Moog, vocals
Stephan Caussarieu / drums, percussion

Flac Size: 336 MB

TAI PHONG - WINDOWS 1976

               


TRACKS

                 



01. When It's The Season
02. Games
03. St. John's Avenue
04. Circle
05. Last Chance
06. The Gulf Of Knowledge

BONUS TRACKS        

    
07. Dance
08. Back Again
09. Cherry

Tai Phong: Windows on Urban Aspirines HERE

TAI PHONG - LAST FLIGHT 1979

                     


"Flight" is TAÏ PHONG's 3rd album from 1977 and was aply titled as it was the last album recorded by

this original band. Although I suppose you would say that this album is definitely more accessible than their first two brilliant albums, "Last Flight" also shines in its own light. Gone is the obvious "YES" and "PINK FLOYD" allusions, but is replaced with more of a Canterbury feel (aka CARAVAN) and AOR Prog (aka 10CC).
                   

It is really sad that these guys did not really become as big as was their music and all the TAÏ PHONG

albums are fantatsic and unique in color and texture. 2 longer songs on this album are very recognizeable as "Tai Phong" "Last Flight" and "Farewell Gig In Amsterdam" which are given lots of room to be explored and carry a very classic progressive feel to them. Overall "Last Flight" is a fun album to listen to and essential if you are a fan of TAÏ PHONG.
              

Taï Phong – Last Flight
Label: WEA Music – 4509-96265-2
Format: CD, Album, Reissue, Repress
Country: France
Released: 1979    
Genre: Rock
Style: Prog Rock

TRACKS

         


01. End Of An End   6:37
02. Farewell Gig In Amsterdam   8:40
03. Sad Passion   3:38
04. Thirtheenth Space    4:57
05. Last Flight   9:58
06. How Do You Do   3:32

BONUS TRACKS        

    
07. Follow Me   4:01
08. Fed Up   3:57
09. Shanghai Casino   3:59


Total Time: 49:29

LINE - UP


Khanh Mai / vocals (1,5), electric (5) & slide (2,6) guitars
Michael Jones / vocals, bass, acoustic (6) & electric guitars
Jean-Jacques Goldman / vocals (1-3,5), electric & acoustic guitars
Pascal Wuthrich / piano, electric piano, Moog & E-mu synths, Hammond, celesta
Stephan Caussarieu / drums, acoustic guitar & vocals

WITH


Johnny Sehlhoff / acoustic guitar
Michel Gaucher / tenor saxophone

Flac Size: 338 MB