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)

Lynx – Just A Friend / Woman Of My Dreams. 1970 USA-Texas

Just the fact that these guys are from Andrews, Texas is already a revelation for this Texas Tech graduate. How a hard rock band like this existed in the oil fields and ranches of 1970 is something amazing in of itself. Solid hard rock from the Grand Funk / Rare Earth school. This was their debut, but they managed to get out six 45s, which is incredible. They even covered early Yes on one of those. I'd keep that one if I ever find it...

7/21/20 (first listen); 9/15/24 (review / new entry)

Black Ice - Gotta Get You Out Of My Mind / Come on Home. 1970 South Africa

Yet another South African obscurity from 1970. The a) side is pop psych with horns, whereas the b) side features more organ and is the better of the two tracks. Good melodies and very much of the era. Apparently Black Ice had at least one major hit back home ('Susannah'), but this debut recording remains unknown.

Own. Found at a local estate sale (2024). The Discogs image is my copy.

8/4/24

The Gentle People - Nothing's Impossible / Merlie. 1970 Zambia

The Gentle People were formed in Zambia and have at least one LP and five singles. This one doesn't seem to be too well known. The A side is mostly just pop fluff, not bad though. It's the B side that is intriguing. Has a nice chorus, fuzz, and some off-kilter keyboards.

Own. Found at a local estate sale (2024)

8/4/24

Objectivo - Glory / Keep Your Love Alive. 1970 Portugal

Obscure band who released three singles and an EP from 1969 to 1972 at a time when not much music like this was being produced in dictator controlled Portugal. These two tracks lack identity and mostly play to 1970 era UK and American commercial rock trends with slight nods to psych and even early prog. Side 1 has a Procol Harum vibe that makes it interesting enough to hold onto.

Own. From a local estate sale (2024)

8/4/24

Rhonghei - Long Time Gone / Assassination. 1970 USA-California

Another southern Californian group (Rosamund). Fits loosely in the psych funk soul camp. B) side features some fine fuzz. A) has a deep groove with bluesy guitar. Not bad all. 

3.5 / 3.5

2/23/24

Sangre Mexicana - Good Cause / Need a Mama. 1970 USA-Texas

Interesting one here. From Laredo, Texas, Mexican Blood released seven singles and three LPs throughout the 70s. Their primary stock in trade was Tejano, ranchera, cumbia, balada, that kind of thing. This appears to be their debut recording and is nothing of the sort. Hard psych fuzz blaster, completely the opposite of how they made a living apparently. Both tracks are great (4.0). A side was comped by Germany's World in Sound many years ago. I wonder what the story behind this 45 was.

2/13/24

Something Different – Zulu Man / Chemical Reaction. 1970 USA

Starts off with harpsichord and goes into a folk rock direction from there. Also I hear what sounds like a bouzouki, perhaps the reason why they named the group as they did. B side starts off with a more aggressive beat before the harpsichord joins in. We also get some organ jamming and a percussion solo. For 1970 it really is something different. No idea where these guys might be from. 

3 / 3

1/2/24

Paraphernalia - Watch Out / Never. 1970 USA-Boston

I have the A) side on the Overdose of Heavy Psych comp. Good riffing hard rock with organ maybe like Sir Lord Baltimore, so it's slightly ahead of its time. Listening to the flip for the first time. Usually when only one side is featured on the comps, the other is to be avoided. But that's not the case here. This sounds more like its era, and is a wonderful dreamy psych piece. There's a slight Latin Soul Rock vibe I'm getting (think early Malo), which is entirely coincidental I'm sure (especially since they were from Medford, Massachusetts). Great two sider.

2/2/19 (first listen); 12/31/23 (review / new entry)

Zendik - Is There No Peace / Aesop. 1970 USA-Chicago

Zendik are a band from Chicago that has found themselves on a couple of those Brown Acid series albums (met those guys in Austin BTW as they were interested in some of JL's stuff). The A side is fairly strong hard rock, with lots of screaming vocals, and hyperactive drumming. There's some psych leftover here too. B side is more melodic. Ultimately both tracks fall into the sought after "bonehead" category. Though I'd submit that tag sells most of these pieces short in terms of thoughtfulness. I like that they state "Recorded in America". 

12/17/23

Phlegethon - You're No Good / The Sun. 1970 USA-Michigan

From Michigan. Looks like I heard this nearly four years ago in my initial discovery of the underground psych world of 45s. The a) side is indeed the track that Linda Ronstadt made famous. But with an ancient organ and killer fuzz! And some downer male vocals. The b) side also features some fine fuzz, but is more rural friendly. Lots of pirate comps out there featuring a), would be nice to get something legit out there.

12/9/18 (first listen); 7/22/22 (review / new entry)

Bulldog - Man of Constant Sorrow / Inner Spring. 1970 Australia

Odd one here as Bulldog were an Australian band that got picked up by an obscure Philadelphia sublabel of Jamie. Sophisticated hard rock for the era, in particular the b) side. 

Ownership: SP: 1970 Guyden. Online acquisition (2022).

This was a mistake buy as I thought I was getting a complete unknown, but I must have typed it in wrong. Nevertheless a collection worthy piece.

5/29/22 

The Essentials - Sunshine Baby / Freedom. 1970 USA-New York

The Essentials were from the Albany, New York area. The A side is pure sunshine popsike, and is lovely, if not way out of date for 1970. The flip is the complete opposite, and starts off with a wicked wah wah rhythm with more effects applied after. The vocals have turned bitter. Looks like the girlfriend didn't work out, and he's free! And then went on to take his anger out on the guitar. Timeless tactic. I would like to say this two sider is essential...

5/11/20

The Blow Mind - We Won't Go Back to the Past / They're Coming. 1970 France

The only release from this obscure French band. Released in 1970, it's pretty much nonstop guitar solos over mumbling English vocals. Really captures the wasted ethos of the era. Not going to win any awards for composition or skillful playing, but that's part of the allure honestly. This is for us guys who enjoyed playing football in the mud when we were kids.

The second track looks to be on at least one legit comp (on World in Sound) that has another song I quite like.

2/10/20

Berenice - Alors Dieu Chatia l'Homme / Please Pretty Girl. 1970 France

I have to admit that I'm drawn to psychotic ramblings in French, even if I have little idea of what they're going on about. The language is so perfect for it. Berenice gives me that pleasure on 'Alors Dieu Chatia l'Homme', along with some wicked fuzz soloing at the end. 'Please Pretty Girl' is a slow cooker, but not without merit. Definitely a band that had some innovative ideas. Whether or not they ever explored them beyond this single remains to be heard.

2/6/20 

Tribal Sinfonia - Do You Want Me / Something Has You Turned Around. 1970 USA-Detroit

Tribal Sinfonia were a band from Detroit, but their sound was a bit removed from the usual heavy funk / soul /acid groups of the locale. Here one picks up hints of Latin rock era Santana, and there's some wonderful fuzz, flute, horns, and harmony. Also I can hear some of New York state's finest - Micah - in these grooves. 

9/8/19 

Triptyque - If You Are in a Bad Mood / Don't Worry. 1970 France

These three troublemakers were all in and around the Heldon camp throughout the 1970s. Alain Renaud was also involved with Triangle, and the music here is similar to that fine band's debut. Mostly hard psych rock sung in English. Would make for excellent bonus tracks.

5/10/19