Recorded over a six year period (being 1979-1985), Alan Jefferson's Galactic Nightmare is a prog-electronic - progtronic? - concept album originally released exclusively on home-recorded (with Dolby C NR) C-90 cassette tapes, made available via mail order through home computer magazines and science fiction fanzines in the UK.
America had Peter, Paul and Mary, Australia had The Seekers and South Africa had Four Jacks and a Jill; after several hits in their home country, this folk rock outfit enjoyed brief international success with their breakout hit “Master Jack.” They cracked the US charts again in 1968 with “Mister Nico” and “Hey Mister,” but soon faded from the international spotlight.
“A Phonograph Opera” allegedly written after eccentric jazz composer Tupper Saussy attended a stage performance of Samuel Barber's “Antony and Cleopatra;” file this in the AM/Orchestral pop section alongside “MacAurther Park.” Though that section could also be called psychedelic music for squares, and Saussy could be called “not quite Jim Webb,” that’s certainly not a knock as “The Moth Confesses” - and it’s top 20 single, the haunting “Morning Girl” - has been one of my go-tos since I first heard it in 2006. The album was nominated for two grammy awards, and “Morning Girl” was revived in the mid-70s by Shaun Cassidy of all people.
She may be a lady, but Tom Jones, looking like a shapely exclamation mark against a dark red backdrop, with his f&*k-off belt buckle, is telling YOU he’s THE man. While the majority of the songs are not nearly as strong as “She’s a Lady” (Tom’s biggest hit) and its follow up single “Puppet Man” (Written by the incredible Neil Sedaka, who, frankly, is more of a man than Tom will ever be), Tom makes up for it by plowing through each song with the same bombast of the title track, making this a great listen. Bonus points for the covers of “In Dreams” and Gilbert O’Sullivan’s “Nothing Rhymed.”
Produced by Paul McCartney, the folk-rock debut album by Mary Hopkin contains the international smash-hit "Those Were The Days." I was initially drawn to it by the three Donovan covers "Lord of the Reedy River," "Happiness Runs (Pebble and the Man)," and - a personal favorite - "Voyage of the Moon." I wish they had eschewed some of the standards like "There's No Business Like Show Business" for Hopkin's version of "Turn, Turn, Turn," the non-album B-side of "Those Were The Days." Nevertheless, it's cute, sweet, and like a soundtrack to a Welsh fairytale.
Nilsson’s second album is definitely a departure from his more straight forward debut album, Spotlight on Nilsson (1966). In a year dominated by Sgt. Peppers imitators, this concept album stands out, and Nilsson even managed to make the two Beatles covers (“She’s Leaving Home,” “You Can’t Do That”) his own.
A solo outing from neo-psych/rock’n’roller Tim Presley (Darker My Love, the Strange Boys), the indie critics largely praised the album but called it a “solid-but-sometimes-unfocused tour through the artist's mental Rolodex of influences and flights of fancy” (Pitchfork). For me, the frenetic genre-hopping and self-indulgence is exactly the appeal.
An enigmatic character to say the least, Hawkins received high praise from critics for his original songwriting which combined country, folk, southern spirituals and soul.
Day #1: The Mystic Astrological Crystal Band - The Mystic Astrologic Crystal Band Featuring Steve Hoffman (GET521) - Originally released on Carole Records in 1967, this is the 1998 Italian reissue by Get Back. A little less freaky than their name suggests, this record still hits all its baroque, sunshine psych marks.
Fed up with listening to the usual Christmas (s)hits? Well get some of this festive finery into your face and have yourselves a fun old feast of foolery! Just forget about the world burning down around us - it'll be fine.
Is it the end of the world for cinema? Was cinema already dying? What's this got to do with movie soundtracks? Our very own "Patty Hearst of the office" Mark Anthony Finch answers these questions (or does he?) in our latest blog. Oh and there's also a rather spiffy free digital mixtape of movie soundtracks you can listen to while you read...
