Mother Upduff - Tales of Tangle (Great Psychedelic Rock US 2013-18)

Size: 177 MB
Bitrate: 320
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Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
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We are excited to present our first 5 years of recordings, not as a compilation of singles but as one cohesive full-length album. 

When Nasoni Records approached us with the concept of a collection, my knee-jerk reaction was to drag all the files in the "Mother Upduff Masters" folder and send away. After a few scrupulous listens however, I felt it wouldn't hurt to adjust the levels between each song before remastering for the vinyl. Backwards it spiraled from there. 

A few months later we have 20 tracks ( 19 on vinyl ) completely remixed and remastered to map a progression within an album rather than an era. To obtain an audible common ground : some songs were cleaned and decluttered whereas others were crowded and muddied, room mics were turned up, takes were swapped, entire instrument sections were muted / unmuted, and the tape bias ran hot on the master. 

Alongside each single comes 3 unreleased songs from an unheard but fruitful period when Eirik Hutchinson joined Mat and I for the first time. Before Erik Mulder brought his skills to our last recordings, Eirik Hutchinson played a huge part in taking our sound out of the two-piece rut. That first season of sonic expansion can now be heard in Transient ( Electric ), The Rover, and Mexico. Contrary to the track placement of our 4th unreleased song, The Priestess was actually our last tune recorded before a brief hiatus. 

Now with past and present members playing together, Mother Upduff is continuing with a philosophy that mirrors the construction of this album. Each track was dissected and altered according to it's relationship towards the rest, similar to how we have always played for each other first, the individual second, and those listening last.

01. Grave Robbers 03:06
02. Transient ( Acoustic ) 02:12
03. The Captive 06:53
04. Philistine Blues ( Take II ) 02:28
05. Tempest 03:29
06. Pest 04:00
07. Mud 02:21
08. Paced 03:07
09. Passerby 05:14
10. Fire 02:43
11. Transient ( Electric ) 02:46
12. The Rover 03:21
13. Mexico 02:28
14. Bloom 04:05
15. Spellbound 02:35
16. The Priestess 05:53
17. Algos Train 05:03
18. Concept & Scope 05:57
19. Parnassus Drive 02:44
20. The Apologist 04:08



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Marc Benno & The Nightcrawlers - Crawlin (Great Bluesrock US 1973)

Size: 99.3 MB
Bitrate: 256
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Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
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Source: Japan 24-Bit Remaster

The album recorded in 1973 @ sunset sound Studio Hollywood for A&M

Marc Benno brought a treasure for his Japanese fans!

The recordings which never released for last 32 years....
Marc Benno recorded 7 songs with his band The Nightcrawlers featuring Stevie Ray Vaughan, Doyal Bramhall etc. at Sunset Sound Studio inHollywood for A&M Records in 1973. But A&M decided not to release the record.

This is the special album with the 7 songs and plus another 5 songs of the studio sessions tracks with SRV (G),RussKrunker(Dr.) Mike Utley(key.) Lee Skiar(B.) etc.

This historic document seems to have escaped the attention of all but the most hardcore and curious Stevie Ray Vaughan fan. The story goes like this...by 1973, Texas singer, songwriter, guitarist, and piano player Marc Benno had spent better than a decade as an all-star studio pro, lending his talents to recordings by folks like Rita Coolidge and the Doors. 

Benno recorded a pair of albums with friend and fellow session-player Leon Russell as the Asylum Choir, Benno subsequently launching his solo career with a self-titled album in 1970, Russell hooking up with singer Joe Cocker before discovering mid-decade stardom.

Benno had put together a Texas-styled blues-rock band that included bassist Tommy McClure (who had played with Coolidge and Jim Dickinson, among others), drummer Doyle Bramhall, keyboardist Billy Etheridge, and a hot-shot young guitarist by the name of Stevie Vaughan (the "Ray" would be added later). 

Benno and the Nightcrawlers were managed by rock 'n' roll heavyweight Dee Anthony, and put on tour opening for the J. Geils Band and Humble Pie (which featured its own hot-shot fretburner in Peter Frampton). 

Benno and the band recorded what was to become their debut album for A&M Records, but when the label soured on blues-rock, Crawlin – which included Vaughan's first recordings – was put on the shelf and remained unreleased until 2009 when Blue Skunk Music resurrected the album.

