Molecules

rah, what's this about you being a super-60's freakbeat DJ?? Look forward to locking onto your show live mate, listening to the old ones on your myspace now. Possibly the best intro to a video i could have hoped for there - the Birds ('not the weird-spelling birds from america' lololol)...
Interesting what this Euchrid Eucrow guy says about so-called proto-punk, those albums prefiguring the lo-fi sound, Beefheart was doing that too and I loves it, all the avant-garde elements mingled in is what makes it such a special and innovative era for those of us in the know

As for these albums... Rising Sons are next on my list now, they sound like a dream, I know Taj Mahal from the Rock n Roll Circus DVD and this song in particular crops up on a good few Northern Soul compilations... just such a great band to watch, love the guitarist, you can just imagine they were all probably spotty teenagers. Re the pointless pop video surplus in today's music industry, we really need a return to this on primetime, live music... we have Jools Holland I suppose. Channel 4 caters for the young pop audience with stupid editing and annoying camera techniques, it's not on.

The Doors and Face to Face, you can't go wrong, and you review them well, I hope people are reading and taking note. For some reason it's still the only Doors album I have, odd considering 'Crystal Ship' and 'the End' are the crowning glories on (to me) a perfect album.
True speak on Dave Davies as well, he cut some of my favourite Kinks songs... I can never choose between F2F and Something Else...

Mind if I ask how long you've had this radio slot (proper radio as well you can listen to in your car by the sounds of it)?

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TheCellarTapes

Cheers Molecules

Yeah, been doing the alternative sixties show for just under a year now on a community radio station in Manchester, seems to be going down well, you can hear it in the car....... as long as you're driving in South Manchester.

I did have another, more random, show on the same station with a mate of mine for a year before that, thats still being done but its now on an internet radio station dedicated to the mighty FC United of Manchester.

As for the Rock n Roll Circus, good call, not watched that in years, must play it tonight before the football.

TheCellarTapes

The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
(1967)



Tracks

1 Magical Mystery Tour 2:51
2 The Fool on the Hill 3:00
3 Flying 2:16
4 Blue Jay Way 3:56
5 Your Mother Should Know 2:29
6 I Am the Walrus 4:37
7 Hello Goodbye 3:31
8 Strawberry Fields Forever 4:10
9 Penny Lane 3:03
10 Baby You're a Rich Man 3:03
11 All You Need Is Love 3:48

The Magical Mystery Tour started life as a six track EP showcasing the songs from the avant-garde film which shared the same name, the release soon morphed into a full blown eleven track album released for the US market. This album therefore is basically six songs from a film which not many people liked plus another five cuts which weren’t selected for the Sergeant Pepper release from the same year. So on paper it’s not looking good is it?

However The Magical Mystery Tour by The Beatles, released in late 1967 on Capitol in America, is one of the finest albums by the band. It suffers undeniably as a result of the long shadow of 1967’s other Beatle release but as a stand alone album it really is tremendous.

The album starts with the title track; could this song be a contender as one of the best openers to an album from the decade? I think it’s up there. We then move on to the rather splendid McCartney composition, The Fool on The Hill, a song which features flutes..... enough said.

The next highlight from this album is track four, Blue Jay Way is a song written by George Harrison, and for me personally it’s his finest effort up to that date. It is also one of the few Beatle songs from the period which captures some of the feel of the 1967 British underground Psychedelic scene, although it would still feel pretty out of place on Piper at The Gates

Track Six is of course I Am the Walrus, a song which now probably deserves a review of its own; needless to say it is of course John Lennon at his best. This song finishes off the songs which featured on the ill-fated film. But for those lucky folks in America, this album is just getting started.



Side two starts off with Hello Goodbye, a typical McCartney pop song. Track nine is also your typical McCartney effort; Penny Lane is nice on the ears and is of course harmless.

