If There's Hell Below… We're All Gonna Go, USA

So I went looking for my review of Function Underground and realized I had a solid group of albums in a roundup (I was really busy at that time last year). So I pulled it out and three others to feature here on UMR.

The impetus for that move was to state that If There's Hell Below… We're All Gonna Go makes a good companion piece to that album. The hype sticker says "Thirteen War-Drenched Acid-Fried Hendrix-Worshipping Blown-Out Free Love-Fueled Black Rock Jams That'll Freak Out Your Parents". Well... that's why they call them hype stickers.

So what do we have here? More super rare 45s compiled conveniently onto one album. The only disappointing aspect is there's no bio booklet to learn more about these bands. I realize that's what makes these compilations hard to do, but they're a heck of a lot more informative. And, honestly, I would have preferred a CD issue - with maybe a few more tracks to add on. But OK, I'll take what I can get. Because there's no way I'll ever get all of these 45s individually (if any...). 

Some of the compilations run into each other. I have different Stone Coal White and Creations Unlimited tracks on the aforementioned Function Underground album. My goodness that Creations Unlimited has to be about the best two sider ever made. The Iron Knowledge track has been featured multiple places, including the Brown Acid series.

I thought this would be more hard rock and heavy psych focused considering that hype sticker, but it's definitely more in the psych soul funk genre. In fact the first track is an easy listening instrumental. But have no fear, it's still a killer set of tunes, with lots of fuzz and booty shaking rhythms. And there are a few proto metal tracks on Side 2 after all.

Ownership: LP: 2023 Now-Again. Single sleeve. Red wax. Recent online acquisition.

12/20/23 (new entry)

Function Underground, USA

The hype sticker alone told me this would be the gem of the stack: "The Black and Brown American Rock Sound 1969-1974". My heart be still. How I love these comps, especially when they come with a booklet jam packed with historical information. I look for 45s such as these everywhere I go, and sometimes you get lucky. No one knows who they are, so they presume they're worthless. Discogs has kind of ruined that in some places, especially when they get compiled like this. Because now everyone wants them! Fortunately thrift shops don't usually bother to research, even some record stores don't! Still relying on their dogeared price guides where everything Elvis and Beatles is rare, along with a handful of garage and soul titles. But unknowns... were unknowns. So they're worthless. Thank you! This album actually starts off a bit conservative with 1984 and Purple Snow, each more towards psych soul than psych rock. But starting with Jimi Macon, things get progressively wilder. Note that first name spelling. All you need to know. The party really gets going with Creations Unlimited and peaks with Michael Liggins and the Super Souls, complete with flute, psych guitar and funky rhythms. Side 2 is no less stellar. Ebony Rhythm Band's 'Drugs Ain't Cool' sounds like Chicago's take on 'I'm a Man' only to be followed by Cisneros and Garza Group covering... 'I'm a Man'. This track also introduces the "brown" part of the album, which sadly only features 3 tracks. Highlight here might be L.A. Carnival, who also happens to have a full length archival album released by Now-Again. Ordered it last night (and it's great, need to get some notes up about it). Overall a brilliant collection if you're interested in the lo-fi, but heavily sincere, funk psych bands that only appeared on 45s.

Ownership: LP: 2017 Now-Again. Single sleeve with 16 page booklet. Purchased new (heavily discounted) at Independent Records here in Colorado Springs (2022). That store is now closed.

3/19/22 (LP 3.8); 12/20/23 (new entry)

The Grodeck Whipperjenny. 1970 USA-Ohio

The Grodeck Whipperjenny were a Cincinnati based group, who also happened to be side project / backup band for James Brown during this period (and thus the album was released on Brown's People label). Without Brown at the microphone, the band obtained a chance to extend their composition abilities beyond purely hard funk/soul. Not surprisingly, this is a type of psychedelic funk with loads of killer fuzz guitar and bass. But here on The Grodeck Whipperjenny it's combined with that European progressive rock take on the Jefferson Airplane! So we end up with a mix of bands somewhere between Stark Reality, Sandrose, and Julian's Treatment. Side 2 is really fantastic with a funky groove that won't quit. The only unfortunate aspect is the length of the album - I want more of it!

Ownership: CD: 2019 Now Again

After many years of watching super expensive original LPs pass by - along with dubious reissues of no value - we have finally obtained a worthy reissue. Now Again does their usual fantastic job with full liner notes and photos. Unfortunately there are no bonus tracks, so it's a very short 32 minute CD. I really think they should have combined this with its brother project James Brown's Sho is Funky Down Here, especially considering it too has no bonus tracks. Actually I originally thought that was how it was being sold. I can understand trying to maximize the revenue here, but it's not ideal for consumers. Not complaining, just an observation. Glad to have it reissued properly!

8/31/09; 5/9/19 (new entry)

Del Jones' Positive Vibes - Court is Closed. 1973 USA-Pennsylvania

The single most intense Black America album ever. Basically Del Jones is the Philadelphia ghetto version of the Berlin based Cosmic Couriers clan. Intense does not even begin to describe this album. The anger that comes through will melt your mind. And all the freaked out vocals, wah wah guitar, flute, and heavy rhythms will make you grab for your Ash Ra Tempel albums and hold on tight. Given the economic conditions of the housing projects of the early 1970s, it's surprising more albums didn't seep through like this. Of course there are a couple of throwaway soul numbers that are fortunately short - but most of the album will fry your brain! 'Cold Turkey' has some of the most anguished freaked out madness since John L. went nuts on 'Flowers Must Die' (on Ash Ra Tempel's Schwingungen).