As shown by the funky album-opening "Last Train," Benno had his finger firmly on the pulse of the soul-and-blues-infused rock sound of the early 1970s, the song's foot-shufflin' beat paired with twangy, chicken-scratched guitar solos and a chaotic mix that works in spite of the mess of instruments. 

By turns, the New Orleans-flavored "Coffee Cup" sounds like Dr. John, Benno's growling vocals and spry piano-pounding displaying the undeniable musical link between Texas blues and Louisiana's more jazz-influenced style.

The lively "Take Me Down Easy" mines turf similar to what Delaney and Bonnie and Friends were exploring at the time, cleverly mixing blues, rock, gospel and country into an inspired whole, some hot guitar licks sizzling in the background beneath Benno's energetic honky-tonk piano and an overall spirited instrumental jangle. 

Running in the other direction, "Hot Shoe Blues" blends a 1940s-styled jump-blues aesthetic with rollicking keyboards, red-hot guitar runs, and mile-a-minute echoed vocals to create an exhausting and entertaining musical romp. The title song is virtually an instrumental, barely-audible gang-vocals rising and falling beneath an innovative soundtrack that displays some of Stevie Vaughan's early talents.

Benno considered Stevie Ray Vaughan (or "Little Stevie" as he was often known at the time) to be the Nightcrawlers' secret weapon, a young guitarist of unusual skill and vision that could liven up any performance with his instrument. Crawlin includes four "bonus tracks," songs cut by Benno in anticipation of a solo release that would feature Vaughan's maturing guitarplay at its center. 

Using a variety of L.A. session pros and friends like bassist Lee Sklar, drummer Russ Kunkel, and keyboardists Gordon DeWitty and Mike Utley, these songs add more of a pop sheen to Benno's writing while not forsaking the artist's blues foundation.

"Friends" is a gospel-tinged soft-rocker that features some beautifully emotional Stevie Ray slide-guitar licks alongside Benno's testifying vocals and gentle piano play. By contrast, "Whole Thang" is a short, sharp shocker with scorching guitar solos riding low in the mix, Benno's bouncy electric piano creating an irresistible melody on top of which Vaughan weaves his magic; given a proper release in the mid-1970s, the song could have been a big hit and brought SRV to stardom that much quicker. 

"World Keeps Spinnin" is another Dr. John soundalike, with bits of sharp guitar and an underlying funky heartbeat while "Long Ride Home" is a dark, rich instrumental track and the stand-out on Crawlin, Vaughan and Benno swapping guitar licks while the band choogles along in the background with a rock-solid rhythm.

Marc Benno's Crawlin is a mixed bag, derived as it is from disparate sources and circumstances. The four bonus tracks are better-written and better-produced than the seven songs from a previous recording, and they feature Stevie Ray Vaughan in a much more prominent role. What the earlier songs lack in sonic quality and overall construction they more than make up for in energy and enthusiasm, Benno finally afforded the opportunity to chase stardom on his own terms.

While the earlier material on Crawlin, quite honestly, wasn't ready for primetime...I'll blame it on sub-par production that seemingly robs the performances of their edge and vitality...there's no doubt that Benno and the Nightcrawlers were on to something, and listening to these songs today one can't help but wonder what might have been. You'll find the material to be representative of the era of its creation, entertaining but not particularly innovative, and of interest mostly to hear Benno's underrated piano playing and Stevie Ray's first tentative steps towards blues-rock stardom.

After suffering the indignities of the record biz – Benno was subsequently dropped by his high-profile manager (who hitched his star exclusively to Frampton's fortunes) – and seeing his recordings buried in a vault somewhere in Hollywood, Marc Benno regrouped and re-dedicated himself to the blues. He spent years touring as second guitarist for the legendary Lightnin' Hopkins, honing his skills and learning the blues from a master. Benno continues to make music, fusing blues, rock, jazz, and pop music into his own original creation in spite of the industry, and Crawlin is a perfect example of his unique vision and talent.

The Nightcrawlers: 
♣ Marc Benno - Guitar and Vocal
♣ Stevie Ray Vaughan - Lead Guitar
♣ Doyal Bramhall - Drum and Vocals
♣ Billy Ethridge- Keyboards
♣ Tommy McClure - Bass

* Session Recording with:
♣ Marc Benno - Guitar, Piano and Vocal
♣ Stevie Ray Vaughan- Lead Guitar / Russ Krunkel- Drums
♣ Johnny Perez - Drums / Mike Utley-Keyboards
♣ Gordon Dewitty-Hammond B3 Organ / Lee Skiar- Bass

01. Last Train  02:04
02. Coffee Cup  03:19
03. 8 Ball  06:22
04. Take Me Down Easy  03:23
05. Love is Turnin Green  05:36
06. Hot Shoe Blues  02:09
07. Crawlin  03:22
08. Friends*  04:33
09. Whole Thang*  01:57
10. Slammer Jammer*  04:35
11. World Keep Spinnin*  02:51
12. Long Ride Home*  04:48

*Bonus Tracks Please note and understand there are some noise on Track 10 due to the old recording material.

