Total Issue ~ France

Total Issue (1971)

Total Issue could be considered one of the earliest of French progressive rock albums. The band has that loose jazzy quality that recalls Moving Gelatine Plates with flute and fuzzy guitar leading the way - especially on the brilliant 'La Porte Ouverte'. Not as Canterbury influenced nor as consistent as the almighty MGP, but still a very strong early French effort. There's also a fair amount of acoustic guitar / flute based singer-songwriter / pop material, but arranged in a progressive manner, similar to how the Italians would do. The album is mostly sung in French (a rarity for rock bands in those days), with some English tracks, which are predictably more commercial but all thankfully short. Overall an important historical piece not to be ignored.

This one remains without a proper / legal reissue (as of 3/18/25). Honestly this is more of a Priority 3 for me if the album was reissued just as is. But Total Issue have five singles, of which three were not released beyond the individual 45's (so six songs). As well there is a bootleg running around with a title called 'Psychedelic Jam' or something like that. I haven't heard it, but sounds like good bonus material to me! So if all these tracks could be added - AND we get a full biography of the group, then this would be a Priority 2 for certain. There are some really great tracks on the album proper as well.

8/16/19 (new entry)

Sixty Nine ~ Germany

Circle of the Crayfish (1973)

Sixty Nine were a rock based instrumental organ and drums duo following in the footsteps of Hansson and Karlsson. This was something of a popular idea back in Germany during those days, and other such duos like Magma, Minus Two, and Twogether had a similar lineup / idea. Given the limitations of the small setup, it takes quite a bit of imagination and sound variation to keep things interesting. On Circle of the Crayfish, they do manage to get some outlandish sounds out of that organ, and combined with the rip-roaring tempos, the group do keep things hopping for the most part. There's even an introspective electronic piece. Even with all of the innovations applied, the album still sounds too monolithic overall for its own good. Sixty Nine are to be commended for their mighty effort here, but it's for a niche within a niche audience.

Not reissued legit on CD as of 3/18/19.

9/10/10 (review); 8/16/19 (new entry)

Silver Convention - Save Me. 1975 Germany

One of my favorite music trivia tidbits is that the leader and founder of Silver Convention was a gentleman named Sylvester Levay. What was he doing 4 years prior? He happened to be a member of one of the more underground Krautrock bands of 1971: Vita Nova. Clearly an enlightened businessman, he traded art for jack. One cannot blame him for this...

I was all of 10 when 'Fly Robin Fly' was a hit. I was just beginning my foray into music, and of course AM radio was my entrance point. Honestly, it was one of my favorites at the time, perhaps only bested by The Bee Gees 'Nights On Broadway'. And listening to this album again, the song certainly is quite good. Repetitive yes, but still satisfying.

The liner notes on the back of the US release states more or less that Silver Convention represents a new generation of artists looking to break from what is perceived as "German" music. Whether they were referring to Faust or schlager music, I cannot say. One presumes the latter...

The music itself is a kind of classy disco, with orchestral strings raising up in constant dynamic shift as the steady disco beat carries on. The trio of gals provide the sultry sounds of the oncoming pervasion (double entendre word of the day) that was to come via the Studio 54 set. 'Save Me', however, makes one want to roller skate (note: skate) along the Santa Monica beach, hoping to meet girls that look like... well, the Silver Convention I would imagine.

The covers are of the US version, which sports different art work. The German original also contains a nude lady poster, similar to a Playboy shot. That would not happen in 1975 America, no sirree.

Eight Day Clock ~ Australia

Clockwork (1975)

Eight Day Clock were a large scale horn rock band, right out of the 1970 playbook. So 1975 is way past the glory days of this scene. It almost seems like the Jackson 5ive TV show had just arrived in Sydney, and Blood Sweat and Tears were getting regular airplay on the local radio stations.

