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)

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)

The Whim of Arrow - 1800LBS of Grey / The Day Noah's Ark Sank. 1966-67 USA

A very bizarre 45. The first side is a mix of novelty folk and hard rock. There's a pretty heavy guitar lick about half way through. It's not psychedelic fuzz either. Like 70s hard rock. 45cat has confirmed the date of this song to be 1966, so way ahead of its time. Seems like it was made for children maybe? The second side is an instrumental organ driven number like Booker T and the MG's (confirmed to be from 1967). Absolutely one of the weirdest 45s I've heard. They were "Rollem" them that's for sure! A certain keeper.

No idea where they're from.

Own. Found at the Austin Record Show (2023).

5/25/23 (first listen / review); 1/1/25 (new entry)

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

The Innkeepers II - Brother Love's Traveling Salvation Show / Cryin's Not My Style. USA-Pennsyvlania

Complete unknown here. If I owned this it would go straight into my Unknown Vinyl Records blog. Label is from northeast Pennsylvania. A) side is a cover of Neil Diamond. Though advertised as psych, this is gather 'round the campfire singalong-and-clap music. Other side isn't that much better, but has a better chord progression and no handclaps. 

I didn't get the label image and it isn't showing anywhere at the moment, including popsike.

2 / 2

1/23/24

Summit - The Darkness / Thank You Mister Jones. 1969 USA-Missouri

Looks like Dr. Boom brought this one over to the house back in 2019. He probably also provided the song to the Brown Acid guys (he knows them). My review from then stated: "'The Darkness' is a killer slice of heavy psych / early heavy metal... To settle the origin of the band, Brown Acid states they are from Clinton, Missouri, which is about 90 minutes SE of Kansas City." We didn't listen to the B-side, but no loss, as it's a fairly straightforward folk rocker.

12/24/19 (first listen / review); 12/31/23 (update / new entry)

The Dags - Watching the Clouds Roll By / She Cried. 196? USA-Chicago

This 45 is another complete unknown. It is presumed that this is the same band that also went by The Daggs (same label), and is sought after due to being anthologized many years ago. This is a fine psychedelic 45. The a) side is a trippy folk psych number, as the title suggests. Not as dreamy as The Manchester Bridge Band, but very pleasant all the same. The b) side is a cover of the old chestnut most associated with Jay and The Americans and The Lettermen. There's some mid-60s Beatles in their sound as well. The a) side is a slow grower, and makes it a keeper. I'd guess 1966 or 67 as a date.

Discogs says they're from Illinois. RYM says Texas. The seller I bought it from says Chicago. OK, two out of three wins - Chicago it is!

Ownership: SP: 19?? Decade. Online acquisition (2020) 

8/21/20 (first listen); 5/16/21 (review / new entry)

Wells and Fargo - Mother Goose Sonata / Winter Wind. 1968 USA-Detroit

There was an obsession among the psychedelic crowd with nursery rhymes during the late 60s. Fortunately the a) side is not one of them - but references the literature. It's a great track with psychedelic guitars way out front, and nice harmonic breezy vocals. There's a weird piano part at the end. Overall sounds more British, though I'm sure this is American (after some research, looks like Detroit). 'Winter Wind' has a similar vibe, but is more towards folk rock and gone are the acid guitars. Still an excellent piece. There's also a piano bit about 2/3's through. Maybe it was their little brother? ("let Timmy play a few notes too.."). The a) side is something you'd expect to find on a comp somewhere.

Ownership: SP: 1968 GVS. Online acquisition (2020) 

6/22/20 (first listen); 3/7/21 (review / new entry)

Douglas Idaho - Prince Of Darkness / Taming the Snake. USA

When I see a name like Douglas Idaho planted on a 45 single, I'm thinking country music all the way. But wait a minute 'Prince of Darkness' isn't any old 'Down in Abilene' is it? Turns out Douglas Idaho is (are) from Minneapolis*. Is it a group or an individual, I haven't the slightest (though group seems likely given that a one Dave Moltzen is the author, not Douglas Idaho). Obscure as they come. I've only heard the aforementioned track which is a kind of long form folk psychedelia with excellent electric guitar solos. Sounds more like an LP cut than a single, and begs us to hear more. Of which I would like to. To the best of my knowledge, this 45 does not exist on any comps. I have not heard 'Taming the Snake' to date.

*Wait - now that I think about it, Sound 80 was a custom pressing plant in Minneapolis. I have one 45 here on the label from a country band actually. So I have no idea where they are from, truth be told. And there's no date on the 45 either, so not sure the corroborating data for it being from 1974 (as some sites report).

9/8/19

Zeugma - Témoignage / Le Magicien. 1978 France

When you name your band Zeugma, then one can only presume a Magma styled masterpiece awaits. Or at least some off the rails hyper prog album like Yezda Urfa. I said something very similar recently about the Swedish band (have to look it up...) Zthürehz. And like said Swedish band, Zeugma is nothing of the sort. 'Témoignage' is a decent hard rock song, with a couple of cool breaks. 'Le Magicien' is a fairly dull folk rocker with little to offer beyond a nice bit of guitar at the end. Not a bad way to spend 11 minutes, but you probably won't do it again.

5/10/19