The Cosmic Evolution – Evil Woman / Mississippi Woman. 1972 USA ~ Alabama

Well, the group certainly has the right name to grab one's attention. At least mine lol. A couple of years before ELO made a (different) song with the A) title, The Cosmic Evolution had the same idea, and really their version is more in accordance with the subject matter. One can hear an impassioned emotional group displaying their anger through some pretty mean guitar leads. The b) side is a mix of boogie and Southern rock and lacks the punch of the flip. Though there are notable guitar sections to listen for.

Easy – We All Are One / Amy. 1974 USA ~ Nashville, Tennessee

Not sure how this ended up on one of my lists, but this is largely soft rock. Maybe a stretch to call it Yacht Rock, though it's before that movement was getting wheels (not that it was called that back then, but there was a vibe that existed). Band name is accurate for certain. Not terrible for what it is, but not psych or prog in the slightest, which is the column I had it in.

2.5

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

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

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)

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)

Long Richard – Force Myself / Lovin Cup. 1968 USA ~ Sacramento, California

The a) side is a drifty psych blues number with piano, electric guitar, and impassioned vocals. Has a jazzy styled rhythm. Vocals are strong and of the late 60s West Coast style. b) is a Butterfield Blues Band number. Again, bluesy in nature, but the psychedelic guitar playing takes it to the next level. Even some Steppenwolf styled riffing. Good two sider.

3.5

12/30/25 (new entry) 

Starchild - Long Way Home / Ocean. 1978 USA ~ Dallas, Texas

Really nice two sider. The a) side is more commercial in nature, but still based in space rock principles, especially considering the phasing. The vocals are female and bear a strong resemblance to my Proto Prog with Female Vocals list. This is especially apparent on the b) side which is more progressive rock in nature. The overall sound is late 70s or early 80s. Excellent guitar work throughout.

Not finding anything much about it. A comment on YouTube says it was made for a Sci-Fi Movie and Book. It also says Dallas. 

More research ties the Dallas reference together with this book. In the description they talk about an unfinished novel from a 40 year old movie treatment. And this was published in 2018. 40 years before? 1978. That sounds exactly right. I'm going forward with these dates and places.

3.5 / 4.0

12/30/25 (new entry)

Parente Band – Tramp / New Day. 1971 USA ~ Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Both sides are high energy instrumental jazz funk tunes. Great grooves on this one. The only soloist is the tenor saxophonist. I like his style, busy, melodic, and never out of control. The horn section is tight, and one could call this big band rock. Oddly, there are two distinct pressings for this 45. I've included the more informative one.

3.5

12/11/25 (new entry)

J.B. Green & Born Again - Rock Me Baby / Time. 1976 USA

A very interesting 45, as the music presented is not really single material. It's mostly a type of instrumental psychedelic jazz, very mellow, with fuzzy lead guitar, though not overly amplified. The a) side has vocals and is based in the blues, but once again it sounds more psych jazz than anything. 

I've read they're from Texas without corroboration. Discogs says the label is from Dallas but that's based on the record being pressed by A&R. I know the record plant from my days in DFW, but that doesn't mean the label or artist is from there. I didn't realize Josey Records owns it now. 

3.5 / 4.0

12/10/25 (new entry)

Catch - In The Garden / Brand New Day. 1974 USA ~ Chicago, Illinois

Another title that has a lot of misdirection on the ole WWW. Unknown soul funk gem is the screaming headline. Not really. The a) side is an excellent proggy hard rock track with loads of organ and guitar. The flip is a bit more poppy until they slide back into some more prog jam goodness. Plenty of early Santana references. This is a very good title, though I would think funk folks wouldn't be overly impressed. This is more in my strike zone.

4.0

12/10/25 (new entry)

Preserving the following from band member Jeff Beckler in case it gets wiped away some day: "I was in this band, we recorded it at Universal studios in Chicago. We were all from the Chicago area. It was 1974, the music was done in one take, and the vocals were added in one take. There were six people in the band. Lead guitar Rich Knoble, key boards Robert Blum, drums Mike Kariosha, Bass Tony Zerkawitz and 2 percussion and lead singers Chuck and Jeff Beckler along with the lead guitarist Rich Knoble. This group formed after originally being called The Looking Glass.When the New York looking Glass came out with The hit song Brandy , the group broke up and reformed its style into more progressive funk style of music. 2 years later we broke up and all went separate ways."

Steve Akin – It's Heavy / I'm Trippin' Alone. 1970 USA ~ Houston, Texas

First track is heavily reliant on the blues, with some country, folk, and rural vibes. The flip is faster with some nice acoustic guitar jamming, and vocals that have a distant resemblance to Jimi Hendrix. Not bad. I wouldn't call it funk or psych though, which is what you'll see out there.

12/10/25 (new entry)