Leong Lau - Late Night Flyer / One Dimensional Man. 1977 Australia

If you're already familiar with the album Dragon Man, then you know what to expect here. Psychedelic funk of the highest order, though in compact single form.

I almost let this get away. They are bonus tracks on the Strawberry Rain CD reissue, but are hidden (I was going to keep the LP reissue instead). Discogs didn't mention them (I just corrected the entry), only RYM did but without a track history. But I couldn't figure out why it said bonus tracks. Further investigation turns out it was my entry (I stopped contributing releases to RYM years ago, so this may have been one of my last ones). So I saved myself. lol.

1/18/25

Rapscallion - Rain And Shine / Just A Rapscallion. 1979 USA-Cleveland

Rapscallion were one of many great AOR / hard rock bands hailing from Cleveland, a mecca for the blue collar muscular sound. The A) side mixes some heavy riffing with acoustic guitars and harmony vocals. It's way too raw to make inroads into the corporate FM sound, but the attempt is admirable. B) side has a Rush meets Styx vibe. Features a killer guitar mid song break. These guys had the right sound at the right time, but didn't catch the break. Pity that.

1/9/25

Tail Gunner – Sassy / Ten Years. 1980 USA-Baltimore

Tail Gunner is a great example of the American hard rock sound from the late 70s going into 1980. A full album (which apparently was planned) would have been a revelation. Neither of these two tracks exceed two and a half minutes, but they do pack a few ideas into each. Which tells me an album would have fallen into the sophisticated hard rock category. 'Ten Years' eerily sounds like the great Micah, especially the way the vocals are handled. Keyboards are a nice touch. The YouTube video confirms these guys have the "look" to go with the chops.

3.5 / 3.5

1/9/25

Haz - My True Love (You Are To Me) / Prelude to Paradise. 1983 USA-Colorado

Cool find here. The A) side is whiny soul balladry and is not for me. It's the B) side that you're after (presuming you're not into whiny soul balladry that is...). Interesting mix of synthesizer driven boogie funk, late era disco, and jazz fusion. Plenty of saxophone, a little flute, and some tight horn charts. A wonderful groove throughout. Mainly instrumental with whispered vocals. Closes with sounds of the ocean.

I found this among a large drop of both soul and country (?!) 45s that obviously came from a radio station (that would be a weird playlist format). This was the only private obscurity in the batch, at least that I found (it's very possible I wasn't first). As you can see, it doesn't have any info on the label.

According to Discogs it comes with a picture sleeve, though this copy didn't have it. The Discogs entry doesn't show the back which might contain information (though it could be blank too). The band is led by Al Hazard (hence the name Haz) though nothing reliable turned up for him. The pic sleeve lists the two singers from the A) side. A little sleuthing shows that Heidie White performed on an album from Denver. Lyndon Copeland, on the other hand, has a biography and guess what? He's from here in Colorado Springs! Which explains why this station probably had the 45 in their possession. Some influencer put it up on YouTube which has lead to it having huge demand. I'm keeping it though.

Own. Thrift shop find from a month ago (2024).

1/4/25 (new entry)

Spontaneous Generation - Purple, Purple / I'll Hold Out My Hand. 1971 USA-North Carolina

The A) side is somewhat famous for being seriously expensive as well as a killer cut. Spontaneous Generation's sound is from a couple of years earlier with fuzz guitar, organ, and punky Van Morrison styled vocals. I thought I had this track on one of the compilations I own, but nope it really hasn't been as anthologized as much as you might think.

The B) side is the hedge. There's a reason why no one has taken the time to record this for all to hear. Essentially a folk rock tune with trumpet (lol, anathema to underground psych collectors) and harmony pop vocals. If you want more than one side, it ain't here.

I do really enjoy 'Purple, Purple', but it's not a 5 star monster in my book. 4 stars on the nose. The other is 2 at best.

11/12/20 (first listen); 1/2/25 (review / new entry)

The Changing Image – Awakening Dream / The Happy Girl. 1969 USA-Miami

There's a bit of budget behind this title, as there's some orchestra backing the sunshine happy vocals. If you're a fan of The Association's style of pop psych, then these titles are worth seeking out. Pleasant but unnecessary in my world.

