Sky - Living Machine / The Quest Of The Silver Sea. 1977 USA

Sky is a tough moniker to search in this day and age. And not much data is forthcoming about this particular Sky. It's been suggested the year to be 1977, though I wouldn't be surprised to know it's from the early 80s. There's a bit of that NWOBHM influence though it's not heavy enough to call metal. The music is hard rock, with some Hawkwind influence. Which is likely the inspiration for the fantasy titled B side, and perhaps even the A side really. It's also the stronger of the two tracks here. The music isn't very catchy but it does have that period charm.

3.5

Pegasus - Honeysuckle Willow Bridge / Turkey Dove. 1972 USA

No one knows where this Pegasus hails from, but what we have here is a killer two-sider of heavy guitar and organ rock. I also like the impassioned higher pitched vocals. These guys would have made it big were they from England during this era. I'd be willing to bet that this particular Pegasus is from somewhere in the Midwest, especially since it was pressed in Cincinnati. They also have that early Poobah thing going, along with dozens of other regional bands. The organ is always a welcome addition.

Kasino - Get Bent / Gun Slinger. 1978 USA ~ Harrisburg, Pennyslvania

Kasino has this sort of retro Grand Funk Railroad sound going on here. More 1974 than 1978. The rhythms and disposition are more like straightforward funk rock but the guitarist turns on the fuzz as if it's the late 60s. What a great tone. You wish for the guitarist to really let loose for an extended jam but he never quite does. Nonetheless this is a solid two sider.

4.0

Freeway – Out On The Road (...And Out Of Our Minds) / Streamline. 1980 USA ~ New York

Freeway puts a lot more meat on the bone than your usual hard rock band at this stage. This is late era hard rock right at the cusp of the metal movement, but not quite crossing that threshold. Two well-penned tunes with plenty of guitar fire and cool breaks. Solid, if not exceptional.

3.5

Enalpria – Rose Water / Shredded Heart. 1969 USA ~ Florida

And here we have their second 45. Yet another advanced release for the date. Superb psychedelic rock also mixes in some jazzy sequences, notable in the electric piano work. The B) has a haunting organ beginning, perhaps a Krautrock element is being brought forth. Enalpria weren't that creative yet, and the music moves into more of a pop psych direction. Still with some fine electric piano playing. Excellent band to my ears.

Enalpria – Speed Limit / Sliding. 1970 USA ~ Florida

The name Enalpria is simply Airplane spelled backwards. At least they tried for some originality. The group managed to get out three singles between 1967 and 1970, this being their last. The A) side is an excellent example of North American hard rock. Features a jamming Hammond and ripping fuzz guitar. Sort of Grand Funk Railroad and Rare Earth mixed together. The B) side introduces flute, and the music sounds more like something you'd hear in Italy during this era. I suppose Jethro Tull will enter the conversation, but the style of the music recalls some of the heavier bands emerging out of Continental Europe. Think early Osanna or even Germany's Fashion Pink. Advanced thinking for 1970. Superb two sider.

East West Review – And The Rain Came / More And More. 1969 USA ~ Kansas City, Missouri

East West Review are very much influenced by the ongoing horn rock movement of the late 60s. Blood Sweat & Tears, Chicago, and Chase can all be heard in these grooves. Excellent horn charts, and some pretty wild fuzz, especially on the B side. Good stuff.

3.5

Kachers In The Rye - Egyptian Naval Exploration / Rye Bread. 1966 USA

A very interesting two sider. Both tracks are instrumental, and the melodies border the novelty side of the house. But the guitar is much more amplified than one typically associates with 1966. Definitely a psychedelic tone. Worth hearing at least.

Further research informs us that Del Kacher invented the wah-wah pedal. No wonder.

Used to own.

Alexander – I Want You / Just Keep Holding On. 1979 USA ~ Cleveland, Ohio

If you'd ever wondered what it would be like if Michael Jackson fronted a hard rock band (and who wouldn't think of that?), Alexander gives you an opportunity to realize that possibility. That's the a) side. The b) side tones it all down for a rural soft rocker, similar to the Eagles, though the vocals are slightly more masculine here. Since both tracks are credited to a one Eric Alexander, we can presume he's the mover and shaker here. And likely lead vocalist, though I can't be certain the first side wasn't from a female. Didn't get too much out of this two sider.

3.0 / 2.0

4/18/26

The Flower Children - Mini-Skirt Blues / Marching Lovers. 1967 USA ~ Los Angeles, California

With a moniker like The Flower Children one would expect soft folky psych. Not at all. The a) side is organ driven punky psych and is quite heavy for 1967. The b) side has a rollicking rhythm, once again driven by organ, though is far more friendly to the ears. Pretty decent 45, though I wasn't floored by it.