Ownership: LP: 1997 Hikeka; CD: 1997 Saucer Man / Hikeka (Japan). Like Velvert Turner, Del Jones released two versions of the same album: A soul mix and a psych mix. The soul mix is available on CD and appears legit. The psych mix has only been reissued on LP so far, and did involve Del Jones who wrote contemporary notes for it, so we'll consider that legit. But no one has issued it on CD to date. The soul mix is not that much different really - there's an additional horn section, two extra tracks, and some of the guitar work has been moved into the background. It's still a monster and highly recommended.

6/1/06; 8/11/17 (new entry); 7/14/22

Reggie Lucas - Survival Themes. 1976 USA

Well... now. I think we have something here, don't we? I never heard of Reggie Lucas prior, but seeing he's the guitarist in the great Philly based disco/funk ensemble MSFB, that already brings a smile to my face (not to mention a session guitarist for a slew of big names including Miles Davis). I hadn't run into his Inner City LP after all these years of crate digging, though I probably just passed right over it without giving it a second thought. Don't make that same mistake now, folks. I went ahead and forked over for the Japanese CD sound unheard based on a reliable tip from Gnosis Mike, and it proved to be money. 'Slewfoot' is a foot stompin' Funkadelic like psych rock groover, with plenty of Lucas' wonderful guitar along with horn accompaniment and Clavinet. 'Tender Years' is the only "period" piece here, a sunny and tropical romantic 70s cruise ship dinner number that gets all parties at the table in the right mood. And probably was the "bait song" that ultimately maddened those looking for similar type sound. Lucas must have been bored out of his mind by now, as he moved right along with a fusion psych piece in 'Barefoot Song', that features plenty of melodic interplay amongst the psych guitar madness. And this leads us to the side long title track, that is at once experimental, as well as off the rails insane. Hand percussion and heavily phased guitar define this most wacky composition from this most unlikely source. The final 8 minutes actually reminds me of the eerily and similarly titled Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush live piece 'Electric Reflections of War'. Given that both pieces were released at the same time in the US (though Lucas' album was originally released in Japan in 1976, hence the CD release from there...) makes it that much more intriguing. It's just the kind of payoff track I look for to ultimately be enshrined into the Wonderful Freaky Underground of albums. This album has zero commercial potential and makes you wonder what on Earth was Lucas thinking. Well he wasn't... Thinking that is... Just awesome.

Personal collection
CD: 2015 East Wind (Japan)

Unusual in that the original version is from Japan, and wasn't licensed to Lewis' native USA until two years later. Inner City must have had a bout of madness to even bother issuing this title - at least from a financial perspective. As such, original LP copies are obscure, though can be found easily as I write this. Both CD reissues are from the original parent label. I didn't know about the 2002 mini-LP until I saw it in Discogs. I'm guessing it was quite rare until the new pressing came along this year. And it's in a standard jewel case, which is not the norm anymore for Japan. Because of this, the price is very reasonable and I suggest you pounce on this title soon before it too becomes rare.

Leong Lau - Dragon Man. 1976 Australia

Here are my original CDRWL scribblings from 2010: 

Cover is a bit misleading, showing head honcho Lau holding up a saxophone, which would indicate a honk fest. In contrast, this is a deep psychedelic funk album, with lots of wah wah guitar, phased / echoed sax, flute, heavy bass & drums with plenty of  ranting from Lau, channeling his best Frankie Dymon imitation. Picking up a strong Hendrix influence as well. Considered by many to be one of the most expensive albums from Australia, and it's easy to see why. Super album.

Worth noting that Lau's second album That Rongeng Sound, while no less rare, is quite a disappointment when compared to the monster Dragon Man album.

Ownership: CD: 2014 Strawberry Rain. Tri-fold digipak where the top folds out replicating the poster insert. Also has two bonus tracks from a 1977 single that we covered on The 45 Revolution.

8/30/10 (first listen / review); 6/6/14 (update / new entry)

An ebay auction included a full history (credits and thanks go to the author): "Born in Malaysia of Chinese ancestry, Leong Lau studied Chinese Opera and played flute with the Chinese Community Orchestra.  He joined the Sydney Dance Company in 1969 as a dancer and was trained in ballet, modern and improvisational dance.  After five years, he entered the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he trained in professional music performance and composition, and then played concert flute with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Leong Lau has remained somewhat of an anomaly in the record collecting scene. “Dragon Man” is a fantastic LP loaded with wah-wah guitar, fuzz solos, flute solos & wild vocals.  An artist with a sound that's as wild as his look on the cover – a definite individual from the Australian underground of the 1970’s – serving up some incredibly offbeat vocals alongside a range of his own  instrumentation on guitar, alto, tenor, and flute!  The album has some nice heavy bass at times, which creates a raw funky edge that's a real surprise – not straight funk, but kind of a psych-funk groove that really fits with the rawer bluesy energy that Leong Lau is trying to convey in his music.  A very compelling fusion of sounds from many different corners – with titles that include the long jammer “Deep In The Jungle”, the funky flute workout “Dragon Man”, and the tracks “Soul Baby”, “The Atlas Revolution”, and “Rhythm Pounding”"