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Joe Soap - Keep it Clean (Very Good Progressive Rock, UK 1973)

Size: 77.9 MB
Bitrate: 256
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Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
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Source: 24-Bit Remaster 

Excelent UK Progressive Folk Rock obscurity, which also should be enjoyed by fans of US Westcoast. Great album, featuring fantastic guitarwork by one of the most underrated 70's guitar players, the late Jimmy McCulloch (Thunderclap Newman, Stone The Crows, Wings...), as well as excellent violin solos by Mik Kaminski (ELO) and of course great songwriting by John Tennent and David Morrison.

Joe Soap were a band comprising of John Tennent and David Morrison. They had previously released one album prior to using this name, “Tennent / Morrison” (Polydor 1972).

Their second album, (and only one as Joe Soap) “Keep It Clean” (Polydor 1973) enhanced this core lineup with contributions from Jerry Conway (Jethro Tull), Jimmy McCulloch (Stone The Crows), Mike Kaminski (ELO) and Jeff Pearce. Itwas produced by Sandy Robertson.

Joe Soap was a band comprised of John Tennent and David Morrison. Their second album, "Keep It Clean" (as Joe Soap) (Polydor 1973) featured Jimmy McCulloch (guitar, Stone the Crows) Jerry Conway (drums, later in Jethro Tull) and Mike Kaminski (violin, from ELO). The album features ten tracks composed by John and David with help of Sandy Roberton (producer). 

Two guys with rather thick but fascinating voices diffuse strong masculine beauty in all tracks. In addition to it, a mastermind violinist Mik Kaminski's scattering violin features on most of the tracks especially on Feel Strange and On The Wing are just superb. 

Jimmy McCulloch's intense guitar domains on every track as well. Overall, the album is an awesome combo set of typical British rock classics with strong American southern rock flavor. Both "Tennent & Morrison" and "Keep it Clean" are now extremely rare and occasionally surface on the collectors' market, both fetch around §500 for "Tennent & Morrison" and §250 for "Keep it Clean"

Personnel
♣ John Tennent: Guitar, Vocals 
♣ Dave Morrison: Bottleneck, Vocals 
♣ Jimmy McCulloch: Guitar 
♣ Jerry Conway: Drums 
♣ Jeff Pearce: Bass 
♣ Mik Kaminski: Violin

01. Talkin' 'Bout You
02. Warning Sign
03. Lay It on Me
04. Whatever the Song Is Now
05. Get Out From Under
06. Feels Strange
08. On the Wing
09. Time
10. All Out Now
11. Birdman

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Sir Douglas Quintet - The Tribe Recordings 1964-77

Size: 348 MB
Bitrate: 320
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Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
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In case Westside's single CD Best of the Sir Douglas Quintet wasn't good or full enough for you, the label has issued this two-hour-long, double-disc 41-song compilation, drawn from their 1964-66 output on Tribe Records, with sides dating from the 1977 catalog-spanning album Tracker. The convergence of influences is fascinating, a meld of some derivative (but entertaining) British Invasion-based sounds and Doug Sahm's more diverse, bluesy/country-ish solo sides. Considering the high quality of the sound and the excellent essay by John Lomax III, it's surprising that the makers didn't include more release and discography information, especially since the material isn't in recording or release order. Still, it's an excellent overview of Sahm's output and the range of his music, and transcends the hits for those who care to make that leap.

Biography
Arguably the greatest and most influential Tex-Mex group ever, the Sir Douglas Quintet epitomized Texas' reputation as a fertile roots music melting pot and established the career of Tex-Mex cult legend Doug Sahm. The Quintet mixed country, blues, jazz, R&B, Mexican conjunto/norteño music, Cajun dances, British Invasion rock & roll, garage rock, and even psychedelia into a heady stew that could only have come from Texas. Although they went largely underappreciated during their existence (mostly in the '60s), their influence was far-reaching and continues to be felt in Texas (particularly the similarly eclectic Austin scene) and beyond; afterward, Sahm embarked on a frequently fascinating solo career and reunited with the Quintet or its individual members several times over the years.