4/17/26

L'Origine - L'Origine / La Deuxième Aurore. 1969 France

L'Origine's sole effort could be considered the very beginning of the French Theatrical Prog movement, later made far more popular by Ange. Given it was 1969, it's entirely psychedelic throughout. That speaks for the a) side. The b) is a trippy folk number that strangely sounds Brazilian, despite being sung in French, though there are cosmic effects applied everywhere. Maybe Jean-Pierre Massiera was the uncredited producer? Really good two sider.

4/17/26

The Motivaters - Ode To Loneliness / Heart Of Blue. 1968 USA ~ El Paso, Texas

El Paso's misspelled The Motivaters open their sole 45 with a psych tinged ballad with a cool organ sound and strumming guitar. The b) side is more upbeat yet still based in dreamy psych. Organ remains the instrument of choice, though we do get a nice soulful guitar solo. A decent 45, though it lacks heft.

4/7/26

Atlantic Ocean ~ Your Sister Juliet / Would You Believe It. 1969 Sweden

I've owned their sole 1970 album for well over 20 years, and it's a good example of pop psych and early progressive rock. Not surprisingly, this earlier single goes hard for a Beatles like sound. No idea if this was a big hit in Sweden at the time, though it doesn't seem like it if we are to go by owning totals on Discogs and ratings on RYM.

4/7/26

Freddie Fender ~ El Pastel / No Puedo Creerlo. USA ~ Texas

When someone told me Freddie Fender had a fuzz psych single, I thought they were just messin' with me. Nope. And here's the proof. An all instrumental fuzz blaster, you will be questioning everything you know. Is the sky really blue? Are we different than cats? 'El Pastel' is the A side on the Mexican release and the B side on the US press. The other track is sort of a drifty folk number sung in Spanish, though it too has light popsike moments. I'll be damned.

4/6/26 (new entry)

Blackrock - Blackrock "Yeah, Yeah" / Bad Cloud Overhead. 1971 USA ~ Memphis, Tennessee

Two driving hard funk tracks, mostly instrumental, with some narrative singing on the b). Good guitar and organ. Solid rhythm with the bass work standing out. Not much psych unfortunately, purely funk rock. 

3/8/26 (new entry)

Le Orme - Piccola Rapsodia Dell'Ape / Raccogli Le Nuvole. 1980 Italy

Both tracks are from their 1980 album which I don't own. A playful set of classically oriented tunes with a solid rock rhythm base. B side adds in Italian vocals. Nice pic sleeve. Worth keeping.

Own.

1/24/26 (new entry)

The Gale – Gotta Run Away / Make Up My Mind. 1972 USA ~ Birmingham, Alabama

A very interesting two sider here. The a) side starts with an excellent bass and drums groove. The song itself is a laid back organ rocker with excellent harmony vocals. The guitar and organ solos are clearly from the jazz school. The b) maintains the excellent groove though moves over to the soul funk genre, especially considering the addition of female vocals and wah wah rhythm guitar. At first I thought this was the weaker track, but here the guitar solo is based more in the psychedelic tradition. Obscure as they get.

4.0

1/5/26 (new entry)

Hercules & The Black Majic - War (Parts 1 and 2). 1970 USA ~ Des Moines, Iowa

The a) side is a fairly straightforward cover of the Edwin Starr classic. A little more rough and ready. More psych'd out I'd submit. Not really enough to call out on its own though. It's the b) side that captures the attention. While still the same song, it's a completely rearranged, improvised psychedelic funk instrumental with loads of killer fuzz. Good one here.

3.5 / 4.5

1/5/26 (new entry)

Pappys Hauted House - One More Time / Dude. 1972 USA ~ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

One of those classic misspellings that that no doubt haunted (had to do it) the band for years to come. The a) side is mostly soul / jazz with the song belonging to the former and the organ to the latter. Nice wah wah rhythms and horns. It's the b) side that ignites the flame here. They add in wicked fuzz, and primarily go psychedelic with some hints of funk. 

The leader of the band was John Papi, who is the organ player, and led a jazz trio at one point. He's quite an interesting character. Much more info about him can be found here: https://oldmonmusic.blogspot.com/2010/01/john-papi.html

1/5/26 (new entry)

Ning - Machine / More Ning. 1971 England

Someone must've thought Ning was going to be the next big thing. It does rhyme, have to give them that foresight. Discogs shows no less than ten pressings around Europe, US, and Turkey. 

The a) side is fairly heavy in sound though musically it's pretty simplistic with somewhat annoying vocals. Cowbell opens the b) side ('Morning' yuk yuk) which leads to a laid back, almost Allman Brothers like instrumental jammer. Features a nice mid song riff and good soloing. Organ also plays a major role. I like this 45, though I didn't hear any commercial potential myself.

Pic sleeve shown is the German version. I haven't run into this title yet, but since there are three domestic pressings (no pic sleeve for the US versions), I'll probably find it (and keep it).

1/4/26 (new entry)