3 / 3

1/2/25

The Mousetrap – Spinning Wheel / Rhymetyme. USA-Miami

Label is from Miami, so just a guess that's where these guys are from. A) side is a cover of the famous track by Blood Sweat and Tears, done funky psych. It's not overtly psych though, just a bit electrified. B) is more original and features some nice organ and guitar soloing, though again closer to the jazz school than rock. Soulful vocals.

I was going through some old notes, and this was the second time for me to hear this. Not sure of the date but probably 2020 - 2021.

3 / 3.5

1/2/25

Amon Düül – Eternal Flow / Paramechanical World. 1970 Germany

Two low key psychedelic mumblers from the only coherent era of the commune Amon Duul - professional spin offs not counting of course. Post rock 25 years before anyone knew the term. Wood taverns, wood floors, and a lot of incense. Yeaaa.

1996 (first listen); 9/22/17 (review); 1/2/25 (new entry)

Chance - Harbor Nights / Magic Eyes. 1978 USA-Colorado

Solid AOR music from down south in Pueblo.

Full history of the band here

I got into a bit of a dispute on Discogs when another owner insisted this was psych garage and removed AOR. I had to disagree on that one, and put back AOR, though left their interpretation out of respect of other's opinions. That person also added 'Magic Eyes' to YouTube, so you can hear for yourself. But there's no way this is psych ;-)

 

Own. From a local garage sale (2019). I consider this the first 45 obscurity I found in the wilds where the music was agreeable too (i.e. not country). I didn't really know what I was doing yet, and bought all of the 45s for a $1 each (there were about 150 titles). Fortunately there were a few that were worth much more than that and I made a healthy profit. Last year I finally ditched the rest in a bulk auction, and I think they went for something like 30 cents each. Haha - I should have cherry picked. But that's how you learn!

2019 (first listen); 3/27/20 (review); 1/1/25 (update)

Bill Stein - Where To Go, What To Do? / Come To Me. USA

Eclectic 45, but has elements of hard rock, psych, AOR, and prog. And how about that label name?

Own. From an estate sale in Castle Rock (2019).

I found two copies and we sold one of them. I suspect it may have been released in Colorado. 

9/12/19 (first listen); 3/27/20 (review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

Darkstar - I Wanna Be The One / T.T.H. (Tryin' Too Hard). 1982 USA

Upon finding this, I had hoped to find a heavy metal or hard rock 45, especially with a name like Darkstar. But it's power pop all the way. Cannot find anything about this artist or label.

Own. From a local seller (2019). This seller had befriended me at the first Colorado Springs Record show and asked if I would be interested in buying some items from his collection. I said sure, and this ended up being the pick of the litter.

11/14/19 (first listen); 3/27/20 (review); 10/8/21 (update); 1/1/25 (new entry)

West (West The Band) - Ghost Riders / Turkey Necks. 1980 USA-Wyoming

Best I can tell is that West started out as a hard rock band and evolved into a more typical country rock / pop group. They started in Powell, Wyoming which is way up north toward the Montana border. Eventually they moved to Cody, which is famous for its rodeo scene. And it's closer to Yellowstone / Jackson Hole, where I'm sure there were plenty of gigs to be had as well.

 'Ghost Riders' is indeed the known late 1940's track that was made most famous by The Outlaws in 1980. Interesting then, to find out this was copyrighted and published in 1977. But it may have been recorded in 1980 (probably was). Interesting in that it is also a wicked hard rock version of the song. Is this where The Outlaws got the idea? The 'Turkey Necks' side is more typical country rock/pop and is copyrighted 1980.  According to the back sleeve, these two tracks were recorded in San Diego. San Diego? That's a long way from home and couldn't have been cheap.

Own. Estate sale find (2020).

3/28/20 (first listen / review / new entry)

Just say weeeeeeeeeeee.