According to legend, the Sir Douglas Quintet was the brainchild of Houston producer Huey P. Meaux, who at the height of the British Invasion took a stack of Beatles records into a hotel room and studied them while getting drunk on wine. He found that the beats often resembled those of Cajun dance songs and hit upon the idea of a group that could blend the two sounds well enough to fool Beatles fans into giving a local band a chance. Doug Sahm, meanwhile, had been something of a childhood prodigy as a country artist -- he turned down a spot on the Grand Ole Opry in order to finish junior high and performed on-stage with Hank Williams. Sahm had made Meaux's acquaintance while leading a series of bands around San Antonio in high school and wanted to work with him. Meaux told Sahm his idea and Sahm quickly formed a band featuring childhood friend Augie Meyers on organ, bassist Jack Barber, drummer Johnny Perez, and percussionist Leon Beatty (who didn't stick around for too long); saxophonist Frank Morin was added after a short time. Meaux gave them the deceptively British-sounding name the Sir Douglas Quintet and released their debut single, "Sugar Bee," on his Pacemaker label in 1964; it flopped. 

However, their next single, the British Invasion/garage-flavored "She's About a Mover" (on a different Meaux label, Tribe), became a classic of Tex-Mex rock and an international hit, climbing into the U.S. Top 20 in 1965. Later that year, "The Rains Came" hit the Top 40 and Meaux assembled an LP from their singles sessions with the misleading title The Best of the Sir Douglas Quintet. The group toured the United States and Europe, but upon returning, they were arrested at the Corpus Christi airport for possessing a tiny amount of marijuana. Feeling targeted for his long hair and hippie image, Sahm decided to break up the band upon his release from jail, and moved to San Francisco in early 1966; Morin tagged along.

Once in San Francisco, Sahm formed a new version of the Sir Douglas Quintet featuring Morin, keyboardist Peter Ferst (who was quickly replaced by Wayne Talbert), bassist John York (later of the Byrds, soon replaced by Whitney Freeman), and drummer George Rains; most of them were Texas expatriates as well. The new Sir Douglas Quintet gigged regularly around the Bay Area and signed with the Mercury subsidiary Smash. Their first album, Sir Douglas Quintet + 2 = Honkey Blues, was recorded with several extra horn players as the Sir Douglas Quintet + 2 and released in 1968; however, it lacked Augie Meyers' signature organ sound. Rains and Talbert soon left to concentrate on other projects and Sahm convinced Meyers and Johnny Perez to move up from Texas; they brought Meyers' old bandmate Harvey Kagan with to be the bassist.

With almost all of their original members, the Sir Douglas Quintet recorded one of their finest albums, 1969's Mendocino; the title track became a Top 40 hit and a Tex-Mex rock staple and the whole record fit in very well with the emerging country-rock hybrid. Moreover, it made the group extremely popular in Europe, where they would retain a fan base for many years to come. Together After Five followed in 1970, after which the group switched to a different Mercury affiliate, Philips. Also released in 1970, 1+1+1=4 featured members of both the Texas and California lineups of the Quintet, plus new bassist Jim Stallings. It was perhaps a sign that much of the group was beginning to drift into other projects again. Without Sahm, the remainder of the Quintet recorded an album for United Artists called Future Tense; several members also backed Gene Vincent as the Amigos de Musica. A homesick Sahm finally returned to Texas in 1971 and the Sir Douglas Quintet officially disbanded in late 1972, though some of its members -- Meyers in particular -- would continue to work with Sahm frequently during his solo career.

After being ignored by Mercury, Sahm signed with Atlantic as a solo artist; in the wake of Atlantic's promotional push, Mercury issued an album of unreleased Sir Douglas Quintet tracks, called Rough Edges, in 1973. This was the last new Quintet album for some time, until Sahm, Meyers, and Perez re-formed the group at the dawn of the '80s, along with new guitarist Alvin Crow and new bassist Speedy Sparks. 

They signed with the Chrysalis subsidiary Takoma and released the album Border Wave in 1981, which fused their eclectic Tex-Mex rock & roll with the concise pop sound of new wave (as Joe "King" Carrasco had been doing).

