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)

Lance-Horizon - Rage / I Don't Like It. 1979 USA-North Carolina

From Chapel Hill. This 45 was released initially with the artist name as Lance, and later copies appended Horizon. A) side has a hard edged AOR bent to it. Love the guitar tone here. One can hear the Hendrix ghost of 'All Around the Watchtower' for sure, not a common sound for 1979. Though I suppose Frank Marino can be spotted here too. B) side is more radio friendly, though the guitar soloing is still excellent. Vocals kinda blow in that indie rock monotone way. 

4.0 / 3.0

8/2/24

Wayne Hurst – Galaxies Of Love / Back Again. 1974 USA-North Carolina

From the Chapel Hill area. A delicious sounding hard guitar riff opens the A) side. Nice mid song break with a good solo. Only drawback is it fades out too soon! B) side recalls Lynyrd Skynyrd in song format. 'Sweet Home Alabama' comes to mind here. Southern rock at its most basic but with a nice solo. 'Galaxies of Love' sounds a few years ahead of its time, and 'Back Again' a few years before haha.

3/31/24

The Challengers - Moon, Send My Baby / Dream. 1971 USA-North Carolina

From eastern North Carolina. What a strange opening to a 45. Vocalist croons "Let's go to the moon" followed by a bluesy guitar solo. Eventually it rips into a fast soul like dancer. It's kind of a mess, but intriguing all the same. B) side sounds like a rip of The Everly Brothers. Dream, dream, dream. 

2/23/24

Crawdaddy - Traveling Down The Road / Lovers At Night, Strangers By Day. 1978 USA-North Carolina

I think with a name like Crawdaddy, and coming from North Carolina, you can guess what this might sound like. And you would be right. The a) side is the winner here. Starting off with electric piano, it has a late era Doors meets Allman Brothers vibe. Some fine slide guitar as well. The b) side is a bit too honky-tonk for me. Not that it's country music - it's still rock - but it's that element of the genre I don't enjoy.

Ownership: SP: 1978 New Hope. Online acquisition (2020). 

6/16/20 (first listen); 3/7/21 (review / new entry)