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)
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