Crow left prior to the supporting tour to work with his own band and was replaced by Louie Ortega; once again, the Quintet proved more popular in Europe, especially Scandinavia, than in their own country. They recorded for the European Sonet label during the '80s and Takoma occasionally released Quintet material as well. 

They scored an enormous Swedish hit with "Meet Me in Stockholm," though the accompanying album wasn't released in the U.S.; by 1985, the group had broken up again. Sahm and Meyers formed the Tex-Mex supergroup the Texas Tornados with Freddy Fender and Flaco Jimenez at the end of the decade and in 1994 presided over a one-off version of the Sir Douglas Quintet that featured Sahm's sons Shandon (drums) and Shawn (guitar). In November 1999, Sahm died of a heart attack.

Disc One
01. She's About a Mover 2:23
02. The Rains Came 2:15
03. T-Bone Shuffle 3:06
04. Oh What a Mistake 2:10
05. The Tracker 2:35
06. Nuevo Laredo 2:43
07. Image of Me 3:03
08. In the Pines 2:25
09. Ain't Nothing Wrong With You Baby 3:19
10. When I Sing the Blues 2:30
11. In the Jailhouse Now 2:25
12. One Way Out (It's a Man Down There) 3:16
13. We'll Take Our Last Walk Tonight 2:46
14. Wolverton Mountain 4:01
15. Son of Bill Baety 4:48
16. In Time 2:16
17. Please Just Say No 2:26
18. She Digs My Love 2:46
19. You Got Me Hurtin' 2:14
20. You've Got Your Good Thing Down 1:33
21. Philadelphia Lawyer 2:15
22. Sugar Bee 2:20
23. Seguin 2:46

Disc Two
01. Hot Tomato Man 2:18
02. Bacon Fat 2:25
03. Blue Norther 2:17
04. Dallas Alice 3:13
05. Just a Teeny Bit of Your Love 2:05
06. Quarter to Three 1:46
07. She's Gotta Be Boss 2:11
08. Isabella 2:33
09. You're Out Walking the Streets Tonight 2:17
10. Medley: Linda Lu / Country Girl 7:03
11. Medley: One Too Many Mornings / Sing a Happy Song 5:07
12. Beginning of the End 2:59
13. Revolutionary Ways 2:30
14. The Change Is in the City 3:07
15. Time Changes Everything 2:00
16. You're Mine Tonight 5:49
17. Blues Pass Me By 2:54
18. Funky Side of Your Mind 8:36

Bonus:
01. Roll Over Beethoven (Buffalo NY 1990)  02:06
02. You´re Gonna Miss Me (Buffalo NY 1990)  06:18
03. Just Like Tom Thumb´s Blues (Buffalo NY 1990)  04:48
04. Doug Sahm - Bad Boy (Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas 1988)  06:14
05. Doug Sahm - Lucille (Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas 1988)  03:47
06. Doug Sahm - Golly Gee (Gypsy Tea Room, Dallas 1988)  03:25

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Doctor Cyclops - Local Dogs (Retro-Hardrock, Italy 2017)

Size: 118 MB
Bitrate: 320
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Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Some Artwork Included

Recorded in the UK and produced by James Atkinson, with the fair featuring of the Lord of Riffs Mr Bill Steer (Carcass, Firebird, Gentlemans Pistols), Local Dogs is an explosive mixture of seventies heavy rock, New Wave of British Heavy Metal and obscure doomy sabbath-style stuff ready to take you back to the spirit of a different era. 

Groovy riffs and gloomy paths coming straight from the woods give you the impression that the epic saga of the Seventies ended up in something different than a fleeting reflection of the past. If you like the early Deep Purple groove, try to imagine it mixed with the bluesy Graveyard mood played by Cathedral jamming on Budgie's tunes in Witchfinder General's practice room: then you should be close to realize the spirit and the power of this record. In this contest the featuring of Bill Steer (Carcass, Firebird, Gentlemans Pistols) on lead guitar just tastes like the cherry on top of a tempting cake.

Doctor Cyclops is a seventies-styled power trio playing heavy rock music

inspired by a vintage sound, eldest son of glorious Balck Sabbath and of other more underground heroes from the 70ies and early 80ies such as Sir Lord Baltimore, Captain Beyond or Witchfinder General. Even more modern references are warm-vintage styled ones: Witchcraft, Cathedral, Spiritual Beggars just to say some. 