The flip side to the original Penny Lane double A side single was actually track eight from the Magical Mystery Tour LP; Strawberry Fields Forever for me is the much stronger out of the two songs. In essence the song is rather simple yet has had some marvellous production work going into it, a beautiful song, which once crossed with producer George Martin, was always going to be something special.

The album ends with the anthem; All You Need is Love, it also pretty much marks the end of 1967; a fine year where anything artistic was possible, even two wonderful albums from The Beatles. You’re more then welcome to debate the merits of the Magical Mystery Tour film, for me I think it has its moments. But when it comes to the Magical Mystery Tour album, there really is no doubt, this album is immense and thankfully after 1976, is now available in the UK as well.

jacklovezhimself

this is amazing.

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TheCellarTapes

Part 6 of Blues in The Cellar

This week looking at Skip James, another Bluesman who was coaxed out of retirement in the 1960's.

I love this man's eerie vocals and the primal feel of his recordings, marvellous stuff.

Enjoy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqmcHui91Jw

TheCellarTapes

The Rokes - Let's Live For Today: The Rokes in English 1966-68
(2008)



Tracks

1 Let's Live for Today 3:00
2 No No No 2:43
3 Telegram for Miss Marigold 3:33
4 Ride On 2:33
5 Put the Pen Down 2:17
6 The Works of Bartholomew 3:28
7 Regency Sue 2:28
8 I Would Give the World 3:13
9 When the Wind Arises 3:22
10 Hold My Hand 2:44
11 A Thing Like That 2:44
12 Ripe Apples 3:25
13 Stop and Watch the Children Play 2:57
14 When You Are Gone 2:46
15 Somewhere 2:26
16 Passing Thru Grey 3:07

The Rokes were an English band formed in 1962, who in 1963 moved to Italy to seek fame and fortune, something that they did indeed achieve. They released four albums in all in Italy, had a number of major hit singles, were live favourites throughout the country and made numerous TV appearances. This success though was not replicated in their native homeland, where to this day they still remain something of a mystery.

Between 66 and 68, The Rokes had a few attempts at trying to crack Britain by releasing singles in English as opposed to Italian, efforts which seamlessly bridged the gap between Freakbeat and Psychedelia to glorious effect. All these attempts, as well as other English speaking recordings they did for fun, can now be found on this compilation, Lets Live for Today – The Rokes in English 1966-68, released on Rev-Ola Records in 2008.

The album begins with the title track, a song which was The Rokes’ first major assault on the UK market; it would actually go on to be a big hit in America for The Grass Roots. But following a farcical chain of events with UK publishers, other than royalties it sadly did not do a lot for The Rokes themselves.

However the fact remains that this song was a big hit for another band proving that this is far from being another obscure tune. Needless to say The Rokes’ version is a marvellously trippy song with a very apparent rawness, which makes this song very appealing indeed. I am dying to find out how the original Italian recording from 1965 sounded, I will of course let you know.

Track 2 is also something very special, it is truly one of the best examples of Freakbeat you could possibly ever want to hear; No No No is just sheer brilliance, hard edged and relentless. This song is by no means alone on this album for quality.



The next thrilling moment on this album can be found on Track Six; The Works of Bartholomew. At the time of writing I am pleased to report that this song is currently stuck on repeat. Released in 1968 this was the final attempt by The Rokes to crack the UK. Why this song did not do it for The Rokes I cannot for the life of me answer.

My confusion is further intensified when discovering that this final single was released with a flip side as remarkable as Track 9; the eerily Psychedelic When the Wind Arises. The Rokes with these two songs in particular, show an unbelievable talent for production and endeavour, which strangely the UK public shockingly never took to.

This album covers the efforts of a fine yet under appreciated British group, and their English speaking output. A brilliant listen and a must for all fans of anything remotely interesting about the 1960’s. The Rokes would break up in 1970, after a career much more prosperous than your typical obscure sixties act.

