Saturnalia - Magical Love (1973)

A thoroughly competent slice of mystical West Coast influenced progressive psychedelia with an occult edge, some excellent female vocals and searing lead guitar work.
Thank you Ade Hawkins and Richard Houghton for your comments!

Saturnalia was a rock group produced by Yardbirds legend Keith Relf.
With a man named Adrian Hawkins and woman named simply Aletta heading up the vocal duties, their sound was assorted and fascinating combination of psychedelic rock. I preferred what they sounded like with Hawkins at the helm; Aletta’s voice was off key and irritating for the most part. The music in total bordered on pre-prog-rock with a strong leaning towards hard rock, albeit a different slant than what was available in that era. I am sure some folks would consider this as weird music, I prefer to say they were making music that was original and off the beaten path, which for me personally is very appealing.
Besides the tripped out artwork on both sides of the LP, a booklet is included that tells the story of the band with an outline of each individual personality including their astrological sign a full explanation of all the elements, fire and water and such. It is all very much what 1969 was all about. Old hippies (and new) will love this album! It seems there is always so much more to talk about besides the music when I receive an album with so much color and character. This is what collectors live for so snag it up before they disappear.

reviewed by Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck at progressiveworld.net

Adrian Hawkins - Vocals
Aletta - Vocals
Rod Roach - Guitar
Richard Houghton - Bass guitar
Tom Crompton - Drums

Tracklist:

1. Magical Love
2. She Brings Peace
3. And I Have Loved You
4. Winchester Town
5. Traitor
6 .Soul Song
7. Princess And The Peasant Boy
8. Dreaming
9. Step Out Of Line

Saturnalia - Magical Love (1973)

Various Artists - Turkish Freakout: Psych-Folk Singles 1969-1980 (2010)

Turkey is often referred to as the meeting point between East and West, a statement verified by this selection of choice Turkish grooves. The western rock, psych, funk and jazz influences that began to be incorporated into traditional Turkish sounds during the late 60s and 70s can be heard here, as the Anadolu pop sound of Turkeyma balanced these new elements with the complex sounds and rhythms developed over many years. All tracks are referenced from their original 7 inch releases, painstakingly tracked down from various sources in and around Istanbul. The marriage of these styles is original, captivating and bound to freak you out.

1. Okay Temiz - Dokuz Sekiz
2. Kardaslar - Cokertme
3. Cem Karaka - Uryan Geldim
4. Apaslar - Gilgamis
5. Beyaz Kelebekler - Esmerim
6. Alpay - Seni Dileniyorum
7. Erkin Koray - Sevdigim
8. Ajda Pekkan - Kaderimin Oyunu
9. Sevil & Ayla - Bebek
10. Baris Manco - Hal Hal
11. Rifat Oncel - Dosta Bizden Selam Olsun
12. Ersen - Cakmagicak
13. Onder Bali - Karni Buyuk Koca Dunya
14. Alpay - Ah! Berelim
15. Erkin Koray - Estarabim
16. Ajda Pekkan - Iciyorum
17. Arif Sag - Osman Ehlivan
18. Ersen - Gunese Don Cicegim

Various Artists - Turkish Freakout: Psych-Folk Singles 1969-1980 (2010)

Various Artists - Cloud Cuckooland (2010)

Accompanying the marvelous LP from Sam Spence, Finders Keepers drop a twenty track compilation peering into the pre-1974 archives of one of Germany's longest running Krautrock independents, Kuckuck. During this period, the label was in its prog heyday, helmed by the forward thinking Eckart Rahn, whose release policy covered the early Kosmiche and Krautrock that he loved. One of his most successful moves was to sign releases from American ex-pat Sam Spence who also brought over his Moog synthesizer from the US. Sam provides a clutch of tracks for 'Cloud Cuckooland', next to far-out trips from like minded and progressive figures such as Ernst Schultz, Sonny Hennig, IhreKinder, Dueter Nicht and Lied Des Teufels. The Ernst Schultz tracks are some of the best here, from the choice collage of 'Paranoia Picknick' mixing musique concrete and unidentified early electronics, to his funked up rocker 'XY' while Spence's tracks are suitably zany and the oddities like Armageddon's Hendrix workut on 'Oh Man' hit a savoury spot. Recommended! (boomkat.com)

1. Antiteater - Opening
2. Ihre Kinder - Stunden
3. Out Of Focus - See How A White Negro Flies
4. Sam Spence - Waterworld
5. Ernst Schultz - Paranoia Picknick
6. Sonny Hennig - 1000 Tips Zum Überleben
7. Ernst Schultz - 10 Finger Blind
8. Ihre Kinder - Komm Zu Dir
9. Deuter - Der Turm
10. Sam Spence - Ringo
11. Antiteater - Memorn (Der Amerikanische Soldat)
12. Armegeeddon - Oh Man
13. Sam Spence - World As One
14. Deuter - Night Rain
15. Ernst Schultz - XY
16. Lied Des Teufels - Nichts
17. Antiteater - Intermezzo
18. Out Of Focus - Blue Sunday Morning
19. Ihre Kinder - The Dice
20. Antiteater - Trauer (La Mandragola)

Various Artists - Cloud Cuckooland (2010)

Lumbee - Overdose (1970)

Sought after late '60's heavy acid rock gem that features a cover featuring young kids sucking on hookahs ! The original album came with a drug dealing game. The album stands up well alongside albums such as Blue Cheers later recordings, Grand Funk, Damnation etc. Hard, heavy and wholesome.