Any number of bands make boogie rock records every day. You want to commit? Get frickin’ Bill Steer to play on the thing. Yeah, I know he’s been grinding out the last few years in the reunited Carcass, and that’s awesome, but when he was in Firebird, that band was absolutely incredible, and one imagines it’s that kind of I’m-just-gonna-softshoe-while-I-play-this-awesome-’70s-lead vibe that he brings to Doctor Cyclops‘ upcoming third album, Local Dogs.

Local Dogs follows 2014’s Oscuropasso and will be the Italian outfit’s first full-length on Heavy Psych Sounds. The label posted copious details on the record — and of course it will have more to offer than the Steer guest appearance; though he gets a showing per side — as well as the striking cover art, ahead of the preorders for the CD and LP, which start next month.

Northern Italy’s cold woods are set to unleash their fieriest beast, with ’70s power trio DOCTOR CYCLOPS returning with their blistering third album “Local Dogs” this March on Heavy Psych Sounds.

DOCTOR CYCLOPS haven’t stood idle since their latest album “Oscuropasso” (World In Sound 2014), slowly but surely rustling up their heaviest and most accomplished project to date. This new full-length entitled “Local Dogs” is an explosive mixture of ’70s heavy rock, NWOBHM and doomier Sabbath-style riffage, ready to take you back to a different era. Groovy riffs and gloomy paths coming straight from the woods feel like the epic saga of the ’70s is truly likely to continue its course. In this context, the appearance of Bill Steer (Carcass, Firebird, Gentlemans Pistols) on lead guitar tastes like the icing on top of a tempting cake.

DOCTOR CYCLOPS is a power trio delivering a blistering heavy rock rejuvenating the legacy of the ’70s and early ’80s. The band formed in 2007 in a small village in the middle of Appennino mountains, Northern Italy. Their common passion for brilliant outfits such as Truth and Janey, Sir Lord Baltimore, Captain Beyond or Witchfinder General lead them to record and self-produce their first EP “The Doctor Cyclops” (2010), which is quickly followed by two full-lengths: “Borgofondo” (2012) and “Oscuropasso” (2014), both released on German heavy psychedelic label World in Sound.

Since 2008, the trio has had the chance to tour Europe several times, sharing the stages with Firebird, Blood Ceremony, Siena Root, Colour Haze, Stoned Jesus, The Grand Astoria and many other bands. DOCTOR CYCLOPS also took part to important festivals such as Freak Valley in Germany (2012) and Red Smoke Festival in Spain (2016).

The Band:
♦ Christian Draghi - guitars and vocals 
♦ Francesco Filippini - bass 
♦ Alessandro Dallera - drums 

01. Lonely Devil 03:48
02. D.I.A. 04:14
03. Stardust (feat. Bill Steer) 04:40
04. Epicurus 05:13
05. Wall Of Misery 05:39
06. King Midas 06:23
07. Stanley The Owl 01:32
08. Druid Samhain (feat. Bill Steer) 05:20
09. Witch's Tale 06:44
10. Witchfinder General (cover) 04:06

Doctor Cyclops - Oscuoropasso (Retro-Hardrock, Italy 2013) 

Size: 107 MB
Bitrate: 320
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Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Some Artwork Included

"Oscuropasso" is the second album of Italian hard rock trio Doctor Cyclops. In a genre where as it seems since Black Sabbath most everything has had been said, these folks come up with a very intense and exciting album. Their actual output has pure 1973 retro feeling, where epic heavy riffs and rhythms melt with psychedelic, progressive breaks and make you dive into their euphoric guitar soundscapes. The atmospherically well balanced vocals create an important reference point in the five arrangement-extensive songs from 6 to 16 min lengths. The well produced and exciting spectrum of complexity and catchiness makes this album grow more and more after each listen and leads all those who like it HEAVY toward deep satisfaction!

Second full lenght album for the Italian power trio Doctor Cyclops. Released through the german label World in Sound in february 2014, this album's mostly doom, prog and heavy rock orientated. 5 long tracks with psychedelic environments, 70s rock and heavy metal influences. Also some jazz and melodic taste come to add this lp a huge groovy and appeal. 

In a genre where as it seems since Black Sabbath most everything has had been said, these folks come up with a very intense and exciting album.

Their actual output has pure 1973 retro feeling, where epic heavy riffs and rhythms melt with psychedelic, progressive breaks and make you dive into their euphoric guitar soundscapes. 

The atmospherically well balanced vocals create an important reference point in the five arrangement-extensive songs from 6 to 16 min lengths.

