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

Black Ice - Gotta Get You Out Of My Mind / Come on Home. 1970 South Africa

Yet another South African obscurity from 1970. The a) side is pop psych with horns, whereas the b) side features more organ and is the better of the two tracks. Good melodies and very much of the era. Apparently Black Ice had at least one major hit back home ('Susannah'), but this debut recording remains unknown.

Own. Found at a local estate sale (2024). The Discogs image is my copy.

8/4/24

Larry John Page & The Vision - Shadow of Love / You Baby You. 1971 South Africa

Almost identical to the The Gentle People 45, wherein the A side is fairly commercial harmony pop and the B side has psychedelic characteristics including fuzz. I preferred this one just a bit more.

Own. Found at a local estate sale (2024). The Discogs image is our copy.

8/4/24

3.5

Spaceark - Don't Stop (vocal & instrumental). 1976 USA-Los Angeles

From Los Angeles, Spaceark is a super example of funk and early disco with fine horns, sax, and organ. Strong jazz undertone. It's the same track on each side, with one featuring female vocals that makes the song that much better. This has some of the smoothest grooves you can hear. Excellent. This is the original black label. There's another pressing of these two tracks, on the same imprint, with a blue label under the name of Dolly Way & Space Ship Earth.

Own. Found at a local estate sale (2024).

8/4/24

The Gentle People - Nothing's Impossible / Merlie. 1970 Zambia

The Gentle People were formed in Zambia and have at least one LP and five singles. This one doesn't seem to be too well known. The A side is mostly just pop fluff, not bad though. It's the B side that is intriguing. Has a nice chorus, fuzz, and some off-kilter keyboards.

Own. Found at a local estate sale (2024)

8/4/24

Objectivo - Glory / Keep Your Love Alive. 1970 Portugal

Obscure band who released three singles and an EP from 1969 to 1972 at a time when not much music like this was being produced in dictator controlled Portugal. These two tracks lack identity and mostly play to 1970 era UK and American commercial rock trends with slight nods to psych and even early prog. Side 1 has a Procol Harum vibe that makes it interesting enough to hold onto.

Own. From a local estate sale (2024)

8/4/24

Buzzard - Blurry Visions / Please. 1971 South Africa

Of the four South African 45's I found at an estate sale, this was the clear winner. In the parlance of the hipster: It's a banger. Not only are both sides catchy, but they have some mean fuzz instrumentation, especially the mid guitar solo on 'Blurry Visions'. The music is very much in the same league as the UK psych prog scene of 1969 to 1971. The Pussy Plays album came to mind here a couple of times. This is a heavyweight. 

Ownership: SP: 1971 RPM. Found at an estate sale (2024). The others will be featured in the next Psychedelic Journal edition.

8/4/24 (first listen / review / 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

R.E.M.! - I Don't Know / Linda. 1974 USA

Another complete unknown and no idea where it's from. I bet the band didn't realize they owned one of the most popular monikers of the 80s! The exclamation mark distinguishes it a little bit. In this case, it's an acronym for the band members Roberts, Eaton, and McCurdy. The music has an odd piano, synthesizer thing going on. It's mostly pop rock. The A side recalls Gary Wright somewhat. B) side is a silly pop ditty with some decent guitar though. Strange 45. I'd for sure keep it if I found it, but I wouldn't pay more than a buck for it.

I didn't capture the image of the label and now I can't find it. Not even in Discogs. On Dreamer Records.

2.5 / 2.5

8/2/24 

Grey Controversy - Now is the Time / Blues in G. 1969 USA-Connecticut

From New London. A side is a slow rock harmonic tune driven by organ and bass. Somewhat like Procol Harum. At 5:40, a long track for the singles market. And they stretched it well past its shelf life. B side is organ / guitar based 12 bar blues. Largely unknown. Not in RYM, so I'll rate this 2.5 stars here.

2.5 / 2.5

8/2/24

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

Poor Richard - Good Time Music / Eyes. 197? USA-Los Angeles

From Los Angeles. Starts off as you might expect in a boogie rock state, with some fine organ. The B) side is more introspective, still in pop rock mode with dominant vocals, piano, and organ. Doesn't appear to be related to any of the other Poor Richard's out there. 

2.5 / 2.5

8/2/24

American Soul Train - Can You Dig It / Tennessee Waltz. 1968 USA-Louisiana

A) side is horn driven funky soul with period lyrics. B) side is a slow dancer with gospel like crooning. Picks up nicely at the end with a faster beat and horns. Apparently the band name is a nom de plume for The Boogie Kings.

