Rock — CDs  

A legendary batch of funky rock tracks – noteworthy not only for production by Jimi Hendrix, but also for the group's insanely great groove! There's a bluesy undercurrent here, but sharpened much more strongly for the funk generation – which takes Cat Mother way past contemporaries like Canned Heat or The Steve Miller Band – yet also still has the gritty power of both of those groups. Jimi's production is surprisingly great – fused tightly at times, in ways that almost preface some modes that bigger acts would take rootsy sounds in the 70s, but much more revolutionary here. The set's worth it alone for the trippy instrumental jam "Track In A", and other tracks include "Can You Dance To It", "Marie", "How I Spent My Summer", "Bramble Bush", "Boston Burglar", and "Favors".

A really compelling second set from Cat Mother & The All Night Newsboys – and quite different than the first! On their Polydor debut, the group had Jimi Hendrix at the production helm – but this time they're taking things on their own, with a feel that's nicely loose and freewheeling – and which really matches the woodsy image of the cover! The core mix of guitar and organ is still as tight as before – but it also gets some nice rootsy touches from violin, mandolin, and acoustic guitar – used in ways that echo folk and maybe preface a bit of redneck rock – yet which also have a bit more of a North Cali sort of sensibility in the long run. Titles include "Riff Raff", "Boonville Massacre", "Turkish Taffy", "Last Go Round", "Good Times", "Albion Doo Wah", and "Strike A Match & Light Another".

Golden Earring's really opening up its groove here – getting past the straight jangle pop of their debut, and expanding their sound in ways that rival the changes going on with The Hollies or Hermans Hermits at the same time! A slightly soulful undercurrent emerges on a few tracks – almost a hint of the heaviness to come in the group's music, yet still mostly focused on rockish outlets here. And the instrumentation's getting a bit more complicated too – some really compelling lines that take full advantage of the great production for the record. Titles include "Another Man In Town"," Smoking Cigarettes", "In My House", "Don't Wanna Lose That Girl", "Tears & Lies", "Impeccable Girl", "Call Me", "Lionel The Master", and "There Will Be A Tomorrow". CD features 4 bonus tracks too – "Wings", "Don't Run Too Far", "What You Gonna Tell", and "Daddy Buy Me A Girl".

One of the rarest Lee Hazlewood albums ever – a mid 70s set recorded for Polydor in Sweden, and one that represents a really unique chapter in Lee's career overseas! At times, the album's got a very strong country feel – more so than even other Hazlewood records, which always had a bit of twang – yet at other points, the record moves into more familiar vocal work – recalling some of the modes that Lee had laid down on his best work of the late 60s. Not all songs are originals, but Lee definitely makes all the music his own – and the arrangements by David Whitaker and Lars Samuelson move around in good ways to match the spirit of Hazlewood's mood on each tune. This reissue features some really great notes – filled with the kind of personal recollections that make Lee's life seem like it was always a blast to live – and titles include "The Rising Star", "Come On Home To Me", "It's For My Dad", "Paris Bells", "Hello Saturday Morning", "Wait Till Next Year", "LA Lady", "I've Got To Be Moving", "Mother Country Music", and a great version of "It Was A Very Good Year".

The final proper album by The Jam! The Gift is a far more diversely soul-steeped set of tunes than anything they'd done up to this point – and in hindsight, it feels more like a starting point for Paul Weller's career to come than a final album for The Jam! While they're working more soul influences into the formula, there's still a devotion to insistently catchy hooks that they'd sported since the beginning. A classic that really deserves a lot more respect than it gets in some circles! Includes "Happy Together", "Ghosts", the nice "Psychedelic Shack"-styled "Precious", "Just Who Is The 5 O'Clock Hero", "Running On The Spot", "Circus", "The Planner's Dream Gone Wrong", "Carnation", the great Motown-homage and superhit "Town Called Malice" and "The Gift". This great 2CD 30th anniversary edition has bonus disc of singles, B-sides and most excitingly a bunch of previously unreleased demos! 15 tracks on Disc 2: "Beat Surrender", "Shopping", "Move On Up", "Stoned Out Of My Mind", "Carnation (instrumental demo)", "Shopping (aka Paul's demo)", "Solid Bond In Your Heart (demo)" and more.

An unabashedly 80s-styled set – one that makes heavy use of drum programs and keyboards, but in ways that come up with a surprisingly warm sound in the end! Kindness remind us of some of our favorite indie projects from decades back – especially some of the more intimate records from the post punk years – a bit homemade in the sound structure, but put together with a sense of studio privacy that really lets some warmer, more personal feelings come through in the mix – yet in ways that are light years from any sort of singer/songwriter mode too. Vocals and most instrumentation come from Adam Bainbridge – although a few tracks feature additional guitar or drums from others – and titles include a great cover of The Replacements' "Swingin Party", plus "Anyone Can Fall In Love", "Gee Wiz", "House", "That's Alright", and "Doigsong".