When evaluating horn rock bands, there are two types to consider: Vocal and Instrumental. This one definitely falls in the Vocal category. From there, is it soul based, or more pop sounding? Mainly the former. So that leaves the actual quality of the songwriting. Here I'd give them a C+. There are no monster tracks to call out like on The Gas Mask album for example. But it avoids the downer blues aspect of bands like Brut, Little John, or Chelsea Beige. Eight Day Clock are no MAX or Brainchild that's for certain. The cover of The Doobie Brothers 'Listen to the Music' is for sure a low point here. And the album as a whole peters out on the second side.

Overall, a pretty harmless 11 track run. There's some good horn charts here, and a few good sax / flute / brass / guitar solos to toe tap with. Reminds me quite a bit of the two Puzzle LPs (1973 / 1974 Motown). A pleasant album, but not extraordinary.

Not reissued as of 3/18/25

9/25/13 (review); 8/16/19 (new entry)

Group 1850 - Polyandri. 1975 Netherlands

One would expect that after 5 years on from Paradise Now, a band would have changed directions radically. Especially in an era when musical trends changed with the seasons. Perhaps a fusion album? Hard rock maybe? Pop? But not Group 1850. Still going after it with their unique brand of psychedelic progressive music. In fact, Polyandri is more refined and varied while still being a primarily instrumental album . This album features an array of sounds from complex progressive rock compositions to simple bluesy workouts and onto trippy psych organ based excursions similar to their first 2 LP's. Wonderfully out of touch for 1974!

LP: 1975 Rubber
CD: 2019 Pseudonym (as part of an 8 CD box set called Purple Sky)
CD: 2017 Universal (as part of the 2 CD set called The Golden Years of Dutch Pop Music)

The LP comes in a folder cover. To talk about the date: There's no date anywhere on the LP except a mention in the insert of a recording time of January, 1974. By deduction, one could conclude this was released in 1974. However, the Purple Sky Box states: (legal troubles with the studio) "...Eventually some kind of settlement was reached and the album was released in November 1975 on Rubber Records, a label formed by Sjardin with a couple of business partners." This would explain the large gap in time. And settles the matter unless other data emerges to the contrary.

The Twilight Tone bootleg is a disaster, and the 2017 Universal version is considerably better, but still obviously taken from vinyl. Same can be said for the Pseudonym reissue, except the sound is the best I've heard outside of the original LP of course.

Originally published December 26, 2017 and moved forward with new notes from last listen.

Synthesis (73) ~ France

Synthesis (1973)

Synthesis (not related to any other French bands named Synthesis) fit squarely in the traditional horn rock genre, similar to many of the US / UK bands of the era. I'd say Synthesis tracks closest to classic early Chicago, and that's a good thing in my book. With song titles like 'Dilemma of My Life', 'Walkin' In the Hell', 'Insanity', 'My Obsession', and the three part closer 'Symphony for a Stranger', I think it's safe to assume that Synthesis weren't aiming for the bubblegum hit parade. The songwriting is top notch, the horn charts are exhilarating, the guitar is fuzz laden / psychedelic, and the energy level is high. And the album gets freakier as it goes, and I've said this a few times before, that's always a hallmark of a great album. As if they said, "Oh screw it, no one will buy this, so let's just GO FOR IT!". Yea, baby. A bit late in the game for this type of sound but a must for fans of horn rock.

Ownership: 1973 Fabulous (LP). Gatefold.

Not reissued as of 3/12/25

8/4/19 (update / new entry)

EGBA ~ Sweden

EGBA (1974)

EGBA were a Swedish jazz / rock group with emphasis on the former. Nice flute, electric / acoustic piano, and jazz-tone guitar - all within the confines of tightly arranged compositions. Some African influences foreshadow what Archimedes Badkar would eventually come to on Tre. Longest track contains a funk rave-up with fiery solos from sax, guitar, and electric piano. This copy includes a live cut with a distinctly Latin jazz vibe with quite a bit of solo percussion. 

Recently learned that EGBA is an acronym meaning Electronic Groove & Beat Academy.

No reissues as of 3/12/25.