Babydoll and the New Surfettes - When We Said Goodbye / You Haven't Done Nothing. USA-Hawaii

It's always great to find a 45 no one knows about, but it's even better when it's in the Soul genre! The b side features a nice bass riff too.

There have been a couple of ebay auctions that settled nicely. One described the 45 as thus: "Private pressing of an extremely rare and seldom seen HAWAII female SOUL record. Side one is a pleasing soul ballad, the flip side is Stevie Wonder’s SOUL classic."

Own. From a local collector's garage sale for $1 (2020). He had no idea what is was.

6/22/20 (first listen); 3/21/22 (review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

Mark Vieau - Blind Love / Say a Prayer. 1993 USA-Texas

Picked this one up because it's from our old stomping grounds south of DFW, and this is a complete unknown! Whitney, Texas is not the place you'd expect to find a hip label, yet they had dozens of similar releases in the late 80s and early 90s. This is a very professional recording, not the usual private press fodder. Music can best be described as hair metal meets pop rock. A little later than what I normally collect, but this one is a cool little oddity.

Own. Online acquisition (2021).

5/2/21 (first listen); 2/5/22 (review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

Arnie & Chisé Trio ‎- Three Cherries / Bumming Around. 1966 USA / Japan

Three Cherries is a novelty song where Chise opens in English with her heavy Japanese accent, and then proceeds to make a silly song in Japanese. Bumming Around is rockabilly and is arguably Arnie's contribution. They have an album that is also highly sought after. Super cool 45.

Own. Thrift shop find (2021).

Added handwritten note below. Click on the photo to hi-res.

10/12/21 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

Lightkraft - Now Or Never / Take Me. 1984 USA-Colorado

I never really wrote a review, but I described the genres as thus: A-side = Modern Soul Boogie sound; B-side = AOR / New Wave sound.

We eventually learned that the band is local to us here in Colorado Springs! Released in the spring of 1984 in fact. Elk Bugles says the band were from Indiana and Minnesota. But there was another poster in her collection that showed the band playing here. 

Even though it doesn't appear Tiny Barge was a performer on the 45, his name is listed as the publisher. Here's a page for him, as he's still performing it appears.

Sadly we found lead singer Ric Wright's obituary.

Own. Found at a record store in Denver (2022). No pic sleeve.

After updating the Discogs entry, I received three unsolicited - and generous - offers for it, which tells me there's a huge market for this. I usually keep rare items like this and the music is good for the collection.

7/18/22 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

Charles J. Foley (Charlie) - Witches Ogres and Mint / Overture (To the Sabbath). 1974 USA-Nebraska

Wow - this one is completely extinct from the modern historical record. Nowhere to be found - at all! And it's good folk too - a bit of Dylan and some dark themes. I would expect this to be a big hitter if it ever gets discovered.

Own. Found at a record store in Denver (2022).

7/27/22 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

Everyone's Daughter - Take Me Home / Get To You. 1986 USA

First side recalls Iron Maiden with its galloping guitars and dual solos. Other side is more in the Dio / Malmsteen mold. Former auctions suggest the band is female - or at least the singer. Can't find too much about the group. In any case, a good two sider for metal fans.

Own. Thrift shop find (2022).

9/26/22 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

The Whale and Flea – Ridin' On / Dawn Song. 1986 USA-Oklahoma

This is a heavy hitter in the field of 80s boogie soul or really just simply boogie. Has a heavy funk vibe on A) that I dig, especially some of the guitar work. B side is a bit too much balladry, but still some fine guitar work at the end. Apparently they were from Norman, Oklahoma (where Univ. of Oklahoma sits).

Own. Found at a record store in Denver (2022).

12/18/22 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

2 Plus 2 - Two Girls / Stay Around Me. 1985 USA-Pennsylvania

Music is fairly dumbo hair metal. "Two girls for every guy" being the thought provoking chorus, sung over and over. Not too bad though. Decent riffing. Some crack research turned up bupkis. The label address is in Sellersville, which sits in between Allentown and Philadelphia.

Own. Online acquisition (2022)

12/18/22 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)