The well produced and exciting spectrum of complexity and catchiness makes this album grow more and more after each listen and leads all those who like it HEAVY toward deep satisfaction!

Doctor Cyclops is a seventies-styled power trio playing heavy rock music inspired by a vintage sound, eldest son of glorious Balck Sabbath and of other more underground heroes from the 70ies and early 80ies such as Sir Lord Baltimore, Captain Beyond or Witchfinder General. Even more modern references are warm-vintage styled ones: Witchcraft, Cathedral, Spiritual Beggars just to say some. 

The Band: 
• Christian Draghi - vocals and guitars 
• Francesco Filippini - bass 
• Alessandro Dallera - drums, percussions

01. Waterfalls 06:09
02. The Monk 09:59
03. Angel Saviour In The C.H. 06:50
04. Cobweb Hands 07:18

05. Rotten Trolls 15:49 

Doctor Cyclops - Borgofondo (Retro-Hardrock, Italy 2012) 

Size: 113 MB

Bitrate: 320

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Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock

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Italian power trio Doctor Cyclops puts down with its debut an extraordinarily authentic and fulminant marching 70s hardrock album with “New Wave OF British Heavy Metal” but also US-Westcoast blues influences. 

It captivates with raw energy and its wealth of intelligent psychedelic and progressive facets, powerful rhythm and mystical concept with a few flute/organ flashes, but is mainly guitar driven. 

Chris Draghi (vocals/guitar) knows in special kind how to melt his epic guitar riffs and wailing solos with his sensitive and catchy singing and provides a huge emotional intensity, on the one hand very mighty, but also haunted and desperately, completely in the style of groups like Black Sabbath, Grand Funk Railroad, Blue Öystercult or today's like Graveyard, Witchcraft, Cathedral. 

Seven songs between 4 and 8 min in total 48 mins are produced very well, rather unusually for a debut album, and create hunger to let these guys blow your mind Live-On-Stage with a genuine thunderstorm. 

This album takes you back to those days when music still was music, and was celebrated to kick out the jams!

Doctor Cyclops is a seventies-styled power trio playing heavy rock music inspired by a vintage sound, eldest son of glorious Balck Sabbath and of other more underground heroes from the 70ies and early 80ies such as Sir Lord Baltimore, Captain Beyond or Witchfinder General. 

Even more modern references are warm-vintage styled ones: Witchcraft, Cathedral, Spiritual Beggars just to say some.

The Band:

• Christian Draghi - vocals and guitars 

• Francesco Filippini - bass 

• Alessandro Dallera - drums 

01. Night Flyer 04:22

02. Cyclop's Claim 07:11

03. Giants of the Mountain (feat. Alia O'Brien) 09:57

04. Madness Show 07:07

05. Eileen O'Flaherty 03:26

06. My Revolution 06:54

07. The Unquiet Garden 09:23

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Tear Gas - Selftitled (One of The Best Hardrock Ever, UK 1971)

Size: 105 MB
Bitrate: 320
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Ripped by: ChrisGoesRock
Source: Japan SHM-CD Remaster
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A Glasgow, Scotland progressive rock band formed in the late 60s, Tear Gas initially comprised Eddie Campbell (keyboards), Zal Cleminson (guitar), Chris Glen (bass, vocals), Gilson Lavis (drums) and Andi Mulvey (vocals). Mulvey had previously sung with local beat group the Poets. 

After changing from their original name, Mustard, they chose Tear Gas as a variation on the same theme. However, Mulvey was soon replaced by keyboard player and vocalist David Batchelor, and Lavis (who later played with Squeeze) by Richard Monro from Ritchie Blackmore’s Mandrake Root. 

It was this line-up who made their recorded debut with 1970’s Piggy Go Getter, an album typical of the time with its extended guitar and keyboard passages. However, they were more playful than some - ‘We were a really loud band. In fact we used to open with Jethro Tull’s ‘Love Story’, which started very softly and the crowd would drift towards the front. 

Then we’d turn the volume up and blow everyone out of the hall.’ Later in 1970 Hugh McKenna replaced Batchelor while his cousin Ted McKenna (ex-Dream Police) took over from Monro on drums. Itinerant musician Ronnie Leahy also contributed keyboards in Batchelor’s absence, though the group were by now living in penury six to a room in Shepherd’s Bush, London. A second album was recorded for release on Regal Zonophone Records but again met with a lacklustre response from the critics. Despite regular touring in an effort to establish themselves, it was not until they teamed up with Alex Harvey in August 1972 to become the Sensational Alex Harvey Band that they saw any real success.

