Rock Bottom - I Wanna Live In The Country / I Don't Understand. 1973 USA

Despite the cool moniker and label name, this is mostly breezy rural rock with some folky touches. No idea where they might be from. Yet another mostly unknown 45. 

2.5 / 2.5

8/2/24

Rapunzel - Mornin' Sunrise / The Riddler/Changes. 1973 USA-Massachusetts

From a commune in western Massachusetts. A solid hard rock riff opens A), nice organ and a good mid song solo. Pretty rockin' stuff here, in the early Grand Funk Railroad tradition. B) side picks up perfectly with a faster riff, and some 60's Batman-era Riddler vocal hysteria. This jams hard - more mid to late 70s sounding. Excellent two sider.

Lots of strangeness as for the release itself. There are four pressings (maybe more) - three on the Corn label, one on Nork. The three on Corn each have a different catalog number and one is from the UK. More data here about the artist and label. 

4.0 / 4.0

3/31/24

Strongbow - If You're Goin to the City / Change. 1973 USA-Columbus

This is the same Strongbow who released a well respected album a couple of years later. This single predicts their future sound, as it's similar in construct. Neither tune is on the album proper. The A) side is good times rock n' roll, not so interesting of a tune, but features absolute bitchin' Hammond organ and electric guitar solos. Mariano Rivera is in the house - and got a save! The B) is a much more interesting tune based on an organ dirge, that also has some splendid guitar soloing. This is a good two sider worth seeking out.

Ownership: SP: 1973 Epodus. Online acquisition (2021)

5/4/21 (first listen); 12/11/21 (review / new entry)

Shira - Liar / Frank's Ant Farm. 1973 USA-Philadelphia

Shira are a somewhat unknown group out of Philadelphia who released two promo 45s and then disappeared. 'Liar' is a kick ass hard rock number with a little bit of a funk edge. 'Frank's Ant Farm' is a dual guitar proggy hard rock instrumental that oddly reminds me of Automatic Fine Tuning. Excellent two sider. 

It would appear their other 45 isn't worth bothering with.

Ownership: SP: 1973 Jamie promo. Recent online acquisition. 

4/19/21 (first listen); 6/6/21 (review / new entry)

Mickey & Them - U.F.O. / Hey, Brother Man. 1973 USA-San Antonio

Mickey & Them is a pseudonym for Mickey & The Soul Generation, a funk band from San Antonio (that I'm not familiar with - yet). Now San Antonio is ground zero if you want to immerse yourself into the Hispanic culture of Texas. So I was expecting more of a Latin groove here, but the band represents more of the African American culture of the times. 'U.F.O' is a very interesting single - it's all instrumental, super laid back, with a fascinating electric harpsichord driven melody. It's such a subtle song for a 7 inch - more like a middle album cut. 'Hey, Brother Man' is more typical funk, but features some excellent rhythm guitar. 

2/6/20

Ezra - Pax '72 / Hold On. 1973 USA-New Jersey

From Hackensack. 'Pax '72' is super - the kind of heavy prog rock you find in Germany at this time. It sounds all the world like a typical Krautrock track from 1971. Heavy jamming organ and guitars lead the way, with plenty of ideas to keep it from simply being labeled hard rock. 'Hold On' comes straight out of the Grand Funk Railroad school, particularly evident in the chorus section. It's this track that points to an American heritage.

2/5/20

Virus - Le Temps de Vivre / Mary-Jeanne. 1973 France

'Le temps de vivre' is a silly French pop song (like really silly). 'Mary-Jeanne' is completely different, and shows that Virus were an atmospheric prog band at heart, calling on early Pink Floyd and the neighboring Krautrock scene. Hard to imagine it's the same band. It's like those crazy American 45's that have a fuzz blaster on one side, and then some hillbilly song or something nutty like that on the other. Would be most interesting if Virus recorded more that has yet to surface.

2/4/20