If you mention The Rokes in Italy today; they are still fondly remembered and even now still receive airplay on Italian radio. With this compilation, maybe this great English band can finally make its mark on the country of its birth, in one corner of Britain anyway, it already has.

TheCellarTapes

The Electric Prunes - Underground
(1967)



Tracks


Formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, The Electric Prunes were a Psychedelic group who were primarily remembered for producing two fantastic singles in 1967, both of these hits appeared on their debut album which has already been reviewed in this very journal; I Had Too Much To Dream (Last Night).

After the commercial and critical success of this debut, The Electric Prunes in the same year got to work on the follow up. And so it was in August 1967, Underground was released on Reprise.

The first album, although an Electric Prunes record, is noted for having key contributions by song writing partners Mantz and Tucker, as well as being heavily played around with by producer Dave Hassinger and the record label. But after the success of the Prunes’ debut, Hassinger was far too busy to be dealing with a second Prunes album so soon after the debut. So despite label reservations, The Electric Prunes were pretty much left to their own devices, which was not necessarily a bad thing.

Probably due to this lack of interference, unlike their debut, Underground is missing a hit single or two, but I think for interest and all round appeal, the follow up is a better record all things considered. The album begins with The Great Banana Hoax, this is not a Mantz and Tucker song, this is in fact a song penned by members of the Prunes. If anything this song demonstrates that The Electric Prunes were indeed the West Coast Psychedelic geniuses I had always labelled them; this really is an epic song with wonderful moments.



Now track three is where this album really starts to move into another league; Wind-Up Toys, once again is a Prunes composition and although has elements to it which take you to Canterbury, England circa 1967, it feels wonderfully sparse and garagey making it unmistakably Electric Prunes.

Track four is our first chance to look at Annette Tucker and Nancy Mantz contributing to this album. Antique Doll, is a very dark and spooky song, and indeed compliments the Prunes penned materiel from this record flawlessly.

Track five is It’s Not fair, which fuses country elements with The Electric Prunes, quite an interesting song really. The next highlight sees the return of Mantz and Tucker with their finest moment on this album, the fuzz injected Dr Do-Good, belting stuff. However at this stage the relationship between The Prunes and Mantz & Tucker was becoming increasingly frosty as the band’s urge to escape into complete artistic freedom became overwhelming.

But let’s forget the negativity and remember that this release in essence is The Electric Prunes at their peak, trying to gain control of their own destinies and producing material of a quality which in my view surpasses their previous release. Underground would be the last hurrah for the original Electric Prunes line-up for thirty years, after this release their destiny would be snatched from them in a cloud of record company bureaucracy and internal wrangling. But before the band’s story drifts off into the realms of farce, they thankfully got the chance to show the world what they actually were capable of with triumphant results.

Incidentally The Electric Prunes are now back together and going strong with a couple of releases made in the last few years which further demonstrate the abilities of this great forgotten band, The Electric Prunes Website if you want to learn more.

TheCellarTapes

The Monks - Black Monk Time
(1966)



Tracks


The Torquays were formed in 1964 in Germany by five American GIs based over there. They were really your typical bog standard Beat covers act, which most average bands of that period were.

But in 1966 they emerged, no longer in the army, with new monk style bald patches on their heads, all black clothing, a new name and a totally new and unique style all of their own; The Monks were born, with a live act and a sound quite simply in a league of its own.

Their only album, Black Monk Time, was released in 1966 on Polydor after being recorded in the dark nights of November 1965. To say this band and their one and only studio album release were unique, is literally an understatement, with the impact of it still not being fully appreciated by the general public.

This album release as with so many great cult records was a commercial flop, having mixed and patchy success in Germany, but not even registering a murmur in the US or Britain. But as with all great cult records; it will find a way of getting into your life somehow and thank the maker this has got into mine.



The album begins with Monk Time; highlights of this song include the marvellous vocals of Gary Burger and the lyrics which have to be read to fully appreciate what a stunning opener it is….

