Granicus. 1973 USA-Ohio

Another old CDRWL item that I finally acquired. Here are my original notes:

Granicus were a Cleveland based hard rock group. Probably the single best example from the US to attempt a Led Zeppelin like raucous electric blues sound. Has a Midwest America sensibility and directness as found in other bands from the region (Poobah for example), but otherwise Page and company is definitely the influence here. Mellotron and acoustic guitar touches combined with Robert Plant styled high pitched vocals puts this album somewhere between Zeppelin's IV and Houses of the Holy. This is essential for hard rock fans, especially those who like a little adventurous progressive compositions mixed in.

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Yea, I'll stand by that. In fact I enjoyed a +1 revisit last night. Like with progressive rock, the US didn't do too much to support our hard rock scene either. Every once in a while a band would pop up and receive a major label signing, only to not be promoted and dropped shortly thereafter. Most bands like Granicus just thrived in the underground and released their albums privately. Really great hard guitar and screaming vocals - it's the boilerplate for the Midwest hard rock sound.

Ownership: LP: 1973 RCA. Single sleeve. Purchased from JL at a super price (2022). 

For whatever reason this album remains ignored in the reissue space (as of 11/27/24). There's a couple of cheapie Scorpio LP reissues and nothing on CD - all pirates. According to multiple sources, it was due for reissue in 2001, with bonus tracks, but the label (Rewind) went out of business before release. And no one has pursued further. This would make a great CD supplement especially if we can get the backstory and bonus tracks.

4/15/11 (first listen / review); 10/13/22 (update / new entry)