9/29/09 (review); 8/4/19 (update / new entry)

Ivory ~ USA ~ California

Ivory (1973)

Here we go again, another album that is about half excellent, half dreadful. Starts out promising enough with a heavy organ rocker that wouldn't be out of place on a Uriah Heep album. This then leads into three tracks that are... well... they're terrible. Anywhere from woman-done-me-wrong blues to ragtime. No redeeming value whatsoever, no matter how you try to rationalize it. So of course, from there on it's prog rock. Get out the organ, Moog, and piano and let's play us some complicated ELP style music shall we? Heck, some of the riffs even recall the Italian interpretation of the English famous trio (think Alphataurus / L'Uovo Colombo here). And so it goes throughout Side 2, complete with an Indian bit with sitar, tablas, and the works. Sigh. Any chance there's a full archive of this style sitting in a vault somewhere?

1/30/11 (review); 8/4/19 (update / new entry)

Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti. 1975 England

I don't think we'll ever see the kind of popularity bands achieved in the 1970s. And Led Zeppelin were at the top of that stack. Too many dynamics, parameters, and options for today's youth to engage like they did back then. Music was often the only game in town, and groups like Led Zeppelin were the megastars of the moment, to never really be surpassed. Even today, we see the bands from the 70s go out up in wheelchairs or stooped over on a cane - and play to a packed arena filled with crowds that look just like them - while bringing their kids and grandkids along for the ride.

1975 was arguably Zeppelin's peak year in terms of popularity. And Physical Graffiti was their grand excess statement. I've been long skeptical of the quality of this double LP set, but in retrospect the band is to be admired for mostly sticking to their patented heavy blues rock sound of the late 60s. Album #1 is exemplary whereas Album #2 admittedly has many holes, but even still at least 4 excellent songs can be found. And 'Kashmir' is a track for the ages, brilliant in every way. Surprisingly not a bloated album, as it might seem on first inspection.

LP: 1975 Swan Song (USA)
CD: 2008 Swan Song (Japan)

A good candidate for the Japanese mini-LP format given the multiple gimmix cover options. My original copy was likely a beat original found in some dusty used store during college, long sold off. Classic Zeppelin shows up in garage sales all the time, only a matter of time before I pick up a nice copy of this as well for all of $2. And if not, no biggee. Need the shelf space.

October 19, 2019 update: And, well, found one at a sale. OK it was $3, but hey!

Slayer - Show No Mercy. 1983 USA

I pretty much avoided Slayer in my youth, as I was never too comfortable with satanic imagery (still not). But like a lot of these early metal bands, it was more cartoonish than serious. Besides Araya was (and is) a practicing Catholic lol. In any case, the music here is fairly primitive, a long way from the competitor's Kill 'em All, but there's much more ideas and thought here than I'd ever expected. Not really thrash at this point, more toward Iron Maiden and Judas Priest actually. Worth keeping.

CD: 2007 Icarus (Argentina)

No better way to obtain these old metal albums than via bulk buy CDs dirt cheap. Folks are giving them away, so sure I'll take them then....

Bloodrock - s/t. 1970 USA

Bloodrock's debut is nothing short of essential hard rock from my old hometown of Fort Worth. I never heard their debut until now surprisingly. Not as energetic as Grand Funk Railroad; not as heavy as Black Sabbath; more gritty than Uriah Heep. That's the sound of the first Bloodrock. About as good as it gets for American hard rock from the early 70s.

LP: 1970 Capitol

Another great garage sale find. And a true original in excellent shape too!

Budos Band - V. 2019 USA-New York

Brooklyn's finest returns with their 5th album. Not as heavy as the prior Burnt Offerings, more of a Led Zeppelin type tone this time. Otherwise there's no mistaking this for anyone other than Budos Band. Big fat horn charts and funky rhythms. Every track is excellent. Nothing extraordinary though, and it seems the band may have hit the point of diminishing returns.

CD: 2019 Daptone. Digipak

8/4/19 (new entry)