Used to own. Found at a local estate sale.

7/14/24

The Rubber Band - Bubble Tree / Agnes Ries. 1967 USA-California

I'll get to the group's details below. For the music, this is the kind of garage folks are turning every stone over for. Side A has a dreamy melodic structure. The B side has a folky underpinning, with a punk attitude, and an excellent guitar solo. 

We do know from a YouTube comment from the band member's sister some details: It was recorded in Los Angeles in 1967. The group were from Bishop, California, which is way out in the eastern part of the state near Nevada.

Ownership: SP: 1967 Harlow. Obtained from a local shop for a $1 weeee (2024). 

We'll start with the rarity - it has never sold on Discogs, and the one and only copy that sold on ebay was 11 years ago for $350. You can only guess what it would go for now in a Carolina Soul auction. According to Discogs, the label has 6 releases (probably more) every one of them obscure.

Now we'll talk about the mistakes. The label shows The Bubber Bands on one side and The Rubber Bands on the other. My copy - and the submitter to Discogs copy (shown here) - has the final "S" rubbed out on each side. Above sister stated they were called The Rubber Band. What a mess.

7/14/24 (first listen / review / new entry)

The Rondeus - Anymore / Day Tripper - 1966 USA-West Virginia

The Rondeaus (misspelled on the label) were from the coal mining region around Beckley, West Virginia. 'Anymore' starts off like The Beatles' 'Day Tripper' (hold that thought) before launching into a more original tune. Of course it's very much influenced by the Fab Four in addition to The Rolling Stones at this stage. Features a nice jangly guitar solo. The B side is, in fact, the Beatles song. A very lethargic rendition I might add. Also features a cool lightly amplified solo. This is low budget garage at its finest.

Ownership: SP: 1966 Magna. Dollar find at a local estate sale (2024).

Some parallels here with the The Rubber Band I just featured. Like with that 45, they misspelled the group name. And it's rare as heck. Never sold on Discogs and the last ebay sale was back in 2013 (like The Rubber Band) for $280. It'll be more now :-)

7/14/24 (first listen / review / new entry)

Shelton Kilby and Counterpoint - Fire and Rain / Colour of a Man. 197? USA

Early 70s styled hippy harmony kind of pop. Think the classic Coca Cola ad. Everything else Kilby has released goes for coin, but this one stays stubbornly cheap. Haven't heard the others, maybe they're way better musically. I doubt it, this one just got lost in the shuffle. Besides it's a nice piece of music even if it isn't really in vogue.

Own. Found at a local antique mall

7/13/24

3.5

Carol Sloane - Music / Stay. 1965 USA

Not the type of 45 you'd think was in demand, but it is. File Sloane with other breathy females of the era like Julie London and Helen Merrill. Noted on Discogs as Soul, but it belongs to Vocal Jazz for sure. I'm not telling... Well apparently this is what they mean by "popcorn". Who knew?

Used to own. Found at a thrift shop in Woodland Park.

7/13/24

Caretaker - Rampage / Sin Trips. 1981 USA-Illinois

From Zion, Illinois (on the shores of Lake Michigan bordering Wisconsin). Pretty cool phased riffing opener. Goes into a more straightforward early metal styled track. Still like the phasing throughout. Four minute song that is two minutes longer than it needs to be. B) side catches Judas Priest in their British Steel stride. Nice guitar soloing on this one, and I like the hyperactive drumming as if there's no tomorrow (there probably wasn't). Pretty good rendition of the style I'd submit. 

4/15/24

3.0 / 3.5

Flyte - Movin' Faster / Don't You. 1983 USA-Michigan

From the Christian southern Michigan town of Hillsdale. This isn't that haha. Starts off in cock rock mode with light metal riffing and doesn't really develop. B) Tells us they "like to rock". No way, really? Boogie metal I guess. This song is really dumb. 

4/15/24

2.0 / 1.5

Estelle Levitt – All I Dream / I Like the Way it Feels. 1968 USA

One of those accidental singles that catches the ear of the psych funk crowd. There's a mild groove to this, but the strings and pop crooning give it away that Levitt is seeking fame and fortune. I like her voice, airy and sweet. RYM has it as psychedelic folk, sure I'll bite. But it's not any of the above really. The way the compositions develop, I'd bet they came from the Brill Building factory.

4/3/24