The Smoke Ring - Heavy Metal Whale / Triangle. 1972 USA ~ Nebraska

The Smoke Ring were a Nebraska 60s pop act. Their final 45 (of many) looks more promising than it is. However, there seems to be some misdirection about it as well. Discogs has a note that the a) side is Reggae. Nope. It sounds like War with the addition of steel drums. The b) side is labeled as Pop. RYM does similar. Nope. To me it sounds like a typical North American early 70s hard(er) rock track with harmony vocals and a lot of Hammond organ. Not bad at all.

12/10/25 (new entry)

The Mods - Dry My Eyes / Rosalie. 1967 USA ~ Lincoln, Nebraska

Excellent blue eyed soul that yields to early funk. Good horn charts, solid melodies, high energy, and makes you want to hop around. Great organ too.

The song 'Dry My Eyes' was written by a well known band called The Fabulous Flippers, a group from Genius Hans' favorite town of Hays, Kansas. And the single was released on Fona. There are allegations that The Mods were a pseudonym for The Fabulous Flippers. However it's documented they were "The Modds" and were from Lincoln, Nebraska. They are in the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame in fact. So they grabbed the tune from their label mates is all there is to the story.

Own.

3.5 / 3.5

4/4/25 (new entry)

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

Charlie Burton and Rock Therapy - Rock and Roll Behavior / That Boy and My Girl. 1977 USA-Nebraska

When I found this I thought it would be big money. It looks like some underground punk 45 - and from 1977! Nope. The A) side is retro 50's rock but with a 70s hard rock guitar solo, which is the highlight of both sides. B) side is more towards blues rock. From Lincoln, Nebraska. I'm keeping it for now. 

Own. From a thrift store in Sheridan, Wyoming (2024).

3.5/2.5

8/15/24