Quote:

Alright, my name's Gary. Let's go, it's beat time, it's hop time, it's monk time now! You know we don't like the army. What army? Who cares what army? Why do you kill all those kids over there in Vietnam? Mad Viet Cong. My brother died in Vietnam! James Bond, who was he? Stop it, stop it, I don't like it! It's too loud for my ears. Pussy Galore's comin' down and we like it. We don’t like the atomic bomb. Stop it, stop it, I don't like it . . . stop it! What's your meaning Larry? Ahh, you think like I think! You're a monk, I'm a monk, we're all monks! Dave, Larry, Eddie, Roger, everybody, let's go! It's beat time, it's hop time, it's monk time now!

This triumphant opener is followed up with the fabulously named Shut-Up, with its fantastic use of the organ and the almost football terrace rhythm it has to it. This is followed by Boys are Boys and Girls are Choice, which is one of those songs at just over a minute that is very much short and sweet.

Further down the track list is track 5, I Hate You, which is yet another showcase for the marvellous wailing vocals of Gary Burger, as well as demonstrating the sheer ahead of its time nature of The Monks musical output, I really do struggle to believe this song was recorded in 1965.



The same can be said for track 6; Oh, How To Do Now sounds so far beyond the pale and quite clearly influential to later artists, that when it comes to groundbreaking, I’m surprised anyone even bothers mention Revolver anymore as 1966’s finest. You might think that I am just saying that for effect, but seriously, this album is a real surprise.

In subsequent years, this album has been reissued with some extra gems which oddly did not make the final cut; these include the brilliant Cuckoo, Love Can Tame The Wild and Monk Chant……marvellous.

Black Monk Time is an album filled with rhythm, angst and an anger, yet is all wrapped up in a quirky, raw, but catchy package which is rather appealing on the ears. This is punk music in its earliest form, but punk music with an electronic banjo, an organ and a beyond eccentric sound which makes you warm to this band and their music instantly.

An absolutely quality piece of work and an eye opener to anyone who believes that The Beatles' Revolver album was the only landmark album to come out of 1966. A Must

Molecules

cracking reviews, great for some read-along listening. I just copped Black Monk Time and it's everything promised and more, feel rather dense for not getting round to it earlier... How on earth was this 1966? 1968 I'd believe just maybe but there was nothing this raucous in 65/66 really. Fantastic. Raw garage that doesn't need a fuzzbox to get it's point across.

As for the Prunes - I have their Gregorian chant album Mass In F Minor and the song that they are still known for obviously, I'll have to check out these earlier albums. I fell off the the 60's wagon but I'm rectifying that gawdammit.

I always thought the Rokes were South American? When I find their album I'll read that review and only then!

I missed (was asleep) the 5pm Cellar Tapes on Monday, I can't tell you how pissed off I was. Do you have any audio for it? The Skip James feature was spot on, one thing I always loved about blues music is how cheap it was/is in the high street music stores, you could walk into HMV and go to the deserted blues/soul corner and pick up the complete '31 recordings of Skip for a fiver. He is definitely under appreciated as a guitarist/singer, R.Johnson seems to get all the attention. Maybe it's down to dodgy quality of the recordings?

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4ZZZ

Top review as usual TheCellarTapes. I first came across this album a few years back via a massive 4.6 gig download of what was a file entitled Obscura. I had read about this album in Cope's Krautrock Sampler and had to have a listen. Went searching and hence found the file.

I agree with you that it is Punk Rock in it's earliest form. Listening with hind site was the initial issue with me. I understood where Cope was coming from but had to put it into context. To do this I dug out a few 60's albums and compared them. In the end I concluded that for sheer raw sound not even The Velvet Underground came close. Though a "raw" sound VU and Nico was definitely a "composed" album in comparison, if you get what I mean. VU had a musician of Cales brilliance. The Monks did not.

P.S. I have gone and had a look at that file and it has The Sonics Here Is... I have never played it so I should get of my backside and have a listen considering your revue.

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