A great self-titled set from Toncho Pilatos – the early 70s Mexican group's wild first album, cut for Polydor! The group has familiar influences, but they put those pieces together in a unique way, with a sound that's really something else! The vocals are echoey and tripped out, with raw drums way out from in the mix – and overall it has kind of an otherworldly Stonesy vibe. Includes "Wait", "Kukulan", "Drunk Again", "Blind Man", "Dejenla En Paz", "La Ultima Danza", "Dulce Monserrat" and "Tommy Lyz".

Dynamic jazz rock from the French scene of the 70s – combo with a strong penchant for stretching out strongly on organ and guitar – but one that also has a few more sensitive, folksy moments as well! The tracks shift nicely between longer numbers and shorter ones – the shorter tracks usually a bit more up-close and personal, with gentle vocals from Rose Podwojny – and the longer numbers usually hit more of a progressive feel, with some especially nice mellotron work at a few points. Titles include "Vision", "Never Good At Sayin Goodbye", "Underground Session", "Old Dom Is Dead", "To Take Him Away", and "Metakara".

The obscure second album from Emiliano Zapata – one of the coolest groups on the Mexican scene of the early 70s! Like the first, this one's got a quality that's right up there with the best South American psych of the time – fuzzy guitars mixed with funky rhythms, and some occasionally more serious elements that bring in a bit of strings that really deepen the group's sound! Gentle flute comes to the forefront on a few numbers, making for an instrumental range of colors that's really great – and the songwriting is right on a par with some of the biggest Anglo acts of the period, yet produced here with some nicely rough touches around the edges. Titles include "El Kuino", "I Dig It", "Hace Mucho Tiempo", "Ahora Escucha Esta Cancion", and "Otra Vez". CD also features bonus tracks "Congore Tumbero A La Mar", "Mr Jones", and "Bad Dreams".

Great late 60s work from Ronnie Von – an under-appreciated Brazilian rocker, and one with a sound that sits nicely between the Jovem Guarda generation and some of the headier groups to come in the 70s! There's a nice array of psychedelic influences at play here – strong echoes of British work of the time, but used in much more sophisticated ways than any Jovem Guarda acts – never a simple copycat approach, but also never as arty as some of the Tropicalia recordings of the time either. Ronnie's voice has a depth that allows some nice changes in mood from track to track – lightly lyrical one moment, a bit darker and more tripped-out the next – bringing a sense of variety to the record that almost recalls Caetano Veloso during the time, but a bit more rockish overall. Titles include "Atlantica", "Dindi", "De Como Meu Heroi Flash Gordon", "Foi Bom", "Rose Ann", "Comeci Uma Brincadeira", and "Mares De Areia". CD features 4 bonus tracks – earlier singles that include "Meu Bem", "Paraiso", "O Pequeno Principe", and "Meu Mundo Parou".

Heavy fuzz from late 60s Brazil – a Tropicalia-era album, but one with a slightly more mainstream groove – one that mixes elements of regional music with psychedelic elements and bouncy, mod-styled backings! The approach is somewhat like the work going on over at EMI/Odeon during the time – although there's certainly a trippier side to the record as well, thanks to arrangements from Rogerio Duprat, Damiano Cozzela, and Julio Medagalia. There's a fair bit of groovers on the record – although in a somewhat offbeat mode – nestled nicely next to a few headier tunes that help balance out the whole set wonderfully. Titles include "Alegria Alegria", "Quem Sabe", "Que Maravilha", "Fossa Boboca", "Longe Do Tempo", "Pela Rua Da Praia", and "Vou Buscar Voce".

Rare rock from Rotomagus – a heavy group from France – the complete discography of the group, and a completely fresh discovery to us! The sound is loose, ragged and raw on the unreleased album demo that's covers the first half of the anthology – which only enhances the power of it. Singer Alain Fontaine sings, screams and wails in English – fascinatingly, he is a good singer, but shrieks his head off with abandon on some killer songs here. The band is just as strong, showing command of rhythm and with strong solos as well as bashing away with intensity. In some ways, it's a late 60s-style heavy psych album, but played at breakneck speed, rugged soul and with little effort to tidy anything up. The second half is much different – featuring singles the group cut for Polydor, CBS and other labels – far less raucous and more French pop psych-indebted, and those numbers are great, too! They work as well in frenzy as they do with trippy harmonies – very impressive! Titles include "Laureline", "Little Green Man", "Fighting Cock", "Shout Now", "I Dig Life", "The Flufluting Flatmul" and more from the unreleased demo album, plus the rare singles "Le Haut Du Pave", "Nevada", "Eros", "Madame Wanda", "Laureline", "The Sky Turns Red" and more.