Originally known as Mustard. Their first vocalist Andy Mulvey had previously been with The Poets. However, he was soon replaced by David Batchelor and around the same time Gilson Lavis (their original drummer, who later played with Squeeze) was replaced by Richard Monro from Ritchie Blackmore's Mandrake Root. This line-up recorded Piggy Go Getter, which made little impact. In 1970 Hugh McKenna took over Batchelor's vocal role and Ted McKenna (ex-Dream Police) relieved Monro on drums. 

They recorded a second album and tried to establish themselves on the underground scene but were going nowhere with their brand of tired boogie heavy rock, until they teamed up with Alex Harvey in August 1972 to become The Sensational Alex Harvey Band.

Formed in Glasgow at the close of the 1960s, the band featured Eddie Campbell (keyboards), Zal Cleminson (guitar), Chris Glen (bass, vocals), Gilson Lavis (drums) and Andi Mulvey (vocals).

Mulvey and Lavis were soon replaced respectively by keyboard player and vocalist David Batchelor, and Richard Monro. This line- up recorded the album “Piggy Go Getter”, in 1970. Some months later Hugh McKenna replaced Batchelor while his cousin Ted McKenna (ex-Dream Police) took over from Monro on drums.

This line-up of Tear Gas soon earned a reputation as a fine live act and the band’s self-titled second album was much stronger work than its predecessor, released in the UK on the Regal Zonophone label in 1971. Despite its excellence, the album failed to sell in significant quantities.

In August 1972 Zal Cleminson, Ted McKenna, Hugh McKenna and Chris Glen joined forces with vocalist Alex Harvey to form The Sensational Alex Harvey Band who would meet with success and record a series of inventive albums throughout the 1970s.

The Glasgow-based prog/heavy/rockers Tear Gas (originally known as Mustard) released their second album in 1971 establishing themselves on the underground scene.

Wullie Monro and Eddie Campbell left the band. Wullie joined Berserk Crocodiles (see Dream Police) and Ted McKenna from the freshly collapsed Dream Police replaced him. Eddie Campbell quit for whatever reason – perhaps just tired of touring – and was not instantly replaced. ‘Tear Gas’ released on the Regal Zonaphone label by this revised line up though Campbell appears on the ‘live in the studio’ medley of ‘All Shook Up & Jailhouse Rock’.

An un-credited Ronnie Leahy provides the keyboards elsewhere on the album. Leahy played with Glen, McKenna and Cleminson again in the early ’90s under the name of the ‘Sensational Party Boys’ – promoters mistook the name for a group of male strippers! ‘ Saw them in London in the Charing Cross Road Marquee (now a Weatherspoons) – a right good night..

Tear Gas’ has an odd front cover pic. Is it meant to signify anything? If so it was lost on us. All tracks are ‘hard ‘n heavy rock’ . Again not terribly memorable apart from ‘Love Story’, a highlight of the stage act, whose arrangement was visited again by SAHB on the ‘Penthouse Tapes’. One is left with the feeling that the band was a couple of years behind the times in their material and the union with Alex Harvey was the shot in the arm of originality they needed. ‘Tear Gas’ was reissued on CD by Renaissance, a US label, in the mid ’90s as RCD1005.

After the comercial failure of the ‘Tear Gas’ LP, Ted McKenna’s cousin, Hugh McKenna, was drafted in on keyboards and backing vocals but Davie Batchelor soon left to go into production – he produced the SAHB stuff – they all sound pretty good – but was famously dropped by Noel Gallagher during the making of Oasis’ first album.

A rumour persisted for a while that he had to quit Tear Gas because he was going deaf! Hugh took over the lead vocals and this is the line-up that returned to Glasgow to join up with Alex Harvey after an unsuccessful stint in London . The rest of that story is well-documented history.

★ Davey Batchelor - Vocals, Guitar
★ Zal Cleminson - Lead Guitar
★ Chris Glen - Bass, Vocals
★ Ted McKenna - Drums

Guest Musicians
★ Hugh McKenna - Keyboards
★ Alex Harvey - Vocals

01. That's What's Real 06:02
02. Love Story 07:01
03. Lay It on Me 03:44
04. Woman for Sale 04:24
05. I'm Glad 05:49
06. Where Is My Answer 05:59
07. Jailhouse Rock & All Shook Up 05:49
08. The First Time 04:53

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