Personnel incl: CAROL FITZGERALD vcls, WILLIE FRENCH LOWERY lead gtr, vcls, FORRIS FULFORD drms, vcls, RONALD SEIGER bs, BOBBY PAUL bs, RICKEY VANNOY gtr, vcls

Tracklist:

1. Tone Deaf
2. Veronica High
3. People Get Ready
4. You Gotta Be Stoned
5. Tone Deaf Jam
6. Streets of Gold
7. Whole World Is Down on Me
8. Whole World Is Sunny Upside Down

Lumbee - Overdose (1970)

The Illusion - The Illusion (1969)

An Italian - U.S. band, based in Long Island, New York, who played heavy rock with some psychedelic influence. The band were formed as The Five Illusions by the lead singer John Vinci as a senior in high school in 1964 (thanks John Vinci for leaving a comment). They enjoyed some minor chart success, and their albums were produced by the famous Jeff Barry. Good album and some cool guitar work.

John Vinci - vocals
Richie Cerniglia - lead guitar
Mike Maniscalco - rhythm guitar, keyboards
Chuck Adler - bass
Mike (Sylvester) Ricciardella - drums, percussion

Tracklist:

1. Did You See Her Eyes
2. Talkin' Sweet Talkin' Soul
3. Just Imagine
4. Run Run Run-Willy Gee
5. I Love You Yes I Do
6. Alone
7. Charlena
8. Why Tell Me Why-The Real Thing
9. You Made Me What I Am

The Illusion

Various Artists - Shifting Sands: 20 Treasures From The Heyday Of Underground Folk (2010)

Under the influence of LSD, by the late 1960s the sands were fast shifting for acoustic music. This new compilation showcases twenty of the best tracks to have emerged from the underground folk revolution, taking in artists from Britain and America, as well as further-flung locations such as Norway, Eire and Canada, and touching on genres including jazz, country and psychedelia. The set comes complete with a full booklet featuring rare pictures and information about each artist, making it truly essential for all strange folk enthusiasts. (Sunbeam Records)

Tracklist:

1. Fresh Maggots - Dole Song
2. Rick Hayward - Can't See Any Signs
3. Lazy Farmer - Turtle Dove
4. Moonkyte - Way Out Hermit
5. Maryanne - The Water Is Wide
6. COB - Summer's Night
7. Jaki Whitren - A Little Bit Extra, Please
8. Roger Rodier - My Spirit's Calling
9. Loudest Whisper - Cold Winds Blow
10. Gordon Jackson - My Ship, My Star
11. Mark Fry - Song For Wilde
12. Meic Stevens - Dim Ond Heddiw Ddoe Ac Fory
13. G.F. Fitz-Gerald - Country Mouse
14. Oriental Sunshine - Visions
15. Justine - See Saw
16. Wizz Jones - When I Cease To Care
17. Dawnwind - Canticle
18. Gary Farr - I See You
19. Lily & Maria - Morning Glory Morning
20. Synanthesia - Shifting Sands

Various Artists - Shifting Sands: 20 Treasures From The Heyday Of Underground Folk (2010)

Beauregard Ajax - Deaf Priscilla (1968)

Beauregard Ajax - Deaf Priscilla (1968)

Southern California's Beauregard Ajax recorded Deaf Priscilla in late 1967 and early 1968, with legendary Del-Fi Records founder, Bob Keane producing, but the record was shelved when the group disbanded. Decades later a vinyl pressing was issued, and in 2006 Shadoks Music released it on CD for the first time, with four bonus tracks. As was the case for countless aspiring American rock collectives, the British Invasion from a few years earlier heavily influenced the five-piece (the singer even picked up an accent along the way), but as this was psychedelic age, the songs are augmented with slightly fuzzed-out blues licks. The actual tunes possess pleasing melodies, resulting in an overall light psych sound. Lyrically, the tone is usually pretty heavy, though, with such darker subject matters as loneliness, depression, failed relationships, and boredom. The group shows a whimsical side on "Kaleidoscope," and the bubblegummy "Happy Brontosaurus," but they are at their best when embracing the melancholic aspects of day-to-day life on such numbers as "Loneliness Is a Sometime Thing," "Goodbye Again," and "Blue Violins." One of the best and more bizarre tracks, "Deaf Priscilla," is the mysterious tale of a horrific domestic dispute, which the protagonist can partly ignore due to loss of one of her senses. (All Music Guide)

Why would I give this flashback from the 60's such a high rating? Because I was the drummer! I found the album released by Shadoks while searching my old band's name on the internet. I was surprised to hear that tapes of our group somehow circulated in Europe for a number of years before Shadoks got hold of them. No one in the band is getting any royalties, but it was nice to see the work we did with producer Bob Keane (Ritchie Valens, Bobby Fuller Four,etc.)finding an audience after 38 years! (C. Leo Hartshorn)

Thanks Leo Hartshorn for your comment!

Beauregard Ajax - Deaf Priscilla (1968)